The World Outside The Shell

Chapter 11: The Sun Pool

Lady Ri searched the cottage for tea, hot water, cups and a kettle. She appeared busy while avoiding eye contact.

I listened to her recall the story of her adventures, the companions, the goal of reaching the Lake of the Lost Kingdom, and more. I began to feel an understanding of her world view, about Gennd and his blades, Venn the turtle hunter, and the others in her party.

I was keeping my opinion of her royal status quiet, while doubting she was the famous adventurer she claimed to be in her world. I approached with caution, placed a hand on her shoulder and said, “Are you a guest in my home?”

Lady Ri said, “I go where I please.”

I said, “Please consider staying.  I will prepare the tea.”

Lady Ri said, “Do you think I need your help?”

I said, “The water is overflowing from the kettle…”

Lady Ri said, “I want you to see the inside of my shell one day.”

I dropped the tea kettle into a stone basin and turned my attention to the conversation.

Lady Ri pointed to a place on the map and the scenery outside the window blurred as we traveled over the flooded marshlands. She said, “The mind and the mirror. The real and the reflection.”

I said, “Who are you?”

The room began to shake and Lady Ri held onto the table. She looked at me with concern in her eyes and said, “Turtle, you revealed the inside of your shell, but I need a hero not a friend.”

I said, “Lady Ri, you keep showing up without an invitation.” I turned my attention to the kettle to check on the tea.

Lady Ri was silent for a long couple of minutes, then said, “I will find another turtle to save the world.”

The room shifted and I fell to the floor.

Lady Ri said, “Goodbye.” The map burst into a rain of blue pixels with the touch of her hand.

The StarGlave began to glow as she held the staff high and commanded the door to open.

I could hear the sound of the waterfall and realized we had returned to the base of the temple. I ran to the door, quickly reached out, then pulled Lady Ri back into the cottage as the door to the outside world closed. I had a thousand questions, but instead of protesting my impulsive action, she leaned close and kissed me.

The cottage dissolved in a blur of mist and blue pixels. I stood in human form inside the temple with Lady Ri beside me, our white robes were the same, without decoration.

I could feel her tighten the grip on my hand and was pulled through a large stone archway to a sun-pool behind the waterfall, a structure much larger than a turtle sized pool. I watched as the pool began to glow with a soft light.

Lady Ri said, “The door to my world.”

© J. Bateman

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