In a certain dream, where time and space collided into everything yet also nothingness, only a single tree existed. It stood unbothered in the center of what seemed to be the universe itself–or it might be just a simple room lacking any furniture whatsoever. And as far as a pair of eyes could see, it had no corners or sides. An endless void with this golden tree at its center.

The tree shone brightly with its yellow radiance and gold sparkles like glitter that would never fade. It shimmered and pulsed once every moment–be it seconds or eons–in its dazzling appearance. If eyes could witness its glow, they would either rejoice in awe or recoil in fear, unable to grasp the sheer spectacle before them.

Enchanting. Mesmerizing. Alluring.

Yet also daunting. Terrifying. Horrifying.

Around its trunk were branches foiled in the same striking color–tens, hundreds, thousands, millions.

A single individual found himself lying on one branch, not too low near the root but still quite far to reach the other branches. Right in the middle, that would be the correct way to explain it, a pathetic sight as if both he and the lonely tree’s limb were abandoned. Its color gradually became paler, and before the individual knew it, he had lost his footing.

The branch had corroded, leaving him in a freefall with no bottom in sight….

***

When the young man opened his eyes, he saw wooden planks arranged in a neat succession from right to left and up to down. Logs supported the planks, securing them in place. It looked like a roof, but in his current position, he had no way of knowing for sure.

As he wiggled around, he noticed a soft, flat surface supporting his body. Calling it comfortable would be an understatement. His back screamed in such blissful satisfaction. On top of his body was a white blanket big enough to cover his neck until his toes, providing warmth much different from the chilling sensation he had experienced before his sight blurred into obscurity.

Because of that, it isn’t a surprise for him to think that he had passed away to the afterlife–heaven, preferably, where beautiful angels sound their trumpets and a merry banquet welcomed his entrance.

The thing is, as much as that thought brought peace to mind, he had another explanation for his situation, one that was more believable–

“–I’m still alive.”

He pondered over that realization for a good minute. With such an unfamiliar view before his eyes, he concluded only one possibility; that someone had moved him to this place, but who and why?

Comrades–trying to save his life?

Enemies–waiting to subject him to inhumane torture?

Strangers–having either a benevolent or malicious intent?

Questions muddled his head, and with them came wonder as well that merely guessing couldn't sate. He needed to find out who that person was and prayed they didn't harbor any ill intention. News of missing people throughout this land wasn't exactly the rarest, after all, so being cautious was always a vitrue.

One thing bothered him, however–or rather, it was the lack of something under the blanket. He commanded his right hand to peel the blanket to the side, but nothing happened. Once again he tried, only to end with the same result. The more he tried, the more he realized something was wrong.

The young man rose from his slumber, fighting back against gravity until he was in a sitting position. He blinked twice, making sure he wasn’t hallucinating. The view and sensation stayed the same. No doubt in his mind–he had lost his right arm.

It was a clean cut on his elbow, leaving his upper arm dangling from his torso, now half of its original weight. Using his remaining arm, he held his right shoulder, then his caress dropped ever so slightly like a fluttering feather until each finger brushed against his upper arm. It was still warm, blood coursing through veins.

To the young man's own surprise, he didn't react much. Instead, he stared at the clean stump where his arm should have been. No blood. No pain. Different from a corpse, he found his heart still beating in a constant rhythm, as he exhaled and inhaled at his own pace, letting the thought settle down.

“Still, this feels weird,” he mumbled.

He shifted his position to the side and planted his feet on a wooden floor. It made a slight squeaking sound, which startled him a little. Looking around, there wasn’t much he could observe. The bed he had just woken up on was in the corner, while a chair–made using the same material–accompanied it on the side. Aside from those things, he saw a wooden door a few meters away from him. His next step led him closer to it.

At first, the young man reached the handle only to find what remained of his right arm. His heart sank for a moment, and in the next second, he blurted out a soft laugh carrying an emotion he couldn't really comprehend. Then, he raised his other hand and wrapped his fingers around the handle.

With a gentle push downward, the door opened.

Another sight welcomed the young man, now more akin to a living room of a cottage–a wooden rectangular table close to the wall with chairs arranged side by side (three in total), an unlit fireplace, and a well-organized kitchen on the right corner. Such a domesticated view it was, with peacefulness spelt all over the place. He didn't know that seeing something as simple as this could bring a relief he breathed out as a sigh, but he did and his body felt lighter.

Scanning the area further, he saw a door that piqued his interest. Squeezed between two curtained windows, that door smelt like sunshine and dirt. A ray of light seeped from the gap under it, stretching its reach on the wooden floor.

“This must lead me outside.”

