The two set off in search of an exit, not looking with any particular sense of direction, but hoping to stumble upon something, anything, that might be a way out.
While they walked, (Jerry flew) Melissa got to learn more and more about this mansion, and the universe, in which she was now just another resident. Jerry told her about all the things that she would need to look out for. Topping the list was the never ending war between the angels and demons.
He had typed, "It's been going on since the beginning of time, and it will continue to go on until the end of time. It's not just here, either, it's all sorts of places. Funny thing, you probably think demons are pure evil (they are) and that angels are pure good. That part's just not true. Angels are just as selfish and unreasonable as their counterparts. I guess they get the reputation for good, simply because they won't skin you alive for kicks like the demons will. The important thing is, if you see an angel or a demon, just turn the other way and run."
After that, Jerry informed Melissa that there was a small, but very real possibility that they might walk through a door, and no longer be in The Mansion Eternal. Just as Melissa had found her in this giant floating castle by accident, they could walk through a door and find themselves on one of the other planets in this star system.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa," Melissa had to interrupt Jerry at this point. "Star System?"
Jerry explained all the different planets of this otherworldly star system that comprised this universe, and threw in a little bit about its residents.
"This world of ours consists of a central star, and several surrounding planets. Some of them are large, unique, and most importantly, inhabited. This star system, from an orbital standpoint, is more or less like the solar system you know and love. Its planets, however, are magical, mystical, and in some cases unexplainable. Magic may be strong in this world, but science and physics are not. Space travel is not the way to travel between the planets.
The sun itself, yellow like your own, Sol, is named Palanthis. It is the center of everything, and home to a magical city, called Golden. Powerful magic protects this rich city from the incredible heat and light. Inside the protective walls of force, are beautiful buildings, and angelic inhabitants. Not all residents are angels, but the majority are these winged paragons of 'goodness' and 'righteousness.' Though the city is technically accessible, its portals are well hidden, and well guarded. The very existence of Golden, the City on the Sun, is not known to most. I've never been, but it sounds like my kind of place.
Ironically, closest to the Sun is The Snowball. As you would expect, it's a giant ball of snow. There are plenty of creatures making do on the outside surface, but the bulk of the interesting goings on, happen in the series of tunnels that run through the whole thing. It's magical atmosphere keeps it cool, despite its proximity to the hottest thing in this region of space.
Next isn't a planet so much as… well, let me just explain. Floating around our sun is the body of a dead god. A particularly large god, as you might imagine. Many more creatures live on and in him than you would think. Almost all, aw, who am I kidding, all of them are unsavory. There is no reason to go there.
We're next. I can tell you more about The Mansion Eternal if you like, but I'll save it for later.
Eons ago, it had a different name, but the fourth planet is now known as, "The Core." The two circles around the poles are more or less normal lands with all the features you know and love from the habitable planets of your world. Starting at the equator, and extending an incredible distance North and South, is a gigantic canyon that circumnavigates the globe. This great trench has been caused by billions of years of warring between the angels and the demons. As for its original name, I won't pretend to recall what it was.
The fifth planet is the Inside-Outside planet of Cetocus. This one is difficult to explain. It is a sphere, hollow on the inside, with residents living on both the outside and the inside. The tricky part is, both sides claim that they are on the outside, because they see the sun during the day. One side is known as Cetocus Alpha, and the other is known as Cetocus Prime. The two sides are warring (rarely violently) about which side is the outside, though neither really is. It would take a great deal of topological knowledge to understand what is really going with Cetocus. If you're ever in the market for this type of knowledge, you should read more about "The Klein Bottle." Or if you ask nicely, I'll tell you everything I know.
There are others, and some come and some go, but these are the important ones. These are the places you may find yourself some day, and it's important for you to at least have a clue where you are.
The inhabitants of our universe come from three different places. There are normal natives. I was once one of those, but, considering my current form, it would be hard to lump myself in with that group now. There are the supernatural natives, and by that, I mean the angels and the demons. Not all of them are from here, but many of them were created by ritual, spawned, or otherwise begotten here. None of them are born, but they do generate into existence. The last group you see here are the spirits of dead folks from other worlds. This is an afterlife. These souls inhabit any number of bodies, including those afore mentioned angels and demons.
And that's about that. If I can think of anything else to tell you, I most certainly will."
She read carefully what Jerry had to say. She had long since reached her next door, but she didn't dare open it for fear of any number of distractions. When he was done, she thanked him, and turned the next door knob, knowing not what lay ahead.