The chirping of birds, swooshing of winds, and the rustling of trees and a little specks of chatters from the outside. Serenity and peace. Such a place everyone always wanted to experience aside from the hustle of the city. So as what Maiden thinks and feels as well. She never thought she would be in this kind of state feeling calm and relaxed for the very first time.
However, Maiden, widen her thoughts and ponder, But wait! the Last thing I remembered was, I was poisoned by Adela. So how did I end up being in this place?
Ah. This was probably in heaven. Serenity, calmness, and contentment, this was the feeling I feel in here. So I am sure that this is heaven.
She happily thinks these thoughts in her mind. Maiden, although has been born into such a wealthy family, was spoiled with the needs and wants that everyone in the world wanted but she also experienced everyone else experience of losing a loved one. And in her, at such a young age of 15. In her teens where she should have enjoyed her youth, where she should have enjoyed the feeling of being free yet guided by her parents. But she lost them. Thus, feeling this unexpected ambiance makes her anticipate the good things in life again.
But sucks? I did awful things when I am alive so why am I in heaven? Why am I in such a place as peaceful and calm as this?
Or this could be hell trying to conceal its ruthlessness? Maybe it was hell after all. Maybe the devil's trying to play with me.
Maiden began to think of all possibilities on how she has reached this place. She could not imagine being in heaven as well, as she knew she was no saint. She did what every greedy, vengeful mankind did to their foe, so she wasn't positive about being in heaven.
As she was in the middle of pondering, she heard again the little chatters she have heard earlier and it became much audible. It... Or they slowly stepped closer and closer until she heard them comprehensively. She heard a woman cry that said, "Alani, thank you for saving my daughter. I owe you my daughter's life." The woman paused, in between her sobs she continued, "My daughter is everything to me. Without her, I don't even know how to live. When her father died, I know we were left to hang on each other's arms. If she would also be gone, I would be nothing anymore. I will be such a useless mother. That's why I thank you for saving her life. Thank you." She cried even harder and repeatedly said her gratitude towards the other person who the crying woman called Alani, whom Maiden thinks is a girl as well. Leaving alongside the person the crying woman is talking to. Maiden focused on the woman giving her thanks repeatedly while crying her hearts out. She feels quite conflicted about the crying woman's cries. As if she could feel her pain. As she could feel how grateful and anxious she is.
She wanted to open her eyes that has been closed all this time, as she wanted to see who is this woman that is crying for her daughter. As she began to think that the gentleness of the woman's voice while saying that her daughter is everything to her, resembles the gentleness and care her mother has for her way back then. She is quite like this woman, gentle and caring towards her. She remembered that when she carelessly injured herself and got bruises, her mother will scold her but afterward would give her a hug saying gentle words that makes her heart melt.
Maiden reflexively smiled as she reminisce the thoughts of her mother scolding her but still love her so much. Then she hoped the daughter of this caring woman is okay. She's really very fortunate enough to have such a wonderful mother. She thought to herself.
She then felt a little pang of envy towards this woman's daughter. She guessed that maybe she was as caring as her mother so this daughter of hers should not take her for granted and enjoyed each passing moment while they are still together. Maiden hopes that they will not be like her and her mom that did not enjoy much of their cherished moments.
She sighed innerly. This is how I am now. Hell must be replaying people's lives to get me envied and jealous. She sighed again not contemplating to even open her eyes again to see who this mother is and who is her lucky child is. Cause she knew once she open her eyes, she would likely be jealous of the woman's child. Jealous, even though she knew her parents loved her more than anything else in this world. But what else could she do than feel jealous as her parents died too early. Too early for her to even be used to their loved. Too early to even enjoy how warmth their love may feel. She sighed again for the third time.
She then heard the woman called Alani say, which makes her shot her eyes open. "I did what I think is necessary at that moment, Mrs. Caliber."
She very least expected to hear such a familiar name. Alani just called this crying woman by her last name which is Caliber. Is it just a coincidence?
She looks towards the woman whose been called Mrs. Caliber. She seemed to be old for her age. She guessed she's around in her early thirties. As she further examined her, she see how beautiful this woman is. Freckles on her nose and a little wrinkles on her forehead. And a surprised eyes that landed right through Maiden.
