Lumengard
In the darkness and rain, I awaken at the edge of a street. Above me, a small street light glows with an ethereal light, despite the absence of any power lines. The pole, wrapped in what appears to be wood, leads up to an old and rusted bronze lantern. Adjacent to the lamp, a wrecked automobile lies smashed against it. No one else is in sight, and I realize I must have entered this life just after the crash.
The car, though damaged, still possesses a stunning beauty in the parts that remain intact. It seems as if it was grown from the earth, with steel formed into a shape I have never seen before. Small round pieces of steel intertwine like vines, twisting into intricate designs reminiscent of tree roots merging together.
As the rain intensifies, I notice the cold sensation of the raindrops against my skin. Strangely, the rain rises from the ground and ascends into the sky, defying the logic of the world I am accustomed to. It is a reminder that the rules of these realms differ from my waking life, something I can never fully get used to.
In the distance, I spot the lights of another vehicle, emanating from the headlights the same ethereal glow of the street light. The lights seem to dance with the rhythm of the rain. This car resembles the wrecked one, yet possesses an air of higher class. It slows to a stop, and a gentle-faced man asks if I am alright. His voice resonates with a low, deep tone. Though unable to find my words, I shake my head no in response.
The man offers me a ride, and despite my usual reservations about accepting rides from strangers in my waking life, I realize that in these alternate realities, I must approach each journey with an open mind and without fear. I want to experience all that I can while I am here, aware that I may never return to the same realm again. With a long, deep breath, I enter the car, still struggling to find my voice.
The interior of the car, pristine and clean. The seat feels cold, as if I had just sat on the ground outside, and is made of what appears to be moss, painted black. The dash is crafted from freshly cut wood, exuding a serene scent reminiscent of mint. I gather myself, mindful of the caution I have learned from traveling to different planes. I must be careful with my words, avoiding any missteps that could lead to trouble in this unfamiliar world.
Curiously, the man notices a tattoo on my arm resembling a name "Lumengard" and he smiles. "You're not from around here, I assume. That's the name of a city far from here. Traveling, maybe? I don't know what you'd be doing in this town; we're not known for travelers. Can you recall anything?"
As I gaze at the tattoo, a memory of a vast city flashes through my mind. Tall buildings made entirely of opaque glass, and the name "Arantha" resonates within me. Twiddling my thumbs, I realize that Arantha is my name. Memories slowly trickle back, though I never possess the complete recollections of the person whose life I have entered. It seems I was attempting to escape someone or something. I offer a soft smile. "My name is Arantha, I think? I can't seem to remember much. I'm not even sure where I was headed."
The man nods understandingly. "Unfortunately there's not much around here. Everywhere is closed this late at night. My house is just up this way. I'll take you there to at least get out of this weather, and I'll have my help get you cleaned up." My heart pounds, the feeling of uncertainty flooding through me, not knowing this place or the man next to me. Again reminding myself that I have to have an open mind. He starts the car, and a sensation of floating off the ground envelops me. The silence within the vehicle is absolute, while the rain continues to rise from the ground. In the sky, flashes of colorful lights illuminate the darkness, resembling breathtaking fireworks. I assume it must be a thunderstorm of sorts in this realm.
We drive not far up the road and approach a large iron gated fence. As we approach, the gates open on their own, small traces of magic appearing around them. We drive down the driveway, lined with intertwined trees that form an arch, creating a beautiful sight. As we reach the home, the trees part, revealing the sky again. The house resembles a mansion like cottage, featuring big round windows, ivy growing along the sides, and a big arched doorway with a giant wooden door. We pull up to the doorway, where a man dressed in a long brown coat and a ruffled white shirt stands. I assume he's the help that the man spoke of. He rolls out a mat to the door of the car before I get out, working like an umbrella to keep the rain from rising up from the ground. The man opens the door and welcomes me inside.
Entering the home, I am overwhelmed by its beauty. It looks as if the home was grown, the rooms, stairs, and windows shaped from a thousand trees. I am overwhelmed by how stunning it is. The man who rescued me from the road politely says, "I'm so sorry, I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Lucious. Please make yourself at home. This is my help, Harold. He will help you find some dry clothes." He turns to Harold and instructs him to show me to the living area afterward. Harold nods and leads me down a long hall to a dressing room. He finds me some dry clothes, and I change and dry my hair as best I can. Afterwards, Harold escorts me to the living area, where Lucious is waiting on the couch, looking over maps and papers with scribbles and drawings. I sit down on a chair across from him.
Lucious smiles and says, "I hope that I have been able to show you some hospitality after your night. I hate to think how long you were waiting there on the road for help." I respond, "I'm honestly not sure. I can't remember much. I'm just glad that you stopped." Lucious continues to scour the papers in front of him, and I notice an odd mist in the air. He smiles and pretends not to notice. I can't help but feel that something is off, but I push it to the back of my mind. I don't have much choice but to be here right now. Lucious looks at me and says, "You're welcome to stay in one of the guest rooms tonight." I smile and say, "Thank you. I suppose I don't have much of a choice at the moment. I do appreciate your help. You've been entirely too kind to a stranger." Lucious responds, "I couldn't leave you out there, not near the edge of the forest at night. I felt compelled to stop. I would hope someone would do the same for me. How about we get some rest tonight, and we'll figure out how to get you back on the road tomorrow." I nod, and Harold waits to show me to one of the guest rooms. I arrive in my room and shut the door to get settled.
It's a beautiful room with light sheer curtains, a big canopy bed, a thick blanket, and many overstuffed pillows. It reminds me of my bed back in my home world. I go to lay down but toss and turn almost the entire night, unable to sleep. I wonder why I feel so uneasy and also wonder if I sleep, will I wake back up in my home world.
Finally, I drift off and awaken, but something feels off-putting. I can't explain it. The house is still beautiful, but it looks dirty, as if it hasn't been lived in for a while. I walk out of the room and enter the hall, noticing that the rest of the house also looks like it hasn't been lived in for years. Dust has gathered on everything, and the home feels dark and dreary. I walk back to the living area, the maps are still there, along with a note. The note reads, "I hope this note finds you, Arantha. I had visions of your arrival long before you would come. I'm sorry the darkness kept me from telling you the truth. I had to use the last of my magic to travel to you in the future. Only you can rescue our world from the darkness that is coming. I hope that my magic was powerful enough to keep you safe through the night. Please take use of the maps and my car outside and continue on to Lumengard."
Speechless, chills run up my spine as I drop the paper to the floor. So not only did I come to another reality, but I also was saved by some sort of ethereal-ghost-time traveler? This world makes no sense. I gather myself and head outside. The car is waiting for me, still as pristine as it was when I first saw it. I get in and drive away, heading to fight whatever this darkness is. I turn to look at the home behind me one last time, and the mist surrounding it starts to clear. The home slowly starts to fall apart and decay before my eyes. I whip my head back around, shaking and confused. I don't know if Lucious was a ghost, an angel, or something else. I swallow and continue on my way, I'm getting the hell out of here. Once I get out of the gate, the whole forest shifts and grows into overgrown bushes and trees, as if the home was never even there. I continue down the road, and a bright light flashes...
I awaken back in my home world, feeling confused and bewildered. I take a moment to gather my thoughts and reflect on the strange journey I just had. I hope I get to go back and experience more of that world.
