After Aira finished her enchantment, the wind intensified and the trees wavered in the breeze, surrounding us supportably. It was strong yet still had it's trademark feathery ambiance, just like Aira promised. The wind caused us to go further up into the sky, giving us a good view of the tannin-brown forest with it's crunched twigs, crispy grasses, and trees as big as citadels. But Sofia looked anything but excited. In fact, it was the polar opposite. Her face was sickly pale, her palms were clammy, her breathing was somewhat inconsistent, and even her legs must have all but lost blood circulation at this point.

Wait. How come all of a sudden I was actually paying attention to Sofia? That was so left field for me.

"Aira, how far will we go to get to the secret door?" I discreetly asked.

Aira focused on controlling the air with her hand, replying reassuringly, "No worries, it's not as far as you might believe. I'd say approximately 10 minutes."

Aira collectively generated wind from her palm, allowing it to pass on to Sofia. As it did, the wind lightened up and secured her in a cocoon of air. Immediately I saw Sofia's face turn back to a healthier state, her palms less clammy, and her breathing becoming neutral once more, not inconsistent or too consistent but just right.

Sofia smiled gratefully at Aira.

"No need to thank me. Just let the pure air relieve you." Aira modestly said.

The wind scooped us down near the end of the forest, at the beginning of eight steps leading to what must be Fealettia. As soon as we hit the ground completely, the wind dispersed as gently as it came.

I looked on at the brown door, which was engraved into a tree surrounded by greenery. The tree trunk was shaded a weak sliver with cracks going through it. The energy around it was just as weak.

Aira lightly inspected the tree. "It got worse..." She whispered loudly enough that I and Sofia were able to hear her clearly enough. We questioningly glanced at one another and then at her.

"What got worse?" I asked.

"It's complicated. When you meet King Bervon and Queen Theia, they will go into better depth on the situation." Aira averted her eyes from us momentarily and then went up the first step.

But I didn't move. I kept eyeing the tree trunk staring directly back. It appeared to be weak seeing the dryness and cracks on it. It had me questioning how it was still functioning at all.

Aira, seeing the hesitation on our faces asked, "Why, what are you waiting for? Let's go!" She waved, going up the rest of the stairs sonorously.

Sofia and I shrugged it off, following her up the eight steps, taking in all the beauty while we could. Even despite the frailness of the tree, it was still possible to visualize that whatever laid behind that door was still entrancing and spiritualistic.

After going up all eight steps, Sofia and I stood at the door, looking at Aira nervously. Aira looked at us knowingly with a smile, "Stop fretting! It won't hurt at all, that I can assure you. But since this is your very first taste of magic, it's understandable why you'd be so nervous about it." She said with sympathy before going on to explain, "Might feel a little strange, maybe foreign to you but you will get accustomed to it by time and experience."

She opened the door, "I'll come behind you."

Delicately, Sofia and I went inside the door in silence. As soon as all three of us were in, the binding light encased us. I started to feel a tingling sensation from my insides. But it wasn't the usual tingling but rather a more foreign tingle.

Then, without no sound at all, our vision was clouded completely with binding light.