Lion made me wear something that looks like a trench coat. It must be his since it's a bigger size. He adjusted the size using magic and it finally fits.
Where are we going? I asked him, curious, since he also is wearing a trench coat.
Oh sorry, I forgot to tell you that we are going to a far away place that the flying canoe cannot reach and it will take a huge amount of magic just by flying, he explained.
It turns out that the place we are going to is some kind of a floating mountain, something that we usually see in Chinese dramas way back on earth.
Lion told me that the place is a bit chilly that there are mists even when the suns are up. He added that there are some places that are colder than the place we are going to.
After that, Lion tried to activate the spell on the scroll when suddenly, we heard a loud BANG.
OH FOR GOODNESS SAKE! Lion yelled while trying to do some magic and behold, Ghost suddenly came tumbling out of the portal.
They bickered for while until Lion remembered that we are going somewhere.
Where are you going? Ghost asked me with pleading eyes. Can I go with you?
Lion tried to protest but as Ghost kept pleading, I, who was about to say no, finally relented.
Ghost suddenly carried me in his arms and shouted at Lion to activate the scroll.
Lion had a murderous look in his face before he turned away and activated the scroll.
The room suddenly filled with light and when I blinked, the room suddenly became pixelated and turned dark when poof! The 3 of us materialized in what looks like the top of a mountain with several mountains surrounded us. I felt dazed for a while and I unconsciously held Ghost's arm.
What I'm seeing right now is something that you definitely cannot see on earth. Gorgeous mountains that are surrounded by clouds and mists that surrounded the mountains that looked straight out of a Chinese fantasy novel. But instead of waterfalls, streams of water are flowing in the air, rivers that flow in different directions suspended in the air. The water that flows has different colors, depending on which direction.
The water that flows to the north of me is teal colored. On my east side, it looks like indigo. On the west side, it's more cyan like. The south has the best color, azure, with a bit of silver hue. When the suns' rays touched the water, it produces a dazzling shimmer that mimics a glitter.
Besides the wonderment of the rivers, the mountains, trees and the vegetation are in a different league. I cannot fully describe what I saw but it's like a painting masterpiece. Unlike on earth, they have different sorts of colors that seemed like cotton candy. The trees have all sorts of shapes, and there is an abundance of fruit.
I was taking my time to enjoy my surroundings when suddenly I saw a large dragon that flew over.
I screamed a cuss word while Lion and Ghost tried their best to calm me down. I suddenly became very aware of the different sorts of creatures flying in the sky.
I'm still not used to seeing strange creatures.
I was starting to shake uncontrollably. I now understand that humans have a limit on comprehending things that they are not used to.
I'm now very AWARE how scary this world is. Yes, it may be beautiful and amazing than the earth but it's a bit too much for me to take it all at once. Understanding and accepting things beyond my human understanding is way too much.
Tears suddenly flowed down my cheeks and I sobbed. I'm scared and I am overwhelmed.
Lion took me to his arms and enveloped me in a warm embrace. I cried for a long time. He continued to soothe me with words that I somehow don't understand (maybe magic words?) but it comforted me. He caressed my hair gently while his other hand tried to wipe away my tears.
Meanwhile, Ghost is singing some sort of a song that also sounds comforting to my ears. He has a very good voice. He held my hand while he is singing. If only I could understand what he is singing.
Lion's tail is swishing to and fro while his hair is flowing slowly. I slowly stopped crying and find it amusing. Ghost and Lion looked relieved when they saw me calmed down.
They both apologized for overwhelming me. They were both used to the strangeness of this world and didn't take into consideration that I'm not originally from this world.
After several minutes of rest, I took a deep breath and smiled. I can do this, I told them. But I need your help whenever I'm overwhelmed. I may be scared again in the future but I will try my best to be more courageous.
Lion told me that he understood what I'm trying to say and told me that being scared is quite normal for a being. There's not one creature who's not scared of something. He'll be beside me every step of the way.
Me too! Ghost exclaimed, not wanting to be left out. I may not be there always but just summon me anytime you need me.
Who wants to summon you? Lion retorted.
Both of them bickered again while I chuckled. To be honest, I feel embarrassed about acting like a child. But I remembered someone, a long time ago, telling me that being afraid is normal in any age. Bravery is measured on how we face our fears.
I decided to be more honest with myself. I can do this. It may be overwhelming but I think I can try to adjust.
It's a beautiful strange world after all.
....
We succeeded in our task.
It turns out that the offspring of the creature, who looked like a hybrid of a giant beetle with big eyes (2 thankfully!) and legs like a human, cannot see at a distance, even at arm's length. The offspring's parents are very famous for having eyes that can see very far distances, can even see the moons surfaces faintly and having an offspring who cannot see well even in short distances proved to be some sort of an embarrassment in their family.
Lion and I managed to design and create some sort of a pair of eyeglasses for the offspring, who smiled for the first time since meeting us.
The male parent joyfully thanked us as the offspring excitedly began to describe all the things it could see accurately.
The female parent hesitantly asked Lion if she could buy from him the "magical reflector thing" (the mirror) that she heard from her colleague.
Now being a merchant is an additional occupation for us.