The stranger walked away from him in a new designation full of people. An entire cityscape surrounded him during the middle of the day with freshly blossoming trees providing shade on the sides of the street they were on. The leaves rustled around as a nice cool wind blew through.

Kiran walked by dozens of normal-looking people all minding their own business. He worked towards catching up to Eugene who for whatever reason walked away from him.

“Where are you going?”

He received no response. All he could do was follow and keep up with the fast-moving walker.

They passed by many brick, stone, and wooden buildings. This cityscape was different than the one he became familiar with in Liall. It was more old and rundown yet cozy and warm at the same time. Liall was quite pristine in many ways except for a few areas within it. This city on the other hand gave off the impression of a place that had been home to countless generations that continually built and improved upon whatever foundation had been lain many centuries ago. Many of the structures had worn parts and newer parts. The streets also had gone through many repairs judging by less worn parts intermixed with the old.

Their path became more constricted. The light above became hard to reach within these streets as the buildings became tall enough and close enough on each side, that they were both completely submerged in shadows.

By the time his eyes adjusted to the darker atmosphere of this area, he found himself squinting a little as they exited these constricted streets and uncovered a massive sprawling rectangular square that spanned far out to the horizon.

At the center of this grand space was a shallow pool of water with a giant statuesque fountain pouring water out. The light above reflected off the surface of the pool of water and he spotted children running through it with their parents off to the side watching them.

Kiran found himself standing beside the man looking up towards the far away tall statuesque fountain. They both stood several feet away from the enclosed water.

Eugene held a grim expression with the corners of his mouth tightened. Kiran could admire the beauty of this place, but he found the peace here lacking of something in particular. He wasn’t sure what it lacked, but something felt absent and misleading.

“Where are we?”

“We’re in a place between places. Or in other words, an illusionary realm of my own creation.”

“A place between places,” Kiran repeated finding it so odd and strange. If this place wasn’t real, then what was it? He thought his brain was ready to exit out of his skull and give up on trying to make sense of reality at all.

Eugene began to smirk a little. “You really did lose your memories, huh? You’re lucky to have made it this long in this world not having hardly a clue about how anything works around here.”

“I didn’t do it on my own. I would’ve long ago died if not for the help of others including you now.” It seemed obvious to Kiran that whether it be humans or familiars, everyone needed others in order to make it far in life. Kiran likely would’ve never made it far had Lar not come when they did. I have to make it back to her and everyone else. Not only do I need them, but they need me as well.

Eugene put one of his hands in his long coat pocket staring out towards the shallow water as people stood around on the outer enclosed part of it. “I see that the new you is quite a bit different than the person I once knew.”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah. You wouldn’t be talking like this otherwise.”

“Can you tell me about who I used to be then?”

He hesitated in answering him. “Do you really want to know?”

“I-I think I do.”

“You think you do because deep down I expect you’re somewhat hesitant to know the truth.”

What little Kiran knew of his past was not entirely great. He saw what appeared to be a troubled person with a traumatic past. He had only seen glimpses but those glimpses illuminated enough to make Eugene’s words sound true.

“I believe,” Eugene continued to say, “that you’re better off not having me tell you. Some things are better off remaining in the dark never to see the light again. But regardless, you are as you are now and the truth is, I have need of you.”

“What do you need me for?”

“To fulfill your true role and purpose.”

Kiran found that the more he spoke with Eugene, the more questions he ended up having while also questioning whether he ought to even have some of them answered. “What role is that then?”

“To save the world.”

Save the world, eh? That was far too lofty of a thing for him to fulfill. He certainly felt that this would weigh heavily on his shoulders and that was not a weight he wished to carry now nor ever.

Eugene appeared to notice how he felt hearing him say that judging by his expression. “Believe it or not, that’s your purpose,” Eugene said while nodding his head. “It’s fair to say that it’s not an accident I found you. But I am curious why I found you where I did in the realm of souls. What were you doing there anyways?”

“Uh, I don’t know. And I don’t know a thing about this realm of souls or whatever it is you’re talking about.” Kiran tossed his hands into the air. “I was just traveling through a portal from the fifth domain to the fourth domain when I ended up there.”

“Normally I’d berate you for doing such a stupid thing, but considering your memory loss, I’ll be gentle with you. Just know that until your soul is mostly healed or entirely healed, traveling through portals is a surefire way to end up as you did.”

He’d easily remember for now on that portals weren’t a good idea since he had a damaged soul but given the alternative options he had at the time, he’d likely choose the same option of going into the portal even if he knew he’d end up in this same situation.

It was either that or be slaughtered by dozens of monsters. I chose the only option I could reasonably take.

The man began to laugh a little. He turned to face Kiran rather than face the shallow rectangular pool of shallow water anymore. “You’re taking this all a lot better than I would expect for someone in your position. I guess the old you isn’t entirely absent.”

“Well, I’ve been through a lot so far and have managed relatively well if I say so myself.”

“A world like this can only cultivate the strong. The weak have all long ago died out in every domain.” The cavalier way he said that sounded cold. He didn’t find himself thinking it incorrect though. Considering all of the dangers and troubles he had encountered thus far, someone not as strong as him wouldn’t have made it so far nor would’ve ever likely defeated someone like Queen Luvia Aenveld.

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“We are not like most,” Eugene said. “But that also means we have a lot of responsibility ourselves. I ask Kiran, that you come with me so that fulfill your purpose.”

“Where would you be taking me?”

“We would be going to the second domain.”

That sounds like quite the detour from where my friends are. “Do I uh, have a choice?”

