© Faris S. J. 2024. All rights reserved.

Chapter three : A World Apart

A distant voice echoed from a mysterious chasm,

'Wake up… Are you alright? … Can you hear me? … Try to wake up!'

My eyes fluttered open, and I found a young man with striking blue eyes leaning over me, shaking me to rouse me. Pain coursed through my body like an electric current, as though I had just emerged from a nightmare that had consumed my entire being. I mistook him for a paramedic coming to help me, but his outfit was unfamiliar to me.

The young man spoke in a concerned tone.

'Can you sit up?'

I nodded, and he extended a hand to help me. Once I was upright, he continued,

'What happened to you? Upon seeing you by the lake's edge, I feared you were dead.

I stared at him in bewilderment. I was somewhere unfamiliar, unsure of how I arrived. But what struck me most was his peculiar accent, which reminded me of rural dialects from certain parts of England. I gathered myself before asking,

'What about the taxi driver? What happened to him?'

He looked confused, then replied,

'I don’t know what you’re talking about. There was no one else—just you, lying by the lake. By the way, my name’s Luca… and you are?'

I hesitated for a moment before answering.

'Bradley.'

Luca offered to help me stand, but I refused, saying,

'No, no… just call the paramedics; they’re the ones trained for situations like this.'

Surprise painted his face. Then he hesitated before replying,

'Paramedics? … Alright, I’ll try.'

He walked towards the lake and began calling out,

'Paramedics! Your friend is here!'

But no one answered. He returned to me, looking puzzled, and said,

'Bradley… it seems your companions either drowned or left. But don’t worry, my village is nearby. You can spend the night at my house, and I’ll arrange a place for you to rest.'

I couldn’t contain my frustration and shouted at him,

'You idiot! Are you new to the job?

But he surprised me with a calm response:

'How did you know? I just returned from the Builder Leader, who gave me his advice and guidance. Because I departed early, I spent the night at the tavern.’

I was even more confused. Builders? This young man, not a paramedic, wore peculiar clothing. To steady myself, I repeated,

'Never mind, just call emergency services on 999, and they’ll handle the rest.'

He looked even more baffled and said,

‘I'm unsure about the service or numbers you're referring to. You seem affected by whatever you’ve been through. Don’t worry, I’ll help you stand, though you’re heavier than I expected!'

Anger flared within me, and I shouted,

'Idiot! Is that how you treat someone my age—with such disrespect? Is this the upbringing your parents and school gave you? You’re mocking me for being old, are you? If I had my cane, I wouldn’t need your help, you insolent brat!'

Luca approached me with a calm tone, saying,

'It seems you’re injured, which is why you’re speaking this way. It’s alright, I’ll support you until you regain your strength. I can’t just leave someone in need of help.'

I felt his arm slide under my right shoulder to help me stand. A strange and overwhelming sensation washed over me. I stood up without pain, my back straight, my head held high. I realised, to my astonishment, that I was taller than Luca, and the chronic pain in my back was gone. My hand reached for my face, feeling smooth skin free of wrinkles.

I asked, incredulous,

'Am I… dreaming? Or have I died?'

I pushed Luca aside and rushed towards the lake, ignoring his shouts of warning. There, I looked into the still water. The reflection staring back at me was my old face—my youthful face! It was the face I hadn’t seen in years, youthful and vibrant, with features untouched by age.

I turned to Luca, asking in disbelief,

'Where am I?'

He answered,

'You’re in the great kingdom of Desilta.'

Unfamiliar with the place, I inquired for more information.

'Does that mean I’m… in heaven? Or perhaps in hell? Or am I somewhere beyond life and death?'

Luca smiled and said,

'Follow me, and things will become clearer. We’ve wasted enough time here.'

I followed him, believing I was dead or in a deep coma from the accident, thinking this might be a nightmare unfolding before my life slipped away. I progressed, using rocks and trees for support, reminiscent of a toddler's first steps. Having relied on a cane for years, walking without it presented a new challenge. But as time passed, I regained confidence in my steps and kept pace with Luca.

