(text-style:"bold","italic","sway")[
#To be
]
(t8n-depart:"dissolve")+(t8n-arrive:"zoom")[[Begin->Beginnings]]
You awaken to see a starlit sky stretching endlessly above you. The cool sand serving as the perfect bed, but nonetheless you stand.
A lake sits in front of you it's body smooth not a single wrinkle washing across it. The moon and stars reflect on the dark surface in a beautiful tapestry of lights.
Around you and the lake are rolling plains of tall grass. Each strand unmoving in the windless night. The sound of crickets chirping in the distance reaches your ears as a whisper.
While the scenery is beautiful a sense of unease fills you. Why are you here? How'd you get here? Where should you go?
(t8n-depart:"dissolve")+(t8n-arrive:"zoom")[[Look at your feet->Feet]]
(t8n-depart:"dissolve")+(t8n-arrive:"zoom")[[Go to the lake->Lake]]
(t8n-depart:"dissolve")+(t8n-arrive:"zoom")[[Go to the plains->Plains]] You stare down at your feet. The sand moves around your feet like lazy waves as you shift your weight. The sand is soft, and not a single rock blemishing it.
As your eyes follow the beach it's surface looks as smooth as polished steel in the moon light. It cuts between the plains and lake running perfectly into the distance. You see no rivers or streams breaking off from the lake.
(t8n-depart:"dissolve")+(t8n-arrive:"zoom")[[Go to the lake->Lake]]
(t8n-depart:"dissolve")+(t8n-arrive:"zoom")[[Go to the plains->Plains]]
(t8n-depart:"dissolve")+(t8n-arrive:"zoom")[[Lay down->layDown]] You approach the lake, it's calm surface barely moving on the shore. The lake perfectly mirrors the sky above. Someone could mistake it for being a portal to another world. Your feet lie mere intches from this surface. With one step you could break the tranquility of this mirror.
(t8n-depart:"dissolve")+(t8n-arrive:"zoom")[[Enter the water->enterWater]]
(t8n-depart:"dissolve")+(t8n-arrive:"zoom")[[Look at your reflection->lookReflection]]
(t8n-depart:"dissolve")+(t8n-arrive:"zoom")[[Go to the plains->Plains]] The grass stretches before you into the distance. It slowly slopes up and down as it covers the hills. You notice a small path strething from the beach off over a hill. The path appears as though it takes you into the stars above. The sound of crickets has grown slightly louder.
(t8n-depart:"dissolve")+(t8n-arrive:"zoom")[[Follow the path->followPath]]
(t8n-depart:"dissolve")+(t8n-arrive:"zoom")[[Go to the lake->Lake]] The sand welcomes you as you lay down on it and stare up at the onyx sky. The cool sand is soft and relaxing. It eats away at your worries, lulling you to sleep. It doesn't matter why you're here or how you got here. You are here and that's all that matters. The sand supports you in this thought and you fall asleep.
Upon waking up in the morning you still lie on the beach. As you sit up the lake is just as calm and the plains just as still. However, a path cuts through the plains now. You stand and walk down the path having found closure in where you are and where you need to go. The plains watch in silent harmony as you make your way down the path to arrive at whatever destination you choose.
(t8n-depart:"dissolve")+(t8n-arrive:"zoom")[[The End->Title]] You step into the water. It's a refreshingly cool feeling as it washes over your feet. The wet sand squishes between your toes with each step. The water slowly climbs your legs as you wade deeper into the water. By the time it reaches your waist you've grown accustomed to the cool water.
The ripples from your movement cascade across the lake causing the stars to move. Each step throws even more waves into the lake. You continue deeper till the water reaches your chest, the lake continues to stretch ahead of you.
(t8n-depart:"dissolve")+(t8n-arrive:"zoom")[[Float on the surface->floatSurface]]
(t8n-depart:"dissolve")+(t8n-arrive:"zoom")[[Dive under the water->dive]] You peer down into the water looking glass. You see a beautiful starlit sky with the moon as it's core. Each star gleams like a polished gem stone. The stars silhouette your reflection making it difficult to discern any features. Your form is dark but nonetheless there staring back to you.
(t8n-depart:"dissolve")+(t8n-arrive:"zoom")[[Enter the water->enterWater]]
(t8n-depart:"dissolve")+(t8n-arrive:"zoom")[[Go to the plains->Plains]] You walk down the path for what feels like hours. The fields unending as you go further down the path. The stars guiding your path and the crickets talk in anticipation. As you crest one more hill you see the ruins of a castle. It's walls crumbled leaving it unable to defend itself from some long dead foe.
The stretches before you until it forks in two directions. One path leads towards the ancient castle. The other path continues deeper into the fields.
