Whims of a Quiet Dreamer

Chapter 11: The Door to Magic

Sithu's heart raced with a mixture of excitement and disbelief. She had found the key. The dream wasn't just a dream after all. Clutching the small, silver key in her hand, she couldn't help but smile—something magical was about to happen.

But what now? Where was the door it was meant to open?

Her mind raced as she considered the possibilities. She hurried over to the wardrobe in her bedroom, laughing at herself as she turned the key in the lock. Of course, nothing happened. She had half-expected to tumble into Narnia, just like in the books. But the wardrobe remained solid, just as it always had.

She searched the rest of the apartment, trying the key on different drawers, cupboards, anything she could think of. Still, nothing.

Feeling a bit silly, she finally collapsed into her reading nook, a cozy corner near the window where she had spent countless hours escaping into other worlds. She sighed, her fingers idly twisting the key. Maybe it wasn't meant for a door after all. Maybe—

Suddenly, the wall near the reading nook began to glow.

Sithu's breath caught in her throat as she watched the light spread, illuminating the entire corner of the room. Her eyes widened as the glow shifted, the lines of the wall rearranging themselves. What had been solid and unremarkable just moments ago was now forming... a door.

A real door.

Her pulse quickened. Could this be it? The key? Her dream? Everything seemed to be happening so fast, but she didn't hesitate. She stood up and moved toward the glowing door, the key in her hand feeling impossibly heavy with the weight of her anticipation.

With a trembling hand, she inserted the key into the lock. The door clicked open, revealing a shimmering light beyond.

Sithu hesitated for just a moment, fear mingling with her excitement. This was real. This was happening. She took a deep breath, pushed the door open, and stepped through.

On the other side, the world was nothing short of breathtaking.

Everything glowed with an ethereal beauty, as if the air itself was infused with magic. The sky above her was a brilliant shade of violet, dotted with twinkling stars, even though it seemed to be daytime. Tall, silver trees lined a pathway that stretched into the distance, their leaves shimmering like crystal. Flowers of every imaginable color bloomed along the path, their petals swirling in the breeze as though alive.

In the distance, she could hear the soft sounds of laughter and music. The entire landscape pulsed with life, with magic—more vivid and enchanting than even the most beautiful dream she had ever imagined. The air smelled of honey and lavender, and as she walked, the ground beneath her feet felt soft and warm, like stepping on clouds.

Then she saw them—characters from her favorite stories, coming to life before her eyes. She nearly gasped as she spotted a familiar face from one of the fantasy books she had loved as a child. A noble knight, armor gleaming, passed her by, nodding as if in recognition. Nearby, a group of woodland creatures danced in a clearing, as if they had stepped right out of one of her storybooks. It was all so overwhelming, so surreal, that Sithu almost couldn't believe her eyes.

But what caught her attention most were the people. Not just characters from stories, but real people—mostly children, scattered throughout the magical landscape. They looked as though they had come from different parts of the world, their clothes and appearances vastly different from one another. Some were laughing, others exploring, but all of them seemed completely at ease in this magical place.

As Sithu walked closer, she realized something strange. The children were speaking a language she had never heard before, but somehow... she could understand it perfectly. It flowed naturally into her mind, as if the magic of this world had made the language known to her.

One of the children, a girl with curly hair and bright, curious eyes, noticed Sithu and approached her. She smiled warmly, waving as she came closer.

"Hi!" the girl said in the strange language, though to Sithu, it sounded as familiar as her own. "I'm Savannah. You look like my age!"

Sithu blinked in surprise. "Your age?"

She glanced down at herself, and for the first time, truly took in her reflection in the shimmering waters of a nearby pond.

She was no longer an adult.

Staring back at her was her nine-year-old self—wide-eyed, innocent, and brimming with curiosity.