Slowly, I found myself drifting and floating, as if I were in a dream. Then when next I opened my eyes, I found that I was surrounded by colorful lights, which were swirling in every direction. There were stars, too, up close and in the far distance, so many that they were countless. Colorful clusters of gases and dust drifted here and there as a part of the cosmos.
Suddenly, I felt the call of many qi, touching me and caressing me, luring me to them. I was a little confused at first, wondering what all these callings were. But then one stood out in the form of a violet color and whispered my name invitingly near my ears.
"Alfie-chan..." It called. "Alfie-chan..."
Alfie–chan? No body called me like that, with such endearment and in the Japanese style, except for...
I gasped and reached out for the violet string of light, and instantly, it wrapped itself around my hand.
"Alfie-chan..." It called out to me again and then started pulling me. In an instant, I felt like I was flying through space and time, passing millions of stars. And then, just as suddenly, I came toward the blue globe of the Earth, and I was drawn in again toward a series of islands that was the country of Japan in East Asia near the North Pacific Ocean. Then it was all dark. I looked around me, calling out, "Grandfather?"
"Alfie-chan..." The voice echoed all around me, and then there he was, my grandfather Kenjiro, dressed in a dark-gray kimono, his white hair neatly combed back while his angular, wrinkled face smiled delightedly at the sight of me.
Overwhelmed, I rushed over to him and threw myself in his arms. Of course, I had thought that he wouldn't be able to hold me, being separated between two realms as we were. But then I felt the warmth of his body against me, and I started crying. He felt real against me, and I just couldn't help myself.
"Grandfather," I said, my voice quivering with emotions. "I can't believe it! I can actually touch you."
Grandfather Kenjiro cupped my face with one wrinkled hand while the other stroked my hair fondly. "Alfie-chan. You've finally managed to make contact."
I nodded my head furiously, tears rolling down my cheeks.
"Tell me where you are, love, and what happened."
"It's difficult, Grandfather," I said. "But I'm okay. I'm well. The people I've met are very nice to me."
"Where are you now, Alfie-chan?" Grandfather asked. "How can we find you?"
"I don't know how to explain it, Grandfather. I'm in another place," I said. "I'm in another realm, and I don't know where it is."
God, it sounded weird to tell your own grandfather that you were in another realm, didn't it? Things like this just didn't normally happen, after all. And of course, how did I tell him where I was when I had no idea where Aurora Realm itself was located? Was it even in the same universe as Earth? If so, was it located in the same galaxy?
"What is this realm call, Alfie-chan?" Grandfather asked calmly, as if he were asking me the name of my favorite restaurant or something.
"It's called Aurora," I said. "Please tell Mom and Dad that I'm fine. When I can, I'll find a way to get home. Please don't worry, Grandfather. Please tell Mom and Dad not to worry." I sounded desperate. "Tell them that I'm fine."
Grandfather Kenjiro nodded, as calm and wise as always. He said, "I will tell them." He patted my head and gave me another tight hug. "Stay safe, Alfie-chan. I will do whatever it takes to bring you back to us, little one."
I was a little confused as to how he'd be able to do that but nodded nonetheless. "Thank you, Grandfather."
He said, "Be careful with the Beasts of the Realm, love. You must never let any of them claim you."
I blinked back tears, wondering what he was on about. I asked, "The Beasts of the Realm?"
"We don't have much time, Alfie-chan. Remember my words and keep yourself safe. Keep in contact, and I'll do my best to get you back home."
He said it again—do his best to bring me back home. How would he be able to do that? It was impossible from that side, wasn't it?
Suddenly, I felt the pull again, this time to take me back. "Grandfather!" I said in a panic, not wanting the meeting to end so soon.
Grandfather Kenjiro said urgently, "Stay safe, Alfie-chan," as I was being snatched away from his arms.
And just like that, darkness enveloped me, and then I was back in my body.
Aria must have noticed my return because she terminated the connection.
I fluttered my eyes open, my heart racing as my body trembled. There were even tears flowing down my cheeks. I must have been crying in reality as I met with Grandfather Kenjiro during my dream.
Aria asked, "Did you manage to connect with anyone?"
I nodded my head, wiping tears from my cheeks. "My grandfather," I said. "I've told him that I'm fine." I turned to smile at Aria then. "Thanks, Aria, for helping me out. This means a lot to me."
The beautiful cat woman grinned. "No worries, Alfie. Now then, it's getting late, and you looked exhausted."
I said, "So do you."
She chuckled. "Doing this sort of thing does use up a lot of qi, after all."
"I see," I said. Which meant that I couldn't be so selfish as to ask Aria to aid me in this dream contact thing again any time soon because I didn't want to exhaust her.
Once Aria left, I lay there in bed, my mind going through what had just happened with me—or my soul, spirit, or whatever it was—meeting with Grandfather Kenjiro in Japan. It was unbelievable to say the least, and I was still awed at the experience.
He had told me to stay safe, which I intended to do. He had also said that he'd do whatever he could to bring me back home. But how?
I fell asleep that night thinking about my Grandfather and his strange words.
Be careful with the Beasts of the Realm, love. You must never let any of them claim you.
What do you mean, Grandfather? I don't understand your words.