Elizabeth woke to sunlight filtering across her face, warming her skin. She stirred slowly, feeling stiff and sore all over her body. Her memory of the day before was nearly a blur and she kept her eyes closed for a long time, content in the warmth of daylight. Eventually, the memories returned to her and she bolted upright in bed, frantically looking around her unfamiliar surroundings.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQaRizmude
She lay in a large, perfectly round, plush bed covered in an array of fluffy pillows and soft blankets in which she had been carefully tucked in in soft cream colors. The room itself was spacious and perfectly round with a sloped dome ceiling reaching over ten feet above her. The bed was located in the exact center of the room, with no headboard. Streaming down from the ceiling was sheer curtains surrounding the bed itself and she pushed them aside to better examine the room. Windows lined half the rounded walls, curved with the shape of the room, and a stark white door was located on the opposite side of the room.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8sCY49Eh0b
As she slipped out of the slippery sheets and landed on her feet, she realized just how sore her muscles were. They ached as though she had been hit into or landed on a hard surface such as concrete. The door opened in that moment, swinging inward. Elizabeth looked up to see Leon and an elderly man enter the room together. The elderly man was hunched over and leaned heavily on a walking stick. He was wizened, with a long, white beard with multiple braids tied into it. He was mostly bald but his icy blue eyes betrayed a youthful sparkle within them.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5jdImbWHex
“Good morning,” Leon said with a chipper tone as he flashed her a charismatic smile. Elizabeth looked him over, realizing he now wore strange vestments. He wore perfectly fitted brown riding pants and boots, and a lightly tanned loose-fitting tunic.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡje6zQpQ92p
“Did anyone get the number of that truck?” Elizabeth joked with a sour look. Leon chuckled.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Ow2bjhBkf
“I realize the portal jump can be tricky on first-timers. Feels like you took on a fight against a concrete wall, does it not?” he joked in return.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxFbgZoM1Bv
“Pretty much exactly what I was thinking,” Elizabeth replied, but her eyes the entire time had been examining the unfamiliar old man. Leon noticed her staring and cleared his throat.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw4zJqeS7Yq
“My apologies, how rude of me. Elizabeth, may I introduce you to The Dreamer,” he said and indicated to his companion. The man in question nodded his head.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZl4vfLY4U
“I have waited a very long time to meet you, dear lady.” He bowed low and Elizabeth, thrown off, awkwardly matched his bow. The Dreamer chuckled at her attempt.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2qM1TLqpxu
“I will have none of that. You are an honored guest here,” he said.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Mwe2DZFnx
“What do you mean?” Elizabeth asked.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ58fEIPx8rw
“She doesn’t remember?” The Dreamer asked Leon in surprise. This had not been the response he was expecting.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtmX74TZCMo
“She has dreams, the memories, but she has been resistant to believing me so far,” Leon explained, giving Elizabeth a wry smile.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpX6EsXfpRx
“Where am I?” Elizabeth asked suddenly, remembering the strange surroundings and oddly shaped room.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM77BRHMALY
“My dear, you are in my house,” The Dreamer replied.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpiDurgo3JA
“Which is… where?”763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqgcXnjBAEF
“The Other Realm.” Elizabeth nodded slowly, trying to take in that information.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiNa88sdeWM
“Either you’re both totally nuts, or I’ve gone off the deep end,” Elizabeth exclaimed, exasperated. “Would you give up this whole charade already, Leon?” She glowered at him and looked around. “Where are my clothes?” she asked after a moment’s pause.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqwiv9aTeUJ
“Ah, I see what you mean now,” The Dreamer murmured to Leon.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRmsSR3b4hO
“She is just as stubborn as before,” Leon remarked.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8kQd9b2Otr
“Seriously. Where are my clothes?” Elizabeth echoed louder. “And who changed me?” she asked, aghast.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjH3zboMkhP
“One of the maids here,” The Dreamer replied in a calming tone. Elizabeth seemed to respond well to that, losing some of the tenseness in her shoulders.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡynhme53LcH
