Distant mountains and endless forest as far as the eye can see. One can only wonder what marvels lay beyond those distant peaks. A mystery I've been trying to solve my whole life.
"Hopefully some day I do." I try to balance myself as I navigate the branches to get back to the ground.
"There isn't much time..." *sigh* I had no watch but the repetition had drilled the timing into me
"This is the closest I've gotten but it's still not enough." It's a disappointing feeling. All your efforts and struggles not being enough to accomplish the goal. Progress as slow as a snail's.
"At this rate I will turn eighty before I reach the mountains" still, I don't stop. I trek forward nimbly avoiding the branches in my way.
This has been my obsession since I was little. Ever since I can remember, I've had these dreams.
With so much nature, trees, rocks, even some animals. I never could understand where I got such a vivid picture of it all. I had seen trees before I even had access to old images of them.
On Earth trees were a luxury, and no one has ever seen a forest before. It was all just a jungle of concrete and steel.
The people who know about my dream were jealous sometimes. But maybe I should be of them? After all, they don't have to relive the same dream over and over again *sigh*
*Snag* I almost trip on a root as I feel a sudden pull, the ever growing pressure at the back of my mind, as if something was tied to my hair and was trying to reel me back. Lightly at first, just a warmup.
But as I resist and push my body forwards within minutes I come to a halt, no longer being able to resist. My vision starts turning black from the edges inwards.
"Maybe I should stop this..." with growing resignation I look at the forests below. "I've been chasing you all my life" this dream was why I had no friends, just therapists and disappointed parents.
And just as I was almost done with all this, almost yanked out of this dream, I saw it "Was that a... a person?" my shock was like something I'd get from jumping into an ice bath. This place was supposed to be empty, it always was!
With some supernatural strength I didn't know I had I managed to resist the pull a bit longer and take a shaky step forward "NO! Just a bit more! I need to know what this is!"
"GRRR" With gritted teeth and bulging veins I take another step and another.
*Bam* before falling to a knee. I could not go further.
I hadn't tried resisting in a long time. But today was special as I observed the person just standing there, slowly turning around. I wasn't going to miss this chance.
[WARNING! Resistance to the end of dream sequence detected. Increasing strength] With a synthetic buzz a voice in the void spoke. Without emotion and not caring for my struggles. Its only objective to follow its programming.
"GRRR! Stupid machine!... Let me stay!... Just 5 more minutes!" With heavy breath and blood trickling down my nose, I resist. I've been chasing this for ever and finally, finally there was something other than forest.
"I'm not strong enough..." the sadness replaces the desperation to move forward I once had. I knew determination alone wasn't enough.
But it was enough for the person to turn towards me. I almost smiled.
"Beautiful..." I forgot my desperation in that moment, almost being completely yanked out of the dream.
That would have been a tragedy as before me is the most beautiful woman I had ever seen.
'Now I understand why wars were fought over a woman' that thought lingered as I observed her curly golden hair hidden under the hood, with eyes that shone like beautiful emerald. Lush red lips, scarlet red like an apple and so seemingly soft.
And a perfect figure the saggy robe had difficulty masking.
Our eyes met and the world froze, no more pull, no more encroaching darkness. Just a radiant smile that made all this seem worth it. The feeling was akin to finally finding an oasis after wandering in the desert for weeks. Washing away all my sorrows and regrets.
And her beautiful voice flowed into my ears soothing my pain. "Hello, Art..."
She knew my name! For some reason that makes my heart flutter even though this is a dream.
Keeping eye contact, the smile never leaving her face she continues "it seems you've finally reached me" her smile just became twice as radiant.
'She is also happy to see me' I just knew it somehow.
"I've been waiting in this forest for a long time, waiting for you to find me" she gestured in a pulling motion towards me.
And I felt a pull stronger than what the dream-lake machine used against me. In moments I was standing before her. It was surprising. 'Why didn't I have this power if this was my dream?'
I don't dwell on the thought, the girl before me only arms reach away takes my focus. A slight blush covered her cheeks, not that I noticed, too caught up in my own shock.
*Cough* She brought my attention back to her, she was still smiling.
"Art, we don't have much time so pay more attention to me!" with a stern look, or what she at least thinks is one she said to me. But her face is just too cute with that look, the intimidation value - zero.
I play along anyways. 'Can't disappoint my cute friend.' I smile back at her. Though I don't think she liked my lack of seriousness, a frown creeping up her face
But it's just too "...cute" I blurted that out for real didn't I? I think she got mad as red tinged her whole cheeks and I could almost see steam rising.
"You... you..." She points at me and stomps her feet, probably from anger.
A moment later she lets out a deep breath she regains her calm. "Listen, Art, we don't have much time before you are pulled back."
I wonder how she knows about that, but I guess it makes sense since this is my dream.
"I know you may not take my words seriously but listen! I've been observing you for a long time." wow, my dream even has a stalker, though I can't complain since she's cute. And there she goes getting angry again.
"Grrrr, you stupid man, stop those weird thoughts and listen!" she reaches forward and shakes me with the brutality of a small kitten playing with yarn. 'How terrible, please continue!'
