"Here's your order"
"Oh, did you grow taller Eli?"
Ammiel looked at the guy with questioning eyes. She then looked at the window and saw her reflection.
"Did you just notice that now? Hahahaha!", she looked back and saw 2 more older men teasing the one who asked her earlier. They were now having a cute bicker as she just shook her head and went back to the kitchen.
"What's with the smile, did those old men do anything funny again tonight?", Ammiel can't help but laugh at the question when she remembered what just happened earlier.
"Well, kinda…but…Dan, what do you think?"
Daniel stopped chopping onions and looked at her. "What do I think about what?"
"Well, what do you think about me? Did I grew taller or something?", the girl nervously twirled a piece of her hair as Daniel looked at her whole body. "So?", she expectantly asked her friend.
"Well, now that I look at you clearly…hmmm…hey, can you come her for a second?", the girl came closer to Daniel as the boy wrapped his hand on her shoulder and kept her beside him. "What do you think sir? She grew taller right?", the chef, who's busy cooking earlier, looked at the both of them and put his hand on his chin.
"Hmm, yeah, you did grow a bit taller El", he replied and patted the girl's head before going back to his work.
"Really? Now that's a great news isn't it?", Daniel nodded as an agreement with what the girl said and continued chopping onions again.
"Eleanor! Can you bring this to table 4?"
"Yes ma'am! See you later Dan, sir!", and with that, the girl went out of the kitchen as the 2 men look at each other. "She really did become taller. Well, that's to be expected. You two have been working here for like 4 years now", as the older man got back to his work Daniel on the other hand can't help but stop and think for a moment.
It's been 4 years since Eli changed. Her personality is still the same as ever, but, something really did change about the girl since the day she woke up after the accident.
Daniel can't put a finger on it but she really did changed and matured fast. And now, what he's wondering about is the girl's plan in the near future. Their work helped them save money that can help them settle down somewhere. But the question is what their next step now? Are they ready to leave the orphanage?
"See you tomorrow!"
"Get home safely!"
The 2 bid their farewell to the other workers of the pub where they work as they head off back to the orphanage. It's already around 9:00 in the evening. Daniel held Eli's hand as they walk towards the dark streets. The whole place is so quiet and sometimes, a few dangerous drunkards can be seen that's why the boy always held the girl's hand everytime they go home.
The 2 safely arrived at the orphanage and automatically went to their rooms. Ammiel looked at her reflection again. She did grow taller.
She sighed and sat down on her bed. It's been 4 years. Their job is doing okay and they, she and Daniel, we're both able to save enough money to settle down anywhere they want once they leave the orphanage.
She slowly cup one of her cheeks and sighed. It's also been 4 years since she pretended to be Eleanor. She first tried to settle in to her new environment, to her new world, then she started learning things about the place where she's in. The place where she ended up is called Sirthyna, it is a kingdom full of Wizards; people who have mana but can't use it unless they use special kinds of sticks, which are called wands, which should matched how strong their mana is in order for them to be able to use it properly, Alchemists; people who have just a bit of mana that can be used to create potions, because that's all they can do, they can't cast magic spells like wizards, so instead, they use their manas to create potions.
Next are Priests; people who doesn't have any mana but was given by the goddess power to give blessings. It also depends on what kind of blessing they can give, and by blessing, it means they can only baptized them so that the goddess can give them protection from monsters or any kinds of harm or watch over them and their families. They are members of the Holy Temple, people of the Goddess of this world. Goddess Anchora, the goddess of refuge and hope.
And finally, normal people. They have no abilities but some of them are gifted in either being strong physically or being very smart. But that's all for them. They have neither mana or special power given by the goddess. Just pure hardwork.
The people are being ranked according to how strong they are. Wizards are ranked according to how strong their mana is, which can be identified by how difficult or strong the spells they can cast are. Next are Alchemists, who are ranked according to how powerful the potions they make are.
Then, the priests who are ranked according to how strong or long-lasting the blessing they can give is. And finally, those who doesn't have anything, normal people, they're discriminated but they still are being ranked depending on how strong they are as fighters or how smart they are that can contribute their knowledge as scholars.
