Chapter 7. The Unknown Realm Of Lost Souls (Part 5)

Advik was idly sitting while his back was leaning against a tree, his slim fingers were playing with the grass as he tried to think of an idea with sealed eyes. His one leg was lying straight on the ground while another one was making an arch which was also supporting his hand. Even after some time passed nothing came up in his mind, it built annoyance and frustration inside his chest. 

Every moment and every second was important for him but he just could not find anything. He thought he was really lost this time.

Advik was disappointed, irritated, and angry with himself. It was useless for him if he could not use his cultivation power.

It was the despair he felt, he whispered thinly, "What can I do? What should I do? It's like I am even more helpless than these bugs. Is there anyone who can help me? Who would want to help a thief like me? I deserve this, I always knew that I deserved something like this. Guess this is the fate I cast upon myself... Hey! Hey! Hey! Why am I being so hopeless? I am a very optimistic person, right! I should think of something. It's not that big of a problem. I can do something, I should do something! But what, what can I do? My cultivation is gone, it's not within me anymore. I am nothing without it," Advik took a deep sigh.

His eyes were closed and he was feeling dizzy and sleepy as he needed rest. Suddenly he felt a tingling sensation on his index finger, it was like an insect or a tiny ball was trying to sit down on his finger. He tried to ignore the thing but it didn't leave him.

Every time he tried to move his finger to brush it off it flew away then came back to sit down again when the finger would stop moving. The thing was stubborn to leave him. Eventually, he had to open his eyes to see what it was. 

His lips curved upward when he saw the thing. The thing was a Firefly, it was a bit bigger than a standard one, nevertheless, it was shining and sparking in a bright green color even in daylight. The thing was constantly trying to sit down on his finger but Advik always moved his finger away - never letting the Firefly sit down on his hand. The Firefly was also very persistent hence it was always going upward in the air then coming back.

His eyes squinted as he tried to focus on the insect. Somehow he felt that the Firefly was not just trying to play with him. He had no idea but he felt that the insect looked like it wanted to show him something.

The strange behavior of it made him think about it and he raised his eyebrow, "Is this Firefly just playing with me or it really wants to show me something? Should I see what it's trying to say? It could be a demon's work? Hmm... Let's just see what misfortune can fall upon me this time," Advik smiled and rose on his feet. "So, do you really want to show me something?" He grinned.

As soon as he got up the Firefly tried to pull his finger in a direction like it was trying to lead him somewhere. Advik looked surprised when the insect took his hand but he didn't say anything and chose to follow it quietly. The Firefly was flying on the same level as his sight - a bit further than Advik. His mouth was shut but in his mind, he thought that this time he would surely become a laughingstock for three realms for following a Firefly! He chuckled and then silently followed it.

The sound of crushing some dried branches and leaves was the only thing he heard along with his breath. He passed by some trees, plants, and bushes before the Firefly stopped abruptly in front of a wall.

Advik was confused when he saw another wall, he calmly asked, "Hey, Why do you take me to another wall?" Advik snapped at the Firefly, "I am tired of seeing them! If you wanted to help, at least find a door or a small tunnel for me, stupid fly!" If the Firefly was a human it would have sighed hearing his stupid complaints or it would have a face like - "I am the one helping you here, so at least try to look around and show respect, would you." - kind of face.

Advik was feeling restless and anxious. He was already here so he thought he should at least try to find a way on his own. He touched the wall to see if it had some hidden door or something. The walls were not that high so he could climb upon them with some effort but it had big thorns on the top of it thus it was not possible to cross the wall either.

The soul frowned, "Stupid fly, now I'm stuck here! I don't even remember the road to go back. F**k..." he sighed.

The Firefly again sat down on the wall and flew away from it as it did with Advik. It was trying to show him something again. Advik carefully looked at it, "Huh? Does it really have an exit? Are you trying to show me something again? Is there some kind of hidden door on this wall? Foolish fly! Why didn't you tell me before?" He touched the place where the Firefly was sitting again and again. Advik tried to push the wall but nothing changed. He again pushed it with more force, still, nothing happened. 

He repeatedly pushed it with his whole body. The Firefly was also trying to push the wall; it was as if it also wanted to help him. After a few pushes from his whole body, a sound came as a door opened. The part which they were pushing moved an inch. Seeing that he pushed it more and in the end, it opened. The exit wasn't that big; only one or two people could pass through it together. Advik fell inside the gate when he pushed it harder - his own force made him fall abruptly inside.

The moment he fell inside the gate he felt strange chills down in his spine. It was very rare for him to feel like that. The view inside was completely different than the one outside the gate. His eyes widened when he looked around. He was shocked and stunned by the dark night which had fallen there. It was as if he was in a whole new world.

