Eldoria, Chapter 2

Another dreary rainy day outside, and nothing special on my agenda; so why not continue exploring the mystical land of Eldoria, that Bing Copilot introduced me to yesterday...

Fellow blogger Sandra also encouraged me with the idea of in turn using quotes from the AI created story to create more images, and so on... So I decided to take my experiment a bit further, and see if I could get Copilot to continue the story where he left off yesterday, but also include answers to the things I thought he had ignored in the original image. So in the instructions I gave, I again included the same image, and repeated the last few paragraphs from yesterday, but also added what I expected the continuation to include:

Me to Copilot: Please continue the story from the quote and image below. The continuation should include an explanation of why there is a big tooth in the window above the door to the castle, and why the fairy on the stairs to the castle is holding a tootbrush instead of a wand.

"The wizard Alaric whispered an incantation, and the keys glowed with an ethereal light. The door creaked open, revealing a world within that was both wondrous and strange. Lush green plants and vibrant mushrooms lined the path, leading them deeper into the castle’s heart. As they ventured forth, the stained glass windows above cast warm, colorful patterns on the stone floor, guiding their way. The air was filled with the scent of ancient spells and the promise of discovery. And so, Liora and Thalia embarked on their journey, their spirits high and their minds open to the endless possibilities that lay before them. The kingdom of Eldoria buzzed with anticipation..."

 

Copilot obliged, and produced the following tale - bits of which I then in turn used to ask Image Creator for further illustrations...

Chapter 2

As the trio delved deeper into the castle, the story of the tooth and the toothbrush began to unfold. Alaric, with a voice as deep as the castle’s foundations, recounted the tale:

"In the earliest days of Eldoria, when magic was young and untamed, a great beast roamed the land. This creature, known as the Gargantooth, was born from the earth’s hidden energies and the people’s collective fears. Its massive tooth, a relic of its power, was said to be indestructible and was the source of its strength. The Gargantooth ravaged the kingdom, its presence a constant shadow over the land.

It was then that a fairy, unlike any other, emerged. Her name was Elara, and she wielded not a wand but an enchanted toothbrush, a gift from the wise witch of the western woods. With this toothbrush, Elara did what no spell or sword could—she cleansed the Gargantooth’s tooth, purifying it from within.

As the bristles of her enchanted brush swept over the tooth, the Gargantooth’s power waned, and it retreated into the depths of the earth, never to be seen again. The tooth, now a symbol of purity and protection, was placed in the highest window of the castle, a reminder to all that courage and purity of heart can conquer the greatest of fears.

 

 

Liora, the fairy you see on the steps, is a descendant of Elara. She holds the toothbrush, not as a weapon, but as a symbol of her lineage and her duty. Each day, she polishes the tooth, ensuring that its magic remains strong, safeguarding Eldoria from the darkness that once threatened its very existence."

 

With Alaric’s tale echoing in their ears, Liora and Thalia felt a renewed sense of purpose. They knew that their journey was about more than just adventure; it was a quest to uphold the legacy of those who had protected Eldoria before them.

And so, with the tooth gleaming above and the path ahead bathed in the stained glass’s kaleidoscopic light, they stepped forward, ready to face whatever mysteries awaited them in the heart of the castle. The kingdom of Eldoria, once buzzing with anticipation, now held its breath, waiting for the new chapter of its history to be written by the brave wizard and the two fairies, guardians of its past and hope for its future."

Visiting the Tooth Fairy

 

Yesterday, I had a fair(l)y unadventurous visit to the dentist. Just a regular check-up, which I "passed with flying colours" - i.e. nothing detected that needed fixing. 

Later in the day, trying to think of something to blog about but coming up with absolutely nothing, I turned to Bing Image Creator to ask for an illustration of a visit to "the Tooth Fairy".  From several attempts to rephrase my request, the most interesting image that came up was the one above. It did not really feel very relevant, though, so I gave up.

Today, looking at this image again, I decided to ask Copilot if I could upload an image and ask for a story to go with it. He (surely it's a he?) said yes, absolutely. It took me some time to figure out how, though. But it turned out that was just because not enough of the web page was visible on my screen - and strangely I had to enlarge rather than diminish to make that happen! Once I did succeed to upload the image from yesterday, though, the story came faster than I was able to read... But it didn't include anything to do with teeth!

Once upon a time, in the mystical land of Eldoria, there was a castle known for its enchanting beauty and the magical beings that resided within. The castle, built from the finest stone bricks, stood proudly amidst the rolling green hills, its conical roofs reaching towards the sky.

One early morning, as the sun began to rise, casting a golden hue over the land, two fairies named Liora and Thalia prepared for a momentous occasion. Liora, the elder fairy, wore a gown that shimmered like the morning dew, while Thalia’s attire sparkled with the vibrant colors of dawn.

Beside them stood an ancient wizard, Alaric, with a long white beard and wise eyes that had seen centuries unfold. In his hand, he held a set of keys, forged from starlight and imbued with powerful magic. These keys, he explained, would unlock the hidden chambers of the castle, revealing secrets and powers that had been dormant for ages.

