Whims of a Quiet Dreamer

Chapter 8: A Dream of Another World

Sithu found herself standing in a place so beautiful it felt like stepping into one of her childhood fantasies. The air was warm and sweet, filled with the scent of flowers that bloomed in vibrant, impossible colors—deep indigos, glowing silvers, and golds that shimmered in the soft light. Trees stretched high into the sky, their leaves glittering like jewels, casting dappled shadows across the meadow. A gentle breeze whispered through the air, carrying the sound of distant streams and birds singing unfamiliar melodies.

In the distance stood a castle, its towering spires reaching toward the lavender sky. It looked as though it had been crafted from glass, catching the light and reflecting rainbows across the landscape. The entire world seemed alive, glowing with magic and life.

As Sithu walked through the meadow, mesmerized by the beauty around her, she noticed a figure approaching—a woman of striking elegance and grace, moving with an otherworldly fluidity.

It was the Queen.

Her gown shimmered with every step, shifting between colors like a waterfall of gems—first emerald, then sapphire, then soft rose. Her hair flowed like silver silk down her back, and her eyes sparkled with wisdom and kindness. A crown of delicate vines and diamonds adorned her head, yet her presence was anything but distant. She was warm, inviting, as though she had been waiting for Sithu for a long time.

"Welcome, my dear," the Queen spoke, her voice like a soft lullaby. She smiled at Sithu, her eyes full of understanding. "I have been expecting you."

Sithu stood frozen, unsure of how to respond. But the Queen's gaze was gentle, her words soothing, and Sithu felt all the tension and worries she carried fall away. In the Queen's presence, she didn't feel out of place. She didn't feel strange or out of sync with the world.

"You've been through much," the Queen said, her voice warm. "You don't belong in their world, do you? You belong here, with us, where you are understood. There are many like you in this place."

Sithu felt tears prick at the corners of her eyes, but she didn't fight them. The Queen's words reached deep inside her, touching the quiet, lonely parts she rarely showed the world.

"I... I've never belonged," Sithu whispered. "Not anywhere."

The Queen smiled softly and reached out, brushing a hand across Sithu's cheek. "You do belong, Sithu. Here, in this world, where the magic still lives. You will understand it more as you explore. This place is full of people who feel as you do, who long for something beyond what they were given."

Sithu's heart pounded with a mixture of hope and disbelief. "But... how can I come here?" she asked, her voice trembling. "Is this just a dream?"

The Queen's eyes twinkled knowingly. "No, my dear. This is more than a dream. There is a way to return to this world, to make it your own. The key is in the first story you ever loved—the one that opened your heart to magic, the one that brought you comfort when the world outside felt too harsh."

Sithu blinked, her mind racing. The first story she ever loved? The first book that had captured her heart? She had read so many over the years, but one had been the beginning—the one that had sparked her imagination, that had been a refuge during her childhood.

"The key lies in its pages," the Queen continued. "Find it, and you will find the way here."

The Queen's image began to blur, and the shimmering landscape around Sithu started to dissolve like mist in the morning sun. But before the dream faded entirely, the Queen's voice lingered in the air.

"When you are ready, Sithu, we will be waiting."

Sithu jolted awake, her heart still pounding in her chest, her room dark and quiet around her. She lay still for a moment, the vividness of the dream lingering in her mind. It felt so real—so much more than just a fleeting vision of sleep.

The Queen's words echoed in her thoughts. The first story you ever loved...

Sithu sat up, rubbing her eyes, her mind swirling with memories. The first book she had ever loved. The one that had opened her eyes to the possibility of magic, that had been her escape when she was just a girl.

She ran her fingers absentmindedly through her hair, trying to recall what that book could be. She had read so many stories, but one had always stood out, hadn't it? The very first one.

But where was it now? It had been years since she last saw it. Was it buried somewhere in the piles of books in her apartment? Or had she left it behind in one of the many moves over the years?

Sithu's mind raced as she stood up, glancing at her cluttered bookshelf. She stared at the spines of the books, trying to remember. What could that first book have been? And where could it be now?

She sighed, her fingers lightly brushing the worn covers, as she tried to piece together the fragments of her memory.