When I wake up from my alarm I don’t want to get out of bed. It is by far the most comfortable I have slept in so far. I force myself to get up and get a shower. When I walk out of my room to the living room Nora is already sitting on a sofa reading a book. She looks up and smiles, gesturing to the bell. I ring it and Gloria shows up in a few minutes to take us to breakfast. Breakfast wasn’t in the dining room we ate in before. Instead it is served privately on a terrace facing the bay. When we arrive, Harry is already sitting in front of a table laden with food. There is sliced fruit, sandwiches, eggs, bacon, several types of pastries, and baked bread similar to bagels without holes. Nora and I grab seats on the end of the table facing Harry and he waves him hand for us to dig in.

Over breakfast Harry asks us about our day and we describe the highlights from yesterday. I think he is enjoying just taking a break from his routine. Breakfast is delicious. While we are stuffing in the last bite the sun crests the horizon.

“It is time, follow me.” Harry says opening a portal in midair. We follow him into a small chamber with a metal archway embedded in the wall. Shortly after we arrive a beam of sunlight comes in through a window on the upper wall striking a round depression at the top of the archway. As the light strikes the archway a glowing blue portal opens with a crackling noise.

“It will not stay open long. Good luck to both of you and may the Goddess bless you.” Harry says standing beside the portal.

We quickly pass through the portal, which closes with a crack like ice breaking behind us. Lights around the room start to brighten and we find ourselves in a large hexagon shape atrium about one hundred feet across and open to the sky. The light is supplied by large crystals embedded half way up the wall. As the light increases, we see there are twelve statues surrounding us in a circle about thirty feet from us. They are beautifully detailed and depict different humanoid races: Dwarf, Elf, Gnoll, Harrow, Gnome, Lizardman, and several others I am not familiar with. Inspecting them reveals nothing, but when we both take a step toward the closed double doors in the wall on the right, they all turn their heads to face us and draw weapons. We both freeze and they don’t make any other move. After taking a step back they, all sheath their weapons. I could Shadow Step to the door, but it may not open and I am sure they would do more than draw weapons if I did that.

“What do you think we should do?” I ask Nora while I turned to look at all the statues.

“Hello. We seek entrance to the Temple of the Seven Moons.” Nora says in a slightly raised voice.

“Now we wait.” She says in a normal voice.

“While we are waiting, I never thought to ask, why is this called the Temple of the Seven Moons?”

“Look up. Three of the moons are in view right now. The Fae realm has seven moons that move across the sky at night, but there is one place were all seven moons cross and this temple is built directly beneath it. It is said that this place enhances the powers of each of the domains associated with the moons.”

“There are only six domains, right? But there are seven moons, so what is the seventh domain?”

“It is the domain of the soul, but no one but the Fae know how to use that domain.”

“Thanks.” I say as I fall silent looking up at the moons overhead. Each was a distinct size and color.

About ten minutes later the doors open and two people enter. One is short at about five feet with long flowing silver hair. The hair didn’t just have a silver color, it looked like fine silver wire. The eyes were red with gold pupils. Otherwise she had an athletic figure covered in fine leathers with a scepter hooked onto her belt. The other person was over six feet tall with hair so dark it had blue highlights. It was bundled into a single braid down his back. He didn’t have any weapons visible and was dressed in loose silk pants and shirt. Two gold bands encircled his upper arms. They both advanced to the end of the statues and then stood there watching us. I tried to inspect them, but again got nothing. After I tried to inspecting them, I felt a weird sensation on the side of my body facing them. Almost like grass blowing against your skin, but all over the side of my body facing the pair.

Nora bowed from the waist and I followed suite matching her bow as she said. “Greeting, may I have the honor of knowing whose presence I am in?”

The female answered. “You appear to at least know enough to greet us, but you did not know enough to not come uninvited.”

“It is hoped that an invitation will be extended once you here our request.”

“That is very arrogant of you to assume such.”

“No, merely necessary.”

The male then spoke, “I like her, but her companion knows nothing. Perhaps we should educate him in the depths of the possible insult offered by their presence.”