The young man waited no more before opening yet another door. Immediately, a stream of sunshine showered him like incoming arrows, sharp and unexpected. The heat glared at him with its intensity, forcing the young man to squint both eyes. Soon, the white flash disappeared and the colors returned. When his eyes stopped twitching, the landscape surrounding this cottage presented itself before him.

In front of him was a garden adorned with vibrant colors as far as he could see. The hues stretched long and wide. Among them were flowers of many kinds. Their petals reflected the beaming sun to create such an ethereal spectacle. Vegetables and fruits grew alongside them, and from a distance, trees stood next to each other in succession, circling the surrounding area.

On the next step, his feet landed on a wooden stair which led him to a straight path. It went on for quite a distance. With short and careful steps, the young man traced the dirt path. Footprints were formed along the way.

On both sides, the flowers waved at him in delight, as if they were trying to communicate with him. A lovely, dream-like scent of the plants enveloped the air, giving a tinge of sweetness whenever the young man inhaled. From above, birds were chirping.

Once again, he considered the plausibility of this truly being a heaven. At least compared to the hellish landscape where corpses slept eternally, this place oozed with life. For the past few meters he had traveled, the view had kept on persisting with its allure. But not long after that, as he thought he had seen everything this place offered, something else completely stole his attention, breath, and words.

Crouching near him was a person–a young lady basking in the white light, her body radiating a glow that demanded attention. At a glance, it appeared as if the sun favored her the most. Under the burning red’s magnificent light, she overshadowed even the most beautiful flower in this garden.

Her golden-blonde hair flowed down until each strand brushed against her back, and when hit by sunshine, it glittered in gold sparks, bewitching to the eyes. She wore a white tunic with its long sleeves rolled up to her elbows. It covered almost her entire body except for her head, neck, wrists, and feet, revealing her cream-toned skin. One more piece of clothing layered the outside as an orange apron. With her being barefoot, she melted seamlessly into the surroundings, blending with nature.

She was in the middle of picking some fresh-looking apples. Their redness was a taste the man could easily taste on the tongue just by looking. Irresistible as it was, the young man didn’t want to make a scene out of it. He remained still with lips tightly pressed against one another, but although his mouth obeyed, his stomach didn’t. One glance at the apple aroused his appetite. In an instant, his belly growled like a dying wolf–loud enough to grab the lady’s attention.

Her hands stopped. In that moment, the girl shifted her attention, now focusing on the young man with her golden eyes. They exchanged stares which filled in the void existing between them.

Awkward, he thought while scratching the back of his head. Again, he tried using his right hand only for the reality reminded him it was gone. In an unknown place and unknown time, being confronted by an unknown person–a girl, on top of that–as an unknown man under unknown circumstances, he lacked the understanding of how to react.

Should he introduce himself? Or maybe asked who she was?

Should he thank her? But it doesn’t mean she was his savior.

Also, was it an act of saving? She might be a danger lurking in plain sight.

Or first of all, what was she doing here in the first place?

“T-this is….” He didn’t know what to say, but he felt the need to say a word or two.

As he kept mulling over those choices, the person before his eyes let out a chuckle.

“Good morning,” she said. Her words were spoken softly, a serenade amidst the blowing wind. “I see you’re awake now. How are you feeling?”

Different from him, the young lady treated this sudden interaction as a proper conversation with no hint of fear behind her voice. Sensing caution from the young man, she elaborated further.

“You’re safe here.”

Whether or not it could ease his anxiety, no one really knew.

“....Are you the one who saved me?” the man asked

“I just brought you here while you were unconscious, so I don’t think the word ‘save’ is appropriate.”

There was an aura of mystery around the girl, as if the world itself covered her in mystical light which blurred out her very own existence. The man's eyes narrowed with slight hesitant.

“May….May I know who you–”

Before he finished his sentence, another voice joined the tension. It was a deep, shaky noise that bent the surrounding air to its will. Both of them, especially the man, understood where it had come from.

More accurate, it came from his own stomach, throwing a tantrum and grumbling like there's no tomorrow.

Bewildered by that, the man unconsciously aimed for his stomach with his remaining hand. The surface, although warm, trembled like a local earthquake, concentrated only on his flesh and skin. It appeared as if a volcano would follow next, erupting from his face that had reddened after that realization.

Again, the girl chuckled, with no intention of hiding it whatsoever.

“I think I know what you want to ask, but what about having breakfast first?” She began to track the path towards the cottage, meaning towards the young man, while her fingers were running through the colorful plants. Her smile never left her face. “I may not look like it, but I consider myself a pretty decent cook. So, what do you say?”