The treasures of SANUALI

Teleportation

Swamy felt vertiginous when she regained her senses back. Nausea clouded her senses for the side of her head, just behind her earlobes, stung a nasty sensation. Likely, it was afflictively pounding. Swamy found it a near-impossible task to flung her eyelids, which felt glued for some reason, open. Her head spun at a couple of unsuccessful attempts, such that seeing something soon could be considered a tale to be sung later. She did not bother or at least for some significant minutes lay immuring. However, the cold touch of splashing water was amply felt and was heartily despised. It was ticklish at first but then it pricked underneath the skin, hurting, and disturbing her. For Swamy, it was highly irksome. 

‘Did Aunt Wicca throw me out of the house? Is it raining or am I thrown into some nasty gutter? Ewe! Have Rustom played some pranks again? I am gonna kill that nasty bastard. Rustom, you swine! You are so dead!’ Were some sane thoughts that readily welcomed Swamy back into her body. 

Apart upon Swamy, the rain had been constantly drumming in strings of heavy downpour over the corrugated eddy colonies of wizards that floated amidst clouds at some distance. Beneath them, a vast colourful jungle had spread gamut in enchanting glory. Home of some untameable deadly creatures, it had covered acres of lands that screamed danger and reeked of evil mysteries. Moreover, alarming ear-splitting roars that made the earth tremble was enough of a warning for all inquisitive seekers to stay distance afar, after all, the Nishiddh was very unwelcoming. 

‘GAAAHHHHHHH!’ A beastly roar echoed from somewhere beneath and Swamy felt her heartbeat stopping. She was momentarily frozen, still trying to decipher her whereabouts. A heavy wave was brought along the shore with the roar, Swamy could hear it wrestling with rocks before it washed over sands.

‘River Himantura.’ The thought not only stung but stayed lingered. ‘Am I somewhere near riverbanks?’ She hoped, making another failed attempt on moving her limbs.   

In heart of Nishiddh, the slow cloudburst breeze was flirting with the crimson water of river Ayutthaya which penetrated through high low land of forest, dividing the landscape into four equal parts. It floated narrowly at commencement, right in the centre of the forest, not wider than a brook—then, it turned into a free-flowing stream until it expanded and expanded into a magnified aggressive watercourse. 

River Ayutthaya was Brobdingnagian and menacing. Its scarlet water gave an impression of melting lava while the desperate depth looked hungry as a beast being starved for ages. It always seemed to equip in divulging whatever halts in its path. Angry swelling waves that rustled and swashed every time those collided with shoreline, rocks, or mountainsides, had feasted thousands of life since time immemorial yet the famishment had not subsided.

Then, there were floating islands that twinkled like tiny stars with a house or two glimmerings shyly on the edge. There were many of them, aligned in rows that floated at a defined distance. Varied in shapes and sizes, the houses most commonly had a porch, a lawn and a shade that could be taken as a garage—grunts and murmur could be heard even from the distance. Some of them were a triple storey, however, major of the houses hadn’t heightened beyond the second floor.   

A sheet of fog and mist had covered the sun-rays along with whatever lay ahead in Swamy’s blurry sight who was still blinking to grasp some clarity. Fortunately, no thunder or storm was brought along the downpour; it was just a steady rainfall that had eliminated a white sheet of snow from the surface. Droplets of rainwater pricked like tiny thorns in her skin—a few managed to transude into her earlobes and eyes that irritated her eyeballs. 

It took her some more time to regain consciousness but when she did, she immediately started coughing, gasping for oxygen as if something was choking her. Her lungs burnt, eyes watered and legs threw reckless kicks in the air. She cupped her throat and tried to breathe in, but could not. That was, until, a blue butterfly flickered at her face. Like the previous time, it was happily flickering—unaware of anything evil, oblivious to every uncertainty. Fearless as it was, it touched Swamy’s feather-like skin with a scoop of its wings and made itself comfortable behind her earlobe where it was pounding.  

