magisternihil's 100-word story for January 17, 2026

magisternihil wrote the following micro-story on Hectalex on January 17, 2026. Each story on Hectalex is inspired by a daily visual prompt and must be exactly 100 words.

As portals went, this one was pretty standard. Stonework surrounding an apparent window, ominous vines creeping toward the shimmering surface as if giving you a not-so-subtle warning that the grass isn’t always greener. But still people stepped through. No one knew where this one led, because no one who went through it ever came back to say. Most logically concluded it led to certain doom. The hopeful decided wherever it took you was so good you didn’t want to return. The truth is, it takes you back in time. You CAN come back, you just have go the long way.

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