The sun rose; only slightly peeking between the hills, painting the sky in colourful lights.
This world was beautiful. The sky was still blue. The trees have the same green leaves. The soil was still the same brown. It was not so different from where I came from.
Yet, it still felt…not the same.
The more I looked around, the more I felt alone, and slowly, the smile on my face disappeared.
Everything about this world seems so surreal to me.
I can't help but feel lonely. No one knows who I really am. I'm now Nasrin, and at the same time, I'm not.
Everyone in this world would only know me as Nasrin Urduja. Which wasn't even my name. Not my body, and not my world.
I don't feel any sense of belongingness. I feel like an alien. No not like. I really am an alien in this world, because my soul doesn't belong here. This world that is a little similar to my world isn't my mother earth. Not my home.
As much as I want to return home, I don't know how. Not to mention that I am barely surviving in this world. However, if there is a way to go back to earth, I'll do my best; just so I could return home. So I could see my family, my friends, and everyone who knows the real me again.
But I have no idea how, so I could only resort to an alternative. That's why I rather live a hermit life in a far away forest. At least when I'm alone, I won't feel lonely. No one would call me Nasrin Urduja or think of me as Nasrin Urduja.
For that reason, I'm striving for a smooth sailing ending, so I could live a loner life. Sighing, I decided to go back to the room; staying on the balcony and staring at the scenery is making me homesick.
After some time, Cliopatra finally came out of the bathroom. Wearing the same uniform as me.
"Are you done?" I said, standing up from my seat.
Cliopatra nodded and said, "yes, by the way, where's your badge?"
I stared down at my clothes, searching for the badge that Alexandra gave me, but then I remembered that it was still attached to my dirty coat and forgot to put them on my uniform.
A sigh came out of my mouth. To think the only ability I brought in this world is my sense of forgetfulness.
I cleared my throat as I awkwardly glanced at Cliopatra. "Give me a second, I forgot to put my badge on," I mumbled.
Cliopatra only nodded as she crossed her arms and stood there waiting for me. 'Hurry up, Oaf,' is clearly written all over her face.
So I moved my feet hurriedly. I rummage on the box where I put my dirty clothes. After a short while, I finally found my badge then went to pin them on my uniform.
After that, I turn to look at Cliopatra and said, "let's go, I'm hungry, I don't want to miss breakfast."
"Wait Oaf, I think you should still wear your choker," Cliopatra said as her emerald eyes glanced at my neck.
I raised my brow and asked, "why?"
"That ointment would only close up the wound on your neck, it would still leave a scar after a while," then Cliopatra handed a small mirror to me and said, "here, look at the scar on your neck."
I took the mirror in her hand and stared at the scar on my neck. It indeed healed up but still left a scar.
"It's hideous, right?" Cliopatra commented.
I ignored Cliopatra's rude comment as I kept my eyes on the scar on my neck. There was a line on my neck. The scar was as wide as one index finger. The skin on the scar was raised a little, and it displayed a pinkish red colour.
I didn't mind the scar. As long as it wasn't painful, I won't mind a scar on this body. However, I don't want people to be curious about where the scar came from. It's troublesome; people's minds, that is.
So I decided to go along with Cliopatra's idea and wore the choker again to hide the scar. Well, at least it doesn't sting anymore.
After putting on the choker, I turned to look at Cliopatra and said, "let's go brat."
Cliopatra clicked her tongue and replied, "I'm not a brat, Oaf."
"Brat," I muttered back.
"Oaf."
"Brat."
This farce continued as we both went our way to the dining hall at GAF dormitory. As soon as we step inside, I soon notice that people seem to be gazing towards Cliopatra and I.
Eyes that held curiosity, eyes that stared admiringly, eyes glinting with jealousy, and some even held a disdainful glare aimed at us.
My brows slightly furrowed as I felt some kind of invincible pressure in the air. I have no idea why these students are looking at us, but I don't feel comfortable with their gaze.
Suddenly, one of the onlookers came forward and approached us. The female student had short silver hair, dark brown eyes, straight thin eyebrows, and a 5 feet 9 inches tall lean figure.
When the silver haired girl was only a few metres away from us, she stopped and planted her one knee on the ground in front of Cliopatra. She then put her right hand on her chest and said, "good morrow to her royal highness, princess of the Maple Kingdom."
I think I finally understood why these students are looking our way. It seems they have recognize Cliopatra's face.
The brat beside me clicked her tongue as she narrowed her eyes at the fellow before us. "Stand up, Emilia," Cliopatra ordered irritatedly.
"I thank thee, milady," Emilia replied solemnly as she stood up.
"Emilia, we're in the academy, you shouldn't do this again, at least not in front of many people," Cliopatra reprimanded with a disdainful sneer. "If the higher ups in the academy hear or see this, I might end up getting expelled. Do you understand?"
Emilia bowed to her waist and replied, "my deepest apologies, milady."
Cliopatra rolled her eyes then she glanced at me and said, "this is Emilia Iscariot, an aspiring knight."
Cliopatra then stared at Emilia again. "Emilia, this is Nasrin Urduja, my friend," Cliopatra added.
