The moment the two of them saw a blueish fantasy-looking portal open right on the second floor -between their rooms - of the cabin, the alcohol in their body had been washed away by shock and fear. They looked at each other, not knowing what to do.
Of course, they considered this as a dream. Hence, they tried to pinch themselves to wake up, but their self-inflicted pain hurt, and they realized they were not dreaming.
"What the fuck should we do?" Yael asked first. He was trying to assess the situation. How could this fantasy-only book thing happen just as they drank and exchanged questions? Is this an everyday occurrence?
Solanne, on the other hand, finished the beer she was holding. She said, with a straight face, "I know this!" She sounded so excited, which Yael found odd. "This is the start of those manhwa!"
"Manhwa?" Yael frowned, trying to understand what Solanne meant.
Solanne nodded aggressively. For some reason, her eyes were sparkling.
"Don't you know? Haven't you read some novels and even comics? The opening is like this!" Solanne cleared her throat as if preparing herself to present.
"Portals that connect to the other world are called gates. Monsters descend into the world, and the humans have gone extinct; suddenly, the appearance of the hunters, which have the abilities to slay monsters—"
"Are you joking?" Yael cut her off. He sounded so frustrated. His eyes disappointedly looked at her. "Why did I even listen to you?" He sighs. "Right now? Seriously? At a time like this?"
Solanne laughed, trying to lift the atmosphere. Of course, she was concerned about what was happening, but she felt a little bit too drunk to even consider this situation seriously.
"Come on, Yael lives a little."
"How—ha!" Yael felt so frustrated he just let Solanne be. "Think for a second, Solanne. What should we do?"
"Explore it?" Solanne suggested as she grabbed another beer.
"Really?" Yael looks unsure about what Solanne just suggested. He was skeptical and didn't even know if he should consider Solanne's suggestions seriously.
"Of course!" Solanne sounded confident. "It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Perhaps this was the answer to those dreams."
"What—" Before Yael could even finish, Solanne was already walking up the stairs, and Yael panicked as he ran towards her.
"Are you seriously doing it? What if we didn't find our way back? What if we got stuck somewhere? And what if what you said was true? What if there were really monsters."
Solanne stopped for a moment as she shifted her gaze. Her eyes look so severe as she says, "If there will be monsters, we'll become a protagonist of a manhwa. There's nothing to lose. We'll gain powers, the system, and even money. It's much better than my life."
Yael blinked as he stepped back and aggressively rubbed his face with his hands. He wants to pull all of his hair out.
"I feel like an idiot for taking you so seriously like this."
Solanne laughed as she continued walking. Soon enough, they were in front of the portal. Panicking that Solanne might really do what she was thinking, Yael didn't hesitate to pull her to his side. His hands desperately held her hand, afraid that she'd disappear.
Solanne paused for a moment. She faced Yael as she had this reassuring smile. "Are you really that scared?"
He nodded. He's not scared that this cabin has a portal or something fantasy-like. What he was afraid of and was so unsure of was Solanne. She had become so unpredictable. He doesn't know why, but he thinks that if she ever was allowed to disappear, she'd take it and leave everything behind.
Solanne watched Yael carefully. For some reason, she can't help but compare him to her brother. She smiled at him. Patting his head and reassuring him. "What are you afraid of?" She asked.
Yael met her gaze. He can't say it. He doesn't want to say it. He's afraid to say it. He swallowed, chest heavy, and felt as if something was stuck in his throat.
"I-" he wanted to find an excuse. He's confusing. He doesn't know what he's feeling.
"It's just, what if we can't ever return."
Solanne initially thought that she wanted to convince Yael to go with her. Yet, looking at his face right now, she can't find the right words.
"Then should I go first—"
"No!" Panic rose from his stomach. He felt like he was about to puke. He was imagining different scenarios. His head was full of information, and he wanted to faint.
"Yael," Solanne whispered softly. She held his hands, which were holding her hands.
