"Oh. One last thing." The teacher said, simultaneously wiping his face with a handkerchief.
"Grade 1 demons are the only demons produced from the Infinite Realm."
"These demons journey around the world and grow stronger as they kill and devour humans."
"Remember, this Infinite Realm is one of many scattered throughout the globe. So be cautious whenever you are posted over there."
The students didn't understand his comment, but they would come to know the reason behind that comment soon.
--The Next Day
[8:00 AM]
Buzz! Buzz! Ace's alarm rang awakening the young fellow. In haste, Ace forgot his morning routine - gazing at the city. The event was special enough to rip Ace's routine out of his head.
He ran to the bathroom and started freshening up. During bathing, an unusual thought surfaced - he hadn't seen Kenji during the test. He kept on thinking about the weird student, till a question popped up
"Who exactly is Kenji."
"Oh. Well, I don't need to think about that." Ace said, after a while of thinking.
He opened the door and ran out of the bathroom, rubbing his special lotion and, at the same time putting his cloths on.
He ran downstairs to see his food prepared by his parents. In a rush, he greeted them while heading to the dining table.
Nothing much was set to happen that day. Only the adventure spirit took over Ace's senses.
"This weird feeling that I have."
"What is it?"
"Why do I suddenly feel the call to head outside," Ace muttered to himself as he hurriedly ate his food and gulped down the water beside him.
"Honey, bye." Nichole spoke as Ace left the house.
"Don't forget to come early," Williams added as Ace took his last step into the house.
As Ace lacked a friend, he wondered down the street aimlessly. Not only had he no friend, but the only one who bothered to speak to him was nowhere to be found.
The call of adventure became stronger, leading Ace to a mountain. He walked and at some point ran to a place he knew nothing of. The journey lasted longer than Ace expected, and his fatigue gradually escalated.
"What am I doing?" Ace said as he began to decline in velocity. He looked around and soon he came to realize he was lost.
"No."
"I'm lost. What shall I do." Ace said in despair, trying desperately to trace his footsteps.
"This is wrong. How did I suddenly arrive here." Ace spoke to himself until a strange, deep voice interjected.
"Come." The voice spoke.
Ace, once again, lost his senses and slowly walked to the direction of the voice. Unable to control his body, he walked to the area further losing his way.
Soon, he gained his senses but were he was, was the question he continuously asked himself. He lay between two mountains, in a cave with its contents concealed. Only a shallow path for light to enter existed, giving it a shade of darkness.
"Yes." The voice spoke again. Suddenly the cave turned pitch black, with the only source of light shut off. Ace searched around for an exit, but he found it difficult to find one.
"Heyyy." Ace screamed with the hope of catching attention from outside. It seemed sound couldn't escape the unusual barrier, voiding Ace's attempts.
"What's happening?" Ace spoke to himself having found out that his attempts for help were void.
Suddenly a strange voice like the previous one, spoke with great depth:
"Don't fear. I have chosen you for a reason."
Ace was shocked at the response, but for some reason, he failed to feel frightened. He leaned forward to the direction of the voice attempting to view the body that spoke those words.
Unfortunately, only a dark void filled the area.
"A strange phenomenon." Ace thought while he tried to grasp a view of his environment.
"Where am I?" Ace said with a hint of superiority. He knew he would fail in trying to find out the situation himself.
During his thought session, as he waited for the voice to speak again, the same voice spoke with even greater depth:
"You lie between the twin mountains, otherwise known as "Tsuin Mauntenzu" An ethereal realm of creatures like me."
"So. What are you?" Ace asked.
"You can not comprehend my existence. I am only but a mere void. The Eternal Being." The voice replied.
Ace looked around, trying his best to find out the being who spoke to him. He squinted and focused his eyes on the darker portion of the cave.
Nothing but a void was in the cave. Ace began to feel worried but was still unable to feel frightened. As Ace was about to speak, a shining orb glowing green lit the cave up. The orb in its elegance slowly floated its way to Ace.
"I have found a connection between the both of us. An element present in you has drawn me to you."
"Keep this glowing stone with you. It is a sacred orb that will guide you. Protect it and it will protect you." The voice said once again.
Ace looked at the orb, stretched his hands and the orb slowly descended on him. He held it with great care, as he knew nothing of its value. He looked around and the light that shone in the cave gradually returned and the exit, was restored.
Ace looked at the exit and ran out of the cave with no hesitation. He took deep breaths, looked around enjoying the scenery, and spoke:
"Tsuin Mauntenzu is it? An intriguing realm."
"The voice called it an ethereal realm. We haven't been thought that."
After brief moments of thought, he descended the mountains and searched for a way home. Fortunately, a young passer-by happened to spot him and questioned him.
"Hey, kid. What are you doing out here alone?" The man spoke worriedly as he tried to recognize his face.
"Oh. You must be the rich kid. Don't think you'll get any respect from me." The man said at the brink of irritation.
"No sir. I just happened to get lost and I'm wondering where a nearby craftsman is situated." Ace said politely, trying to win the man's heart.
The man looked at him as if he was conducting a full-body search, smiled and replied:
"Ok. Let me take you there."
The two made their way to the craftsman and the passer-by waved him goodbye. Ace looked around and was able to spot the path to his house.
"What do you want kid." The craftsman said, interrupting Ace's surveillance.
"Oh. Could you help me craft this orb to a necklace? I have the money." Ace said while he continued to trace his way home.
"Sure, as long as you have the money." The craftsman said as he smiled, awaiting the bills.
Ace showed him the money and the orb, and the craftsman accepted it wholeheartedly. Ace turned to the craftsman to ensure he was not tampering with the orb. Luckily, the orb was rare enough to leave the craftsman in the dark.
Half an hour later, the craftsman handed over the newly crafted necklace to Ace. The two exchanged pleasantries and Ace departed to his home.
He made his way back at the scheduled time, greeted his parents, and ran to his room. He dropped the necklace and observed it. It shone in the dark like a glow stick signifying its value. Ace couldn't comprehend what item he had acquired, as he knew nothing of its worth.