Nora appeared alarmed but did not say anything as I tentatively said. “I know enough to keep my mouth shut and trust in my companion’s judgement.”

The male grinned at this revealing red teeth and black gums, which was jarring in his otherwise human appearance.

The female gave the male an irritated glance as she said. “You may call me First and him Fifth. You will follow me, and we will take you to a priest to discuss your invitation.”

First turned and started toward the door, while Fifth stepped to the side. I followed a half step behind Nora as she followed First out the door. I glance at Fifth who followed five paces behind. We moved through wide corridors crafted of beautifully carved stone depicting different nature scenes of forests, meadows, rivers, and lakes. When following First, out of the corner of my eye the scenes seemed to move, like the plants being blown by a soft breeze or the water rippled over stones, but when I turned my head to look, they appeared frozen. It was very distracting, but I tried to ignore it.

We finally stood in front of a pair of beautiful silver doors. The doors open on their own revealing a large circular room crafted from a gold veined marble. Large columns support a domed ceiling that arches high overhead. In the center of the room sits an unusual child dressed in white robes. The child looks to be elven or twelve years old with long white hair and vivid purple eyes that are visible from where we enter the room. I am not even sure the child is a male, but First indicated she was taking us to a priest. The child is gesturing and a glowing oval about three feet long and two-foot-wide rests in the air in front of her obscuring her legs from our point of view. The oval is pure black on the side facing us, but from the flickers of light reflected in the child’s eyes something is showing on the other side. When I try to inspect the child, I get nothing. When First leads us to the dais the child is sitting on the child gestures dismissively and the oval vanishes. The First bows deeply and after a short delay both Nora and I follow her example.

“Great one, these two seek an invitation.”, First says.

“Hmmm, typically invitations are granted before the visitors arrive.” The priest says with a smile.

I wait for Nora to speak for us. She doesn’t look nervous at all as she bows once more and addresses the priest. “Great one, I am the daughter of the Tassan Empresses. My companion is the holder of the Deck of Fate. We had heard you extend invitations to unique individuals and if you find them worthy you grant them access to the Timeless Gate.”

I cringe as she mentions our secrets so suddenly, but we have discussed this privately and we have nothing else to bargain with.

The child-priest sits up straight staring at each of us in turn and I can feel something probing my stats. “You are correct, you would both merit an invite, but you are incorrect about how access to the Timeless Gate is granted. The Gate itself tests the supplicants and if it finds you wanting you will never be heard from again.”

As the priest is speaks, I hear a quiet noise behind me and turn slightly to see Fifth sheathing his swords. I have a feeling if an invite was not forth coming, we would have been dead rather quickly.

Nora looks at me and then turns to the priest. “We expected that could be the case and we are ready.”

“I doubt you are, but we will see.” The priest gestures. “First and Fifth will take you to the entrance. I will not see you again and you will not survive another trip to the temple assuming you survive the Gate. Know that failure during the test means final death. Good luck, you will need it.”

Nora and I bow and we follow First out of the audience room taking another door to the right. It is beautifully decorated with numerous worlds, each depicted with a gateway opening in the center. The door opens as we approach and closes after Fifth who follows behind us. The corridor winding in a downward sloping circle and we walk for about ten minutes before we arrive in front of a blank stone wall. First turns to us and says. “We are here. After Fifth and I leave the test will begin.”

Nora and I watch as they start walking back the way we came when there is a loud grinding noise behind us. We both jerk around and there is now a large archway leading into a dimly lit hallway. I realize there is something wrong with the hallway. With my dark vision I should be able to make things out easier, but everything is shrouded in shadow.

George: I should go first, since I can use shadow step. I will cast light and you hold my left hand.

“You will be tested.” A deep baritone voice speaks from the air as we enter the hallway.

