1 1. Strange Dream

A flash of white light struck, followed by dozens of other lightning bolts that hit the ground with their heat. The rumbling was deafening, not to mention the piercing cold that seemed to almost crush all my bones.

There was no one there, just me in total darkness that sometimes looked bright when the lightning struck. But everything remained empty, just a vast expanse of land that I couldn't estimate.

Again I found myself walking barefoot, feeling cold. Normally I would have screamed, but when I realized it was useless I kept quiet. I had memorized all this, this place, even all those flashes of light. But I'd still rather see this scenery than that big hole.

Yes. A big hole that would swallow me up, no matter if I felt nausea or extreme pain. It was as if that dark hole was destined to devour me.

I could hear a series of erratic sounds coming from that hole. Then like a magnet, it sucked away my steps bit by bit. No! I don't want to go there.

Please call my name now!

***

"Kazo! Kazo! Kazo, wake up!"

I opened my eyes quickly, looking around for anything familiar there. But dizziness filled my whole head, not to mention when I realized I was tired and my body was soaked with sweat. But I was relieved when I saw Arga's shadow standing right in front of me, just like usual.

Huh, that dream again!

"Need a drink?" Arga's voice came back. I just nodded slowly, still trying to neutralize the dizziness in my head. It wasn't long before Arga returned and handed me a large glass of water. I accepted and downed it immediately. It was a relief.

"How long was that?" I asked.

"Almost ten minutes."

"That long?"

"But that wasn't bad, I only called you three times," Arga replied casually.

I grunted roughly and got off the bed with slow movements. I still feel dizzy, but it's not too bad. I wonder if other people also have dreams like me, dreams that are always the same and strangely I've been having this for almost three years.

"What's wrong with your uniform?" I asked when I saw Arga who was wearing a strange and uncharacteristic uniform.

"There's a camp at school, and it looks like I'll be staying overnight. There's no way you'll forget," he said while putting some things into his backpack. Again I just snorted, forgetting that he had said that a few days ago.

Arga is four years older than me, and this is his last year of high school. Sometimes I envy his life which is like a normal human being. Going to school without any obstacles, meeting friends, and being popular and liked by many people.

That's Arga, even I'm amazed how he can have such a handsome face and also thick black hair. Not to mention his sharp, hawk-like eyes. Well, I could fall in love with my brother in the long run. I'm a boy and I'm still normal.

I'm telling you about my brother as if to say I'm not normal myself. I'm normal, it's just that I have a few quirks. I learned everything too quickly, and that's what made Father tell me to stop going to school.

I protested, but Father still sent me away without telling me the reason. Plus my hair color was too striking to be called human hair.

And I always said it was just coloring. Then tomorrow the teacher would shave my hair after hearing my statement. But eventually, that silver-blue hair would continue to grow.

"You're making fried rice again?" I shouted when I saw a plate of fried rice on the table.

"What else can I make?" said Arga, who was already carrying his backpack. "Before you follow Dad, finish your reading first!"

"You mean that boring fairy tale?"

"Stop calling it boring, I'm back home you should have gotten the point. Got it! And don't take that book out!" I just nodded lazily while shoveling a big spoonful of fried rice into my mouth.

"I'm leaving first."

"Hey, you forgot to turn that off!" I exclaimed while pointing at the oil lamp hanging above. I don't know if it's an advantage or a quirk that my brother has, but he can always play with the air sometimes.

I'm not lying I can hardly believe it if I don't see it myself. Like now, he just moved his fingertips and the fire suddenly went out like a gust of wind had blown it away.

When I asked him how he did it, he just said it was telekinesis and that anyone could learn it. Especially those with talent. Well, maybe I should try it too.

After Arga left, I did my duties as usual. Cleaning up the house, washing, and also packing all kinds of used goods were one of our livelihoods. Our house consisted of only a kitchen and two bedrooms, almost covered with all kinds of junk.

Dad was not a wealthy man, even when everything was electric we still used oil lamps. It didn't matter as long as we didn't starve. Sometimes I think it's lucky I quit school.

Even Arga earns his own tuition money by working haphazardly. Either selling anything or repairing electronics for his friends. Sometimes I told him to sign up to be a model or an advertising star, he wouldn't fail with a face like that. But he just responded indifferently.

I've been out of school for almost three years, and that's when my nightmares started happening. And since then Dad and Arga often asked me strange questions about what I saw in my dreams. Was the person in the long white robe carrying a stick there? And other nonsensical things.

Until Arga gave me a book of fairy tales. It was just sheets of paper bound into one book without a cover, and strangely who was so diligent in writing with hands up to 320 pages?

I stared at the almost completely yellowed book in front of me. I love reading, even though all the textbooks are easily memorized. But to be honest, I don't like fairy tales. They make me sleepy, let alone fairy tales with handwriting that although neat, is still weird. I just snorted rudely. What's the point of reading royal fairy tales like this?

PORTA LOKA.

That was the original title. I looked at the book again. It's just a typical royal fairy tale. It's about a cloistered country surrounded by 12 tall gates and impenetrable layers called Arkala.

They had a cruel king called the Great King Ballavan Nover Rodra. And the people lived according to castes such as Vimal, Flinn, Arlo, and also Luge.

Then 12 high nobles who are the rulers of each gate that can bring you to search and find great power in it.

But unfortunately, they can't touch the outside world, not even the outside world knows of their existence. Isn't this really like a typical fantasy-fiction story? And I still don't know what the purpose of Father and Arga telling me to study this story is.

I closed the book with a feeling of resentment.

"This is a waste of time!" I exclaimed while glancing at the wall clock above the cupboard. It was already twenty minutes past eight. "I have to catch up with Dad."

I tucked the book into my pants pocket. I hadn't forgotten Arga's message that I shouldn't take this book outside. And I had always obeyed his words, but I wanted to read it when I got to Dad's stall later, after all, it was just a book of fairy tales.

Continued...