The shadow of the truck still lingered vividly in my memory. The blinding headlights, the terrified screams as blood was spilled, and the voices urging me to stay conscious—I remember it all clearly. But how could I end up in a place like this? There isn't a single wound on my body, let alone any blood. Does this mean... I'm dead?
Drap!
Drap!
What is that sound? Why does it seem so clear?
It's the sound of footsteps—a group of them. Like the steady march of soldiers in training. I'm quite certain.
But there's something that puzzles me. Is it just my imagination, or are they actually coming this way?
Drap!
"Why is the sound getting closer?"
I began to panic for reasons I didn't fully understand and hurriedly ran away from the source of the noise. They were chasing me; I had a strong premonition of it. I needed to escape quickly. But I didn't even know where I was or which direction to take.
"No matter what happens, I have to keep running!"
After that night, strangely enough, I woke up on a stretch of unfamiliar grass. The sound of footsteps was what had woken me and compelled me to run as I am now.
I kept running along a path leading west. It had been quite a distance since I began my journey.
There, I saw a collection of smoke rising from the chimneys of villagers' houses. Not just one or two, but many small chimneys emitting smoke.
"That means there's life!" I said hopefully and ran closer.
I hoped to find the villagers. If I could get to the village, I might have a chance to hide among them, learn about my surroundings, and plan my next steps.
(Author's POV)
Arabela's intuition was correct; she found a small village inhabited by its people. But something was off about this village. The atmosphere and the people's demeanor felt unsettling.
The villagers went about their activities with heads bowed, like ordinary people in a village. Yet, everyone kept their heads down, as if searching for something fallen on the ground. More precisely, they seemed to be avoiding eye contact.
'Are they human...?' she wondered.
Unconsciously, Arabela slowed her pace. Her gaze swept across the village, momentarily forgetting her initial purpose for coming.
Drap!
Before long, the sound of footsteps was clear once more.
"Damn it."
The sound of marching feet filled Arabela's ears, deepening her doubts about staying in the village.
"It's better if I keep running. There's no guarantee I'll be safe among people acting so strangely."
She quickened her pace towards a dense forest not far from the village. It was much thicker than the trees she had seen before.
"Hahh...hahh...I'm...exhausted!"
Running non-stop had made it hard for Arabela to breathe. Her breaths came in ragged gasps.
She decided to stop briefly and hide behind one of the large trees to catch her breath. She even glanced back to see the source of the footsteps that seemed faintly visible in the distance. They were knights, clad in uniforms and armed with swords. Their numbers weren't too large but not too small either.
"Arghhh...what did I do wrong? Why are they chasing me?" Arabela said as she started running again.
She ran until she saw a large castle perched on a cliff. She certainly didn't think to hide there, as the knights would likely have anticipated it. But as Arabela approached the castle gate, it suddenly opened by itself, as if inviting her to seek refuge within.
"Why... what was that just now..." she muttered, seemingly mesmerized by the castle.
Unconsciously, she stopped her steps. She didn't realize she had been standing in front of the castle gate for too long, while the knights were now drawing closer.
"Oh no…"
Feeling a sense of hopelessness and anxiety, Arabela hurried into the castle and tried to hide behind a large Wyvern statue near a fountain.
However, before she could fully conceal herself, the knights arrived at the castle's front. Being spotted by them was something Arabela had anticipated. But what happened next was shocking. The knights simply walked by as if the castle wasn't there, as if it was invisible.
"What... why aren't they..."
Arabela tried to understand her situation. The knights had never been chasing her, or perhaps there was another reason that chilled her.
"Could this be... a magical castle?" she wondered, continuing to gaze at the castle and its surroundings.
A sense of curiosity arose within her to explore the castle. She gathered her courage and approached the castle's main door.
(Arabela's POV)
"Is it the castle that's strange, or the knights?"
Now I stood right in front of the castle door. The door, brown with golden handles, loomed high and appeared very sturdy. Though the castle looked unkempt, the door seemed remarkably solid and well-maintained.
"I'd better open it directly or knock first," I murmured.
I do value politeness. Even in a situation like this, I unconsciously considered it.
"Why am I even thinking this? It's unlikely that an abandoned castle would have inhabitants. Fine, I'll just open the door."
With all my strength, I pushed the castle door.
Creeeak!
The door's creaking echoed throughout the castle.
Creeeak!
The second time the door creaked, it opened just slightly. Not wide enough for me to pass through. Only a small gap was left, just enough for me to peek inside.
"Ah!"
An idea struck me to peek inside the castle before fully entering the suspicious building. Slowly, I began to insert half of my body into the gap in the door.
"Hello... is anyone there?" I called out, the sound echoing through the castle.
The echo indicated emptiness inside. The castle appeared deserted, as if abandoned.
Yet, even from this small peek, I could see the castle had beautiful decorations resembling a flower garden. Not just similar, but it truly looked like a garden. Perhaps the garden was overgrown due to the neglected state of the castle. Moss and wild plants covered it. But somehow, the garden's ornaments looked incredibly real.
