Julius lay on the ground, his senses gradually awakening amidst a cacophony of strange sounds. “Coockuu! Coocku! … Bzzzz bzzzz! … Ahihihihihi! … Shwioshhhhh!” It was as if the world around him was alive, each noise a playful invitation. He blinked, his eyes adjusting to the fog-laden environment that enveloped him like a thick veil.

  “Am I dreaming?” he whispered to himself, a sensation of weightlessness washing over him. The trees around him were ancient, their trunks wide and gnarled, and above, something that resembled a moon hung in the sky. He squinted, unsure if it was truly a celestial body; it seemed to shimmer and twitch as though it were alive. Deciding not to stare, he focused on the ground instead, where soft grass blanketed the earth, interspersed with colorful rocks that caught the dim light.

  A gentle breeze rustled the leaves, and the air was filled with the sounds of giggling and distant animal calls. Despite the eerie ambiance, a wave of calm washed over him. ‘So this is the Spirit World, huh?’ he mused, recalling snippets from the books he’d read about parallel planes of reality existing alongside the mortal world. “Does that mean I left my physical body with Grandpa?” He couldn’t shake the feeling that unseen eyes were watching him.

  “Hello, anybody home?” Julius called, his voice echoing slightly. “Hello there, anyone there? I was sent here by my Grandfather, Crameyus—maybe someone knows him?” His heart raced as he awaited a response.

  Suddenly, a high-pitched giggle erupted from somewhere in the fog, sending shivers down his spine. “Ahm, hi there! My name is Julius. Nice to meet you, but it would be much better if you showed yourself, I guess?” His bravado felt thin in the face of the unknown.

  “Finaaaaaalyyyyyy, theee tiiiiiiime has coooooooooome!” A thunderous voice reverberated through the grove, causing the trees to shudder and the ground to tremble. Julius’s instincts kicked in, and he darted behind a bush, his heart pounding like a drum. “Haaai! I… I… Julius… my name… can I help you?” His voice trembled, betraying his fear.

  “Weeee haaaave waaaited foooor ssooooo loooong. My brethren, we can now roam the mortal world because thy chooooosen has arriiiiived. Reeejooice!” the voice boomed again, filling the air with anticipation.

  Julius peeked out from his hiding spot as the fog began to swirl, dispersing rapidly with a sound like wind rushing through trees. As clarity returned, he found himself surrounded by an array of vibrant figures, each one more fantastical than the last. They knelt before him, their faces obscured by shadows, and his breath hitched in his throat.

  Fear gave way to a strange mix of curiosity and dread as he stammered, “H-hi th-th-there? Ahhh, gr… gr… greetings…” He was astonished by his own courage, though it felt feeble against the surreal backdrop.

  “Hihihihi! We are pleased and excited now that you have arrived, young masteeeer!” A slender woman stepped forward from the gathering light, her red hair cascading like a waterfall, her eyes glowing with an otherworldly radiance. She wore a gown that shimmered, clinging to her form with elegance. Julius was momentarily dumbfounded, entranced by her presence.

  “Super boom, surely she hates red… gulp.” He felt a flush creep up his neck, caught between awe and embarrassment.

  “I said we are pleased you have arrived, young master Julius!” she repeated, her voice smooth like silk.

  Snapped back to reality, Julius replied, “Oh yes, I heard you. Ahem… how did you know my name? I mean, did I just repeat that line?” He chuckled nervously, trying to mask his confusion.

  “Hihihi,” she laughed lightly, her amusement infectious.

  “We juuuust knooow, young maaaster! It’s ooooobvious because you said a while agooo, we have waited here for a very loooong looong time, and now the looooong wait is goooone… harharharhhar,” another voice chimed in, echoing from the depths of the crowd.

  Julius turned, his eyes widening as he caught sight of a ghostly figure, floating and ethereal, with glowing white eyes that seemed to pierce through the fog.

  “Wait! Stay there, don’t move!” Julius yelped, panic rising in his chest.

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  The ghostly figure frowned but held still. “I mean, it’s a pleasure to meet you all? Honestly, I don’t understand any of this. I was helped by my Grandpa, Crameyus… do you know him?”

  A heavy silence followed, the colorful beings exchanging glances as if communicating silently.

  “And there was a stone, yes! The spirit stone! It glows many colors like a rainbow… then my vision went black, and now I’m here. Oh, my Grandpa said I’d be meeting someone—a familiar spirit. Do you… do you know who he is?” Julius stammered, his voice barely above a whisper.

  “........”

  The figures looked to one another, amusement dancing in their eyes. “We are the familiar spirits you seek, and we are here to serve the young master,” said a figure with the head of a minotaur as he emerged from the shadows, muscles rippling beneath his vibrant skin.

