Taking Mimi's small hands in her own, Amaya took a deep, steadying breath before she started speaking. Her voice was calm yet carried a certain weight that made Mimi instinctively focus all her attention on her aunt.
"Let me tell you a story, Mimi," Amaya began, her eyes meeting the curious gaze of the child. "A story about the four worlds of this vast universe."
Mimi's eyes widened with intrigue, her head tilting slightly as she waited for Amaya to continue.
"In this universe," Amaya said, her tone becoming more serious, "there are four distinct worlds, each unique in its own way. The lowest among them is called Earth—the very world we are living in right now. On Earth, the people are ordinary; they do not possess any magic. But even though they lack magical powers, they are blessed with extraordinary natural gifts. These gifts come in the form of things like advanced medical knowledge, unparalleled skills in martial arts, and incredibly creative minds that can invent and imagine endlessly. They might not wield magic, but their blessings make them remarkable in their own right.
"However," Amaya paused for emphasis, "only the ruler of Earth and his family have the power of magic. The rest of the world prays to them, worshipping them as divine beings who bestow blessings upon the people."
Amaya glanced at Mimi, whose expression had shifted to one of utter astonishment. Seeing the surprise etched on her face, Amaya chose not to explain further just yet and continued with the story.
"Above Earth lies another world—Heaven," she said, her voice softening with a hint of reverence. A glimmer of surprise flashed through Mimi's eyes at the mention of Heaven, a place often spoken of with awe and wonder.
"Heaven is not just a place of clouds and ethereal light as many imagine," Amaya explained. "It is a world full of fairies, elves, and magical beings—any mystical creature you can think of belongs to Heaven. This world is similar to Earth in its structure, but the key difference lies in its people. Every single being in Heaven is born with magic. The type and strength of their magic depend entirely on the purity and power of their bloodline.
"Some have simple magic, like the ability to grow flowers in an instant or summon gentle rain to nourish the land. Others, however, are born with extraordinary powers—like commanding fire, controlling water, or wielding holy weapons that are said to be unbeatable. The strongest magic belongs to the king of Heaven and his descendants, whose bloodline is the most powerful of all."
Mimi listened with wide eyes, her mind racing with images of magical beings and their wondrous abilities. But before she could ask any questions, Amaya's expression shifted, and her tone grew darker.
"Now, Mimi, comes a world far stranger than Earth or Heaven. It is a place known as 'Hell.'"
The mere mention of Hell sent a shiver through Mimi. A flash of fear crossed her face as her young imagination conjured images of flames and monsters. Amaya chuckled softly, amused by her reaction.
"Hell is not what the old grandmothers' tales would have you believe," Amaya said, a gentle smile playing on her lips. "It is as beautiful as Heaven, though it is vastly different. In Hell, the sky is not blue but a deep, fiery red, resembling the sky at sunset. It's a place where demons, witches, vampires, and shapeshifters reside. Unlike Heaven, where magic varies in strength, Hell is a realm of unmatched power. Every being in Hell is fully capable of harnessing their abilities to the fullest."
Amaya's eyes glimmered as she painted a vivid picture of the world. "Witches in Hell are masters of powerful spells, vampires possess mind-controlling abilities, and shapeshifters can transform into their assigned animal forms with ease. Each of these beings is strong in their own way, but the king of Hell is the most powerful of them all. He possesses every ability that exists in Hell—he can cast the strongest spells, shift into any form, and wield all the powers of the demons. His strength makes him unmatched in all the realms."
Mimi's jaw dropped slightly as she tried to imagine such a being. Her face was a mix of amazement and unease.
Amaya smiled at the wonder in Mimi's expression. "Now," she said, her voice lowering, "let me tell you about the last world. The most mysterious and extraordinary of them all—the world of Immortals."
She paused for a moment, letting the weight of her words sink in. Mimi stared at her, eyes wide, completely captivated.
"The world of Immortals is the highest and most sacred of all realms," Amaya began, her tone reverent. "It is unlike Earth, Heaven, or even Hell. It is a place where dragons, holy beasts, and celestial creatures reside.
The beings who live there are known as cultivators. Their sole purpose in life is to embark on the path of cultivation to achieve immortality—a state of existence that allows them to live forever.
Mimi's eyes grew wide with amazement, her young mind trying to grasp the grandeur of such a place.
"Immortality is not simply given; it must be earned, Cultivators devote their lives to refining their bodies, minds, and spirits, overcoming countless challenges and trials along the way,"
Amaya explained. "Anyone from the three lower realms—Earth, Heaven, or Hell—can choose to walk this path of cultivation. However, it is a journey fraught with unimaginable hardships. The sects and clans that already exist in the Immortal World are ancient and powerful, guarding the secrets of cultivation fiercely. For an outsider to enter their ranks is nearly impossible."
Mimi leaned in closer, captivated by the tale. "Have people from Earth ever made it to this world, Yaya?" she asked eagerly.
Amaya nodded slowly, her gaze distant as if recalling a long-forgotten memory. "Yes, but the number is so small that it is almost a myth. Only two individuals from Earth have managed to ascend to the Immortal World after thousands of years of arduous cultivation. Their journey was so long and perilous that their names have become legends, they endured countless lifetimes of struggle and sacrifice to reach that divine realm."