A few moments might have passed before Swamy felt an intense calmness spread in every corner of her heart. It’d stopped hurting and spinning. Instinctively, she had stopped kicking too, rather all unnecessary body movement had halted on their own accord. She inhaled a large amount of air and smiled contently. Mechanically, the sky above had cleared as golden sparks that travelled somewhere from the North broke into astray, playing hide and seek with the clouds. Everything seemed to giggle as happy energy sucked in all the darkness.

A bright blue sky glided overhead. It had stopped raining, leaving Swamy and the Sanuali soaking wet within every inch—one was contented and chirping while the other leapt upon thoughts without conclusion. A few seconds had passed by before the cliff sucked off wetness. It was mystic yet appreciated. It’d never happened before. 

‘Ugh…okay!’ Snorted Swamy as she brought her frame into a sitting position. Digging her wobbly legs further, she made a failed attempt to stand up. Again, she tried, however, this time, successfully stood up only to end up falling face. Partially because the ground wiggled and partially because a humongous floating mountain that appeared larger than it was, hovered above her. It seemed to be travelling somewhere to the north. 

A colossal structure peeked from above, piercing through clouds as it glared at the raging sun.  

‘What the—’ A horrifying gasp slipped through her lips when a vague glimpse of its mausoleum winked at her. Swamy waited for it to pass over. Eyebrows knitted, lips quivered; she did not tear her eyes away from the floating mountain until it passed over her head and hung at some safe distance. It was only when she was absolutely sure of standing safely without any threat of being knocked off by another floating piece of land that she jumped on her feet.

White clouds had sheathed all magical valleys, mountains, and hills of the Sanuali Civilization. It seemed like a woven golden sheet with patches of tangerine at some places. A couple of high peaks that almost kissed the blackish-grey sky could be looked over. Those were the only ones visible. 

From where Swamy stood, she could not make much out of anything. However, she could see a narrow edge overlooking a robust castle to the right and some twinkling chimneys to the left. It was a gorgeous yet strange sight that had taken her breath away. 

Swamy who had only seen things rooted in-ground all her life stared at every inch of it in great astonishment. Her mouth hung ajar and her brain had stopped functioning. It was tantalizing as it befell in slow movements—firstly, the mist cleared rather tripping over at a slow pace, succeeded by breaks of lights that illuminated everything—a small floating mountain dangled afterwards, followed by a dozen similar to it. 

A breath-taking and majestic waterfall welcomed her in the Sanuali Civilization. It was deep with vigorously steeply slops that’s depth down the hill frightened her even from the distance. Big beautiful birds that’s names were unknown to Swamy flew everywhere—spreading their wings. They were playing with the wind, almost challenging it as their rough feathers battled against the direction it was travelling.   

‘The Magical Civilization of Sanuali welcomes you, my child! Welcome back home…the world full of inevitable mystics.’ A masculine voice called from some distance. It sounded familiar, but her wrenching memories didn’t hit any recognizable occasion. Nonetheless, it’d startled her. ‘It’s the place you belong to. The place you are made for.’ The voice cheered. ‘I’m happy to see you standing here at last. The soul knows every way!’ It spoke.  

‘Who is that?’ asked Swamy sceptically hysteric. She turned to her left and watch the smoky clouds unfolding themselves, floating islands, and vast greenery everywhere. Neither a single shadow who could have spoken to her came in sight. Then, she turned to the right—still same, around, and round she turned but failed to catch a glimpse of any man who could have talked. 

She was as alone as she had been all her life. Neither a single living creature were there—apart from the blue butterfly of course—white smoke poured around so long she could see. It was a small oval cliff with no trees or bushes. However, it did have some glimmering coruscant stones which blinded one’s vision.

‘I ask, who is there? What did you do to me? What is this place? Rustom? Aunt Wicca? Where are you? Hello?’ She yelled louder than before. Her voiced laced in fear with a tinge of irritation pouring out of it. She stumbled to her left and right, clinging to a hope of seeing someone only to meet another misfortune—a quagmire. The orange plain beneath her feet had patches of ocean blue, green, and golden at a few places. It was soft and fluffy as if made of flesh, not soil, stones, and pebbles. Following the law of rotation, it moved—almost heaving up and down. 

