Which stage directly follows Crossing the Threshold?

• A. Ordinary World
• B. The Road Back
• C. Mentor
• D. Tests, Allies, and Enemies

Answer: (D)

The idea being tested is the order of stages in the Hero’s Journey and how entering the special world leads to immediate trials and the gathering (and opposition) of companions. Once the hero crosses into the new realm, the story shifts to active challenges: the first tests that probe the hero’s abilities, plus the arrival of allies who help and enemies who hinder. This stage is the natural follow-up to crossing the threshold because it moves from leaving the ordinary world to engaging with the dangers and helpers of the special world, setting up the early arc of the quest. The Road Back comes later, after the major trials and rewards, while the mentor-type guidance typically appears around or just before crossing, not after.