Eugene began to cross his arms. “Yes.”

“Then I can instead go to the fourth domain as I was planning?”

“You could, but you’d be denying your role and purpose.”

“To be honest with you, I’m not sure I really want whatever role it is I’m supposed to uphold. There are people who I need to get back to and if I were to go with you to the second domain, I’d be leaving them behind.”

“That is certainly a sacrifice you’d be making.”

Could he make that sacrifice? Everything within him said no. When he thought of Lar, or Juna, or heck, even Abigail of all people, the thought of leaving them behind in the fourth domain felt immensely wrong to him. They were his friends at this point and he found the thought of abandoning them to hurt. I can’t do that to them.

Kiran shook his head in frustration. “I can’t go with you.”

The man muttered to himself. “I was afraid of that.” He pulled his hand out of his pocket and sighed. “I won’t force you to come with me. Although I’m sure to earn the ire of the others when they hear of this.”

“You could always keep it a secret.”

“I may just have to, otherwise they’ll come after you.”

His body tensed up just hearing that.

“Don’t worry. I’ll keep them in the dark.”

“Who exactly are these people you speak of?”

“They’re like us except not all of them are as nice.”

“One of them wouldn’t happen to have red eyes now would they?”

“Oh, then you’ve met him have you?” So he does know of that strange man who first greeted me in that jail. “Why am I not surprised that he found you and suggested otherwise.”

“I got the impression at the time that he wasn’t very fond of me.”

A smile formed on his lips. “You wouldn’t even begin to understand the insurmountable disdain he holds against you. I’m surprised he didn’t kill you. I suppose he figured you losing all of your memories was payment enough for any past transgressions.”

Water began to splash towards him as several children chose to thrust their arms in the water to allow it to hit up against him. Their parents rushed towards them and pulled them away angrily.

Eugene appeared to find this moment amusing. With a simple gesture of his hand, Kiran’s wet clothes became dry instantly as if it hadn’t even occurred. This really is an illusionary environment of his making. Just like he had changed their environment from the beach to this cityscape, he could twist it in any sort of way.

“So,” Kiran said, “you’re not going to force me to go with you?”

“Why would I? Your destiny is yours to choose.”

“But—”

“Raelle, or sorry, Kiran, I’m not here to force you to do anything. I want you to come with me of course, but that must be your decision. If you want to be with your friends, then I’m not here to stop you.”

“I’m a little surprised.”

“Don’t be. I’ve tried it before and it’s only ever backfired. We are special, but that doesn’t mean we are all capable of fulfilling our true purpose in life. If you wish to deny your purpose, you’re free to do so at least in my opinion.”

Kiran began to feel somewhat guilty. Here he was being told he was supposed to play some role or capacity in saving the world somehow and here he was denying it outright. He supposed he didn’t have to outright deny it completely. He needed at a minimum however to find everyone and make sure everything was good with them before ever thinking of taking on this role.

“If I change my mind in the future, would I be able to find you again?”

“It’s unlikely,” he said. “The second domain is not easily accessed from the other domains. I won’t say that it’s impossible though. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that what is believed to be impossible can turn out to be possible. I’ll tell you what though. If you decide that you want to pursue your true purpose for being here, your only chance to find me again is to go there.”

“Where would I go looking for you if I made it there?”

“That, I do not have an answer for you. Reality is barely tangible there. And to explain it to you is like trying to explain to a fish how they ought to speak to mortals like us.”

Kiran began to scratch his head. If it’s that odd there, maybe I shouldn’t even consider venturing into that domain and just stay put in another. Whether the fourth domain would end up being the domain he settled down in, remained to be seen. He had to first go there and see it for himself to make such a determination.

“So how exactly am I to reach the fourth domain from here?”

“I will create an opening for you to make it there.”

“Will it take me where the portal I entered originally headed towards?”

He shook his head. “Unfortunately, I cannot manage that.”

“Alright well, is there anything you can tell me about that domain before I go there?”

“No. I have never visited the fourth domain personally.”

“Well then,” he said putting a hand to his hip. “I guess I’m ready to go.”

Along the surface of the shallow water, an opening began to appear lying flatly on it. It appeared as an ominous distortion large enough for him to fall through it.

He began to question whether he ought to willingly trust Eugene. What if he was creating an opening to the second domain or worse yet, a place that was beyond his imagination?

Such thoughts were pointless the more he thought about it. He was entirely at the mercy of Eugene in this place between places. He was not in power or control of anything here.

“Before I go, can I ask one more question?”

“You may.”

“What exactly are we?”

“I’ll tell you what. Come with me to the second domain, and I’ll answer that and every other question you might have.”

“So that’s how it’s going to be then? You answered my questions earlier but now that I’m not going with you, you’re not going to answer them?”

The man shrugged his shoulders. “Consider it as an incentive to change your mind to come with me instead. You can still make that decision you know.”

If that’s how it’s going to be then I guess I won’t have that answered. I should’ve asked him this one earlier.

He stepped up onto the raised platform that kept the water contained. He took a deep breath and stared down at the distorted opening.

“Kiran”

“Yeah?”

“I hope you find your friends. I believe they’re lucky to have someone like you who would choose them over their own destiny.”

With one last look over towards him, he locked eyes with the opening. I wonder what the fourth domain has in store for me. Surely it can’t be worse than what the fifth domain ended up turning out to be.

With a simple step forward, he entered the opening feeling his body plummeting through another endlessly dark space. Whether it would ever end, was in question, but he felt that Eugene wasn’t the sort of person to do such a thing to him and that he truly did intend for this opening to send him straight to where he needed to be.