As I stepped down from the carriage, my first instinct was to reach out and take my young miss's hands, ensuring her safety as she exited.
But before I could fully process what was happening, a deafening clap of thunder echoed through the air, accompanied by a blinding flash of bright purple lightning just a few meters away from us.
Panic surged through me as I attempted to shield my young miss from the sudden danger, but to my horror, my body refused to move. It was as if I was frozen in place, unable to protect her as the world around us seemed to blur and distort.
Amidst the chaos, a sense of familiarity washed over me, settling in the depths of my chest like a long-forgotten memory resurfacing. My heart pounded in my ears, each beat resonating with a strange intensity as time slowed to a crawl around me.
As the smoke from the lightning strike began to dissipate, a figure emerged from the haze, stepping forward with an air of effortless grace.
"Beautiful…." the word escaped my lips in a whisper as I gazed upon her, my thoughts consumed by the sight before me. In that moment, nothing else mattered— not even the fact that I was still holding onto my young miss's hands.
She was breathtakingly beautiful, her presence commanding attention as she walked towards us with a confidence that left me mesmerized.
Her eyes, a mesmerizing shade of red reminiscent of the most precious rubies, met mine, and a smile tugged at the corners of her lips. It was a smile that sent a jolt of electricity through me, causing my heart to skip a beat in response.
'What the hell….?'
Confusion and disbelief flooded my mind as I grappled with the sudden surge of emotions coursing through me.
What was happening?
Why was I feeling this way?
I couldn't comprehend what was happening as the woman approached me with a playful and seductive smile, uttering the words "Found you..." with an air of mischief.
Found me? What did she mean?
With each step she took, the world around me began to thaw from its frozen state. Sound returned, the air stirred, and even the residual electricity crackled in the atmosphere. I could feel the warmth of my young miss's hands in mine, grounding me in the present moment.
"Sophia...?" my young miss murmured, her voice filled with confusion and uncertainty.
The mention of that name sent a jolt through me, as if lightning had struck me once again. I turned to look at the woman, studying her features with newfound intensity.
Could she truly be Sophia? The same Sophia from my dreams, the one who had haunted my nightmares with her blurred visage?
As I gazed upon her, I couldn't help but feel a sense of disbelief washing over me. This woman, with her ethereal beauty and enigmatic presence, couldn't possibly be the cause of all my torment, could she?
Yet, deep down, a part of me knew that she held the answers I had been searching for.
In that moment of uncertainty, as the truth loomed tantalizingly close yet still shrouded in mystery, I found myself grappling with conflicting emotions.
Fear and curiosity warred within me, mingling with a strange sense of fascination that I couldn't quite shake.
As Sophia's smile widened and her eyes sparkled with amusement, I realized that their really was more to this whole nightmare thing that I ignored….
As Sophia wrapped her arms around me, pulling me into a tight embrace, a wave of confusion washed over me.
Although she bore a resemblance to the girl from my nightmares, everything about her felt different.
The bloodlust and malice that had characterized those nightmares were absent, replaced by a warmth and affection that seemed out of place.
"I miss you..."
Sophia's words, muffled against my chest, sent a shiver down my spine.
It was as if she held a piece of a puzzle I hadn't even realized was missing, stirring up emotions I couldn't begin to comprehend.
"Huh...?" I stammered, at a loss for words as I struggled to make sense of the situation unfolding before me.
Seriously what the fuck was going on? and why did Sophia's presence evoke such conflicting emotions within me?
Before I could gather my thoughts, my young miss's panicked voice shattered the moment, pulling me back to reality.
"What are you doing, Sophia!?" she cried out, her voice tinged with fear as she attempted to pry Sophia away from me.
Despite my young miss's efforts, Sophia clung to me with an unexpected strength, her embrace unyielding as if she were unwilling to let me go.
As I glanced down at her, confusion clouded my mind, leaving me to wonder what secrets lay hidden beneath the surface of her enigmatic smile.
"This time I will protect you so…. You don't have to worry about me anymore, ok?"
'That I swear...'
Sophia's whispered words sent a jolt through me, her promise of protection ringing in my ears like a solemn vow.
As she held me close, our faces mere inches apart, I couldn't help but be drawn in by her presence, the scent of fresh flowers enveloping me in a haze of intoxicating fragrance.
'This is getting bad….'
But as the reality of the situation dawned on me, a surge of panic coursed through my veins.
Who was this woman, and why did she seem to know me so intimately?
With each passing moment, the danger of the unknown loomed ever closer, threatening to engulf me in its dark embrace.
'Slowly but surely my attraction towards her was getting stronger by the moment'
Summoning all my strength, I pushed against Sophia's embrace, desperate to break free from her hold.
Only then did she release me, her disappointment palpable as she regarded me with a mixture of regret and understanding.
