First-Time Traveler

Isabella collapsed to her knees the moment they stepped through the gate into Galavaria. Aurora couldn't blame her. The pressure, the noise, the subtle fear was gone instantly. Aurora had had training and time to get used to it. It wasn't nearly as bad for those who couldn't touch the source, she'd been told, but it was still intense.

Aurora knelt down at Isabella's side and laid a hand on her shoulder, very slowly, very gently. Towards the end of the several hour walk, Isabella had been so jumpy that neither of them spoke a word. It was a strange contrast, walking through brightly lit halls of white marble with all the sense of braving the deep woods under a new moon.

“Are you alright, love?” Aurora asked. Isabella shuddered, but then nodded and began working to her feet. “We can just rest here for as long as you want.”

“I'll be fine,” Isabella said. “Just... a minute or two. That wasn't what I expected.” Fortunately, the carefully constructed archways on worlds like this kept the Watchers quiet as well as keeping the gates in place. This allowed for immediate relief for weary travelers.

“I'm sorry,” Aurora said. “I tried my best to explain, but there's only so much words can do. You can probably see now why we don't have to worry about too many wanderers.”

“Seriously,” Isabella replied. “I wouldn't have gotten within a hundred feet of the Earth gate if you hadn't been with me, let alone actually stepped through it. How do you handle it?”

“Practice,” Aurora said, trying out a smile. Isabella smiled back, however weakly. “And knowledge. That getting to the other end is worth it.”