(t8n-depart:"dissolve")+(t8n-arrive:"zoom")[[Go to the castle->castleWall]]
(t8n-depart:"dissolve")+(t8n-arrive:"zoom")[[Continue down the path->continuePath]] You lean back and float amongst the stars. The water wreaths your body in a cool embrace. Slowly you float around the lake. You stare up at the stars above. The sky is empty of clouds giving you a clear view of the expansive milky way. Each star twinkles like a beautiful gem stone in an intricate onyx crown. Streaks of blue decorate the sky along the paths of the stars. Occasionally, you see a shooting star fly across the sky.
As you float there staring at the stars your concerns about how you got there fade away. The infinite expanse of stars replacing the concern with wonder. The universe is ever expanding and you are but one piece of it. With it's constant expansion you have every opportunity to expand with it. You could sail across the stars one day or find peace on a farm. You make your future and will overcome any hardships whether put there by society or by people.
Eventually you head back to land and fall to sleep. With the morning sun light you wake finding a new sense of purpose. With it you find a path through the fields and find a way back to your new life.
(t8n-depart:"dissolve")+(t8n-arrive:"zoom")[[Back to the main menu->Title]] You dive below the surface of the water. The moonlight creating a beam of light ahead of you. As you swim deeper you never feel the need to go up for air. You swim through the water as easily as you would walk through the air. As you get deeper you see the moon beam rests on what appears to be the ruins of a church.
The occasional fish can be seen swimming around the sunken church. As you get a better view of the church it doesn't appear like anything special. It's not a grand gothic cathedral, just a simply one room church. It's roof has caved in but the bell tower still stands. The moon beam illuminating the church as though it's a beautiful veil.
(t8n-depart:"dissolve")+(t8n-arrive:"zoom")[[Swim to the church->church]]
(t8n-depart:"dissolve")+(t8n-arrive:"zoom")[[Return to the surface->returnSurface]] The ruined castle stands in front of you. It's walls were once very impressive but are now mostly piles of rocks. A single tower stands on this side still. You follow the path to where the gates once stood. Now plants have overgrown the collapsed iron gate. Upon passing the gates you notice all the grass here is golden like the fields outside. The castle itself looks ancient, but no plants grow on its walls. It appears undamaged as though the ancient enemy lost interest in the castle once its walls were destroyed.
(t8n-depart:"dissolve")+(t8n-arrive:"zoom")[[Open the castle door->castleDoor]]
(t8n-depart:"dissolve")+(t8n-arrive:"zoom")[[Explore the grounds->exploreGrounds]] You turn your gaze from the crumbling castle and continue along the path. It winds through hills and golden fields. As you walk down the path it's surface is unblemished as far as the eye can see. The strands flow in the wind like a great sea of gold. It's calming to you and takes your mind off of the concerns you had over how you got here.
There's no need to wonder why you're there. You are where you are and that's it. You can easily keep moving forward along the path. Much like in life you can follow the path you set before yourself. The road might be long and hard but you'll eventually find your destination. So, you continue down the path currently ahead of you.
After another hour or so of walking you see a city in the distance. You continue to the city and return to your life. Some clarity added to your direction in life. The mystery of how you ended up at the lake forgotten.
(t8n-depart:"dissolve")+(t8n-arrive:"zoom")[[The End->Title]] You dive deeper until you reach the doors of the church. The simplicity of it's construction is accented beautifully by the water and moon light. The doors open with ease when you push on them, the water not resisting you at all. Upon entering you can see a simple sanctuary with pews. The moonlight shining through stained glass windows and holes in the roof to dimly illuminate the room. You look up and see the brass bell of the bell tower sparkling in the moon light, not a single blemish on the surface.
(t8n-depart:"dissolve")+(t8n-arrive:"zoom")[[Enter the sanctuary->sanctuary]] You swim back up to the surface. The beam of moon light illuminating your face. You breach the surface of the water. The air is cool on your face as the water slowly dries.
(t8n-depart:"dissolve")+(t8n-arrive:"zoom")[[Float on the surface->floatSurface]]
(t8n-depart:"dissolve")+(t8n-arrive:"zoom")[[Head to land->headLand]] You step back onto the sand the air cold on your skin. You walk across the beach the sand clinging to your feet.
(t8n-depart:"dissolve")+(t8n-arrive:"zoom")[[Go to the lake->Lake]]
(t8n-depart:"dissolve")+(t8n-arrive:"zoom")[[Go to the plains->Plains]]
(t8n-depart:"dissolve")+(t8n-arrive:"zoom")[[Lay down->layDown]]
(if:visits is 5)+(t8n-depart:"dissolve")+(t8n-arrive:"zoom")[[Watch the sun rise->sunrise]] As you stand on the beach one last time you stand and watch the stars slowly fade as the sun rises. The sky blooms like a flower in spring. Vibrant reds and oranges push back the darkness illuminating the lake, the fields, and you. It's a beautiful sight to behold as the light reflects off the lake.
