“There’s no place we can go to that isn’t full of tragedy, is there? Dream Catchers, Otherworlds, day to day lives… Nothing we explore-”


    “That’s not true!” Shen is quick to claw away at these thoughts. “If that were true, I’d be just as miserable as I was just a year ago! Not even!”


    They’ve come across countless stories with incredibly discouraging despair but their story has been mostly hopeful. They have met each other, made a few friends, and dragged themselves out of not so fortunate lives. They’re not alone anymore and have a bunch of people to fall back on.


    “Well…” Nikolay hesitates, flustered. “We’re in a library. We shouldn’t be shouting.”


    The librarian slowly steps towards them with her eyes closed yet still skillfully avoidin any obstacle. “If you’re looking for something more hopeful, you should check out the history of Demeter, the continent you’re standing on.” She walks back towards her throne.


    As suggested, Shen skips to the last few chapters concerning only the history of this wonderworld. Its start may have been far more grim, but its future is looking hopeful.


    “Corpus Dei is a planet ruled by the divine. Gods of lesser and higher magnitude roam this planet ruling over mankind and all life as a whole. It once was a barren world scorched to the ground. Now its lushness and diversity is as great as the number of stars hovering above its nightsky.


    The seven known continents, though they aren’t much of a united front, exist in harmony with relatively minor scuffles among them. This continent, Demeter, is believed to be the northernmost one leading to and from worlds of mankind by travelling along the Styx.”


    “Maybe because it’s the end of this world? Kinda like the edge?” Nikolay seems to be in higher spirits. “Not in a literal way… obviously.”


    “It is the northernmost continent, so that could be the case…”


    “Well either way, the northernmost continent Demeter lies in possession of Boreas who ultimately leads over the populace along with his brothers Zephyr, Notus, and Eurus. His calm and collected might is unlike the childish and bothersome behaviors he displayed when he used to live on his homeworld. According to the first habitants of this continent, his tantrums would alter history. A long forgotten race would plead for his aid to sink ships at sea with his harsh winds. His might is respnsible for the cold climate sweeping over the mountainous land of Vuno.”


    Shen flips past a few pages trying to spot any kind of geographical details that would expand on Demeter or the mountainous land of Vuno. For now, he’ll just have to settle with basic trivia.


    “And?”


    Shen clears his throat.


    “And…” He grunts. “Zephyr holds dominion over Lepidoptera/Lepis, an elongated state housing most of Demeters population due to the rich and fertile plains bordering Vuno. His winds are often seen carrying many travellers on the cusp of death down to the gentler lands. According to local legends, he long ago had a golden mane until he lost another loved one. Ever since, the land supposedly is less bountiful. Vuno still remains as the most beloved nation atop Demeter due to its gentle beauty.”


    “A lost loved one… Hyacinth?” Nikolay has just a few theories zooming past each other as turbulent thoughts.


    “Another myth you’ve had your eyes on?” Shen, as always, seems surprised at Nikolay’s bottomless well of knowledge on spiritual beliefs.


    “They’re just the Anemoi. Four greek wind gods with seasons attached to them…” He’s somewhat puzzled. “But I don’t get why all these myths are here. Did they spill into our world from here or the other way around.”


    Nikolay rips the book out of Shen’s hands skimming over its contents.


    “See! Notus, only ever mentioned in tandem with Zephyrus and Boreas; until recent history not of much… importance? Set fire to the plains of Lepis? What?” The claims in these texts grow more and more outlandish picturing how much of a fire-setting fiend this Notus is believed to be. People all over Demeter seem to dislike him.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    Nikolay continues reading out loud. “These gods each have their own spots of holy land not to be stepped on unless ordered to…”


    Shen and Nikolay realize that these gods are far more than myth and legend. They’re real tangible beings with their very own outposts. What they intially believed to be beliefs harbored by locals with far more primitive technology now feels true and genuine with little doubt. These doubts should have arisen the moment they came across the humanoids enjoying their day in a cozy fantasy cabin or when they were met with physical books seemingly printed like one would in the modern world.


    “Eurus is a lone god whose existence is often debated even among the people he supposedly resides over. As the true ruler of the lone island nation stuck in perpetual decay, the few that do believe in him only decry his lack of action. Presiding over Aü?erst, he not only commands the smallest nation but also the least populous one. Many flee to Sirius, the nation of Notus, wherein they are forbidden of speaking of their lackluster god.”


    Eurus seems to be as present as he was in mythology with no indicators of deviation from their homeworld’s myth. The fact that people debate his existence feels even more mindboggling to the pair.


    “These past ten days he’s barred anyone from stepping onto his land…” Suddenly, a freckled stranger is talking to them in perfect german somehow having crept up on them while they were reading. “Oh I’m sorry. I’m Fern. I’m not speaking your language. I just have the power to understand and make others understand what I’m saying.”


    “Woah! So, do you always use that to creep people out or are just fucking with us?” Nikolay is quick to cast sass after experiencing the shock of his life.


    “Zip it. We can actually talk to someone here. Don’t waste that chance.” Shen is intrigued yet the first thing he has to do is strike down any sort of hostility Nikolay exudes.


    They step outside to avoid any possible altercations that may occur with the librarian due to talking within her library.


    “Sunny and Selen… I’ve never heard of such names before. My home planet is quite monotone in diversity so your names would strike me as odd.”


    The second bell tolls signaling that this conversation won’t last for long.


    “You look worried. Do you need to go somewhere?”


    “We’re supposed to be back at that lodge when the third bell tolls. I’m afraid we’ll have to cut this conversation short. We can only spare a few more minutes until we have to head home,” Shen says. “So you’re just another visitor? You’re not from here, right?”


    “Yep! The only redhead you’ll find on Demeter! Been travelling with random strangers here and there but nothing that lasts for more than a few years.”


    “A few?” Nikolay asks. “How long have you been around?”


    “I travelled around my planet from when I was 16 to 19. Then I managed to get an Astral Station working and travelled to a world ravaged by Walpurgis. Another ride got me to a world that was just about to end to The End. And from there I made it here with smaller trips to be a hero and all that. Should be 35 on my homeplanet.”


    “I can’t make sense of anything you just said.” Nikolay is confused just as much as Shen is.


    “Point is, she travelled far and wide and happened to meet us, right?”


    “Yep.” Since he can’t make much sense of it, Shen just boils it down to whatever they can grasp. A one word answer is all she can offer in return likely incapable of explaining her experiences in her own words.


    “What are you planning to do for like the next year? Any plans? Anything you’re dealing with?”


    “We have a few things on our bucket list, but-”


    “A bucket list isn’t enough. I’ve decided that I’ll travel with you! Be ready by then!” With haste she straps some sort of gadget around Shen’s arm. It displays a countdown that she has somehow tweaked to adjust to his understanding of numbers and the like.


    “Until then! If I don’t show up, I’m dead! If you don’t show up, I’ll just leave without you.” She runs off towards the lodge as if they weren’t heading the same direction.


    “Why would we want to travel with you?” Nikolay asks himself half-expecting an answer from Shen.


    “Why not? We’ve come across far more suspicious figures. And we have a deadline of 400 days. Like 13 months! Let’s at least think about it, okay?”


    On December 28th 2013, Nikolay and Shen came across an odd redhead who has explored many different worlds. 400 days later they shall reunite after finding answers to most of their questions. February 1st 2015 will be the day of reunion. Whether they can accomplish everything they’ve sought out to is up to the two of them. Even if they come across countless hardships and unmeasurable pain, like this continent, hope will follow as will their grand adventure into a mythical world.