7 Worlds: The 4th World Vol. 1

“Khasar, don't go over there! Remember what father said? That's where the demons live!” A young boy yelled towards me.

Blinking a few times I realized I was once again in another dream, this time I was a young boy likely no older than ten. It was clearly the dead of night. The moon adorned the sky and lit the ruins below. Looking ahead, I saw a stone stairway heading down beneath the ruin, it called to me, and I felt the sudden urge to continue my apparent exploration. Suddenly, I was in another world. Spirits and demons roamed about the ruins, almost as if it were an open market and they paid me no mind as they continued on with their business. Oddly, I didn’t feel startled, something about this felt natural to me as I continued on down a long corridor. Suddenly I noticed what looked like a human being running through the market. Curious, I quickly gave chase, wondering who else would venture into a place like this. It wasn't long until I found myself lost entirely in this alien world. My wonder was interrupted by a sudden scream so quickly I began to move in that direction.

“Foolish girl. All you must do is place your hand on the rune and read the incantation!” A sharp, malicious, voice screeched.

“I don't want to, it's scary!” A soft, young voice replied.

Recognising that the voice belonged to Yasvei, I rushed towards it. A dim light shone through a rocky crevice and I entered carefully, avoiding the rocks that jutted out from the sides. Squeezing through to the other side, I saw a young Yasvei slumped on the ground, her arm gripped tightly in the hand of a tall man. He wore a freakish-looking mask and dark robes of what I imagined were those of a shaman.

“What are you doing to her?!” I yelled, running forward and pushing him away from her.

“Ahh, the little prince. We were playing a simple game called ‘break the seal’,” the man stated calmly, pointing towards a tall pillar.

It glowed in a deep purple, occasionally oozing an odd black smoke that was outlined in the same purple glow.

“Why don't you just do it yourself!” I yelled aggressively, surprised at how childish I sounded.

“Well...I would, but I'm not strong like Yasvei. Or you…” the man replied, trailing off, with a cunning chuckle as if realizing something.

“Why don’t you help me, Khasar. Surely it’s the least you can do to help me out?” he asked, and I got the creeping feeling that he was snickering behind that mask.

“Fine, if I do it, you’ll leave her alone?” I said in an effort to negotiate.

“For now, yes,” he replied, simply.

“Don’t do it! Father said these aren’t toys!” Yasvei beckoned but I had already made up my mind, I felt pulled in that direction either way.

Taking a look at Yasvei and the bruises she wore, I steeled my resolve.

“If I do this, he won't hurt you anymore Yasvei - I have to,” I said, taking a step forward and placing my hand on the pillar.

“Tavrei zyestra yus,” I whispered and the ground began to shake violently as a purple aura shot up my arm.

I screamed in pain. My arm felt as though it was being torn apart in a vacuum, like thousands of needles piercing my skin – and then, everything turned black.

---

The first thing I saw when I opened my eyes was the glistening moon through a window, bathing the room in a whitish blue tinge- it seemed brighter than usual.

“Whe...where am I?” I muttered, unable to mentally absorb my surroundings.

“You're at my house man,” I could hear Alden say with a slight chuckle.

Everything but the moon was blurry to me, I couldn’t make out any details about my surroundings, so I simply trusted in Alden and relaxed.

“We’re glad you’re awake,” Alden continued.

“Right...I guess...we have some talking to do?” I managed to squeeze out as I sat up in Alden’s bed.

Alden was sitting in his grey armchair beside the bed, restringing his violin. He rarely missed an opportunity to play, it was easily his most well kept possession.

“Not really…Cadeyrn and Inazuma told me all about it,” Alden said, placing his violin down on the side table.

“Oh...In that case...What time is it...?” I asked.

“11:52P.M, I already phoned your parents,” Alden replied, predicting my next question.

“Oh, well I guess I have been out for quite awhile,” I said as my zombie stupor began to fade away.

“Only about three hours,” Alden replied simply once more.

Alden was clearly upset, likely because I had kept all of this from him. We didn’t normally keep secrets from each other but this just seemed different.

“Come to think of it...I'm hungry, could I have some food?” I asked, suddenly realizing the ripping pangs of hunger in my stomach.

“Uhh? Oh, sure. Sherry!” Alden called out loudly.

Sherry, Alden’s maid, while older than us was young, about seventeen, and hated it when anyone treated her like a child. Unfortunately due to her size, a mere five feet on the dot, and her inherent ineptness at life, she was an easy target. Being the daughter of a family friend was about the only reason she kept the job. If nothing else she meant well and always did her best, or maybe that last part was the problem.

“Coming sir!” Sherry yelled back and a loud crash resounded through the hallway.

“Oww…” Sherry said as she came through the doorway with a brand new scratch on her knee. She never once made it up the stairs without one.

“Idiot...” I muttered, staring at Sherry as she entered the room.

Sherry and I had a feud because she once had spilled milk all over me and refused to apologize. She claimed it was my fault for getting in the way, while I was sitting in a chair.

“I may be an idiot but at least I don't look like I just fell down a flight of stairs on my face!” Sherry replied hotly.

Sherry and I began to argue, not that anyone could tell what was said...not even ourselves.

After a good thirty seconds, we had used up all of Alden’s patience.

“Hey.....Hey.....SHUT UP!” Alden yelled as we continued arguing, commanding the room into silence.

“Must you two always fight?” Alden questioned, annoyed.

“Sorry, I just don't like selfish people,” I responded angrily.

“Hmph! YOU-” Sherry was ready to launch another series of verbal blows but was interrupted.

“Not another word, either of you!” Alden commanded.

“Yes, Young Master...” Sherry sulked, defeated.

“Good, now go get some food for our guest,” Alden said, smiling threateningly.

“Bu-” Sherry stopped before finishing the first word, she had no desire to anger Alden further.

“Yes, Young Master…” Sherry said defeated, and left the room.

“Thank you,” Alden responded as he took his violin in hand once again and started tuning it.

The room continued to be mostly silent, excluding Alden’s tuning, for about fifteen minutes until Sherry entered the room once more with a tray of food. She set it on the side table next to me.

“Thanks...” I muttered dryly.

“Hmph!” Sherry huffed before storming out of the room and back down the stairs, but not before tripping three times.

I laughed silently so as to not annoy Alden.

“I always tell her she can wear normal clothes, but she insists on wearing that ridiculous get up... It would make her job so much easier if she were more casual,” Alden said, referring to the stereotypical maid outfit Sherry always wore.

Alden and I shared a brief laugh and then began to eat.

“Sorry,” I said a moment later.

“For what?” Alden asked, curiously.

“I should have shared this with you earlier, we likely could have saved ourselves a lot of headache,” I explained, my head bowed.

“Look, I didn’t tell you either. And it’s not like we wouldn’t have told each other soon enough anyways, god knows you couldn’t keep this a secret for too much longer,” Alden chided.

We shared another hearty laugh and from that point on, it felt as though our connection became stronger -- I guess a shared secret or two tended to do that.