The Hidden Domain

Sebastian led Charles through a cemetery dedicated to those who worshiped Fatus Rex, the Divine Ordainer. Most believers of that faith were traditionally brought here for burial after death, as the religion taught that bodies should be interred rather than cremated.

In the past, funeral rites had involved placing the deceased in a flower-adorned coffin and letting it drift along a river current, trusting fate to carry it to its destined final rest. But over time, such customs became problematic when bodies washed ashore, got caught in riverside foliage, or tumbled out of coffins altogether—forcing authorities to intervene. The practice was thus discontinued, replaced by burial.

Charles couldn't help asking, "Where exactly are we going? Is the 'Hidden Domain' really inside this cemetery?"

Sebastian kept walking at an unhurried pace. "Not exactly, but the entrance to it is hidden here."

A short while later, Sebastian spotted a small shrine-like structure he had apparently been seeking. After avoiding the caretaker's watchful eye, they slipped quietly inside. The moonlight peeked through a window just enough to illuminate the interior before they gently shut the door behind them.

A stone statue of a six-winged angel stood at the center, holding a circular ring to its chest—symbolizing the belief that this angel would guide the souls of the dead through the Wheel of fate. According to legend, it would read the tapestry of one's life—woven over a person's lifetime—and decide whether they would proceed to an eternal realm of endless bliss.

"Is this the entrance?" Charles asked, glancing at the statue.

"Not yet. We have to wait for the right moment. Soon, the moonlight will fall exactly where it needs to." Sebastian spoke quietly, his gaze never leaving the angelic figure.

When the light of the full moon struck the stone angel just so, Sebastian began chanting an incantation in an arcane language—words that loosely translated to:

"Let the Theater of the Moonlight be opened!"

All at once, the floor before the statue cracked apart and slowly revealed a large stone doorway, beyond which a spiral staircase curled down into the darkness below.

Sebastian nodded at Charles and handed him a mysterious mask with one hand, and a dark cloak with the other. Charles took them without hesitation and put them on.

"You ready? Remember the rules: when we're in there, do not ask anyone about their identity, and do not reveal yours."

Charles answered with a wordless nod. His entire figure became shrouded beneath the dark cloak, his sharply defined features concealed behind the mask—only his deep brown eyes remained visible.

The two descended the stairs. The stone door sealed behind them as though swallowing their forms into the pitch-black depths, leaving only silence in that resting place of souls.

Charles followed Sebastian along the unlit corridor, both figures quickly swallowed by the darkness. Only their echoing footsteps announced their presence.

At last, a blaze of brilliant light appeared at the end of the passage. They stepped through a luminous veil into a world beyond—and Charles froze, astonished at the sight.

Overhead stretched a night sky strewn with twinkling stars. A silver crescent moon glowed with an icy radiance, looking at first like a perfectly ordinary nocturnal sky—something he had often seen.

Yet it soon became clear that everything felt like a stage backdrop. The stars, the clouds, even the moon itself looked as though someone had painted them on wooden flats and hung them in midair. Despite looking artificial, the moonlight bathing the ground was unmistakably real, instilling a strange mix of wonder and disbelief.

Even that bright moonlight couldn't banish all the shadows, so lampposts and torches were set up throughout the streets and buildings. Oddly, each flame glowed in an intense white rather than the usual amber-orange.

Then there were the people—enough to make Charles's eyes widen. In one scene, four men heaved a massive glass tank filled with water. Inside lurked a bizarre creature, half fish but bearing disturbingly humanlike teeth, along with thin, hair-like tentacles that quivered where scales ought to have been.

Charles shifted his gaze elsewhere and nearly jumped in shock. Within another container was an enormous, misshapen spider with flesh-colored skin resembling human flesh. Its face looked disturbingly human as well, yet it had eight eyes. And when it opened its mouth, it revealed a typical spider's mandibles—enough to make Charles's skin crawl.

He felt awash in wonder and dread, as if he'd stumbled into a dreamscape caught between reality and imagination. Everything here seemed a far cry from his own world—a place of fables, myths, and nightmares made real.

Sebastian gently shook Charles's shoulder, snapping him out of his trance. Then he explained more about this place:

"This Hidden Domain is like an underground market for people like us—those who use magic and special powers. They come here to trade and barter for everything imaginable: rare ingredients for potions, enchanted tools, even top-secret information. You name it, you can find it here."

