Abandon all hope ye who enter here…

And to a place, I come where nothing shines….

"This was the fifth one, my lord…" a raspy voice rang in my ears.

"A week more now," I whispered the phrase over and over to myself, asserting that this was real and not a figment of my imagination.

"Certainly my Lord…Your highness can now live a week more in this world and if we keep this up and kill the other six, this will be your home. I am waiting for that day to arrive my lord" The raspy voice talked again. It can hear the smallest voice I make, much to my displeasure.

"Virgil…" I spoke his name.

"Yes my lord ?"

"Shut it."

"Eek! Certainly…!"

I looked at the night sky. The argent stars and the full moon. The nights were beautiful in this world with millions of stars forming various constellations. There was no need for any lamp or light since the night was illuminated by the heavenly bodies.

When I came to this world, I once saw a shooting star and prayed to be released from my sufferings. Alas! the wish was left unfulfilled and the sadness only swelled more and more within me.

Pantheon…the country of four Gods and the place I was transported to. A country that has magic, traveling, and all other cliches that follow the typical story of a protagonist. The place is ruled by four geezers set in the medieval setting that does not bear any semblance to the actual periods in European history. A place where I was sucked into and thrown to survive alone.

Yes…This is my reality or rather a place to escape from the dreadful clutches of reality.

"My lord…may I please speak again ?" a raspy sound rang in my head again. I hated Virgil's voice…the more I listened to it the more it hurts my head. It can easily scare a person if it is heard in the middle of the night from the room's darkest corner. However the more you listen to him speak, the sooner you realize he is nothing but a ridiculous being that only remains relevant by his usefulness in times of crisis.

"Ha!…speak ."

"My lord what shall we do about this body ?"

Oh…the body of the fifth player in this country. Unlike the other four, this fellow was fairly popular in Pantheon.

"Take him to a place where it can be easily found…"

"As you wish my lord."

"And Virgil…"

"Yes ?"

"Don't hide my powers. I want it to stay on this body."

"Certainly." He let out a chuckle and slowly the body disappeared from my sight.

"It's time to go home I guess…"

**

"Eligor ?... Where were you? …It is so late that I was not able to wait for you to have supper together."

"I am so sorry Lucrezia the council was discussing till late in the evening ." I hugged my wife.

"Then you should have informed me by sending a messenger…I should have waited for some more time," she said in a small voice.

"I am sorry you have to eat alone ." I touched her soft brown hair that was tied tightly at her back. And kissed her warm red cheeks. She was beautiful and just being with her was enough. I breathed the frankincense on her nape that was subtly fused with her body heat and kissed her moist lips.

"I shall order the maids to bring the heat up the supper." She said gently breaking free from my grasp, her ears flushed with embarrassment.

**

"The nobility is shocked by the recent death of the four people that came from another world," Lucrezia said while sitting at the dinner table waiting for me to finish.

"They must have died while fighting to become stronger. After all, that is what all the other world citizens do when they arrive here." I said. The hot bread was freshly peeled from the oven with a smear of butter and roasted chicken stuffed with potatoes. The creamy soup of peas and mushrooms with a pinch of salt and sugar balances its taste. I devoured every bit of it as it melted in my mouth.

"No this is different …I am sure they did not die while they tried to become stronger. Someone is murdering them. " Lucrezia was sharp in matters like these.

"Why ?"

"Eligor! The bodies! When the people from other worlds do not die a normal death their bodies would not decompose. According to the laws if they die by accident or while fighting in war their body will perish just like the natives of Pantheon however if they are killed by someone knowing full well that they are not from this world. The bodies of the people will never decay ."

"Quite the convenient law. Lucrezia why did you go to inspect the bodies ?"

" Eligor…I am a Duchess and one of the highest nobility of Pantheon society. I should know about these things. "

"You can do whatever you like however you should tell me before going anywhere my love. Your safety should be the utmost priority." I said while standing up from the table, Lucrezia stood up and offered me a towel to dry my hands.

"Yes…" her grey eyes showed a glimmer of sorrow that was masked in a sweet smile.

"Lord…I am back! But how did Lady Lucrezia know that the players were murdered? Did the high society come to know that you killed them?"

"*Shut up*" I whispered. For once I was happy that Virgil did not have a physical body. Unlike his name, this guy lacked both intellect and tact.

"Eek! Yes certainly."

"Lucrezia please go to bed early. I have some work for tomorrow's council meeting."

"How late?" she pouted.

"Too late." I kissed her forehead and escorted her to the chamber.

"What the hell were you trying were you trying to pull back then?"

"Lord! I was afraid that we might have been caught. I was just asking you for your safety."

"Lucrezia has strong perception give her some time she might find us. Also, the law is just a half bake truth."

"So that means you knew about it?"

"I wouldn't have committed five murders without planning."

"But my lord…."

I opened the golden leather-bound novel that had a large crimson glowing orb. It was bigger than my fist, its glow encased in a silver cage. I took out the pendant retrieved from the fifth player which had a small azure orb, its diameter smaller than that of a ring's. The azure glow of the orb belonging to the fifth player soon fused with my crimson orb which grew heavier and brighter.

In the darkness of the old study 12/35 projected from the orb.