“I will have her bring your clothing to you; they have been washed and dried for you,” Leon assured her as he left the room quickly. He had already seen her have a freak out once before, and wasn’t looking forward to having to handle another one so soon again. Elizabeth and the man identified as The Dreamer waited in awkward silence, looking one another over as though trying to analyze each other. Leon returned a couple minutes later, carrying Elizabeth’s freshly pressed clothing. He strode over confidently and handed the garments to her.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJmXZS0WIa
“Thank you,” Elizabeth mumbled, hugging the clothing to her chest and giving them both a tense expression. She pursed her lips. “Excuse me? I would like to change,” she practically demanded.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjKuRoyROhi
“Oh. Of course, dear lady,” The Dreamer replied. “Come along, Leon. We have further things to discuss,” he beckoned. Leon bowed low to Elizabeth before turning to follow his companion from the room. Just before closing the door, The Dreamer called out to her: “Feel free to wander the grounds, should you please, but don’t wander away too far; it can be dangerous beyond the property line. We will be located in my study should you have more questions — I imagine you do. My maid can show you the way should you get lost,” he explained before shutting the bedroom door behind him.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRjYXgpgd3q
Elizabeth was alone again, in the sparsely furnished room. The windows let in a lot of natural lighting, and Elizabeth was thankful for the bushes that had overgrown in front of them — she wasn’t big on changing in front of open windows, and these had no curtains to speak of. She changed slowly, feeling the burn in all of her muscles every time she moved — but she knew the only way to work through the stiff kinks was to keep moving. So, once she had changed back into her jeans and tank top, she decided to do just as The Dreamer had suggested and explore the property. She had no idea how big his house might just be.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgz4hJGl4Sx
The hallways and ceilings were designed much in the same way as her bedroom: with high arching ceilings and walls curving and winding, painted all in creamy, off-white colors. She followed the curve of the hallway to the next room, peering in to see a nearly identical bedroom to her own. This one, however, was furnished with dressers, shelves and a desk and chair. They were made of polished wood with a translucent white finish, matching the bed in the center of the room. Books and parchments were piled high in the shelves and scattered haphazardly across the desk. The bed was unmade and in disarray. She imagined at this point that this room was likely Leon’s, judging by the torn jeans discarded nearby on the floor. She recognized them as the ones he had been wearing the night up on Mt.Logan. Elizabeth closed the door quietly and carried on down the hall.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtGqtGnfTUA
The next room she came across was, for all intents and purposes, a bath house. A large, steaming pool encompassed the majority of the rounded room, and towels ladened the racks near the door. There was an empty shelf, which she assumed was a good place to leave one’s clothing. She then realized that there was no distinction as to whether this was the men’s or women’s bath, and could have easily walked in on someone. Someone should label this door, she thought to herself as she closed it again. Finding no second bath, though, Elizabeth wondered if it was indeed unisex, like some of the ones in Japan.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHld3lb44x9
The next room on her exploration was an enormous library. As Elizabeth opened the door, she was greeted with immense, three-story high book shelves lining every wall and reaching up towards the vast, vaulted ceiling. She noticed a stairwell leading to a landing at each story level. Tall, rolling ladders were located in front of multiple shelves on every floor, able to roll around the room and stable enough to climb in order to reach the upper shelves. She strained her neck looking straight up, marveling at the vast chamber. The ceiling itself was painted like stained glass, depicting what appeared to be a great beast standing guard over a beautiful woman. Elizabeth imagined perhaps she was a sorceress and the beast her guardian — the notion felt appealing, though it was nothing more than an art piece. Eventually, reluctantly, Elizabeth left the room — though she promised herself that, had she the chance, she would return and examine all the books available to her here. The prospect excited her; who knows what different type of books The Other Realm had to offer — if that were truly where she was now located.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwPYIDxgHFE
