“is that not a space gate?”

Azraf clamored in skepticism, contemplating the video which displayed a crack in space.

Over the space crack, a blurred pentagonal boundary could be glimpsed by anyone who has seen the video. However, no one on earth saw this boundary as anything of importance as they do not recognize its meaning but Azraf did.

Azraf linked this view to one of the most significant things that were protected at all times in his original world.

A space gate that served as a boundary between two-dimensional realities.

“ But why did they say that there is a world inside the space dimensional crack which looks exactly like the dreamscape curia online?, could the creation of curia online have something to do with this crack in the space gate, I hope this is not what am thinking otherwise, this world is about to experience an endangerment that may possibly lead to its extermination.”

“maybe this phenomenon somehow has a hand in why am here and that does explain why I don’t have Andrew’s memories of the final battle against the demon sovereign, could that have been the source of everything?.”

Azraf undertook to brainstorm trying meticulously to figure things out. In the end, he was not able to come out with a concise conclusion. The more he speculated, the more mysteries he encounter. He could only continue with his research into the divergent events that were uncured during Andrew's absence.

Azraf searched meticulously, events after events but he didn’t find anything worthwhile, he later relented, he pulled to his bed with a tired complexion, his eyes were literally burning from his lengthy period gaze at the screen.

“beep”, “ beep” , “ beep”, “beep.”

A beeping sound disturbed his ears making him wiggle to his angle, to a palm-size glass which brightened as it vibrated.

He gently flicked on the screen and a projection of his friend, Jackson came into his view. Jackson wore a white top wrapped in a black lustrous jacket and a black pants.

“hay dude, I've got very important news for you?” Jackson went straight to the point.

“What kind of news, good or bad?” azraf squinted his brows, marveling about the unexpected announcement.

“ah, I don’t know if you’ll see it as good news or a bad one but I can’t tell you on the screen, we’ve got to meet face to face.” Said Jackson seriously.

“in where?”

“catch me in the Chili Barnes in thirty minutes and remember, it’s very important so you are not allowed to fuck up,” Jackson stressed.

Azraf lazily drew a long breath when the projection vanished. He altered his fabrics and stormed out of the room. He quickly plunged through the staircase leading to the first floor.

Jackson is not only straightforward, but he also has another quality which is conciseness, so if Jackson said that it’s important, it’s definitely important.

Azraf can’t wait to hear the news, maybe it has something to do with his purpose here.

“Andrew my boy, where are you hurrying off to?”

“hope there’s no problem?” his aunt implored at his abrupt activity when he met up with her in the parlor.

“Nothing aunt, am just heading out to see Jackson.” Leaving that response, Azraf dashed out of the house.

Azraf paced through the alleyway, passing by a lot of dispersed bunch of people who go about their various activities.

Azraf didn’t bother entering any vehicle because the Chili Barns was only one block away. The Chili Barns is one of the places which Andrew and Jackson used to hang around in, back in the old times.

As Azraf paced, he unexpectedly collided with soft flesh. At that moment, He felt two buns mashing on his chest. It was a very wonderful sensation but it did not last long as the figure in front of him was knocked over, moving towards the floor.

Azraf quickly grabbed the hand of the girl which felt very smooth and soft. He held her up and finally behold her appearance.

She looked so stunning, not only is her face amazingly beautiful and innocent but she also had very beautiful skin and a shapely figure. Although Azraf has seen enough share of beauties since in Naria, this is the first time he set his sight on such a gorgeous figure.

“Please, let go of me mister” her sweet voice entered his ears.

Azraf quickly let go after realizing that he has been impolitely steering at her in a daze.

After he let go of her, the girl blushed slightly and she avoided making eye contact with him.

“Sorry about that miss.” He quickly admitted his guilt.

“ no need to apologize to me mister, you should watch where you are going next time” she kindly advised then moved past him.

Azraf watched her back profile as she went. He slowly turned back to his original activity. Striding quickly, but this time, with more caution in other to prevent what happened earlier.

