To you, allow me to recount a tale.
Grant ear, that you may know and understand treasures of old.
Tales of venture and conflict,
Hope and tragedy.
For, every soul remains unaware without mirror for reflection.
Have you ever dreamed so tangibly, that upon awakening, reality remained difficult to distinguish? What if you could never awake? How then, would you discern reality from the dream?
Afore you it spreads, surrounds, and towers. Series of sandstone; structures massive, vast, endless. As far as thine eye can see—and beyond ever more. Wherefrom sand streams as waterfalls, to depths unseen: For, you stand amidst the very heavens.
A haze encompasses, as if replacing the clouds. Connected through bridges narrow and long, without balustrade for safety, neither entrance nor exit in sight—an endless labyrinth of old, full of infinite possibility.
. . . Do you stand before reality, or another dream?
***
Mandarin red locks swayed gently in the celestial winds. The sight afore, indeed one to be beheld. Its divine nature may’ve made visitants genuinely consider whether they’d died in their sleep. Quite odd, given Goki presumed herself too young for such occurrence just yet. Perhaps this was why her guardians reminded to care for her health early on, “Before it’s too late”. Little would she had predicted how soon that “too late” could actually come. Unfortunate, given rather interesting brains had been encountered down below, but at least death hadn’t seemed all that boring if it started somewhere like here.
Though, without a kitchen in sight, Goki pondered whether death meant she’d never be able to eat or drink again. No restroom was seen to boot. But, then again, one required a restroom due to eating and drinking; so maybe the lack went hand and hand... Already, the first mystery of death seemed to be unraveling.
Still, despite its seeming endlessness, even for the Hybrid, such a place appeared as it might eventually grow wearisome... Would this be her home for eternity, or did afterlife consists of multiple destinations like field trips? Around the girl would pivot, absorbing surroundings most breathtaking, the air tasting brisk and pure in the altitude. The haze gave a feeling of perpetual dawn; illuminated, yet a sun unseen. Though Goki reckoned for the better—one not wanted to burn their retinas out, after all. Death was complicated, for the Hybrid received no manual nor instruction regarding what to do or where to go.
Unbefitting of its surroundings, a sudden rustle was perceived, prompting her head to quickly turn. Yet, when it had—the rustle’s source zipped right past, and she’d only caught but a glimpse.
Was that a . . .
“Guests—We have guests!” exclaimed its announcement, flying speedily across the bridge, disappearing behind a corner into the building across.
. . . The girl’s head tilted aside.
“Flying . . . book?”