The wave had been right behind me, just a few moments away from overtaking us. I had no idea about myself, but Aitan would be unable to survive it, thus forcing me to manhandle him through the portal. I looked intently at the glowing surface, ready to flee at the first sign of the deadly blade of shadow bursting out from it.

One, two, three seconds passed, and nothing happened. According to the logic, it should be safe now. Everyone relaxed, but then jolted to attention when the portal suddenly flashed and then slowly dimmed like an exploded light bulb. A chorus of relieved exhalations echoed around me.

---

Without the portal illuminating the night, the surroundings were now pitch-dark. Another thing, we were on top a tall rocky ridge I could not remember seeing before. Below us, in moderate distance from the sheer cliffs, a chaotic cityscape was spread out.

I, and as I could guess from the muffled curses around, some others, had good enough eyesight to see people chaotically running on the streets. Behind the reason for such late night activity were at least thirty huge house fires, numerous crumbled buildings, occasional giant fissures in the ground, uncountable overturned and crushed cars, toppled utility poles and burst communication pipes. A proper city-scale apocalypse was unfolding below us.

In the distance to the south, I could distinguish the familiar outlines of the High Level Bridge and the Swing Bridge. That meant, the city below us was Newcastle upon Tyne, and if I remembered the maps correctly, we were at the spot the Town Moor was supposed to be. And true to its name, it had always been, well, a moor, not a huge steep-faced Grand Canyon-like crag that was now surrounding the city.

A sharp clap drew everyone’s attention to Arthur.

“I congratulate everyone for successful escape.” - he said, before stopping and exchanging some looks with Philip and Albert.

Then he continued: “Due to the losses sustained by us, the Akadem, we acknowledge our right for the freedom debt in case anyone feels the obligation, with half of those rights being shared with the Crown. The details can be discussed if you contact us through any official channels in the future.”

“Damn well you will, wizards.” - rumbled the thin man. His huge female companion gently added: “We acknowledge. Farewell.”

They turned around and simply walked away, wispy heather parting before them. While they walked, the ripples shrouded their figures and as the distance increased, they seemed to became smaller before finally disappearing from sight and my perception.

“Friggin fairies.” - I heard a barely discernible mutter from Albert.

The weres dropped to one knee for a moment, each repeating “The debt will be repaid.”. Then they turned towards me, kneeled on both knees and as if it was not enough, bowed deeply. Finally, after a raised fist salute to SAS, they vanished into the night.

A few remaining people of unknown species and affiliation saluted, bowed and nodded to Arthur, before running or flying away. One actually drilled into the solid rock beneath our feet, leaving behind only slightly disturbed layer of gravel.

Who remained, were the elf, who still wore his ice armor, gremlin Fergus and Aitan’s spider-woman. Of course, the students of Akadem, rescued civilians and the SAS team also stayed behind.

---

I returned my weapon back into the bracelet shape and came over to Arthur.

Looking at the city below, I commented: “That is Newcastle.”

I was sure I heard Aitan’s neck crunch when he whipped his head over to us: ”How?!”

“Good question.” - I said slowly, continuing my act. I raised an eyebrow, looking at Arthur.

Arthur coughed lightly, before admitting: “I also believe this is a good question. This is not exactly my field of expertise, but most likely, we are currently observing either a massive energy-matter transformation or a spatial instability stream caused by the portal.”

“Perhaps.” - I shrugged.

The smell and feeling that I got from some of the surrounding areas was different from the others, creating something that formed a giant geographical patchwork. I could spot some grasses I could not recognize even with my memory, and the rock beneath our feet was not the sandstone common for the local area but some sort of dark marble, completely unexpected to be found here.

For several seconds, the silence reigned over the top of the cliff. Then it was interrupted by an old, sharp ringtone. Arthur awkwardly patted his pockets, before gingerly pulling out an old Nokia that kept blaring with abandon, announcing its urgency to the world.

Gone was the calm and elegant appearance, as Arthur kept juggling with the violently vibrating noisy piece of modern technology. He was saved by Mattea, who quickly approached him from behind and pressed the button over his shoulder.

I should have been able to hear what was said through the phone, but mysteriously, I could not. I could not even hear what said Arthur, so I just assumed it was some sort of magic.

Seeing him use the phone, SAS also remembered to check their electronic equipment. Soon, reddish tactical lights illuminated the area while the atmosphere was livened up by the static from the radios and the subdued radio checks.

After a minute or so, Arthur put the phone away.

He looked at the victorian duo. Another wordless exchange. Telepathy? At one point, Albert became pale while Philip suddenly had another coughing fit.

With a sigh, Arthur opened his mouth, but before he could say anything, he was interrupted by a silent cheer that came from the direction of the SAS.

---

“Got the signal, Cap!” - announced Elm.

He was apparently the one responsible for the communication and the amplifier. I was amazed how the tech still worked after everything it had been put through.

“Carlie Charlie, this is Rock. Please respond. Over.” - a tired voice came through the radio, mixed with significant noise. It felt familiar, it was one of the team members that had been assigned to provide us cover from the outside.

Aitan picked up his set: “Rock, this is Bravo Alfa Zero Zero. Over.”

“Bravo…? Alfa Zero Zero? Captain Aitan Es!?”

