The next day was usual and fresh. No dealing with Miss Rosy and no more drama although Ae Rin still regrets missing her day off.
Right after Kyou left, Miss Rosy started crying in front of all the people and ran out since she was heartbroken after he addressed her as "sister". Her heart must have been pierced by countless daggers when her own crush called her "sister".
After a few weeks, according to Miss Rosy's appointment, she came to meet Ae Rin; thankfully for health issues this time, not for stupid issues.
They had just another one of those usual patient - doctor conversation and everything went just fine. She seemed rather cheerful for a woman who had been 'slapped' on her face by her crush. After she left, Ae Rin relaxed on her chair and looked out of the window.
The cool wind blew over her face and the chirping of the birds seemed to soothe her and a smile cracked on her face. While she was gazing at the green bushes and trees out there, something caught her attention.
She could see Miss Rosy standing at the sidewalk and a car pulling over in front of her. Out from the car, came out a tall and handsome man in a black suit. His hair was black as well and a pair of sea green eyes stared warmly at Miss Rosy. They hugged each other and had a little chat before getting into the car and leaving.
"Such a lousy woman. Who would believe that she was crying just the other day and now already has a boyfriend?" Ae Rin stared at them in disbelief as the car left.
"Ae Rin!" Kyou opened the door and slammed it shut behind him. Ae Rin turned her chair to look at him.
"What?"
He seemed to be irritated for some reason.
"Yesterday... Where were you? You left me there with your psycho friend!"
"Should have known this was coming... " Ae Rin mumbled under her breath while trying to think of an excuse.
"A friend of mine needed some help with something.... It was urgent so I had to go without saying anything. Sorry. " She replied, sounding not even a single bit apologetic.
"You're lying. I can see it clearly. I m asking again. WHY didn't you come?" He gave her a deadly stare.
"It wouldn't hurt to tell him now, right?" She thought carefully for a while.
"If I say you, just.. just don't get pissed, okay?" She requested.
He crossed his arms over his chest and said, "I can't promise anything until you say me."
Ae Rin sighed and explained everything to him anyway.
"What?! Haru was in it too?! He knows that I-" He stopped.
"You what?" Ae Rin asked bluntly.
He got flustered and looked down, "Nothing. But you shouldn't have agreed on doing that! "
"The hospital was at risk. She was an important client. Can't afford to lose her. That's it. End of the discussion." She said dismissively.
"Huh?! The hospital is more important to you or me?" He blurted out without giving it much thought. The moment he realised what he had just said, he wished to burry himself and die right then and there.
Ae Rin didn't show any hint of surprise. She stared at him blankly before saying, "Of course the hospital is more important to me. Why would you be important?"
Kyou felt like somebody had just punched him right in the face, but he dared not to let it show in his face.
"Oh, anyways, can you call Hannah to come over here? I needed to review a patient's reports." She asked.
He cleared his throat, "Y-Yeah, sure. I'll get going now."
"Well... That was awkward." Ae Rin laughed after he left the cabin.
She spun her chair around again and returned to looking out of the window. "Ah... This is nice.. " She closed her eyes and smiled, letting the cool wind blow over her face.
Her expression suddenly changed into pain. She felt a sharp, painful sting on the back of her neck. She groaned in pain while rubbing the back of her neck. "W-What's all this blood? Its starting to hurt! "
Blood dripped from the back of her head and her forehead.
She writhed in pain as she managed to get up from the chair, stumbling and trembling along the way as she extended her hand reaching for the door knob and opened the door.
Her vision started to become blurry as she stumbled out of the room as fast her legs could carry her. "H-help.... "
No one. Nobody except her was there outside. She was confused but she couldn't think straight or focus anywhere because of the pain. It kept increasing by every minute and she was losing more and more blood.
She breathed heavily and tried to keep her eyes open but her body said otherwise; she had already fallen to the ground. The blood dripped from her forehead and trailed down her arm and pooled on the floor. Her eyelids felt heavy and she couldn't move her body anymore and lost consciousness.
"Rise, child." A pleasant fatherly voice rang in her mind.
The very next moment, she opened her eyes and immediately touched her head.
"There's no blood.. No pain...What happ-?"
Before she could finish it, she noticed the floor. The floor wasn't there anymore. Instead, it was sand, just plain golden yellow sand.
She looked up to see dark black clouds covering the sky and lightning and thunder rumbling through the sky. The wind started to pick up its pace.
"What is this place? Where am I?"
There was nothing but sand wherever her eyes wandered off to. She stood up, her hands shielding her eyes from the dusty wind blowing towards her.
"Servia, daughter of Aamon, you must go far away from this world ." It was the same fatherly voice.
She immediately spun around to see who had called her.
She stood there, surprised for a moment when she saw a figure of an old man created by the dusty wind staring back at her.
"Who are you? What do you want?" She asked the man, ready to guard herself just in case.
"I am a black guardian, Azura, who serves your father. I am simply here to convey his message that he wished you to do." The man replied.
"And you expect me to do what he says?! He wants to destroy this world!" She scowled.
"You have mistaken him. Now then, I can't manage this portal forever. Go to Arthalia and meet their lord, your questions shall be answered there."
"What's Arthalia? Wait!" She ran towards the figure and tried to grab his arm but her hands passed right through it.
"Use your strength to get their with your trusted one. They will come after you soon." The last words lingered in the air as dust slowly scattered to the ground and the figure faded away.
The ground beneath her started to shake violently causing Ae Rin to stumble and fall down. All of a sudden, the earth beneath her disappeared. There was nothing but darkness below her.
"Ahhhhhhh!!!!! "
She shut her eyes tightly as she fell into the void of darkness, hoping she could get out of there somehow.
After a split second, she opened her eyes and found herself sitting on her chair in the cabin where she had been previously relaxing.
"W-What just happened? How did he bring me there with just a portal!? I have so many questions in my mind right now. I need to find the answers as soon as possible. Arthalia... I don't know what that place is but I have to find it before they reach me."