Darkness spreads wherever I turn, and from afar, a small red rabbit slowly takes shape arising in a distance, then she turns around, running away.
'Pula…?'
Steadily, I moved my legs step by step increasingly fast, sprinting to the little bunny. Yet, the more I rushed to her withdrawing back, the more the spaces between us grew apart; it kept getting further and further away, gradually dissipating from my eyes.
'Wait! Don't leave Pula!'
I run with more haste, and run even more and over again. I followed Pula's figure that was bit by bit disappearing in the dark. Seeing her fading silhouette made me race even faster out of fright. But no matter how much I went after her; the vast gap amidst the two of us only extended a million bits. Pula became more out of reach, and little by little, her figure completely vanished from the void.
'Pula!'
I inhaled sharply. "Haah!" I gasped for air as I awoke, panting and breathing heavily with eyes wide open in horror.
I swallowed hard, feeling my throat dry. I felt my oily sweat escaping out from my skin, seeping from all over my face and entire body.
Sitting up, liquid droplets oozing out from the side of my face glided down to my jaw then down to my throat; then it slid down further to my naked bandaged chest, drenched with the moisture of my skin. The only clothing I have is dark pants, reaching down just below my knees; a white thin fabric wrapped around in most parts of my wounded body.
I blink my eyes as I squinted half awake, taking in the sight of my surroundings inside the room. What I first notice is that Pula and Alexandra are nowhere in sight, and I am alone in the room.
In the peripheral vision of my eyes, I notice that the walls are made out of stone concrete. Nothing new about that, so I stared up to concentrate my eyes on the ceiling which had a painting on it. The colourful drawing on the ceiling reminded me of that famous historical artwork on earth.
The art is similar to the painting made by Michelangelo which is referred to as The Creation of Adam.
The difference is that both were drawn as a female figure. Except that the female representing Adam; not only has a female's chest, but she also has a rooster as her private part. When I say rooster, I mean the male reproductive organ. I know, it's confusing, but I meant rooster as a figure of speech; not its literal meaning.
I tilted my head in pure confusion. If the figure has a male reproductive organ, then doesn't that make her a male?
Oh right. Intersex is how earth refers to this kind of gender, but here, as far as I recall; this world has second-genders, and this painting on the ceiling is probably representing the making of the first alpha.
'Alpha, huh, I really don't want to become one,' I thought to myself.
Suddenly, I felt a pounding pain from the side of my head. I raised my hand, grabbing my head, feeling a hammering agony in my temples. As I touched my head, I felt a bandage wrap around my forehead. My left leg is also wrapped with gauze.
As I touched myself more, it then suddenly came to me; my eyes widened in surprise, raising my right wrist in front of me.
'My right hand is back!'
I gasped in disbelief. However, as I stare more, my face soon returns to normal. Instead, I felt an odd sensation in my chest.
The appearance of my right hand is a little weird. My brows creased, staring at the milky colour skin tone of my new hand. It's too white. It's as white as snow. While the skin tone I have is only fair and not that white.
Touching my right hand with my left fingers, I felt a smooth and hard exterior grazing from the tip of my skin. I could move my new hand as I wanted, so it still felt like my real right hand, but for some reason, it also felt…not the same.
Not to mention that, I seem to have turned a little tan, making my right hand stand out seeming even whiter. My face crumpled recalling what happened in the arena.
"Pula…" I mumbled as I glared at nothing.
I don't know if Pula is fine, but I'm hoping that she is. Since I'm fine then Pula should also. I'm sure that Alexandra is not a heartless person that would leave Pula to die. Even if Alexandra chose not to help me, I can understand that despite feeling betrayed.
As long as everything becomes fixed again, and I think it is not impossible considering that this is a fantasy world with magic and whatnot.
Furthermore, seeing my right hand back, I felt the lost hope in my heart rekindled. If I could get my hand back, then I'm sure that Pula would also be fine.
With these thoughts, my heart eases a little.
Pula will be fine, right?
I hope Pula is alright like me. I really hope so. My eyes stared at the painting. Seeing this painting reminded me of the God I worship on earth. I closed my eyes as I prayed in my heart.
I prayed to God for Pula's health, hoping the little red rabbit is fine. As long as Pula is okay, then I won't try to go back to my world. I will try to live a peaceful life here with Pula, and if I see Pula again, I want to carry her in my arms like we used to. Even if Pula is now bigger and heavier than she used to be; I will still hold her in my arms.
