The Lost One: The Novella

Aaahh!" I scream as I land on the ground; I hold my head as a ringing sound blares in my ears; caused by a paralysing headache. I feel like a tonne of bricks just fell on my head and the entire world is spinning around me. I lose my balance and fall to my knees, and I stay down for a few moments, collecting myself, once everything slows down and I do not feel like everything is so awful. I go into survival mode, and I slowly look up to see where I am, and I am immediately shocked by what I see, the most breathtaking scenery I have ever seen in my life. I am instantly entranced; my mouth is slightly parted as I stand up to get a better view.

I feel goosebumps forming. I am impressed by the scenery before me. As soon as I processed what I was seeing, I suddenly feel all the pain and discomfort, dissipate, everything looks and feels surreal.

My eyes land on the magnetic, beautiful electric blue water below me; it feels so alive and energetic it is drawing me in like a magnet. I am on a cliff staring down at everything, and I hear water rushing so to see where it is coming from, I look to my right, and I see a waterfall going into the large body of water below me.

I look behind me and there is a forest with the tallest of trees and the trees are so lush and green all the different hues of green in one beautiful place. The trees and bushes near the forest have all kinds of flowers and fruits on them and the grass is everywhere, there is no untouched spot. It looks like I could sleep in it. It looks so beautiful and green. The butterflies and birds decorate the sky with their bright colours and the sky with a blue and orange colour seem like it is its own light source.

I was transported to a house where three women live as I was told at the check-in centre. It has been like 2 days since I got here, or it could be 2 weeks or maybe even two years, and. I have learned that there is no concept of time here, so I guess 'what is the time?' is not a common question here. And where exactly is 'here' huh, well get this, 'here' is a magical world' called 'Atheria' translated to the land of healing in Lithia (the language here). I have spent this whole time staring at the people in front of me like they have grown a second head.

"Welcome to Atheria, Aria. I am Skaii of Marin. This is Gaia of Galeru and Anika of Ebonfort”

"Nice to meet you," I say awkwardly, and they give me broad grins.

"Let us show you to your room," says Gaia.

.

The room is mostly neutral-coloured. Grey and beige are the mode colours. The bedroom layout is quite simple; there's a bed against the wall right ahead and on the side, there's a window, and on the wall near the door, there's a vanity table and mirror.

"It will take a while till you get used to all this and I hope we can make this easier for you," Gaia says lightly squeezing my arm.

I nod hoping they will now leave me to myself, but we all stand in silence.

"Dinner is ready so we will answer all your questions there, you can come when you are ready," Gaia says, breaking the silence then they head out of the room.

I felt relieved when they left. I can have time to process everything.

The area I was in when I got here is vastly different from the one, I am in now. The cliff I was at was surrounded by lots of flora and fauna; every spot was a very lush green; it looked alive and energetic. Every single spot had some kind of plant on it, and where I am is a very city-like place. But it is a mix of a modern futuristic city and a European village-like, the house we live in now outside it looks like a cottage, but on the inside it is modern. The area around the house is very dark and forest.

The outside of the house is a cottage made of stone with a red door that stands out, and the inside is a modern styled house with white big, tiled floors, a glass dining table with white chairs is the first thing you see when you go into the house and then there is a wall going halfway the house and behind that wall is a living room, modern neutral-coloured furniture with a gas fireplace, but very cosy.

The grumbles from my stomach prevented me from locking myself in the room and never coming out. I go to the dining room where they are waiting and having a seemingly enjoyable conversation.

"So just to be clear this is not an alien planet and you guys are not aliens," I ask them for the hundredth time.

"No" Skai answers

"Okay, just checking that I'm not the first human astronaut from earth to make alien contact".

They give me an annoyed face and I know to stop; I want to avoid angering the weird people who outnumber me by a lot in their 'magic' world.

"Wait! One more question" they all let out an exasperated sigh and give me a 'what' look

"I'm not dead, am I?" I ask with a hopeful look

"Nooooo!"

"I should start with the dinner," Gaia says and goes to the kitchen.

“So, Aria how are you liking Atheria so far? I am very excited to live with you.” Anika says

“It is alright I have no complaints other than the fact that I don’t know why I am here.”

“You’ll understand everything when the time is right,” Anika says, and I mumble a sure.

“Why are you guys called Skaii of Marin, Gaia of Galeru and Anika of Ebonfort isn’t this place called Atheria”

“Here is dinner!” Gaia announces and I feel my stomach grumbling.

I dig into the food and start eating like a wild animal, but Skaii definitely beat me. “Careful dear we used to Skaii doing it, but we wouldn’t want you to choke and to answer your question Atheria consists of four regions: The Asgard region, the Kievland region,” Gaia says giving a nervous chuckle.

As I am finishing my dinner I am blinded by a bright green light, and I hear the sharpest ringing noise…