The old man stared at Zyda for a moment. She scrutinized her fabrics and noted that she was not from the realm. Something flashed in the old man's eyes and gaped surprisingly. Zyda who meticulously looked at the old man was confused by his reactions. The old man looked as if he had discovered a gemstone.
"Welcome to the magic realm, " the old man politely spoke, his gaze deeply concentrated on Zyda.
Zyda smiled at him thanks though her mind reeled with confusion. The old man acted strangely. I mean one minute he was agape and the next minute he acted prim and proper. He kinda possessed eccentric behaviour, Zyda thought in her mind as she evaluated the human before her.
Zyda was given a room that was along a vast corridor that led to a dark grand staircase that none knew where they led to. The room was dull painted.... it was grey and this colour spoiled her mood but what lightened her mood was the decent-sized window that displayed a soothing scene of a bright full moon above a garden full of glowing flowers arranged in rows and columns that Zyda has never seen before.
The garden had an uprising boulder that resembled a platform of some sort. It was perfectly positioned in the middle. The boulder excreted large water drops that trickled into the garden. Each flower that received a drop bloomed brightly. Zyda was astonished at the arrangement and behaviour creations in the realm, it was different from her world.
Weariness spread through her and she sprawled on the middle-sized bed where she eventually fell asleep. A familiar voice jolted her to reality. She quickly sat up and immediately her eyes went to the window. She was possessed by the scene as though staring at the window was her cup of tea. Fortunately or unfortunately it was morning. The moonlight instead of sunlight wafted into her room.
Familiar soft chuckles echoed through the corridor that raised Zyda's curiosity. She was sure it was her brother. She immediately advanced towards the door of her room, tested the knob and slowly it clicked open. She was surprised for she thought that the seemingly vile old man to her would hold her captive.
Zyda scanned the corridor but nothing was in the way. Soft murmurs along a corner to another corridor she heard. Her feet bare gave her a proper way to sneak without making a sound. When she peeped she saw the old man she met earlier standing with a prim and proper teenage black-haired boy with his back facing Zyda dressed in black metallic shiny clothes. His top revealed and firmly hugged his muscular set of shoulders, on which his left shoulder was a big charter of a serpent perfectly carved which Zyda noticed. At first, her hope was shattered because his physique was different from Rolam's. But when she heard the boy's voice. She was now sure about it.
"Yes master! " she heard the boy sternly reply and slightly bowed to the tall old man.
Zyda gasped, it was Rolam. Her gasp was loud enough to alert the murmuring individuals. Zyda wasted no chance she quickly went to her room to seek sanctuary.
"Who's there?" asked the old man who wore a solemn face. But nothing came out.
Once inside Zyda leaned against the door to her room to hold her breath. Her eyes prickling with tears that threatened to fall but she blinked them back.
"No time to cry. It's time to meet Rolam," she prep talked to herself, tightly holding the locket around her neck.
A soft knock on her door brought her back to reality. She rapidly dived into her bed without making any sound and she pretended to be asleep. The knocker persisted but no answer.
The door slowly clicked open and in emerged a medium neatly dressed girl in a long blue fine robe. With her long silver hair tied into a ponytail that brilliantly sparkled. Her front hair was slightly frayed revealing a black beauty spot the was flawlessly positioned in the middle of her forehead. Her beautiful features glowed with solemnity.
On the other hand, Zyda pretended to sleepily flicker her eyes open. She craned her neck to stare at the girl who placed some fabrics on the bedside table. The girl stared at Zyda and flashed her a friendly smile that reached her amazingly colourless eyes which matched her hair. She resembled a beautifully carved statue, her long lashes innocently batted like a pleading child.
"Hi!. Sorry if I woke you up", the girl spoke softly. "I've brought you something to put on", she said lightly patting the neatly folded fabrics on the bedside table.
Zyda was lost with words she just stared at the girl wondering at her beauty. Finally back to reality, she managed a response, "Hi!"
"I'm Yurie. Nice to meet you," she said sheepishly.
"I'm Zyda, a pleasure to meet you too" replied Zyda extending her hand for a handshake.
But the girl simply stared at her confusedly. She abruptly pulled Zyda for a hug that didn't last long. Zyda was shocked for a moment but she shoved it away.
"Chap chap dress up and let's go tour! "Yurie said clapping her hands to motion Zyda to wake up.
Zyda had lots of questions in her head but she was quickly shoved into a chamber within the room that was a bathroom. She was not yet used to the environment and now the endless hidden chambers behind walls. She let out a frustrated groan," Ugh!"
She quickly changed into the clothes given. Clad in a navy blue sleeveless dress with a long fitting trouser and some shoes that had long vamps. They looked heavy but they were surprisingly comfy. She combed her long messy hair and tied it into a ponytail.
Zyda looked at her reflection in the mirror and let out an shocked gasp," Aah!"
She saw a different version of herself. The clothing was similar but the hair and eyes were different....the Zyda in the mirror had silver glowing hair with V-lines that ran from her forehead to her temples. She was smiling brightly revealing an upper front set of white teeth perfectly arranged. Her eyes were blue and eerily hypnotic. The other Zyda was lost in them with a strong force that firmly held her captive, she had lost control of her body.
Yurie who sat on Zyda's bed grew impatient. She was not sure why Zyda took long to dress up. It was a simple dress code nonetheless it had no heavy jewellery. She went and knocked at the door to be responded to by silence.
In the bathroom, Zyda could hear Yurie's calls but she was lost in a chain of enchantment. The hypnotic version of Zyda in the mirror was absorbing her. Somehow Zyda managed to break free from the sadistic reflection. In a blink, the reflection vanished leaving a trail of hazy blue mist in the mirror, the real reflection of Zyda returned. Zyda straightened herself and left the bathroom to meet the impatient Yurie at the door.