Emery had known Gwen long enough to recognize when her words carried weight. This time there was no jest, no playful challenge in her eyes.
But her request—to follow him beyond Earth—was not something he could easily accept.
The Magus Universe Prime Directive was clear: no one from a lower realm could leave their planet unless they had already broken through into the Magus realm. There were temporary permits, true—something Emery, with his current status and resources, could secure for her. But he knew at once that was not what she meant. Gwen was not talking about a fleeting journey, a travel permit that bound her by rules and return dates. She wanted to leave Earth behind entirely.
And, strangely, she had already prepared for it.
That detail struck him the hardest. Gwen could not have known he would arrive today, and yet she seemed ready, as though she had anticipated this moment for a long time.
