Nyra Bloomfield And The Enchanted Bakery (Part 4)

This is the final part (4 of 4) of this long sleep story set in Taramysia, in Kingswell. Nyra continues her journey back to Kingswell from the foot of the mountains. She heads back encountering those she met on her journey to gather the mushroom and has to stop many times to rest and sleep as she makes the many-day journey back to her home. Once back in Kingswell, she shares knowledge with the library, meets with her friends, prepares her basement to cultivate the mushrooms, and sets about baking new items. Her new items do so well that she can afford her rent increase and people come from far and wide to try her food, flavored with the mushrooms.

Transcript

So just take a moment to allow your eyes to close and with your eyes closed you can begin to comfortably drift asleep.

I don't know whether you'll drift asleep faster to the sound of my voice or perhaps to the spaces between my words.

And as you comfortably fall asleep I'm just going to tell this bedtime story in the background.

Anira's journey back from the mountain's base was a reflective odyssey where each step retraced the paths of her ascent,

Now laden with her newfound wisdom and experiences,

The landscape stark yet serene in its sparsely vegetated expanse echoed her inner contemplations,

The air tinged with the faint scent of wild thyme and sagebrush carried whispers of the past,

Intertwining with her thoughts of the future,

A twilight's embrace began to paint the sky in a palette of deep purples and blues.

Naira once again approached the sage's humble home,

That solitary cabin,

A beacon in the vastness of the open terrain,

Stirred as a sign of the wisdom that can thrive even in the most unassuming places.

The sage with eyes reflecting the depth of the starlit sky welcomed Naira,

Their gaze hoarding stories of many moons and suns,

The interior of the cabin,

Lit by the soft glow of candles,

Portrayed a level of simplicity and tranquility,

The sage moving with the grace of age prepared a meal of broth seasoned with herbs from the scarce but resilient landscape outside,

Their conversations were a gentle stream of wisdom and listening flowing effortlessly,

Filling the cabin with a sense of warmth and understanding,

Naira,

Her heart,

A vessel of gratitude,

Shared her journey's tale,

Her voice woven with emotions and learnings,

Resonated in the cabin's corner,

Finding a listener in the wise sage,

And the sage,

In turn,

Offered words soft as velvet,

Imbued with the weight of knowledge,

Each phrase a guiding star in the vast sky of Naira's mind,

And as the night wrapped the world outside in its quiet blanket,

Naira prepared for rest in a comfortable bed in a small cozy nook of the cabin,

The sage's parting words for the night were like a gentle lullaby encouraging restful sleep and peaceful dreams,

The cabin,

Nestled under the celestial tapestry,

Was a cradle of serenity shielding her from the whispers of the wild outside,

Naira lay down,

The day's fatigue melting away,

In the solace of the sage's haven,

The soft rustle of the wind against the cabin walls,

Sang a soothing song harmonizing with her slow breaths,

Her mind,

Once a whirlwind of thoughts and anxieties,

Now settled into a calm rhythm,

Each inhalation drawing her deeper and deeper into a state of pleasant tranquility,

And in this quiet location her thoughts unfurled like night blooming flowers revealing the layers of her journey,

The challenges faced,

The fears overcome and the wisdom gained,

Each reflection was a thread in the tapestry of her adventure,

Woven intricately into her being and the sage's words lingered in the air,

Mingling with the candlelight's dance creating an ambience of introspection and peace,

And Naira felt a profound connection to the sage's wisdom,

A bond formed through the shared language of experience and understanding,

And as the candles flickered their last light,

The cabin sank into a comfortable darkness like a blanket holding Naira in its embrace and the world outside faded away,

And in its place arose the most beautiful dreamscape,

A realm where her journey continued in ethereal forms and colours and Naira's breaths became deeper and deeper,

Rhythmic like the distant hum of the earth as she drifted into the realm of sleep and her heart,

