Something stood at the other side of the portal, between the trees. It was big, hairy, had four legs and huge horns on its head.

“All right, mages, move behind us,” Heartwell ordered silently, almost whispering, as he readied his sword and shield.

But the mages didn’t move, transfixed with the creature on the other side.

“Move, now! We don’t know if it will charge us or if more of them are out there!” He raised his voice a bit.

“Come on, let’s go!” Mizette hurried Hazelmere up, who jolted as if woken up from a dream.

The mages moved back, but not completely. Their heads poked out from behind the soldiers, still trying to figure out what the strange creature could be.

“Moana, do you sense anything? Is there any demonic presence nearby?”

“Huh, you remembered her name on the first try!” Cybil commented playfully.

“No … I sense … nothing …”

“It is definitely some kind of a monster!” Peratha said as she gathered her strength, trying to prepare both her body and mind for some more spell casting.

“It’s… somehow familiar ...” Kortan tilted his head, a confused look on his face.

“You know what it is?” Heartwell’s voice was still low.

“I can’t put my mind on it, but it reminds me of something …”

“Have you fought monsters before?” Mizette asked.

“Not monsters, but I did encounter a few beasts while hunting … aha! I know!”

“Stay quiet, you fool!” Heartwell smacked him in the back of the head with a blunt side of the blade. The leather helmet let out no sound at all.

“Ouch! Sorry about that. Yeah, I think I know what it is!”

“Well, what is it?” Peratha raised her voice in annoyance.

“It looks like an oversized, overbuffed deer to me … with an ugly face.”

“A deer?” There was a strong mocking tone in Peratha’s voice, “You are even dumber than you look!”

“Look at it, hussy! It has four legs and a huge set of antlers!”

“Now that you mention it, those do look like the antlers!” Hazelmere agreed, “I thought those were the devilish horns but indeed, this creature is much more similar to a deer.”

“A deer is a graceful animal. It has to be, to run away from the predators. This creature is too huge and too intimidating to be a prey,” Peratha was insistent.

“Or maybe, the predators are even bigger on the other side,” Vukasin said.

Peratha pondered that for a bit before continuing: “Anyway, prey animals always move in herds. That is how they defend themselves. This creature is all alone …”

“I think you’re all missing the point,” Heartwell cut her off in the middle of the sentence, “whatever it is, there’s no need for us to stay here any longer. Predator or prey, it doesn’t matter. Just put the damn stone where it’s supposed to be, and let’s get out of here.”

“I agree with the guy,” Mizette nodded her head quite vigorously, “let’s do the job and go back. We can observe it to our soul’s content from the safety of our camp.”

“All right!”

Hazelmere threw the stone in her hand gently. It slid on the ice for some time before stopping.

“Ok, let’s go back.”

---

“At least now we know there are animals and monsters on the other side, besides the trees,” Cybil pointed out as they approached the camp. The bright spell surrounding them was no more, as it only served the purpose in the cold surroundings.

“Even if there are no demons on the other side, those beasts will do a lot of damage if they ever reach our camp,” Heartwell said, “especially when they’re so massive. Who knows what else is out there.”

“You are right, Hazelmere agreed, “we will spend the rest of the day making sure the magescope is working properly. However, I want all the remaining mages and military commanders to join me in the main tent tomorrow. If there are animals and beasts on the other side, then there also have to be some more intelligent creatures out there. And I don’t want them to catch us by surprise. We will need every advantage we can get, and I think I know how we can get one.”

“Ohh, Hazelmere is making plans of her own!” Peratha’s voice was playful and friendly.

“That sounds fine, but we don’t have a camp anymore. Yesis has smashed it completely,” Cybil pointed out.

“Don’t worry about it. We’ll make something simple to replace the command tent by the end of the day,” Vukasin sounded very sure of that.

And that was the case. While most of the camp was in scattered ruins, the soldiers have managed to erect a few new tents. It looked much more like a traveling carnival than a military outpost since the new tents were made from the muddy bits of the previous tents, which got completely torn up. The soldiers sew them together clumsily, but they did fulfill their purpose. They also started erecting a simple, wooden palisade around the camp. The muddy ground was gone, thanks to Sun who shone his light brightly after Yesis has left.

The magescope worked perfectly. Another, much bigger stone was bound to it, enabling a mage pouring her energy into it to access the magescope from afar. Much energy was needed to maintain the bind, but that was nothing for a group of experienced archmages.

The next day, all the archmages and six soldiers, including Heartwell and Vukasin, gathered at the new command tent, which now also served as Hazelmere’s, Mizette’s, and Peratha’s tent until more were built. Moana was also there.

“So, have we sent the water we have collected to the palace?” Peratha started the conversation.

“Yes, but we won’t get the results any time soon,” Hazelmere responded.