"Oh my… you're as strong as ever" she said while putting out a slightly surprised reaction.
'I should be the one saying that….!'
It took me all my strength just to push her away from me, just how strong is she?
"Sophiaaa!!!"
Stella's voice pierced through the tension, her protective instinct kicking into overdrive as she shielded me from Sophia's advances.
"Get away from Taylor"
"Hehehe~ sorry, I just got to excited"
Caught off guard by Stella's sudden outburst, Sophia offered a sheepish apology, her laughter tinged with embarrassment.
"What the hell were you doing? You know that magic is forbidden within the academy grounds, right? And stay away from Taylor!"
Stella's words rang out like a thunderclap, her voice nearly a scream as she tried to assert her authority over the situation.
But Sophia seemed unfazed, moving closer to me once more, deliberately ignoring my young miss's every word.
With an air of nonchalance, Sophia extended her hand towards me, a disarming smile playing on her lips.
"Sophia Winchester," she introduced herself, her laughter as unique as her name.
"Sorry about that, junior... I just got a bit too excited, you see. Hehe~"
Despite my lingering confusion, I found myself accepting her hand without hesitation, reciprocating the introduction.
"Taylor, Taylor Crimson," I replied, my voice tinged with uncertainty as I tried to make sense of the bizarre encounter.
"Taylor, huh? That's a very beautiful name~" Sophia remarked, her tone quite seductive as she suddenly licked her tongue….?
'Excuse me…?'
"I-Is that so...?" I trailed off, my suspicions growing with each passing moment.
Why was Sophia suddenly acting so familiar with me? And did she expect us to overlook the peculiar incident that had just occurred?
Before I could ponder the matter further, Stella intervened with a swift and decisive gesture.
Smack….!
With a sharp karate chop, she forcefully separated our clasped hands, her disapproval evident in the stern set of her jaw.
Stella's words hung in the air, her confusion palpable as she struggled to make sense of Sophia's unusual behavior.
"Y-You're being weird today, Sophia. Why are you suddenly trying to seduce Taylor? You're even acting all too familiar with him!"
"Did it look like I was seducing him?" she countered, her words dripping with amusement.
"Yes...!!!" Stella's exasperation was evident as she reiterated her concern, her voice tinged with frustration.
"I see, then I must be seducing him," Sophia replied casually.
"H-huh... what the hell are you even saying?"
Stella couldn't believe what she was hearing, her best friend's behavior veering drastically from the norm. Something was clearly amiss.
"Like you just said, I'm probably seducing him," Sophia reiterated, her expression enigmatic as she maintained her cryptic stance.
"W-why?" Stella pressed, her confusion mounting with each passing moment.
Sophia's gaze shifted to me, her eyes holding a hint of mischief before she offered a playful smile.
"Because he looks cute~? He's very handsome as well, don't you agree?"
"I-I don't—I mean yes… but that's not the point you—"
"What are you guys doing?"
Before Stella could voice her protest, a stern voice interrupted our conversation, drawing our attention to a figure descending the grand castle steps.
It was none other than the crown prince of the empire, Hansel Leiderhosen, my young miss's fiancé, his presence was as intimidating as ever.
As Prince Hansel made his descent down the castle steps, I instinctively bowed in respect, my posture reflecting the deference befitting his royal status.
"Your Highness," I murmured respectfully, my hand pressed against my chest in a formal gesture.
Stella's greeting to the prince was markedly more casual, her familiarity with him evident in the way she addressed him by name alone.
"Hansel...," she said with a hint of warmth, acknowledging their close relationship as fiancés.
'Though I don't know why she kept looking at me when she said that….'
Meanwhile, Sophia's reaction to the prince's arrival was anything but conventional. With a carefree demeanor, she greeted him with a playful "Hello, prince~!" and waved at him in a manner that bordered on audacious.
Her disregard for formalities and casual mention of his title left Prince Hansel visibly puzzled, his brows furrowing in confusion as he tried to make sense of her unconventional behavior.
But Sophia's attention quickly shifted from the prince to me, as she seized my hands in hers, intertwining our fingers with surprising intimacy.
Caught off guard by her sudden gesture, I couldn't help but voice my confusion.
"Uh... Milady, what are you doing?"
In response, Sophia flashed me a mischievous grin, her demeanor playful and serious at the same time.
"Sophia, call me Sophia, hehehe. I'll see you around, OK, Taylor?"
With a wink and a giggle, she vanished in a flash of lightning, leaving me stunned and bewildered in her wake.
As I stood there, still trying to process Sophia's abrupt departure, Prince Hansel approached, his expression curious.
"What was that about?" he inquired, his gaze fixed on me expectantly.
"I'd like to know the answer to that as well..."