There were all sorts of beings around her that smiled at the young man and bowed to him before disappearing into the woods. She spotted Nagas carrying golden bowls of lotus water, disappearing into their homes underground, called the Pātāla. They offered him their precious lotus water, which he courteously accepted. The Yalis, fierce warrior animals with their lion heads and horse bodies, feared legendary beings, humbly bowed down, purring as the redhead gently stroked its head. The Yakshas hummed as they went on their guard duties, their fierce canine teeth and thick eyebrows, a nightmare to any child, looking fiercer as they drew their swords out and waved, the warrior's code of salutation. He waved at them with a big smile on his face, occasionally inquiring about their well-being. He seemed to be well-loved.

She found herself able to keep up with his pace without any difficulty; it was like she was young all over again.

"Am I imagining all this?" she asked herself.

"You are not imagining any of this. This is indeed the land you sought, what you call Heaven."

Akira blinked. "Am I speaking my thoughts out loud?" she asked him.

He laughed. "Let's just say I can hear thoughts as well."

Akira was quiet. She felt she needed something in her stomach for her brain cells to activate.

The red-haired young man, or boy-she didn't know how to address him-led her to a huge palace.

He strolled through the gates, and she followed him, stumped. "Er... where are we going?" she asked him, not sure if they were trespassing. 

He smiled and said, "Just trust me; no one is going to stop you or ask you questions when you are with me."

It was as he said. Many creatures, humans, demons, or demigods, each of them worked together in harmony.

Some of them, she had heard about or read in legends and myths, while some were unknown to her. It did make it seem like she was dreaming.

Who was this lad?

They walked in, and he addressed a young orc, "Tara, would you be kind enough to take Akira to her room? Make sure the bath is prepared and offer her some light tea. We need her to be a little hungry for tonight's feast."

The orc lady nodded and bowed her head before escorting Akira to her room.

Akira decided to ask the orc about her whereabouts. "Tara?"

"Yes, Lady Akira." Lady Akira. So should she address the orc as Lady Tara?

"Erm... Lady Tara... I was just curious to know..."

The orc smiled. She was stout and green, characteristic of an orc, with mousy brown thick hair, braided to her hips. Her dress shone with millions of mirrors embroidered on it, making her look extremely funky yet fashionable. She seemed to be pleased to be addressed as a lady.

"Lady Akira, your questions will be answered tonight by our young lord. For now, just rest. Pamper yourself. You will not be here for long."

There was no hostility in her voice.Rather, it was warm; she was just stating a fact.

"Lady Tara, your dress looks very pretty."

Tara blushed and looked very pleased. "I made it myself. By the time you return from your bath, I shall have one prepared for you."