“That much is obvious. So, Hazelmere, tell us about this plan of yours.”

“We saw there are beasts on the other side. And, if there are beasts out there, then it is reasonable to assume there are also demons nearby.”

“Demons? I am convinced the angel said it is the void, not hell, on the other side,” Cybil interrupted her.

“Yes, that is what he said. But, he also said that the heavens are still debating it, which means they have no idea what is going on. As far as we know, nothing exists in the void besides dark energy. It is the darkest plane of existence imaginable. And, while we can’t detect any energy on the other side, we saw there is life out there. The trees, the beasts … life can’t exist without energy. This is why I think the other hypothesis makes much more sense. It is not that the energy doesn’t exist on the other side. We just can’t detect it. The energy of the other world conflicts with ours somehow.”

“Ok, let us assume that is the case. Why demons?” Natle asked, “What makes you think there are demons on the other side and not some regular people? And just so we are clear, I am not saying you are wrong. I agree with you, but I would like to hear your opinion on it first.”

“Ok, here is my reasoning,” Hazelmere braced herself, as if she was about to do some hard, physical labor, “The hell we know of is an extremely inhospitable, fiery place. Such a perverse place can only give birth to perverted beings. There is no place for gentleness or compassion in such a harsh environment, power is everything there. Here, we have something that looks like the exact opposite, a frozen world. But, is it really that different from the hell as we know it? If we ignore the looks of it, the essence is the same: a harsh, inhospitable world which, although it should be impossible, harbors life somehow. And, we have seen the beast on the other side. If the big soldier is right about it, and it is actually prey, that only goes to show what kind of life the other side is filled with. It is not a graceful, gentle one, but strong and brutal.”

“An ox is also a strong animal, yet it isn’t a predator,” Cybil pointed out.

“But an ox is not a prey,” Mizette countered, “the gods created oxen to help the people with hard labor. That is why you always see them near the people and never in the wild.”

“Please continue, miss,” Heartwell got the conversation back on track, sounding far more nobly than usual.

“Anyway, my point is that there may be several different kinds of hells. We only had to deal with one fiery type, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t other kinds as well. The harsh environment, the enormous trees far more fitting in a Sanddiac forest than in such an unforgiving environment, the huge beasts. All of that has much more in common with the fiery hell than with a normal world like ours. And we can rule out the possibility of it being the void. There is no way complex creatures such as beasts can exist in the void.”

“There is also one more important thing,” Natle continued, “would the demons bother to show up at all if it was a portal to the void? They had to use up an outrageous amount of mana to come to fight the angels here, and there is no way they would do it if it didn’t benefit them somehow. We can’t sense the energy on the other side but, if it has anything to do with their demonic origin, maybe they can?”

“That is a good point,” Cybil agreed.

“Anyway,” Hazelmere got them back on track, “it would be reasonable to assume there are demons out there. And, in all likelihood, they are completely different from the ones we already know. If we have really opened the portal to hell, and even the angels themselves aren’t able to sense it for what it is, then nothing we have to fight these demons will be of any use to us. The divine magic might not even work on them, at least not until tweaked properly. And it would be too foolish of us to do nothing but wait for them to march through the portal.”

“Isn’t that why we are here though? To observe the other side and gather information?” Cybil pointed out.

“Yes, but there is one more thing we can do.”

“Which is?”

“We can explore the ruins below us.”

An awkward silence took hold of the room. Most archmages exchanged worried glances between them.

“Didn’t the emperor himself forbid us from doing so?” Peratha raised her voice slightly, but the difference in tone was quite noticeable.

“No, he didn’t. His advisor forbade us. She didn’t even give me the chance to talk with his majesty.”

“The same advisor who’s now rotting in the dungeon,” Heartwell’s said in a harsh voice.

“Or worse,” Vukasin added.

“Do you intend to go back to the palace and ask his majesty?” Peratha asked.

“No.”

Peratha frowned, an extremely displeased look on her face.

“He might not understand, which is why we will do it without his permission,” Hazelmere stated.

“Are you mad!” Peratha yelled at Hazelmere without any reserve, throwing her completely off guard.

“Wha-wha-what?”

“Do you have any idea how dangerous dungeoneering is? Only the most skilled, veteran adventurers can pull it off!”

“Whoa, whoa, calm down, hussy,” Heartwell raised his hand to stop Peratha’s overreaction.

“I thought you’d be for it?” Hazelmere’s eyes opened wide in shock, “I mean … weren’t you the one telling me it’s better not to mention some things to his majesty? Besides, you had proposed the same thing before the portal was summoned!”

Peratha took a moment to collect herself: “I wouldn’t mind exploring the ruins back then, when we had much more people and resources at our disposal. But doing it now, with so few of us … there is no way we can pull it off!”

“Have you explored dungeons before?” Hazelmere asked.

