Mr-Calma
This short story follows a lifelong stargazer who grows into an astrophysicist, driven by an unquenchable thirst to understand the universe beyond what science can measure. While other children focused on earthly wonders, they were captivated by the night sky's infinite mysteries, pondering humanity's tiny place in the grand design. Their academic journey led to success in researching dark matter and cosmic origins, yet a deep incompleteness lingered-they yearned to experience the cosmos directly, not just model it. This led them to explore fringe theories about natural portals, eventually drawing them to an abandoned research hall near Pasig where they discover a fiery, pulsing gateway defying all physical laws. Overcoming fear, they step through and find themselves in an alien realm with black obsidian sand, two suns, two moons, and a massive dark sphere resembling a black hole. The landscape features impossible architecture and a sprawling city of twisted shapes, but they divert to a single structure closer by. Inside, after being trapped by a slamming door, a purple energy guides them to a floating sphere wreathed in light. A golden book materializes, revealing names-"The Corthos," "The Core Of Corthos," "The Child In Gold"-accompanied by unblockable abyssal whispers. Suddenly, a baby garbed in yellow appears behind them, its eyes mirroring the alien sky's sickly glow and its faint smile sending chills through the narrator. In an instant, they are returned to Earth before the portal, where they realize such realms must be hidden from mankind. Though the account ends here, the narrator knows their connection to this mystery is unbroken, with more to come.
This short story is part of the Transfinitian Myths Universe/TMU.