Nora and I look at each other and advance down the hallway while trying to keep an eye on everything. We leave a trail of dusty foot prints behind us and overhead I can see cobwebs softly swaying in the slow breeze that comes toward us carrying a musty odor. The hallway ends in an archway covered in runes that seem to move anytime you are not looking directly at them. Through the archway is a large room, that is easily 200 feet across and double that in length. A stone walkway about ten feet wide stretches across the room to the far side to a platform containing a glowing crystal formation. Large blue crystals are spaced randomly on the ceiling, which provide dim lighting for the chamber. We cautiously step on the walkway and looking over the side but see only darkness. I reach out with my Dark Sense and it feels unlike anything I have felt before. Not exactly dark mana, but it does feel familiar somehow. I try to describe what I am feeling to Nora when the walkway vibrates, and we find the archway is now a solid stone wall.

This is turning into some bad horror movie, but we have no choice now but to advance. I ask Nora to wait when I extent Earth Sense into the stone of the walkway or I should say I try, but it is not really stone and rebuffs my efforts.

“Nora this is not actual stone. I was going to try to shape it to make sure I would know if something is trying to collapse it under us, but I can’t sense or affect it.”

“Ok, then get ready to use Air Step if the walkway collapses. You should be able to carry me with you to the platform, right?”

“Yes, that shouldn’t be a problem.”

We continue down the walkway and I sense the air around us, but the strange darkness below the walkway prevents me from sensing anything below.

About halfway across large dark tentacles sweep out of the darkness below attacking us. I cast fire bullet into one of the tentacles severing it and air step to grab Nora, but my Air Step doesn’t form, and I stumble as a tentacle smashes into me knocking me to the edge of the platform. Nora side steps the two tentacles aimed at her and grabs my arm to pull me up when the last tentacle that attacked me takes her in the back and sweeps her over the edge into the darkness. I pull myself up and yell her name. The remaining tentacles all sink back into the darkness when a voice addresses me from behind.

“You may now proceed to the next part of the test.”

I turn and see a cloaked figure shrouded in shadows that resist my Dark Sense much like the darkness below. “What happened to Nora?”

“She is in the Shadow Realm now and is no longer part of the test.”

“Will she be returned at the end of the test if I proceed?”

“That will be up to her, but the chances of her escaping the Shadow Realm are very low.”

“How do I get to her?”

“That is not wise, you may be able to escape with your skills, but it is unlikely you would be able to get her out as well.”

“Well I am going to try, so how do I get to her?”

A low hiss seems to come from the cloaked figure. “Very well, just jump. The area below is a portal to the Shadow Realm.”

I don’t hesitate and jump off the walkway and on entering the darkness I realize why it felt familiar. It is the same feeling I get when using Shadow Step to enter the Shadows. I try to Shadow step and feel a connection, which is different than a normal step getting a prompt.

Do you wish to leave the Shadow Realm? Yes or No.

I select No, but this looks promising. The problem is I don’t know where I will exit. Is the Shadow Realm adjacent or overlapping? Can I end up in the middle of a rock or in mid-air? Well I can deal with that later. I am still falling, and my Dark Sense is still clouded. Suddenly I see something below me right before I hit the ground or what passes for it here. Other than startling me it doesn’t hurt. The ground feels spongy and gravity doesn’t feel as strong here. I hear a cry that sounds like Nora to my left. I can only see about twenty feet before the dark haze in the air obstructs my view. As I strain to see I notice I can gradually see further, but I don’t have time to wait for my vision to clear. I start jogging in the direction of the cry. The ground is smooth with some spikey dark growths about fifteen to twenty feet apart that stand nearly my height. The growths sway as if in a breeze, but I don’t feel any air currents. In fact, as I jog, I don’t feel any air flowing over my skin.

After jogging for another minute, I hear Nora cursing much closer than before, so I pick up speed, while keeping a wary eye on the growths around me. A few minutes later I come upon a strange sight. Nora is rolled up in what looks like a bundle of inch thick tentacles and is laying on a pile of longer tentacles that are undulating across the ground. I cast a fire bullet spell hitting a different tentacle in the pile with each bullet. Each tentacle I hit is severed and dissipates in a cloud of dark vapor. The other tentacles in the pile immediately dump Nora on the ground and start merging together. That explains where the large tentacles went. I hit the larger tentacle with a fire bullet spell, but as more merge in the wounds close rapidly.

