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"Where questions echo and answers remain hidden, a journey begins from there…"
Giah's eyes slowly fluttered open. The chirping of birds and the gentle warmth of sunlight touched her eyelids. Her mind felt foggy. She sat up gradually, looking around, trying to make sense of where she was.
All around her, lush green meadows stretched out, bathed in golden light. The sky was a clear blue, with birds soaring above—filling the air with their musical calls. The scent of wildflowers, mixed with the freshness of earth and grass, turned the land into something magical.
She looked at her hands. Something felt off. They looked small—soft, like a child's. She touched her face; the skin was smooth, free from the lines of time.
Startled, she began searching around for water—anything that could show her reflection. But there was no lake, no pond nearby. Her mind buzzed with questions.
"What...? How did I get here? I remember going to bed…"
"Am I dreaming?" she whispered, pinching her hand.
"Ouch! That hurt." She winced. A crease formed on her forehead. Her thoughts rushed back to her room—where piles of books lay, and pictures hung on the walls. This world was nothing like that place.
"Did I end up in another world while sleeping?" she mumbled, scratching her head.
"Another world? Seriously? What is going on?" she said with a mix of confusion and sarcasm, glancing at the sky and then around her. "Yeah, okay then."
She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. The beauty of the meadow grounded her. Flowers bloomed in a riot of color, and the sunlight looked like a dream. Bees hummed nearby, and the rustling of leaves carried a whisper of mystery.
"Alright," she said, stretching her arms, "let's see what this is all about." And she stood up.
In front of her, valleys and hills looked almost painted, vivid like scenes from a dream.
Golden morning light spread over the valley, casting shadows on a winding stone path. Wildflowers grew along the edges, trembling with the breeze. In the distance, snow-capped mountains touched the sky—like ancient sentinels watching the world in silence.
The sky brushed the hills, and dreams floated in the air. She stood alone—but there was no fear.
The wind flowed around her. Her long golden hair swayed like silk threads caught in the breeze. She wore a deep blue jacket—like the color of dusk—that shielded her from the wind and reflected confidence and purpose. Her trousers were snug—made for travel—ready for running or climbing. Her old, worn leather boots had stories of their own. A thin belt hugged her waist, with a small pouch hanging from it—like it carried a secret tale. Her clothes bore no decoration, yet she looked like a heroine on a quest.
Her eyes followed the path that climbed toward the distant hills. A tall peak stood in the distance—like a monument sculpted by time.
She stepped forward. Her heart beat—not with fear, but purpose. Beyond that peak lay something… some answers.
And then she smiled and whispered, "Beautiful."
She was ready now—to unravel this mystery.
"Am I on a mountain? Mount Everest?" she murmured. The air was thin and cold. She looked down, and the valley below was laid out like a painting.
With resolve, she began her descent.
Every step made her feel alive—the grass brushed her feet, the warmth of the sun kissed her back, and the coolness of the earth embraced her. The leaves whispered—like lullabies for wanderers.
She moved through a world of colors—flowers, trees, and dancing butterflies. Then, a sound—a soft, fleeting laugh.
Giah turned and saw something small and bright—like a fairy—vanish behind a tree. Her heart raced.
The birdsong grew more magical, pulling her forward. Still, no people. No voices. No footsteps. The valley was enchanted—but silent.
"Whom do I ask for help? There's no one here." Her thoughts trembled.
Just then, she noticed movement.
A small shepherd boy stood in the distance with his flock. Hope stirred in Giah's heart.
"Yeshua Messiah, thank You," she whispered.
The boy looked around eight years old, filled with innocence and peace. His large brown eyes held curiosity and a hint of mischief. There was a strange depth to his face. His curly hair danced in the wind, kissed by the sun. His smile was gentle—as if he knew everything, yet said nothing. He wore a loose, earth-colored robe, and a long wooden staff rested in his hand—like it was part of him.
"Hey! Can you tell me where we are?" Giah called out.
