Insect Tamer's Ascension

"The average time someone spends in a gate is close to 6 months. Though it can go up to 1 year."

Right now, Theo was at the location of the gate. Since he had reached here, that was the one thing he just couldn't get his eyes off of.

All around was just plain grasslands that were tended to very well. The small blades of grass rustled slowly everywhere, showing just how good of a wind was flowing everywhere.

In that plain, there were countless individuals, all wearing different crests. These crests were worn on the right shoulder of the body.

Though there was one common crest they all wore right at the chest—it was the crest of the very kingdom they were going to represent.

But among these people, there were many who had a different kingdom's crest. They were the foreigners who were approved by the other kingdoms to enter the gate.

The golden-haired man clad in the most prestigious armor was standing on a stage above the rest.

He was none other than the emperor.

"Although we are broken because of borders, our drive to make humankind progress has led us to enter this gate. I heartfully thank everyone who is volunteering to go inside." The Emperor spoke with a mild smile.

Theo nodded. Though many were joining the gate for their own personal gain, not just the kingdom's overall, yet he knew that everyone already knew this—it was just a way to speak.

His eyes went to the big gate behind the emperor again. There was nothing remotely close to something like a 'gate' there.

It was a big uneven oval formed with bright energy, one that was vertically flat and could be seen as just energy from both sides.

Yet this itself was the entrance to another world.

"According to our researchers, the gate is going to close due to a lack of energy in the area it is present right now, so it will only open for mostly a year." The emperor explained, but it didn't feel like information the gate explorers already didn't know about.

"I will say this again, return within a year to your home world or you may get stuck inside the gate world forever." He spoke again.

This time, the atmosphere went a little grave and chilly. Nobody liked the idea of being stuck outside their world. My Virtual Library Empire (M|V|LE1MPYR) thanks you for reading at the source.

"All the best, may the benevolent artifact's grace always be with you."

The emperor finally went down from the little stage, and when he finally reached the sideline among the other royals, a man started speaking out names of the attendees.

Theo saw many people walk slowly toward the gate, bidding farewell to their loved ones before vanishing inside the energy. Many children and family members cried their eyes out, thinking it may be the last time they would see their loved one again.

"Aldric Merrick, Lucien Merrick, and Cedric Merrick, step forward." The man stated again.

Theo looked to his left, where his brothers and father were standing. Everyone looked toward them and felt this aura that was not seen anywhere else.

The baron looked toward the Baroness and his children and nodded. There was not a single ounce of fear on his face.

He moved forward the next second.

"We will be back soon." Lucien spoke with one last smile. "Elara, take care of your mother and your siblings."

Elara only nodded with a smile. There was no fear on anyone's face.

And it might have been due to the speech their father had given them a day ago. It was about how confident he was for this trip and that no matter how strong he had gotten, he never stopped training himself.

All three of them went in front of the gate and stepped forward. At that moment, the one who was calling out names wrote something on a paper and moved forward.

"They are already gone…" Theo muttered with a distant look.

"We are leaving, everyone." The Baroness only spoke once with a calm face, and everyone just followed her to their carriages.

When Theo reached his carriage, he still had a very distant look.

He looked toward Warren, who was dressed very well to drive them here today. With a single nod, he opened the gate of the carriage, letting them all in.

When Theo sat down on his side with Elara, Bram, and the Baroness, the others just chose the other carriage on their own. Theo couldn't help but drift off again.

The carriage started moving, and after a minute of silence, the Baroness spoke, "No matter how confident we are about their strength, as their family, we will always feel worried." She said while looking at everyone.

"It is okay to worry about your family, children. There is no shame in that." She stated with a smile while looking at Bram, who was at the point of tearing up soon.

"I… I wish the benevolent artifact keeps them safe…." Bram spoke, and a tear fell from his eye. Looking at him, Theo couldn't help but hug him from the side.

"Let it all out, it's not good to bottle your emotions." The Baroness spoke again, and this time, a tear fell from her eye too.

No matter how tough she was, Theo knew it was due time that she showed some emotions.

It was simple; nobody wanted to show that they were scared of them leaving when they were here. But now that they were gone, a sense of restlessness was left in the heart that never went away.

Nothing was in their control, and everybody knew that.

"I have full confidence in my father and brothers, Mother. Please don't worry, they will be fine." Theo spoke with a smile on his face. He moved himself forward and kept his hand on the Baroness's head, making her surprised.

Yet a warm smile formed on her face too, "Yes, you're right. They will be fine."

And just like that, the Baron and the two brothers had already gone to the gate.

And with them gone for a while, Theo needed to get strong, both for himself and the safety of his family.

The pressure of responsibility was instinctively on his head, and only time would tell how he would cope with it.