I'm Dead?

Seth Robin entered the cabin in the copse of trees atop a silver pond inside a vast world separated by two doors leading to a hospital with all the apprehension afforded to one who finds himself in such a predicament.

He steeled himself because of guilt, for the sake of taking responsibility, and...because the woman inside was very pretty.

Entering the cabin a spicy-sweet smell arose from the steaming pot atop the small wooden stove, and the mysterious woman busied herself around it, waving her hand as she stirred the pot a plate laden with biscuits and a cup landed on the table behind her.

Shooting a quick glance over her shoulder at him standing in the doorway.

"Sit, sit, already, did your mother not teach you how rude it is to stare? Sit." she repeated, pointing to the chair, and as if by its own volition, it moved.

He sat, and as he did so a honey brown liquid soared from the pot to his cup, and a spoon made of air stirred it gently before tapping against the edge 3 times and then disappearing with a 'poof'.

The lady soon joined him at the table holding her own cup, and after grabbing a biscuit for herself she asked: "Right then, so what brings you here?"

She nibbled at the biscuit fixing him with her gaze.

"W-Well, Y-Y-You see..."

Seth stuttered

sighing

"Breathe boy..." she said.

Seth took a deep breath.

"There was a girl in the Hospital, and I wanted to ask her a question, I must have startled her because she dropped something that seemed to be very important, I came to apologize on her behalf as it was my fault." he finished.

"Oh? What an interesting story, of course it has nothing to do with me so the question remains, what are you doing here?"

Seth was confused.

"W-Well, she ran out of here, and the doors leading to this place are the same ones she entered!"

The woman shook her head, gazing curiously at him over her steaming cup of tea.

"Boy, you are the first visitor this place has had in over a thousand years."

"A thousand years! That can't be right!"

"Sadly it's true..."

"I know what I saw!"

Seth was getting slightly upset, surely this woman was playing with him.

Sighing again she said:

"I can imagine what you must be thinking, but it's the truth, it is no simple feat entering this place, you said you came here from a hospital?"

Seth nodded his head vigorously.

"Then I'm afraid that the only reason you were able to enter here is because you currently walk the line between life and death, you crossed over through the thinnest of veils and entered this place by chance, and luckily enough for you, because had you not come here you would have died." she said resolutely.

"What? I'm dead? but i feel fine!"

"Naturally you would feel fine, dying isn't a very painful experience, however, Your body was ready to give up, but the mana here seems to have healed you, even strengthened you, why I imagine if you were to stay here another month you would see a qualitative improvement in your abilities." she said simply.

Seth was in awe. "Really? then, if that's true, can I stay here for a while?"

She nodded approvingly.

"Boy, your manners are quite good, at least you know to ask permission!" she said, beaming happily.

"Mmm, you can stay, but you must work, and earn your keep, the food you're able to eat here is quite limited after all, that is if you plan to leave."

"I understand."

"Good, finish your tea, I will prepare you a place to sleep and tomorrow, you will work."

She stood and vanished from the room, leaving behind a sweet aroma of flowers and nutmeg.