Inside the dark dungeon where Eli was imprisoned, he sighed deeply and lay down, using his hands as a pillow. 'Who would have thought I'd end up in jail again, even in another world? But at least this time, it's for helping someone,' he thought, chuckling to himself. 'In fairness, as gentle as the princess looks, she's fierce in battle.'
"Hey, what did you do to get locked up?" asked an old man in the cell next to him.
"The reason? Well, apparently for helping the princess fight off some werewolves," Eli replied with a grin, still lying down.
"Werewolves?" questioned another man in a nearby cell who had been listening.
"Yeah, those monsters that look like wolves," Eli explained.
"Ah, you must mean Lycans," the old man said.
"Lycans?" Eli whispered.
"Yes, Lycans. They're wolf-like—humans who transform into powerful creatures, much stronger than normal people, especially in their beast form," the old man explained.
Eli didn't respond, knowing exactly what they were talking about but only familiar with the term "werewolf."
"Wait, how do you not know this? Where are you from?" the other man asked.
"Lycans are everywhere now, growing in number and strength. Meanwhile, Veloria seems to be falling apart," he added.
"They are competing for power with the nightwalkers." The old man continued.
"Nightwalkers?" Eli's curiosity was piqued.
"Yes, those are people with fangs who drink human blood and can infect others to become like them. They're stronger than normal humans but burn up in sunlight, so they only come out at night," the old man explained further.
"Vampires…" Eli thought to himself.
"It seems to me you're not from this world," the old man jokes.
Eli nodded. "Yeah, I'm not," he admitted.
"Old man, go to sleep. Stop bothering the guy who's playing dumb," the other man in the cell said, trying to end the conversation.
'This world is even more complicated than I thought, he mused. Werewolves, vampires, and who knows what else?'
Eli's thoughts were interrupted by the old man in the next cell. "You seem to be learning a lot, young man," he said with a knowing smile.
Eli nodded. "Yeah, there's a lot to take in. This world is… different."
The old man chuckled. "You'll get used to it. Just keep your wits about you."
Hearing their conversation, the man who had spoken earlier chuckled to himself, his eyes closed. To him, it sounded like two crazy people talking.
The next day, inside the palace, Princess Denise, escorted by her faithful and loyal maiden Jenn, entered the throne hall. She found King Philip deep in conversation with the council and General James. She bowed respectfully to her father.
"Good morning, Father," she greeted.
"Good morning, my dear," King Philip replied, his eyes softening as he saw her. "We were just discussing the recent events."
Before she could respond, a group of children ran up to her, their faces lighting up with joy. These were the children she had saved from the village.
"Princess Denise!" one of the children exclaimed, hugging her tightly. "Thank you for saving us!"
She knelt down to their level, hugging each of them warmly. "I'm so glad you're all safe," she said, smiling at their relieved faces.
One of the older children looked up at her with wide eyes. "We were so scared, but you were so brave," he said.
Princess Denise gently touched his shoulder. "You were brave too. You all were."
As she stood up, the elders and healers who had also been rescued approached her. One of the elders, a woman with kind eyes, stepped forward.
"Princess Denise, we owe you our lives," she said, her voice filled with gratitude. "Thank you for your courage and kindness."
Princess Denise nodded, her heart swelling with emotion. "It was my duty and my honor to protect you all."
General James stepped forward, addressing the king. "Your Majesty, the princess's actions were nothing short of heroic. She led the defense with great skill and bravery."
King Philip nodded, pride evident in his eyes. "Indeed, she has proven herself once again."
Princess Denise felt a mix of pride and humility. "Thank you, Father. But I couldn't have done it without the help of our brave warriors and the man who aided me."
King Philip's expression turned serious. "Yes, we must discuss this young man further. Guards! Bring the man here," he commanded.
After a few moments, the doors of the throne hall opened. Eli entered, his hands shackled and guarded by no fewer than twenty soldiers. The atmosphere in the throne hall shifted immediately, the room falling into a tense silence as every eye locked onto Eli.
As he stepped inside, he was awestruck by the grandeur of the throne hall. The high ceilings, the intricate tapestries, and the solemn figures in regal robes made him acutely aware of how out of place he was.
The council members were present, along with several nobles and well-dressed women. Eli felt a pang of self-consciousness and gulped shyly. 'Nice… I didn't even get to fix myself up,' he thought to himself, shaking his head.
But then, his eyes were drawn to the one person in the room who seemed completely different from the rest—the princess. Unlike the warrior he had seen the night before, dressed in battle armor, Princess Denise now stood before him in full royal attire. Her long, golden hair shimmered under the sunlight streaming through the stained-glass windows, and her blue eyes were sharp yet warm. She wore a flowing gown that made her appear almost ethereal, every inch a true princess.
'Am I becoming human again?' Eli thought to himself, feeling a strange warmth in his chest after seeing the princess. It seemed that coming to this world made him feel things he hadn't felt since he passed away and lived in heaven. Is this an attraction?
Suddenly, one of the guards nudged him, bringing him back to the reality of the moment. "Bow," the guard whispered sharply. Eli blinked, realizing everyone around him had already bowed. Quickly, he followed suit, bowing awkwardly before King Philip, who sat on the throne, observing him with piercing eyes.
After a long moment, King Philip gestured for everyone to rise. The room fell silent again as Eli stood, trying to remain calm under the intense gaze of the king and the rest of the court.
"Tell me, young man, what is your name?" King Philip asked, his eyes scrutinizing Eli.
"Eli, Your Majesty," He replied respectfully.
"Eli from where?" King Philip's voice was firm, but there was curiosity behind his question.
Eli hesitated. 'Where am I supposed to say I'm from? Australia? That wouldn't make sense here. Maybe I could claim I'm suffering from amnesia?' He scratched the back of his head, trying to buy himself a second to think.
"Eli from… a distant land, Your Majesty," he finally said, choosing his words carefully. He remembered the archangel's warning to stay discreet. "A place far from here."
King Philip raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "A distant land, you say? And what brought you to our kingdom, Eli?"
Eli swallowed, feeling the weight of the question. "I'm on a journey to find something new, like different places, Your Majesty," he answered, keeping his tone respectful but avoiding giving too much detail.
General James laughed, saying, "On a journey and having nothing? Not even clothes?"
Eli managed a small smile, trying to keep his composure. "It seems the journey has been more challenging than I anticipated, Your Majesty. But sometimes, the most important quests start with nothing but determination."
King Philip's gaze remained steady, his suspicion clear. "Eli from where, exactly?" he repeated, his tone sharper this time.
Eli felt the pressure mounting. 'Okay, I need to give them something believable…' Taking a deep breath, he replied, "Eli from Camelot, Your Majesty."
There was a slight murmur in the hall at the mention of the name, though most seemed confused.
King Philip turned to his historian and genius advisor, an old man standing nearby. "Master Albert, you have vast knowledge of our world. Is there a place called Camelot, even a small village?"
Master Albert, with his long white beard, stepped forward, his face thoughtful. "Your Majesty, I have studied many maps and records throughout the kingdom and beyond. I'm afraid I've never come across a place called Camelot."
Eli inwardly worried, 'Uh-oh, the Camelot from the King Arthur movie didn't work.'
King Philip's eyes narrowed, clearly growing more suspicious. "If no such place exists, then who are you really?"
Panic flickered in Eli's mind. He hadn't prepared for this level of scrutiny. With a sudden burst of nerves, he blurted out, "Okay, okay! I admit it. I'm from heaven."
A stunned silence fell over the hall, as everyone seemed shocked by what they had just heard.