The castle had been rather lavish. Brick walls with tapestries, the floors being polished and clean, as if someone had just mopped it. Rugs made of a gold and velvet fabric lined the middles of hallways. I followed this young woman who had been dressed elegantly, while I simply had a hoodie on and some pants. She stops before the throne room. How odd, I would have assumed we'd go to meet royalty if I was a so-called summoned hero or something. "Aren't we going in there?" I asked, pointing to painted, engraved doors that blocked the entrance of the room.
Raelle shakes her head. "No. You were the last Hero to be summoned, and the King has already given his speech. He does not wish to repeat it, you will have to meet him on your own time."
"Wonderful," I reply, bitterness like bile lacing my voice. I was summoned, and the people who did it couldn't care less. They tore me from my home, shoved me into a world I knew nothing about, fused me with some sort of animal vessel as they had called it, and told me I was part of a group to save the world. I'd expect the leader of part of this world would at least listen to me, or explain things.
Raelle doesn't reply. I could see that, given my own word having been lackluster and only one word. It's silent as we start up stairs, and there's not even bits of the stone falling. The royalty and nobility here sure seemed well-taken of. The staircase had spirals, and I followed the summoner up to a room. Then, she speaks, clearing her throat and coughing once into her elbow. "This is the room you'll be staying in for the week, until you are used to things here."
"Well, thanks Miss Raelle," I reply, forcing myself to be polite. It wasn't her fault that so much had happened, and I wouldn't blame them if they wanted a new hero of winter. I open the door carefully, and notice frost slowly encroaching on it. Was this some sort of power I had now? Of all things cold, making them such? I stick my hands into my hoodie pocket. Well, I certainly hoped that my bed and food would not turn into ice every time I had touched them. With the door unlocked, I nudge it open, and enter the room. Then I turned, quickly locking it so the entire handle had not been icy. The room had been fine, and was rather lavish. The walls had white and blue banners, and a black rug. There was a fireplace, burning wood, and letting the smoke escape through the chimney. There was a small table at the end of the room, presumably to eat meals, and a chest to store things. There had also been dressers, for armor and clothes. In the back wall, there was a window to the outside city. The bed was close to the window, but not so close that harsh sunlight would hit a person while they slept.
My old room had a bed and a desk, too. However, given our poverty, we did not have much else. Our house barely had functioning heating. This was nice in a sense, yes. However, I did still miss technology - phones, computers. I missed my family. I wondered if my parents were worried, if they had called the police due to their missing child. I also thought of my dogs. Were they home? Did they miss me? Were they waiting for me? I crashed against the bed, not feeling hungry with so many questions racing through my mind.
I waited for a while, laying underneath soft blankets to eventually fall asleep. But it doesn't happen. Maybe my mind had been too loud. I get up, making the bed once more and stretching. I hadn't even gotten tired, at all. I use my foot to open the dresser, and find two gloves. They seemed rather cold-resistant, being made of leather, so I slipped them on to avoid the issue of my frost reaching everything I had touched. I open the door of the room, wiping off bits of ice. It opens with an ever so slight creak, and I close it after I leave. The hallway was lit up with lanterns on poles. Their slight flames swished as I passed by, the stone making sounds underneath my feet.
"Ah, Heroine of Winter, what are you doing out here?" I hear a voice.Raelle. I thought she would be at a church or something.
I turn to her, faking a yawn and stretching. "Ah, I decided to take a walk. They help me get tired."
"Oh!" The rather cheery girl replies. "May I join you?" I nod, and we begin walking. Eventually, she clears her throat again. "So… Heroine, I have to tell you something." My ears perk and I look over at her. "Since you're the Heroine of Winter, some people may not like you. People blame the cold season for famine, for sickness, instead of a time to let our world rest."
I sighed. I figured that would be the case. In spring, there were flowers. In summer, there was food. In the autumn, there was still food, and there was sweetness and the breeze to cool someone off from the summer. In winter, there was death. "I see," I replied. Honestly, I didn't feel like walking anymore. This information was making my head spin. It'd be better for me to stay in my room, have time to sort this out.
I turn on my heels, pivoting and starting to walk back. Raelle makes a dash to catch up to me. "W-wait up!" She calls after me.
I stop, turning towards her. "Sorry, I think I'm tired enough. I'm going to sleep." I open the door to my room, and slam it shut. Would all of the other heroes be liked? Did I just shove away the one person who would enjoy my presence? What animals did they have? Ugh. I lean back against the door, taking a moment to breathe before moving forward. I see the bed in the corner of the room, but it feels tiring to take the meager amount of steps to get there. I lay on the bed, not even underneath the blankets, closing my eyes.