Entering the Spirit Realm (1)
I'd planned to head to the Spirit Realm with a light heart and an easy mind, but I ran into an unexpected obstacle.
"Don't forget the sunscreen—make sure to slather it on properly."
"Mosquito coils are in there too, so burn one every night before bed."
"I threw in some cup ramen just in case. Don't skip any meals."
"Juice would've been too heavy, so I packed juice powder instead. Share it with Aqua too."
"Gas burner too—cook everything properly."
It was a barrage of parental worry, complete with a massive bag almost as big as my torso. I accepted it gratefully with a smile.
"Don't worry too much. It's not like I'm venturing into the Amazon wilderness or anything."
"It's a wild world out there, right? Boil everything once to kill any parasites."
"Above all, watch out for mosquitoes. They carry diseases."
"There aren't any wild beasts, are there?"
"Should we pack a knife...?"
Mom and Dad seemed to have forgotten I was an awakener who wouldn't lose to any beast. I just chuckled softly.
Part of it was their parental prerogative to fret over their child, but the truth was, so little was known about the Spirit Realm that I had no reassuring words to offer.
"The Spirit Realm is known to be a gentle, warm world. And it's where Aqua and Mandu lived—how dangerous could it be?"
That was the best I could manage.
[That's right! The Spirit Realm is a wonderful place! No need to worry!]
[Chit!]
Now it was Mom and Dad's turn to be at a loss for words. They just smiled and petted Aqua and Mandu.
I turned to my friends and waved goodbye.
"Sorry. Looks like fishing and surfing lessons will have to wait till next time."
Han Areum shook her head at my smile.
"That's not the issue right now, sunbae."
"Hyungnim, you sure it's okay if we don't go with you?"
"Pompeii might be small, but he's a Spirit King. Ignoring his warning isn't wise. I think we should go together."
Everyone's faces were tense with concern for me. Grateful, I gave them a small smile.
"As you all know, the Spirit Realm isn't a place just anyone can enter without permission from the Spirit Kings."
"So what? It could be dangerous."
"If it were really that risky, Uluru wouldn't have called just me and Aqua."
I glanced at Aqua, seeking agreement. She nodded firmly.
[Uluru would never put us in danger!]
With Aqua saying it that emphatically, even Jang Gilsan had nothing left to argue.
I eased my friends' worries.
"If it seems dangerous at all, I'll ask Aqua to open a passage back."
They nodded reluctantly.
"Alright then, I'll be off. Don't worry too much."
"Don't get hurt."
"Contact us if you can."
Mom and Dad's anxious expressions melted under Aqua's hugs.
[We'll be back!]
Aqua hugged them one by one, tight and warm.
[Chit!]
Mandu hopped onto her shoulder and gently licked their cheeks.
"I'll be back. Take good care of Mom and Dad so they don't worry."
"Leave it to us."
"Come back safe!"
"Hyungnim, safety first above all!"
Aqua raised her hand high. Immense spirit power began gathering in her palm.
She was opening the gate to the Spirit Realm.
The guesthouse guests murmured and peeked out, watching the spectacle.
I should've picked a less conspicuous spot.
We were in the courtyard of Haynaru Guesthouse. With family and friends seeing me off, this was the only suitable place.
This is gonna make the news again.
So much for slipping away quietly.
Drip, drip, drip.
Water flowed from the courtyard faucet, forming a small puddle before us.
Bubble, bubble.
Bubbles rose from the puddle. They shot up like a pillar in one burst and popped explosively.
Pop!
Where the bubbles had burst, a window to another world appeared—a glimpse of the Spirit Realm.
Like a movie set in prehistoric times, it was a world of nothing but greens and blues, no other colors in sight.
The passage rising from the puddle exuded mystery on its own.
"Ooooh...!"
Gasps erupted from the onlookers. Some pulled out their phones to record.
I couldn't help a small laugh, imagining reporters swarming the guesthouse by afternoon.
[Let's go!]
Aqua raised both arms toward me. I scooped her into my arms.
[Chit!]
Mandu climbed onto my shoulder, his voice trembling with excitement. Having fallen to the human world right after birth, this was probably his first time seeing the Spirit Realm.
[Mm!]
Aqua flicked her hand, and the remaining water from the puddle swirled around us, forming a thick Water Shield.
This cushions the shock of crossing worlds.
Especially for Mandu, Aqua layered on extra shields—his young body was still fragile.
"Well then, I'm off."
I flashed a final smile at my family and friends, then stepped into the Spirit Realm.
