The Upper Realm Part 2

"Can't we not go in yet? I feel like my body will fall apart if I enter there." Ningsih's voice trembled, a look of anxiety on her face. She kept her head down, not daring to look back.

Panicked, Mahendra held both of her shoulders, turning them to face each other.

"Tell me, what's wrong? Are you in pain? Is it because you entered this realm? What if we just go back? I'll take you." Mahendra's cascade of questions showed just how worried he was about her.

Ningsih finally looked up, met his gaze, and smiled. A moment later, she shook her head and released the end of the chain she had been holding.

"I'm fine," she said, taking his hand.

"I want to enjoy this flower field—oh, I mean this beautiful garden!" she exclaimed happily, pulling Mahendra's hand and running through the field.

The beautiful field, with the distinct fragrant aroma of the Upper Realm, was truly mesmerizing. Ningsih was enchanted by every beautiful thing in this place. She ran constantly, from one end to the other, without feeling tired at all. 

But for some reason, it looked strange.

After a while, Ningsih let go of his hand. Mahendra stood still, watching her from a distance. She was now playing with dozens of butterflies that followed her.

"Her face was pale just now, but it's back to normal. What's wrong with her?"

At the time, it all seemed normal. Mahendra, more than anything, didn't want his mind to be disturbed at a moment like this. He turned around, gazing at a large tree in the distance, and wondered if that was the place he was looking for.

"The Memory Pool... The Wandering King didn't describe its features clearly, but I'm sure that might be the place," Mahendra thought.

"Mahendra! Come here!"

"Okay!" Mahendra approached Ningsih, who was standing and looking at something among the many flowers planted there.

There was no clear distinction between the types of flowers, except for their seemingly random colors. They were all mixed together, as if they had been planted haphazardly. Mahendra and Ningsih looked at each other.

"Why did you call me just for this?"

"The flower is pretty, isn't it?" Ningsih asked with sparkling eyes.

Mahendra looked at the flower again. It had a small pistil and six overlapping petals of different colors. It was a unique flower, one that didn't exist in the human realm.

"Hmm... yeah, it's pretty." He cleared his throat before finally agreeing with Ningsih.But Ningsih still had the same expression.

"Alright, another time, I'll show you something like this again when we get back," he said again.

"You promise!" Ningsih's expression changed to one of excitement and joy. 

She jumped up and down, so thrilled she couldn't control herself.

Although Mahendra had said he would show her a field of flowers like this, he didn't actually know where to find one in the human realm.

"I shouldn't have said that so carelessly," Mahendra thought with a tinge of regret.

Suddenly, the Wandering King's words from before made his heart beat faster. He was startled by something after observing Ningsih's behavior today.

The Wandering King had once said, "That woman is full of deceit. Although not all women are like that, if you're telling me you see her as beautiful as a whole living being, this might not be a good sign."

Of the many people he had met, because of his red eyes, Mahendra had always seen every living being as a walking skeleton with no flesh or skin. But it was a different story when he met this golden-eyed girl.

To his cursed eyes, the girl looked like a very beautiful, pure, and perfect angel. So perfect that it felt like a mere dream.

For a moment, Mahendra gave a faint smile, shook his head heavily, and tried to push away any bad thoughts about her.

"Hey, if you start to remember your name, please tell me as soon as possible, okay?"

"You're that curious about my real name? Haha, alright." She let out a small laugh.
Mahendra nodded and said, "Yes, I'm very curious. You have powerful magic, so your name must be beautiful."

Happiness was not easy to find after suffering for so long in his old world. Mahendra wanted to rest his head on the girl's lap for a moment. He wanted to forget the things that had passed.

If only he could.

"And I really promise," Mahendra said, looking at the flower field with an enthusiastic gaze.

"I will show you all the flowers and scenery that are here in another place," he added.

"You know there are flowers like these in other places?" Ningsih asked curiously.

Mahendra shook his head quickly, then replied, "I've never seen them anywhere. If there aren't flowers like these, then I'll make them exist. No matter how."

***

Meanwhile, in another place, on the Snowland, where The Sun was moored.At that moment, the Wandering King never took his eyes off the sky. This sparked Liliana's curiosity.

"What are you looking at?"

"I'm just a little worried," he replied in a very low voice.

"Oh, I think I know. It must have something to do with that girl in the white dress, right?"The Wandering King smiled. He looked at Liliana for a moment.

"Is he really blind? I feel like he's actually looking at me with both eyes," Liliana thought, feeling a little wary.

"You know what I mean. That girl is unusual. I purposely made her go with that boy, but it turns out she didn't refuse, even though she openly said that only the dead can enter the Upper Realm," the Wandering King revealed.

"Of course, the Creator God, certain people who are considered gods and goddesses, and the Devourer Destiny are exceptions," he added, putting his index finger in front of his lips, signaling Liliana to keep this conversation to herself.

"Are you leading her to her death?" Liliana guessed.

"No. I'm just leading her to find out how resilient she is with the Devourer Destiny," he replied with a wide smile.

***

Meanwhile, in another place, the Ice Cave. The place where Nephilim—the Ruler of the Northern Region—indirectly held the Goddess of Healing, Panacea, captive.

As soon as he opened the room's door, vines suddenly wrapped tightly around every part of his body. His legs, hands, waist, and even his neck were held in place before he could take a step inside.

With a sharp gaze, Panacea asked, "What are you hiding from me?"

The vines tightened around his neck. Nephilim felt like he couldn't breathe and was now silent for a moment, returning her unfriendly gaze.

"This is my house, but she can do this to me," Nephilim muttered.