Gweneal smile even larger. Was it relief? I found myself in a state of dropping anger. It was strange, I felt furious over the hidden agenda he had. Yet, I could tell he meant good. - Severely misguided good, yes, but still.

I looked ahead at the road again. I found myself rather confused still. This new world I was dropped into felt insane! How could we survive? The plants appeared to be dying. There was a stench of faint sickness in the air even. I shook my head, trying to get my thoughts into order. I still had one major question. I looked to the elf who was kind enough to guide us and opened my mouth once again.

"Hey, Vanytar?"

"Hmm?" The cart driver looked back at me immediately.

I continued to huddle in my cloak as I asked,. "What is the gate?"

The elf glanced at me for a moment, then smiled. "The GATE? Yes." He looked away, in thought, then back to me.

"The GATE is the universal system put in place by all of Althanas' major countries in reaction to these calamities." He smiled, "We are on the way to recovery, friend..."

I looked ahead, down the road. As the mountains of Akashima drew into view, I could feel the elf's optimism like a bright light in the dark. I hoped I could believe it...