The Void.

It was described as a place where time had no meaning, where nothingness consumed everything. A realm apart from reality, shrouded in mystery. The information was fragmented at best, with no mention of the eye in the sky I had seen. Instead, the book detailed a colossal creature, said to be as large as a city, covered in countless, unblinking eyes. According to legend, this entity once roamed this world but was cast into the Void ages ago. Instead of perishing, it adapted to its new domain and became the God of the Void.

In ancient times, only a select few could open a portal to the Void, but now such knowledge was lost. The Void had become a prison for the most dangerous and unnatural beings—immortal creatures unable to die. The book also hinted that anyone entering the Void would slowly lose their memories until nothing of their former self remained, a chilling fate.

“Someone… opened a portal to the Void in my world?” I muttered, my voice barely audible. “No, that doesn’t make any sense.”

“Axel,” a familiar voice called out, soft yet startling in the quiet of the library. “You’re here?”

I turned, my eyes landing on Jane as she approached.

“Oh… yeah,” I replied, closing the book halfway and sitting back. “Just reading.”

She slid into the chair next to mine, her movements casual. “What book?”

“Void 101,” I said, tapping the cover lightly.

Her eyebrows rose slightly. “Ah, that one. Strange stuff in there. Are you done with it?”

“Not yet,” I admitted, glancing at the thick section of unread pages. “Barely scratched the surface. It’s… dense.”

“Yeah, it is,” she said with a faint smirk. “But it’s worth it. Did you read about the Lost 100 yet?”

“The Lost 100?” I leaned forward, the term unfamiliar.

She nodded, her tone shifting as if recounting a tale passed down through generations. “They were the ones who defeated Val’kaar the second time—the creature from the Void. Without them, Nu’tar wouldn’t exist. No, this whole realm wouldn’t exist.”

I furrowed my brow. “Who… were they exactly?”

Jane’s eyes lit up. “When Val’kaar breached our realm, its power destabilized and accidentally opened a portal to another world. A hundred people came through, their mana so overwhelming it rivaled even the gods.”

“The Lost 100,” I echoed, the name rolling off my tongue with weight. “They… were wearing this school uniform, weren’t they?”

Jane chuckled softly. “They were. Strange sense of style, huh? But those uniforms—they’re part of our history now. This clock tower, for example,” she gestured toward the window, “was inspired by their world. It helped us track time like never before. Even the school uniforms we wear are based on theirs. Comfortable, aren’t they? Oh, they also taught us this language."

“What happened to them?” I asked, leaning closer. “Did they ever… go back?”

Her expression dimmed slightly, and she shook her head. “No. They tried, but they couldn’t. They spent the rest of their lives here, in Nu’tar.”

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

The words hit me like a brick wall. My grip tightened on the edges of the book, the leather creaking faintly under my fingers. “They never left?” I whispered.

“They couldn’t,” she said softly. “Like I said, they tried, but nothing worked. They lived out their days here.”

I sank back into my chair, my chest hollow. My mind raced, connecting dots I didn’t want to believe. The Lost 100—James’ ridiculous story was true. Years ago, people from my school were pulled into this world, just like me. They defeated a monster, changed history, and still… they never made it back.

“So that means…” I whispered, my voice tight with unease. “If something like this happened again---I mean, people were to teleport here again, does that mean the monster could return?”

Jane’s expression darkened. “It’s possible. But it’s just speculation. No one knows for sure, and let’s hope we never find out.”

I hesitated, lowering my gaze to the book, my fingers tracing its edges. “Why did this… thing open a portal in the first place? Why those people? Why my scho---why that 100 people?”

She shrugged, leaning back slightly. Her voice was quieter now, tinged with uncertainty. “No one really knows. Maybe it was just random. Val’kaar’s power was unstable—it could have happened anywhere.”

I nodded slowly, forcing myself to stay calm. “And the monster… it was defeated, right? Completely dealt with?”

“Not exactly.” Jane’s voice was steady but serious. “Something like that can’t truly die. The Lost 100 managed to push it back into the Void, but they had to seal it there to keep it from coming back.”

“Sealed it? How?”

“They worked with the gods to create shrines. A god’s power depends on prayers—people’s faith keeps them strong. As long as the gods remain powerful, the seal on the Void holds.”

I exhaled, running a hand through my hair and sitting back in the chair. “So, if the gods lose strength… it gets out?”

“Exactly,” she said softly, her tone grim.

The weight of her words pressed against my chest. I stared at the book again, the faint shimmer of its dark cover catching the light. A chill ran down my spine as questions swirled in my mind. I couldn’t tell her the truth—not now, not ever. No one could know I was pulled here.

If the Lost 100 had been brought into this world centuries ago to stop Val’kaar, and I was here now… did it mean something was stirring again? Was this creature breaking through its prison? Or worse… was I a part of it?

I swallowed the lump in my throat and forced myself to sit upright. “It’s… a lot to think about,” I muttered, keeping my voice steady.

Jane gave a faint nod, her gaze lingering on me for a moment. “Yeah. But it’s all just old history now, you know? Nothing to worry about—at least, for the moment.”

I managed a weak nod and turned my attention back to the book, but my thoughts were anything but calm. Nothing to worry about? I doubted that. Whatever had brought me here wasn’t random—and if the Lost 100 couldn’t leave, what chance did I have? I refused to be stuck here, I refused to fight a war that wasn’t mine. I had to get to my own world, I was just temporary here.

“No escape, huh?” I muttered, my fingers brushing absently over the edge of the book.

“Yeah. A bad fate.” She tilted her head slightly, her brown eyes narrowing. “Why the sudden interest in the Void?”

“It’s…” I hesitated, letting out a long sigh. “Someone recommended this book to me.”

Jane didn’t press further, her shoulders relaxing a bit. “Well, it’s an interesting read. Creepy, though, if you ask me.”

I stood up, tucking the book under my arm. “Yeah, I’ll head out. Thanks for explaining that stuff, Jane.”

She pushed her chair back and stood as well, brushing her skirt smooth. “No problem. Oh, you’re staying in the boys’ dorm, right?”

“Haven’t paid the two gold and five silver yet,” I said, shaking my head.

“Then you should find Liam,” she suggested, pointing toward the library door. “He hangs around after school to make sure everything’s in order. He’ll help you out.”

“Got it. Thanks for the tip.”

“Take care, Axel,” she said with a small smile as she turned to leave.

“You too,” I replied, watching her walk toward the exit before heading out myself.