Wait? Can she see ghost?
Maiden furrowed her brow, as she knew there was no way they can see a ghost. But aside from the feeling of surprise, she suddenly comes to notice the feeling of relief and... happiness?
What should I be happy about? While Maiden is busy sorting out her feelings the woman whose been crying earlier scurried and touched her face with a look of happiness and love. Not even minding how puzzled the face she is touching right now.
Why did she touch my face? And why do I feel the warmth coming from her hands? I am a ghost for heaven's sake. I have died of poison! Are they also a ghost?
Maiden takes her surrounding thoroughly, while slightly avoiding the light coming from the small window right beside their door. It stings her eyes. As she regained back her vision, she saw this Alani girl also staring right through her. Also kind of happy. As her vision right passes through her she takes every single inch of the place she's in. It was a small room with the least decor she can see. The walls are smudged with paintless wood while the floor... oh well I can't see the floor in here. There's a small table right beside the bed that she's in with no lamp whatsoever but a candle merely hanging for its dear life.
She thought to herself. This family is poor then. With no generator or so to put up the electricity interruption.
But she suddenly jolted, she can't see any sign of electrical wirings all over the place there's not even a light bulb over the ceiling but a plain and empty one.
Are they too poor for it?
She scanned back the mother whose hands are still caressing her cheeks and Alani who sat at the bedside right beside her knee.
Wait?! Why are the dresses so peculiar? It seems like it's.. Wait a minute. AM I IN MEDIEVAL TIMES?
These women beside her dressed simpler than she expected but she knew that these kinds of dresses are used in medieval times. She had studied it before. They must be some kind of peasants or serfs, if she may say.
Nonetheless, they're beautiful. Maiden can say that simple is beautiful and presentable in some ways. It will definitely show your true inner self.
"Are you okay, Pheia? (Fe-ya, like in Cassiopeia but with an f)
The woman searched for her eyes and look worried. Maiden didn't answer one bit which caused the woman to feel distressed and asked again, "Pheia? Are you alright, dear?" The woman's eyes still searched for Maiden's eyes which concludes the situation. I am the one she's talking to. I am the one she's called Pheia.
"I... ahm... okay." Maiden doesn't know how to answer her pleading eyes but to say the words she wanted to hear. The woman then heaves a sigh of relief, she taps Maiden's hand and reminded her, "You have to rest dear, you've got injuries to mend and I have to tend to." She followed the woman's hand as she gestured towards Maiden's head.
Maiden touched her head and feel the gauge that binds into it."What happened?" she asked silently.
" You've felled dear."
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Maiden walked back and forth in her small room. After a couple of days of recuperating to heal her head, she can finally get out of her bed. However, she hasn't gone so much outside of the room and chose to remain in it the entire time. She doesn't even bother to welcome the sun outside even though it's tempting her to the extreme.When she woke up in Pheia's body back then, she tried to find in Pheia's memories who Pheia was and the people around her. Maiden is definitely confused about how to recognize herself. Whether to call herself Maiden or just accept that she is now Pheia.She sighed while sitting at the edge of her bed and whisper to herself, God knows how many lies I tried to con just to save my
The first thing she feels when she wakes up this morning is the heavy thump of her head. Yesterday, she knew she saw visions, well, the memories of Pheia.It showed how she was, as a person. And as far as she was concerned, they are way too opposite. She's kind, she's helpful, generous, and all good characteristics of a lady. While Maiden couldn't even compare to her goodness. She can't even make good friends before. But one thing that she knew she outweighed Pheia was her confidence.Pheia was not at all confident in herself. She couldn't even take a single glance at her body without being upset. She often bowed herself in front of many people because she was so fat, even though people around her would hardly comment on it. But she still felt upset and discriminated against.Don't worry Pheia. I will bring
