In Another Realm

A dull ache coursed through my body as I stirred, feeling the hard surface beneath me. Groaning, I tried to shift, every movement sending sharp stabs of pain through my limbs.

Forcing my eyes open, I blinked against the brightness. "Where the heck am I? Is this some kind of dream?" My voice sounded small against the vast emptiness.

I squeezed my eyes shut, then opened them again, hoping that maybe--just maybe, I might be hallucinating, it wouldn't be the first time.

Around me stretched an endless field of vibrant flowers swaying in a gentle breeze, their colours were too vivid to be real. A quiet stream of water meandered nearby, reflecting a brilliant blue sky. It should've been serene, but the stillness felt... unnatural.

The hum of insects buzzed faintly in the distance, there were floating rocks that hovered above me and a majestic castle.

Wait, what? My gaze travelled upward again, and I froze.