Chapter 6

After the completion of my arduous and lengthy journey, I believed that I had finally arrived at the designated location. Retrieving my map from the confines of my pocket, I diligently confirmed whether this was indeed the correct place or not, only to realize that I had been mistaken.

Casting my gaze around, all that met my eyes was a towering wall nestled amidst the trees. Adorned with intertwining vines and displaying numerous cracks, it exuded an aura of antiquity.

The only sounds that reached my ears were the melodious chirping of birds and the gentle caress of the wind emanating from my right. Brushing my hair aside, I inhaled the invigorating air, while the scorching rays of the sun caused perspiration to form on my brow, which I promptly wiped away.

Having rid myself of the sweat that had accumulated on my garments, a smile graced my face, for I was on the verge of resurrecting my dear sister. Memories of her began to surface in my mind, particularly her infectious laughter, the absence of which had left an indelible void within my heart.

However, my elation soon gave way to confusion as I directed my attention back to the wall. I pondered how I could gain entry into this clandestine realm, for there was no discernible entrance. It presented itself as an unadorned barrier.

Attempting to push, kick, and knock on the wall proved futile, as it remained unresponsive. Frustration etched itself onto my countenance as I desperately sought a means to access the secret world, yet all my efforts proved fruitless. Crestfallen, I resigned myself to the fact that I would never be able to reunite with my sister.

Seating myself upon the ground, perspiration continued to trickle down my face, prompting me to repeatedly wipe it away. It was a futile endeavor. Overwhelmed by a sense of defeat, I realized that loneliness would now be my constant companion, as the prospect of seeing my sister again slipped further away.

With my thoughts lingering on the witch from our previous encounter, I yearned for my sister to impart the knowledge of opening the door. I couldn't fathom why, but I was desperate to uncover the secret.

"Say, 'Aspera,'" a familiar voice suddenly interjected, causing me to swiftly rise from my seated position.

I inquired with a puzzled expression, scanning my surroundings in search of her, fully aware that it was the witch. To my astonishment, I failed to locate her, despite my expectation of encountering her once again. Instead, I could only hear her voice echoing the same words twice.

Believing it to be some kind of incantation, I repeated the words and felt a slight tremor beneath my feet. Intrigued, I swiftly turned around and witnessed the ground slowly splitting open beneath the wall.

My jaw dropped in awe as I instinctively took several steps back. As the opening finally revealed itself, my amazed smile faded away, for all I could see was a staircase leading into darkness.

A shiver ran down my spine, causing me to swallow nervously. Closing my eyes, I lowered my head and took a deep breath. My mind reassured me that I could overcome any fear, reminding me that I was here solely for my sister and no one else.

After regaining some composure, I turned back to express my gratitude to the witch before facing the hole and venturing into it. As I walked through the corridor, all I could perceive was a faint blue light at the tunnel's end.

Unaware of how long the journey would take, I pressed on despite the discomfort in my feet. Faint voices reached my ears from the end of the tunnel, sending a chill down my spine. Finally, upon arrival, I surveyed my surroundings, my mouth and eyes wide with amazement.

The voices grew louder as countless white souls floated throughout the room. The blue light emanated from a stool, casting an ethereal glow across the grand chamber. The entrance to the adjacent room also emitted a blue radiance, devoid of any doors. The cold, refreshing air filled my nostrils.

I realized it was time to begin my search for my sister. Despite calling out her name repeatedly, there was no response. I moved from room to room, shouting her name each time, but still, there was no sign of her. My desperation to find her grew, but doubts started to cloud my mind. I questioned whether it was worth it to go through all this trouble to find her. Just as I was about to give up and turn back, one room caught my attention - it was much larger than the others.

As I stood in the center of the room, I noticed a dark blue light emanating from another room, where numerous souls were present, and a large crystal was shining brightly. I made my way towards it, taking in the strange surroundings.

The room was filled with countless souls swirling around the crystal and flying through the air. It was as if the room itself was shaped like a sphere, with no other exits except the one I had entered through. Despite my efforts to call out to my sister once more as I descended the stairs, there was still no response. I hesitated to continue, but something inside me urged me to press on.

As I reached the ground floor, I scanned the area multiple times in search of her. Disappointed by the lack of response, I decided to depart since there was no use in continuing the search. Just as I was about to leave, I heard my sister's voice calling my name.

"Huh?!" I quickly turned around, checking the environment for her. Although she was not in sight, her voice grew louder as she approached.

I persisted in my search until she finally appeared before me. Without a smile, she placed her hands on my shoulders and asked, "What are you doing here? I warned you not to come. Don't you remember my previous warnings?"

I furrowed my brow, feeling tears welling up in my eyes, on the verge of spilling over. "But I do not need to be alone, older sis. I miss you terribly. I long for the days when we were together."

My sister shook her head. "No, I've told you before not to. Do you keep in mind the sleep time story I utilized to tell you?"

Before long, my sister transformed into an evil spirit. I had always believed that story to be a mere myth, but now it was my turn to flee. I made every effort to escape, but the spirit claimed my life, subjecting me to the same fate as the story's ill-fated king…