After Ethan confirmed the array didn't pose any immediate danger, he led everyone through together.
Purplish-red light washed over them again.
But when the transfer finished, the world on the other side had changed so completely it was almost absurd.
The ancient caves were gone.
In their place sat a neat, quiet little mountain village.
Houses lined up along flat, well-kept roads.
Out in the fields, farmers were bent over at work. On a distant slope stood a power station, steady lines running down into the village.
No matter how you looked at it, it was just an ordinary, modest settlement.
Ethan turned in place, frowning.
Auri perched near his shoulder and patted the top of his head like she owned him.
"Dad, I wanna go play!"
She pointed toward the edge of the village.
"There's water!"
Ethan followed her finger.
A clear river really did cut through the farmland.
With Auri staring at him like that, he didn't have much choice but to agree.