“Rock, Affirmative.”

“Um, execute direct communication procedure. Over.”

“Roger, executing direct communication procedure. Over.”

“Good, Captain Es, all hell has broken loose here. While we had no contact with you, approximately one and half hours ago first messages came in, all about numerous massive earthquakes across the globe. And according to GSN data, dozens of the on-land epicenters were actually located in the vicinity of the cities! We received the direct orders from above to withdraw, and we are happy you are alright. You’re to proceed to the point Lima, the transport has been secured there for you. Then withdraw and return to HQ-seven immediately. Acknowledge.”

Arthur, who had been silent, quickly approached and whispered to Aitan: “Ask what cities, sir.”

Aitan nodded and repeated the enquiry into his microphone.

The reply was: “We got reliable data from European territory only and some nearby areas in Asia and Africa. Just a second… Here: affected areas include London, Paris, Lisbon, Milan, Rome, Berlin, Athens, Chania, Cadiz, Kiev, Istanbul, Damascus, Luxor, Plovdiv and several others we’re still confirming. I don’t even know where some of these are. Why do you ask?”

Aitan grunted: “We encountered some unexpected things.”

“If that’s it, please confirm the orders received.”

“Point Lima, secure the transport and withdraw to HQ-seven. Orders received.”

“Good. Good luck to you, Captain.”

“See you, Josh.”

“Aye, aye. Out.”

Aitan put the microphone away and massaged the bridge of his nose. Then he looked again at the city below, his gaze stopping at the multiple fires and fissures between us and the bridges whose silhouettes were faintly visible in the distance.

“If that list of cities is true, we got a really bad problem.” - admitted Arthur, his eyes glinting with yellowish sheen while he stared into darkness around us.

“Reason?” - I asked, feeling curious.

He sighed, before explaining: “I have been informed, that in several cities, mostly the ones located at the sites of Power, multiple extradimensional incursions have been detected. Most are being dealt with, but all locations report significant terrain change. And all of those are included in the list we just heard, but it seems that the new machinery got better detection and communication than we do. We only knew about Berlin, Paris, Milan, Rome, Luxor and London. Newcastle too, obviously.”

“Khhe, simultaneous, planned attack?” - slowly asked Philip, clearly not wishing to hear the answer.

Arthur shrugged: “One of the possible guesses that have been suggested, yes.”

“Wonderful.” - Philip raised his hands in defeat.

---

Arthur turned to Aitan: “Excuse me for interrupting you a while ago, and accept my sincere appreciation for relaying my question.”

Rabbi Es returned a small salute: “We are grateful for your assistance back then, no worries, sir.”

Arthur showed a thin smile: “I suspect, you gentlemen are returning to London?”

“We are expected to. No idea how we are going to get to our car, though.” - Aitan pointed at the sheer drop from the cliff that separated us from the city.

Arthur’s smile became wider: “If the car itself is not crucial, we, of the Akadem, would like to return a part of the debt to you now.”

“How?”

“By sending you off to London directly, if you do not mind another short dimensional transfer.”

“Woha!” sounds came from behind Aitan, as the rest of his team heard that.

Captain Aitan Es thought for a moment, before slowly nodding: “I believe, that would perfectly comply with our orders and the mission requirements. We need to get the civilians to safety ASAP.”

Arthur lightly clapped his hands: “Wonderful, wonderful. We will contact the Crown directly through our channels to confirm the rest of the debt and renew the cooperation. I believe, since the fall of Richard and his House, we, admittedly, had a somewhat strenuous relationship with the Crown. But considering the recent events, I believe some form of mutual understanding will be of utmost importance.”

Then he looked at victorian duo, and nodded: “If you could, please.”

“Never liked the crown troops ever since my grandma’s tales about Hopkins, but you lads are alright.” - grumbled Albert, as he motioned for Philip to begin.

Different from before, now they constructed a small portal in less than ten seconds.

Philip motioned towards the shining, rippling portal: “Here’s your ride. Should take you right to the Westminster.”

---

Aitan asked me: “Ruach?”

I shook my head and looked at the remaining humans we had freed: “I did my part. You better take care of them. However, I will visit London a bit later.”

Then I pointed at my bag the soldiers had been taking care of while I was fighting: “I will take my things though.”

Aitan lightly laughed, somewhat awkwardly, but I detected a spike in their heartbeat rate: “Yes, yes, of course.”

Did they hope I will forget the things, so they could study them? Damn army and their appetite for others’ belongings. My opinion of the governmental forces dropped again. I should have asked for a larger share of benefits back then.

I received my travel case and a foldable military bag, not forgetting to probe the insides with my perception. Inside the foldable bag was my share of the gold and the books. Everything seemed to be fine. I patted the side of the bag, casually destroying a small GPS tracking disk that had somehow slipped in.

“Good luck, Rabbi. Remember what I told you before” - I nodded to Aitan and his team.

After another deep bow from Rabbi Es, he ordered his team to assemble the protective formation around the civilians. Then, the team, burdened by the bags, taped-on documents and other loot, orderly disappeared into the portal.

Before Rabbi entered the portal, I saw him sneaking a look at the spider-woman. And she, winked at him with one of her eight-pupiled eyes. Talk about interspecies relationships here, I though, feeling somewhat curious about their future.