Starting my day like the usual, going to school, then work in the library, and go home, it's been like this for six years but... Something that is near to a blessing and between a curse happened that changed my regular day.

I was rummaging around the library, doing my part as the librarians assistant and while being a bookworm too actually. I stumbled upon an odd book, it has no records from our library, the content was strange and captivating for some reason, and so I asked the librarian about it and she said...

Earlier this day, a man on his twenties brought the book in the library and gave me introductions on how he wants the book to be "safe keeped" and with no further questions, he left, but there is something strange in that man, he was wearing a turtle neck and a coat..

"But it's summer" (I said bluntly with a bit of sarcasm in it)

Indeed, but the strangest thing he was wearing wasn't the clothes but the earing, it was a small ancient watch used from ancient time... What a weird man..

With the librarian ending her sentence like that, I feel nothing but strangeness and chills, as upon reading the books dedication, I felt the book resonating with me, and with no further ado, I asked the librarian if in any chance I could purchase the book

....

I walked home with the feeling of creepiness following me, stares that I can't point out where it's coming from, and steps Shadowing mine.

Stop...

A low deep voice echoed through out the space, gentle yet frightening, that the silence was deafening.

I looked back to see a man, it was foggy since it was already 8, but I can tell that he was the man that the librarian described, he fits the description she gave, especially the earing.

He looked at me straight in the eye, it was a crystalic purple that looks like the galaxy was in it. He lifted his top hat and bowed with a gentle gesture, his white hair was white as a snow, he looked young to tell that the hair was because of old age, and he has this charming smile that melted my guards down.

Where did you get that book?

It was like any normal curious person sounded like, but the fact that he looks too holy yet demonic at the same time, put my guard back up.

I was sure that he was testing me, I can tell by his gaze that it's no ordinary question. I gave my most calculated yet honest answer.

The librarian gave it to me for free as I have taken interest on the book, I plan to finish it, I wanna see till the end of it.

The man appeared please by my answer and added..

Very well then brave one, the book I made seems to resonate with you and so I give my permission, and just a little tip "every chapter has a clue that will lead to something".

And with that being said, the man once more bowed for goodbye, but this time he left me in horror, he waved goodbye while fading along with the fog.

I ran home as fast as I can, hurriedly and rushingly then closed the door that it made a loud bang

*BANG!*

My parents ran towards the door and sees me on the floor panting and gasping for air. It was my fight and flight that talked as I ran home.

I immediately told my parents which actually appeared to not believe me, even tho they said..

"We believe you dear" I could tell from their eyes that they're lying and doesn't believe me and so I..

It's fine if you don't believe me, I understand really, so please don't worry anymore.

Ending their worry and suspicion like that, we went back to normal and ate dinner together. It was 9 and it was time that my parents would tuck themselves to bed, while I on the other hand read books to waste my time.

I read the book that came from the man, it's short and concise, yet even with such little literature, you could tell right away what the author wishes to deliver.

[Chapter 1]

Night arrives at AM

bus is a ride you will be taking

A ghostly whisper and a ghostly chill

Invites you to a ride

To a place in hide

Welcome to the ghost town

For some reason I remembered the man saying about how there are hidden cluesin every chapter, and so, I kept on reading the same chapter over and over again, Trying to understand and find the clue hidden behind its words.

The AM that starts the night.. 12 AM. bus is a ride I will be taking, bus.. the bus stop is where I should wait.. the bus will take you to a place in hide.. this is real.. this must be real.. I wanna see it..no.. I need to see it!

I need to see it.

With the curiosity growing in me, I then started packing for this adventure, packing the usual necessities and some might be needed like flint & steel, spices, book & pen, etc.

I'm packed, I think that's enough for a ready journey.

And with that, I sneaked out of our house and headed to the bus station, there I saw two people sitting in the bus stop, a grandma that looks old as wise, and a boy near my age who was packed like me.

I sat between them and rested my head on the wall behind, I gave a sigh looking at the clock which was 11:49, I waited and waited until the clock strike twelve and a loud bell was heard, but such loud bell doesn't exist in this town, which world am I in now?.

A yellow bus that looks like any ordinary transport bus arrives at the bus stop, the grandma went ahead first and then I followed.

The boy behind tugged on my shirt, looking so unsure of his choice, i paid no mind as the boy follows me behind, we sat at the end of the bus, still between of the boy and grandma from outside.

The grandma was humming a lullaby while the boy was sleeping on my shoulder, I noticed the boy has a necklace, it looked old and nice, it was like a closed clock used by ancient time, the boy is warm unlike the grandma on the other side.

Cold wind fills the bus as passengers boarded inside, the bus made a round to the town, it was already 2:30, the bus then drove in speed, passing the towns gate and fall into a cliff.

My mind recited prayers that can be found behind the book, it was called the dedication prayer, and so I prayed for this journey to be safe.

The bus stopped and the passengers disembark outside, I then wake the boy sleeping beside and hold his hand towards outside.

The place was cold yet a warm feeling of familiarity build inside, the people passing by looked from the old times, they smile and laugh, talk and joke, they pay no care about us, it was dreamy and fascinating, to be exact, it was hypnotizing but... A feeling hits me when the boy called me.

Airah! Snap out of it! They're trying to trap you in this dream! Open your eyes!