You watch the sunset and reflect on what got you here. You awoke on the bank of this lake confused and alone. After exploring for awhile and debating on what you wanted to do several times you decided instead to watch the sunrise. It pays to take things slowly and sometimes you need to take a deep breath and admire the world around you. After watching the sunset for awhile longer you decide to follow a path through the plains. You're no longer confused and the path before you is clear.
After a few hours of walking through the golden fields you see a city. The sunlight painting it in a beautiful light. You continue back to society calmer than you were before.
(t8n-depart:"dissolve")+(t8n-arrive:"zoom")[[The End->Title]] The further you get into the sanctuary the strange it appears. No plant life has grown in here despite it appearing like the church has been here for years. Every aspect of the church appears to be pristine.
You can see the stained glass windows even better now. Several of them have the pattern of rippling water made out of blue and white glass. The rest all have the same pattern. They seem to depict a glowing being standing on a dark sea with a golden sky behind them.
At the back of the church you see a podium made of beautiful obsidian and gold. You see no iconography of a religion you know, just the podium.
(t8n-depart:"dissolve")+(t8n-arrive:"zoom")[[Approach the podium->podium]] Slowly, you get closer to the podium. Curiosity fills you replacing any fear you might have. You float behind the podium staring out at the church. The pews are empty still. The water calm but you feel an energy floating through it as though it's waiting. The glass like surface of the obsidian decorated with smooth gold lines creating an intricate box like shape.
(t8n-depart:"dissolve")+(t8n-arrive:"zoom")[[Touch the podium->awokenChurch]] As soon as you touch the podium the sound of a great bell ringing fills the church. The gold of the podium glows in a rainbow of colors. The stained glass windows glow even brighter in the moon light as the pews fill with glowing forms. Each one different from the other. You see people of all different nationalities and times. All of them staring at you waiting.
A hand rests on your shoulder and you turn to look and see someone glowing so brightly that you can't make out any features.
A soothing voice echoes in your mind, "Glad you could join us."
(t8n-depart:"dissolve")+(t8n-arrive:"zoom")[[The End->Title]] The doors open with ease. A hallway stretches ahead of you the torches on the wall are cold and unlit. A long golden rug with black accents lines the stone floor. It appears untouched by timed despite the stones showing their age. The end of the hall opens up into a large room dimly illuminated by the moonlight outside.
(t8n-depart:"dissolve")+(t8n-arrive:"zoom")[[Enter the main hall->mainHall]] You walk around the castle grounds. The grass here is shorn and well manicured. It's golden form split by obsidian paths leading around the castle. Along the backside of the castle the walls still stand sturdy. Every aspect of this castle would make you think people still lived here, but you hear nothing but crickets. No lights shine through the windows and every door is locked besides the front door.
(t8n-depart:"dissolve")+(t8n-arrive:"zoom")[[Open the castle door->castleDoor]] The main hall is cool and empty. You see no furniture in the room. Several large windows line the walls and 6 tall pillars hold the ceiling up. Hanging from the pillars are several tapestries. Each of them depicting a glowing figure standing on a sea of gold with a black sky behind it. At the far end of the main hall stands a short platform. Sitting in the center of the platform is a golden throne with black accents. A giant window behind the throne lets you see the stars and wall behind the castle.
(t8n-depart:"dissolve")+(t8n-arrive:"zoom")[[Approach the throne->throne]] The room is cold but you move through it unbothered. The moonlight guiding you towards the golden throne. It's a beautiful piece of craftsmanship. The gold flows like a beautiful waterfall. Black filligree decorating it and accenting the intricate waves of gold. The cushions on it appear to be covered in a black velvet. The moonlight making it appear as though each part moves like waves.
(t8n-depart:"dissolve")+(t8n-arrive:"zoom")[[Sit on the throne->sitThrone]] The throne gives comfortably when you sit. Suddenly the room grows warm. Each torch bursts to life, their flames glowing a cool white like the moon light. The slow rumble of people talking and cheering fills the castle. You watch as the room fills with glowing people. Each one different from the last. You watch as an astronaut shares a cup of wine with a Greek hoplite. An Egyptian pharoah exchanges pleasantries with knight in shining gold armor. You watch as more people of different nationalities and times fill the room.
A warm hand rests on your shoulder. You turn to see a being glowing so brightly you can't make out any features. They raise their other hand and all the talking in the room stops as the eyes turn to you. The being looks to you.
"I'm glad to see you joined us."
(t8n-depart:"dissolve")+(t8n-arrive:"zoom")[[The End->Title]]