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Inside me, a feeling I couldn’t describe grew—a mix of awe, excitement, and lingering confusion. I wondered about this strange place and how I had become young again. Questions swirled in my mind about the kingdom of Desilta.

How I missed feeling free from a cane or walker, standing tall without back pain, and moving without the aches that had restricted me. I had yearned for the freedom to move without the constant fear of tripping over my artificial hip that had troubled me for years. It felt unreal; a second chance.

As I walked behind Luca, my eyes roamed over the surrounding scenery, filled with wonder and amazement. The scenery was unprecedented. The trees appeared green and vibrant, surpassing any I had seen before, while the air was pure, making each breath feel like an unfamiliar experience.

I called out to Luca, panting, unaccustomed to this sudden physical activity,

'Lad, what are these marvellous trees? I’ve seen nothing like them before.'

Luca smiled, then said,

'These are the Trees of Life, Bradley. They only grow here, in Desilta. Their sap can heal any illness. Although we don’t need it, it’s one of our most valuable resources for trade with other kingdoms.'

Then, I saw a distant white city gleaming. The city's towering buildings featured such strange and beautiful architecture that they seemed plucked from a science fiction novel.

I pointed towards the shimmering city and asked Luca,

'What is that place?'

Luca replied with a tone of pride.

'That is the capital, the White City. The kingdom of Desilta considers the White City its heart and soul. But we won’t be heading there now; my village is in the opposite direction.'

As we continued walking through the forests and fields, I noticed something peculiar. Some people we passed wore glowing bracelets on their wrists, each one shining in a variety of colours: green, red, blue, yellow, and purple. The sight was strange, the bracelets glowing in the daylight. Some wearers carried shaped swords, as if I had stepped into one of those historical dramas about Vikings, The Lord of the Rings, or Game of Thrones.

I pointed to the glowing bracelets and asked Luca,

'What are those bracelets everyone’s wearing?'

Luca paused for a moment, hesitation flickering across his face before he replied,

'Those… are Life Path Bracelets. They represent each person’s role in our society from the age of twenty. Green is for Builders, red for Warriors, blue for Sages, yellow for Merchants, and purple for Servants.'

I noticed a faint sadness in his voice when he mentioned the Builders. My gaze drifted to his wrist, where a green bracelet glowed. I remembered his earlier mention of his path as a builder. I felt an urge to ask him more about this system, but I realised it might be a sensitive topic for him, so I remained silent.

We continued walking until we reached a small village. Stone and wood formed the houses, built in a traditional yet beautiful style—simple, yet with an air of craftsmanship that spoke of care and history. Each detail spoke volumes of the place's history. The villagers dressed like Luca and eyed me with a mix of curiosity and apprehension, treating me as if I came from a different realm.

Luca gestured towards a small house and spoke.

'This is my home.'

Something halted Luca before a wooden door that opened inward before he could reach it. A youthful woman, kind-faced and bright-eyed, smiled upon seeing him. She wore a blue bracelet that glowed more intensely than Luca’s green one.

She exclaimed with joy, her eyes sparkling.

'Luca! You’re back!'

The young woman turned her gaze to me, raising her eyebrows in curiosity, and asked,

'And who’s this with you, Luca?'

Luca responded,

'Mother, this is Bradley. I found him by the lake. It seems he… isn’t from around here.'

Mother? She called him her son, but she looked older than twenty-five! How could she have a son Luca’s age? Doubts crept into my mind. Was I still dreaming? Or was I embarking on some bizarre adventure in a mysterious world?

With a sharp gaze, she seemed to decipher my thoughts before smiling and speaking.

'Welcome, Bradley. I’m Elena, Luca’s mother and one of the village sages.'

There was something strange about her presence. Her simple words eased my confusion.

Elena gestured towards the interior of the house and said,

'Come inside. We have much to talk about. And there’s a small celebration for Luca’s return from…'

She halted mid-sentence as her eyes fell on Luca’s wrist. Her smile vanished, replaced by a look of concern. She seemed troubled; an untold story lingered.

I stepped into the house, feeling a strange mix of fear, curiosity, and anticipation. Questions swirled in my mind: Where am I? Is this a dream or reality?

