This feeling, it felt so heavy yet so light at the same time. It felt like time had lost all meaning. Was this a dream or was this...?

Chisa woke up to the sound of a butterfly flapping around her head. She took in a deep breath before stretching. The sunlight leaked in through the window and brightened up the room, yet shadows still survived and hid all around the room. Chisa looked at the little blue butterfly before opening the window and shewing it away.

'What was I dreaming about?' Chisa thought to herself,' I think there was water and maybe some kind of fish. Why are dreams so hard to remember?"

As Chisa prepared for the day, she tried to recall what she dreamed of. Unfortunately, she still couldn't remember anything beyond the water and maybe a dolphin in her dream. After getting dressed she prepared some eggs for herself and ate at the breakfast table. There she noticed a letter on top of an envelope, prompting her to pick up the letter and read.

Dear Yukizome

I had some important business to attend to, so could you deliver this envelope for me? The envelope is for the curio shop owner, whose shop is located in the heart of town. Thank you for being so reliable.

Sincerely

Munakata

Once Chisa finished the letter, she sighed a bit before smiling. She didn't dare open the envelope and simply placed it in her apron pocket. Delicately, she picked up her breakfast dish and washed it in the sink. She scrubbed the dish until not a single spec of food remained on the plate. After the plate was dry, she was free to deliver the letter.

Chisa opened the door of her cottage and walked out into the sunlight. When she looked up at the clouds she could make out a sheep, an elephant, a deer, a giraffe, and maybe a ram. Staring up at the clouds reminded her of when she was younger. As she walked over the old wooden bridge, she continued to look up at the clouds and try to find other familiar shapes until she heard something rather odd. Under a lonesome willow tree, a rabid gray dog was fighting with a raven over a dead fish. The gray dog continuously barked while the raven cawed back. Right as the two were at their loudest, a red fox slipped past them and took off with the fish. Chisa shook her head at the nonsensical scene before continuing onward to the town.

...

Chisa reached the town in the afternoon. Sure enough it was lively as ever with people of all ages walking about. When she walked down an alley she noticed a middle aged women working on a stained glass window. Next to her, a small child played around with a wooden figure of a zebra.

"What animal is that in the window?" Chisa asked.

"Cervus canadensis" the woman replied.

"What?" Chisa asked.

"An deer" the child said.

"Now I see" Chisa said," thank you"

With that, Chisa continued onward past the town square. There, all sorts of people walked and talked. Groups of elderly women sat in the shade, while young girls frolicked by the fountain. Everyone was so different, yet when they were side by side their unique features seemed to meld together with one another like the rows of bricks under their feet. Just when Chisa thought she could tune out the people's words she overheard three children fighting.

"What? Wolves are clearly the superior canine" the first child said.

"No, dogs are way better" the second child said," my mother said so"

"What about foxes?" the third child spoke up," they're pretty cool"

"Foxes aren't even a canine" the first kid said.

"Dogs are the best because they're so loyal" the second kid said.

"Wolves are loyal too and they're anatomy is much more efficient for survival compared to a dog" the first kid.

"I think foxes have good anatomy" the third child said.

Chisa sighed as she walked past the children and out of the town square. She walked past the doors and windows until she noticed a toy shop window. While Chisa was a mature woman, she always had a fascination for toys. She looked into the window to see all sorts of dolls, teddies bears, trains, and puppets. Looking at it reminded her of a simpler time when all she needed to be happy was a fuzzy stuffed companion. A few more minutes passed before Chisa shifted her attention back onto the task Munakata gave her.

Chisa walked until she found a peculiar red door decorated with black brush strokes that looked like vines. When she looked above the door, she spotted a sign plated in silver that said "Curio Shop". Figuring this was the place the envelope needed to go, Chisa knocked and entered the store.

A bell chimed overhead and announced chisas entry, however no one was around to welcome her. Chisa looked around the shop to see an array of peculiar items and old antiques. As she surveyed the shop, her eyes honed in on a wall mirror decorated with jewels like sapphire, obsidian, topaz, ruby, opalite, and emerald. When she stepped closer, she could she her image reflected in the mirror. She looked at her lovely green eyes and luscious hair. However, the more she looked at herself, the more she couldn't ignore the small spots of red in the white of her eyes and the various strings of hair that were out of place. Dismayed, Chisa shook her head and looked for something non reflective. She found solace in a simple tapestry depicting a unicorn and a dragon. It was rather odd to see a unicorn and dragon side by side, however the unicorn some how looked more fearsome than the dragon. Perhaps it was the unicorns' cold eyes that made it so threatening.

"Do you like mythical creatures?" A female voice asked.

Chisa turned around to see a young woman behind the counter. She wore a scarlet scarf around her neck and had short light brown hair.

"Um...I guess" Chisa said.

"My favorite is the Phoenix" the young woman said.

"Is that the bird that lives forever?" Chisa asked.

"I don't think it lives forever" the young woman said," if it's always changing and burning away what it once was, then does it really live forever?"

"I don't know" Chisa said," are you the shop keeper?"

"Yes I am" the young woman said.

"I have something for you" Chisa said as she took out the envelope from her apron.

"Ahh, I see" the young woman said," thank you".

"You're welcome" Chisa said.

"Here, take this" the young woman said as she offered a piece of paper to Chisa.

"That's very kind of you" Chisa said as she took the piece of paper and put it in her apron pocket.

"Kindness is more prosperous" the young woman said.

"I'll remember that" Chisa said as she walked out the door," goodbye"

Just as Chisa fully walked out the door, she bumped into a familiar face.

"Oh, Chiaki" Chisa said," I'm sorry, I didn't see you"

"It's okay" Chiaki said as she dusted herself off," I really should watch where I'm going"

"You dropped your book" Chisa said as she picked up a book off the ground.

"Thank you miss yukizome" Chiaki said as Chisa handed her the book.

"What are you reading?" Chisa asked," it must be very interesting"

"It's a book on big cats" Chiaki said.

"Big cats?" Chisa asked.

"Yeah, like lions" Chiaki explained," it just looked so interesting"

"Maybe when you're done, i could read it" Chisa said.

"Yeah" Chiaki said until the evening bell rang.

"I need to get home" Chisa said," but we can talk tomorrow"

"Okay" Chiaki nodded.

With that, Chisa began to walk out of town. The further she walked, the less people were out and about. By the time she reached the outskirts of town the sun was setting and the stars were starting to light up in the sky. Chisa looked up at the night sky to see what constellations she could find. She passed the willow tree before she spotted the constellation of Delphinus resting over her cottage. Just as she connected the stars in her mind, Chisa heard a noise as loud as a babies cry. Following the sound was a blinding light that forced her to close her eyes. Once the sound had vanished, Chisa drifted in the darkness for a bit until she could open her eyes again. After she had some trouble opening her eyes, she found herself sitting in an old fashioned train.