Lost Horizons
Chapter 1 Sunset
Some things have to end to allow others begin, before has to change to after. At least that is what I have decided to tell myself as I leave my cottage this evening in search for an adventure.
As it slides effortlessly into the sea, the radiant orb descends in between two islands of which perfectly frame him as he leaves to allow his pale brother to take over the sky. The endless game of chase between two giants that I watch every evening. Now I sit waiting for the highlight of the evening, the annual firework display that opens the door to another world, a world unknown to most. Tonight I will jump through the gap to see what lies beyond, hoping, praying for a grand adventure.
As the sun sinks into the glistening ocean, it becomes redder and redder as the moon, light and pure, appears larger in the sky looming over the earth. Immediately it begins as the day ends, a sudden blinding flash leaving an aged, mahogany door standing at the top of the hill in front of my cottage. I check my backpack for sustenance for the journey ahead, I should have enough for a few nights and I have my bedroll strapped to the top, my walking staff in my hand. I step forwards and reach out to pull at the door, twisting the smooth knob it springs open easily and as I step through wind hits me full front and slams the door behind me. Below is a wooded valley, upon the left a magnificent castle towering over the valley staring out into the distance. Pouring off of the side of the valley underneath the towering castle is a sizeable waterfall, falling gracefully into a large, dark blue pool that runs down the valley towards a glistening ocean.
Behind where the old door stands is a gentle slope down onto a flat woodland where my small cottage would be hiding. Five minuets walk away from the town of Anicktos. Instead is a grand, ancient woodland. Looking back across the valley there is what looks to be a stone bridge crossing the valley to the castle that joins the other side just above the magnificent waterfall that again has a stone bridge across it leading up into a corner by a guard tower.
When I get nearer to what I thought was a bridge is actually an aqueduct carrying gallons of water across the valley and downhill to a little village that is buzzing with activity of a daily life in a small farming village. On the aqueduct there is a small walkway either side of the flowing water, as I walk up alongside the water I notice small fish are swimming up against the flow of water maybe heading to the waterfall, mad fish if they go down that stunning flow of water that can be heard echoing around the bowl of the valley. As I near the middle of the aqueduct I start to realise how high up I am and what a feat of building this structure is. As someone walks past I realise her ears and majority of the features of her face are much sharper which makes her appear more graceful, high and knowing. She is wearing some sort of leather armour with an amethyst cape. Now nearing the towering structure, I am deafened as the water plummets off to its end. Gazing in awe at the entrance to this magnificent castle, passing through this gateway is a large array of people all sorts of sizes, shapes and colours! I seriously don't believe I'm anywhere near what I call home…