[95] The End of the Beginning

October 7, 2:41pm

Captain Bennett led the class down a set of metal stairs that hugged the mountainside. They descended in single file, with Xavier keeping close to Calypso. The stairs creaked under their weight, each step bringing them closer to the gate's depression.

"Stay behind the safety line," Bennett instructed as they reached the bottom. A yellow line had been painted in the dirt about three meters from the gate's perimeter.

Xavier studied the gate from this new vantage point. Up close, the distortion seemed more substantial, like a tear in fabric revealing another layer beneath. The air around it shimmered slightly, creating a heat-haze effect.

"Now that we're closer, try to sense the gate's Essentia signature," Professor Valdez instructed. "Close your eyes and focus."