Music Welcome to Snewscast, the podcast designed to help you fall asleep. Find us at snoozecast.com and if you enjoy our show, please share us with a friend. This episode is brought to you by the illuminated paradise. Tonight we'll read a snooze cast original story called Adrian and the Unicorn's Reality. This is the follow-up story to last month's episode titled Adeline and the Unicorn's Realm. In this story, Adrian, a budding artist with a pension for vibrant designs, stumbles upon an otherworldly revelation guided by a mysterious figure. He discovers the enchanting potential of his own creations to transport him into a realm beyond imagination, where a unicorn emerges as a mystical guide between the tangible and the extraordinary. In the study of classical antiquity, unicorns are not found in Greek mythology, but rather in their accounts of their natural history. Greek writers of natural history were convinced of the reality of unicorns, which they believed lived in India, a distant and fabulous realm for them.

The earliest description described them as wild asses, fleet of foot, having a horn over two feet in length, and colored, white, red, and black.

Let's get cozy.

Close your eyes.

Relax your body into the softness of your bed.

Now, take a few deep breaths. In the language days of the summer of 1983, a couple with a pension for deals and a knack for renovation embarked on an ambitious project. An old mansion nestled within a suburban tract outside of Providence, Rhode Island. The neighborhood, a canvas mostly painted with homes from the late 70s, held within it the surprising grandeur of a structure much larger and significantly older than its surroundings. The mansion, standing sentinel on a wooded lot with a view of a private pond, stood in stark contrast to the neighboring plots of barren lawns. The lure of this aged beauty lay not just in its dimensions, but in the promise of transformation. A stately residence reborn through the hands of dedicated renovators. Drawn by the potential for a unique project, the couple saw pass the apparent disrepair evident in the listing photos. The realtor had described it as art nouveau, a label that intrigued but failed to encapsulate the mansion's eclectic identity. Upon closer inspection, it became evident that the house was a bespoke creation, a fusion of artistic influences from the turn of the century, defiantly eluding classification within any specific school of design. As they delved into the restoration, uncovering layers of forgotten history and the echoes of a bygone era, the couple became enamored with the mansion's enigmatic charm. The walls whispered tales of extravagant gatherings, whispered secrets, and perhaps even untold mysteries. The windows framed views of a private pond, its waters mirroring the reflections of the past and present. The mansion, for several decades overshadowed by neglect, now stood as an enduring spirit of craftsmanship and the timeless allure of its architectural artistry. In the midst of their grand renovation endeavor, the couple found themselves facing a pivotal moment in the dusty heart of the mansion. Armed with sledgehammers and fueled by the spirit of transformation, they stood before an interior wall in a large dimly lit room. The next canvas for their ambitious plans. Intense on crafting a modern kitchen that seamlessly melded with the adjacent space that would become a dining room, the couple prepared to demolish the barrier that separated them. However, as they poised their sledgehammers for the first swing, a curious pause overcame them. As dust-modes floated in the afternoon sunlight, their eyes were drawn to what appeared to be a faded mural that time had worn into a ghostly memory on the wooden canvas. The room featured oversized windows. The absence of curtains allowed sunlight to stream in, but it had also played its part in bleaching the murals already subtle colors to an even more subdued whisper. The couple decided they must take action despite their uncertainty and took up with their sledgehammers. Beneath the rubble of the now demolished wall, the couple discovered a collection of huge wooden crates, seemingly forgotten and concealed for decades. It seems that the Murald Wall was built in front of what was the actual original wall in order to conceal the crates sandwiched in between. As they carefully pride-open the crates with a crowbar, their eyes widened in astonishment at the sight that unfolded before them. Neatly arranged were approximately 1200 larger than life paintings. The paintings, vast in scale, featured geometric figures rendered in intense, bright colors. The canvas became a stage for fantastical mythical creatures. forms dancing across the expanse, with an ethereal grace. Lush wild gardens of plants and flowers blossomed, in vivid hues, each stroke of the brush breathing life into a world that transcended the mundane. Staring at this trove of artistic wonders, the couple felt an overwhelming sense of awe. The paintings seemed to radiate energy as if the mythical creatures and landscapes had been trapped within the wooden crates, yearning for release into the light of day. Baffled by the sheer magnitude and other worldly quality of the paintings, the couple found themselves grappling with questions. Was this an enormous scenography for a forgotten theatrical performance? Or perhaps a clandestine collection of illegal, even stolen art? Caught in the whirlwind of their ongoing renovations and the demands of transforming the mansion, the couple decided to temporarily set aside the weighty questions that clung to the paintings like an unseen mist. With a practical mindset, they resolved to move the crates to the attic of the barn adjacent to the main house. The attic, a space less frequented, and yet to be touched by the transformative hands of renovation, became a makeshift sanctuary for the masterpiece. The attic with its slanting roof and wooden beams granted the paintings another reprieve from the scrutiny of the outside world. The couple reasons that they would return to the attic when the clamor of construction subsided,

