I Hate Portals

In the depths of the forest, a sudden tremor shook the ground. Wild animals fled in panic, deer and tigers, natural prey and predators, ran side by side, scrambling through the undergrowth, tripping over bushes in their desperate escape. An ominous boom followed, sending another wave of terror rippling through the land.

Moments later, a brilliant green light shot skyward, illuminating the dark canopy. A powerful gust tore through the trees, branches snapping and spiralling outward. Then silence. Utter and absolute.

Two figures emerged, suspended in the sky just above the treetops, easily five metres high. Gravity, merciless and unyielding, dragged them downward.

"Fried!?" Aurelia, a red-haired girl, screamed against the rushing wind, her hair whipping wildly around her.

"Aurelia!" Friederich called back. His blue eyes gleamed in the darkness as he twisted mid-air, adjusting his trajectory. Chanting quickly, he invoked, "Lampos-spatha!"

Blades of pure light materialised in mid-air, forming a luminous pathway between them. With agility and lightning speed, Friederich sprang from sword to sword, ricocheting through the air like a phantom.

"Eeeeek!? I'm dead, Papa!" Aurelia shrieked, squeezing her eyes shut as the ground rushed closer.

Thinking fast, Friederich gritted his teeth and chanted, "Lampos!" More radiant swords manifested and hung motionless in the air. His mind worked at blistering speed, calculating every step. Bending his knees against one of the floating blades, he launched himself forward, rebounding off three in rapid succession, each propelling him faster.

His hands reached for Aurelia, pulling her tightly against his chest. One arm cradled her small frame, the other securing the back of her neck to prevent whiplash. Just before they collided with the earth, he twisted, planting his feet into the ground. His knees buckled from the sheer force, sending a shockwave outward, scattering leaves and debris.

Aurelia cracked open one eye hesitantly. "Are… are we dead?" She asked, locking eyes with her rescuer. But as she took in Friederich's panting form, his pale skin slick with sweat, her gaze dropped lower. "Holy Gaia! The crater!" she gasped, staring at the deep indent in the ground beneath them.

"And that's what you're worried about…? Damn it!" Friederich groaned, collapsing onto his back. His legs throbbed with pain — bruised, battered, and barely responsive. He regretted pushing himself to the limit to save his reckless princess.

"Fried!" Aurelia scrambled to his side, inspecting his injuries. Red bruises marred his legs. "Idiot! Are you trying to hurt yourself?"

"What?! I didn't do this on purpose... Sheesh!" He snapped, folding his arms as he lay on the disturbed dirt. His once-pristine white attire was streaked with soil. "Damn it! I should've worn darker colours for this expedition!"

Aurelia ignored his complaints, hovering her palms over his wounds. Closing her eyes, she focused, envisioning the damaged muscle and fractured capillaries beneath his skin. "Iasis!" She intoned. Green glyphs shimmered from her hands, slithering down into his legs and seeping into his flesh. As the light faded, so too did his injuries, vanishing as though they had never existed.

Friederich wiggled his toes experimentally. "Oh, thank you," He muttered, voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Eh? Before you blame me, this wasn't my fault! You messed up the portal spell!" She shot back, crossing her arms defensively, cheeks puffed in a stubborn pout.

"Hah?! Of course, it was your fault!" Friederich countered, voice rising. "Ryusei-sama explicitly forbade us from crossing into this war-ridden land, and yet you had to ignore his orders for what?"

"For the greater good!" Aurelia's voice boomed, her fiery conviction unmistakable. "Osten's Arcaniis are people too! Should they suffer while we do nothing? Are we meant to just sit in our high castle, unbothered and uncaring? Is that what we are?"

Friederich exhaled sharply. He hated how much sense she made. He knew this was the right thing to do. That was why they had risked it all in the first place.

Still, he couldn't ignore the reality of their actions. "We can't risk our country's stability either. If Ryusei-sama sends humanitarian aid, what do you think the people of Dunkelheit will assume?"

Aurelia faltered, her lips pressing together. She had no response to that.

Then she mumbled under her breath, "Zeta wouldn't have messed up the portal…"

Friederich's eye twitched. "What did you just say?"

"I said Zetius would've succeeded in opening the portal, and we'd have ended up at the Porand border ~ not stranded in the middle of nowhere."

Friederich clenched his jaw, unable to refute her. He ran a frustrated hand through his dark hair, suppressing the bitter irritation swelling within him.

The mere mention of Zetius Zel Celerius left a sour taste in his mouth. The three of them, Aurelia, Zetius, and Friederich, had been childhood friends. But two years ago, Zetius' envoy was ambushed by Armatus knights, and the boy was presumed dead. No trace of him was ever found.

What irked Friederich the most wasn't just losing a friend. It was her comparing him to Zetius. The girl to whom he had given his heart, soul, and body always held Zetius in a higher regard.

If only she knew.

Eighteen-hour days. Relentless training. Swordsmanship, throwing, fencing, footwork, anatomy. He had honed himself and sharpened his skills through sweat and blood. Meanwhile, Zetius had simply been born with immense arcane affinity. Favoured by the gods. Blessed by Gaia herself.

Aurelia's warm hand rested on his shoulder, her touch gentle. "Fried… I'm sorry," She muttered, sincerity lacing her voice. "I shouldn't have yelled at you... Thank you for saving me."

Friederich let out a slow breath, before pushing himself upright. He brushed off stray leaves and dust, straightening his posture.

Aurelia giggled, joining him in tidying his clothes. "The Arc Coat is amazing! No dirt can stick to it, fufufu!" She mused, rubbing the smooth, pristine white fabric adorned with gold accents.

Friederich hesitated, then reached out to pluck a stray leaf from her hair. But before he could, her sharp gaze pinned him in place.

He quickly retracted his hand. "…You had a leaf stuck in your hair," He muttered instead, looking away, a faint blush creeping up his cheeks.

"Oh, thanks," Aurelia hummed, picking it out herself. The breeze carried it away, twirling it into the dark forest beyond.