Chapter 3:
"What in the world is this? This can't be real. It must be a dream... Please! someone, anyone! wake me up from this nightmare!" She release all sense of panic rising in her chest as she looked around the unfamiliar world, her eyes wide with confusion and fear.
In front of her stood a massive gate, which appeared to be the only way out of the place. She desperately wanted to escape, but her efforts were frustrated by a powerful being blocking her path, whom she soon realized was Maxima.
She felt a sense of hopelessness wash over her as she realized she was trapped and unable to move forward. The weight of the situation pressed heavily upon her, making it hard for her to even breathe. She couldn't believe that this was happening to her, and she couldn't shake off the feeling that she was stuck in some sort of twisted dream.
Maxima put her hand in the air, telling her to calm down. "I can help you," she said, her voice calm and soothing. Her green eyes seemed to glow in the dim light, and Akiko couldn't help but feel a sense of fear as she looked at her—even Maxima didn't want to hurt her. Maxima was unlike anyone she had ever seen before, with her long ears and her powerful aura.
As Akiko scanned the vicinity with a sense of urgency, her eyes frantically darted around the area in search of an escape route. Suddenly, she caught sight of a large group of knights and magicians rapidly approaching, their weapons and magic at the ready.
Feeling hopeless and trapped, Akiko built up all the courage she could and made a desperate attempt to run towards the gate. She tried to sprint as fast as she could, but before she knew it, Maxima's strong hand was tightly gripping her arm. Despite her efforts to break free, Akiko couldn't escape the woman's iron-like grip.
"I'm sorry," Maxima said, her voice soft and apologetic. She flicked her hand, and a pulsating aura of magic suddenly surrounded it. The light emanating from her hand was bright and mesmerizing, like the flicker of a flame. It was a powerful display of her magical abilities, but her demeanor was meek, showing that she didn't intend to intimidate or hurt anyone.
"Just sleep again, don't worry. I am not going to hurt you," she reassured, her voice soothing and calm.
Akiko felt her body go limp as she collapsed into Maxima's arms. The last thing she saw before everything went black was the woman's apologetic expression, caressing her softly.
***
When Akiko woke up again, she was in an unfamiliar room. The room was dark. She was bound to a chair, her arms and legs tied tightly. She could feel the panic rising in her chest once again as she looked around the room. This was not the room where she had woken up before. This room was filled with magical items and artifacts. Books, scrolls, and potions were stacked on shelves and tables, and Akiko could see strange instruments and tools that she couldn't even begin to understand.
As Akiko stood there in the darkness, she noticed a figure slowly emerging from the shadows. As the figure came closer, she could see that it was Maxima, a woman who seemed to exude a sense of power and authority.
"Celesta Royal," Maxima said in a low, menacing tone. "Do you know that name?"
Akiko couldn't help but feel a sense of fear and uncertainty as she looked at Maxima. She was clearly a powerful and intimidating figure, and Akiko couldn't help but feel a little meek and timid in her presence. Despite this, she tried to remain calm and composed as she listened to what Maxima had to say.
Akiko nervously shook her head, her heart beating wildly in her chest. She felt a bit overwhelmed and unsure of what to say. Maxima's expression softened, with a hint of nostalgia creeping into her eyes. She spoke in a quiet, soothing voice.
"Do you remember any of the happy moments we shared in that bed?" Her words were like a gentle embrace, comforting and kind.
Akiko's face flushed a deep shade of red as she nervously stumbled over her words: "N-no, I don't remember anything like that."
Maxima's body language relaxed, and her face softened as she let out a deep breath. "That's a relief," she said, her voice becoming more relaxed and friendly.
"It looks like you truly are from a different reality, Akiko Fujimoto," Maxima added with a smile.
Akiko's heart skipped a beat as she heard her name spoken out loud. "I—I didn't tell you my name," she said, her voice shaking with fear. "How do you know it?"
Maxima rolled her eyes; there was a hint of irritation in her voice. "Look, I'm not going to hurt you," she said. "I just need to confirm that's your name."
Akiko, feeling overwhelmed and unsure, timidly nodded her head in response. Her mind raced as she tried to process the fact that she was in a completely different place and in someone else's body. It was all too much to take in.
Maxima, on the other hand, was ecstatic. She couldn't contain her excitement as she let out a joyful exclamation and whispered to herself, "Yes, my spell worked!" But then she quickly regained her composure and turned to Akiko with a serious expression on her face.
"Welcome to Eden," she said in a reassuring and confident tone. "I know this must be a lot for you to take in, but you are now in the body of our queen." "It may be difficult to adjust, but you will have to learn to deal with it."
Akiko looked at Maxima in disbelief. She couldn't understand how this was possible, but she knew that she had to trust this woman if she wanted to find a way out of this nightmare. She took a deep breath and asked, "What is this place?" "And who are you?"
Maxima smiled, her green eyes sparkling with excitement. "Eden is... I don't really have a good answer to that... But! As for me, I am Maxima, the queen's advisor and closest... friend~"
Akiko's mind was racing with questions, but she knew that she had to take things one step at a time. "This is just... why? Where is she? And why am I in her body?"
Maxima's expression turned serious. "The queen, Celesta, is in your body in your world, probably just as confused as you are. But!
She can handle it; I know she can because I've seen your life; you are pretty much a princess in your world, huh?"
Akiko's mind was in a whirlwind as she tried to process the information she had just received. She couldn't believe that she was in a completely different world with a completely different body. It was overwhelming, and she felt like she was in a dream. But she knew that she couldn't let it defeat her. She had to be strong and find a way out of this strange situation.
Maxima could see the determination in Akiko's eyes and knew that she was ready to take on whatever came her way. "That's the attitude I like to see," Maxima said with a smile.
Maxima moved closer to Akiko, and her expression became serious. "We're going to find a way to transfer your soul back to your own body and get you back to your own world." "It's not just about you; the entire civilization of Eden is at stake if we fail."
Akiko's head bobbed up and down as she agreed, her determination growing stronger with each passing moment. She knew that the journey ahead wouldn't be easy, but she was ready to face whatever obstacles came her way. Her goal was clear: To find a way back to her own world.
Maxima gave Akiko a warm and comforting smile before turning to leave the room. "Don't worry, we'll get started on your journey tomorrow," she said with a reassuring tone.
"Emily here will come pick you up and give you a quick crash course on how things work in this world."
"I wish I could be the one to guide you, but I've got a lot on my plate right now." And with that, Maxima was gone, leaving Akiko alone in the room.
Akiko felt a bit panicked as she realized she had no idea how to get out of the room; she was still tied to a chair. She started to yell out, "Hey, how am I supposed to get out of here!" But before she could finish her sentence, she noticed someone peeking through the door. It was a familiar face—a young lady with blond hair and soft eyes, Emily.
"Oh, hi." Akiko said with a hint of relief in her voice as she saw a familiar face.
Seeing Emily, the first person she had met when she woke, was like a breath of fresh air. It was comforting to know that she wasn't completely alone and abandoned in this dark room.