Author's Preface
Over the next month, Blue focused entirely on the five men. Mornings in the arena. Afternoons on the scrolls. Evenings reviewing what stuck and what didn't. The Twilight Flow technique didn't come easily to any of them. It wasn't supposed to, but one by one, the faint stirrings of qi started to show. Small. Unrefined. Across town, Eve and the team poured everything into the headquarters. The construction crews Titus and Grayson sent worked fast. By the end of the month, the shell of something real had started to take shape over the golden gate, walls up, foundation set, the garden beginning to form around the gate itself. Eclipse was becoming something you could see. And Jon was ready. Or as ready as anyone could be for stepping through a gate into another world entirely.
The night before, Blue sat in his backyard alone. The door opened behind him. Chris came out carrying a plate of tacos. Darrien followed with drinks.
"You alright?" Chris set the plate down beside him.
Darrien looked at him. "You look like someone just killed your dog."
"Thanks, guys. Really appreciate the support." Blue picked up a taco. "I just need to write a letter to send with Jon. In case he resonates." He stared at the blank page. "I don't know what to say. I told them I'd come back and check in. I haven't had the chance, and I won't for a while."
Darrien shrugged. "Just say, hey, I'm alive. Have fun with these guys." He grinned.
"In all seriousness." Chris sat down. "Just tell them you miss them. That you're working hard. That you'll be there soon." He looked at Blue. "We'll find the pendant, man. I promise."
"He's right." Darrien leaned back. "Even if we have to check every cave from here to Timbuktu."
Blue exhaled slowly. "You're right."
"For now, just eat." Chris looked at Darrien and nodded toward the door. "We'll give you some space."
The two of them headed inside, leaving Blue alone in his backyard with a plate of tacos and a blank page.
The next morning, they all gathered in front of the golden gate. The team. Jon. The four remaining porters. Everyone was quiet in the way people get quiet before something that might not work.
Blue walked up to Jon and handed him a sealed envelope. "If this works and you make it through, ask for Wu Jin. Give him this."
Jon took it and bowed. "Of course."
Blue looked at him. "You look nervous. You sure you want to do this?"
"I am." Jon looked at the gate. "If it helps them and helps you, then yes. I'll go through with it. You showed me a light at the end of a dark tunnel, Blue. I owe you this much."
Blue pulled him into a quick hug. "You owe me nothing, you earned this on your own. We will call it even for taking care of me when I was a new porter. So how about we find out if this is going to work or not?"
Jon turned and walked straight up to the golden gate. He raised his hand and pushed it through. The light hit immediately. Bright. Gold. Consuming. Then he was gone. Silence for half a second.
"Holy shit." Darrien stared at the empty space where Jon had been. "That actually worked."
Cynthia clapped. The rest of the team smiled. Even Samantha.
Blue stood looking at the gate. Damn. Seori was right.
He turned back to the four remaining porters.
"Welp." He crossed his arms. "Looks like you all need to catch up to Jon before you can follow him." He pointed down the street. "Start running."
They took off without argument. They had proof now. And proof was better motivation than any rod.
On the other side, Jon hit the platform hard and rolled to a stop.
He stood slowly and looked around. The Silent Edge compound stretched out in front of him. Warriors sparred in every direction. Men the size of small buildings moved through forms that looked like something out of a comic book. The air smelled like iron and sweat and something older than both.
Two figures approached with swords drawn. "Who are you?"
"I-I'm Jon. Blue sent me. I also have a letter for someone named Wu Jin."
The two stopped.
"Blue?" The shorter one stepped forward. "Is he okay? How is he doing? Why didn't he come himself?"
"I, excuse me. This is a lot to take in. He told me to find Wu Jin right away."
The taller one looked at the taller one.
"That son of a bitch. Didn't even think about us." He sheathed his sword. "I'm going to crush his skull when he finally shows up."
"I wouldn't count on it." The shorter one laughed. "Tie Shan said you still can't beat Mu Jang. You have no chance against Blue."
He waved for Jon to follow. "Come on."
Ilho knocked on Wu Jin's office door.
"Come in." Wu Jin's voice came through like a command, not an invitation.
Ilho and Jinhu stepped forward and bowed. Jon stood between them. Ilho grabbed the back of Jon's head and pushed it down.
"Who is this?" Wu Jin looked at the three of them from behind his desk.
A woman stood beside him. She looked at Jon carefully. "You're from Earth." It wasn't a question.
"Yes, ma'am."
"How is my br..." She stopped herself. "How is Blue?"
"He's doing well, ma'am." Jon stepped forward and placed the envelope on the desk. "He asked me to give you this, sir."
Wu Jin looked at the envelope, then at Jon.
"I am not sir. I am your sect leader. She is the head strategist. You will address us accordingly." He looked Jon over slowly. "Those two behind you are your seniors. You are nothing. A fly. A nuisance. I don't keep weaklings around. I hope Blue trained you hard because I'm going to train you harder." He waved a hand. "Ilho. Jinhu. Find him a room. Get out of my sight."
As they led Jon down the corridor, Ilho leaned close. "Don't worry. He's a big softy. He's just trying to scare you."
Jinhu laughed. "You're going to get him killed saying things like that."
Jon looked between the two of them and genuinely questioned every decision he'd made in the last month.
Back in the office, Wu Jin picked up the envelope and opened it. He read it aloud.
Dear Sect Leader,
I made a rod like yours, let me tell you what. The rod is amazing. I can see now why you used it so often. I'm thoroughly enjoying myself pretending to be you here on Earth.
Tell everyone I'm sorry I can't make it back yet. A lot has happened, too much to explain in a letter. I'm starting to look for the last pendant piece. I have some clues but nothing definitive. I wish I had a timeline for my return. I don't.
I have four more men arriving within the week. Please don't kill them. They're friends. I'll send more as I can.
-Blue
Wu Jin set the letter down. "What do you think, Strategist? Of your brother's words."
Seori was quiet for a moment. "There's more going on than he's letting on. He's probably trying to handle everything alone."
"Tch." Wu Jin leaned back. "You're probably right." He looked at the letter one more time. "No matter. At least we can start training these Earthlings."
Seori looked at the letter on the desk. "Sect Leader, do you think he'll come back?"
Wu Jin didn't hesitate.
"Of course. It's Blue we're talking about." He picked up his rod. "He won't leave you all behind a second time."