— Lily... Lily...
She slowly opened her small eyelids. It was a very bright environment, almost like a paradise, surrounded by a sea of white tulips.
She got up slowly and walked through that sea of pleasant fragrance.
— Where am I?
The flowers seemed to multiply around her.
— What am I doing here?
No one answered.
She looked down at her foot — there was a tulip clinging to her ankle. She crouched down and pulled it from the ground.
She stared at it carefully. Something about it caught her attention. When she looked inside, she could see water flowing out, dripping onto the floor. Each drop that fell gave birth to another tulip, each one more beautiful and unique than the last.
— What is this place?
All around her were flowers, growing whiter and whiter.
As she looked at them, a cold wind brushed the back of her neck, sending shivers down her spine.
— Lily...
She turned slightly, until—
She couldn't believe what she was seeing. Her pupils reflected pale skin and long blonde hair.
— Ma... Mom...?
Lily froze, her heart racing. The figure before her had a gentle smile, but her eyes held a deep sadness.
— Lily, my dear
Said the woman, her voice like a calm breeze.
— You're stronger than you think. This place... is a reflection of your heart.
Her mother stepped forward slowly, extending a hand, but Lily hesitated, unsure.
— Why am I here? What happened to me?
Asked Lily, her voice trembling.
— You were chosen for something greater.
Answered her mother, her eyes glowing with golden light.
— Something that involves not just this world, but many others.
A golden light began to pulse in Lily's chest, like a flame awakening.
— I don't understand...
She said, trying to hold back tears.
— You don't need to understand now. Just remember that you're not alone. I'll always be with you, even when it feels like I'm far away.
The cold wind blew again, this time carrying a distant, almost inaudible voice.
— Be careful, Lily... time is against you.
Her mother looked back, her expression turning serious.
— You must wake up. The truth lies beyond this dream.
Lily stood firmly, feeling the tulips close around her, as if to protect that moment.
— I will wake up.
She promised.
With one last look at her mother, she felt the golden light in her chest grow stronger, and suddenly, everything began to dissolve — like a dream fading at dawn.
. . .
— My head hurts.
The robot, who had been sitting beside her, jumped up with joy.
— Yay! Yay!
— Stop yelling, noisy.
He stepped back with his hands raised, but smiling.
— It's just... you were asleep for so long...
She slowly sat up, her eyes still heavy. Everything around her felt strange, but somehow familiar — like she had been there before, even if she couldn't remember when.
Some pixelated birds flew gently through the house, gliding through open code windows. The robot, out of instinct, went into defense mode. But since he had no weapons, he simply planted his feet and clenched his fists, making a serious face — which only made him look funnier.
Lily raised an eyebrow.
— Seriously, you think that face will scare birds away?
— Hey! You never know! They could be spies. Disguised crows. Mini-drones. Who knows!
She let out a weak laugh — her first in a long time.
— You're... different.
— I'm multifunctional!
He said, beating his metallic chest.
— Support robot, comedian, guard... and mildly cowardly.
— Hm... so you haven't changed much since the forest.
The two exchanged a glance. And for a moment, silence returned — but now it was a comfortable silence, as if something important had shifted.
Lily lowered her gaze and touched the center of her chest, still feeling the residual warmth of the golden light.
— I saw my mom...
The robot stopped, his expression softening.
— In a dream?
She nodded.
— It wasn't just a dream. It was... real. I know it was. She told me... something is coming. And that time is against me.
The robot furrowed his brow.
— That's... not very reassuring.
— I know.
She took a deep breath. The glow in her chest had dimmed, but not vanished. It was as if a part of her was just waiting for the right moment.
— Do you think... this world is really waiting for me?
He shrugged.
— I think you're the first thing that made this world feel more alive.
Lily looked out the window. Outside, the floating squares still glided across the sky, but now there was more color, more life.
She stood up with effort, still a bit dizzy.
— Then let's find out what all this means.
The robot rushed to her side, excited.
— Off to adventure?
— No. Off to answers.
She smiled slightly, and together they walked to the door, which opened with a soft ting, as if the world itself was also ready to wake up.
— Wait!!!
One of the birds shouted.
— Since when do birds talk?
— I'm not a bird.
A magical door appeared.
— Enter through this door.
The structure shimmered in the air as if it had been hand-drawn and rendered in real time — lines of light vibrating, pulsing like a heartbeat.
Lily and the robot looked at each other.
— This is getting weirder and weirder... — said the robot, with a nervous half-smile.
— And more interesting — Lily added, stepping forward.
The "bird," now floating near the magical door, looked more like a disguised creature: its eyes glowed with too much intelligence, and its feathers shifted color slightly as it moved.
— Who are you? — Lily asked.
— I'm just a messenger — it replied. — I was sent to guide you to the next part... of the awakening.
— Awakening? — the robot repeated. — She already woke up! I saw it. She complained about my voice. That's proof enough!
The bird didn't laugh, but its eyes sparkled as if smiling inside.
— The body awakens first. The heart... later. And the memory, last.
Lily narrowed her eyes.
— What are you talking about?
— You'll see. But you must go in. Now. Time is against you, remember?
The door began to vibrate, as if about to vanish.
Lily grabbed the robot's arm and pulled him forward with determination.
— Come on. I won't wait for time to run out before I find out who I am.
— Here we go again... — he muttered, being dragged by her metallic hand, obediently.
And then, they walked through the door.