The king and queen ruling this kingdom are SS class wizards, strongest type of wizards. The king is a descendant from the very first rulers of this kingdom, King Sawyer and Queen Amanda who are both SS class wizards. They're not tyrants and appear to be great rulers, their only son is also a righteous guy according to the people, but, Ammiel/ Eleanor can't just judge these people based on the rumours she's hearing. And so, they remained mysterious for her.
After that, Ammiel then proceeded to investigate about what happened to the real owner of the body she's been using. Eleanor. She searched the libraries, tried asking help from the information guild in the regarding incidents similar or close to her situation, and even tried to ask some wizards, alchemists, and priests, that she met while they're travelling, about it.
But to her dismay, nothing was found. And so, she finally decided to try to move on, accept that the owner of the body that she's using now is her, and the original owner must've died before in the accident Daniel mentioned.
She and Daniel focused on making money for them to be able to leave the orphanage as soon as they can. During those 4 years, she also tried to learn how to write and read the characters and letters that they used in Sirthyna, in her new world. And now, 4 years had passed, and she's not really that sure about what to do.
She snapped back to reality when she heard sudden loud knocks. She quickly slipped onto her slippers and opened the door, and what greet her is Daniel's panicked face.
"Grab the bag you prepared where all your money and important stuffs are!", the boy shouted. "Wait, wait! Calm down Dan! What's going on?!", Daniel tried to breathe but can't make himself do so. "Fire….fire is spreading throughout the town!", her eyes widen and she immediately did as he told her.
Once she's prepared, Daniel immediately held her hand. They looked at each other to check their bags and belongings and make sure that it's secured before started making their way out of the orphanage but was soon stopped by the commotions they heard.
Daniel immediately put Ammiel behind him as a man taller than them emerges from the bottom of the stairs where they were supposed to go. "Oho, a few more kids here. Hmmm, let's see how much I can sell the both of you for", as the man tried to grab them Daniel stepped up and started casting a spell which shocked both the man and Ammiel herself.
She never knew her childhood friend is a wizard?!
After the spell, the buff man came crashing down the stairs and fell unconscious as lights bolted pass them and all over the room. The boy tried his best to shield his friend for a bit. Smoke filled the whole place. Then when everything cleared up, Daniel hurriedly looked at his friend.
"I'll explain everything later! For now, let's run!", he held her hand and ran down the stairs and out the orphanage. But, the two teens can't be helped but be rattled by how the view of their hometown turned to be. It was covered by the flames that already spread throughout the entirety of the town.
"Shit!", Daniel cussed for the first time but this is not the time for Ammiel to be shocked by it. Her mind tried to think things out in a fast manner since she knows that this is really not the time for her to blank out, but she has to make her own decisions now. Important decisions. The original Eleanor is no more. She's now Eleanor. And thus, Eleanor's abilities are now hers; the one who'll decided where to use her abilities is Ammiel. So...
"Daniel", Daniel looked at his friend when she held his hand tighter and looked at him eye to eye. Her face is serious and her expression kinda shows anxiety but she still tried talking without stuttering despite her anxiousness. "You told me you'll explain everything about you later. So, please let me do that too, let me explain everything later and don't ask questions for now"
And with that, the boy can't help but close his eyes as a bright light emanated from the free hand of the girl. In a split second, she dragged him and they started running in the middle of the flames. A bright blue dome-like shield appeared and covered them from the heat of the flames as they head out of the burning town.
A sigh of relief came out from the both of them after finally getting as far as they can from the still burning town. The 2 looked back and saw the flames devouring the poor town where they came from. A few more seconds passed when Ammiel remembered something. "Wait, the pub…the pub! Dan! The pub! How about the owners…the staffs….the members of the information guild….what about them?!"
Daniel immediately tried to calm his panicked friend. He held onto both of her shoulders and tried to make her stay still. "Hey! It's okay! Just calm down! They were the ones who informed me about the fire, so they were able to escape before us. They tried asking me to go with them but I chose to come back for you", Ammiel then quietly stared at him.
'He did that....He's willing to come back for me'
"Daniel", Ammiel held his hands on both of hers and looked down. The boy silently waited for her to continue what she was saying. "Thank you", she wants to say a lot of things, but, the only thing that came out of her mouth is a simple 'thank you'.
