The Altar
Standing before the altar, I take a deep breath. Ancient knowledge races through my mind, and the ritual’s steps come into sharp focus. First, I arrange the tools from the Tower of Astrology that I brought with me on the altar. They are a crystal staff, a small vial filled with stardust, and a stone tablet engraved with ancient script.
Next, I stand in the center of the altar and raise the Harp of Atlantis. Then, I begin to play an ancient melody. The sound of the harp echoes throughout the ruins, filling the space. The melody gradually increases in speed and intensity, resonating with my heart as if it were the pulse of the universe.
The moment the melody reaches its climax, the symbols on the altar emit an intense light. The light engulfs me, blinding my vision. I simply continue to play the lyre with all my might. When the light subsides, a massive portal appears before my eyes. It is a shimmering vortex, signaling that it is a gateway to another dimension.
I gaze at the portal. Beyond it lies a landscape I’ve never seen before: lush green meadows, towering mountains, and two moons shining in the sky. I resolve to step through the portal. But first, I take a deep breath. I don’t know what awaits me on the other side. Perhaps dangers beyond my wildest imagination lurk there.
I steel myself and head toward the portal. Step by step, as I draw closer to the portal, I’m overcome by a strange sensation. My body wavers, as if gravity itself were warped. Leaning on my staff, I approach the portal. And finally, I step inside.
Inside the portal, I’m enveloped by intense light and energy. My body floats in the air, as if I were in zero gravity. And in the next instant, I found myself standing in a completely different place. It was a world in another dimension, identical to the landscape depicted on the ancient map.
I looked around. Lush green meadows stretched out before me, and flowers I’d never seen before bloomed in profusion. Two moons shone in the sky, creating a fantastical scene. I couldn’t be sure if this was truly the entrance to the “Place of Beginnings.”
Just then, a unicorn appeared before my eyes. The unicorn approached me with graceful strides and gazed at me. In the unicorn’s eyes, I sensed ancient wisdom and gentleness. It seemed as though the unicorn was trying to tell me something.
I stepped closer to the unicorn and gently reached out my hand. The unicorn rested its forehead against my hand. In that instant, our hearts connected. The unicorn shows me the way to “the place of beginnings.” It lifts me onto its back and begins to gallop across the meadow. The wind caresses my hair, and I feel as if I’m flying through the sky. The unicorn moves straight ahead without hesitation.
I entrust myself to the unicorn as we head toward “the place of beginnings.” My adventure has only just begun.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
