Another world, Celeste

Chapter Twenty Five

By the time I wake up in an unfamiliar dim room, I'm looking at a furry creature sprawling on top of my chest. Heavy.

"Raccoon?"

I utter the first thing that comes to mind and the furry creature starts making whiny noises at me. Looks like I upset it.

"Sorry, sorry. Not a raccoon."

My eyesight does not have a built-in night vision like the elves, but I could partially make out its pointy ears in the dimly lit room.

"A fox?"

The furry creature whines again at my second incorrect guess.

"Don't be too upset, little one."

Auntie El appears by the bedside and stroke the head of the furry creature; her mere touch calms its mood. Auntie El radiant incorporeal figure shed some light in the room and reveals the full appearance of the furry creature. How do I describe this? The face is bear-like but the distinctive tear smudge under the eyes and the striped bushy tail can easily be mistaken for a raccoon. Also, the pointy ears and brownish-red coat resembling a red fox without the sly look. This furry creature is completely occupied with Auntie El's pampering.

"Alright, grouchy red panda. I would like to sit up. Would you kindly let me?"

The red panda's ear twitches when I call it correctly, tilts its head slightly which I find very adorable then leap down on the mattress. A weight off of my chest, finally. When I sit up on the bed, the red panda nestles comfortably at my side and using my lap as a head pillow. My hand unconsciously moves and pet its reddish, brown coat. This feels nice.

"How long was I out for?" I ask Auntie El without looking away from the red panda.

Auntie El chuckles. "It is already tomorrow. The light of dawn will soon rise."

I thought for sure I woke up in the middle of the night by the latest. Quickly taking out my phone and when the lock screen brightly lights up, I sigh deeply with my head down when Auntie El is right. It usually takes me four to five hours to recharge whenever I passed out from exerting too much magic.

"Strange. Usually, my body feels heavy the next day whenever this happens but, I feel very refreshed. Is it because I had a good dream?" I say to myself as I stretch my arms and neck.

I can tell I'm not in my room right now or the village because one, the ceiling is not white but wood and second, the map on my phone tells me so. Auntie El lead me to the balcony when she sees me fidgeting and looking around the room. The red panda prefers the warm bed. The touch of the cold early breeze wakes me up as I slowly take in the breathtaking scenery of the sun rising on the sanctuary from higher ground. Early risers soar through the sky, heads popping out of holes from beneath the soil and herds running on the flat plain and leaving behind dust. Hurriedly taking a video of this moment and save it permanently on my phone. Every direction I look; east, west, north, the scenery shifts and each gives its own unique ambience. No words can describe what I'm feeling right now. If I have to, then I would say, strange and wonderful. I lean on the railing after taking a few more shots of the landscape. Watching the herds reminds me of yesterday's event.