Emilia turned to me and nodded her head politely. "Good morrow, lady Nasrin," she said.
Ever heard of this popular quote; 'when in Rome, do as the Romans do.' Or at least just in front of those people who I deem I can't trust. Like this Emilia for example.
According to what happened in the book, Emilia is someone who would betray Cliopatra, because Emilia Iscariot is a spy that came from the rebel army. That's why I can't let my guard down in front of this person.
So I nodded my head back fittingly at Emilia as I tried to mimic her tone and said, "good morrow, Emilia."
"Alright, you can go now," Cliopatra said, gesturing her hand as she shooed Emilia away like a stray cat.
Emilia bowed to her waist at Cliopatra as she respectfully replied, "I bid milady farewell."
Emilia nodded at me chivalrously again, afterwards, she finally strode forward and left the dining hall with her gallant figure.
I think Emilia intentionally made a show in front of everyone. A normal aspiring knight wouldn't do that in the academy. That would damage the reputation of the princess in the eyes of the students in the campus.
Since the students here in this academy are the future hope of this kingdom, the rebel army probably put Emilia here to damage the reputation of Cliopatra and spy on every young noble student, and I'm probably included in those noble students Emilia was spying on.
My thoughts were complicated when Cliopatra suddenly spoke.
"Do you see now, Oaf? I'm a princess and not everyone can become my friend," Cliopatra said smugly.
I ignored her and went to line up with other students. My stomach has been growling in hunger, so I don't have the time to argue with this princess. Cliopatra followed behind, still glorifying her vain social status. Or about how fortunate I was for befriending a princess.
However, I didn't listen to a single word. I let the words come in and out of my ears, pretending to be deaf. It seems that Cliopatra soon got tired of spouting bullshit as she lined up with me in silence.
After lining up, the green coated lady gave me a plate full of food. One of the people in-charge said that I can go back if I want more as long as the dining hall hasn't closed yet, so I nodded and thanked them.
I sat on the corner where it would be hard for people to notice.
"Why did you choose such a place?" Cliopatra whined.
I ignored her as I ate my food in silence, because my mind can't seem to stop thinking about Emilia.
In the novel, Emilia led Cliopatra to be taken as a hostage, and the villain who always stalks Cliopatra followed them to their hideout. That's how Nasrin in the book discovered that the leader of the rebel army was none other than the protagonist's father.
So the villain then also abducted the protagonist. When the leader of the rebel army learned that his daughter was also taken as a hostage, he rashly surrendered the princess and told Nasrin Urduja to release Kendra as a fair exchange.
However, the villain was never fair; she didn't release the protagonist, since her true intention was to put an end to Kendra's life; in this way, no one would get in the way of her obsession for Cliopatra.
As a result, the protagonist's father came to the rescue to save Kendra, and that's how the protagonist's father ended up being killed by the villain's hand.
Afterwards, someone exposed the crimes of the villain in public, and it brought the Urduja Clan to bankruptcy. Their reputation had been damaged, and their stocks went down the drain.
And the people who disclose the crimes of the villain are Lory and Kendra.
After all, Lory has wide connections in the underground society of the Maple Kingdom, and that's why she can easily gather information and evidence about the crimes the villain committed. Lory brought the gathered evidence to Kendra, and Kendra brought it to the princess.
At the end of the villain's chapter, the Urduja Clan got exiled by the royal family. King Graham has always feared how powerful the Urduja Clan have in the Maple Kingdom. When the princess presented the evidence to her father, the king didn't hesitate nor think twice before putting an end to the great ancient lineage of the Urduja household.
In the last remaining chapters of the villain, Nasrin in the book met her end in the woods by a masked person, and that person is Lory.
After recalling the plot in the novel, I turn my head to the side and glance at the princess. No matter what, I can't let this bratty princess be abducted.
"Oaf, what are you looking at? Have you finally realised the charm of this princess?" Cliopatra said, smirking at me, then she flipped her long blonde hair and said, "but sorry to disappoint you, I'm only attracted to omegas."
I grimaced and decided to ignore this brat as I ate the food on my plate.
"What the heck is that expression supposed to mean?! You should know that not everyone…"
Cliopatra then started whining again about how lucky I am for having to eat with a princess, but I didn't continue to listen as I pretended to be deaf. After a while, I finished my breakfast and stood up.
"Are you going to tour the academy?" Cliopatra said as she also stood up.
Right, I can't leave Cliopatra alone. I can't afford to have this princess suddenly abducted. That's why I need to keep an eye on this brat and be a chaperone, well, for a little while.
With a deep sigh, I turned to Cliopatra and said, "Come with me, I'll go to your aunt's office, she'll be touring us around with the professor."
"My aunt is going to personally tour you?" Cliopatra gasped in disbelief.
I nodded at her and said, "yes, and you're coming with me, right?"
"Of course, friends should accompany each other, Oaf," Cliopatra replied proudly, grinning to herself as she raised her chin.
I smiled and mumbled, "let's go."
'It seems that it wouldn't be hard to keep an eye on this brat,' I thought to myself.
Together the two of us left the dining hall.