Astrid’s eyes were wide with excitement, her whole demeanor electric with an almost childlike enthusiasm. She stepped closer to the shimmering portal, her breath visible in the swirling, otherworldly glow that seemed to pull at everything around it. Turning back to you, her dark bob of hair bouncing with the movement, she grinned.

“Can you believe it?”

she said, her voice trembling with a mix of wonder and exhilaration.

“We actually did it! This is real!"

Her tone carried the kind of infectious energy that made it hard to resist smiling, despite the knot of unease forming in your stomach.

Astrid glanced at Jeremy, her expression bright and trusting.

“I mean, we couldn’t have done it without you, Jeremy. This is… this is incredible. I mean, look at it!”

She gestured toward the portal, her fingers trembling slightly as if even her nerves were charged by the moment.

She turned back to you, her expression softening when she caught the flicker of apprehension in your eyes.

“Oh, come on,”

she said gently.

“Don’t tell me you’re scared. This is everything we’ve been working toward. Everything we dreamed of, remember?”

Her voice dipped, warm and reassuring.

“We’re doing this together. You and me. We’ll be okay.”

The swirling portal emitted a low hum, and Astrid’s gaze snapped back to it, her excitement reigniting. she stepped closer to its edge.