After enjoying their breakfast and washing the dishes, Elder Merakia and Elysha went back upstairs to change into their outdoor clothes for their visit to the garden.

  The little girl touched the white spring dress on the bed her guardian had provided. Standing behind her, Elder Merakia yawned and said, “My hobby as a fashion designer has always been of great and practical use to me in these times of need. Elysha, are you sure you can take care of yourself without me?”

  Elysha turned her head and nodded, and the elder mage continued, “That’s good to hear. Now, if you need my help with anything, come to my room and knock on my door. And when you are done getting dressed, come and meet me at the back door, near the table where we ate earlier, okay?”

  She nodded her head again. Once she was gone and the door was closed, Elysha turned her attention back to her outdoor clothes and began to change.

  Her outfit was more than practical—not only did she put on her spring dress, which she had grown to like in a matter of seconds, but her dress was complemented by a dark blue cardigan with comfortable sleeves, which she left unbuttoned so that her necklace was visible in the middle.

  Then Elysha caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror, and as she stood in front of it, she couldn't help but look at her dress reflected in different poses.

  She thought to herself, ‘I look.... very cute.’

  The child stood staring at her own reflection. She could see the outline of her silver hair cascading down her shoulders, and her gray-gold eyes looking back at her. Her fingers traced the contours of her cheeks, touching her soft skin.

  Then she clutched her own dress, twirling playfully and giggling as if experimenting with her own voice and appearance, filling the room with the simple pleasure of her own presence in a spring dress.

  Her guardian’s words suddenly echoed in her mind.

  ‘When you are done getting dressed, come and meet me at the back door, near the table where we ate earlier, okay?’

  The memory of Elder Merakia’s instructions brought her back to focus. She paused, remembering their conversation minutes earlier.

  “Yes, madam,” she replied with a nod.

  She reached up to touch the stone attached to her necklace, and with a final glance in the mirror, she gathered her socks and slipped them on before turning to the door, ready to leave.

  As Elysha entered the hallway, the impatience inside her grew. She could feel her heart beating faster with each passing moment. When she arrived in the living room, she met Elder Merakia, who was wearing a navy blue coat with a blazer underneath and a long yellow skirt. She had her chestnut hair pulled back into a low bun, decorated with rose-colored flowers and leaves. She held a walking stick in her gloved right hand.

  “Oh, you came back just in time,” said Elder Merakia, who was looking out a window. “I was just about to see if you were ready or not.”

  Then she took a hat from a table and walked over to place it on the child’s head.

  Surprised, Elysha clutched the straws of a spring hat given to her by her guardian, who then commented, “How lovely, the colors and flowers go very well together.”

  As they stood outside the front door, there was an air of anticipation. Elysha’s eyes lit up as her small hands tugged at the sturdy moss-brown rain boots that slipped over her feet. Elder Merakia looked down at her and asked, “Are you ready, dear child?”

  Elysha nodded, her hand clutching the silver necklace that hung from her neck. “Yes, Elder Mera. I am ready to see the garden.”

  With a smile, Elder Merakia extended her hand and opened the door. The path opened to an unknown area waiting to be explored.

  Hand in hand, they walked out the back door of the cottage. As they stepped outside, a cool breeze greeted them, bringing with it the whispering scent of nature. They walked down the path, Elysha’s mouth held closed as they made their way to the entrance of the garden.

  The moment they arrived together, her eyes widened—the view before her stretched endlessly across the courtyard. Vivid colors and objects greeted her as she gazed upon the sight of the garden: Tall trees and lush bushes graced the scenery, their branches adorned with blossoming flowers and the rustling of leaves.

  *chirp*

  The child’s ears pricked up as she turned to look for the sound.

  “Do you hear that noise?” asked Elder Merakia, noticing her sudden turn.

  She looked back at her guardian and nodded her head. Then the elder mage pointed her finger where Elysha’s eyes turned to see colorful winged creatures perched on the branches of trees in the distance.

  “They are birds, creatures of life that exist in our world as we do,” she said.

  Elysha continued to listen to the birdsong as they moved along. The ground beneath her feet was covered with soft moss and stepping stones, a path leading to various places with flower beds along the sides. Her eyes followed the flying insects as they hovered and fluttered above the colorful petals. Her irises caught various sights until they landed on the fountain. The sound of water in motion splashed against the body of the structure.

  “This is my garden,” Elder Merakia said, unloading a parasol. “What do you think of it?”

  The elder mage turned to the child who was staring at the sight. She watched as the little girl walked to the fountain, raised her arm, and dipped her fingertips into the sprinkling water, watching the way the water moved.

  “You seem to like the fountain,” the elder mage said, unfolding her parasol and resting it on her shoulder.

  Elysha turned to her, her gray-gold eyes reflecting her image. “It’s so pretty, Elder Mera. The water feels like... like the sky touching the ground.”