The boy smiled and nodded—but said nothing. He stood silently, his eyes calm, his smile mysterious.
"Does he not understand my language? Am I on another planet?" Giah wondered.
She tried again, "Can you show me the way to the mainland?"
The boy simply pointed forward, without saying a word.
Giah looked in the direction of his finger, then back at him. "Oh! Thank you, little friend."
The boy smiled once more.
Giah nodded and followed the path he'd pointed to. With each step, her curiosity grew.
The valley stretched ahead—sunlight danced on the trail, birdsong echoed, and the scent of flowers filled the air. Yet the boy's silence echoed louder in her mind.
"He showed the way. Am I lost? Did he mislead me?" she asked herself. "No... maybe I misunderstood. Kids can be playful. Still… it's my fault for doubting him."
After walking a while, something appeared ahead. Her breath caught.
"Finally. Thank God," she exhaled with relief.
In the distance was a long line of people—moving toward a vast, ancient gate. The line stretched far—to the horizon.
She peeked from behind a tree, narrowing her eyes.
But wait… peering again from behind the tree—there, in the middle of a desert, was a colossal fortress-like wall with a gate—like a witness to ancient tales. Slicing through the sands of time, it stood firm—guarding a forgotten mystery.
"What?" she whispered, confused.
"This was a green valley… wasn't it?" she asked herself.
Just moments ago, everything had been lush and green. But now, in front of her, only desert.
She looked down—green grass still beneath her feet. She turned around—the meadow was still there. She looked right—greenery. Left—greenery. But ahead—only sand.
She blinked. Was she dreaming?
The wind whispered something—some secret in her ear. Her heart pounded—not from fear or excitement, but from a deep calling.
"How can there be an oasis in the middle of the valley?" she said softly, eyes full of questions. "Oasis have water, don't they?"
Her eyes fixed on the structure—an ancient fortress carved into the desert.
"Is this… Saudi Arabia?" she murmured, filled with awe and confusion.
"Saudi Arabia inside an oasis?" she asked herself, frowning. "But Saudi is in the Middle East… in a desert. Then who brought it here?"
She looked up—imagining a vast cosmic hand moving continents like chess pieces.
She rubbed her eyes and blinked again. "No… this isn't an oasis. Then what is it?"
She stepped forward to see more clearly—amid the sea of sand, an ancient fortress stood silently under the blue sky. The winds of time had shaken it, but couldn't erase it. Its high walls and scorched domes were weathered, yet unyielding—like the last witness of a forgotten era.
Sunlight still played on its walls, and waves of sand flowed around it like an island in the sea. Its foundation held the quiet heartbeat of history, and the air carried a mystery only the soul could grasp.
Sometimes, a sandy breeze would rise, bringing whispers from olden times—perhaps of warriors or sages who once touched the secrets of time under the shadow of that fortress.
Deep, unmoving silence spread all around. No voices, no footsteps—only the soft music of sand and the slow breath of time.
She looked closely. A thin path ran through the dry land—dividing greenery and gold like a boundary between two worlds.
"Is this a mirage? Or a desert?" her voice was filled not with fear, but confusion.
Behind her was a living valley, ahead—a barren desert. And in between—that fortress and its sealed gate.
She took a deep breath, clenched her fists.
"Whatever this is," she said, "I'll find out now."
And she stepped forward.
One step. Then another.
With each step, the grass faded behind her, and stone ground began to meet her feet.
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(End of Prolouge)
Next–Chapter
The wind seemed to pause as Giah stood before the gate. Its surface echoed with silence—so deep it couldn't be ignored. People moved forward in hushed obedience—no one spoke, no one turned back. As if drawn… or summoned by an invisible force.
She looked down. Her footprints had already begun to fade.
Was she walking toward her destiny—or stepping into a story already written? Because the journey had already begun.
The boy's smile flashed in her memory. Had he protected her… or led her into a mystery?
And beyond that gate…
Was someone waiting for them?