The gate closed itself before Advik could understand anything. He hurriedly outstretched his hand to stop the gate but he was late; it had already closed itself. "What the hell," he punched the ground and wobbly stood up to see the dark life there. The place was different from the place he came from. It had extremely dark energy filled in the air, everything seemed demonic, there wasn't any sign of life yet it still had many resentful screams and cries coming from all directions. It was a scene no one would be pleased to witness.

Advik collected his scattered thoughts, his voice serene and suspicious, "Where is this place? Hey fly, is this the place you wanted me to see?" Advik wasn't feeling that much out of place like a while ago. As he glanced toward the night sky he saw a big red moon shining above him which caught his attention the most, "Hmm? Red moon? I am literally not in the mortal realm? Where is this place?" he was just loudly talking to himself and the Firefly was soundlessly floating in the air.

A male voice came, "This is the real realm of The Lost Souls Realm, child" 

His eyes were still gazing at the moon in amusement as he thoughtfully replied, "Ohhhhhhh! It's quite dark here. I can't even see myself properly. And too much resentful and demonic energy is circulating around here." 

After a moment later he frowned and with puzzled expressions glanced at the Firefly which was jumping there like it had seen something delightful. It was weird for the Firefly to jump like that in excitement.

Advik swiftly moved and picked up whatever was on the ground. He turned toward his back and inquired while trying to protect himself with a small piece of branch, "Who...who is there? Who are you?" However, there was no one except the overwhelming darkness and uncountable trees. A weird feeling crept up to his chest. He was alert because he clearly heard someone talking to him.

He again felt like someone was behind him again, his body again turned with a rapid speed holding the branch like a sword to shield and protect himself.

Nonetheless, there was no one behind him.

Then suddenly a fist size of a Black Fireball came in the air out of nowhere. The Fireball was flying like it didn't have any weight in it. Even though it was pure black yet it was dimly illuminating the entire area which was pitch black before it appeared. 

He flinched and stepped back because of the sudden encounter with that Fireball. Advik forgot about the voice and looked at the Black Fireball in surprise and confusion.

Unexpectedly, the voice came again, it was calm and soothing, "Do not be afraid, child. I can take you to where Samay has gone."

Advik scanned everywhere in wonder, grimancing, "Who? Who is here? Why can't I see you? Come out right now."

"I am right in front of you, just look carefully and closely," the voice was filled with a divine aura. It was a mature voice of a male, that was guaranteed.

The soul looked at his surroundings once again, "Huh? There's no one here," he was not scared but a bit restless to know who was behind the voice. His eyes examined everywhere and then his sight froze on the Fireball. He raised his eyebrow and with full of disbelief, asked, "...... Wait!? Are you saying that this voice, I mean, you are this Black Fireball?" 

The Firefly was jumping in the air with joy hearing their conversation as if it was also confirming that what Advik just said was true. The soul looked at the Firefly and then at the Black Fireball which was ahead of him.

He was speechless for a while. 

He felt even more stupid because now a Fireball was also talking to him after the Firefly led him in that horrible place! Have I really gone crazy?! How can a Black Fireball be talking to me? Advik put his palm on his forehead and started to doubt himself. He mumbled to himself, "Is this also a dream? F**k! I don't understand anything anymore." 

The Fireball came in front of him again, courteously saying, "Do not be reckless. I can really help you, just listen to what I am saying. If you want to find the youth who has left the palace and come here, I can tell you where he might be, believe me."

Advik pondered about something as he silently stared at the Fireball. 

Frankly speaking, he didn't know why and how but the Fireball looked harmless and somehow familiar to him. Even though it was just a Fireball it still gave him some kind of security and a close friend or a family member-like feeling. His heart just believed the Fireball unnoticeably.

It was just a feeling, he didn't know where the assurance came from but he was pretty sure that these two could help him. He gently glanced at the Black Fireball, "Well... hmm... So how can you help me? You said you can tell where that kid is, right? I am actually lost at words... Seriously, first a Firefly and now a Fireball. Though, if you can help me then hurry up!"

The Fireball and the Firefly were just gazing and listening to Advik with full concentration. Even if the place was dark, pitch-black it was still glittering a little because of them.

Advik smiled and looked ahead at the destroyed path and the outrageous forest, "Which direction then?"

The Fireball was calm but it looked happy when it heard that Advik will follow them. With a hint of satisfaction, the Fireball replied, "This way please and stay close to me, both of you. This journey is going to be dangerus for us." It flew ahead of him and started to led him to an unknown path.

Advik was astonished as he thought. His lips had a warm smile. Now a Fireball and a Firefly are going to protect me and I have to follow them as well, it seems it will be fun.

Advik was lost in his thoughts thus he didn't notice when the two left him behind. The Fireball looked around when it couldn't find the soul beside itself. It saw him standing behind in a trance hence it called, "Please follow us."

Advik abruptly woke up from his thought, he looked around with big eyes then saw the Fireball, "Oh wait, I am coming, let's go. We need to hurry."