Her voice was enough to send him back to what was the truth in front of him. "There is nothing wrong. We haven't disappeared yet, nor is there anything dangerous."
"How could you be so sure?" he asked back.
Solanne just smiled. "I am not sure. I just want to know…"
"How could you ever be so curious?"
"Is it bad?"
Silence. A paused.
"If you're going, I'm going too!" Yael muttered with conviction.
"When did you get the courage?" Solanne chuckled.
"Are you mocking me?"
"No. It's just you did great overcoming your fear."
Yael can feel his heart skipped a beat before frowning.
"I'm not a child to be praised like that."
"Well, you kinda look like my bro—"
"Just don't!"
Solanne just smiled. "Why so grumpy?"
Just as Yael was about to answer, Solanne pulled his hand and went straight into the portal. And the next thing they knew, they were falling.
This caught Yael off guard, and he shouted. "I hate you so much!"
Solanne laughed as she could feel the adrenaline in her veins traveling all over her body. Solanne heard someone snap their finger as they traveled through the abyss. Suddenly, a kaleidoscope of vivid, magical, and enchanting scenes unfolded before her eyes, igniting her imagination.
She looked at Yael; he seemed to be in a daze as these images flashed through them. They didn't know what was happening; one moment, they found themselves up in the vast sky, flying with the clouds, as they felt the rush of wind through their faces. The sky was painted in the hues of pastels, oranges, violet, and red. Their hands were clasped together, and the wind took over their body as if they had been called to dance with so much freedom in the sky.
In another moment, Yael and Solanne found themselves in a forest full of lush greens and trees that stretched far from the sky. Their branches were covered with glitter glow, and several magic creatures roamed around, doing their everyday lives, cultivating the flowers and protecting the rivers and the forest.
Suddenly, without any warning, Yael and Solanne were plunged into the depths of the ocean, surrounded by breathtaking kingdoms and fishes swimming around. Rays of sunlight filter through the crystal clear waters, like a pillar of wonders cascading.
Each image they see continues as if they were traveling, having a journey without limits and beyond realms of imagination. From different worlds, castles adorned with jewels and cities speak thousands of history.
For them, time was frozen. As they continue to fall into the endless void, they are filled with sense and wonder and feel a thirst they have never experienced before.
Through the different realms, Solanne and Yael saw an endless train traveling through the cosmos. They were familiar with that train. That was the same train they saw in their dreams.
Does that mean that those were not really dreams but part of reality?
More questions arose in their minds, yet they did not have the time to think as they were overwhelmed with emotions.
Suddenly, they heard a voice vibrating through their ear, "Welcome to the portal between worlds." As soon as they heard that, Yael and Solanne saw the boundaries of the different worlds coming together in the middle.
It was adorned with different lights that overwhelmed one person, and from their point of view, they could see that this place was bustling with people and activities, with various portals and train stations on each other's world destinations.
"Wow…" Solanne can't help but gasps. She looked at Yael, and he was the same. They were speechless as they slowly descended, mingling with the crowds.
She remembered a phrase on the back of Solanne's head; no, it was a sentence she had read from a book. It was one of the books that Vincent had lent her.
'The portal between worlds is a place where different entities gather, and it was one of the god's favorite places. This is where they choose to find their next destination or prey. Although no one believes it, the gods had eyes everywhere in this place. That is why no crime is recorded, and those who have committed sins never step in this place again.'
Several cabins were situated there, and people were coming in and out of them without any limits.
Then, suddenly, it hit off. She was right. In the back of her head, she had a thought, with the dreams they were experiencing and how everything seemed to be
'The cabin they were staying in was the cause of their dreams and why they were here. The cabin they were staying at was one of the doors to access this place.'
She swallowed. Then, who was Vincent's really?
She felt the shivers down her spine as she remembers his stories.
Could it be?
"Solanne?" Yael called her. Their hands still clamped together.
Both of them sigh. A smile formed on their lips.
It's another adventure.
--