  “That’s a poetic thought, my dear,” Elder Merakia chuckled warmly. “Hm, you may have a poet’s soul hidden within you.”

  “Poet…?”

  Leaning on her walking stick, the elder mage explained, “A poet sees the world in colors and emotions, and weaves them into words that touch the hearts of others. Perhaps your eyes have already begun to see the beauty in small things, Elysha.”

  The little girl blinked and turned back to the fountain, watching the way the water dance. After a moment, something else caught her eye—attracted by the patches of colorful flowers from a distance. Her gaze lingered, and she approached them with slow steps, stooping to her knees and plucking a few petals, holding them gently in her hand.

  The petals felt warm and soft against her skin, but also a little ticklish at the touch of her finger. She was leaning closer when suddenly a breeze swept through the garden, playfully lifting the petals from her hand and carrying them away through the air in a fleeting dance—and so did with her spring hat.

  “Oh—”

  She turned to run after it when the hat suddenly flew back past her.

  Her eyes turned to Elder Merakia, who smiled back, placed the hat on her head, and said, “Be careful there, and try not to let the wind catch your hat next time, will you?”

  The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  Elysha nodded and looked back to see the petals still carried by the wind. She moved forward, following them, each step accompanied by a guiding breeze of nature.

  Elder Merakia watched as her subtle, playful footsteps led her spirit to the unexplored wonders that lay ahead. She watched as the child’s eyes flickered from one sight to the next, as if the sight of her garden filled the child with new joy and enthusiasm, erasing any lingering worries from her breakfast experience.

  Then she adjusted her parasol and said to her, “You can explore as much as you want, sweetie. This garden is a world of its own, waiting to be discovered.”

  “Okay!” Elysha replied with an excited nod, barely registering her words.

  The little girl’s senses were filled with the impressions of nature, and her heartbeat echoed in her ears. As she walked further into the garden, her steps slowed as she took in the scenery that surrounded her.

  And she kept walking further and further…

  Without realizing it, Elysha had involuntarily wandered on, moving away and losing sight of her guardian’s presence amidst the wonders of the garden.

  Indeed, Elder Merakia’s words are true—the garden feels like a world unto itself: Stone walls with gates divide the space into sections that invite exploration. The original paving stones diverge into dirt paths that wind through the garden, leading to hidden nooks and crannies yet to be explored.

  Every nook and cranny was adorned with shrubs and flowers, and Elysha paused at a tree that provided a swaying shade in the light.

  *buzz*

  Her ears listened to the buzzing of insects, and her eyes watched as the butterflies and bees fluttered about. She put her hand to her chest, for there was a strange sensation inside. Perhaps it was the sights around her that appealed to her sensibilities, and now, standing in the midst of her outward sensations, she felt as if she herself had entered a garden of—

  “Ah-choo!”

  Elysha sneezed.

  She blinked a few times, adjusted her vision, sniffed, and then wiped her nose with her sleeve. She looked down and saw a large snot on her precious blue cardigan.

  “Eww…” she cringed and wiped it off on her white spring dress. Then she fell back into her trance-like state and walked on.

  While the little girl wandered through the labyrinthine paths of the garden, time seemed to slip away. Her footsteps lifted off the dirt paths as she moved, bringing her closer to the next thing that awaited her. Her eyes searched around every corner, her ears listened to the sounds of nature, and her nose smelled the scents of the garden that belonged to her guardian.

  As Elysha continued along the path, a faint childish laughter reached her ears, teasing her curiosity.

  “... Hehe.”

  She stopped and turned in a certain direction.

  “What was that?” Elysha murmured in a low, soft voice. Intrigued, she followed the sound, her senses attuned to the silence of the garden. As she passed through a vine-draped archway, an unnatural glow of light caught her attention and sent a wave of nervous anticipation through her heart.

  “...”

  Driven by her still unfathomable curiosity, she followed the strange light, letting herself be guided by the swaying of the surrounding flowers. The path led her to a fountain where the sunlight danced on the shimmering water.

  “...!”

  There, at the edge of the fountain, Elysha saw a sight—a figure appearing as if materialized from the essence of the garden.

  A spirit in the form of a child stood before her, delicately picking flowers and placing them in a modest straw basket. As Elysha drew closer, the spirit’s face remained indistinct, a blur that bore an uncanny resemblance to her own features.

  Caught between wonder and fear, Elysha held her breath. She felt a strange familiarity with the spirit, though she couldn’t quite grasp the reason for it. Still mesmerized by her surroundings, she found herself speaking:

  "Who are you?"

  Elysha's words drifted into the air, lingering in the garden's enchantment.

  “...”

  The false child did not respond. It’s ethereal-like form turned away playfully and continued their walk through the labyrinthine maze of the garden. Laughter, pure and joyous, danced on the wind, leaving Elysha searching for answers, however unattainable.

