“Mia, now listen to ne very carefully. As it seems we are in the Dream Dimension of Floating Thoughts. And those who have encountered near death episodes can only come over. I think that the fact we are being able to have this conversation is that your life was already jeopardized. ” The lady said.
” Jeopardised as in, am I dead? ” She was as confused as before.
” No, like I said. It was a close encounter with death, but you are still breathing. But we need to leave this space soon, or else our souls will be trapped here forever” Her eyes we’re full of fear as she stroked Mia’s hair. ” I understand your pain and trouble child, so you need to hear to what I am saying. Whatever seems surprising or strange, just figure it out later. Let me tell you what I want to without interruption. Alright? ” She asked Mia’s permission and she nodded.
“I have not introduced myself to you yet, I am Nanako. ” Mia’s eyes gave away her shock but she still held on to her silence, allowing Nana to continue. ” I also happen to be your Lin’s great grand aunt” She paused as Mia’s eyes became even bigger. “I don’t want history to repeat itself and you to bear the consequences of my fault” Her eyes were tearing up, which made Mia emotional too. She held onto Nana’s hands as she continued. “This curse that you suffer is due to the punishment my father bestowed on me and Jin for our wrong doings. It’s been hundreds of years, but he still suffers somewhere where I cannot reach. My baby. ” She could no longer continue.
Mia looked around at herself at that moment. Her body was slowly disappearing. She panicked immediately “what’s happening, what’s happening” She was shrieking at full pitch.
“Mia our times almost up here, if we forcefully linger any longer we might get trapped. Before we part, you must find me in the real world. You need to know how it all began. Don’t forget Mia. Find me. ” Nana yelled as they both evaporated from their surrounding.
Back in this world, Mia opened her eyes and breathed with a heavy, loud sigh.
The liquid she was engulfed in had subsided till her waist. She took a few heavy gulps of breath and then looked around. The images from her past still played in random accord. But Nanako’s instruction was still clearly ringing in her ears. She had to focus on getting out of there instead of getting sucked inside her past. She needed to let go of the temptation of taking a quick glance. She needed to figure a way out. It seemed the place she was in responded to her mental state. The more restless she got, the tighter the grip was of the liquid over her. The moment she breathed heavily and cleared her mind, it subsided further down. Mia took her time to concentrate to get herself out of there. After what seemed like a few hours of struggle she did manage to break free. Once on her way out she took a quick look at the walls, which were now melting as if they were made of wax. Even the entrance started to cave in, but she managed to slide out.
“That was close” She thought to herself “are you alright sweetheart ” She asked her baby bump , dusted herself and started walking. ” I am sure it has been hours since we last ate anything, didn’t we? Uuhhh, why don’t I feel hungry? Ohhh! That fruit we ate in the dream world, that must have been really real. Good, good. We don’t need to bother about looking for food anymore now. Let concentrate on finding your father and then lady Nanako” She started looking for her direction right away. But she had no idea where Lin bad gone. Her only chance was trying to find a way to meet lady Nanako but that too was nearly impossible given the current situation. Also she didn’t know how or when the curse might end up following her again. Being able to avoid it was only possible due to the barrier and the escape to the dream realm. She kept walking while racking her brain, when she saw that strange person she had saved pass a few yards ahead.
“Hey. Hey you there. Wait. Wait for me a second” She ran after him. Je completely ignored her and kept walking fast with his tall feets. It was difficult for Mia to keep up. She went after him at full speed anyway and after a few minutes chase, she finally caught up.
“Hey you mister. Why don’t you respond? Didn’t I save you last time? You even went away without saying good bye. You are such a strange person” Mia uttered, as she still breathed heavily trying to catch up her breath.
“Who are you miss? How can you even see me? ” The man finally spoke facing Mia in a strange way.
“What do you mean by ‘see you’? Do I look blind? You are standing right in front of me, why won’t I be able to see you? ” Mia questioned back.
The man looked as puzzled as Mia “I don’t know Miss, but no one sees me. I have been like this forever. No human, animal or immortal has ever looked at me. They all saw right through me. Nobody has touched or talked to me either. How can you see me, talk to me, touch me? ” He asked.
“I, umm, I don’t know. I did dress you wounds the other day, didn’t I? ” Mia asked.
He nodded in agreement “yes you did. And it scared me a lot. I never had anybody around. It was scary and embarrassing when you treated me. So I ran away. ” He said.
“What embarrassing. Why scary. I just helped you. ” Mia felt a bit shy herself. “Ummm, I think from what you say, you might be a special kind of spirit or creature. Don’t you remember anything? Like where did you come from? Ummm, did you have a family? ” Mia was trying to help the lost being. She felt real sympathy and sorry for him.
“Family? What is that? I come from here. I have always been here. ” He said.
“Never mind. Had we met under another condition, I would have come along with you to find your answers, but I have my own problems to solve. ” Mia murmured.
“What problem missy has? ” He asked like a innocent child.
“Umm, quite a lot but as of now I need to find my husband and then meet his great grand aunt. ” Mia told him as simply as she could.
“Your husband? What is that? ” He asked.
Mia laughed and said ” That is a fox, who mostly looks like a human but is an immortal. Has changing eye colours and rosy lips and cheeks. ” Her heart thumping at his mere description.
“Oh I see. I saw that one leave you the other day ” He said. Mia thought he must have been around when Lin had left her inside the barrier. She just smiled at his gesture.
” I see that go to the forbidden forest another day soon. He had a bird along. ” He said.
“What? ” Mia’s eyes lit up as she turned towards him in disbelief ” Are you sure it was the same person? I mean you have only seen him once? ” Mia asked unable to believe in her sheer luck.
” Me never make mistake. Same person missy. ” He reassured.
“Thanks heavens. Do you know which direction that is? Will you be able to take me? ” Mia asked.
“Uhhh, I will try. Me never been there before. ” He said humbly.
” That’s fine. We can work it out” Mia said and pulled him along. He too silently followed her lead. After a few miles, Mia looked back and said ” Are we heading towards the right direction? ”
He nodded his head in the negative.
“What? Why don’t you stop me? Gosh! I feel so tired. Which way is it then? You are sure you know the way? ” She looked up at him suspiciously this time.
He nodded again. This time in the affirmative. Then he pulled Mia in his lap and started flying towards their destination.
“Oh my goodness. You can fly. And really fast and high. Why didn’t you tell me so in the first place. Could have saved me so much walking. I have lived like a human all my life. Even though I am an immortal, I am a useless one. No cultivation equals to no skills whatsoever. ” She was busy complaining to herself as the strange person, zip zapped her towards the forbidden woods and Lin.