Lightened by the release of her tail,

Beat with a gentle cadence,

A quiet echo of her journey's end and the promise of new beginnings,

And the sage,

A silhouette of tranquility,

Watched over the cabin,

A guardian of rest and dreams and under their watchful presence,

Naira's sleep was deep and undisturbed,

A journey through the night as profound as her journey through the mountains,

And in this serene slumber,

Naira's spirit danced with the stars above,

Her body anchored in the warmth of the sage's cabin,

Her mind adrift in the peaceful reverie of sleep's embrace,

Naira emboldened by the sage's wisdom,

Set forth from the cabin at dawn,

Her heart acting like a compass guided by the experiences etched deep within her,

The journey back to the cliff,

Mirrored her journey from that cliff,

Each step a reflection of her inward transformation,

The landscape consisting of muted colours and sparse vegetation,

Was like it was telling stories of resilience,

Sharing that experience and similarity with Naira's own journey,

And as she approached the cliff,

She recalled her challenging ascent and hoped that the descent would be an easier climb,

And the descent was a delicate ballet,

A dance with gravity,

She descended down this towering challenge,

Climbing down that rugged face of a cliff,

Clinging on with her fingertips,

Finding footholds and descending into the embrace of the landscape below,

And as Naira continued descending,

She felt the world expand around her,

The horizon stretching far and wide,

Like possibilities unfurling before each step,

The sun casting its warmth,

Its radiant light,

Across this landscape,

Long shadows beginning to move and travel slowly across the land below,

And as nightfall approached,

Naira walked away from the base of that cliff,

Heading towards the caves she had exited days earlier,

And as she walked and the sun continued to set,

She gathered twigs and leaves,

Gathering up kindling for a small fire,

And as she arrived at the mouth of the cave,

She lit that small fire,

The fire crackling to life,

The flames dancing and flickering under the starlit sky,

The fire's warmth bringing comfort and peace,

With the hypnotic dance of the light,

And warding off the gentle evening chill,

And Naira sat by the fire,

Her thoughts like a flowing river of memories and reflections,

Each one a ripple in the waters of her mind,

And Naira cooked her dinner,

Naira enjoyed each bite,

Absorbing herself in the simplicity of her experience and the connection with the natural world around her,

And as the night deepened,

And the stars began their dance across the sky,

Naira lay back,

Resting down in her tent in the mouth of the cave,

Those constellations telling ancient stories in the sky overhead,

Almost whispering secrets of time and past existence,

And the fire gradually dwindled down to gently glowing embers,

With a little warmth still lingering in the cool night air,

And with a profound sense of peace,

She drifted and floated,

Deeply and comfortably,

Into the inner realm of dreams,

And Naira's sleep was like a gentle voyage into the world of slumber,

Where the adventures of the day transformed into dreams of vibrant hues and soft echoes,