Daniel knows that, and so, he hugged the girl to ensure that he understood what she wants to say. "I'll be here, always. Someday, you might not need me anymore, but, I'll always need you in my life. So please stay safe, for you and for me"
Ammiel looked up at her friend but was startled when she realized how close his face is to hers. She felt her cheeks became hot and she instantly covered her face with both of her hands. Daniel looked at her innocently and laughed at her cute reaction.
The two was then interrupted when they heard rustling. Daniel quickly grabs Ammiel's left arm as they both hide in the nearby bushes of the forest. The both of them are trying to control their breathing when they heard a few deep voices.
"Where did they go?!"
"We don't know sir, they just vanished into the flames"
"Then hurry up and find them bastards!"
Then they heard footsteps getting farther and farther away from them, until soon enough, they're gone. They breathe a sigh of relief once again. "Staying here is dangerous. Let's move out for now", Ammiel nodded and grabbed Daniel's outstretched hand.
The both then walked out of the woods. They continued walking down the road when they heard a sound. The two tried to hide as fast as they can, fearing that it was those scary men again, but then came out when they saw that it was a just a wagon. It's a wagon of an old merchant.
He stopped when he saw the two of them. Daniel didn't waste any time and asked him, "Sir may we ride in your wagon? We can pay a few bronze coins as a payment"
In this kingdom, the only money they use in buying something are bronze, silver, and gold coins, and if you're a noble or even a royalty, you'll have diamond coins.
One hundred bronze coins are equal to one silver coin. One thousand silver coins are equal to one gold coin. And one hundred thousand gold coin is equal to one diamond coin.
The old man smiled at them, "No need, just hop on the back", the two then bowed and thanked him before proceeding to hop on the back of the wagon just as he said.
They travelled for hours and finally, after half a day, they arrive into the one of the towns near their hometown. This town is a lot better than the town where they came from and the market is bustling with a lot of people.
"Here please take it", Daniel looked at the front of the wagon after hopping off and saw his friend taking out ten bronze coins out of her bag. She gave it to the old man. "Even if you don't want to take it as a payment, at least take it as our thanks sir", the old man then nodded and took it before patting the head of the girl. "You're a good child, both of you are. Take care of yourselves"
And with that, the two bid the old man farewell. Ammiel looked at Daniel and found him smiling at her. "Huh? What is it?", but Daniel just shook his head and patted her just like what the old man did. "It's nothing. First of all, we should find a place where we can stay for the night, then tomorrow, we can buy a horse for our journey", she nodded to Daniel's plan and they both head to the first inn they saw and asked how much would it cost them to stay there. Time passed as the two tried to find the cheapest place where they can spend the night.
Before night came thankfully they were able to find a cheap inn. They stayed in one room with a bed that was able to accommodate the both of them.
After taking a bath, Daniel found Ammiel who took a bath first, sitting beside the window. She's looking at the moon and was in her own world when he grabbed her shoulder. "Something wrong?", the girl, despite recovering from being startled by the boy, looked at him and answered, "Nope, it's nothing. I guess I was just a bit tired"
And exactly at that moment, a yawn came out of her mouth. Daniel pulls her and made her lay on the bed. He then covered her with a blanket. "If you're tired, then sleep. You'll need strength for our journey tomorrow", Ammiel nodded. "What about you", she asked.
"I'll stay here until you fall asleep", and with that, Daniel started patting her head gently, making her sleepier. "Thank you Dan. Goodnight and sweet dreams", Daniel smiled and kissed her forehead but since the girl is too tired to react on it, she decided to just smile at him. "You too Eli, sweet dreams"
But before Ammiel can totally fall asleep, her mind wandered a bit more onto what she's been thinking about earlier before Daniel arrived. Now that a sign was given to her to start her journey, which is what happened to the town where she's previously in that was rather harsh as a sign for her to be honest, she finally decided to put her being Ammiel in the past as one of her precious memories that she will never forget.
'I will never forget Ammiel, but starting from now I'll begin living completely as Eleanor. I'll live my second life to the fullest this time, my life as Eleanor'