Colorful pictures adorn the walls and ceilings. The floor is smooth and uncarpeted, brown. There are shelves along all of the walls, and a large table covered in containers filled with insects. The room is cold; a window stands open on the east side. 25 small desks with 25 small pairs of shoes on the seats surround me. WHY HAVE I WOKEN UP IN MY CLASSROOM??
The forest appears around me in a thick fog; I can see only a few feet in front of me at a time. The trees are exceedingly large; 14 feet in height at least, with thick moss growing and winding around the trunks. As I stoop down, I notice that the ground is blanketed with tiny, exquisite wildflowers. I stoop to pick one up, and notice that I am standing on a path.
The path is quite narrow and winding, and I have to watch my step as I go, as there are protrusions and tree roots obscuring the path. It seems as though it has not been navigated for centuries; its beauty is pristine as it slowly unfolds before me, like a watercolor painting rising out of the fog.
I approach the rushing stream cautiously, slowly; the water is rushing faster than any I have ever seen, yet it makes no sound. The stream glints and winks with brilliant, glistening colors: blue, green, turquoise, mauve. It is the most beautiful water I have ever seen. I want to reach in, to touch it, but I am unsure of what it is made. It seems almost holographic. Cautiously, I lean down and pass my trembling hand through the stream. The water oozes over my hand like thick silk, enveloping it completely in velvety color. I pull my hand slowly back and see that the colors of the water now shine iridescently on my own skin.
The vessel seems almost camouflaged in the flowers. It is small and flute-shaped, adorned with wisps of color like the flowers. I pick it up and examine it; though it is quite small, it is very heavy for its size and it glints as though it shone in the bright sunlight, despite the everpresence of the thick fog. On the rim of the glass, in the tiniest letters is some writing. I squint to read it, but it seems to be written in some foreign and unknown script.
The key is small and ancient looking. At its base it winds and curls around itself like ribbon on a gift. It appears like somewhat of a skeleton key, but the tines on it are more than I have ever seen. It seems to be made of pewter, and it is cold to the touch. Strangely, it seems as though it were left here for me to find, because it sits squarely in the middle of the path. On the base of the key, I notice the same strange lettering that I found on the cup earlier. Why does the script look so unfamiliar to me? I turn the key around and around in front of me. It appears too small to open any door that I would fit through; I presume it must open some sort of chest.