I glanced at the basic furniture in the house, reminiscent of medieval times. There was no sign of modern technology—no television, no clocks, no familiar devices. It felt timeless.

Elena asked me to sit on a nearby wooden chair, then began preparing food and setting it on the table before us. Silence hung over the room, broken only by the soft clinking of dishes as Elena placed them down. A tension filled the air, and I felt a deep urge to understand what was happening around me.

In a few moments, we gathered around the table. Elena broke the silence with her warm voice, addressing me.

'Bradley, tonight you are our guest. Tell us, where are you from? I’ve never seen your face in Desilta before.'

A wave of tension swept through me. I wasn’t sure what to say. By deciding to tread, I replied.

'I’m… from Liverpool.'

Both Luca and Elena looked at me with puzzled expressions.

Luca asked, trying to make sense of it.

‘I've not heard of Liverpool. Is it outside the borders of Desilta?'

I nodded, trying to maintain my composure, and answered,

'Yes, it’s… a very faraway place.'

Elena’s curious eyes studied me as she asked,

'And how did you get here, Bradley?'

Panic crept into my chest. How could I explain something I didn’t understand myself? I kept my answer as vague as possible:

My memory is fuzzy. I remember being in a taxi, then waking up by the lake.

Elena didn’t seem convinced, but she didn’t press further. After a moment of silence, she said,

'Bradley… do you remember anything about your life? Or perhaps you’ve heard of Desilta and the surrounding kingdoms before?'

Answering,

'I remember my life well from my childhood in Yorkshire. I'm unfamiliar with Desilta or these kingdoms. Your way of life here, your clothing and customs, differs from anything I’ve ever known.'

Elena smiled and said,

'That’s alright, Bradley… It’s clear you’re a stranger to Desilta. I don’t care where you’ve come from, but I’m reassured that you’re not a spy from the Ravens Kingdom or any other realm.'

She continued with a confident tone,

‘Desilta is one of a kind. Our system assigns each person a lifelong role vital to the kingdom's success. ‘

Elena glanced at her son, Luca, before continuing,

'One of Desilta’s secrets is that we do not age, nor do we fall ill. Thanks to the Trees of Life and the knowledge of our Sages, we live long, healthy lives.'

I stopped eating, stunned by what I had just heard.

'That… that’s impossible! How can that be? Is it… magic?'

Elena laughed and said,

'It’s not magic, but advanced knowledge and a deep harmony with the forces of nature. We’ve learned how to harness the gifts of the earth and its plants to enhance our lives. Desilta's unique power explains its desirability. ‘

Luca added in a heavy tone, as though carrying the weight of disappointment on his shoulders.

'This is the life we know.'

Elena interrupted him, as if trying to ease her son’s burden,

'Luca has just completed the Ritual of Path Selection. It’s a pivotal moment in the life of every young person here in Desilta, determining their life’s path forever.'

Luca gazed at me before asking,

'And what about your country, Bradley? Do you have similar systems there?'

I felt a wave of tension creeping over me again. How could I describe my world to them? A world of cars, phones, and digital networks? Any attempt to explain it might only make things more confusing, so I chose my words.

I replied,

'In my country, things are different. We… well, we grow old, we get sick, and we have… other ways of working and living.'

Elena and Luca exchanged thoughtful glances. It was clear their curiosity had only grown, but I didn’t want to delve into details that might sound like pure fantasy to them. My arrival in this place remained a mystery to me, and part of me suspected I might remain trapped in an unfinished dream.

I added, trying to ease the atmosphere.

'It’s hard to explain all of it right now. Perhaps later, I’ll be able to tell you more.'

Elena nodded with understanding and said,

'Of course, you must be tired from your journey. Let’s finish our dinner, and you can get some rest. Tomorrow is a new day, and perhaps you’ll feel more like talking then.'

I felt a deep sense of relief that they didn’t press me for more answers. As we continued eating, I found myself lost in thought, wondering how I was here and whether I could ever return to my world. Perhaps: Was I dreaming, a dream soon ending?

My mind churned with questions while I strived to seem like a mere traveller in this unfamiliar world, a world I doubted I could escape.

© Faris S. J. 2024. All rights reserved.