The Eternal Slumber

"This is one of the Nine Worlds, a plane of existence different from ours," Gavril informed Hao Xuan.

Hao Xuan inched closer to the window and peered left and right, but there was only fog and nothing else around them.

"But...isn't this a dream?" he muttered confusingly.

"It is," Gavril confirmed.

"Then...how?"

"Who says it has to be just one thing?" Gavril looked towards Hao Xuan with half a smile, but seeing the confused look on his face he let out a sigh and explained further.

"Nine Worlds and Ten Heavens. Eight Desolaces and the Nine Hells. What do you think they are?"

Hao Xuan shrugged. He had a vague idea but nothing else so pretending otherwise would be useless.

*Krrrrreee*

Just then, a low, guttural growl came from somewhere in the fog. It didn't sound too far off.

Gavril quickly took a step back from the window and snapped his fingers. The window vanished completely as if it was never there.

Hao Xuan looked at him with a questioning gaze.