  Julius’s heart raced. “So… I assume that the master you speak of is me? How is that even possible?”

  “Leeet mee eeeexplain it fuuuurther,” the ghost-like figure offered, floating closer.

  “Not you! Just stay there! Stay there, or I’m gonna scream!” Julius shouted, his voice cracking like a child’s.

  The spirit held back, looking mildly offended.

  “I guess I’ll do it,” the red girl with glowing red eyes said, stepping forward with an air of authority.

  “Yes! You… you can explain!” Julius said, relief washing over him.

  “As you hold the holy properties, and were crowned in this holy place the day you were born, your blood gives you the ability to lead us to a new beginning. We are special to this world as you are to your mortal realm because we only serve whom we believe deserves it. Do not be afraid, for in your hands, you will reign and change your world for the better. If you falter, the balance may be shaken, and you will be forever shackled to evil. On behalf of the Spirit World, those of our brethren who are prisoners of contract will be saved from damnation. We will help you in your endeavors and will be forever thankful that the time has come. So, everyone that is here, I present to you… Master Julius of the mortal world, our great young Master!” The red-haired woman declared, her voice resonating with conviction.

  “Awooh… Awooh… Awohhh!” the crowd erupted in applause, their excitement palpable.

  Julius chuckled awkwardly, feeling the weight of their expectations. “Awohh… hahahaa… awoh… haha, sure that was flashy… hahaha…” He attempted to rally their spirits, though his heart felt heavy with uncertainty.

  “Are you sure he is our young master?” a voice murmured from the back, doubt creeping in.

  “Ahhh, okay, so yes, we can do it… wohow… we will prevail… yohow!” Julius shouted with forced enthusiasm, trying to mask his apprehension.

  ‘Do we really have to follow him?’ someone whispered, and the doubt rippled through the gathered spirits.

  “Ahem… okay, sorry, everyone. Honestly, I don’t know what to say. It’s quite awkward, I guess. Everything you said was a little shocking… but if this is my fate, I would like you to enlighten me. I feel like an idiot here, actually, and I just don’t know what to do…” Julius confessed, his bravado waning.

  “It’s okay, young master. It’s just a little odd that you don’t know the path you are taking,” the red girl replied gently.

  “Yes! Those three people hoarded all that information from me… aaarrggh, they have a lot of explaining to do! This is their fault, actually. Haiiiya!” Julius said, frustration spilling over.

  ‘Surely he is odd,’ the red girl thought, her amusement barely contained.

  “So I guess we’ll seeeeee eeeeach oooother agaaaaain?” the ghost-like figure asked, his tone whimsical.

  “Ahahaha… I don’t know what to answer yet, not now!” Julius responded shakily, feeling a chill run down his spine.

  “Get away from him! You’re scaring him, Mors Vutom!” the red girl interjected, moving protectively closer to Julius.

  “I was just trying to haaave a conversaaation! You know how it feels not to see a mortal for veeeery loooong…” Mors Vutom pouted, floating back reluctantly.

  “Aplogy accepted… hahahaha… so can I go now?” Julius forced a smile, but it felt strained.

  “As you wish, young master. But before that, if you want to return here, you don’t have to force your entry. It will happen naturally eventually. This world is like your home; you are born with the powers to traverse it. And if we wish, we will do the same when the perfect time comes. Just remember, everything comes for a reason, young master. Destiny awaits… Young master, the spirits, this world, we… are just one. See you soon…” The red girl winked at him, her gaze lingering as his vision faded once more.

  As darkness enveloped him, Julius felt a rush of emotions, questions swirling in his mind. When he opened his eyes again, he found himself lying on the ground, staring at the familiar wooden ceiling of his room. Panic gripped him as he noticed three figures looming above him.

  “Mother, Father, Grandpa…” Julius murmured, confusion flooding his thoughts.

  “....................”

  “I thought I was gonna dieeeeeee… hwaaaaahhh! This is all your fault… huhuhuhuhuh!” he screamed, frustration spilling over.

  “It’s okay, scaredy-cat! You are not alone… that was really a bad experience too! Huhuhuhuhu… I feel you, I feel you, baby!” Crameyus said, his voice heavy with dramatic flair.

  “I think we are not needed here anymore, Karsus…” Ariadna interjected, trying to regain control of the situation.

  “Ahem, please excuse us, then, Village Chief. We’ll take our leave…” Karsus said, attempting to sidestep the chaos.

  “.........huhuhuhuhhhu…” Crameyus continued, his melodrama echoing in the small room as Julius tried to process the whirlwind of his unexpected journey into the Spirit World and the strange beings that awaited him there.