Alex barely had time to react as the pull of the portal yanked him out of the dim, weightless space. His instincts took over the moment his boots touched solid ground. He shifted his weight forward, rolling smoothly across the wooden floor, coming up on one knee.
The faint scent of wildflowers filled the air, and the room was quiet save for the crackling of a small hearth in the corner. A figure to his left moved, and Alex turned his head sharply.
Z'yna stood there, the faint blue glow in her fingertips fading as the portal behind him sealed shut. Her expression was calm, but there was a subtle edge of exasperation in her narrowed eyes.
"Try to react faster next time," she said, brushing an errant leaf off her sleeve.
Alex rose to his feet, brushing the dust from his cloak. "Right, I'll need to work on that," he replied dryly, his tone light but respectful. "Thank you, Z'yna."