Left Behind

I couldn't help but cry at the thought of being left behind. I shouldn't have trusted that boy; I barely knew him, yet I came along naively.

How could I be so foolish?

I felt cold because I'd been wet with mud; it was uncomfortable.

I listened to the faint sound of a sheep. I could hear it bleating along with a soft ringing of a bell, "Baa."

I followed the sounds. I walked barefoot on the dry grass in search of the sources of the sounds.

As I was walking, I couldn't help but notice the overwhelming beauty of this meadow.

The emerald carpet of grass is adorned with a myriad of colorful wildflowers, creating a lively and picturesque landscape

The sun, hanging in a clear blue sky, bathes the scene in warm, golden hues, casting a soft glow over the entire expanse.

As the sounds got closer, I could see a sheep in the distance. It was eating the grass while bleating once in a while. The sheep had a bell as a necklace that rang every time it made a move.

I ran closer to the sheep.

I caressed the sheepskin, admiring how clean and soft it was. The sheep didn't mind it.

"Hey, I'm a bit lost here. Do you know where to find a magical wooden door?" I asked the sheep.

I thought, who knows? Maybe this sheep can answer my question. I mean, I've managed to get here by a magical door; perhaps this sheep would also be exceptional.

But the sheep didn't even look at me. It continued eating the grass. I felt stupid for expecting a coherent answer from a mere sheep.

I sighed, "I should've known."

I sat myself on the ground, spectating the sheep's every move. Then, I saw a shadow reflected on the ground. It was a shadow of a person.

"Hey, there you are. What a naughty boy!" The shadow talked to the sheep.

I looked behind to see who was talking. It was a boy who wore a red shirt and jeans overall.

"Oh, hi! You're not supposed to be here. You're an outsider, I can tell,"

He said while combing his brown hair with his fingers.

"Have you seen a green wooden door around here?" I asked him.

He raised an eyebrow at my question, "You came here through that door? How is that possible?"

Realizing that my advent here puzzled him, I started to panic again. I viewed the clear and foreign sky while bottling my emotions.

The clouds were moving in motion with the wind, and I felt a sense of betrayal swallowing me. Where did Kiel go?

"Please, do you have any idea of its whereabouts?" I pleaded.

His green eyes shone beautifully as his lips curled into a thin smile. "You might have to ask the lord to obtain that sort of information,"

He answered politely while his hand was caressing the sheep.

Feeling helpless, I asked him again, "Can you take me to the lord?"

"I'll try to help you. But, you see... the lord is someone who wanders around frequently. It may not be the easiest thing to catch up with him."

I started sweating when I heard his reply.

"Is there any other way? It sounds a little bit hopeless to me."

I chickened out at the thought of searching for someone in this foreign land.

I knew nothing about the door; therefore, I wondered if I'd crossed worlds or simply stumbled into a hidden corner of our own.

"Any other way rather than asking the lord? Let me see... We do have another method of finding the door without asking the lord for its whereabouts. But, that just means you'll have to search for the door everywhere. I wouldn't recommend this method."

Hearing his answer, I winced in anxiety. "Oh no... I just want to go home."

"Hey, I'll help you out, okay?" he reassured me.

"Then, how do we catch up with the lord?"

His smile bloomed again, "We'll figure it out. Even if the lord travels frequently, he always stops by this land and sees how the people are doing."

I inquired, "Can I be relieved?"

He nodded confidently, "Of course! It'll take some time, but I assure you that's all it costs."

"How long would it take until the lord's next visit to this land?" I asked the boy.

"Hm, I'm not the lord, so I can't say for sure." Was his only reply.

I froze at his statement; my heartbeat started to pace rapidly. I couldn't think straight, and it was showing.

I thought to myself, What should I do? What if it will take days, weeks, or even months for the lord to visit this land? And, did Kiel intentionally leave me behind, or was he dragged away by an unknown force? I'm pretty sure the latter isn't the case but who knows?

I could feel a tear fall, streaming down my cheek. Oh no, I'm getting too emotional in front of this stranger.

"Um, I'm pretty sure everything will be okay. You know, things might look scary because of the uncertainty that haunts you now. But, at least someone is willing to help you. So, you won't have to face everything on your own. I promise that I will try my best to help you,"

He patted my shoulder, "Besides, this land has a lot to offer. It would be such a waste to miss the opportunity to enjoy your stay here!" His expression turned jolly.

"Hold on, my stay here?"

He replied without hesitation, "Yeah! Do you believe the lord will unexpectedly appear today? I'd consider it overly optimistic."

As the boy talked about the lord showing up, the meadow suddenly changed. The sky got dark, and the ground started glowing strangely.

I felt a mix of excitement and nervousness, wondering if this moment would solve my problems or make things more confusing.

The air was filled with a mysterious vibe, leaving me unsure about what would happen next.