I think I am going to need some heavy guns for this thing, so I back up and cast shield, air shield, and dark shield. Then I wait for all the tentacles to merge together before hitting it with Enhanced Lightning. The tentacle practically melts under the onslaught. I hold my ground continuing the Enhanced Lightning as the tentacle rushes across the ground to strike me. My shield and air shield both shatters right away, but my dark shield is holding up remarkably well. I only have 15% of my mana remaining when the tentacle collapses. I notice the tentacles around Nora release her and wiggle off in different directions when that happens.

“Are you ok?” I ask when she gets to her feet. I am still looking around to make sure nothing else is sneaking up on us.

“Yes, just bruised. How do we get out of here?”

“I am not sure, but let’s try to get back to where we entered and see if we can get out from there.”

We head back at a jog that won’t drain our stamina, which also allows my mana to start recovering. I don’t want to sit still trying to get a faster regeneration rate when we don’t know what else may come after us. It turns out Nora can only see about five feet and I can now see about forty. It takes us about thirty minutes to get back to where we entered according to my map. The mapping function just shows us location, but no terrain of other features at all. I see a line on the map going straight up. I try a quick Air Step and it only holds for a few seconds before dissipating, but that should be enough if I keep moving.

“I am going to try to Air Step us back up to where I entered. I should be able to carry you if you can hold onto my back.”

Nora hops on my back and wraps her legs around my waist, so I can keep my arms free in case we are attacked.

As she is getting settled the ground starts shaking, so I don’t wait another minute to leap in the air and start jumping up as fast as possible. I form air steps right at the top of my jump allowing me to leap up again. I watch the map and when I get to the point I entered I trigger shadow step getting the prompt I was hoping for.

Do you wish to leave the Shadow Realm? Yes or No.

I select Yes and light blossoms above me as I step up onto the walkway. The shadowy figure is still standing in the same place.

“You have passed the test, congratulations.”

“This was the actual test?”

“Yes, one of you had to pass to allow you to both proceed. You may now advance to the end of the walkway where you will meet your companion.”

“What do you mean? Nora is…” My voice trails off as I see Nora body begin to turn to smoke and stream into the darkness below.”

“Your companion entered their own test as soon as you both entered the hallway. A duplicate was made to observe you during the test.”

“So, Nora was never in any danger then?”

“Oh, you both were in danger. If either of you had failed the test you both would have never left the Temple and you would come to serve it much like I have.”

I shiver thinking about it.

“Now please advance to the end of the walkway and stand before the crystal formation to be reunited with your companion.”

I slowly walk to the crystal formation keeping a careful eye around me. You never know if this is still part of the test. After stepping in front of the crystal I receive another prompt.

You have passed the Test of the Timeless Gate. Do you wish to proceed and be united with your companion? Yes or No.

Well not much of a choice. I pick Yes and the room around me vanishes to be replaced by another.

This must be the Timeless Gate. It is amazing. Nora and I are in a room that seems to stretch out in every direction forever. In front of us are two fifteen-foot-tall pillars made from some glistening black stone. On closer look the pillars are covered with small insects like ants that are moving constantly. That is kind of gross, but the amazing part is between the two pillars. Different views are showing places on Burra. As the different views appear, I know what is being shown and where they are. There are some beautiful places shown. One is a cave with a sleeping dragon full of treasure. Another is a beautiful island covered in plants made from crystal. Then there is a palace floating in the sky. The world is limitless and we can go anywhere in it we wish.

However, we came here for one reason and that is to rescue Poth.

First, I ask Nora. “Are you ok?”

Nora nods, but holds herself with both arms as I look at her. I guess we will defer talking about our tests until we are out of here.

“We should focus on finding Poth and see if the Gate can find him.”

Nora nods and we both focus on the gate, which has been slowing shifting between different views every few seconds. Now it flickers and shows us the view of a cavern lit by flames. In the center of the cave is a raised dais of stone covered in runes and in the middle is a figure in filthy clothes bound at the wrists and neck to the floor by large lengths of chain. As we see him, we know this is Poth. We glance at each other and pull our weapons and join hands as we step into the Gate.