Lara's Point of View

  The portal in front of me looked exactly like the ones we used centuries ago to enter dungeons—a swirling blue vortex, as mesmerizing as ever. Even after 200 years, this thing still gave off the same ethereal vibe, though I could tell it had undergone some upgrades since then. I watched the attendant nervously fiddle with the control panel, probably trying to get the coordinates set.

  "We're just setting the coordinates. Can you wait for a second?" he asked, clearly trying to keep it together.

  "Yeah, it's no problem," I replied casually, trying not to make him any more anxious than he already was. He gave a quick nod before returning to his task.

  I glanced over at Thailon and Caelum, who were standing there, looking a bit too relaxed for my liking. I extended my hand to them, offering the usual gesture. But instead of taking it, they just stared at me like I was asking for something strange.

  "Did you two seriously forget?" I asked, a little annoyed.

  "Forget what?" Caelum raised an eyebrow, his voice calm as ever.

  "What we always do when entering a portal," I reminded them. It was a routine—one I thought we had all mastered by now.

  Or just what I thought.

  Caelum looked thoughtful for a moment. "Hold hands?" he ventured.

  "Yeah," I nodded, feeling a bit exasperated. "So that—"

  "We can't lose each other since we might get separated," they finished together, in perfect synchronization.

  I smiled to myself. So they do remember.

  Flashback

  "Children, are you ready?" I asked, glancing at the eager faces of the younger ones. They all nodded in unison, their voices filled with confidence as they replied, "Yes!"

  We were about to enter the dungeon, something we had done many times before. I instructed them to close their eyes as the portal whirred to life. Everything seemed routine—until it wasn't.

  When I opened my eyes, expecting to see the familiar faces around me, I found myself completely alone.

  Where am I? The cold, eerie silence answered my question.

  Suddenly, a notification popped up, the system's harsh monotone filling the air:

  Mission 12: Error of Portal. Find your way to the exit.

  My heart sank. "You're kidding?!!!" I shouted in frustration, my voice echoing through the empty space.

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  Ugh this damn system are you serious????

  Panic started to rise within me as the gravity of the situation hit me. The kids... I had to find them. I couldn't leave them stranded in here.

  End of Flashback

  They both took my hand, and for a moment, nostalgia washed over me. Our positioning was the same as it had always been—Caelum on my right, Thailon on my left. They were my first companions, my foundation in this journey. But the absence of the others felt heavy. Bruni, who always refused to touch Thailon. Morven, who never got along with Caelum. Faye and Zephyra, always so cheerful, keeping the group lively. And of course, my little dragon, Kaida.

  Can we even go back to how things were?

  I couldn't help but wonder, feeling the weight of memories on my shoulders. Everything had changed, and yet, here we were, standing together again.

  "Is everything fine?" Caelum asked, his voice pulling me from my thoughts. His concern was clear, but I didn't want to burden him with what was on my mind.

  I smiled, but it was bittersweet. "Yes," I lied, hoping it was convincing enough.

  But deep down, I wasn't so sure. 200 years already have been passed, I don't know anymore.

  A few moments later

  And just like that, I got lost.

  It wasn't the portal's fault. This time, it was entirely on me. The moment we stepped out, people swarmed us—adventurers, traders, all sorts of folk going about their business. I had planned to stay close to Caelum and Thailon, but then something caught my attention and, just like that, I slipped out of the crowd.

  This is just yeah how unfortunate.

  I found myself staring at the buildings around me, and for a moment, I forgot everything else. The world here felt... different. Futuristic, almost. Flying cars zipped through the air, towering glass structures reached up into the sky, and there, in the distance, a twin tower stood ominously. I couldn't shake the uneasy feeling that settled over me as I took it all in.

  This place—it's like nothing I've ever seen before. People walk by in sleek, modern clothing, and they're not just humans. Elves, dwarves, and other species I can't even recognize are mixed in with the crowd. The air is filled with the hum of conversation and the energy of a place constantly on the move. It's overwhelming, but I try to keep my thoughts collected.

  It's in moments like this I realize why Caelum and Thailon insisted I wear something more modern before we left. At first, I had resisted—wearing a dress that felt so out of my comfort zone. But seeing this place now, I understand their reasoning. If I had shown up in my usual adventurer's gear, I would've stood out like an artifact from another time.

  Still, I can't help but feel a little out of place. I've always been adaptable, but this... this feels like a leap too far. It makes me wonder how much has changed and whether I can still keep up.

  "So this is the reason, huh?" I muttered to myself, staring around in awe. I was completely lost, and worse, I'd let myself get carried away by all the shiny distractions. I mean, who wouldn't? Flying cars, glass buildings, people of every species mingling like it's the most normal thing in the world—it was hard not to be fascinated.

  But now, I had a problem. I had no idea how to get back to Caelum and Thailon. We got swallowed up by the crowd the moment we arrived, and those two... well, I can't even contact them. Typical.

  "They're fine, right? They're not going to destroy anything while I'm gone... right?" I asked myself, imagining the two of them wreaking havoc somewhere.

  Honestly, maybe I should just buy what I need and find them later. I saw a massive mall earlier. A mall, in this time period! I mean, 200 years passed and somehow, malls survived? Genius, really. It's comforting in a weird way, like a reminder that no matter how crazy or futuristic things get, there will always be a place where people buy stuff they don't need.

  The more I thought about it, the more it made sense.

  A quick shopping spree, maybe grab a coffee, and I'll casually bump into them later like, "Oh hey, what a coincidence!" They won't even know I got lost... unless they did something catastrophic while I was gone.

  Yeah that would work.

  I sighed. "Well, if I'm stuck here, might as well enjoy the perks."