CHAPTER TWO: SEE (2)

" Real eyes realize real lies " ~~ Anonymous

" 'Even gods too, "" Gravill added as he glanced around nervously, hoping no one else had heard his fantastical musings.

Nicholas raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued by Gravill's imagination, "That's quite a thought, Gravill. But I think we should focus on navigating our way through this ordinary first day of school before driving into the realm of mythical creatures."

Gravill nodded in agreement, grateful for Nicholas's grounded perspective. As they walked towards the school entrance together, Gravill couldn't shake the lingering fear of his vivid dream from earlier. It had felt so real, so visceral, like a glimpse into a parallel universe.

As the boys stepped into the bustling school corridors, the unfamiliar faces seemed to blur into a sea of indistinguishable features. Gravill could feel the weight of each gaze lingering on him, his heart pounding with the uncertainty of this new environment. He clutched the strap of his backpack tightly, determined to blend in and not draw attention to himself.

Nicholas, ever the social butterfly, seemed to effortlessly ease into conversations with classmates, his easy smile and confident demeanor making him an instant hit. Gravill, on the other hand, found himself gravitating towards the edges of the crowd, feeling like an outsider looking in.

The first few classes passed in a blur, the teachers' voices fading into a monotone hum as Gravill's mind wandered back to his earlier dream. The image of the mythical creatures, their otherworldly beauty and power, lingered in his thoughts like a tantalizing secret waiting to be unraveled.

During lunchtime, Nicholas nudged Gravill, breaking him out of his reverie. "Hey, what's on your mind? You've been quiet all day," Nicholas remarked, a look of concern in his eyes.

Gravill hesitated, unsure of how to articulate the surreal experience that had haunted him since dawn. "I...I had a dream last night," he began hesitantly, the words feeling foreign on his tongue. "It felt so real, like I was in another world, surrounded by gods and mythical creatures."

Nicholas's eyes widened in fascination, his curiosity piqued. "That's incredible, Gravill. What was it like? Who did you meet?" he pressed, eager to delve into Gravill's fantastical realm.

As Gravill recounted the vivid details of his dream, the characters and landscapes coming to life in his words, Nicholas listened intently, hanging on every description. "Even gods too," Gravill added as he glanced around nervously, hoping no one else had heard his fantastical musings.

Nicholas raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued by Gravill's imagination. "That's quite a thought, Gravill. But I think we should focus on navigating our way through this ordinary first day of school before diving into the realm of mythical creatures."

Gravill nodded in agreement, grateful for Nicholas's grounded perspective. Together, they finished their lunch, the conversation shifting to more mundane topics as the rest of the school day unfolded.

At the end of the day, as Gravill and Nicholas walked out of the school gates, the sun dipping below the horizon painting the sky in hues of orange and pink, Gravill couldn't shake the feeling that his dream was more than just a figment of his imagination. It felt like a glimpse into a world beyond his wildest dreams, a world waiting to be explored.

As they parted ways, promising to meet up again the next day, Gravill's mind buzzed with possibilities. Maybe, just maybe, there was more to his dream than met the eye. And as he walked home, the words of his mother echoed in his mind, urging him to make friends. Little did she know, Gravill was about to embark on a journey that would take him far beyond the confines of his ordinary life, into a realm where even gods roamed.