Ashley guided me toward a small cobalt stone pathway at the edge of the grassland. As we walked, I couldn't help but take everything in—every color, every scent, every breath of this place.
It was breathtaking.
The air was crisp and pure, carrying a hint of something sweet, like blooming flowers after a fresh rain. The sky stretched endlessly, its soft golden hue shifting as if painted by unseen hands. Birds with shimmering feathers glided through the air, their calls unlike anything I had ever heard before.
This place… it was beyond words.
It reminded me of Switzerland, with its vast green landscapes and rolling hills, but there was something otherworldly about it. It was as if nature itself was alive, humming with energy I could sense but not explain.
Suddenly, a thought struck me.
I had read countless novels where the protagonist stumbled upon a magical space, a farming dimension, or some hidden sanctuary that granted them power. But this…
This wasn't a mere pocket dimension.
This felt like an entire world of its own.
A world untouched by time. A world brimming with mystery and magic—something I could feel in the very air around me.
And for the first time since stepping through that portal, I felt a shiver run down my spine.
What exactly is this place?
As we reached the end of the pathway, we stepped into a breathtaking garden, adorned with unknown flowers in shades I had never seen before. The air was filled with a soft, sweet fragrance, and a gentle breeze rustled through the leaves, carrying a sense of peace.
Suddenly, Ashley let go of my hand and shouted excitedly, "Mimi Nu!" before running ahead.
I watched her in surprise, my curiosity growing. Who—or what—was Mimi Nu?
And then, my eyes went wide in shock.
From behind the thick bushes, a majestic white deer stepped out. Its fur was pure as snow, almost glowing under the soft golden light of this world. But what truly stunned me were its antlers—they were a deep, blood-red hue, as if they had been dipped in liquid fire before settling on its regal head. The contrast between the crimson antlers and its pristine white coat was both mesmerizing and unsettling.
"Ashley!" I called out, instinctively reaching for her, afraid the creature might harm her.
But to my surprise, as soon as she reached it, the deer lowered its head, allowing her tiny hands to pat it gently.
Ashley giggled as it nuzzled against her tummy, making her squirm.
"Mimi, how are you?" she laughed, wrapping her little arms around its head.
The deer—Mimi Nu, apparently—let out a soft, melodic sound, something between a purr and a whispering wind, as if responding to her.
"Stop, it's tickling!" Ashley squealed, her laughter ringing through the air.
I stood there, frozen, my mind racing.
This wasn't just some ordinary deer. It have quite intense aura around it, making me fear.
Gathering some courage, I walked up to them. None of this made sense.
From a futuristic ring that adjusted itself to my finger to stepping into what seemed like an ancient, magical world, everything felt surreal. And on top of it all—the sudden arrival of Ashley in my life.
These past 24 hours had been nothing short of a whirlwind, something I knew I would remember for the rest of my life—as clearly as a heartbeat.
"Mama, don't be a scaredy cat! Pat Mimi!" Ashley's innocent words echoed through the garden.
But unlike her, I wasn't as brave to casually pat such a huge stag.
The creature turned toward me, its massive antlers adorning its head like a crown. Now that I was closer, I noticed something fascinating—tiny red flowers blooming all over its antlers, as if nature itself had decorated them.
It was majestic, both intimidating and beautiful in its own way.
Summoning all my courage, I gently placed my hand on its head.
The moment my fingers touched its soft fur, a strange red light engulfed me, its warmth spreading through my entire body. Instinctively, I shut my eyes against the overwhelming brightness.
When I opened them again, I was no longer in the garden.
Instead, I stood in the middle of a vast white space, glowing with an ethereal light. There was nothing—no sky, no ground, just an endless sea of shimmering whiteness.
Panic surged through me. "Ashley!" I called out, my voice echoing eerily in the emptiness.
But there was no response.
Frightened by the sudden change in my surroundings, I desperately searched for a way out.
"Evelyn?"
I froze.
A deep yet strangely familiar voice called my name, sending a shiver down my spine. Slowly, I turned around—and what I saw was beyond reality.
The stag I had just touched was no longer there. Instead, a breathtakingly beautiful man stood before me. His long, silver-white hair cascaded down his back, and his piercing crimson eyes held an ancient wisdom. But what caught my attention the most were his antlers—still resting on his head, but now shaped like an intricate, crown-like structure.
"Mimi?" I whispered in disbelief.
At my words, he chuckled—a rich, melodic sound that echoed through the glowing space. "Ashley truly has a talent for naming things," he mused.
His voice felt familiar in a way I couldn't explain.
Then, his next words made my breath hitch.
"I never thought that when we met again, you would forget my name."
"Met... again?" I latched onto the word, confusion twisting inside me. "I-I've met you before?"
"Yes," he said simply, watching me closely.
"No… that's not possible. I don't remember…" I shook my head, feeling an odd pressure inside my mind.
"You truly don't," he sighed, his gaze unreadable. "If you did, you would have called me by my real name."
He stepped forward, the glowing space shifting around him. "I am Uralic."
The name sent an unexpected jolt through me, like a distant memory buried too deep to grasp.
"Uralic," I murmured, my lips forming the name instinctively.