affording them the luxury of time to ponder the true nature of their discovery. A decade had passed since the couple first embarked on the grand restoration of their mansion, and the fruits of their labor now stood

as a sign to dedication and vision. In those 10 years, a new chapter had also unfolded, marked by the birth of their son, Adrian. At five years old, Adrian was a lively and imaginative child. His young spirit, a reflection of the renewed vitality that permeated the once dilapidated mansion. Adrian, with a shock of unruly dark hair and eyes that mirrored the wonder of the world around him. Often found solace at the kitchen table, whenever his parents would provide him with scrap paper, mostly the back of unnecessary office papers. Adrian lost sense of time in the world of his drawings and doodles. Comic book heroes, dragons and wizards came to life under the strokes of his small hands, creating a tapestry of fantastical realms that danced on the pages before him. Concerned about Adrian's prolonged hours at the table and the potential strain on his eyes, his parents often decided it was time for him to step outside and absorb some sunlight. So with a nudge, Adrian was sent out to play in the yard, his eyes blinking in adjustment to the brightness of the sun. As Adrian stepped into the outdoor haven surrounding his home, the little boy embraced the change of scenery with the unbridled enthusiasm of boyhood. the transition from his artistic endeavors indoors to the outdoor wonders of nature became

a- of boyhood. The transition from his artistic endeavors indoors to the outdoor wonders of nature became a thrilling adventure. No longer confined to paper and pencil, he transformed into a forest creature, a lion, or even a mighty dinosaur. The yard, with its mature oak trees and outcroppings of granite, became the backdrop for his adventures. Adrian stalked through imaginary jungles, pouncing from hidden corners, and expertly climbing trees, conquering the heights with the fearless spirit of a young explorer. Near the pond, with gleeful stomps, Adrian imprinted dinosaur tracks into the silt, leaving behind a trail that spoke of ancient creatures. The yard transformed into a stage for his fantasies, where the boundaries between reality and make believe blurred. On one particularly sunny and enchanting summer morning, Adrian found himself caught in the

magic of the mansion's wooded Glen. The air was filled with bird song, and the dappling sunlight played hide and seek through the branches. In the midst of his playful, shuffling, stomping, and joyous singing, Adrian stumbled upon a sight that made his heart skip a beat.

Before him, in a small clearing bathed in the soft glow of sunlight filtering through summer leaves, their lay a circle of glowing orbs. To Adrienne's innocent eyes, this was a mysterious arrangement that sparked wonder. This was a phenomenon known to many as a fairy ring, where mushrooms grew in a perfect circle. In the center of this circle stood a unicorn. The majestic being towering above the small child in all its rigality was a vision of strength and grace. Its coat, pure white and shimmering like moonlight, accentuated the powerful muscles that rippled beneath. The unicorns' mane flowed in cascading waves, catching the sunlight. Adrian could hardly believe the scene unfolding before him. The unicorn, its presence commanding and gentle seemed to radiate an aura of ancient wisdom and untamed beauty. In his innocence, Adrian saw a friend in the majestic creature, a companion in the realm of his imagination. He approached the fairy circle with a mixture of trepidation and excitement. The unicorn was aware of his presence and turned its head to regard the young adventurer. With a nudge from its muzzle, it seemed to invite Adrian into its world. The boy took a step into the fairy circle, his small hand reaching out to touch the unicorn's velvety nose. The Glen bore witness to a moment of pure magic, a communion between the boy and the creature that had materialized in the heart of the mansion's woods. The unicorn, as if stirred by the presence of a kindred spirit, began to prance in a dance of joy. Its hooves now barely touched the ground, and the air itself seemed to shimmer with the magic of the moment. And then, in an instant, the unicorn dashed into the woods, and Adrian wasted no time in following his newfound friend. Through the woods, he raced with all the might in his little legs, his laughter trailing behind like a melody. The trees, witnesses to the spirited chase, whispered secrets to the wind. Panting and breathless, Adrian finally came to a stop. His hands resting on his corduroyed knees as he looked around. To his astonishment, the landscape had undergone a profound transformation. The greens of the foliage, the browns of the trees

