The moment Andre crossed to the other side, the world shifted.
They appeared in what seemed to be a volcanic region, and the change was so sudden that even someone like Andre paused for a fraction of a second. The air was hotter, the ground beneath their feet was black rock that felt as though it had been baked for centuries, and the smell carried ash and heat in a way that could not be faked with normal magic. In front of them, the land dropped into a wide ravine where a river of lava flowed slowly like thick liquid fire, and the heat rising from it made the air warp visibly. The temperature was extreme, causing sweat to form quickly, yet both of them maintained their composure, because their bodies were not fragile and because neither of them would allow discomfort to show weakness.
Andre stepped forward and looked down into the ravine, then turned his head back toward Nox with a frown that bordered on irritation.