Whatever she was doing to read my thoughts she had clearly stopped, calming down a little.
"This is important! So stop and listen!"
Ok I should probably hear her out but I'm going to enjoy every minute of it.
"Art, next time you sleep you have to come here again!" an invitation?
"And then we can finally-" still holding onto me she says with a slight blush. But she never managed to finish.
*BEEEEP*
Everything went dark, not progressively like I was used to but instantly, like someone suddenly turned off the lights, and hit me in the head, damn, this migraine is intense.
[WARNING! Emergency extraction used, severe nausea and headaches may follow]
The sleep pod opens with a wheeze as if depressurizing. Over head the lamps irritating me more than usual. Just when it was getting good! I feel like hitting something!
"Good thing it's sparring day at the dojo! Hehe..." with a sinister chuckle Art got out of the pod after one final stretch.
***
"And then we can finally-" still holding onto Art with a grip as if he was her lifeline on a sinking ship she says, though he did not hear for he was gone like he was never there. She was left stunned gripping empty air.
But moments later that look transformed into boiling fury "How dare they take Art from me?! I've been waiting for this meeting for forever!" yelling and waving her delicate fist around, even scaring the birds nearby.
Storm clouds gather overhead as if the heavens themselves can't stomach the outrageous action. Lightning and thunder soon followed.
With a deep breath she calms her emotions, subsiding the raging mana in the surroundings and clearing the overcast sky.
"I need to calm down, stressing over this won't bring him back" massaging her brow to calm her nerves some semblance of calm returned to her, with a moment of pondering she realized " now that he has reached this far it means he has unlocked a bit of his mana" a smile creeping up on her face, as if the anger was never there. "He can reach me much easier next time he travels here, hehehe" giggling and smiling to herself she twirled around happily. The rage prior gone like a mirage.
With a light skip in her step she turned in the direction she came from. An almost indistinguishable path can be seen in the grass can be observed by those with a keen eye. And a high level of mana perception of course. The wards placed are not made by an amateur.
She skipped and giggled moving along the path "Hehe, I'm so happy!" For her the grass seemed greener and the sun brighter.
Not walking more than five minutes she made it to a clearing. Before her a river flowed, with water so crystal clear the bottom could be seen as if it was right next to the surface. But don't be fooled as that is just a trick of the predators that guard its depths.
"I can't wait till tomorrow, he'll probably be here again. Art always comes at the same time" She made her way to a specific spot, and crouched down.
She tapped the waters surface in some circular pattern, glided a line here and there, like an artist painting with the water as her canvas. Where her fingers passed the results of her motions remained, glowing a faint blue.
"Hmm... after I get home I should make him a gift. This is our first real meeting and it would only be polite, hehe" she suppressed the giggle with her delicate hand.
Soon a diagram took shape pulsing rhythmically as the surface transformed.
*Whoosh* the mana gathered, summoned by the array and transformed into a light film covering the waters surface to form a bridge from one side to the other. Wide enough for a five people to pass side by side.
"I know! I'll make him an artifact!" With an energetic motion she jumped back up to her feet and moved forward. Musing to herself on a difficult problem, "But what would Art like? Hmm..."
Moving across the bridge with a light frown on her face, deep in concentration she didn't notice that her aura was leaking a little. It startled the amphibious life. All of them too scared to even make a sound, they were not tired of living.
"A sword, no no, that's too basic, maybe a spear? Hmm" the pitter patter of her bare feet was the only sound as she made her way to the other side. "Why do I even have to choose? I'm the best Artificer in this side of the Forbidden Forest!" she decided, her frown completely gone and ignoring the fact, that she's the only Artificer on this side of the forest.
On the other side of the river where she now stood, was a tree slightly taller than the rest, but not too tall to look out of place. Built around it was a cozy looking house with a garden. The house itself looked in harmony with nature, made of only natural and superior materials. It did not look shabby one bit as even though it was made in tune with nature the craftsmanship was exquisite, as if right out of a fairytale.
The garden around it was no less impressive, plants organized in a symmetrical pattern, quite similar to the array she had drawn before, but different. Its purpose unknown. The plants themselves were quite unique, rarely seen if even seen in the forest, with many different colors of purple, red and blue being the most prevalent.
"I should also remember to add his mana signature to the array, don't want any accidents. Although seeing him ensnared by some vines would be funny, hehe" the almost cute or sinister thought crossed her mind, but she decided against it "Nah, first impressions are important, don't want to scare him away."
She made her way over to the gate of the small fence at the border of the garden. Sending a pulse of mana through it. Her gaze passing over the little sign on the side "I don't even know why I put that here. Not that I ever have deliveries, or guests for that matter." On it was displayed - Elara's domain, keep out!
Elara was her name and she was the owner of this wonderful slice of heaven.
The gate opened on it's own and she went ahead. "Alright! Let's get the this place ready for my dear Art to visit, hehe!" remembering Art, Elara entered her home full of positivity she hadn't felt in years. She was finally meeting art after stalk... observing him for so long.
"Oh, Art, you have no idea how happy I am to finally meet, tomorrow will be the amazing!!"