When I heard someone talking to me, I was dragged back to reality. I watched my parents approaching me and asking me with a worried tone.
"Jack, why did you leave so suddenly? Are you alright? It looks that you are not feeling well today."
"y-yeah, Uh- I just have a lot on my mind."
"Jack… Are you thinking about Amelie?"
I have a solemn expression on my face as I gaze at my father.
"Uh-huh. I'm worried about her safety. I'm not sure if she's okay, and the days she hasn't been found make me anxious. I'll keep worrying about her until I see her with my own eyes and ensure she's fine. Whatever it takes, I'll find her."
I lower my head, attempting to hide my despairing expression.
"Alright, Jack, go find her and make sure she's okay. Since you are her friend, it was only natural for you to think about her. I believe she's fine, so don't be so depressed."
"That's right, son, you haven't been yourself lately. Pull yourself together. I'm confident you'll find her."
I can see my parents struggling to console me. I smiled and nodded in response to their statements.
"Alright, let's all go home now."
***
In a particular Church's Shrine.
A saint unexpectedly receives a revelation from God. He was surprised when he heard this, yet he nevertheless bows and promptly offers his prayers.
Following that, a light illuminated the shrine appears, displaying a luminous object floating on the altar. When he looked closely, he noticed an open book. He bowed once again and prayed to his God.
"So, this artifact is a Book of Light? It appears to be beautiful."
It was then that the book suddenly stopped glowing and closed on its own. He grabs the book and hides it within his robes as the God instructs him to only deliver it to the rightful owner. If the book meets its destiny, it will re-glow.
"An unknown artifact huh?"
As he walked out of the shrine, he murmured to himself.
"Saint..."
On his way to his room, he heard a church believer and follower greet him, and he only smiled back because he was in a hurry to hide the book discreetly.
"Wow, this is a pretty nice-looking book."
He looked at the book. The cover appears to be made of leather material, and it was nearly gleaming due to the color and the moon-like carving in the center of the cover. The pages are oddly black, despite the fact that the book is called Book of Light.
"The problem is figuring how to find your destined owner."
He whispered this to the book as he carefully wrapped it inside the Handbag and wrapped it around his waist. He used the
"It should be able to conceal the aura."
He prepares to meet the bishop and request that he be allowed to leave the Holy Place. Despite the fact that this appears to be a very sudden and unexpected event, he was not foolish enough to question his God. He took a look around and spotted the bishop in the parvis.
He speaks with the bishop and informs him that he has a task to complete, after which he is allowed to go with two guards.
***
Inside the Temple of Fate.
Catalina walks confidently inside, smiling to everyone she meets as she walks to the center and prays to the Moirai. She prayed silently, as if she were speaking directly to God.
She heads towards the Confessional after praying. She moves with such grace that anyone would stop and observe her every motion. Catalina walked into the confessional and seated.
"I've come to confess my sins, Reverend Father."
"What sin have you committed, child?"
"My father has been acting strangely these last few days. I'm not sure why, but he always stares at me strangely and stops talking to me like he used to. So, I confronted him about it, but it only leads to an argument. It was not my aim to speak to my father in that manner. I beseech your forgiveness..."
The confession continued, and after nearly an hour inside, Catalina exited and went directly to her carriage, leaving the temple of fate.
***
When we were on our way back to our apartment, I began to reflect on what had happened the night Amelie disappeared. Is it possible that Amelie ran away from home and has no connection to the possible victims? If that's the case, she might be safe. But then if she was abducted like those missing people? who will be held responsible for her disappearance?
I messed up my hair because I was irritated that I couldn't figure out what had happened to her. My head hurts just thinking about it.
I want to see Amelie's parent, but I should wait until tomorrow because my mother would definitely be upset with me since I am not feeling well today. Now that I think of it, I felt sleepy today.
When we got home, I told my brother that I would be going to sleep for a while.
"Max, I'll be in our room sleeping."
"Alright, Brother."
"Would you like to eat before you return to your room, Jack?"
"Don't worry, mother, I'm Fine. I'm just going to sleep for a while."
I'm not sure why, but I'm exhausted despite the fact that I barely did anything today. When I finally made it to my bed, I quickly lay down and rested as I was being pulled out of reality.
I'm not sure why, but I felt so at ease on my bed, like if I were floating. When I opened my eyes, I let out a loud groan and then closed them again, frustrated. I cover my face with my hands because I don't want to watch what's going on around me.
"Oh, no... no... no... no...no, not again."
Is it likely that I'm getting nightmares again? Why am I getting the same nightmares I used to have? I need to get out of bed. Please somebody come and wake me up. On my mind, I beg.
I'm back in the place where the crimson red fog makes me shudder in fear. It's even more terrifying now that I remember seeing myself in there. I move my hands and open my eyes to see, only to realize that I have return to this place.
"How come everything in here appears to be real? How could I think clearly in a dream? You shouldn't be able to tell if you're dreaming unless you wake up, right? This is getting really weird."
"Not that I want to hear it again, but I didn't hear the voice calling me before. Now that I think about it, will I be able to meet the jack in here?"
I get up to have a look around. I went right to the fog, looking for who knows what. I stop walking when I spotted a strange-looking Big Tree.
"Wait, why is there a tree in the middle of nowhere?"
Despite my fear, I laugh in my head. I proceeded to inspect the tree when I found the bizarre letters that act as a barrier to the huge expanse of the tree trunk that seems to be an entrance to something.
When I touch it, there is a force in the space in front of me that moves in a circle and I felt that I were being dragged inside of it.
"Huh? What?"
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH"