I found myself in a strange white place. The light was blinding and when I tried to lift myself, I found I couldn't find the strength to counter the weight I felt pressing in on me from all sides. The only solidity was the level surface that I lay on as I stare at the white light above and beside me. Nothing existed. I wasn't sure I even occupied a body, much less my own. But I must have, if I had eyes to see this space.

I felt myself slipping, then, and I was slowly growing aware of the pins and needles that tingled annoyingly at my fingertips. I was awake, I realized, and snapped my eyes open, but closed them seconds later when light not unlike the white space blared at my unfocused eyes. I raised my arm and lay it over my face. When I peaked over my arm, I was staring at the sky. It was blue and vast, white stretches of clouds stalled in the air miles and miles above me. The building surrounding me was huge and could be marble or stone, with impressive pillars carved as far as I could make them out. It seemed I was in something of a courtyard, The patch of grass and sky was just a stylized break. I could see several stories, high into what looked to be spyres, and I could just make out colorful flags flapping gently on towers far above. It was indeed a beautiful work of architecture, but strangely, it seemed... new. unlike the cool old temples they dig up, this huge beautiful rock castle seemed recently built.

I stepped out of the warm glow of the sunlight on the grass and turned down the stone archway to my right, deciding to enter a sidedoor. I stepped into the room and was instantly awestruck. The ceiling was a dome of glass that let in the sun, whose light made the huge, colorful tapestries that hung on the walls glitter and shine, their swooping golden designs iridescent in the sunlight. I noticed, in the center of the room, a wide stand made of gnarled wood stood upright and scooped low in the center; A basin that was currently empty. I turned about, glancing quickly at the golden tapestries, then went into a doorway. It led to a stair, which i begrudgingly trod up, headache thrumming, and came up to the second story. I could see my courtyard from here. I glanced at it quickly then turned to another hallway.

And the people here all bustle normally, many of them I assume are servants, and they work busily. There are guards standing in the doorways to the inner castle, with gilded armor, and light glinting off their huge lethal spears that look more like harpoons. Though none seem to notice me at all. In fact, no one has even glanced at me, which I prefer they didn't anyways, but it is strange. I mean, an obvious foreigner just waltzing into and about the castle? Also, I've noticed I'm not wearing shoes. I'm wearing socks around a palace and I don't know why, but I'm going to get to the bottom of it.

Anyways. The rooms are getting more sparse the further in I move, with large, heavy doors on them, instead of just empty doorways. I'm sure that I'm deep in the heart of the palace now. It seems to radiate a certain warmth, like people could actually live within its stone walls.

Hours later, I shamble up to my feet. Rubbing my eyes, I start down the narrow hall way. The only room is blocked by a tall, reasonably sized oak doorway that, upon further inspection, is carved with a craftsmanship I've never seen the like of. It depicts an old willow stretching along the side of the door, its arms swooping around the top and bending, meeting the other side with drooping leaves. I move to touch it. I waited for the palm of my hand to rest upon the doors uneven surface, but it never did. It went THROUGH the surface with a slight chill racing up my arm. I snatched it back out, my heart racing and my stomach suddenly turned to ice. Did I just... go through a door?

I regained myself, then shut my eyes, holding my arm out in front of me and stepped through the door. A chill pooled down my body, making me shudder and my teeth clatter. I could physically feel the sides of the door around my frame, like its very matter had spread out around me. I shivered at the memory of ice on my body.

I took a breath and let it out, turning around the room. It was reasonably sized; a bedroom, by the looks of it. A big, old leather-bound book with scrappy bookmarks filling it, making it appear to be twice its thickness lay on a skinny wood table with wispy, bending legs ending in clawed feet that stood upon sharp talons. On the books pages was the same language of the rest of the literature here, and it was illustrated with a picture of a strange, hollow creature that crept on all fours under a night sky. The small table stood beside the twin sized bed who's headboards carvings was a close mimic of the doors'.

Like on the door, big swooping willows stood to the sides of the headboard, overlooking a grass plain, where a man was depicted pointing up to the sky. It was amazing how someone could actually carve the night sky. The stars, hundreds of them, all different. Some specks far away, some close and brilliant. constellations and no moon in sight. I was taken away by the scene on some headboard in a castle in god knows where. but it seemed to capture the essence of this place, the feeling that caught me when I gazed at the long, silvery tapestries.

I was so busy gaping that I hadn't noticed the door swinging open, and the quiet footsteps that stood before me.

"Oh. Hello", a thin voice said, sounding surprised.

A strangled sort of shocked noise shot from my throat and I straightened myself, head racing with explanations. He can see me, this dude can see me when no one else can!

"Oh man, I'm sorry! I'm a bit lost, I must've taken a wrong turn". I try to smile but grimace instead and inch towards the door.

"Not so fast". I turn slowly to face him, looking up. He's tall, seemingly lithe, and holds himself with a proud stature. A long, menacing crossbow is loosely held in his leather gloves. A dark green tunic is shadowed by a black overcoat that swishes as he crosses the room to toss some arrows on the bed. Heavy black boots clomp as he calmly turns to face me, small features completely serene despite the presence of an unwelcome guest.

"It actually worked" he murmurs. His green eyes are locked on me and he seems a bit lost in thought. I don't know what he's talking about, and I don't comment, only stare longingly at the door. I suppose he has the leverage here, as this could be considered B&E. Depends on if breezing through a locked door is considered breaking. He approaches me, and I step back a fraction. His emerald gaze narrows and he leans down to my level, hands clasped behind his back. He's inches away now, his gaze sharp gaze unwavering, pointed nose sticking a bit too far into my personal space. I don't think I could have the nerve to bullshit with such a disarming gaze aimed at me. I look to the ground and lean back a bit, trying to keep the icy feeling in my stomach at bay.

"Look at me" that thin voice said calmly. I said 'hm?' and turned slightly, glancing at his face. I held a dying hope that I would come off as innocent, but when my gaze brushed by his locked stare, I suspected that he knew I wasn't as normal as I feigned.

"Look at me" he said again with more conviction. I awkwardly balled my skinny fingers into fists at my sides, then let them loose, wincing at his hardened tone. This felt like torture, and it may as well have been. Confrontation is a horrid thing. Looking people in the eyes is worse. He moved then, and I felt a bony grasp tugging at my jaw, lifting my head to face him directly.

"Hey!". I was stunned into stillness when a second hand grasped the other side of my face and held me in place, my cheeks slightly mushed. His gloves where rough on my skin, and the thick scent of leather spun my head . He was so close that I could see strands of his slicked back ebony hair that had fallen out of place.

I stopped writhing and snapped my forest green eyes up to him, countering his stare with an icy gaze of my own.

"Hey uh" I let out a distressed sigh, gently nudging his wrists, suggesting that they get off me.

"I just let myself in here, that was pretty rude and I'm sorry. I'm just a bit lost, but I have somewhere to be pretty soon here, so" I reasoned calmly, but felt panic rising, unused rush of adrenaline making my stomach sick.

"I don't think so" he assessed calmly, swinging his arms to his sides and stepping back from me. It dawned on me that he knew the truth about me and my ability.

"How can you see me" I said in a flat tone, deciding to drop the pretenses. He smirked and turned to the bed, loosening the fingers of his gloves and tossing them on the spread, his voice pleasant.

"Because I'm the one that summoned you, I suppose, if the spell really worked".

I stood awkwardly at the center of the room.

"summoned" I prompted tentatively, unsure of what to say in front of someone who was so good looking and poised and had just grabbed my face moments ago, and on top of that, was the only person in a castle full of people who could see me. He ignored me and went on to shrug off his long coat, folding it neatly on the bed with his crossbow and gloves. Hunting gear, I gather. He smoothed the green and silver tunic with thin fingers, then turned to the book. He flipped a page back, paused a moment, then flipped it forward again. His dark eyebrows creased in concentration, and he stroked his sharp chin. I saw this as a god given opportunity, the opportunity being his head turned the other way, to side step out of here. I decided I didn't want to be involved in this. Whatever it was. I've changed my mind. I was only feet away, and I readied myself to feel the icy chill of passing through the door.

But I never got through. Without so much as turning from the book, he reached his arm slightly in my direction and flicked his wrist. The invisible force that hit me was overwhelming, it felt as though a forceful m,m,wind as it swept me off the ground and threw me at the ground. I arched my back at the pain that should have been blinding. But there was no pain, no thud.

I blinked and sat there on the floor, gaping at him with an incredulous stare.

"How did you… do that" I slowly croaked. He ignored me again, absorbed in the book.

"Excuse me". Silence.

"HEY". Nothing.

"what the hell". I sat there, simmering for a few minutes. He finally glanced up from the book, but didn't face me,

"Oh. You're still here". My face fell and an unpleasant heat crawled up my neck, making my skin prickle. I was silent for a moment.

"yeah, unfortunately". He smirked a bit, then snaked his hands to the underside of the book, shutting it with a heavy 'boom'.

"You're Midgardian, then, I'll take from your clothing and uncouth speech patterns" he leans on the table and examines me. Midwhat? I stand and open my mouth, then close it.

"what?" I fumble for words, struggling to find my feet as I stand.

"where did you hail from, then, Midgardian?". Where am I from. Where AM I from. It's something I should know, such a simple question. But nothing comes to mind. It's almost as if I've forgotten. I strain to remember where I was before the white space I woke in, but nothing is there. Amnesia then? I breathe and shrug, at a loss for much else.

"Hm. You remember nothing?" he somehow deduces,

"Interesting". I purse my lips and hug my arms.

"Not even how you came to shed your mortal coil?"

Shed my mortal WHAT