But Apollo stopped mid-sentence upon hearing his teacher’s radio, “What did it just say?”

“Some murder near The Dam Square.” Mr. Frank said before Apollo quickly gathered his things and bolted for the door, “Apollo, where are you going!?”

“My grandfather lives in that area!” Apollo exclaimed before running out of the school grounds and towards his grandfather’s home, silently hoping that he was alright.

Weaving through the streets and a few shortcuts he finally made it to his grandfather’s home, only to see the front door broken and barely on its hinges.

“Opa!” Apollo exclaimed running to inside the house, only to see his grandfather’s lifeless body in the living room.

He left his heart shatter into a million pieces. His beloved grandfather, the only person he considered family after everything that’s happened to him, was laying lifeless on his own living room floor, clothes drenched in his own blood. Apollo couldn’t help but let the tears break free from his eyes as he kneeled down beside his grandfather, his mentor, his best friend.

He stayed in that position before he heard sirens. Standing up quickly he ran to his grandfather’s study, took his guitar and slung it over his shoulders before leaving through the back patio. Once he was far enough, he let out a sigh of relief before walking to the secret garden he and his grandfather had found ten years ago. Sighing as he entered the garden, he laid his guitar safely inside the small makeshift house he and his grandfather had built along with his bag before walking to the nearby Ash Tree and laid down with the Snowdrops swaying peacefully in the breeze. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath as fresh tears started to fill his eyes.

‘Why did you have to leave, Opa?’ He thought, laying on his side before pulling out his phone and asking Mr. Frank if he could cover for him.

‘Alright, I’ve just seen the news.’ Mr. Frank texted, ‘I’m sorry for your lost, Apollo. I know how close you and your grandfather were.’

After sending a quick “Thank you” he looked at the sky, watching the birds and clouds before taking a deep breath. He stayed there for a couple of hours, mentally thanking Orion that he had packed him lunch before the sun started to set. Taking a deep breath, he locked the house after he had given his guitar a sad look before shouldering his bag and started to make his way back home with the air of someone who would rather stay in his room than to interact with any form of living creature.

“Apollo, you’re back.” Orion said standing up as he saw his step-son enter the household.

“Can I go to my room?” Apollo asked, wanting to hide away from the world for a while.

“Alright, just make sure Adeline doesn’t find out that you skipped school only to find the grandfather that you should’ve never even met dead.” Orion said making Apollo stop dead in his tracks.

“Y-you knew!?” Apollo asked stuttering.

“I’ve always known Apollo.” Orion said smiling, “I’ve seen what Adeline does to you when you’re alone together and I’m sorry I didn’t do anything sooner.”

Before Apollo could react, his body was already hugging his stepfather.

“Thank you, thank you, thank you.” Apollo whispered, tears in the corner of his eyes again.

“Just don’t tell your mother, alright?” Orion said as they separated, “So why don’t you skip school to clear your head for a bit?”

Apollo gave a shaky smile as he wiped away the tears before nodding and going to his room, feeling a bit happier than he felt a few minutes ago.

‘Thank you, Orion.’ Apollo said smiling as he sat on the floor of his room.

The next day Apollo went to school to tell the principal that he’d be gone for a few days. Taking a deep breath, he knocked on the door to the principal’s office before a gentle “Come in” answered.

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“Apollo, fancy seeing you here.” Principal Victoria said as Apollo sat down in front of him, “Did you need something?”

Principal Victoria was a kind and smart person. Ever since she was a made principal the school had made drastic changes. Even the bullying subsided a little though Apollo often wondered how the Basketball team and cheerleaders are still able to get him and a few others into the Nurse’s office three times a week.

“I was wondering if I could get a few days off?” Apollo asked.

“Is this about your grandfather Apollo?” Principal Victoria asked, “It was on the news last night and I’m sure everyone in the faculty knows how close the two of you were.”

Apollo nodded before Principal Victoria smiled, “Of course you can Apollo take all the time that you need.”

