Out of nowhere, she asked,
"Then what brand mark do you specialize in?"
I didn't answer right away. I had lied to her even when I was washing myself by the river.
Until now… a part of me spoke and told me I didn't need to disguise the truth from her. To listen to that gut feeling… I decided, for once, to follow it.
I fixed Eli with a more stern look, saying,
'Listen. I have to tell you something.'
She heard the change in my tone and seemed about to ask what was wrong, but I stopped her.
"Please, just let me finish."
She heard the weight in my words, and she, too, paused to listen.
"I mean, I am not from this place. I came here from another. An unforeseen opportunity brought me and my family to this place. Unfortunately, I lost them during the transition. I don't know where they are. And right now… I need to find them," I met her eyes.
She just listened. No shock, no surprise. Just calm acceptance.
Seeing that, I asked her,
"Doesn't this sound strange to you?"
She shrugged.
"No. Why should it?" she said, her index finger lightly touching her chin.
"But I told you already, I am not from this world."
Eli pushed a strand of hair away from her face and whispered,
"I understand. This is a regular stop for people of your kind."
"Seriously?" I asked, stunned.
She nodded with a calm voice.
"Yes… and I can help you locate your family if you wish. I know it pales in comparison to saving my life… but it is all I can do to repay you."
Her words left me speechless.
"Is that... really possible?"
With steady composure, she continued,
"Yes. However, before you ask, we need to determine where you came from."
Those words stirred up hope deep inside me.
'That might be easier than I expected… Maybe I can really meet them soon.'
While I was still digesting her proposition, Eli inquired,
"Rayan, from which world do you come?"
This question came out of nowhere. It was the kind of question I'd heard only in sci-fi movies. Like those multiverse flicks where people talk about Earth-668 or Region-115.
'Now that's a wild question.'
Seeing my silence, Eli clarified,
"You came from the Realm of Darkness… didn't you? Or... the Demon World?"
I asked, furrowing my brows,
"What are you talking about?"
Eli responded calmly,
"I'm asking which world you originated from. As of now, you find yourself in the central realm of Vermista known as Elarion. It's one of four worlds. The others are the Abyssal Dimension, the Realm of Darkness, and the Demon World. These are different realms and together they compose the full structure of Vermista."
Again, I asked for clarification.
"Do you mean… there are four completely separate realms?"
She nodded without hesitation.
"Yes, exactly. Let me know which realm you came from, and I might be able to direct you home…" she said, her voice trailing off thoughtfully.
When I heard about how this world functioned, I began to spiral.
'How… how am I going to find them?'
And That single question began to tear me apart from within.
Think about it — going back to a time when tracking down one person on Earth would've been impossible without the internet, without any kind of tech, just aimlessly wandering and asking strangers for directions.
On its own, that would be like finding a needle in a haystack.
Now… multiply that by four realms.
And then those words echoed again — the ones from the Lord of Darkness, deep within that cave:
'The world you knew is gone.'
'So that's what you meant.'
I tried to stay positive.
'Well… I'm only looking for one person from my family. I don't need to find them all. Just one… spread across four worlds.'
My only solace.
'Trying to understand all of existence at once? That's madness. Even a single realm would be too much.'
'It feels like the whole universe is trying to crush me.'
I buried my head in a sigh of frustration. Clenched my fists until they ached with fury.
Then slowly, I lifted my head again.
'Even if all the multiverses stand in my way… it won't matter. I am Rayan. And whatever it takes — I will find my family.'