"Hello... is there anyone?" I called again to confirm.
"I'm going to open the door now."
Hearing no response, I pushed the door again with greater force to open it wide enough to enter. Opening the castle door required considerable effort. It took quite a while to finally get the door open.
Here is a translation of the provided text into English, styled for a fantasy novel:
(Author's POV)
Krietttt!
The door finally creaked open enough for Arabela to pass through.
"Yes! It's finally open!"
Arabela stepped into the castle, her eyes widening in amazement the moment her foot touched the ground inside.
"...Oh my gods!!" Arabela gasped as she entered the castle.
She was astonished by the sight before her: an expansive and breathtaking garden, unlike the overgrown wilderness she had anticipated. It was a lush, beautifully tended garden with a myriad of exquisite plants. What she had previously perceived was a complete misjudgment. Before her lay a vast lake at the heart of this magnificent garden, reflecting the soft glow of the setting sun.
"Wow... I must be dreaming. This is truly incredible," Arabela murmured in awe.
The scene before her was so enchanting that Arabela became spellbound. She wandered, her gaze captivated by the surroundings, until she found herself standing beside a towering, sturdy tree near the lake. The tree, adorned with vibrant purple leaves, emitted a fresh fragrance that wafted to Arabela's nose. It seemed to beckon her, urging her to greet it.
Exhaustion from the day's events was undeniable for Arabela. She leaned against the tree, relieving her tired back and neck, while her feet rested on the soft, green grass beneath.
"Ah... so tired..."
The sight of the purple-leaved tree and the vast lake was mesmerizing. The cool evening air seemed to encourage her to rest. After a long journey, she finally felt a sense of tranquility. Slowly, Arabela closed her eyes, succumbing to deep, restful sleep. She fell into a serene slumber, drifting into a pleasant dream.
Lost in her dreams, Arabela slept deeply, her face shaded by the tree's shadow. A figure stood nearby, hesitant to disturb her rest. The man, solidly built, blocked the soothing afternoon light that had lulled Arabela into sleep, gently rousing her from her dreams.
"Why does it suddenly seem so overcast..."
Arabela stirred from her sleep, sensing something amiss. She mumbled softly, her eyes still shut.
The man knew she had awakened. He watched as Arabela furrowed her brow, her dark eyebrows nearly meeting.
"Hello, miss."
The baritone voice jolted Arabela awake. She was startled to find a tall man standing before her. Her astonishment deepened as she took in the sight of him.
"Wow..." Arabela whispered.
Before her stood a knight in full armor, a sword sheathed at his back. His red hair, reminiscent of the setting sun, caught the warm, calming rays. His friendly smile completed the scene, drawing Arabela's full attention.
Swoshhhh~
A gust of wind snapped Arabela out of her reverie.
"Ha... hello..."
Arabela stammered a nervous response, not from fear but from an odd sensation she felt. Despite the knight's imposing weapon, he radiated none of the dread she had felt earlier from the pursuing soldiers. He was vastly different from them.
The knight bowed slightly and spoke, "Forgive me, miss. I did not intend to startle you from your rest."
His manners were impeccable. His demeanor and speech were courteous and well-ordered. However, there was something odd about how he bowed repeatedly, as if addressing a superior.
"Oh, hello. I'm Arabela Riana," she introduced herself warmly, receiving a nod in return.
The knight appeared to be the quintessential fairy-tale hero. But as August mentioned the Western Kingdom, Arabela's anxiety resurfaced, realizing she was indeed in a different world.
"You mentioned the Western Kingdom?" Arabela asked, seeking confirmation.
August smiled at her curiosity. "Yes, my lady. The land you are standing on is part of the Western Kingdom. It is the only kingdom in the western region, ruled by Lord Keilisto."
"The Western region?"
"Indeed. If you proceed straight from here, you will reach a castle guarded by dozens of knights."
The mention of knights made Arabela's heart race. She wondered if these were the same knights who had been chasing her.
She considered fleeing but was distracted by August's next words.
"If you wish, I can escort you to the castle of the Western Kingdom. I'm sure Lord Keilisto will be pleased with your visit."
"Why would your lord be pleased to see me?" Arabela inquired.
"To us, receiving a guest is a great honor for the kingdom. It has been a long time since anyone visited our kingdom. If you were to come, Lord Keilisto and the inhabitants of the Western Kingdom would feel greatly honored."
Arabela was skeptical of August's offer.
How could she trust August's story? She, who had always been cautious, found him to be the only seemingly sane person she had met in this strange world. This opportunity seemed too valuable to dismiss. With his warm smile, Arabela decided to accept the offer.
"Certainly, August. I would be happy to. Please, guide me to the Western Kingdom castle."
August's face brightened with joy. He nodd then extended his hand once more, still with the same courtesy.
"Excusme, my lady."
Arabela gladly accepted his hand, and together they walked side by side towards the castle of the Western Kingdom.