“Thank you, Principal Victoria.” Apollo said bowing before leaving the building.

He spent the rest of the morning at the park hoping to get some peace of mind before eating lunch at one of his grandfather’s and his favorite restaurants before leaving the building with a calmer head than when he first walked in. Taking a deep breath, he grabbed his earphones and mp3 player before stuffing it and his hands in his hoodie’s pockets before walking to the secret garden while reminiscing the many memories with his grandfather.

Once he stepped foot in the makeshift house, he noticed a wooden box on the desk. Curiosity taking over him he opened the book only to find a leather-bound book with his grandfather’s favorite quote, “Sometimes music is the only medicine the heart and soul need.”

‘Is this his journal?’ Apollo thought opening the book, ‘What in the world?’

Page after page Apollo grew more and more confused. His grandfather wrote about fighting trolls, taking care of baby pegasi, and playing his guitar in a tavern of fairies, pixies, ents, and dwarves. One particular page however got his interest as his grandfather mentioned something about an orb that grew stronger with every new song written or sung.

‘Interesting.’ Apollo thought smiling a bit, ‘Where did he even get these ideas?’

Though Apollo would never admit it, it seemed as if the wind was listening to him as the pages landed on a map to the center of The Mastbos where a blue portal was drawn.

‘Guess I’m going hiking.’ Apollo said before shouldering his guitar and pocketing his phone, mp3 player, and earphone before leaving the garden and catching a bus.

*

‘This place really has changed.’ Apollo thought remembering the last time he went here; it was before his father left for his music career.

Taking another look at the map, Apollo started to go off the path taking a glance at his grandfather’s journal from time to time, making sure that he wasn’t straying too far.

‘This is it.’ Apollo thought stopping in front of an enormous Willow Tree.

Smiling as he gently placed his grandfather’s journal near his feet, Apollo adjusted his guitar so he could play easier before leaning on the Willow Tree’s bark as tears once again clouded his grey eyes before he started to play the last song his grandfather ever taught him. Closing his eyes, he let his muscle memory take over, and just listened as the melody from his guitar merged with the words from his mouth. Once he started with the second verse, he felt a cool breeze sweep by him as he heard a weird swishing sound. Opening his eyes, he saw the same blue portal from the book just a few inches from where he was positioned. Eyes widening, he staggered a bit before regaining his composure.

‘That’s the same portal from the book.’ Apollo thought returning his guitar to its position on his back.

Cautiously walking towards it, Apollo picked up a branch and threw it at the portal, seeing it enter without blowing up or catching fire. Taking one look at the forest around him, he fastened his guitar strap tighter before picking his grandfather’s journal looking at the page concerning the entry to the portal.

‘It seemed like the portal only opened to music played with both instrument and voice.’ Apollo read, ‘So I opened this thing?’

Before Apollo could react any further, the portal closed with a swish, leaving Apollo standing there completely dumbfounded. Furrowing his brows as he gently put the journal on the ground again, Apollo got into playing position again and played one of his grandfather’s favorite songs before taking a deep breath and started singing. Hearing the weird swishing sound again Apollo wasted no time in picking up his grandfather’s journal, returning the guitar to his back before entering the portal with an air of interest, curiosity, and eagerness accompanied by an adventurous smile.

“Woah.” Apollo awed as swirling colors of purple, blue, green, and white surrounded him.

Apollo let out a yelp of surprise as he fell face first into dirt. Looking back at the portal he saw it close. Standing up he was greeted by a majestic sight; crystal blue skies, lush green grass, and strange fruit bearing trees.

Looking into his grandfather’s journal he found out that the portal was a gateway to a world named Lumene and that he was standing just outside Ravenwood Forest and that there were more portals scattered throughout the land. With the adrenaline coursing his veins he scanned the map of Lumene, deciding where he should go first before his ears caught wind of singing. Quickly pocketing the journal Apollo followed the beautiful singing before he was in front of a building named “The Twin Apple Tavern.”