Chapter 1 -
Can I blame my mother for this?
or How not to impress [redacted]
or why temper tantrums are bad for you
Quietly laying in silence is the best way to contemplate life and fate. Nothing big like the meanings of the universe or why Gods are different across the globe or even needed at all in the grand scheme of things. What makes humans human. Do ghosts exist? Do Aliens?
No. Just something matter-of-fact.
Could Tala blame her mother for her current predicament if clumsiness was genetic?
It had been an ordinary day, routine as it had been for years. The only significant upheavals would be if her water bill was higher that month. Perhaps a rare phone call from her sister. Maybe a doctor's appointment. All of that seems trifling in comparison.
She had been on lunch break, later than usual, after helping her co-worker. She worked at a museum, a small town one, while she studied for her anthropology degree. Simple job. Guide people, give out facts about whatever they passed, and encourage gift shop purchases. Simple.
Her co-worker's kid had an issue at school, perhaps sick or injured. So Tala gladly helped her, taking over the last half of the tour. After getting that done and over with, she quickly made her way to her locker for a simple lunch she had made at home. Swedish Meatballs and buttered herb asparagus.
As she walked to the breakroom, it happened.
She had been clumsy all her life; there was no helping it. Walking down a flat hallway could easily lead to tripping over nothing, falling into the wall, or hitting doors as one tries to go through it. As Tala was prone to all of this, there was no surprise as she stumbled around a corner into the room. Frustration, maybe, but not surprised.
What was surprising was that when she looked back up from glaring at her traitorous feet, it wasn't the breakroom that greeted her.
Stunned, Tala slowly panned around her.
Emptiness.
Blankness.
Nothingness.
It seemed as if there was no visual light around her, but that would be impossible as she could clearly see herself. Her hands were still thrown out to regain balance from her fall. Even the nails, painted professional red-brown, could be seen in full color, nicely contrasted with her pale, thin fingers. Tala's slightly unkempt, auburn eyebrows furrowed in confusion as she slowly stood.
As she was shifting her weight, it was then she realized there was a sense of weightlessness. She lost control of her movement, ending with her feet raising upward and her head falling downward.
Which was where Tala was now, just floating in nothingness, cursing life. Refusing to think of what could come next. Seeing as she had no clue what was happening now, she feared to think of what her brain could come up with on what follows.
Tala knew herself.
As a proper pessimist, when left to her own mind, the worst of the worst possibilities would be at the forefront of her imagination. She should keep it in check and go by instinct until she has more information. That was usually the safest choice for her.
'Glad I've been keeping my hair braided recently.' Tala found herself thinking as her mind wandered. Despite how off-track it seemed, it was true. If her long, deep red hair had been kept unwoven, it would have floated about her head. Most likely sticking onto her face, mouth, and nose. So, yes, braided hair was a good thing.
As her thoughts drifted more and more, Tala slowly lost her sense of time.
When thoughts of insanity had drifted about, Tala blinked in sudden realization. There was a change in the environment. Not visually, but the essence in the air.
It just felt different.
Odd.
Unknown, but not dangerous.
Yet.
Glancing around, she shifted her body as if it was in zero gravity to be in a more upright posture, having practiced a bit on moving at some point in her drifting. Getting into a fight or flight stance, she prepared for whatever.
As her anxiety was building, she noticed it.
Just off to the left of where she was, a light slowly emanated from something. As it grew, a speck could be seen inside the glowing area. As that brightness became brighter, she could start making out a rainbow of colors between layers of pure whiteness swirling with glittering gold. Confused, she could only watch as this phenomenon headed right for her.
'Kinda reminds me of legends of the Bifrost of Norse Mythology. But that's only between realms like Midgard and Asgard, not the middle of a void. No way that could…well, after this weird darkness…I suppose…' Tala contemplated to herself.
Soon, what could only be called a shockwave, not so much in the forces involved, but due to the suddenness of what had been and what was now? Light, color, and sound replaced the once inky, soul-sucking blank void.
The scene before her was a breathtaking display of brilliant splendor. In mere moments, she found herself surrounded by a wondrous sight. As she took her first step onto the platform walkways, she was immediately struck by their magnificence. The scene before her was a breathtaking display of brilliant splendor. In mere moments, she found herself surrounded by a wondrous sight. Long, majestic platform walkways stretched out in all four cardinal directions, what she assumed would be the equivalent, leading off to infinity. They almost seemed to beckon her to explore further from where she appeared.
Towering above her were majestic white marble pillars adorned with intricate swirls and designs that spiraled around the cylinders, creating a complex pattern that was both mesmerizing and hypnotic. These designs gradually led up to the shell-like shape at the top, filled with crystal-clear water that shimmered in the sunlight. The water spilled over into cascading waterfalls, creating a soothing trickling sound reminiscent of bubbling springs. The waterfalls formed a natural line for the eye to follow, leading towards a vast body of water beneath the walkways. The water was too expansive in size to be a mere pond and looked like either a massive ocean or a lake, stretching out as far as the eye could see. The sound of the water lapping against the supports of the walkway was soothing, and the vast expanse of water was breathtaking.
The whole scene was enhanced by the play of light and shadow as the sun's rays danced on the waterfalls and the marble pillars. The intricate designs on the pillars and the shells at the top were enhanced by the light, creating a sense of magic and wonder. In addition, what was beneath the walkways added to the surreal and dreamlike quality of the scene.
Tala approached the railing on the side of the walkway, which was as decorative as the pillars, with caution, inching closer until she was peering over the side. Her eyes widened in amazement as she took in the breathtaking sight below her. The water was a mesmerizing blend of mirror and clear glass, crystal transparent and shimmering in the sunlight that peeked through the silver, smoky clouds drifting above. She noticed colorful lily pads floating on top, some normal-sized, while others were larger than a human, adding a touch of whimsy to the already enchanting scene. The sweet scent of wildflowers and nature intermingled with the fresh air, making it impossible for Tala not to take a deep breath and savor the moment.
Her gaze fell upon her reflection in the water, revealing a look of complete astonishment etched upon her face. Her gold-topaz eyes were wide and searching as she beheld the stunning sight below her. She shifted her focus from her image and peered beneath the water's surface, revealing a new world hidden from her view until now.
What she saw was beyond her wildest dreams - a breathtaking landscape under the water that seemed almost too beautiful to be real, too abstract to the reality she was used to. She could see towering forests, winding rivers, and majestic mountains, all visible to her through the crystal-clear waters.
As she continued to observe, she noticed the subtle details that brought this world to life. She saw a distant wisp of smoke rising from a campfire, adding to the natural beauty of the scene. She could even make out the sound of birds chirping and fluttering about the sky and even the sight of rabbits frolicking amidst the lush foliage if she squinted.
But it was the aquatic life that genuinely captivated her. As she watched, she saw schools of brightly colored fish swimming gracefully through the water, their scales flashing in the sunlight. Some of the larger fish would tower over her as giants, and smaller ones even swam up to the lily pads floating on the surface, playfully nibbling on them as they passed. Totalt was oblivious to the world they seemed to be swimming over.
Backing up, Tala gulped. This was becoming too much, way too quickly. She just wanted her lunch break. Sure, she had been contemplating a vacation, but this was simply too much!
"Was my Asgard guess actually…" She began muttering.
"Well, that is just insulting."