The air in Armcastra was unlike anything Yura had ever known. It carried a mysterious, sweet fragrance—light yet brimming with a strange mix of curiosity and fear. Beside her stood the white being, calm, observing her expressions intently, while Yura felt as if everything around her was silently watching, as if the very place itself was breathing along with them.
"Fantasy world… Armcastra… what are you saying?" Yura asked, unable to believe what her eyes were seeing.
The being smiled slowly, his voice carrying the calm of time itself:
"You are now in a world parallel to ours… a world not made for human eyes. Sometimes, souls arrive here unintentionally… perhaps you were destined to come."
Yura hesitated for a moment, but curiosity propelled her to follow. Each step felt like stepping into a vast painting, where the ground glowed with vibrant green and the sky was a deep, ethereal purple, layers of golden mist reflecting the starlight like tiny shards of luminous crystal.
After a short walk, the outline of the village emerged on the horizon. White cottages were neatly arranged, each resembling a small tower, adorned with golden lights. From among the cottages came soft laughter and voices, while the white beings, "the Changelings," moved with astonishing fluidity—some carrying tools, others selling their products in the bustling market.
Yura stood in awe, watching their interactions:
Some cooked over hidden fires, using strange ingredients resembling glowing fungi and deep-sea plants, crafting dishes served with clear water that shimmered with turquoise light.
Others sold vegetables that changed colors as they ripened and fruits glowing with an internal light, reminiscent of starlight itself.
Yura paused for a moment, then asked: "All of them… they look like you… who are you?"
The being smiled softly, calm and serene: "We are a race called 'the Changelings.' We are born completely white, but over time, with sins or mistakes, our color gradually shifts to gray and then black. The colors are not merely reflections of wrongdoing… they mirror experience, learning, and awareness of the world."
Yura looked around, noticing the smallest details: the way hands moved during transactions, the visual exchanges between buyer and seller, the sounds of cooking, and the aroma of strange dishes she had never known. Everything seemed to carry philosophical meaning: life was not merely existence, but an experience shaped by actions and emotions.
"And why are you still white? Haven't you sinned?" Yura asked with curiosity.
The being smiled, his eyes reflecting the calm of a deep sea: "I am a monk… a mystic. The path I chose from the beginning has kept me free from sins. And now, Yura… everything here is temporary. One day this world will end… and with it, all life. But until then, we live, explore, and learn."
They stopped at a small cottage, more delicate and elegant than the others, and the being welcomed her inside. The couch Yura sat on was shaped like a giant cup, filled with warm internal colors, while shelves around them held various products: glowing herbs, liquids the color of space, and rare seeds that could transform into tiny creatures when planted.
Suddenly, a soft knock sounded at the door, and Yura tensed: "Who could be knocking at this hour?"
"I don't know… perhaps a passerby…" the being answered calmly, as if this event were part of a deeper experience, another lesson in the mysterious world of Armcastra.
Everything around Yura was new. Every being held a secret, every corner contained wisdom, and every color represented an experience. It was the beginning of an endless journey, a dive into the heart of a complete world full of mysteries, philosophy, and wonder.
End of Chapter Four