Chapter 1

My name is Samuel Knight, the story you're about to hear is harder to comprehend than the first. This story is about a boy, one who explored the world. He didn’t get to go very far though. Like I said last time, prepare for your world to change, Again, and you're never going to be able to go back.

Well, hello again. I guess I should catch you up to this point first. It all started when I entered an unbelievable world with magic and wonder, but this world was too good to be mine. So I learned on my own, and eventually I got to this. 

“Well how was that?” Samuel asked Diya after trying a new spell. 

‘Hmm, it could use some work. You were hesitating too much, but it was good.’ Samuel looked at Tome, 

“What do you think?” But as Tome always did, blinked in confusion. How does Samuel know this? Too much time talking to a book and a ghost. Diya came into view with him in his new private room, 

‘It's an improvement, that’s all that matters. When we go back to Marshlake you’ll be learning much more in school.’ Samuel was so excited for school, last time they saw Sylvan he was against an army of controllers. Samuel had given him full control of the portal though, and he had an army of golems to protect him. He had to be alive, and in one day he’d be at the portal waiting for Jackson and Samuel. A knock was heard from the door of Samuels room, and Jackson came running in and hugging Samuel. Samuel would have thought he was being squeezed to death, but Jackson always did this on a special occasion.

“Samuel, are you ready? Where’s Tome and Diya? Have you been practicing your spells?”

Samuel couldn’t move his arm very well, but was able to pat Jackson on the back. “Yep all packed.” Samuel said. “I just have to grab my…” Samuel froze and looked at Tome. Tome had worry in his eyes, and started floating towards him. Samuel held out his hand and caught Tome by the spine and smiled, “Come on Diya we got to get to camp.”

The orphanage Samuel lived at offered rides for all the kids that were there, but not many of them had anywhere to go. So whenever somebody did, everyone would watch as they left the large complex. When Samuel was going down the stairs multiple of his roommates asked what he would be doing, all Samuel said was that he and Jackson were going to have the best Summer they could have. When they got to the front of the orphanage there was a taxi waiting in the front. Jackson had already got all of his stuff in the back, Samuel had brought all of his stuff down with him. His wand and Longsword were tucked into a cloth sack, and his necklace he never took off.

The orphanage caretaker, Mr. Operio entered the car as well. He looked at both the boys, “Are you two ready?” He said.

Jackson looked at Samuel and smiled, Samuel looked at Mr. Operio. “I think we are.”

On the drive up to the camp Samuel got to see things he never usually saw in the city, farms, forests, small houses. All of which reminded him of the incredible journey that lay ahead. When they finally got to the entrance of the camp Samuel insisted they walk in on their own, Mr. Operio was fine with it as long as they were safe. Which they never were. Samuel agreed, and right when Mr. Operio was out of sight; they ran with all their stuff to the camp. Unlike the other kids in the camp who were gathering at the front just as Samuel and Jackson had their first year, they slipped past all the campers and counselors to the hiking trails. Samuel had been studying the portal with Tome for an entire year now and he had a basic layout of where the portal would be. Samuel and Jackson ran to where the portal was before, but not to Samuels surprise it wasn’t there.

Jackson on the other hand did not know what was happening. “Where’s the portal!” Jackson said.

Samuel looked at Jackson and smiled, “Turns out the portal isn't all we thought it was, it moves but it always comes back to the same area.” Samuel started to look around.

“So we have no idea where the portal even is!”

“Nope.” Samuel said, “But I'm pretty sure it would be right about here.”

Samuel was under a large tree ten times their size, with branches reaching high above them.

Jackson looked up in amazement, “I don't remember that being here.” Jackson said

Samuel smiled, “It wasn't.” Samuel put all his stuff down and concentrated on the portal, and started to cast a spell. A wave of motion went through his body as he searched for the portal. Samuel had learned a few new spells, one being a spell called Sight Snap, using the world to see anything you wanted. Samuel felt like he was moving through the very essence of the dimension. He focused hard on the tree and found something incredible. “I found it.”

“Where is it?” Jackson asked.

Samuel walked in front of the tree with all the bark rapping around the tree, and as he did he found a twisted piece of the tree like a loop almost. He walked through the loop Jackson followed from behind him.

“Just like the movies.” Jackson whispered from behind Samuel

Samuel turned the corner to find a large opening in the tree, and a wave of colors. Jackson caught up with him

“The portal.” Jackson whispered.

Samuel smiled at Jackson, “Let’s go.”

They both walked up to the portal and jumped into Marshlake.

Samuel opened his eyes expecting to see the portal from the other side, but instead he was in some kind of tube drifting toward something in the distance. Last time they went through the portal they just woke up in Marshlake, but this time seemed different. Samuel saw an orb from behind them, but it felt like it was drifting away. Samuel looked up to see an even bigger orb that looked like it was getting closer. Samuel could fully feel his body. He yelled out into the tube, but there was no echo. What was this place? Where was it taking him? These were all good questions, but he realized he didn't see Jackson. For once he used his swimming lessons and turned around to see Jackson floating, unconscious. He tried to float closer to him only to go the opposite direction. Samuel started floating toward the edges of these “Tubes” and couldn’t stop, it felt like something was pulling him toward it. He hit the wall and felt a surge of energy flow through him, and he started to black out. Before he could he heard a voice, it was Diya.

‘Samuel you aren’t ready!’ Diya yelled, but that was the last thing he heard before blacking out.