Zak Qlikman arrives at the desert under the pretense of studying the region's fossil record. In truth, s/he is drawn by the whispers of Shambala, a legend that has obsessed them ever since s/he stumbled upon Danzanravjaa’s writings in an old monastery. Armed with ancient manuscripts and cutting-edge technology, s/he intends to locate the mythical portal.

Zak sets up the instruments. Their soft hum is a counterpoint to the whispering wind. S/He carefully aligns their sensors with the coordinates s/he has painstakingly deciphered from Danzanravjaa’s verses. The sky above, unpolluted by city lights, stretches out in a tapestry of stars, each a pinprick in the fabric of the universe.

Hours pass, and then, their instruments detect a sudden, unearthly surge of energy. The air around them begins to shimmer, bending light in ways that make the landscape appear both near and distant, as if reality itself is warping.

S/He steps forward, feeling an invisible pull, and the world around them seems to dissolve in a cascade of colors and shapes. For a moment, s/he is engulfed in darkness, a void filled with the echoes of a thousand distant stars.

When their vision clears, Zak finds themself standing in a vast, iridescent landscape. The air is thick with a palpable, almost liquid energy. Towering crystal spires glow softly, casting prismatic shadows on the ground. S/He knows instantly that s/he has crossed the threshold into Shambala.

For what feels like an eternity and a moment all at once, Zak immerses themself in the wisdom of this mystical realm.

When s/he finally returns to the desert, the sun is rising, casting a golden glow over the sands. The rusting oil pumps and the tracks of rabbits and donkeys greet them, reminders of the world s/he has left behind.