Chapter 1: Another Place

The class of nearly thirty students followed their instructor through the museum. The sound of their shoes clashing against the floor created a dissonant symphony, punctuated by murmurs that were both distracting and irritating.

The bullies and loudmouths mocked every statue they passed, while the gossipers whispered criticisms about the outfits of other students. It was everything you’d expect from a typical university excursion.

Even the instructor seemed indifferent, barely raising his voice as he stopped to explain the statues and ancient relics. He didn’t bother trying to control the class, assuming that the serious students were at the front of the line and could hear him.

As the excursion neared its end, the instructor ordered the students to gather in a corner. He needed to ensure no one had wandered off—it would be a nightmare for him to explain that to the administration.

Counting them one by one, he occasionally barked at the students to keep quiet, threatening to fail anyone who pushed his patience too far. While this reduced the noise marginally, it was still far from silence.

When he reached a particular student, he paused.

A boy with thick, dark hair and a pale complexion stood quietly. Dressed in a white hoodie and dark jeans, he clutched the straps of his white backpack tightly and kept his gaze fixed on the ground. Unlike the others, this boy radiated an air of exhaustion and detachment.

The instructor frowned slightly, scratching his plump cheeks as he observed the boy. Without a word, he moved on to count the rest of the students.

Kael exhaled deeply through his nose as the instructor passed him. I can’t wait for this excursion to end.

“Kael, why so quiet?”

Kael turned his head slightly, spotting one of his friends grinning mischievously.

“No response again? Damn! You’ve been like this all day. Kael, did you get dumped?” another friend teased, slinging an arm around Kael’s shoulder.

Kael grunted, briefly struggling against the hold before giving up. He had no interest in replying.

“Miller, don’t worry—I know how to fix this. Just wait till we’re on the bus,” Ron said, his mischievous smile widening.

Miller, still hanging on to Kael, imitated Ron’s grin. “Don’t worry, Kael. We’ll have you smiling in no time.”

Kael remained silent, their words echoing ominously in his mind. On the bus? I’ve got a bad feeling about this.

The instructor finally led the class out of the museum to a blue bus parked at the far end of the lot. The students boarded one by one, though not without managing to annoy the instructor further.

Kael lagged behind, scanning the remaining seats. The bus was configured with five seats per row—three on the left and two on the right, separated by an aisle. Most of the seats were already taken, thanks to his sluggishness.

“Kael, there’s a seat over here!” Ron called, pointing to an empty spot near the window.

Kael froze. A seat… but beside her?

He glanced at Ron again to confirm. Unfortunately, there was no mistake. Ron was pointing to a row where a single seat remained—right next to her.

Kael’s heart sank. Don’t tell me this was their plan all along. No, it’s just a coincidence… right?

With a gulp, he shuffled to the seat and sat down, avoiding eye contact with the girl beside him. He immediately turned to stare out of the window, hoping to disappear.

The bus started with a jolt, merging onto the highway and picking up speed. Kael kept his gaze fixed on the scenery flashing by. Dad… why would you do that to her? His fists clenched. How could you just throw it all away?

“Hey,” a calm but firm voice broke his thoughts, “stop being such a baby and sulking at the window.”

Kael blinked, startled by her voice. It was soothing in a way he couldn’t explain, maybe because he liked her. He turned his head slowly and met her gaze.

“Ron and Miller told me you’ve been acting distant,” Elsa said, her tone part scolding, part concern.

“It’s not that. I’m just not in the mood,” Kael mumbled.

“You think you’re the only one with problems? How selfish,” she snapped.

Her words hit him like a dagger, piercing the guilt he’d been trying to suppress.

“It’s not what you think—”

“Then explain it to me,” she interrupted. “Don’t you trust me? Or am I not a close friend?”

Kael froze. She was right. Elsa had confided in him about her struggles before, and so had his friends. Why couldn’t he do the same now?

Leaning back in his seat, Kael sighed and finally met her gaze. Her diamond-like eyes seemed to draw the words out of him.

“I hate to admit it, but… my dad’s the reason my mom left two years ago.” His voice was barely a whisper. “I found out he was cheating… I hate him for it.”

Elsa’s expression softened, and her stomach churned with unease. She was silent for a moment, the noise of the bus filling the gap.

“I’m sorry, Kael,” she said finally. “Life is full of pain and suffering. The older we get, the more we see it. I can’t take your pain away, but… I’ll always be here if you need someone to lean on.”

A small smile crept onto Kael’s face. Her words warmed him in a way he hadn’t expected.

“See? I made you smile!” she teased, laughing softly. Her laughter was infectious, and soon Kael chuckled too.

Then, to his surprise, Elsa placed a hand on his and leaned her head against his shoulder. “You look cute when you smile.”

Kael’s heart raced. Her words echoed in his mind, making his stomach flutter. Did she just call me cute?

But before he could process it further, his world suddenly shifted.

In an instant, the bus disappeared. Darkness enveloped him, stretching endlessly above, while broken pillars, shattered statues, and debris littered the ground below.

His surroundings had the smell of brimstone, thick ashes and a disturbing sound that made his bones rattle erratically.

Kael’s body felt weightless, but the darkness clawed at him like unseen hands, pulling and tearing at his flesh without causing pain.

“Where am I? What is this place?” Kael’s voice trembled as he spun around, desperately searching for answers.

This was no longer Earth. He had been transported to an entirely different dimension.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep