The Spatial Rift wavered as Elise stepped through. One moment, she was in the Duskwood Forest, the next, her boots clicked on sunken cobblestone. Soldiers poured in after her, led by Commander Joel and the few veterans who had homes and families to return to.
As they vanished by their tens, hundreds, and then thousands, I stared numbly at the rift. It didn't feel real. It was like looking at a painting. I just couldn't bring myself to believe I was really looking at Brithlite. That it could possibly be just a few steps away.
But the cost was very real. My mana emptied at extraordinary speed, matching the strain of sustaining the Oracle of Eternity at its peak. In only twenty minutes, I was streaked with sweat, leaning on Korra as I struggled to catch my breath. And still the soldiers marched, and supplies wagons rolled, vanishing into the breach.
"You're not looking great," Korra said, looking at me worriedly as we neared a half hour. "Can you hold up? The Company's nearly gone."
