"The Navigators, huh?" Scribblez arched an eyebrow. "Never heard of 'em."

  Auron handed her the card Vox had given him at the Watcher's warehouse. "They're a small guild. I met their leader, Vox, when I first got here. Seemed alright. He gave me this."

  Scribblez tilted the card, letting it catch the blue light. "So, a small guild with guts. Think they'd actually go for something this risky?" She nodded toward the portal.

  Auron shrugged. "No clue. But they said they're into exploring dangerous places. Sounds like this might be their thing."

  She handed the card back. "Alright, let's call them. No time like the present."

  Auron hesitated. "Uh… How do I do that? I don't really have a communicator."

  Scribblez stared at him, then broke into a laugh. "Wait—you're serious? Wow. Okay, scrub. Watch and learn."

  She extended her hand, and a device shimmered into existence. Its design sported curved edges and subtle scarlet highlights glowing faintly along its frame. A simple interface hovered above it, flickering in the air like a static projection.

  "See?" she said, dismissing the communicator with a flick of her wrist. It dissolved into a brief cascade of light. "Now you try."

  Auron frowned, holding out his hand. "Just… imagine it?"

  "Exactly. The InfiNet does the rest."

  Taking a breath, Auron focused. A moment later, a brick-shaped device materialized in his palm. The square holographic interface flickered to life.

  "Woof," Scribblez said. "At least it's functional. Now call this Vox guy and see if he's up for an adventure."

  Auron tapped the communicator, entering the contact info from the card. The device chimed as it connected, and a hologram of Vox flickered to life. The projection showed him standing in a dim tunnel, holding a torch. Behind him, Clio swung a massive sword, fending off a swarm of what appeared to be giant carnivorous squirrels.

  "Hold still, you oversized nut rats!" Clio shouted, her strikes sending sparks flying as she drove the creatures back. "Vox, quit standing around and—wait, are you on a call?"

  Vox's cheerful grin didn't waver as he turned to the hologram. "Hey! Auron right? From the warehouse? Great timing. What's up?"

  Auron blinked, momentarily caught off guard by the chaos in the background. "Uh… am I interrupting something?"

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  "Nah, just a standard tunnel sweep," Vox replied casually, adjusting his grip on the torch. "What's the news?"

  "Well, I found something big, but I need some extra hands," Auron said, cutting to the chase. "Think you and Clio can help?"

  Vox's grin widened. "Big, huh? Dangerous?"

  Auron glanced at Scribblez for help. She nodded, and Auron looked back at Vox's hologram.

  "Um...Yes?"

  "We're in!" Vox replied. "Where should we meet?"

  "How about our guild hall?" Clio spat. "Assuming we don't become chew toys!"

  "Guild hall it is," Vox said, unperturbed by their perilous situation. "We'll finish up here and head over. The address should be on the card I gave you. See you soon!"

  With a mock salute, Vox ended the call. As his hologram dissolved, a playful emoji of his face floated upward, winking before popping with a faint ding.

  Scribblez's expression remained blank as Auron's communicator went dark. "Well, they're… something."

  "They're willing to help," Auron said, dismissing the device. "That's what matters. So now we need to get to their guild hall." Auron studied the address on the card before reading it aloud. "712 Polaris Crescent, Starlight Sanctuary, Cadenza, Euloria Oscura. I have no idea where that is."

  "I do. Hang out around there all the time. It's in the Second Layer." Scribblez said. She tilted her head. "Have you been there yet?"

  "No," Auron admitted. "I tried when I logged on, but it wouldn't let me in. Said I needed a home location."

  "Yeah, that tracks. It's easy to fix. There's a transition hub nearby. Come on."

  A few minutes later, the pair left the eerie subway and trekked through the streets of the First Layer. The city unveiled itself under the competing lights of billboards, twilight, and auroras. Avatars meandered in ones and twos, and none seemed too hurried. Auron noticed clusters gathered around kiosks that emitted faint projections. The atmosphere was more peaceful than he expected. Instead of the foreboding from earlier, he heard casual conversations and the general activity of people going about their second lives in the InfiNet.

  Scribblez walked slightly ahead. "Not much further," she called back without turning.

  Auron kept close, his attention drifting among his surroundings. It was strange seeing the similarities between the InfiNet and real life. One avatar stood at a stall selling fruits and veggies, waving away another's attempt to barter. Leaning against a nearby lamppost, another's look morphed as they adjusted their mods. The city felt more grounded than he'd anticipated. He had expected a constant stream of wonder and excitement, but this was quiet and almost familiar.

  The impression lasted about a minute before he saw it.

  The gas station came into view, and his steps faltered. "Hold on," he said, pointing. "That's…the gas station?"

  It was unmistakably the place where Auron frequented after work, but the First Layer transformed. Gone were the cracked pavement and janky signs. The building now encompassed the entire property where there had been pumps and parking. It seemed like a small store built to resemble an airport terminal.

  "Here, it's a transition hub," Scribblez explained as she slowed to a stop. "Since no one really drives cars here, they retrofit real-world spots like this to link layers. Efficient, right?"

  Auron nodded absently, his gaze still fixed on the building. He followed her inside, where the transformation was even more striking. The lingering scent of motor oil and coffee was gone. Counters once cluttered with snacks and lottery tickets were now panels displaying animated maps and holographic schedules. Avatars carried about their business, stepping into portals that shimmered faintly before swallowing them whole.