"Mia…Mia, wake up," called a gentle, distant voice.
I opened my eyes, blinked, and tried to focus, but all I could see was impenetrable darkness. As I stood, I tripped over something. I staggered, instinctively reaching out, but there was nothing to grab. I did not dare take a step further.
"Am I dead?" I thought.
The thought lingered for a moment, a cold whisper in the void, until something changed. A vivid purple light flickered in the distance. It was soft, like a dream teetering on the edge of reality. It grew steadily, encircling me with an otherworldly glow, its warmth pulling me forward, guiding my every step.
"Asher… Is that you?"
A sudden thought struck me, sharp as a dagger. The insignia. I reached up instinctively, brushing my fingers against my neck. But as my hand moved across the smooth surface, there was nothing there. No mark. It was as if it never existed.
The purple light seemed to whisper again, "Wake up, Alba"
Alba? Who is this? There was no one around besides me. The name lingered, as if it belonged to me, yet I couldn't recognize it.
Suddenly, the purple light intensified, enveloping me like a cocoon. The air around me seemed to hum with energy, vibrating through my skin. The voice echoed again, this time more urgent.
"Mia, wake up!"
The ground beneath me trembled, as if something was awakening. The darkness before me began to shift slowly. And then, a voice cut through the growing chaos. I couldn't really decipher what it was saying, but I knew it was Asher's brother.
As I opened my eyes, a sudden blast of energy flung him against the wall, leaving him sprawled unconscious on the floor.
"Well, that's a relief," I sighed, "Finally, a moment of peace!"
I approached him cautiously to check his pulse. It was faint, fragile, like a thread about to snap. A strange golden aura shimmered around him, pulsing as if he were regenerating.
I must've hurt him really badly. Even so, he should be immobilized – for now. This guy is no joke. I tied him securely to a chair, making sure the knots would hold, and replaced the blindfold over his eyes to prevent any further chaos.
An hour later, he started moving.
"You wench!" he shouted, "How dare you treat me like a pathetic animal!"
"Maybe I should've shut your mouth too… You're too noisy" I shot back.
"Untie me this instant, or I swear you will face my wrath!" he bellowed furiously.
I stepped closer, grabbing a handful of his hair to lift his head.
"Listen to me carefully, little bug! It's already late at night, making a commotion will only make you face MY WRATH, got it!" I snapped, "Should I remind you who knocked you down earlier? Maybe your pride won't accept it, but it was none other than me! So you'd better cooperate!"
I uttered those words angrily, without giving them much thought. He was undoubtedly stronger, but something about him reminds me of my younger brother – acting all tough and loud while hiding a kind and nice heart…
"Well, you are awfully quiet now," I continued. "Listen, I'll free you once you've answered my questions. Got it?"
"Spill it" he growled.
I had too much to ask. Who are they? What are they? How do they know me? Who the hell is Alba? What is this insignia thing on my neck? Dozens of questions stormed through my mind.
"Well…" I said firmly, "Start by introducing yourself."
"My name is Aloen," he muttered, the words leaving his mouth like they were a debt he begrudgingly paid.
He surely wasn't willing to cooperate, I thought. Whatever. What matters is to get answers.
"What are you?" I asked softly, testing if kindness might coax the truth from him.
"I am not allowed to divulge my identity to humans. Ask something else," he replied, his voice sharp as glass.
"How do you know me?" I pressed.
Aloen's lips curled into a smirk."You killed my brother this morning, or did you already forget? Maybe you've already got a fresh to kill-list for the rest of the week!" he mocked.
He really is an annoying kid, I thought, masking my irritation with a polite smile.
"Your brother seemed to know me beforehand, brat. That is why I am asking."
"Brat?" he snapped, his smirk vanishing in an instant. "You owe me respect! I am two hundred years old!"
Two hundred years? The words hit me like a cold slap, but I kept my face neutral. I could feel that his temper betrayed him, unveiling a part of his hidden identity.
"Okay,"I said completely unfazed. "Hmm, yeah… Who is Alba?"
He remained silent, making the atmosphere really awkward.
"Umm, Aloen? Remember, you need to answer my questions to be freed"
"Where did you hear that name?" he asked in a dangerous tone.
"When you tried to kill me earlier, I lost consciousness for a while… I think. I was surrounded by darkness, and a purple light called me at first, and then it called Alba's name", I said.
Something flickered in Aloen's expression, his aura became slightly vulnerable. "I am sorry, but I don't have the right answer for this question, as this servant is still ignorant about the matter."
Servant? Ignorant? His sudden shift to formal speech grated on my nerves. What the hell was going on with him?
"Don't you dare mock me!" I said impatience threading through my voice.
"I would not dare. This servant is simply not knowledgeable about this matter," he said without rising his eyes. Not in contempt but respect. "Perhaps I could take you to someone who could quench your curiosity."
Something about the name Alba, had changed him completely. Not in a bad way I must say. Since he was going to respect and help me, I guess I am not going to complain.
"Okay,"I said after a pause, "let's get going then."
"We will go tomorrow morning, if you may. Your countenance doesn't seem too well. You should have some rest"
I blinked. Did he just call me ugly in a formal language?
"I am perfectly fine!" I shot back, crossing my arms. "We are going now."
Aloen's golden gaze flickered toward me, barely visible beneath his headband, before darting to the mirror on the other side of the room.
"Will you untie me then?"
I hesitated.
"I swear upon my honor, I wouldn't harm you my Lady, so rest at ease" He said firmly.
My Lady? Was he trying to overcompensate now? This was beyond creepy.
"Mia is just fine. Calling me my Lady all of a sudden is weird."
He nodded solemnly. "As you wish...Mia".
I untied him, unsure of his next move. Unexpectedly, he stood up, removed his headband, and turned to face the mirror.
His golden eyes shone so brightly.
"What were you looking for in my drawers, by the way?" I asked, my voice edged with curiosity.
"I thought you would have collected a purple pearl on the bridge...but you didn't, did you?
"No, I didn't. I am sorry. It must have been the last memory of your brother, and I failed to grab it."
"…"
A heavy silence fell between us, his expression unreadable. Without warning, he raised his hand and slashed his wrist with his nails. The blood trails shone as brightly as his eyes, emitting a powerful blinding blast, forcing me to shield my face.
In a flash, the world around me dissolved. When I opened my eyes, I was standing in the middle of a dense forest. It was undeniably scary, especially the strange noise of what I assumed were birds.
"Wait… Where is Aloen? Aloen, where are you? I knew I shouldn't have trusted that piece of crap!"
The forest seemed to close around me, the rustling leaves and snapping twigs growing louder. Then, I heard some quick footsteps approaching from somewhere behind me.
"Is that you, Aloen?"I called out, hope tinged with desperation.
The footsteps halted.
Then, from behind me, a low, guttural voice whispered, "What is a beautiful lady doing alone here? You might meet bad people like me you know...You don't belong here".