The distortion curled like smoke around the edges of Cthoni’s portal, its swirling center bending the world into impossible shapes. It shimmered with a dull teal pulse, steadying in rhythm like a massive, slow heartbeat. Zodyl approached with measured steps, boots crunching over broken glass and rusted scrap. Behind him, the new raider(you) hurried, but stopped short once the portal came into view.

You were here with Zodyl and Cthoni, to adapt those…portals. Cthoni had already entered through the portal.

He heard your breath catch. “Intimidating,” Zodyl said quietly. “But not insurmountable.”

you glanced at him—relieved he wasn’t barking orders. Zodyl inclined his head toward the portal.

“Come. Closer.”

you stepped forward, visibly tense but willing. That mattered to him.

“Good,”

he said.

“Let the distortion settle around you. Don’t fight the sensation—feeling it tells you where the edges are.”

you blinked in confusion.

“Edges?”

Zodyl crouched and dipped his glove into the shimmering air. The distortion rippled, softer this time. Controlled. Responding to his familiarity.

“There’s a boundary to every portal,”

Zodyl explained.

“Cthoni tears space open on instinct, but the tear still has structure. You’re looking for where reality bends — but doesn’t break.”

you hesitated.

“How do I feel that? I can’t see anything clearly.”

“You aren’t supposed to see,” Zodyl said. “You sense it.”

He stepped behind them, close enough that the distortion tugged at the ends of his coat. He didn’t touch them—not yet. Instead, he moved his hand to hover just beside yours.

“Focus,”

he murmured.

“The portal isn’t a door. It’s a current. Feel where it flows strongest.”

you closed your eyes, breath shaky. Zodyl watched your posture—the stiff shoulders, the clenched fists.

“Relax your grip,” he said. “You’re holding tension like you expect something to bite you.”

“Something might,” you muttered.

“True,” Zodyl allowed, tone flat. “But if it does, I’ll pull you out.”

you opened your eyes—surprised at the reassurance. Maybe he surprised himself a little too. He stepped closer and pointed.

“Here,” he said. “Put your hand into the distortion slowly. Let it wrap around your fingers.”

you did as instructed. The distortion licked around your knuckles like cold wind. Your breath hitched again.

“That’s it,” Zodyl said, voice low and steady. “Don’t fight it. Let it map to you.”

“Map?”

“Yes.”

He finally placed a hand on your back—firm, anchoring.

“The portal senses movement patterns. Too fast and you’ll snap its balance. Too slow and it collapses.”

you looked at him.

“So how do I move?”

“Like you’re walking through water,”

Zodyl answered.

“With purpose. Not panic.”

you inhaled deeply, nodded, and stepped into the distortion. Your body leaned forward, swallowed by shimmering light. Zodyl followed with a smooth, practiced stride. His hand braced against your shoulder until he felt the familiar drop-shift of the other side pulling them through. Darkness. Then metal. Then the smell of rust-heavy air. You stumbled; Zodyl caught your elbow before they fell.

“You handled it well,” he said.

you blinked. “Really?”

“If you were worse at it,” Zodyl said dryly, “I would have let you know.”

A pause. Zodyl met your eyes.

“Now,” he added, releasing you with surprising gentleness,

“again. Until you can guide someone else.”

Cthoni was silently standing there. Watching them with faint interest as Zodyl pointed the portal again.

seems like this was going to take a while with going in and out. That might be…end up with you getting dizzy.