‘Shhh…you will wake him up. He is a tight sleeper and loses it all if awoken. I’d recommend you to stop moving.’ The voice rang again, adding more to her restlessness. 

‘You…who are you and where are you? Why can’t I see you? Come out, whoever you are. Is this a prank? If one…it’s disgusting! Rustom, you filthy bastard! Pimp-d**k! I know, it’s you again. Damn you, jerk! I am gonna kill you. Wait till I get my hands on you. You swine, Rustommmmm come out this instant!’ Swamy yelled, frantically swirling around. She stumbled to the edge and looked down. A yelp slipped out of her lips when crimson red water of Ayutthaya boomed upwards, ready to engulf her. 

 ‘What deadly place is it? Am I teleported or what?’ She mumbled to herself, feeling terrified with the thought of it. Having watched too many paranormal movies and finished volumes on Isekai, her delineated brain played nasty tricks with her—adding up to more of her miseries. She cursed more under her breath and yelled for help again. 

‘Hello? Is anybody there? Where am I? Who are you?’ She asked shouting, still whirling around as fear of uncertainty crawled within along with endangering nervousness. ‘You—’ 

‘A good child with appropriate upbringing do not use such filthy terms. I am disappointed that you lose your clam so easily. Being a reincarnation, you must watch your step for one wrong move can kill it all. It will only make you a soft-target, Swamy. Watch your tongue before you—’ 

‘Shut the f**k up whoever dingily-dangly, stinky asshole you are! Lecturing a chickened woman after f*****g up with her mind. What else you think should I behave? You mother fu—’  

‘I dare you to finish the sentence and I am leaving you right away in this place with no explanation!’ The voice was still soft, but there was an unmistaken hint of angriness in it which was both serious and stern. Swamy had a feeling that whoever that invisible man was, wasn’t throwing empty words and intended to do what he’d said. 

She fell silent calculating the odds. It was terrifying beyond reality but she must know where she was if she’d a faintest wish to survive. “Mr. Invisible-Irritated man” seemed only hope. She waited for the voice to speak again which never happened. He’d disappeared for all she could hear was the disgruntled roars from the Forest and her own heart thumping.

BA-DUMP! BA-DUMP! It pounded harder at an uneven pace when minutes passed by and nobody spoke. For a moment, Swamy wondered if it was to jump out of her body which she knew wasn’t possible. But then, whatever had been happening with her wasn’t possible either and it was happening so it could happen too. She shouldn’t be surprised if it does!

‘I’ll be dying soon.’ Swamy felt a lump forming down her throat at the thought of losing her life in such mysterious circumstances. There were no doubts that she didn’t completely enjoy her life back at 309, Shapoorji Street. However, she didn’t hate it as much either. It was better, in fact, far better to live up being a cursed soul who’d be looked upon than becoming a lunch of merciless flesh-eaters who wouldn’t even bother shitting her out. She would stick somewhere in its teeth, rotting, struggling but never coming out until she would all, but evaporate through sweat. 

Swamy hadn’t realized that she had started crying until she heard the voice again. 

‘Fear not my child, you aren’t going to die so soon. You are in safe hands and safe place!’ It spoke, soberer, and tender this time. It sounded nearby as though, the speaker is whispering in her ears. The subtleness melted her heart. A faint hope budded again. Swamy hurriedly looked to the left, from where, she believed, she’d hear it coming but was greeted with none other than her best companion, emptiness.

‘Who…who is that? Why don’t you come at front? Where are you hiding?’ She screamed shakily. More tears slide down her cheeks, her nose had dampened. She sobbed and wiped it off with the back of her hand. 

‘I am you and you are I. I’m dead but I live within you. We are part of each other.’ It replied chuckling. Swamy frowned at such a riddle. A series of hot colourful words danced at top of her tongue, yearning to be spat out. She hated being mocked. It took a mega amount of self-control to gulp them back. However, she did. 

