The Universe Beyond Ours

Chapter 12 (Part 1)

     Soon, the sun begins to set, casting a fiery glow upon the world. Denis and his friends return to their house. There, they gather all the totems on the table and count. Then, Philip marks out all the places on the map they've gone through with a marker. They realize they have two locations to go to—the Goblins' Den and Geveria.

     Chloe, Philip, Meredith, Presley, and Felix bounce in joy as they realize that they're about to get Denis back to his realm. Denis plays along with a fake laugh. It is because, deep in his heart, he doesn't want to go back to his world anymore. Though he misses his parents dearly, he knows he'll be better in this unfamiliar universe.

"Where will we go first? The Goblins' Den or Geveria?" Chloe asked, glancing at Philip for guidance.

"Of course, that'd be the Goblin's Den since it's nearer," Philip responded. "We'll head there as soon as possible, so I advise everyone to take plenty of rest, alright?" he added, placing his hands on his hips.

     Everyone then disperses, heading towards their separate ways, while Denis lingers on the table, staring at the map. He doesn't want to go back to the place where he is tormented by hopelessness. Shall he go back to where he belongs but be pressured by countless tasks that give him no merit? He then leaves, heading towards the stairs, ready to doze off for the night.

     Meanwhile, inside a dark, eerie coven, an enigmatic warlock stands amidst the shadows, looking before a blue fire that allows him to view the world through a different lens. Through the blue fire, he looks at the totems Denis and his friends have gathered. The warlock smirks, telling a girl beside him, Lyvie, to obstruct their quest.

     The warlock dons a hooded robe, his face concealed by shadow, while his eyes glow like the moon. His height can cause one to tilt their head, and the width of his brawny body can force anything to collapse. Meanwhile, Lyvie possesses a petite figure, just right for a teenage girl. Her dark shoulder-length hair contrasts with her maroon highlights, complementing her brown eyes and lightly tanned skin. She wears a dark dress with a reddish undertone, finished with a cape.

     Lyvie and the warlock cannot let Denis go back to his world. They'll need him for their coven. The warlock earnestly believes that Denis has all the potential to be one of them.

     The next day, Meredith drives the car while the others sit in the back. Denis gazes at the outdoors, observing how the view of the city transforms into a view of grassland. Seeing the vast green grassland sparks memories within Denis as he recalls being there last time. He reminisces about the days that have gone by. How long has Denis been stuck in this universe?

     Denis closes his eyes, seizing the moment to take a brief respite from the world. He lets out a deep sigh, releasing the pressure that has built up in his chest. He then leans on the car window, waiting until they reach their destination.