Soon, in a matter of three minutes, he appeared in front of a shop that was highly decorated with luminous carvings of distinct colors. On the roof of the building was a bold sign also illuminating. It says Chili Barns.

Skipping inside. The familiar sense appeared in front of him, a raw of sits and tables with people sitting, people who rigorously romped on a platform coupled with bright multicolored disco light which illustrated the broad place. it was just like old times, not much has changed.

He looked to his side and found Jackson sitting in their favorite spot. The front of the server's table. A place that carried a lot of Andrew’s memories.

“you're finally here?.” Jackson’s said after Azraf got to the spot.

“hay it’s you, the game kid, since when did you return.” A hoarse voice sounded beside them.

Azraf casually glimpses at the speaker, a Mexican middle-aged man dressed in Mexican traditional clothing who had a mustache that curled low.

In Andrew's memory, this guy calls himself La Chapi, he usually oversees the shop and he is a very intruding person but since he always has a lot to do in the shop, he hardly gets a chance to be nosy.

“who says that he’s not been around?” before azraf could say anything, Jackson clamored sharply in reply to La Chapi.

“If he's been around then why do you always come here alone, could it be that you are hiding something?”

“that’s none of your business.”

“None of my business you say, do you know I can get you thrown out here for that thing you said?.”

“You can try?” Jackson provoked.

La Chapi conserved making threats after threats but he didn’t commit anything.

Azraf watched La chapi in amazement. this guy has not changed one bit, although he always threatens to do something whenever someone annoys him, in reality, he doesn’t dare to do anything to regular customers like Andrew and Jackson as his job will be in jeopardy for taking such drastic action without authorization.

“so, what's cooking?” Azraf talked to Jackson after la chapi went away in annoyance.

“have you heard about the space dimensional crack which leads to a world that looks exactly the same as Curia Online?.” Jackson raised a question.

“ Yeah, just did” Azraf blurted naturally, trying to look unfazed as possible.

“ well here is something that not just anyone knows, you are going to keep your mouth shut about this when you hear it?.”

“the governments from all over the world came together to invest into the exploration of the world beyond the crack but in reality, the main purpose is because they figured out that there is a lot of powerful existence in that world which pose a great threat to the entire earth but lucky for the earth, those beings have not yet learned about the space crack.”

“what? Azraf blurted, putting on a shocked look though inwardly, he was not very surprised. He had speculated about this earlier in his research. the only thing that he does not have any indication of, is the exact rationale for this phenomenon.

Jackson continues with his assertion unaware of the true feeling of Azraf.

“ Since the discovery of the powerful beings a year ago, the world's governments have created a special body which sends in unit after unit of squads whose duty is to defend the crack and make sure it stays hidden from eyes of the powerful beings from the world beyond. A year ago, I became a member of that body.”

“Everyone like you who has played Curia Online is being sorted after by the body because of your familiarity with the environment of Curia Online which is the same as that world.”

“I was specifically given orders by the higher-ups to pull you in for this reason. so what’s it going to be? are you interested?.”

Azraf drew silent. Even if one should look attentively at his face, no one will know what he was thinking but he himself. No one know that he was inwardly filled with joy when he heard about the invitation but kept his cool.

Azraf is very excited about going to that world because it is a world similar to his former world, Naria. A world where magical powers exist and men learn how to survive only by fighting and engaging in wars.

Jackson did not say anything further after Azraf went silent, instead, he patiently awaited Azraf's decision.

“ Give me two days to think about it” Azraf finally said.

“ok, buddy, whatever you decide, I gotch you. Now let’s stop talking about serious business and focus on having a good time, let’s start by ordering something, Jackson urged vigorously.

“ what do you think we should order?” Azraf blurted in optimism.

“the usual of course!!”

Just like that, the two enjoyed this night hanging out together, doing their favorite things, visiting fun places that were similar to the Chili Barns. When it got late in the night, the two finally separated.

Azraf entered the house to be nagged by his aunt because of his late return. He gently consoled her and went back to his room.

The time tricked by until it was finally past two days. It's time for Azraf to announce his decision in joining the expedition to the world beyond the space dimensional crack.