“Yes … and I didn’t like it one bit!”

“But it is ok, the adventurers who have discovered the ruins first have already cleared them. We just need to see if they have missed something. Maybe there are some enchanted objects they didn’t sense. After all, I doubt they had the archmages with them.”

“That’s not how dungeons work!” Peratha got back to yelling, “All the dungeons are connected to the underworld, which means the new monsters always come to replace the ones that have been slain! And they’ve cleared the ruins a few moons ago. Those ruins are filled with monsters now! We don’t have the experience, nor the proper escort to do it!”

“But we also have no choice!” Hazelmere slammed both her hands on the table, much to everyone’s surprise, “I know what I’m asking is dangerous, which is why I’ll go too! I’m also aware we may return empty-handed, but taking such a risk is certainly better than sitting on our asses all day long, waiting for the demonic armies to show up!”

“You aren’t going anywhere, missy,” Heartwell said in a relaxed manner, as if he was stating the obvious truth instead of arguing.

“Oh yes, I am!”

“No, you won’t! I don’t care if it is some kind of mage’s honor I’ve never heard of before or a foolish display of bravery. My job is to keep you safe, which means you won’t be going underground.”

“What, are you going to disobey my orders?” Hazelmere smirked at him.

“I’m going to tie you to your bed, that’s what I’m gonna to do,” instead of raising his voice, Heartwell crossed his arms over his chest.

“You are here to listen to my orders!”

“As long as those don’t contradict his majesty’s orders.”

That made Hazelmere pause.

“His majesty’s orders take precedence over yours. Besides, it’s not like you have to go down there yourself. Honestly, I like the idea. I’m not looking forward to losing some of my soldiers to monsters, but I think it’s worth a shot. If what you’re saying is true, and the demons are really on the way, then their lives are already lost. Taking a risk like this, to learn anything we can about our enemy before it shows up, makes perfect sense to me. However, I have no intention of ordering anyone to go down there. Only the volunteers will go.”

Peratha pointed accusingly at Hazelmere, staring her in the eyes: “And what if we come back empty-handed? In all likelihood, we’ll be sending people to their deaths with nothing to show for it! If we knew we’d find something useful, I’d have nothing against sacrificing some of us to get it! But this is too rash, too foolish! I’m completely against it! Let the Emperor send another team of adventurers down there, and some of us may come with them. Our current forces are too weak to fight anything!”

“Scared?”

Hazelmere wasn’t even trying to hide her intent. Everyone knew she was baiting Peratha, including Peratha herself. It was way too obvious.

And yet, it worked.

“Scaareed?” Peratha’s face distorted in a fit of rage, “Someone like you, who spent her entire life in a mansion, is asking me if I’m scared?”

“Maybe your past experiences with the dungeons have been too painful? Maybe your mind can’t take any more of it?”

“Oh, rest assured, they were! And I have no interest in sending the other people to die in a dungeon for no good reason! All for some small chance that a team of experienced adventurers, who are well known for stripping everything in their path, have missed something important!”

“You don’t have to go if you don’t want to,” Peratha found Hazelmere’s smug face to be the most punchable thing she has ever seen.

“And who’ll go in my place? I’m the best offensive mage you have here! You’d have to send at least three archmages in my stead, which only means more people will end up dead than it’s necessary!”

“You voted for me, when we were deciding who the next royal archmage will be! Now, the time has come for you to take responsibility for it!”

Peratha opened her mouth, an incredulous look on her face.

“Don’t you think you are being unreasonable right now, Hazelmere?” Natle asked, “We should at least ask his majesty. Maybe he will be willing to assemble a new team of adventurers.”

“There is no time!” Hazelmere cut her off, “We have no idea how much time we have at our disposal, and it will take moons for a new adventuring party to form up! No, we are exploring the ruins right now, without delay! However, I agree with our knight-commander. It wouldn’t be right to order anyone to go down there. Only the volunteers will go! And, if anything goes wrong, I will take full responsibility for it!”

“You think there will be enough volunteers?” Heartwell asked.

“We don’t need a big party. Twenty people will do.”

“Umm … twenty-five is better … to please the divines …” Moana said.

“Twenty soldiers and five mages, that should be enough!” Hazelmere waved her hand around, like a storyteller in a theatre.

“What, you are a military genius now?” The mocking tone of Cybil’s voice was more than evident.

“Let me remind you that, if you feel like it, you can leave anytime you want! Nobody is forcing you to be here!”

Hazelmere noticed Heartwell staring disapprovingly at her.

“Well, mages, that is. Soldiers don’t have much of a choice. Anyway, if any of you archmages disagree with my plan, you are free to go! You are the ones who have made me the royal archmage, and now you have to deal with it! However, if you choose to do so, you better have an excuse ready for when his majesty summons you eventually.”

That made Natle shake her head in disbelief.