and the pale blues of the sky had disappeared

and were replaced by a palette of bright light pastel,

pinks, oranges and blues.

Adrian stood in awe, surrounded by this new land, twinkling light stanced in the air, and fantastical creatures flitted about. The air itself seemed to shimmer, and the ground beneath his feet was adorned with soft, delicate, aquamarine grass.

The unicorn, now standing regally amidst the fantastical landscape, turned to gaze at Adrian with eyes full of wisdom. A momentary panic washed over the boy, the unicorn, which had pranced and danced ahead, now seemed to have vanished into the vibrant wilderness. But then, Adrian's adventurous spirit prevailed as it always would. Surveying the ground, Adrian's eyes fell upon the soft turquoise velvet moss that carpeted the ground. There imprinted were the unmistakable footprints of the unicorn.

A sense of relief swept over him as he realized that he could follow each hoof print back to where he came from. The moss beneath his Velcroed tennis shoes felt like a plush carpet, and the air was filled with the fragrance of flowering foliage. These hoof prints guided him through the landscape. He came upon a wall of flowering and whimsically curving trees, and as Adrian stepped through their branches, he found himself crossing a threshold into a realm where reality and fantasy blended seamlessly. As Adrian retraced his steps, the landscape around him began to shift and transform once again. The bright pastels faded away, and in their place emerged the familiar summertime hues of his New England world. Browns, pans, and dark greens enveloped the surroundings, interspersed with occasional whites, yellows and blues. Arriving back at the waterside of the pond, Adrian sat on the edge of his family's canoe as it lay nestled near the reeds. The rhythmic rustle of reeds and the gentle lapping of water against the shore created a soothing soundscape. Adrian watched as Mallard Ducks floated placidly by. His mind still swirling with the images of the magical Glen. What had he seen? The question echoed in his thoughts. The ducks seemingly unperturbed by the musings of the little adventurer continued their leisurely navigation across the reflective surface of the pond. Back at the kitchen table, Adrian fueled by the urgency to capture the details of his encounter began to translate the vivid images from his memory onto the scrap paper. His small hands moved with purpose, attempting to recreate scenes he had witnessed, ducks, twinkling lights, and the unicorn with the horn, his unique horn came to life on the pages.

The act of drawing became a bridge between the fantastical realm and the tangible world of paper and pencil. As he worked diligently, a thought tugged at the edges of his mind. He didn't know how to research things, and the word research held no meaning for him yet. The confines of his understanding, limited by the simplicity of childhood, left him without the tools to delve into the mysteries that unfolded in the woods. Adrian's world was one of immediate exploration and curiosity, where the wonders he encountered were absorbed instantly through the lens of his eyes. The concept of researching the unicorn or the magical glen remained elusive, and even if he could look it up, what would he find exactly? Yet, undeterred, Adrian poured his imagination onto the paper. The drawings, vivid impressions etched in his memory, held an authenticity that only a child's unfiltered perception can capture. Adrian's love for doodling and drawing persisted through the years, carrying him into his final year of high school in the 1990s. His class notebooks became canvases of creativity adorned with intricate sketches that spilled over the margins. Not content with keeping his artistic flair confined to his own notebooks, he extended his creative touch to the margins of his friends as well. His penchant for humor translated into the notes he wrote, sometimes scribbled during class, sometimes carefully crafted during moments of inspiration. The notes often doubled as love letters for a special someone or other. were bundles of silliness, charm, and wit. Ingeniously folded into self-contained packages, the notes became both a surprise and a delight for their recipients. During some downtime, his final spring school break, Adrian dedicated time to clean out a section of the old barn in preparation for his impending move to college. While there, he unearthed among the dust and cobwebs, sealed crates that had sat undisturbed for many years, a relic from before he was born. As he found a crowbar and carefully worked through the latches and hinges, and the lids started to creak open, a trove of paintings was revealed. The mythical creatures, wild gardens, and vibrant colors transported Adrian back to the enchanted Glen of his boyhood where the unicorn pranced in the air shimmered with magic. As he sifted through the paintings, Adrian felt a profound connection to the imaginative spirit that had once thrived within these walls. The discovery, hidden away for years, became a bridge between the artists who had been and the artist he was becoming. What told did his parents know that in uncovering these masterpieces initially and then somehow forgetting them again? They had provided their son with a treasure map that connected him not only to the to the mansion's enigmatic past, but also to the artist's vision, one that had remained hidden for far too long. Questions danced in Adrian's mind. Who had created these? Why were they stored away hidden from the world? The absence of a signature on the paintings only deepens the mystery surrounding their origin. And the paintings being larger than him would be too unwieldy to cart around anywhere on his own. Finding his camera, he snapped photos of as many paintings as his film role had left. Later, in the dimly lit dark room of his high school, Adrian developed the photographs, watching as the images emerged from the depths of the film.