Today is the seventh day of Pheia's training. And still, the man has not been in his conscious state. The healers often visit him but not as much as the first consecutive days.Even though they put some spell for his healing, the healers didn't have much power to absolutely heal the man's wound. But if ever they happened to be a light attribute user, then it would be pretty easy for them to heal him. In this world, healing magic is scarce even more so are those with light attributes. Thus, the recovery period for those with illness, injury, or disease is slower than with the light attribute user using his own allex(the mana/qi affiliate in this story).But, Pheia, on the other hand, does not bother herself about those things. She doesn't bother herself about possessing any magic. She feels that what she has now is enough for her. Especially being with her mother. She knew and feels that it is her bliss. A second chance of
After realization hits Maiden, after she convinced herself that she is in an otome novel that was once written by her mother, she feels comfortable and weary at the same time. Comfortable, because this is her mom's work, imagination, and ideas. Her emotions are in here. And weary, since these specific events did not occur in the story. And it makes her worry about their safety, especially since she was the one who saves this prince.Soon after the healer left, she sensed her mother who seems to be thinking seriously."Mother, what's wrong?" her mother's worried face turns to her and then tried to smile."Nothing Pheia. It's just... I think we're in danger." She said while grabbing Pheia's hands and holding them firmly."I think keeping the Prince here can cause danger in our lives. You know how dangerous it is. We cannot afford to lose our lives just by protecting that Prince. And
Minutes, and hours passed until Maiden and her mom finished talking about the things that has happened in the past and their great resolution for this upcoming dilemma.Maiden found out that her mom, aside from being a writer, was once a military personnel. She's part of the team that rescued several people from terrorist attacks in their country before. But when she met Maiden's dad on one of her mission, they hang out and developed feelings for each other.It's just funny that her mom was the one who proposed to her dad for marriage. Well, of course, her dad agrees because if he didn't, he'd be a lump of dead meat. Her mom's coercion brings them to a prosperous marriage. She also found out that her mom didn't know that her dad is a multi-billionaire and when she did find out, she was shocked and decided to cut ties with Maiden's dad. But of course, Maiden's dad will not let it happen. It turns upside down, her mom's c
She stared at the injured prince as he continued to cough until she see some red blood in his mouth. Pheia gasped and the first thing she said was."Why are you here? You're supposed to be healing!" He glared his eyes at her as if saying "You're supposed to say THANK YOU!"Maiden then recovered herself, looked at him, and said, "Thank you for saving me."Then she walked towards the wolf who's been frozen to death and pulled out her knife that was frozen too. Even though she exerted more effort, she couldn't pull out the knife from the wolf's flesh. She struggled and even guided her feet as an anchor of strength to pull the knife but still, nothing happens. And for a while, she became frustrated and ends up stomping the frozen wolf.The Prince who had been
Pheia ran hurriedly inside the forest, not minding the twigs that left blood in her exposed skin, like the arms and thighs.She grab her knife tightly as she imagined all possible scenarios of the Prince today. Maybe he was eaten by a pack of wolves, a pack of hyenas, or even bitten by some poisonous animals.Maybe he was now paralyzed and is just waiting to be eaten alive by the beast, or worst, he was now a piece of fleshless bones scattered on the earth's grass floor.She might prefer seeing him paralyzed than just bones, at least she could watch him die... No! No! I am not an assassin anymore that enjoys killing. I am now Pheia, a virtuous young lady, who is generous, helpful, and a lively person. Besides, the prince helps me earlier so I just have to return the favor. But is it him who has paid the favor? So we're quits and even now. So why should I help him? I should have let him die. But my mother
"Do you know how worried my mother was back then, seeing you heavily injured? As if you're her child and not me? She continued to attend to you and stopped when she realized that you should not be there. And we're in danger. Do you know my mother cares about people around her here? Do you----""Can you please stop your nagging? I know, okay. So stopped." He butted in and was annoyed by Pheia's ceaseless nagging.Pheia sneered, You should be!Seeing him annoyed was a satisfaction to her, and knowing that he couldn't reason with her, the prince tsked and surrender. He climbed down very skillfully from the tree leaving Pheia there staring at his, already at the ground, self.How about my effort?"So what now? You're not going to climb down and go, or what?" He asked plainly. He look at the vines in Pheia's w