I quickly snap out of it and closed my eyes, I hightened my instincts and senses, the only ability I know I can use for this kind of situation, i felt a strong smell of blood, a cold wind that gives me shiver and chills, the sound of their laughter wasn't directed to themselves, it was directed to us in a circus like laughter.

I grabbed the boys hand and ran as fast as I can dragging him with me barely catching up my speed, he open his pendant, it was actually an old analog clock with a mixture of compass.

The compass started spinning wildly and stopped to a direction, the boy then ran in full speed turning our roles as the one being dragged and the one dragging.

The compass leads us to an old bar, it was antique and light, we head on inside and was welcomed by a man in the poseur table, putting down two milk and a plate filled of cookies.

We sat together near the table and started drinking the and munching the cookies laid on the table for us.

I recognize the barkeeper, he was the exact man who owns the book, while being cautious and trusting, I started to flip the books second page, the chapter 2.

In my surprise the page was blank, no letters no words, not even the word chapter 2 was present, I stared at the bartender with hesitation, but he stared back at me with an affectionate smile.

Oh my oh my, you are indeed worthy that you are able to get here so far for now, today I will reward you the second chapter of your journey.

I felt happy and satisfied by his word, but then he took a mug with black liquido and poured it directly to the empty page, drenching the whole book.

What are you doing!?

The man keeped his smile, while i was in horror.

Dear you should calm down, the world of ancient magic is far more...

I wasn't able to hear what his last words was, he then took the book out of my hands and blew on it, the black liquido turned into dusts and the book was no more drench and with the second chapter revealed.

Fascinating isn't it dear, you will soon know the secret between, travel long and far, a journey short but fun, an excitement and thrill, as you find the meaning behind your will.

And with that words being said, the man once more disappeared and the bar that was clean is now dirty and dusty like an old machine.

The daylight lights the town, ghostest was nowhere to be found, it was now safe and real, the old town is what I can see.

I read the book while sitting on a old bench in this replica town, the boy sits with me silently and keeped, I then started to read.

The Chapter 2

The Ghost town with its fountain of two,

one leads to a forest and one leads to a doom,

choose wisely as fate changes according to who you choose,

be grateful and be humble,

the forest is part of the nature,

what will it be to you?

In my real town, there is only one fountain, but in this town I can see two, if I choose wrongly I will be doomed.

The clue is in the chapter, what is it.. I don't understand... Be grateful and be humble... Forest is part of nature..is part of nature..part of nature .. my nature?

The realization hit me, to how you pick or which one you pick means really nothing, as the way to the forest is the nature within me... Am I.. good?

Am I good?...

As I fight with my self conscious, a momentary pause of cleverness.

Right, it must be that! If I think of myself as good that means I'm good (clear foolishness)

I steped next to the fountain, I looked at my reflection and thinked about all the good things I did in life

After a few moments the fountain started to rise and consumed me, the fountain got wider, bigger, and deeper.

Ah dimly lit orb floats under and started to go closer to me, suddenly a hand pulled me out of the water and back to the surface

A gigantic horrifying fish similar to an anglerfish and snake emerges from the water

It almost killed me

Shakenly as the realization hits me, the hand that grabbed me is still grabbing me, when I looked up, I saw the boy who actually went in first

Hey, we're already far from the lake, can u stop dragging me already

He looked at me and actually paced up even more to the point he was already running and I was getting dragged midair

I saw something shiny then floating towards me... It was an arrow that almost hit me in the head.

Wtf!? What was that!?!

Your heavy! Start running already, those are dark elves! We have to run towards the light elves!

I quickly got on my feet and started running, we we're already near the borders that seperates the dark and light elves.

Arrows started shooting towards everywhere, they were targetting the dark elves.. and us too???

Why the F are they attacking us?

We're not from their race! Light elves aren't as nice as u think!

We kept running and running till we reached the end of the forest and near the beach, it was serene and peaceful.

Wow... It's mesmerizing

Someone started singing, it was hauntingly beautiful, it was almost hypnotizing... I looked at the boy and he was slowly heading towards the ocean.

Hey! Stop! What r u doing??

When I turned him to face me, he was asleep?, what's happening?...

I heard some mild whispers and light splashes behind the rock, the singing voice also died down.

I peeked behind the rock with the boy on my hand, firmly gripped. I saw two little kids with pointy ears and a guy with fishtails? It looks like some sort of transparent.

It was two young elves, one is a dark elf and one is a light elf, they look very similar to each other while on the other hand the mermaid with a transparent fish tail which I can see his bones is undeniably handsome.

The kids slapped the boy beside me and he quickly snapped out of the hypnotize, the kids giggled when their tiny hands left a red print on the boy's cheek.

The kids introduced themselves as the light elf is Yuma and the dark elf is Toma, they're twins and called as an outcast in the forest.

The boy then Introduced himself as Shin Wujoo, a human, I too also introduced myself.

Hello, I'm Albie Myer, nice to meet you.

The fish then started to introduce himself as Erdeon, a mermaid siren, he's a hybrid which made him an outcast in the devided ocean.

Erdeon looked at Shin with his pale face turning pink to red while the twins giggled and staring at Erdeon.

Shin seems oblivious at the unrequited love of Erdeon, I'll let them have they're love stories for themselves, I won't interfere.