* * *
Passing through the Spirit Realm's passage, the first thing I felt was pure spirit power caressing me gently.
Like a mother's touch, the Spirit Realm welcomed me with soft warmth.
This is the Spirit Realm's spirit power...
It suited the spirits' homeland perfectly—gentle and kind.
They said it's a warm, cozy world... and it really is.
Just sensing the spirit power felt like being cradled in my mother's arms.
Setting foot in the Spirit Realm, I first checked on Mandu.
"You okay, Mandu?"
[Chit.]
He nodded vigorously. A bit tired-looking, but no injuries.
"You too, Aqua?"
[Of course!]
Aqua tugged at my chest, as if that wasn't the point.
[More importantly, look! This is the Spirit Realm!]
I followed her pointing finger and gasped at the sight before us.
Blue skies, towering mountains, massive ancient trees, vast lakes. Birdsong filled the air, laced with sweet floral scents.
"Whoa..."
I stared, entranced.
Most astonishing was the enormous tree dominating the view.
Like the World Tree from Norse mythology...
It was that colossal. Towering like a mountain, its trunk base alone rivaled a four-story building.
Beneath it, countless spirits frolicked in a tangle.
Baby spirits...
Tiny ones chased each other, climbed trees, dug in the dirt. Some played with horned rabbits or fawns.
So this is the Spirit Realm.
Admiration swelled into a hot surge of emotion.
The Spirit Realm I'd studied daily at the Hunter Academy. The utopia countless spirit users dreamed of visiting.
I could hardly believe I'd set foot in it.
Then—
[Huh?]
[Is that Aqua?]
[I sense Aqua!]
The baby spirits noticed us one by one, turning their heads.
[......]
[......]
They all froze. If not for a rabbit munching away, I'd have thought time had stopped.
One sylph shouted.
[A human!]
[It's a human!]
[Waaah!]
The baby spirits charged toward me. I never knew gnomes could move that fast.
Overwhelmed by the wave of spirits, I froze for a moment.
Dozens surrounded me, bombarding me with questions.
[Hi, human!]
[Why are you here?]
[Here to contract?]
[Hug me!]
[Pet me!]
The boldest leaped at me or climbed aboard. They were tiny—some fist-sized.
Worried my movements might hurt them, I petted them carefully.
[Me too! Me too!]
[My turn now!]
Aqua, down on the ground, smiled as I vanished under the pile of baby spirits.
[Hee hee hee!]
Undines gathered around her too.
[Aqua-nim!]
[What brings you back?]
[Why'd you bring a human?]
The ones who'd been to the human world stuck by Aqua; the untouched babies swarmed me.
[Human! Wow! Human!]
[I love humans!]
[Pet more!]
Their explosive enthusiasm made my head spin.
[Contract with me!]
"Huh?"
A baby sylph dangled from my shoulder.
[I wanna go to the human world too!]
"Contract with you?"
[Can't do multiple contracts?]
As I floundered for a reply—
[No!]
Aqua put her hands on her hips.
[You're still a baby spirit! Contracts are too soon!]
[I'm all grown up!]
[No! At least wait till you're taller than my leg!]
[But I wanna go to the human world too! I hate you, Aqua-nim!]
The sylph's lip puffed out—half sad, half sulky.
Aqua softened, peeling her off me and hugging her tight.
[Don't worry. You'll go to the human world soon enough.]
[When? I wanna go now!]
[Grow a little more. It's dangerous now. Sleep two hundred more nights.]
[Two hundred nights? Really?]
[Yes. After two hundred nights, I'll take you myself.]
[Promise?]
[Promise!]
[Hee hee hee!]
Placated, the baby sylph buzzed happily around Aqua.
[Whoa! A baby salamander!]
[Why'd a baby salamander come from the human world?]
Mandu was a hit too.
[Chit!]
He chirped joyfully.
Then—
[I've been waiting.]
A soft, embracing voice. I turned to see an earth spirit standing there.
Unlike other gnomes, this one was different in appearance and size—even larger than Aqua, comparable to Niagara.
I knew who it was. A face from countless Spirit Studies textbooks.
The Earth Spirit King, Uluru.
True to her title as the Spirit Kings' Spirit King, her spirit power was immense—beyond Pompeii or even Niagara. Solid and weighty, befitting an earth spirit.
Huh?
One odd thing: Uluru rarely appeared in the human world, and old photos were blurry. I'd never noticed before.
She looks just like Aqua?
Uluru resembled Aqua—not just in looks, but hairstyle and outfit too.
[Welcome.]
The Earth Spirit King, with the face of an older Aqua, smiled in greeting.