New Eyes, New Visions

She puffed up her chest and finally placed her hands into the portal. The surface created waves like water when her fingers touched it. Larika could feel the cool sensation on her skin. As she wiggled her fingers on the other side, she could the air blowing.

She inhaled first before finally closing her eyes and entering her whole body within the gate. When she opened her eyes, she saw trees hacked down, vines and bushes without any leaves, and ash falling from the sky like snow. There was nothing happy in the scene. And the once luscious forest where she grew up is nowhere to be found. 

"What happened?" She whispered. 

"War happened," the empress was standing behind her, sadness was painted all over her face. "Life here, as we know it, has vanished. A demon army razed it to the ground."

"Darion," Larika's eyes flared. She thought that Darion left this territory alone because he already got her, but it seems he wanted so much more. But why?