Emily was awakened by a soft touch of wind. Her hospital bed, felt softer and all the pain in her body was gone! She faced the ceiling and opened her eyes. The white concrete ceiling of the hospital was replaced with the roof of a bed!
She sat straight up and realized that she wasn't wearing hospital clothes! Then she noticed her hands, they were bigger and tanner. Her legs! They weren't skinny anymore! They had meat and muscular definition!
Was she..... Finally cured? Did her parents take her to their new home?
Emily walked towards the nearest mirror she could find. She almost surprised herself since she couldn't recognize the girl staring back at her.
In fact.... It wasn't her at all!
Emily had blonde hair and brown eyes, but the person in the mirror had black ebony hair and stunning purple eyes. Emily didn't even think purple eyes existed?!
Then she noticed the brooch on her chest. It was the brooch from "When the Light Shines through the Darkness" book. She remembers it clearly since the illustrator, emphasized it in the book. All the students who go to the School of Light Magic, had to wear a dignified golden brooch that acts as their ID as they enter the school. Failure to wear the brooch, means no entry past the school gate.
She also knew this because in the first few chapters, one of the male leads forgot to bring their brooch to school. When he wasn't allowed to enter, Aurora helped him get in by tossing him her brooch when she passed through the gate. This led to him subconsciously falling in love with Aurora.
But Emily couldn't believe it? How the hell did she end up in the fantasy book, in a world that doesn't exist?
"But.... What if I am really here? "
Emily ran towards the window to confirm her suspicions. She opened the windows to see a vast land full of old colonial buildings and houses. Past the the buildings, laid a stretch of green pasture and forest, and past the forest, was.... The School of Light Magic.
Emily was right, she was in the book! But there was something different. Something that was never mentioned in any of the pages. Right next to the school of light, was a dark and ominous castle that completely mirrored the school of light. The two buildings were connected with a bridge, and in the middle, was a giant statue of an angel demon. The statue was an angel on the left side, where the dark castle was, while the the statue on it's left side was a demon, where the School of Light Magic was.
"What is that place? It was never mentioned in the book." Emily mumbled.
*Knock knock knock *
"My lady, may I please come in? " a voice of an unknown woman called from outside the door of Emily's room.
Emily then hurriedly rushed back to her bed and covered herself in sheets.
"Come in! " Emily exclaimed.
The door slowly opened to reveal a young woman wearing old colonial maid clothing. Judging by her mannerisms, it seems as though this woman was this girl's personal lady in waiting.
"I have the uniform you wanted my lady, but if you don't mind me asking, why do you want to wear the male uniform instead of the female's?" the young woman asked.
Emily actually didn't know the answer to that question, but she does have a few experiences with uniforms, since she also wore a uniform in her past life of junior high school, so she had a basic hunch as to why.
"It's much more comfortable. Plus, I can practice the sword more easily with pants." Emily replied.
"My lady knows how to weild a sword?! " the young woman asked in surprise.
It's been a while since Emily held a sword, she hasn't practiced fencing in two years, so she definitely has some work to do. But considering that the body she is in right now has never held a sword, let alone swing one, she might have to start from the beginning in order to build up her stamina.
"Well...let's just say that I'm willing to learn." a small smirk formed from the corner of Emily's lips. She may have looked calm, but deep down she was internally screaming for joy.
"Thank you, for bringing me the uniform uhm--" Emily paused as she realised that she didn't know the maids name!
"Heh, if you don't mind me asking, but how would you like me to address you? You know, since your my maid and all." Emily asked.
The maid looked quite surprised and stunned for a moment. Her cheeks turned red as she tried to cover her face with her hands.
"Uhm, I'm sorry My Lady, I just... This the first time you've asked for my name.... You usually just call me maid"
"Ah! Really? Sorry bout that. "
"Oh there's really nothing to apologize about My Lady, I'm just really happy you asked me! M-m-my name i-is Anna. "
"Oh okay Anna, you can call me by my name as well! Thanks for the uniform by the way. "
"I couldn't possibly address you so informally My Lady! Where would my respect be... "
"Well if it's formality you want then just add "Miss" every time you say my name. But there's really no need for you to be so formal towards me, I'm just a person after all. "
"Well then My La--- I mean, Miss Victoria. Thank you for the honour."
*So that's my name... Victoria.*
"No problem, so can you please leave the room Anna? I need some privacy."
"Of course Miss Victoria. Thank you very much. "
Emily got up from her bed and took the uniform that the maid sent to her.
Emily looked at herself in the mirror and saw Victoria stare back at her. Emily just admired the girl in the mirror. She had quite a healthy build which would be perfect for starting fencing practice. She was tall and elegant, her hair was long and wavy. The female uniform made her waist look skinny. She looked just like a doll.
But it wasn't Emily's style.
"With this body, I can finally do whatever I want! I can finally continue with my life with no restrictions! And seeing as though I'm not one of the main characters in the book, I don't have to get myself involved in the plot! This is a win! Oooohhh if God can hear me, THANK YOU! "
Emily then changed into the male school uniform. Wearing the male uniform, Emily realized just how light she was, she felt as if she could move her feet as fast as a cheetah. The female uniform was quite heavy because of the ruffles underneath the skirt. The author of When the Light Shines through the Darkness, always tried her best to be open minded in her writing. So in the book, students at the School of Light Magic were allowed to wear make up, colour hair, wear piercings and choose whether they want to wear the girls uniform or the boys. Though the author provided quite a unique detail to the tale, she still had to set out some unfortunate restrictions on gender separation so that the story will work out the way she wants it too.
Like, only boys are allowed to join The League of Swords. Girls are required to join Etiquette and Home Cooking class. All of these were included in the story, in order to emphasize the femininity of Princess Aurora and masculinity of Prince Arroyo. Where the girl bakes cookies for the boy who was busy practicing swords in the school yard.
Emily had no intention of joining Etiquette and Home Cooking Class. She was bound by sickness in her past life, she was not about to be bound by stupid school rules.
As she finished putting on her school uniform, she placed the final piece to complete her look. The golden brooch. With a satisfied smile, and a glide of confidence, she walked out her room with light heart and no burdens.
She was ready, to face her new life!