The hooded figure strode toward us. I struggled to my feet, my legs still feeling weak from the magical exertion of freeing the prisoners.

Steve took a step forward, putting himself between me and the approaching figure. He swung his axe over his shoulder like a baseball player getting ready for a pitch.

“Back off.” Steve made his voice sound lower than usual. “You don’t want to mess with us.”

The hooded figure stopped his advance and chuckled. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were dangerous fighters not to be trifled with.”

“We are,” Steve said. “We’re super dangerous so watch it.”

“Perhaps you’re right,” he said. “Quite a change from the two frightened youths I met not so long ago. A wondrous transformation indeed.” He removed his hood to reveal the white hair, trim beard, and familiar face of Gravemont, the mage who first brought us into this fantasy world.

“Gravemont?” I spoke breathlessly.

“Indeed,” he smiled. “Your powers as an enchanter have grown quickly. Removing the bars of this prison is no small feat.”

“Well, it hasn’t been easy,” I said.

“And who is this brave axe wielder that challenges me?” Gravemont said. “This can’t be the same assistant librarian that shivered in fear and begged me to go back to his world, could it?”

Steve frowned. “I shivered because I was cold. And I never begged.”

Gravemont raised a brow.

“Whatever,” Steve said. “We survived no thanks to you. We almost died like a hundred times. You were supposed to train us.”

Gravemont bowed his head. “A thousand apologies. I never should have taken new seekers out of the protected space before you were ready. It was careless of me. I didn’t anticipate an ambush from Vyrkine in that part of the wood. He has grown more bold and powerful as of late. It is a terrible thing to witness an apprentice turn to villainy.”

“Apprentice?” I said. “You trained him?”

Gravemont gave a somber nod. “A most unfortunate turn of events. He too is a seeker. I was his pathway guardian just as I was yours.”

“Wait,” Steve said. “He’s from our world? He’s just like us?”

“Indeed. When I ushered him into this world, his skills in magic developed quickly, much like Carter. I thought I could train him to be a force for good. But with his power came pride. He turned to the falsely named heroes guild and a life of corruption. As his powers increased, he rose in rank until he became their leader.”

“Can’t you stop him?” I said. “I mean, you trained him, right?”

“Alas,” Gravemont said. “My powers fade. I’ve been a pathway guardian for a long time now and I’m not the mage I once was. The people from your world grow in power quickly as you’ve experienced first hand. Some use those powers for good, others for evil. The pathway guardians are tasked with maintaining the balance.”

“So, what are you saying?” Steve said. “The guardians are making bad choices? Bringing the wrong people over here?”

Gravemont gave a weary smile. “It is difficult to see what a person will become once life changing power is placed in their hands. It’s quite a tricky thing to discern.”

“Well, where’s all the good seekers?” I said. “I’m sure you’ve brought some good people into this world. Shouldn’t they be helping out?”

“The land of Parvarelle is vast and far reaching,” Gravemont said. “Battles rage on all throughout our world. There are many good seekers doing heroic deeds to keep the land from falling into darkness. This battle with Vyrkine is one small corner of the world that must be dealt with by those who walk alongside it.”

“Meaning us?” I said.

“Perhaps,” he said. “Or perhaps you’ve already come to the end of your journey.”

I gave a confused look at Steve. “What do you mean?”

“Well,” Gravemont said. “You fulfilled your quest. The return to your world was conditional upon completion of a quest, was it not?”

“Yeah,” I furrowed my brow. “But we never went on a quest. You were captured before you could give us one.”

Gravemont smirked. “Sometimes a quest is given, other times, it is taken up by those of stout heart. The two of you have rescued me. Your pathway guardian was taken by the powerful sorcerer Vyrkine and imprisoned. You successfully infiltrated the hideout of my captor and released me from imprisonment. And that is a noble quest fulfilled if ever there was one.”

Steve and I stared at each other for a long moment.

Gravemont waved his hand through the air and a full length mirror appeared beside him. An ornately carved golden frame adorned the mirror, shimmering like a lost treasure in the gray gloom of the prison.

The mirror reflected Steve and I. We were standing back in the library wearing our normal clothes.

I laughed in surprise at the sight. My heart leapt within me that I could step away from this crazy, dangerous world and go back to the home I knew.

“This is nuts,” Steve said. “You mean, we can go back home right now?”

Gravemont nodded. “Indeed. You’ve risen to a difficult challenge and accomplished some wondrous things. This is where most seekers return to their world and treasure the adventure in their hearts.”

I looked at Gravemont. “Most seekers?”

“Well, yes. As I said, some decide to stay in our world. There are those to whom our way of life is what they always dreamed of.”

Steve and I stared at our reflection for another moment. Truth be told, I couldn’t wait to get back to a world that made sense. Excitement swirled in my chest. I was seconds away from home.

I looked at Gravemont. “What will happen to Hailey?”

“She has a quest of her own,” Gravemont said. “To destroy Vyrkine.”

I frowned. “But he’s really powerful. What if she can’t do it?”

“She doesn’t fight alone,” he said. “The thieves guild joins in the battle.”

“True,” Steve said. “And Tarialla is with her. She knows what she’s doing.”

“I suppose,” I stared at the stone floor, not feeling super confident about Hailey’s chances. “What if he’s too powerful?”

“I cannot predict the outcome,” Gravemont said. “But I will join her as well. Perhaps with our combined efforts, he will fall.”

“Perhaps?” I said.

“Well, nothing is certain in life.”

I sighed, all the excitement of returning home soured by the thought of Hailey in danger.

Steve cleared his throat. “Well?” He pointed his axe toward the mirror. “What do you think? We going home or not?”

Our reflection in the mirror looked so familiar. Steve and I standing back in the library, safe and sound in our own world. It seemed like such an easy decision but my gut churned at the thought of Hailey left her on her own with a dark sorcerer.

I clenched my jaw and looked at Gravemont. “We can’t leave. We have to help Hailey.”

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