The next doors she found were glass double doors in, what appeared to be, the main lobby. She swung opened the doors with exuberance and squinted in the bright sunlight that struck her face. As her pupils adjusted to the light, she gasped as her eyes fell on the sight before her. Expansive gardens sprawled across a perfectly manicured and lush green lawn. Blossoming short trees lined the property, and a large pond took up a large section of the side yard. She walked the edge of the building slowly, both taking in the size of the home and the immense beauty of the property itself. Flower gardens were in full bloom, perfectly cared for and beckoning her to touch and smell everything. She couldn’t resist dashing around the yard, finding new plants she had never seen before. She had lost consciousness in the middle of winter, and woken up apparently in the middle of summer. Elizabeth had no idea how this was at all possible, but didn’t argue with it internally — she adored the summer much more than the harsh winters she had grown accustomed to.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ2cDnaEsF4
After a long time sitting amongst the flowers in the shade of a blossoming tree, Elizabeth decided to resume her interior explorations. She rose to her feet, brushed any dirt off her jeans, and bounded back into the brightly lit home.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPZWKduV8VD
“Study, study…” Elizabeth murmured to herself as she checked doorways. She found a kitchen with an old fashioned wood stove and no modern appliances, followed by a vast and expensive looking dining room, complete with expansive and gaudy chandelier directly above a shiny, glass top table. She noticed the general layout of the house run in a circle, and began to wonder what was located at its center. Eventually, she found the door leading inward, cracking it slowly and peeking through. Inside, she believed she had finally found the study, as walls were lined with more book shelves and a desk rested at the center of the room. At a far table, under a skylight, Leon and The Dreamer were leaning over a text, deep in conversation and thought. Elizabeth didn’t want to disturb their concentration, so she entered the room meekly and quietly closed the door behind her. The two men didn’t seem to notice her presence at first, and she silently watched them, curiosity brimming in her. 763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzVKZPH3dFd
She eavesdropped on their conversation.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxElpWkCg23
“…but she does not remember her life from before,” Leon was complaining. About Elizabeth perhaps?763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFyNxKnQluG
“That may be true, but that does not change who she is,” The Dreamer countered. Noticed Leon’s expression, he added: “but that also does not mean she is the same person. She is not Eloise.” Leon’s expression darkened.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRqDEZr2qnx
“I know that,” he replied, his tone betraying the hurt in him.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEVCt3tpbGh
“Nothing you can do will bring her back to you, nor can you change the girl back into the woman she once was,” The Dreamer added again.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUC6qKBdWxS
“I know,” Leon replied, getting agitated. “So, how is this girl supposed to help us if she can not even remember her past, nor does she want to believe in it when she does remember bits of pieces of it?” Leon asked, trying to surpress his agitated tone. It seemed as though he held respect and reverence for The Dreamer, despite his aggravation.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhmLdOm3aTM
“She still has time to remember,” The Dreamer replied.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoqSa6YDGvN
“That does not mean she will in time,” Leon countered, but The Dreamer was unphased.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXUjxyoIQm6
“She will, we must believe in that.”763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡalHbrJZkDQ
“In time for what?” Elizabeth finally interrupted as she realized they were talking about her. “What will I remember in time?” she asked again as she stepped towards them. Both men startled and looked up at her, feeling sheepish.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNjkSst5p3D
“My dear, did you find the grounds to you liking? My home is always open to you,” The Dreamer said as he stepped towards her with a curt bow. Again, Elizabeth tried to mimic his movement, the stiffness finally releasing from her joints after her jaunt around the oddly shaped home.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgUTsIeppty
“I especially love your gardens,” Elizabeth exclaimed, momentarily distracted. “But please, answer my question,” she requested politely. Leon stepped around the table towards her, standing by The Dreamer and leaving a few feet of respected space between them.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpgFq9SPHqs
“Where to begin?” The Dreamer mused more to himself than anyone else. “This world is called The Other Realm, which you already know,” he began to explain. “It is parallel to your own, but hidden from all — except those who already know where to find it.”763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUwD5wBp3wY