Charles looked stunned. "I thought we might be in some sort of cavern under the city. But this is… something else."

Sebastian shook his head, revealing an even stranger truth. "No. This place isn't simply underground. It's a secluded realm connected by doorways from all over the kingdom. If you know how to open them and meet the right conditions—like we did just now—you can step right inside."

Charles's curiosity only grew, his brow creasing with questions he couldn't hold back. "So… how could such a place even exist? Who built it? And what about these bizarre creatures? Where do they come from, and why haven't I ever seen them in our world?"

Sebastian shrugged. "I can't say for sure about the first two. Nobody really knows where the Hidden Domain came from, or who created it. As for those monsters—most are captured from remote, mysterious places: the deep seas, uncharted forests. People bring them here to sell, either to make money or to harvest certain body parts for potions."

A faint heaviness settled in Charles's chest at the thought. He pivoted to another nagging question. "Then why did you come here? Looking for something specific?"

Sebastian offered a slight smile and continued walking, Charles keeping pace at his side. "I need herbs and other rare components for some ritual experiments and special concoctions. You can't just walk into an ordinary shop and find them, so here we are."

Along the way, Charles took in every unusual sight. People, creatures—everything seemed vibrantly strange. His thoughts overflowed with more questions, so he turned to Sebastian once again.

"Are there other races besides these? Like… vampires? Do they really exist?"

Sebastian nodded, his expression serious and guarded. "They do. Vampires are real, and they're dangerous. They hunt people for blood. Most consider them a kind of demon. I've run into two or three myself—close calls, I'll tell you that."

At those words, an idea sparked in Charles's mind. He blurted out the question he most wanted to ask. "What about dragons? Do they exist? Have you ever seen one?"

This time, Sebastian shook his head, looking uncertain. "Mmm… never seen a dragon myself. I'm not sure if they're real. But if they do exist, they might be the rarest creatures of all."

Charles lapsed into thoughtful silence. Tonight, his worldview had shattered and re-formed countless times. The things he once thought belonged only in legends now stood tangible before him.

Eventually, Sebastian arrived at a vendor's stall he'd clearly been looking for, heading there to purchase the materials he wanted. Charles followed close behind, eyes still roaming in quiet fascination.

That was when something caught his eye—a modest little stall that wasn't especially prominent. Yet there was an object on it that made Charles pause, heart jolting as though time had stopped.

It was a wrinkled, worn piece of paper. Though battered on the edges, it appeared intact enough to read. Charles walked up to it straightaway.

"Excuse me, merchant—where did you get that paper?" he asked urgently, eyes glued to the mysterious document.

The vendor eyed him warily, as if weighing whether or not to respond. Eventually, he spoke in a clipped voice. "No merchant worth his salt reveals the source of his goods. That's private."

Charles refused to relent. "At least tell me if you know what's written on it. Can you read any of it?"

Seeing a real potential sale, the vendor's demeanor changed slightly. He gave in and explained, "I'm not too sure myself, but I had an expert look at it once. He said the writing comes from the legendary Great Sin Kingdom."

"The 'Great Sin Kingdom?'" Charles echoed, the unfamiliar name sparking another round of questions. "What kingdom is that supposed to be?"

The seller's tone turned impatient as Charles pressed for information without actually buying anything. "Look, if you're not buying, move along. Otherwise, you're just wasting my time."

Charles didn't argue further. He left without a hint of bargaining. Unbeknownst to the merchant, Charles had already gleaned what he needed, because while they spoke, he had furtively read enough of the document to satisfy his curiosity.

It was a love letter.

The text said something like:

To the love of my life:

Though we have simpler ways to communicate, I chose to write you this letter, carefully penning each word… because I want you to see my heart and how deeply I cherish you. Every phrase here is woven from the longing I feel each moment we're apart.

And one more thing… My work will soon be finished. When that time comes, I will return home to ask you for your hand in marriage, my beloved.

With all my love and longing, always…

What truly seized Charles's attention, however, wasn't the letter's content but the language itself. It was the same mysterious script he had seen on a different scrap of paper he'd picked up once before. A language he'd never encountered… and yet, for some unexplainable reason, he could read it.