  Drawn to follow, Elysha took a step forward, her interests urging her on, but in the midst of it all, a sudden realization pierced her reverie and sent a shiver down her spine.

  “Ah!” she blurted out loud and looked around. The distance that had grown between her and Elder Merakia became apparent, a rift of distance she hadn't noticed until now.

  Panic welled up inside her, knotting her stomach as she grappled with the gravity of her situation.

  “A-Ah, how could I have gotten so far away from Elder Mera?” she stammered, holding her hands together in a grip.

  With urgency, Elysha turned quickly, her eyes searching the green surroundings for someone familiar. Her eyes also searched for the strange spirit—however, the false child was nowhere to be found.

  She continued to search for her guardian, and just as worry threatened to overwhelm her, a voice broke through.

  “... Elysha!”

  Startled, Elysha spun around, pulling back from the edge of uncertainty and running until her eyes met with Elder Merakia’s.

  “Elysha!” she called out, her voice both concerned and relieved. “Please never stray too far from where I can see you again!”

  Her guardian’s parasol was folded and a gloved hand was placed on her chest to ease her breathing. “You made me nervous, disappearing from my sight like that!”

  Relief and anxiety washed over her.

  ‘I did…?’

  Despite her confusion, Elysha mustered an answer, her voice trembling with both apology and modesty.

  “I-I’m sorry, Elder Mera. I won’t do it again!”

  ~ ??? ~

  Together with Elder Merakia, they made their way through the garden, hands in hand. The touch of her keyhole-shaped necklace gave Elysha a sense of comfort as she continued to absorb the sights and sounds of nature around her.

  Suddenly, Elder Merakia stopped, and Elysha watched as her guardian’s gaze fell on a pile of objects on the floor. The little girl couldn’t make out what it was, but it seemed to have something to do with some kind of play.

  “Tsk,”

  She saw Elder Merakia make an annoyed face, then turned to her and said, “Oh, what you see there are some past activity your neighbors left behind.”

  “Neighbors?”

  “Yes,” she nodded, and then frowned deeply. “Those lazy fools who don’t clean up their messes in my sanctuary... Ah, when I see them again, it will be unpleasant for them to hear that they will lose their privilege of my delicious cooking. I will have to make sure they discipline themselves and not leave such a mess again, oh fuhuhuhu-huhuhu—”

  A great, ominous energy emanated from her guardian’s presence, and Elysha involuntarily held her breath, frozen in place as she watched her smile eerily, as if imagining a scenario the child herself did not want to see.

  Instead of waiting any longer, Elysha asked another question, “U-Um, where are they now?"

  Elder Merakia snapped out of her thoughts, looked back at her and replied, “Oh, them? They are out in the woods somewhere, for today is a very quiet day in the Forest of Ir?stos. Nevertheless, all will be back to normal soon enough, and you will be able to meet them yourself the next time they visit.”

  After that, Elder Merakia walked on, turned around and said, “Come with me, let’s continue together to complete the full circle of this garden.”

  Together, Elysha and Elder Merakia continued to walk through the area further onwards, holding hands and taking in the impressions of the garden. As they walked on, a pavilion came into view, its structure beckoning to them.

  Elysha’s gaze lingered on the pavilion, captured by its allure. Sensing her interest, Elder Merakia said in a quiet but interested voice, “Dear child, why don’t you come with me to the gazebo?”

  The little girl nodded, and together they made their way to the gazebo.

  As they approached, Elysha could see the sunlight filtering through the lattice walls, leaving a pattern on the floor. Some of the light touched a plain book on a round table, and the little girl’s gaze fell upon it.

  Her small hand reached out, picked up the book, and looked at the title. "Het Dysut nda Otebanrivos of Montehu Neyegr Evslle ni eht Ssemirelcio Acerohpgila" was written on the cover, strange and enigmatic characters.

  Although the title had no meaning to her, Elysha’s curiosity urged her to open the book and explore its pages, which she did.

  “eito—atgsalmnenryfoyehdioearthrromfnaroniti

  tghmtaaithre?reaewiniys

  eetisryeinalh—wrtmligea,

  ghvdanisirttyl.theeeia”

  As she flipped through the pages, a frown creased her brow. The contents were full of complicated letters and confusing diagrams that made it difficult for her mind to comprehend.

  Caught up in her thoughts, a voice broke through her concentration, “Are you reading the SOTELSA, child?”

  Elysha looked up from the pages and met her guardian’s eyes, which showed amusement and interest.

  “Yes... but I can’t understand it, Elder Mera. How can you understand it?”

  “The book you are holding is known as ‘The Study and Observation of Theonum Energy Levels in the Soliremisce Archipelago’ or in its abbreviated form, the SOTELSA.”

  Elder Merakia then took the book from Elysha’s hands and put it back on the table, continuing, “It is not something that is easy for young people to understand, especially children. But don’t worry, I have something else to tell you, something that can be conveyed in a simpler way.”