“Like Leon?” Elizabeth asked.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZyoIu0R2rj
“Indeed. Like Leon. Though Leon originates from this realm. But I digress, that is a story for another time.” Elizabeth nodded and allowed him to continue, listening to rapt attention. “As Leon introduced me, I am known only as The Dreamer — I have had no other name for a long time, I hardly remember being called anything else. My life force maintains this world and all the creatures within it,” he explained and Elizabeth’s eyes widened at this revelation. “However, my time is growing short,” he added, “and soon I will no longer be able to maintain this world. It will fade away and, with it, every person and beast who resides here will cease to be.”763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡey6fnShaGV
“Wait, everything will die?” Elizabeth asked, shocked. The Dreamer and Leon both nodded and Elizabeth felt her heart go out to all those who may reside in this world, however big or small it may be. She was beginning to believe in everything she was being told.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡijazDUYKR1
“Including yourself,” The Dreamer revealed.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKpd57GSk84
“Wait, why me?” Elizabeth exclaimed.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7GFgkcJ5sw
“Unfortunately, I used the last of my power to open the portal for you and Leon. I have not the strength to send you back now,” The Dreamer explained, and Elizabeth’s jaw dropped in disbelief.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVHwawVedmb
“Why would you bring me here to die?” Elizabeth accused Leon.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzaawvYwgcR
“Do not blame Leon, he was only acting under my orders,” The Dreamer explained again. “We need your help in order to save this world.”763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqpp6fzsmWW
“Why me? What can I do? I just dreamed of this world, that doesn’t mean I can somehow save it,” she argued.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfdthzgAZ3j
“You are originally from this world,” Leon added quietly.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Q71iL3sYG
“I am?” Elizabeth asked.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQIkiaiV0lv
“Yes, you are reincarnated from an enchantress known as Eloise,” Leon said as he took over explaining for The Dreamer. “She was… very powerful. And very important to this world,” he revealed. “She was The Dreamer’s… eldest daughter.” Elizabeth looked to see the pained expression on The Dreamer’s face.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSnhiKKlGPH
“What happened to her… or me?” Elizabeth asked him bluntly.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlWpLQJyjUW
“She was killed a long time ago,” The Dreamer replied with a catch in his voice.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTcpGDeaH9H
“I’m so sorry,” Elizabeth replied.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqXZ9jvTMWg
“Do not be. You may not be her, but you have her soul and spirit within you,” The Dreamer said.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe5zsNr7YOM
“What does that mean?” Elizabeth asked.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlxGIRYzSop
“It means, hopefully, in theory, you should be able to access her powers as you regain your memories of your past life.”763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa3p5iKhiQc
“Powers?” Elizabeth echoed.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzvSv11c5dJ
“Indeed. Eloise was a powerful enchantress who had reign over ice and winter magics.”763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFO2IsRQPZs
“Wait,” Elizabeth cut him off, “is that the woman in the paintings and portraits all over the house?”763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCbWLpoChh9
“Indeed, that was my Eloise,” The Dreamer replied with a heavy heart.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡivwCi3jsa1
“She was beautiful!” Elizabeth marveled.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaIBXV6dCpo
“She really was,” Leon replied in a low tone.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTj4K7je3wb
“You knew her?” Elizabeth asked, then realized her mistake. She had dreamed of him many times. If what they had told her was true, then Eloise and Leon had been very close for a long time, and she was remembering their lives together. “…You were in love with her, weren’t you?” Elizabeth asked without needing a response; the pain in Leon’s eyes was enough of a confirmation.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt8KerfwiMg
“She was my entire world,” he managed to choke out.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6vP9zyYUEH
“I’m really sorry I asked, I’m so stupid,” Elizabeth chided herself. “This must be incredibly painful! I’m supposed to be reincarnated from someone you both loved, but I’m not her — I’m like…” Elizabeth trailed off as she mused.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLUJl4FjTFN
“You’re merely a shadow of who she was,” Leon finished for her, a bitter note in his voice.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpw1oTyZ8Tv