And in her dreams,

She wandered through landscapes woven from her experiences,

Each scene a reflection of lessons taught through her journey,

The cliffs,

The encounter with the sage,

The mountain climb,

The caves,

All merging into a dream tapestry where reality and fantasy continue to dance,

In harmonious synchrony,

And as she slept,

It was as if the night cradled her in its serene embrace,

The sounds of the wild just a distant lullaby,

Drifting into the most pleasant,

Tranquil haven of peace and calm,

Where her spirit can rejuvenate,

Her body can repair,

And her mind can prepare for the continued journey ahead,

And as the sun began to rise,

Naira gently awoke,

Packed away her things,

And headed deeper into the cave,

And with each step,

She followed the markers she'd left during her previous journey,

Like a trail of breadcrumbs through this subterranean world,

And the familiarity of the route made her passage swift,

And as Naira emerged from the cave's mouth,

The world outside greeted her with a breathtaking view of the magical meadow,

The meadow,

A vibrant canvas of greens and wildflowers swayed in the morning breeze,

A dance of colours and life,

And the air was so fragrant with the scent of blooming flowers,

And her journey through the meadow was so serene,

Seeing shadows and light playing at her feet,

Painting the ground with ever-changing patterns,

The meadow full of bees and butterflies darting from flower to flower,

And as twilight began to descend over the land,

Naira once again encountered the guardian of the meadow,

She shared some of her adventure with the guardian,

Before crossing the bridge and continuing her journey,

And as she continued her journey through the meadow,

She could feel a sense of magic from her experience,

And as night descended,

The sprites of the meadow emerged,

Their tiny lights flickering like stars among the plants of the meadow,

Naira engaged in some playfulness with those sprites,

Continuing her journey under the darkness of the sky,

Under a world bathed in silvery light from the moon,

Until eventually,

Tiredness began to catch up with Naira,

Tapping on her shoulder encouraging her to take some time to rest and sleep,

And so as Naira reached the edge of the forest,

She set up her camp and settled down for the night,

The forest around her standing tall and strong,

Watching over her as she rests the sounds of the forest,

Like a lullaby of rustling leaves and distant calls of animals,

Lulling her deeper and deeper into the most pleasant,

Restorative sleep,

And in this peaceful slumber,

Naira's spirit soared,

Feeling free from the constraints of time and space,

Her heart echoing the rhythm of the natural world,

Her body resting and recovering deeper and deeper,

Her soul travelling through the boundless realms of dreams,

And as morning greeted Naira,

With the gentle sound of birdsong and the soft whispers of the forest,

She opened her eyes,

Packed away her stuff,

And continued on her journey through the woods,

And the forest felt even more so like a living mosaic of greenery and light,

Embracing her every step,

The dappled sunlight occasionally breaking through the canopy and dancing on the forest floor,

And Naira followed,

The crescent moons etched onto the bark,

Navigating her way back in the direction of Kingswell,

Each step a step closer to home,

And in the heart of the forest,

Naira once again encountered the Unicorn,

Its majestic presence like a radiant beacon in the dappled shade,

The Unicorn's coat shimmering like moonlight,

Its eyes like deep pools of wisdom,

And they shared a moment of silent understanding,

And the Unicorn joined Naira for a little bit of her journey,

Before the forest gradually transitioned into being less dense,

And Naira said goodbye to the Unicorn,

Continuing on her own,

And the day continued on to the night,

And Naira followed a stream,

Heading back to those fairies she discussed her journey with the fairies,

She once again spent time staying with the fairies,

Overnight,

Ready to be able to continue her journey the next morning,

And the next morning she set off,

And she walked through the whole day,

Reaching the edge of the woodland,

Just as the sun was setting,

And at the edge of the woodland,

Where the trees began to thin out,

Giving way to open fields,

With Kingswell just beyond the distant horizon,

Naira decided to rest once more,

So that she could make that final leg of her journey,

Back to Kingswell in the morning,

And as Naira set up camp,

The night was quiet,

And she slipped into a peaceful and pleasant slumber,

She looked forward to arriving back in Kingswell,

Getting back to her bakery,

Her cottage,

And making a new home for the mushrooms,

And the next morning,

Naira continued through the meadows and farmland,

This final leg of her journey,

And as she got closer and closer to Kingswell,

She could notice the air filled with the scent of harvest,

And she could see Kingswell,

Becoming clearer and clearer in view with each step,

And as she entered Kingswell,

She was met with joy and wonder,

Friends and townsfolk,

Who'd not seen her for over forty days,

Greeted her with open arms and wide smiles,

Their voices a chorus of welcome,

Filled Naira's heart with warmth and a deep sense of belonging,

And in the embrace of her community,

Naira felt a profound sense of completion,

Her journey was woven from courage,

Wisdom and magic,

And she had now travelled full circle,

Back to the place where her heart truly belonged,

Her heart was like a treasure chest of experiences,

And she walked through the welcoming embrace of Kingswell,

Her mushroom stored in her bag,

The town bustling with the rhythm of daily life,

Pausing as she passed,

She headed to the library,

A sanctuary of knowledge and history,

And she walked through the halls of the library,

Spoke with the librarian about the journey she'd been on,

The magic she'd discovered,

She unveiled the magical mushroom,

And her voice,

Like a gentle stream of knowledge,

Began to share the intricacies of her tale,

Weaving the story of her journey,

With the magic of the mushroom,

Her words painting a vivid description of enchanted forests,

Mystical caves,

And curious encounters,

And the mushroom seemed to almost glow with an inner light,

As Naira explained its unique properties,

The way it connects with the mycelium network,

The way this mushroom is the creator of that mycelium network,

Like a natural communication network beneath the earth,

Connecting all things,

And Taramasir and the librarian listened,

Their mind like a garden where the seeds of Naira's knowledge took root,

They found themselves marvelling at Naira's descriptions of the mushroom's abilities to heal,

