Feels a bit more like a prologue than a first chapter at this point, but an interesting premise nonetheless! As I'm reading it, I can almost hear David Attenborough or Morgan Freeman doing narration in my head, documentary-style, as I watch time speed through and then grind to a snail pace as the portals appear. There is definitely some set-up for conflict and tension, which is good, and also makes sense given that this is a form of prequel. Now that the world is set up, I look forward to meeting some individuals to populate it!