The Painter’s Portal
Lira Solatis lives a solitary life in a far off cabin with her mother; her only companion her artistic talent of creating landscape paintings. Her days were spent lost in the world she created, bringing new life to her paintings. But one night, as she was finishing a particularly intricate landscape, a strange clinging sound echoed from the attic. Curiosity stimulated and Lira climbed the creaking stairs with a flashlight in her hand. The attic was dark and creepy. She noticed a small ornate door upon entry that she’d never seen before. With a mix of temptation and excitement, she reached for the number lock and tried several patterns before finally guessing the right code. As soon as she entered it, a mysterious portal appeared, leading to a fantastical realm she had only ever imagined. “Well, what do we have here” Lira muttered looking ecstatic, her flashlight beam illuminating the strange, ornate door. She hesitated for a moment and then stepped through. The realm was a mirror image of her paintings, a vibrant and fanciful world filled with creatures and landscapes she had brought to life. There were gallant town people, mischievous cats stealing people’s food, and even a palace with the royal family. They owned the most beautiful ponies Lira had ever seen. “Oh, what a place” Lira said, looking in awe. “I was hoping for something a little different from this”. A girl in a beautiful frock approached, with a confused face. “Welcome to Palania, the land of happiness. Are you a guest?” She asked. Lira sighed. “Look, I’m just the artist who painted and created this place. I didn’t mean for it to turn like this but it’s beautiful.” “Artist?” the girl echoed, her expression softening slightly. “You created this world?” “Yeah kind of. It was a hobby.” Lira explained trying to sound casual. “A hobby?” the girl repeated still sounding confused.
Lira looked bewildered, “You know, when you do something you love and enjoy doing.”
“You created a realm of incredible beauty. We put our best efforts to maintain this beautiful land. It’s our lovely home. Thank you for giving us life.”
“Well, it’s not a problem” Lira said, blushing. “I like painting but I’m not really sure what to do with it now.”
“You must protect it. It’s a gift given to you by god. Not everyone has artistic talent,” the girl replied solemnly.
“Come, I’ll give you a tour.” Saying this, the girl took Lira’s hand and they began running through the meadows and having fun. “Oh, I never asked you your name,” Lira muttered. “I’m Lira. Nice to meet you.” The girl laughed, “I’m Elisa. Nice to meet you too.” As the guardian of Palania, Lira discovered a newfound power. She could shape the world around her, adding new details, changing the course of events, and creating new life. But with great power came great responsibility, and Lira soon realized that her actions had consequences. Elisa went to get some food for them while Lira spotted a cat and gently stroked it. The cat got comfortable around her and started playing with Lira.
“You know, I thought creating a world would be fun, but this is a lot more work than I expected.” She said to the particularly mischievous cat that had just knocked over her bag. The cat just blinked at her innocently, as if to say, ”You will be fine.” As Lira navigated this extraordinary world, her art evolved. Her paintings became more than just imaged; they were stories, filled with characters and narratives that unfolded before her eyes. She discovered a deeper connection between her imagination and the real world, a bridge that allowed her to express her creativity in ways she never thought possible. As the sun set below the horizon, casting long shadows across the land, Lira stood in front of the portal with her new friends, a bittersweet smile on her face. “I loved hanging out with you all but now it’s time returned to my world. My mother would be tensed by now.” Lira
As the sun set below the horizon, casting long shadows across the land, Lira stood in front of the portal with her new friends, a bittersweet smile on her face. “I loved hanging out with you all but its time I returned to my world. My mother would be tensed by now.” Lira said with a smile. Come visit us sometime. We’ll always remember you.” Elisa said trying to look happy. Lira hugged her, stroked the cat one last time and signed as the air became smooth and calmer than usual. She had grown to love this fantastical realm she had created, but it was time to return to her own world. With a deep breath, she stepped through the doorway, looking back for the last time. She knew she was leaving behind her new friends and the world she created forever. As the portal closed behind her, Lira had a mix of emotions for she knew that her adventures were far from over. The world she had painted would always be a part of her, as a motivation to explore more. Suddenly, Lira’s alarm rang and she woke up only to find that all this was a dream. With a heavy smile she murmured “Oh well, dreams are great fantasies but reality is always different.” She got up and left as her mother called her for breakfast knowing that there were many more fantasies she would visit.