The two figures pushed their way through the depths of the forest. No trails reached this far into the thicket so the going was slow. They passed small creeks and ponds teeming with unknown life. Climbed over fallen trees, older than their will age itself. One followed the other with no words, no questions. They moved with purpose despite seeing no landmarks nor having a map.

Surely enough they bust from the tree line into a small clearing and there standing above the trees was an ancient looking tower. It missed bricks here and there and was veined with spreading cracks. The clawing vines on one side appeared to be ripping the pillar apart, looking for the secrets within. They moved to the solitary door that still stood on rusted hinges, knocking four times.

After a few moments the door swung open making no sounds, so screech of old metal. There stood an old man shrouded in brown, dusty robes, bent over from years of reading and studying.

"John, you were not to return here." He rasped, his throat not used to speaking. "And you have brought another. Was I not clear to you boy?"

"Please, my sister is ill." John pleaded with the man. "You must heal her."

"I have neither the means nor the disposition to do such a thing."

"You lack the means? But you did this to me so surely you can do it again!"

"Fine. You may enter but I guarantee nothing."

The robed figure left the doorway leaving it pried open. John and Cecelia followed into the darkness until their vision suddenly cleared and they saw the chamber before them. The room was much larger than what could have fit inside the crumbling tower. This space would have challenged even the greatest dining halls. Stairs spiraled to floating platforms, small discs hovered across the room between others.

"There are places beyond our realm, John. Places not unlike this tower. Some of these other worlds are easy to access, a simple doorway." He gestures toward the door they just entered from. "Others are nearly impossible to get to."

"I do not care about your witchery. Save my sister."

"I have had some luck in entering these other worlds but it is very costly, difficult, and exhausting." The man began to climb one of the staircases up to a platform with glass cases. "Sometimes this can be worth it for the rare materials that can be procured."

"Please, sir, can you fix me or not? I don't want to die."

"You see I once had some of these valuable materials in my possession. I have tried since to replicate said ingredients but never have I succeeded." He stops in front of one glass case that holds a jeweled head circlet. It glows with some sort of underlying purple magic. "The things I've created are unpredictable and are usually very damaging."

"Let's go Cecelia, he has no interest in helping us"

"I used those materials on your operation dear boy. I have none left to use on your sister. The only option I have is this counterfeit I made. Chances are it will kill her and that will be that."

"Well what if we went to get more of what you need?"

"You cannot. Nobody can. The way to that realm is sealed to me and I know of no way to reopen it. No, this is all I have to offer."

John turns away and takes a step. "Come sister I'll not risk your life, this was a waste of time."

Cecelia stands her ground, her eyes beginning to water. "John I'm going to die. I want to try it."

He freezes in his movement. "But we can find another way."

"No we cannot. You know we will not find anything else. If I'm dead either way then I want to try this and see what will happen. At worst I'm still dead; but at best?"

John lets out a long sigh, "Fine."