Eager for answers, Adrian sought the guidance of his art teacher, a beacon of knowledge in the realm of visual arts. With a sense of anticipation, he presented the photographs and inquired about the elusive artist behind the paintings. The teacher acknowledged that the manchin's original owner was a famous artist, but the style of the paintings did in a line with the known works of that individual at all. This revelation sparked a new theory. Perhaps the paintings were crafted by a friend or contemporary of the renowned artist. Soon Adrian went off to school. His admission to the prestigious, but conveniently close by Rhode Island School of Design marked the beginning of a transformative chapter in his life. But not satisfied with only focusing on academic pursuits in the early 2000s, Adrian embarked on a bold venture. He launched a design business that transformed the magical realms of his youth into tangible, vibrant merchandise. The bright colors and shapes that adorned the canvases now found new life on t-shirts, mugs, wall art, school binders, and journals. The merchandise resonated with a wide audience. The success of his business surpassed expectations, propelling him into the realm of commercial

success while still pursuing his education. The financial achievements of his endeavors eventually reached a point where Adrian chose to drop out of school and focus wholeheartedly on growing his business. The decision marked a pivotal moment for the young man, a leap of faith into the entrepreneurial world where his creative vision would flourish. His designs, born from the hidden artworks, and the mansion he grew up in, resonated with a broad audience eager to embrace the whimsical and fantastical. As he navigated through this business landscape, he remained connected to the artistic spirit that had been kindled within the walls of his home. The unicorn, once a fleeting encounter in the woods, now galloped across t-shirts and adorned walls, a symbol of the extraordinary potential that lies within the ordinary. Amidst the hustle and success of his business, Adrian found himself occasionally drawn back to the quiet moments of contemplation. The mysteries that had lingered in the background like subtle echoes continued to whisper to him in those quiet instances. The nigma of the paintings stood as silent guardians of a secret that time had yet to unveil. In those reflective moments, the memory of the other realm he had stumbled into as a child resurfaced. It was a secret he had guarded, a tale unto anyone. They remained a cherished fragment of his personal mythology. Years later, in the 2020s, and alisha.jensen at gmail.com emailed Adrian to say he needed to speak to Adrian about his designs. At first, the casual concern about potential copyright issues or legal entanglements prompted Adrian to ignore the message and to ignore a follow-up email from Mr. Jensen as well. However, the emails persisted, and with them developed, some references to connecting to other realms of consciousness through art. This stirred a mixture of curiosity and apprehension within Adrian, but the mention of transcendent experiences through art eventually compelled Adrian to respond. In his cautious reply, Adrian expressed his willingness to meet and discuss the matter in person in a public location, of course. He was intrigued and a face-to-face conversation seemed like the best way to determine quickly if there was any validity to what had been hinted at in the digital exchanges.

The agreed upon meeting unfolded in a bustling downtown cafe, where Adrian and Elijah engaged in a conversation that definitely veered outside the boundaries of a typical business one.

It quickly became apparent that Elijah was not there to accuse Adrian of any wrongdoing, but to share a unique perspective where creativity became a conduit to realms beyond the tangible.

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