“Oy! Let’s go.”

A young boy similar to my age came to my grandpa’s house. In this rural village where everyone knows each other even though neighbors are a mountain apart, people often enter other people’s home without notice.

Why?

Because first, there is nothing of that much value inside a house that usually uses barter as a form of trading. Though there is some money inside, often it’s too little and is carried on one’s pocket. Second, because as I said, everyone knows each other.

So why did this tanned boy came in with a haughty attitude and spoke to someone he shouldn’t know?

“You grandpa Ernie grandkid? Look bored, let’s go!”

Without notice, he dragged me by my hand and brought me outside. I was hesitant to go outside because I don’t know the place. So maybe having this kid with me wouldn’t be so bad, I thought.

I know little about the village. He didn’t talk much because the dialect is far different from mine. We mostly communicated by pointing and broken words. But, we’ll get there, I think?

We crossed a small area in front of the house where dozens and hundreds of orange flowers bloomed.

“This flower, mosquitoes go away.”

So the mosquitoes don’t live here because of the flowers? He then dragged me deeper inside through a pathway of those flowers. At the end, we reached an old wooden house that looked like it was built on stilts.

“Grandpa Phil-- cool stuff!”

And with broken words, we went around the house and found a grandpa shaving off wood. It was an unfinished bed, coupled with woven rattan, all it needs is a soft fluffy cushion.

“Ohh! Ya’re Ernie’s grandkid, ye? Came ta look at my work didja?”

The old man spoke with an accent, never stopping his hands from working. We stayed for a while, played with the shaved wood, and watched the grandpa. After he finished the bed in no more than an hour, he made a couple of chairs, made from rattan and soften wood. Soon, before sunset, he made furniture for a whole house.

“This here is my gift ta yar uncle. Gettin’ married is a big deal, ya know?”

Satisfied, he smiled happily while he made us stay for dinner.

“Another dream?”

I found myself napping on my finished bed. It was very similar to my dream, but instead of rattan, I used vines that found near a river. I shaved off the bark for a smoother texture then dried and polished it well.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

“Bea, you shouldn’t sleep outside.”

Above me, was God's face with his dangling silver hair. We just finished our magic training yesterday and now, I wanted to make a proper house. I finished building the house with his help and I was doing the delicate work of creating the comfiest part of the house.

“Sorry, I was testing it. I didn’t think it would be so comfortable that I would fall asleep.”

I wiped the drool from my face and pat the wood shavings that were stuck to my blouse. I checked the plans I carved in a stone slate god made and checked the bed for a pass.

“The sun is setting soon. You need to finish up.”

I nodded in agreement. It was the start of my second week and we’ve finished building my house, though it’s still bare. I know it was ambitious but with God's help, I know I can finish tomorrow.

“Are you staying here tonight? I’ve finished my bed.”

Is it bad for me to invite a god to my home? Well, he’s the one who practically built most of it. I just ordered him around, so he has all the right to stay but...

“Really?! Then can I sleep on the bed too?!”

What?! On the same bed?! I can’t really say no since he’s a god and all. He also built my house, and I could sleep on the floor if he doesn’t want to sleep with me. So... it’s fine...?

“O-okay?”

With his help, we managed to get the bed on the second floor. My house was built the same way my late husband wanted it. It was his dream home, which became mine as well, so the bed was a king size bed with all the ornate sculpting I could make.

“This is a pretty bed. I never thought humans could make such intricate designs!”

Even without a cushion, the bed was comfortable. Using the vines, I made sure that the tension was enough for a tiny bounce, not making it too creaky at the same time, not too stiff.

“Really? Don’t humans in this world make any intricate designs?”

“They do, but not this detailed.”

With a gentle smile, he touched the carvings I painstakingly carved, shaved and polished. The concept was a hanging bed of flowers. I remembered my old cross-stitch of sleeping beauty, sleeping on a hammock of vines, flowers and leaves. So the four legs acting as the base pillars were carved into twisted vines while the headboard was a combination of small and big flowers and leaves.

“You’re really good.”

Being praised for a skill I learned when I was young made me awkwardly happy. Weirdly enough, compared to my success in closing negotiations and earning billions, this felt better.

“Thanks.”

I did my best to smile. This god, even though he was annoying at first, I’m starting to feel closer to him. A weird closeness that may be affected by his power or just plain compatibility.

“I know! You should sell these! Then take on apprentices and make this widespread!”

His eyes sparkled with anticipation. Why would I do something like that? Isn’t that a waste of time?

“Then the culture in this world will develop! Soon maybe geniuses will be born!”

Huh? So I’ll become a pioneer of a renaissance era? Well, I don’t have a job right now, I’m not pressured to be a mother too so, maybe? I’ll think about it once I’ve settled.

“Maybe. I’ll think about it after I visit a proper civilization.”

I was in the middle of a forest after all. What was it called? God’s Forest? Right, because he usually appears in a water shrine deep in the forest.

It’s actually a couple of kilometers away from my house. We’re practically neighbors!

“Right. I’ll teach you ways how typical humans earn money.”

He told me of ways on how to find work.

That night, I was made to sleep with him on the same bed. It’s annoyingly considerate of him.

Then we started exploring the villages near the forest. It was a farming and fishing village. Where plains extended far beyond the horizons with dozens of mountains in between. In the farthest reach of the dusty road, were more mountains and of course, the sea.