Liora, with her wisdom and grace, was to guide Thalia, the brave and curious younger fairy, through the mysteries that awaited them. As they approached the arched doorway, Thalia’s heart fluttered with excitement. Her wings, delicate and colorful like a butterfly’s, left a trail of sparkling dust in the air.

The wizard Alaric whispered an incantation, and the keys glowed with an ethereal light. The door creaked open, revealing a world within that was both wondrous and strange. Lush green plants and vibrant mushrooms lined the path, leading them deeper into the castle’s heart.

As they ventured forth, the stained glass windows above cast warm, colorful patterns on the stone floor, guiding their way. The air was filled with the scent of ancient spells and the promise of discovery.

And so, Liora and Thalia embarked on their journey, their spirits high and their minds open to the endless possibilities that lay before them. The kingdom of Eldoria buzzed with anticipation, for the tale of magic, power, and discovery that unfolded that day would be told for generations to come.

And they all lived magically ever after.

Copilot then suggested that perhaps I wanted to know more about Eldoria? As he sounded quite eager to go on, I went along with that; and then got a whole background structure about this enchanted kingdom, its inhabitants, the land and the architecture. Feeling rather overwhelmed, I stopped there... 

Curiosity might tempt me to return another day to see if Copilot then still remembers Eldoria, though. And if I can get him to explain the presence of the tooth symbol on the castle, in the window above the door...

The Progress of Spring

 

 

 

Another quite warm day here, in spite of being rather grey. I managed a short walk just after lunch, before it started raining, and noted a lot of Scilla in bloom now, in the lawns around the estate where I live. 

And they have also started planting garden pansies in various places, like in a pot at the entrance of a small neighbourhood shop...

... and in the cemetery.

It was also warm enough for me to wear my new denim jacket rather than a winter coat.

I'll probably have to go back to wearing a winter coat again tomorrow though, as forecasts predict that then the temperature will have dropped back to 8 rather than 18'C (+ rain).

 

FLOWER in the crannied wall,

I pluck you out of the crannies,

I hold you here, root and all, in my hand,

Little flower--but if I could understand

What you are, root and all, all in all,

I should know what God and man is.

Alfred, Lord Tennyson

 

 

Delays and Diversions

 

Not a whole lot going on over the weekend (in my little corner of the world) except the recent snow melting and turning to rain. All gone again now; but leaving behind some early spring flowers who still seem to be wondering what hit them... 

This afternoon we're actually up to temperatures around +14'C (57'F) - but even if both my own kitchen window thermometer and my usually trustworthy phone app agree about that, it still does not feel like it to me! (Rather chilly winds blowing...)

Friday was Delivery Day for me, as in receiving and unpacking and putting away my fortnightly home delivery of groceries around noon. That usually tends to add up to rather enough activity for one day - usually finished off with a walk to the recycling station in the afternoon. (The downside of regular home deliveries is that one ends up with more large paper carrier bags than any normal single person is likely to be able to find other use for...)

Yesterday was one of those days filled with bits of Everything and Nothing, as in keeping me busy enough, but still leaving me with very little to report when looking back. Snow-free again outside, but still rather dull. I decided to devote part of my afternoon walk that day to inspect the consequences of a major road work project nearby - repairs of bridge crossing the railway, which involves that bridge now being closed for traffic over the next three months. During which times cars and buses and cyclists and even pedestrians are being redirected to use other streets and cycle lanes and walkways. 

Peeking through the fence

 

Luckily, there is a separate footbridge for cyclists and pedestrians nearby - a bit to the left from this view, and for me personally that is "on the right side", as in closer to where I live. And as I'm usually on foot, no need for my own sake to be all that concerned about the main road being closed for three months - except for the few occasions when I might feel like taking the bus for a change. Because those will obviously not be passing by here for a while now.

 I went to check on the sign at the nearest bus stop. It told me to "choose a stop nearby" and "search your destination". (They do not even include the word "online" but just assume everyone to be able to handle such searches from their phone nowadays.) 

I walked on a bit further to see if they had perhaps added some extra temporary bus stop on the way towards the city centre, before the next permanent one (which is by the railway station). They had not. That means that over the next three months, my two "most nearby" bus stops are each 15 min walk away from home - and whichever one I choose, I'm then already as close to the city centre as the bus will take me anyway... (Which is why I rarely bother about taking the bus at all, unless I'm going further than that.) 

I'm not too worried for my own sake (as I'm used to walking that distance, and thanks to the  regular home deliveres rarely have to carry much now) - but I'm still wondering what on earth The Authorities behind the planning are thinking. What about people in need of walkers or crutches, or with heavy bags of groceries to carry? Or parents with small children? Most of the people living around here are either pensioners or young families.

April Weather Update

 

The Easter Chickens were really upset about all the snow we had after Easter, so I put them back to bed today, together with the Easter Eggs.

This rooster (also caretaker of a small kalanchoë plant) decided to stay for a bit longer, though. (He doesn't hibernate in the same box as the others anyway.) 

 

Snow photo from Wednesday

Yesterday was actually mostly sunny, but still too cold for all snow and ice to go away. And today we got more snow, even if less than expected (around here). From tomorrow we should be back to rain and thaw again, though...

Luckily I did not have to go anywhere these past three days;  and no need for that tomorrow either, as it's my week for home delivery from the supermarket.