Everyone thinks fantasy is just that—fantasy. No Narnia, no Middle-earth, no Hogwarts. But have you ever wondered: if these places aren't real, then how did people dream up such magical worlds? Some say it's all imagination, while others think there's something more mystical at play. Me? I've always felt a little too close to these imaginary places. And so, in my quest to find something extraordinary—something more than the daily grind—I embarked on an adventure of my own. Like every great hero, I set out to find a place where only the boldest (and, let's face it, the most naive) dare to tread: a place where every fantasy lover dreams of going.
My journey began 15 years ago in Georgia.
No, not the one with the peaches and sweet tea—the one with the mountains and...well, also peaches, but fewer of them. I was in search of a solo escape from reality, and Georgia seemed like the perfect place to lose myself. And boy, did I ever. I arrived in a quaint town called Tbilisi, where I heard about a trek that promised stunning views of snow-capped peaks. The only catch? The locals recommended a guide. But me, being on a tight budget and armed with a misplaced sense of self-confidence, decided to go it alone. After all, the locals said groups were always passing through, so how hard could it be?
With a rucksack full of essentials—food for three days, a tent, and enough enthusiasm to power a small country—I headed to the market to ask for directions. I was handed a map and a few half-understood instructions, and off I went, full of excitement and just a touch of dread. The first 20 minutes of my trek were glorious...until the heavens opened up and dumped a monsoon's worth of rain on my parade. As I squelched through the mud, soaking wet, I began to regret my life choices. Darkness crept in, and I was still fumbling around trying to find shelter. But then, just as the day was about to end on a soggy note, the sky cleared, and I was treated to the most breathtaking sunset. The golden light spread across the hills, and as the sun dipped below the horizon, I spotted something unusual—a flickering red and yellow glow that definitely wasn't the sun.
Caught between awe and confusion, I stood there, mesmerized, until I realized I hadn't set up my tent and the night was swiftly taking over. Cue me wrestling with poles and fabric in the pitch-black, muttering curses that would make a sailor blush. Eventually, I managed to erect what could generously be called a tent (though it looked more like a fabric pretzel). I crawled inside, soaked and exhausted, but at least I had shelter.
The next morning, I emerged, somewhat refreshed, and ready to continue my journey. But something was off. The map I had didn't match my surroundings anymore. The path looked different, the hills seemed out of place—had I somehow sleepwalked into another dimension? As I scratched my head in confusion, I heard the sound of rushing water. Aha! A river! Remembering some tidbit from a survival show, I decided to follow the river downstream, hoping it would lead me back to civilization—or at least to a decent cup of coffee.
After about 30 minutes of trudging through the underbrush, I stumbled upon a village. And this is where things got weird. The villagers weren't human—they were elves. Real, live elves! With pointy ears and everything! My brain, already on thin ice, was now skating on the thinnest possible sliver of reality. Before I could process what I was seeing, one of the elves spotted me and shouted, "The king has returned!"
Wait, what? King? Me?
As I stood there, dumbfounded, trying to piece together what was happening, I felt a hand on my shoulder and heard a voice command, "Move." I turned around to see a regal figure, flanked by soldiers, making his way towards me. The king and his entourage passed by without so much as a second glance in my direction. And that's when I realized—the king was human! No pointy ears, no otherworldly aura, just a regular (if slightly intimidating) guy. His soldiers were human too.
The entire village gathered around, chanting, "Long live the king!" I, meanwhile, was still stuck on, "How the heck did I get here?"
And so, with no other choice, I followed the king and his men, determined to get some answers—or at the very least, not end up on the wrong side of a sword. What followed was a journey filled with more surprises, more confusion, and a whole lot of "What on earth is going on?" moments. The journey ahead promised even more surprises, mysteries, and a whole lot of head-scratching moments. But as they say, that's just the beginning of the adventure. The real story? Well, that's coming up next.
