Beyond the Stars

Prologue: Wanderer's Trail

"So... what you're trying to say is that you fell here... from another world? But when you wanted to leave, and go on to the next world, your path was blocked by some unknown god?"

I was sitting on a little stone that rested on the beach front. I doodled my entire story on the sand to my little friend who I recently just met. Her name is Paimon and I met her when I decided to go fishing one day. It was just another normal day by myself until I noticed something splashing around chaotically and when I thought it was a big fish I saw upon closer inspection that it was a person who I thought was a child at the time. Without any hesitation, I cast my line and reeled her in before the deep, dark depths of the ocean could claim her.

...

I stepped onto a platform of a large stone structure that floated beyond the sky. I felt my twin brother Aether, hold my hand. I turned towards him and saw that he was giving me a light smile. Almost as if he was trying to tell me that everything was going to be alright. He must've sensed my underlying nervousness that I was trying to hide. 

I tried to look brave but something in me felt like something was off. I didn't want to drag my brother down so I decided to grin and bear it. Little did I know I was going to be in for a world of trouble.

It suddenly happened. A dark red portal opened in front of us and out came a woman with long white hair. She had eyes bright red as blood and I could feel them piercing through my soul. I didn't know who she was and neither did Aether. 

She spoke in a loud and tense voice.

"Outlanders, your journey ends here!"

Without thinking or hesitation I demanded to know who this woman was.

"Who're you?!?" I yelled.

She answered. "The sustainer of heavenly principles. The arrogation of mankind ends now."

She suddenly summoned these dark red cubes that attacked us. We jumped off the platform and summoned our golden wings and valiant swords and charged towards the unknown attacker. We suddenly had no choice. If we wanted to go on to the next world and continue our journey. We had to fight. 

We were unable to land even a single strike as we kept dodging and avoiding the dark cubes. We soared towards the attacker and suddenly I felt pushed back by some of the dark cubes. I flew back and witnessed the horror that was happening before my very eyes.

The attacker smirked at me and then in a flash the dark cubes started to surround my brother until he was completely overtaken by them.

"Aether!" I yelled.

The attacker held the cube that contained my brother and I instantly flew behind her hoping to take back my brother only to find myself surrounded by the dark cubes too. The only difference is the attacker didn't choose to take me.

I felt the cubes drain me of my power but nevertheless I continued to fight.

"Wait! Don't go! Give my brother back!"

It was nothing but black after that...

...

"And just like that, the god took away my brother.
Some kind of seal was cast upon me, and I lost my power.
So while we used to cross world after world, we are now trapped here."

"How many years ago was it? I don't know... But I intend to find out. After I awoke, I was all alone - right up until I met you two months ago." I smiled.

If I'm being honest with you guys I really don't know who or where Paimon came from. I just know that she happens to be a small floating person. She's cute but sometimes she does have her moments. It also seems like she has amnesia. I think maybe almost drowning must have messed up her memory. 

I didn't think too much of the details at the time because when I saved her she swore to stay by my side as my travel companion. It was better than searching for my brother alone. After all she told me she is a local in this land and that she can act as my tour guide. This will make searching for Aether much easier.

"Yeah, Paimon owes you for that. Otherwise Paimon likely would've drowned... So, Paimon will do her best to be a great guide!"

I smiled at her and took the first steps of my journey forward. 

She guided me on a path away from the beach and I started climbing up the cliff.

"We're off to... a Statue of the Seven! Which of The Seven are you looking for exactly?"

The Seven? That sounds like rulers or gods of this world. I didn't know who this Seven were and I didn't want to sound stupid so I remained silent. Maybe they know where Aether is... It's worth a shot.

I finally got up the cliff, walked more on the path, and what I saw in front of me astounded me.