‘Mystery man, let me be honest with you. I am a slow turtle and have been blessed with a pea sized brain. It will take eternity for me to understand riddles. Now, can we please talk like real humans? Straight and forward!’ Swamy offered, still searching for the source of the voice. 

‘But I am no human. Alright, firstly stop moving! You are gonna wake the poor guy. You have no idea how hard he works. Didn’t you listen the first time? Hardly get some sleep. Anyways, as I said, I am dead but I live within you… Swamy, stop shuffling for once and sit down.’ The voice command and although hesitatingly, Swamy obliged. 

Her brain hammered with thoughts and possibility. ‘You are dead…that means you are not living—’ 

‘That exactly what death means. No, don’t pinch! Keep your hands off it, you hear me. Stop cursing and start thinking over. It’s all within you. Search for it!’ It retorted.

‘Oh, shut up! You—ahem. Are you a spirit? Ghost? Jeanie? What do you want from me? What is this place? Why can’t I see you? This is so f*****g messed up! What is there to think over? Damn, my destiny! I’d snootily made it to my room. I was happy that at last, I had found some evidence of Wily’s flight, made a call to my boyfriend who wouldn’t pick. And Boom! I’m here. Hey, hold up! Oh my God! Are you…are you god?’ Swamy shirked, jumping up on her feet again. She damped her face with the back of her hand, thinking. A series of thoughts plunged. 

She’d just thrown her phone on the bed. She knew it had a few of God’s snaps but she was sure, it couldn’t have hurt them after all she had thrown it at a pile of papers…Papers! That’s it! Papers! All of her actions halted for things slowly started to make some sense. 

She remembered throwing her phone at her bed that had landed on those manuscripts. She’d picked the oddest one and recited some lines engraved upon it. She didn’t know what had happened thereafter. Her memories were all but broken pieces of glasses that couldn’t be glued back. However, something had happened that had everything to do with her mysterious teleportation. 

‘No. I am not God.’ The voice confirmed and it fell silent again, perhaps it’d known of her acknowledgements. Swamy did not ask further. She slumped on the ground, shaking and sweating. 

Then something happened—not her but to the cliff. It started vibrating vigorously. Simultaneously, a pair of wings flapped from both sides, a tail shrugged off at the back and its neck twists. The cliff Swamy had been hopping on wasn’t a cliff at all. Instead, it was a majestic creature that had sprung its feather and was ready to fly. 

It huffed out an ear-piercing roar, stretched its muscles and took off.

‘I am teleported to another world!’ was her last thought before excessive panic stole her consciousness again. 

A gush of wind arouse from somewhere down. It hit her face and swished past her ears, disturbing her long blonde traces. The hairs fell upon her eyes, flying in all direction. A piqued feeling settled down, making her groan in unconscious annoyance. 

 The dragon was flying to the east, taking an unknown passenger along. Where? Only, it knew. However, it was certain of Swamy’s destination. Its broad wings swished at a rhythmic pace. It’d fiery eyes focused ahead. Feeling Swamy’s smooth skin for the last time, the blue-butterfly took-off as it flew in the opposite direction. It peeked behind to get one last glimpse before it vanished with a wink. 

Meanwhile, the dragon had landed on top of a huge building. A lady cladded in purple rob smiled tentatively. She came closer grinning widely, patted the dragon’s head and muttered. 

‘What have you brought along, Hippo?’ She hopped on the dragon’s back who gruntled dismissively. Her lemonish-yellow eyes glued upon Swamy to get a closer look. Her mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water. 

‘The Reincarnation has appeared. Aum! Aum!’ She yelled at top of her voice. ‘Somebody inform the Assembly. Hurry! Hurry! She is here. Go, connect with Peril. Dean Qualisi! She is here. Daughter of great Szytra, Swamy. An undefeatable witch.’ The witch shirked jumping off the dragon’s back.