The strangest feeling one can ever experience is the feeling of being conscious yet unconscious. It is a strange state that rests on the most minute of a person's senses. A feeling of being somewhere but not being there. Like floating in the water, but unable to tell that one is floating.
Nevertheless, this was a sensation Arthur was experiencing.
As for where Arthur was? From what he could perceive, he was in a warm and large rectangular room. But other than that, he couldn't tell anything else except for the quiet whispers of men, who were in the large room with him.
"Say you don't think it's him, right?"
"How can it be him? He is supposed to be this grandiose person."
"Ehhh, I don't know. But we definitely shouldn't judge a book by its cover, especially with how little we know. "
"Yeah, but look at him tho, he looks just like one of those pretty boys. What good is that?"
"Why are you looking at him like that? Well, I guess I've always known you went that route?"
"Huh, what are you talking about?"
"Don't play dumb….do you like them that young?"
"Huh?"
"I-I should report you in just in case."
"What the fuck are you talking about? Stop jumping to conclusions."
"Eh? So when you paid that brothel for a few male attendants, that was your twin brother or something?"
"Wait? You saw it too?"
"Yeah, I was heading to an armor shop when I swung by to say hi to Kathy and saw him heading the staircase with a few in tow."
"Haha, I'd gone to buy a few fun things for the wife and me to enjoy when I heard him making a request!"
"Tsk, tsk, dunno why he tries to hide it so much. Should just get married to one and stop needing to visit there for that."
"Oi, y'all are getting off-topic again."
"Oh ye-"
KNOCK-KNOCK!
Just as the men were about to dive right into their conversation, two knocks echoed through the large room.
Hearing the knock, the men in the room immediately became quiet as they all clutched their blankets tightly as they pretended to be asleep.
SQUEEAAAKK!
In a strained pitched ring, the large wooden door of the room was pushed open.
CLICK-CLAK-CLICK-CLAK-CLICK-CLAK!
Lying on a bed in his semi-conscience state, Arthur could barely perceive the sound of steps, but he was somewhat aware that something was going on.
SWISH!
Just as the sound of curtains being drawn rippled through the room, rays of light burst into the room, followed by a soft and soothing voice of a woman.
"You guys aren't fooling anyone. I know you are awake."
Hearing the soft voice spread through the room, a few chuckles sounded around the room.
"Hehe, top of the morning doc."
""" "Morning doc.""""
"Morning to you too, guys." Began the woman. "Say, has our new addition awakened yet?" she finished as she began to walk around again.
"Nah, doc. He's been out since he's got here. You don't think he's…ya kno-."
"Shhh! We don't speak like that here." Interrupted the woman in a stern voice.
"Ah, right. My bad doc."
Releasing a sigh, the woman began to make her way towards where Arthur was lying.
SHOO!
Hearing the sound of a curtain being moved, the dazed Arthur tried to move his head in the direction of the sound, only to find that he couldn't along with his vision being blurred.
Realizing this, Arthur couldn't help but began to feel anxious.
However, he immediately calmed down when the soft voice of the woman sounded right next to him. "Oh, you are awake…sorta."
Placing her hand on Arthur's forehead, she calmly whispered. "Relax, it's alright to feel disoriented. I'm not too sure what happened to you, but the Realm Energy inside you is incredibly chaotic. It will take a while for it to settle. But for now…."
Hearing the last of the woman's voice, Arthur began to feel a warmth spread from his forehead to the rest of his body.
VUWUSH!
Not exactly sure what had happened, Arthur felt his consciousness fully arrive in his body as all of his senses came back full force.
It was also then that Arthur fully opened his eyes and saw the face of the woman who just helped him.
Beautiful. Beautiful was the first word that popped into Arthur's mind as his gaze fell on the woman. And he wasn't wrong.
Her skin was a flawless warm mahogany that glowed wherever the sun-kissed. Stygian black hair shined like the night sky as it flowed like a river into a braided ponytail that gently laid across her collarbone. High cheekbones quietly contoured down to a pair of soft full lips. And to top it all were a pair of almond-shaped eyes that held two warm liquid brown orbs that bore incredible intelligence, warmth, and serenity.
Yeah, she was beautiful.
"Feeling a bit better?" she asked with a smile.
Still a bit disoriented, Arthur failed to respond as to tried to sit up.
Seeing Arthur trying to sit up, the woman froze for a second before exclaiming. "Wait, don't do that!"
However, she was too late.
Just as Arthur was about to sit up, he was immediately hit by a massive wave of dizziness, just as he lost consciousness again.
"Why don't they ever listen…." Sighed the woman as she watched Arthur swept into another wave of unconsciousness.
…
…
…
"Damn, the situation isn't looking good."
"Reports have been dropping by significant margins."
"Seriously, since the beginning of Ver."
"He definitely has a backer."
"Of course he does, ain't no way that coward would challenge us in the first place and even last this long."
"AHEM!"
Just as the men in the large rectangular room were about to dive into their conversation. The Doctor entered the room with a resounding clear of her throat, shutting down their conversation.
"What have I told you guys about, talking about stuff like this? You are wasting energy your body could be using to heal. Talk about poetry or somethi- "Cutting her sentence short, a surprised look appeared on the Doctor's face as she turned her head to Arthur's bed. "Oh? You are finally awake…..again."
Making eye contact with the Doctor, Arthur managed a nod and spoke for the second time in Pandora.
"Where am I?"