I will make tons of money to buy her purple carrots. I will hug Pula as much as I want, and then, we will travel in the forest together. We will live in the forest in peace. I will take good care of Pula in this world, so please make Pula healthy again. I want to see Pula and hug her once more. I want to feel Pula's warm body that is always comforting me.
"Good, you're awake."
The lids of my eyes spread open. I turn my head to the side, seeing an unfamiliar woman standing beside my bed, holding a pipe near her lips.
The woman stood seven feet tall with short brunette hair and olive skin, wearing a dark robe priestess like outfit. Her dark green eyes watch me as I observe her warily.
Seeing a stranger invading the room, I became alarmed as I hurriedly straightened, raising my fist up defensively.
My eyes narrowed at her. I didn't even hear her footsteps nor did I feel her presence. If she had not said anything in the first place, I might not have noticed that she just went inside the room.
I knitted my brows, feeling angry at myself for letting my guard down. However, seeing the stranger standing seven feet tall in front of me; I instantly hid the emotions on my face, then I roamed my eyes everywhere in the room, looking urgently for anything that could serve as a weapon or a shield. Just in case this person tries to do anything.
But I saw nothing sharp or anything that could be used as a weapon or a shield. Except for the two of us. There's only a bed, a pillow, a blanket, and nothing else in the room.
Although there is a window on the side of the room, I don't think I'll survive if I jump outside, seeing nothing but the bright blue sky meeting my eyes. Meaning to say that this room is probably located at the upper floors of this whatever building, and it also means that I can't escape through the windows.
No matter how much I hate myself for being weak and helpless in this world; I can't let myself die. It's because I still need to look for Pula, and escape this bloody city then go live a hermit life in the forest.
Which means I have no choice but to face this stranger. My brows knitted as I picked up the pillow, shielding myself and observing if this woman would do anything to me.
Her dark green eyes stared at me boredly as she released a puff of smoke. Slowly, her lips curved into a knowing grin. "Your right hand…" the seven foot tall woman paused; her green eyes went to my right hand, then she looked at my eyes again. "How is it?"
I narrowed my eyes on her. I don't like how this woman smiles. Like she knows some dirt about me while I know nothing about her. Instead of answering, I decided to question her back. I don't plan on giving her any information about me.
I didn't smile or frown. However, I kept the pillow in front of me as a shield, but I made sure to give nothing that could make her read me.
"Who are you?" I said in a monotone voice. Neither sounding curious or interested.
Despite my monotonous voice sounding uninterested; the woman still raises her lips in a smile, puffing up smoke from her mouth. The sweet and salty scent made me feel relaxed, but the smell is a bit errotic for my liking. My brows weaved together, thinking how I still prefer the sweet delicate scent of lavender.
"Who am I…I'm the person who took care of you kid," the seven foot tall woman answered, exhaling smoke from her mouth.
Placing the pipe between her lips, the seven foot tall woman then clasped her hand together as she continued, "anyway, my name is Joan Truman, a saint warrior from the House of the Goddess Mayari, well…" she paused, taking the pipe back from her mouth. "How's that for an introduction?"
Saint Warrior? Goddess Mayari? Joan Truman?
"Doesn't ring a bell," I blurted out.
The seven foot tall woman named Joan squinted her eyes at my answer. "Tch, what an ungrateful brat," she said, taking a deep smoke from her brown pipe. "Whatever, let's go and meet that greedy General."
"No," I said firmly; I scooted further away in the corner of the bed.
Joan knitted her brows at me. "What do you mean no?"
"I don't want to meet anyone aside from Pula," I said strongly, looking at Joan's dark green eyes.
"Pula?" The seven foot tall woman replied. "I don't know where to find this…whoever Pula is, so just come with me and let's meet that greedy old hag, so I can finish my job here, alright?"
My brows creased stubbornly; I remained still in my position.
I won't go anywhere without Pula. My priority right now is to find Pula, and also, I don't want to meet that general again. I just can't because I'm not confident that I can control myself.
Moreover, I don't trust this seven foot tall woman. I don't remember anyone named Joan Truman in the novel, but this is not why I felt like I couldn't trust her.
The reason is because the author also did not mention a saint being a warrior at the same time, and there is also no goddess named Mayari in the book. Which means, in other words, that it is either this woman is lying, or everything in the novel can't be trusted as legit information.
My eyes narrowed at that thought as I gazed at the seven foot tall woman standing in front of me. I remained in a defensive sitting position as I covered the white pillow in front of me, using the pillow like a shield.
