The transition was gentle. A brief warmth, like stepping through sunlight. A moment of displacement, neither here nor there. Then solid ground beneath his feet again.
No nausea. No twisted reality. Just a clean shift.
"That was..." Leo blinked. "Nothing like the Crescent Bay gate."
"Told you." Iori's voice came from beside him, amused. "Commercial gates prioritize capacity and distance. Leisure gates prioritize experience. You pay for the difference."
They stood in a similar chamber. Through an arched doorway, Leo could see the Tidebeak lounge. Warm lighting. Comfortable furniture. Beyond it, through large windows, the ocean.
"Welcome to Tidebeak," Iori said.
They stepped outside onto a beachfront promenade. Moonlight painted the water silver. The beach stretched wide beneath it. Small boats bobbed near the shore. Beyond them, the ocean extended into darkness.
