With a blink and squint against the bright morning sun, I slowly opened my eyes. My surroundings came into focus, and I found myself sprawled on the soft sandy shoreline.
Wrapped in a striking contrast, I surveyed my outfit—a vibrant red overcoat paired with pure white pajamas.
The sensation of the cool sand beneath my bare feet grounded me in this new, unfamiliar place. As I pushed myself up, the weight of the strange attire clung to my body. I turned around, and my gaze fell upon the imposing sight of a dense forest.
I noticed an unfamiliar ship coming this way.
I have never seen a flag like that before.
I had no idea where I was, but staying idle on the beach would offer no answers. So, I decided to move through the forest to avoid running into the people coming out of the ship. I was confident that I could defend myself against normal animals or monsters; however, I do not know what is waiting for me here. Moreover, I need to figure out where this place was.
As my heart weighed heavy with doubts and the unknown loomed before me, I reached for the long stick laying nearby. I had no idea what kind of dangers could lurk in the forest and the sight of a mysterious ship coming into shore did nothing to quell my concerns. With my confidence shaken, I ventured into the thicket hoping I would find a way to escape this unknown and frightening place.
After walking for a while, the trees became thinner, and the sun's rays began breaking through the canopy. It seemed like I was finally nearing the edge of the forest, which offered relief and made my footing more confident. As I walked some more, the trees became sparser and I could now see the city on the northern horizon. But before I could reach them, my exhaustion overtook me, causing me to collapse to the ground.
I then woke up in the darkness of an unfamiliar room...
I wore an unfamiliar attire, a thobe, but for some reason, it felt very comfortable to wear.
The room, while a bit old, felt somewhat welcoming and homey. I could sense some traces of scent of perfume in the room along with a mix of other fragrances, making the air smell pleasant.
Just then, the door opened and a gentle, yet stern-faced old woman walked in, her eyes fixed on me with a keen expression.
The old woman walked in, her dark, sharp eyes taking in my every gesture. She stood up tall, her slim frame accentuated by a simple, yet elegant robe that shrouded her like a dark curtain. Her face was kind but stern, but there was something more beneath her surface, something that made me uncomfortable. Her words were firm but fair, and she spoke in a soft but commanding voice. I had never met anyone like her before, and her presence commanded my attention.
"How are you feeling?" she asked.
I responded with a quiet, "I am just fine," but that was hardly the case. The unfamiliar surroundings, the vague memory of collapsing to the ground, and the strange old woman were all very unsettling and it made me uncomfortable.
"I found you collapsed in the Rephtia Forest, so I brought you here," the old woman explained.
Then I asked the old woman, "I see... I am Asher, may I know your name?"
The old lady responded, saying, "I am Oflia zen Zuali; you can address me as Grandma."
I nodded and inquired about the place, "Do you perhaps know what country this is?"
The old lady replied, "We are in the Kingdom of Pama... my son, do you not remember anything, or are you from outside this country?"
She might have caught on because of how I was found fainted in the forest and my specific questions about the country.
The old lady continued, "Asher, you can stay here for as long as you want. I live alone anyway, so you don't have to worry about anything."
I thanked her, and the old lady went away, gently closing the door of the room.
I got out of the bed and decided to examine the room I was in. It had cozy study table in the corner of the room. Right next to it was a big book shelf and it had a lot of books.
"The knowledge of books…. h…", I muttered to myself.
I approached the old wooden dresser standing beside the bed and opened it. Inside, I saw a variety of clothes that were all quite old, but that happened to be exactly my size.
"Hmmm... " I mumbled to myself, as I began inspecting the clothes. Just then a soft knock echoed on the old wooden door, drawing my attention.
"Come in," I said, a bit unsure. I didn't know who might be on the other side.
"I was wonderin' if you want somethin' to eat. I made some soup…"
I heard a familiar-sounding voice on the other side of the door. My curiosity turned to relief as I recognized the voice to be none other than the old lady—Oflia zen Zuali.
"Oh, yes, I would love to have some soup. Thank you very much," I replied, unable to hide the slight hint of excitement in my voice.
The warm, homey living room was dimly lit by a small amount of morning light that poured in through the windows. The walls and furniture were all made from a deep mahogany color, which added to the atmosphere. There was a thick rug in the middle of the floor, which made the whole room feel comfortable and cozy.
Across the room, I also saw a square-shaped sofa that was lined up next to a fireplace that didn't have a fire lit yet.
It was true that this old woman, Oflia, seemed to be quite well off, considering the quality of the furniture and the luxury of the living room. But why would someone like her be so kind to me? I couldn't understand why she was offering to take care of me even though I was a complete stranger and didn't know anything about her.
It also seemed odd that she had so much trust in me, enough to offer a place to stay without hesitation.
"Here you go, follow me to the table," she said.
"Hey, Lady Oflia, if I may ask, whose room is that?" I questioned her while I sat down.
"Oh, well... it's yours... Zen!"
It was my room? And why is she addressing me as Zen?
"I'm sorry, but..." I wanted to tell her that I was not Zen and it was not my room, but for some reason, I thought that telling her that would be troublesome and that she wouldn't like it.
I couldn't tell her the truth.
"thanks for the meal."
I looked down at the bowl in front of me, which contained the warm soup that she had brought. I took a sip immediately felt my body relax. It was delicious and felt just right for my tired body.
I smiled warmly at the old woman, who seemed to be eagerly waiting for my response.
"Th…this was great!"
Her expression immediately shifted from a calm facade to a joyful smile upon seeing my gratitude and enjoyment. She was genuinely pleased that I enjoyed the food, and that had likely lifted her spirits.
Just then a knock on the door was heard. Without delay the man came in with some instruments and was in shock when he looked at me.
"you…."
My senses heightened as I saw the man enter. I didn't know what his intentions were or what he was going to do, so I swiftly placed myself in a defensive position. I moved my right hand behind my back, where I had concealed a knife and fork from the table. I held them firmly with my grip, ready to unleash any attack that might come my way. I stayed still and kept a watchful eye on the man, not taking any risks and monitoring every move he made.
[To Be Continued]