While the woman named Joan Truman stood straight at the height of seven feet tall. Her lean and toned figure is clothed in a long black robe, and a small crescent moon is embroidered located on the middle of her chest. She indeed looks the part of a priestess.
However, why is a saint smoking? And how come a saint is also a warrior? Aren't they supposed to be role models?
My brows crossed together in perplexity as I stared at this seven foot tall woman.
She said her name is Joan Truman. Her surname Truman is the same surname Faye Truman has. Which means that this person might be related to Faye Truman. However, I won't mention Faye nor ask if this Joan is related to Kendra's friend. Because I don't want to. I can't let a stranger know anything related to me or to this body.
"Are you just going to stare at me?" Joan Truman said in a frustrated tone, scratching her short brunette hair at the back of her head.
I didn't answer, remaining in a defensive sitting position to the corner of the bed as I held the pillow like some sort of sturdy shield.
I don't know what to believe in this world nor who to trust. I just got betrayed, and I feel insecure and uncomfortable. The only one that could comfort me is Pula.
I need to go to Pula, but how?
I don't know where Pula is right now, and Alexandra is missing in action again. I thought I would at least see the two of them beside me, but they are both missing instead.
I only hope that Pula is fine. Anyway, I don't think I should give my trust easily in this world, so I won't go anywhere with this woman named Joan Truman.
I'll just find a way to look for both Pula and Alexandra after this woman is no longer here. At that, I stared expressionless at Joan Truman, waiting in silence for this woman to leave.
Seeing my silent response, the lids of her green eyes squinted; her brows pulled up together helplessly. "Look, I heard that you were beaten up by that old hag, but I assure you that nothing like that will happen again, come on, let's go?"
I stared at her green eyes that were staring back at me. It does not seem that she is lying, but I still don't know if this person can be trusted or not. Especially after she claims to be both a saint and a warrior.
Even if she is the one who took care of me; I can't afford to let my guard down again, and furthermore, I still don't know if this Joan is speaking the truth or just lying to me.
In the novel, there is only one God that was mentioned. The religion is called Mapleism, and it was said that Bathala is the God who created everything in this world.
In Maple Kingdom, there is only one religion that the First King issued for his people to follow and believe. The religion is called Mapleism derived from the name of the empire.
The religion believes that there is only one God in the entire world, and this God Bathala, is the one who humans and everything this world has to offer.
In addition, Mapleism has thirteen sacrament rules that all people in Maple Kingdom should follow. Because these thirteen sacrament rules were said to be the holy laws that God issues upon the people. The first rule was that no one is allowed to have any other gods or goddesses to worship.
Which means that this woman in front of me right now is either lying or she is just a crazy lunatic; either that or everything in the book can't be trusted as facts or legit knowledge.
I don't know what to make of it.
Wait, speaking of god.
The discussions I had with that sacred bird, Adarna, came back to me, playing those memories in my head like a film.
…
My eyes widened as I stood up, leaning my head forward. "Do you know a way how I can return to earth?!" I gasped.
"Calm down mortal," the Adarna woman said.
I took a deep breath as I nodded, then I slowly sat back down. My heart pounded excitedly in my chest.
"Unfortunately, I don't know how you would be able to return to your own world," the Adarna woman said.
"Oh…" I replied, looking down dejectedly.
"But, if you want to know how to return to your world, then go and seek the heavenly beings."
Huh? She wants me to talk to a god like it's normal?
"How do I do that?" I said, creasing my brows together. "That's basically impossible, you know…"
"It's not impossible mortal, If you want to seek and talk to the gods and goddesses, you must first enter enlightenment," the Adarna woman said.
"Enlightenment…?" I mumbled, perplexed.
"Yes," the Adarna woman replied.
"How…?"
"Unfortunately, I can't divulge the secrets of the heavenly beings, if I do, they would strike their lightning sword at me," the Adarna woman replied. "You must seek a human for this question."
"I see, then do you know anyone who could help me?" I inquired with hopeful eyes, desperate for answers.
"Hmm, in some tribes, they call the enlightened ones as Babaylan, and I believe there's something similar like that in this kingdom, if I recall, the people in this kingdom call their enlightened ones as saint or pope," the Adarna woman explained.
"I see," I nodded. "Thank you for telling me this crucial information Adarna, this is a huge help for me to return home, I hope I could return the favour someday," I said.
…
"Hey kid, are you not listening?" Joan Truman said, waving her hand in front of me.
I snapped out from the trance as I stared at this woman named Joan Truman.