You, Me, and the World Between Us (Dragon Quest)

V - A New Companion

After a bittersweet departure, the royal siblings began making their way south of Vrenor towards the portal that would direct them to Endor. Their mother told them many a time of how, at their age, she had singlehandedly won the tournament. Thus, the pair were very excited to step into the kingdom themselves, and maybe even into the very coliseum their mother made history in so many years ago. "Perhaps if there is competition taking place upon our arrival, I can join in and reclaim mother's title of champion," Maxim jested, eliciting a wary giggle from his sister. Soon, after walking many miles, the duo came across a building that resembled a temple. Across the waters that separated the continents, they could see an identical structure, telling them that they had arrived at the portal.

Maxim pushed open to door to the portal site, Inessa following in behind her brother quietly. As they stepped inside, they noted a Zamoksvan guard sitting at a table, leaning back in his seat as he relaxed. Beyond him sat a glimmering blue portal, shielded by a pair of iron gates. The guard, upon noticing that he was no longer by himself, stood up from his seat. He rose rather violently, knocking over the wooden chair and having to adjust his armor. He stared through his helmet with wide eyes at the pair, his jaw dropping slightly. "Tsarevich Maxim, Tsarevna Inessa!" he exclaimed upon recognizing the two, jumping down into a kneeling position. The guard glanced up at the two, brows furrowed together. "What brings the two of you to Endor portal?" he questioned.

Inessa smiled softly, stepping next to her brother as the soldier rose from his knees. "As you are aware, the Tsarina is missing from castle, and Zamoksva's people are unaware of her location. Father has given us permission to travel over the lands, with the hopes that we shall locate her," she tilted her head gently as she spoke, her hands held tightly behind her back, "I presume she has not passed through here, but if she has landed on the next continent by other means, we would like to pass through to resume search for her," Inessa finished with a gentle nod. Maxim beamed at his sister; she had quite a way with words, and he could always count on her to explain their situation in the most eloquent way possible.

The Zamoksvan guard raised his brows, his eyes growing wide as he glanced between Maxim and Inessa. "The royal children off on a quest to save the Tsarina? Ah, such a tale perplexes me, but I have heard wilder about the ruler herself. Veteran soldiers tell tales of how she escaped the palace as a Tsarevna and found herself in the Endor tourney. Then, she continued to travel and helped save our world from peril! Do excuse me, I have fallen off-topic," the guard said with a bow as he turned towards the gates, unlocking them and forcing them apart, "certainly, you may travel to the next kingdom. If the safety of our Tsarina is on the line, I will permit you to do so. But be cautious yourselves, if Tsarina Alena does not return, one of you may sit upon Zamoksva's throne next."

Maxim shot a cold glare to the guard, sending chills down the latter's spine. "Do not speak such words. My mother shall return to Zamoksva and resume position as ruler, and all will be well," the Tsarevich stated firmly as he pulled his sister beyond the iron gates with him. As the portal delivered them across the land, his stomach grew unsettled, and not just from the unfamiliar form of travel. No, a new wave of worry crashed over Maxim - what if finding their mother would take longer than they planned? What if they discovered her injured? What if they weren't able to find her? He stopped himself before the next thought entered his mind; he'd surely be sick if he thought about that. No. Mother is out there, alive and kicking. We just have to find her, Maxim thought to himself.

Before they knew it, Maxim and Inessa found themselves on the other side of the portal. Miraculously, the eldest was able to gain his balance with ease, but his younger sibling stumbled out clumsily. The Tsarevich grasped his sister by the arm, helping steady her and she secured her footing once again. Almost immediately, the gates guarding the portal retracted, allowing the pair to exit. They walked out, Inessa still clinging to her brother's arms. As they walked, they passed by two soldiers, their uniforms vastly different from those of their own country's men. "Zamoksvans," one of the guards remarked with a nod at the two, "welcome. Endor lies just south and east of here. Safe travels, monsters are traveling in swarms lately."