I was standing in my living room, staring at the ring with intense eyes. Taking a deep breath, I finally spoke that stupid command, "Mimi… no, activate the portal to Ashland."
And just like that, a bright light burst forth in front of me, swirling into a whirlpool of white space. A portal.
I stepped toward it cautiously, the radiance so intense that I had to shut my eyes. Even now, I couldn't help but be fascinated—just a few steps, and I would be millions of kilometers away.
As the light faded away, I slowly opened my eyes.
I found myself once again standing in that vast grassland, surrounded by an endless stretch of vibrant, living nature. The air was crisp and pure, and right in front of me lay that serene lake I remembered so well. The water shimmered like glass, crystal clear—and today, for the first time, I noticed I could actually see the bottom. Fishes of different colors swam gracefully inside, their movements fluid and peaceful.
