Selis and Kazimir walked toward the outer gate of the Castle.
The gargoyle statues lining the walls watched them in eerie silence, their cold, hollow eyes seemingly tracking their departure.
Kazimir glanced back at the towering fortress, the place that had saved his life, sheltered him, protected him.
Now, for the first time, he was leaving it behind.
A quiet sigh escaped him, but he kept moving forward.
As they approached the colossal outer gate, Selis came to a halt.
Beyond the stone path, out of the gate, the landscape shifted, the paved road gave way to wild, towering grass. For Selis, it reached her knees. For Kazimir, it nearly reached his waist.
Selis crouched, picking up a small pebble from the stone path.
She held it between her calloused fingers, then turned to Kazimir.
"Watch closely," she instructed.
With a simple flick of her wrist, she tossed the pebble beyond the gate.
The moment it left the protective barrier, space itself rippled, as if reality had been disturbed.
Then, gravity seized it.
The pebble plummeted unnaturally fast, slamming into the grass with a heavy thud, leaving a small crater where it landed.
Kazimir's breath caught.
Selis studied the impact site, her expression calm yet calculating.
"The plants here have adapted to the increased gravity," she mused. "Which means they are far stronger than they appear."
Then, without hesitation, she stepped forward.
The barrier shimmered as she passed through it, distorting for an instant before returning to its transparent, invisible state.
Nothing happened to her.
She stood on the other side, seemingly unaffected.
Her pale silver eyes swept across the lush, alien landscape, ensuring it was safe.
Then, she turned back, stretching out a steady hand toward Kazimir.
"It's safe," she said. "Take my hand."
Kazimir hesitated.
He looked at her outstretched hand, then back at the looming castle behind him.
The place where he had spent months with Selis.
The place that, for the first time in his life, had felt like home.
Now, he was leaving it behind.
He took a breath, one last look at the towering silver fortress,
And then, he reached for her hand.
The moment his fingers passed through the barrier, he felt it.
A crushing force.
Gravity increased tenfold, dragging his arm downward.
Selis's firm yet gentle grip kept him from collapsing.
His muscles strained, adjusting to the invisible weight pressing down on him.
The air was thicker, warmer, a stark contrast to the cool serenity of the castle's interior.
Selis didn't let go.
She held his arm steady, allowing him to gradually adapt, giving him time to adjust.
He exhaled slowly.
"I can handle it," he murmured.
Selis nodded once, approving.
"Good."
Slowly, he pushed the rest of his arm through.
Selis's fingers tightened around his arm, keeping him anchored as his body adjusted.
Then, finally, he nodded.
"I'm ready."
Kazimir took a step forward and gravity pulled him down.
His knees buckled, the sheer force of the world threatening to drag him to the ground.
But before he could fall, Selis caught him.
Her arm wrapped around his waist, pulling him close and steady.
She held him firmly, her grip unyielding, keeping him upright until his body found balance.
Kazimir inhaled sharply, his pulse racing.
But slowly, his muscles adjusted, his stance steadied, and he felt control returning to his limbs.
"…Thank you," he breathed.
Selis met his gaze, her icy silver eyes watching him closely.
She gave a single nod.
Then, without another word, she turned and began walking.
Kazimir followed, one step at a time.
Ahead, in the far distance, the colossal red mushroom loomed, standing taller than mountains, their first destination in this new world.
Selis walked in front, keeping pace just ahead of him, always within reach, always close enough to catch him if he stumbled.
For the first time, he had left the castle.
For the first time, he was stepping into the unknown.