The Lady At Edintrough (short story) | LET'S MAKE A COLLAGE: FreeStyle Collage No. 4

I decided to continue a project I began during the 2022 LMAC summer break. During that time, I created three freestyle collages. I like this style of collage creation as I'm able to utilize any eligible image I desire to complete my theme.

I decided to continue utilizing images from the LIL, as well as previous LMAC contest photos. Combined with those, I'll begin to utilize my new style of image creation, Stable Diffusion. I create this type of art from free sourced stable diffusion programs. Finally, my fractals, abstract art images, some of which are whitelisted in the LIL, will be included.

My current collage project is the fourth installment in my FreeStyle collage theme efforts. I'll concentrate on one collage theme for each post due to my time constraints. Compiling sources and completing each theme is a bit time consuming. However, it's also fun and relaxing as short stories or poems usually find their way into my collage projects.

For my Freestyle Collage No. 4, I utilized a previous round 147 contest image for the landscape portion of my theme.

In the valley beyond the small town of Edintrough sat a mysterious clearing of land. The surrounding hills covered its presence in winter. The valley was dry; however, in summer, trees sang, mountaintops danced. Lush greenery blanketed the pasture surrounding the clearing. Food sources thrived.

Many flocked to witness the strange appearance rumored to occur each year.

The elders recounted the strange appearance of the lady from the sky. Asked if she descended in a spiritual manner, they shook their heads in confusion. Some protested. Others acknowledged reluctantly that she fell from the large, blue circle hovering above the sky.

One evening following a severe storm, the moon disappeared. So did the stars as the lady appeared. Her brightness illuminated the heavens.

No stairs did she climb to rest in her position. No anchor attached to her body could be found. She just sat upon her cerulean foundation of pillows, grace, and serenity.

Silent. Smiling. Eyes of sapphire that grew round as if taking in the breadth of that place, told of knowledge kept from ages past.

No crown could be seen; only a flowing gown ushering in a cool breeze on that humid summer evening.

Her throat appeared severed as if wounded in battle. From it flowed a strange gray-brown liquid.

After whispering among themselves, they decided not to divulge anything further out of fear of retribution. From what, they couldn't quite place a name to it.

Numerous townspeople approached. Their outstretched hands were weary and worn, etched with blisters from the mines deep within the earth. The fountain washed them clean before accepting the cascading liquid.

The believers; those from the salt of the earth left. They left renewed, with a strong song in their hearts and love for their fellow man. They left hatred and bigotry behind for past slights garnered together and beat down against them.

They went from that town out to new horizons to prosper and spread the word of the lady with no name.

Word spread.

Many seekers and naysayers aiming to disprove this rumor traveled far, but were turned away. As they left, cries could be heard, "why not serve me for I'm in need!"

But the light from her forehead turned dark in their faces.

They retreated else risked being turned to stone uttering false declarations. This much others previously bore witness to.

Afterward, those who questioned her motives refrained from visiting.
Perhaps she was but an alien messenger sent to spy and gain their trust, then turn on them, they concluded.

It helped to ease their pain of being turned away...unworthy of the gift of life.

My theme revolves around an unknown female who appears from the sky. Her appearance in the small town causes a stir to all who sees and ventures to her location. Some refuse to believe what they see. Others accept it willingly. To create my theme of an ethereal lady, I utilized the stable diffusion program NIGHT CAFE.

To create the stable diffusion art, below are my steps:

After completion of the generative art, I then uploaded it, the contest photo and all other images into Canva to take advantage of my Annual Pro Membership Subscription.

I located a lovely photo of a woman with a flowing outfit that was perfect to represent the elegant female.

^Source

Below are the additional images I included to complete my theme:

• Planet blue by Creative_Force at Pixabay

• Waterfall by A_Mable at PurePNG

• Red squirrel Contributed to the #LIL by @redheadpei

• Water blue Contributed to the #LIL by @onyechi

• Abstract art blue and brown fence created by me in Bomomo

• Fractal white butterfly created by me in Apophysis 2.09

• Fractal Red and Yellow Bouquet created by me in Apophysis 7x

• Fractal Conehead alien created by me in Apophysis 2.09

• Fractal butterfly exposed created by me in Apophysis 2.09