Time Is An Illusion

Did I Die?

I fall forward, my body stiff and numb. The scenery around me shifts—what was once a never-ending darkness beneath the trees is now replaced by a blinding white light.

Looking down, I notice something strange—my injuries are gone. My arm and legs aren't broken anymore, and the burns on my legs have faded into scars. What happened to me?

Out of the corner of my eye, I see a woman appear. "Hello, dear." Who is that? I get up and turn towards the soft voice. She's tall, with dark crimson hair streaked with black highlights, glowing turquoise eyes, and a black gown that flows in a non-existent breeze. Her skin has a soft glow, like caramel under a warm light. She's stunning, really.

"Hello, ma'am. May I ask where I am?" I ask, looking up at her in awe.

"You're in a very special place," she replies, but that's so vague, it’s just confusing. "Where is this special place?" I try again, hoping for a clearer answer.

"We're in the middle realm between life and death." Well, that’s… bizarre, but it’s an answer, I guess.

"Okay then… why am I here?" I still don’t get it, but I'll take what I can get.

"You're here for training. Your physical body is frozen in time while I teach you," she explains, which is even more confusing. Training? "Okay… what am I training for? And why exactly?" This is all so baffling, but I figure I'll play along for now.

"I'm training you in the powers you inherited from the soul merge," she says.

The soul what?

I must look pretty lost because she continues, "When you were about five years old, your soul merged with a deity of death—"

"Excuse me, what? There’s more than one?!" I interrupt, shocked.

"Yes, there’s more than one," she says, brushing off my surprise like it’s no big deal. "Anyway, as I was saying, you'll be trained in the powers you now possess."

Okay… so that’s why my magic is so powerful. "Where exactly are we doing this training? This is just a white void." Suddenly, the empty space around us collapses in on itself, and the void transforms into a bustling beach town. I find myself falling from the newly-formed sky, landing with a thud on the shimmering golden sand.

This place just got even more confusing. As I get to my feet, I’m surrounded by a bunch of curious onlookers, each one looking like they’ve stepped out of different countries and centuries. They're all staring at me, and it’s kind of unsettling.

“Welcome, new trainer!” a strange scraggly man shouts at me. I would call him strange, but maybe bizarre, unusual, or just plain different is more accurate. Either way, I have no clue what’s going on, and I definitely don’t like it. "H-hi?" I stammer back, still utterly confused.

The tall lady suddenly appears behind me, grabbing my shoulders and making me jump.

"This is Luckua! He's the new holder we spoke about," she announces.

What?! This is all too much. "I’m sorry, what is happening?" I ask, feeling everyone’s eyes on me, scanning me up and down like I’m on display. It’s unsettling, to say the least.

****************************

“Welcome to the town tour, a captivating journey led by me Mary Ann, that promises to unfold the layers of our picturesque locale through the lens of its rich history, distinct architecture, and the personal tales that embroider its very fabric.” Mary Ann yells this out in one long breath, even though I’m the only person on this tour.

“Our exploration begins in the town square and will end with the discovery of a spacious beach house, standing as a silent witness to the ebb and flow of the tides and times. The grandeur and simplicity of the house speak volumes of the town's heritage, inviting guests to delve deeper into the essence of its charm.”

I’ve been dragged around this entire town, forced into shop after shop, and shown the town hall, hospital, training areas, restaurants, library, coffee shops, gyms, and even a farm. Finally, we reach the place I’ll be staying—a nice little beach house on the side of a large cliff overlooking the ocean. It’s definitely the highlight of the tour.

Its sprawling structure against the backdrop of the blue sea is breathtaking. The house is surprisingly spacious, even though it’s covered from floor to ceiling with artefacts. The lounge is large, with a gigantic couch against one wall, an old-looking TV on a stand, and a big fireplace off to the side.

There’s no wall separating the lounge from the kitchen, which has lots of counter space and a big fridge already filled with food. Past the lounge, I find a bathroom with a shower combined with a bath, and both a washing machine and dryer—not that exciting. I head back to the lounge and walk up the stairs to find a bedroom. It’s big, but nothing like my room back home.

Just then, I remember—home is gone. My whole life burned to ash, and I doubt there’s anything left. The thought makes my eyes sting with tears, but I force them back.

Mary Ann leaves after a while, letting me get some rest. I finally sat on the bed, but the tears I’d been holding in burst out. I cry myself to sleep, thinking of my family and realising I’m completely alone for the first time.

****************************

I wake up with a start, sitting up in fear as loud, obnoxious screaming echoes around the room. I look to the right and find a goat on my balcony, screaming its head off. I just stare at it, unsure what to do, until it eventually stops, bleats at me, and then jumps off the balcony to climb up the cliffside.

I lie in bed for a while, the remnants of my dream lingering in my mind—if you can even call it a dream. It’s more like a haunting memory. Growing up, I was constantly ostracised and called a disappointment, just because I was born a boy. In my culture, women are seen as the more significant and useful gender. They possess the power of creation and birth, with a more nurturing and kind nature. It’s considered bad luck to have a male ruler because women have the protective instincts needed to provide for and defend the empire. But I always longed to be a girl. Not just because it seems easier, but because the idea of being a girl brings me a peace and happiness I’ve never felt as a boy. My mother always told the public I was a girl. I loved being introduced as her daughter, the different name she would call me Lunetra, wearing cute frilly dresses, but behind the scenes, she berated and belittled me just for existing as a boy. I wonder if I could ever truly become a girl, not just pretend.

There’s a knock at the door, and I get up, wiping the sleep from my eyes. “Good morning, Luckua!” Mary Ann is way too loud and energetic for this early in the morning.

“Morning, Miss,” I mumble, still half-asleep.

“Gods, don’t call me Miss. It makes me feel old. Just call me Mary,” she says, pulling out a mirror and tracing the wrinkles on her face with her finger.

“Okay, sorry—Mary,” I apologise, not wanting to upset her.

“Oh, it’s nothing to apologise for,” she waves it off, walking into the house. “Now, why have you only just woken up?” She pats my head and starts cooking breakfast. “What? Oh, I was just tired,” I say, standing next to her and watching as she cracks eggs and cooks bacon.

“Smells nice, hey?” she says with a smile. I nod, feeling a bit better. She seems pretty nice. I think I might actually like it here.