“Leon!” The Dreamer scolded but Leon didn’t apologize. Instead, he crossed his arms and looked away stubbornly. “Still a child,” The Dreamer admonished and shook his head. Elizabeth considered the trouble that was brewing before her, and wanted to disperse the tension in the air. She considered only for a short moment what her next course of action needed to be. If she ever wanted to return home, she had to find a way to save this world first — before it faded from existence, and her with it.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF8nmnfDAYt
“So, how can I help?” Elizabeth asked eagerly. Leon and The Dreamer both looked at her, seemingly surprised.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyBEo2ZFCL1
“You can barely remember this world, but you want to save it?” Leon asked.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDBLkN6dhye
“Well, I’ll die if I don’t, right? It’s not exactly a winning situation if I sit around a do nothing,” he replied matter-of-factly. Leon sneered for a moment, as though having proven a point.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡATOhpjFMHJ
“She is nothing like Eloise,” he scoffed and pushed past her to leave the room. “We leave tomorrow at dawn,” he ordered before slamming the door behind him. Elizabeth winced.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq5lf34vc4f
“What’s his problem?!” she fumed.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ531XIQF7PE
“Please, do not be too hard on him; you must understand this is a very delicate and difficult situation for him,” The Dreamer pleaded.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGDsZBHmq03
“Right… I’m reincarnated from his lover. Which means…” she trailed off, unsure what it meant. Had he only been kind to her before in order to trick her into coming here? Did he really not care at all about her, only his former lover? Elizabeth couldn’t yet wrap her mind around these complex concepts.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrWyBuapCLE
“He will warm up to you in time, I’m certain,” The Dreamer replied.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPdKwyOh8Zy
“So, what do you need me to do?” Elizabeth asked, back on track.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡROGAJpjwaT
“You must find my youngest daughter, Freya,” The Dreamer explained. “She is intended to take over my position as Dreamer upon my passing, but she refuses.”763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFTVIxk7uTB
“Why would she refuse? Won’t she die, too, if the world ends?” Elizabeth asked, confused. The Dreamer sighed heavily.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjjcxcGTFPw
“She is convinced that she can find another way to save this world, while joining it under one banner: hers.”763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRRHlAyruzu
“So… she’s a bit power hungry?”763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs3eLECScRU
“You could say that.”763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCdMXEoznPP
“How do I find her? And how am I supposed to convince her?” Elizabeth asked.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvCDqqszo2y
“Leon already has a map marked with her palace’s location,” The Dreamer replied. 763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjuwDMwWLNn
“If you like, there is another copy of the map on my desk.” He pointed to the heavy wooden desk in the center of the room and Elizabeth walked over to peer at the document. She didn’t recognize a single land mass or landmark, much less whatever language was scrawled across it.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ588UWGDDGB
“Yeah… I’ll leave that to Leon, I guess,” Elizabeth said.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSwObkOycJK
“I am hoping that, given your previous lifetime, you will be able to connect with Freya on some level — more so than I can,” The Dreamer explained.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2oP32a1RtY
“I guess that makes sense,” Elizabeth replied. It didn’t really make sense to her, but she wasn’t about to argue with an aging man who had lost one daughter and was estranged from the other. He was dying, completely alone, with only his almost-son-in-law for company. Elizabeth realized just how sad that must be.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvexwZ9MdwT
“Please, enjoy yourself for today, for you will begin a long journey tomorrow morning,” The Dreamer offered and Elizabeth nodded.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpSLLB2eXDo
Elizabeth made the most of the rest of the day exploring the library. Though she couldn’t read the majority of the texts, she was able to begin finding patterns in the language and marveled over the amazingly detailed pictures in many of the books. Fantastical beasts, far off places, and all right at her fingertips. Books were amazing like that. They brought the fantasy to life. But now, in Elizabeth’s life, the fantasy was very real. And potentially deadly.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTZPYGIPnyC
