Deep in the Narhab Desert, I strayed from my group. Unfortunately, I ran out of water and decided to eat an odd, bulbous, blue cactus unlike any other I had seen before. It had a strong taste, like a fine Arcadian wine mixed with potatoes. But, I presume it was because my taste buds overloaded, colors breathed more life while the sun rained down ecstasy into the pores of my skin and saturated my pupils with joy. I could hear my hair grow, the wind’s whispers, and then the roar of a mouse.

It came from the spirit that presided over this wasteland. He had the horns of a bull, the tusks of a mammoth, the whiskers of a dragon, the tail of a monkey and body of a black rhino. Though, the most unique feature of all was his giant third eye that was in the visage of a tiger.

“I am Sindrar. Would you like to ride me?” the big black beast nudged me. I stroked my chin for a moment as I pondered whether it was a good idea to ride upon this stranger’s back. The thought of riding him like a sled had caused me to change my mind.

“Hold on tight and don’t worry.” Sindrar bellowed as he galloped towards a ravine.

“Sindrar, stop!” He ignored me and continued onto the sky.

“Sky’s the limit. Space is the place and infinity is our opportunity.”

“What are you talking about, Sindrar?!” I hollered.

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“Look!” the Beast ignored me.

The sight to behold was a marble palace at the center of a volcano spewing forth violet lava. Gray skinned people guided us to a young woman in a robe that glowed the colors of a rainbow. We landed down on the steps and followed the grey guards into the majestic residence. She punctured me with a knife, and I bled many creatures as I roared a sonnet. Beasts that I’d never seen, nor heard of, whom could speak in the tongues of animals or that of man, even something else entirely. Winged snakes arose from my tears and flew off to become greater dragons. I was drained of all energy and my head was shaking on its own.

“I am the ruler of this land beyond perception. All your imagination will be added to this world and you will become a husk of a servant,” She grinned.

My skin paled, colors lost vibrance and all I could taste was the leftover saliva in my mouth. Everything began to drift from my brain as she would take away everything from me. There was only one way out of this, I had to create myself.

Lo and behold, before the Lady stood my Copy. She tried to do the same to my doppelganger but the cycle continued a thousand times over. After a thousand times, we continued down the cycle for what felt like an eternity. Finally, the last Replicant looked on to see that the Lady had repainted the entire world with my psyche as the land, my dreams the new ocean of golden lava, and my will became the violet sky The new world turned against her and all the creatures that came from me attacked Sindrar and the Lady. After we imprisoned the Lady and Sindrar, the Replicant and all the creatures that came from me seeped into every pore and opening of my body. It was sensory overload, all my senses had returned and new senses unknown became known. I freed the people and stayed within this beautiful portrait that became and is, the mind.