To connect,

To transform,

They took note and wrote down everything she was saying,

All the new understandings she'd returned with for them,

Each ripple expanding the boundaries of their knowledge,

And they continued transcribing her tale,

And adding Naira's contribution about the mushroom,

To the information,

The limited information,

They'd already held,

Making this magical mushroom a little bit less of a mystery,

And once Naira had shared her story and knowledge with the library,

She walked the streets of Kingswell and headed home to her cottage,

And once home she ventured into the depths of her cottage's basement and she cultivated the magical mushrooms,

She transformed the basement into a sanctuary for the mushrooms,

She toiled long and hard,

The air becoming thick with the scent of earth and the promise of helping these mushrooms thrive and survive and connect with the wider mycelium network,

And she worked at crafting the environment into one that mirrored the environment the mushrooms came from,

Making sure the soil contained the right nutrients,

The right amount of moisture,

That the right light levels were in this basement,

And the right temperature,

And over the coming days,

Naira watched as the mushrooms took hold,

Grew and connected with the mycelium network,

Intertwining with the network and strengthening those mushrooms in the basement,

And she continued to tend to those mushrooms,

Gaining new understanding,

Transforming her basement into a living,

Breathing ecosystem,

Like a secret underground garden,

The mushrooms glowing in the corner of the basement,

And with the mushrooms flourishing under Naira's care,

She decided to try out making use of the mushrooms,

She took some shavings from the cap of one of the mushrooms,

Headed to her bakery,

And almost seemed to begin a dance in her kitchen,

Her hands weaving ingredients together with the care of an artist,

Adding a few flecks of the mushroom to some cooking,

Its essence a melody of flavours,

Transforming the breads and cakes and pastries that she's now making into the most delightful foods,

And Naira's bakery filled with the scents of her treats,

And people entered with a sense of wonder and anticipation,

And the mushrooms flavour was subtle yet profound,

Weaving through pastries like a dream,

A hint of the extraordinary in every bite,

Her bakery developing a mystical allure,

Customers being drawn in by the enchanting aroma,

Naira's cooking now imbued with the magic of the mushroom,

Offering an ethereal taste,

Each bite like a journey into the heart of Taramasir,

A dance of flavours whispering ancient secrets and timeless tales,

Customers' faces lighting up with delight as their taste buds light up with the magic of her baking,

The mushrooms had brought a touch of the enchanted forest to the heart of Kingswell,

The bakery had become a beacon of wonder,

And stories of the magical produce spread throughout the land,

And people began coming from all over to try the food at the bakery,

To taste these magical tastes,

These healing breads and pastries,

And Naira's bakery,

Once just a place of humble beginnings,

Now more vibrant and alive than ever,

And where there was once an uncertainty of whether Naira could afford to pay the increased rent,

Now the register rang loud and the threat of closure which had hung over her leading her on her journey was now no longer a risk,

She was now able to afford the increase in rent,

While having more business,

More customers than ever before,

Bringing more joy to the people of Kingswell and those who visited Kingswell just to try the produce from the bakery,

And one night,

Naira closes the doors to her bakery with a smile in her heart,

She went home to her cottage,

She enjoyed a meal in front of the fire,

She reflected on the last few months,

On her time travelling through the land,

Seeking the mushroom,

Before returning to Kingswell,

And how busy she has been since being back,

And how that time now almost seems like a distant memory,

And almost doesn't seem real,

And yet she's so proud of her accomplishments,

And the joy she brings to the village she loves,

And after eating her food and the fire burning out,

She rests there a moment still,

Petting her cat,

Before heading to bed,

Settling down in bed,

So deeply,

So comfortably,

The little moonlight shining in through the window,

Casting its silvery glow,

And gentle dancing,

Peaceful shadows,

And with that her eyes begin to close,

Deeper and deeper,

And she finds herself drifting and floating,

So peacefully,

So relaxed,

Asleep,

Into slumberland,