Anezka's Pov
A sharp, throbbing pain pulses through my head, leaving me in a fog. It feels as though a heavy weight is pressing down on my eyelids, making it nearly impossible to open them.
In the distance, faint voices drift into my awareness, full of concern yet laced with an air of uncertainty. "But sweetheart, how are we going to explain everything to her? Will she even believe us?" a rough masculine voice questions, its tone tinged with doubt and worry.
"I'll do my best to make her understand everything as simply as possible. We can even show her everything and introduce her to everyone," responds a gentle voice that resonates with familiarity, reminding me of Aunt Serena.
Confusion swirls in my mind as I struggle with questions. Where is Aunt Alora? How did I find myself in this confusing situation? My thoughts race through a jumble of scenarios and possibilities, each one more chaotic than the last. With determination, I fight against the heavy fog of unconsciousness, trying to pull myself back to reality.
I squeeze my eyes tightly, willing my body to move despite the overwhelming ache in my head. The moment I begin to stir, the voices around me grow silent, as if they are holding their breath in anticipation. Summoning every ounce of strength, I manage to murmur, "Water... please," my voice barely a whisper, strained and trembling with my exhaustion.
Aunt Serena gently held me, her warm hands providing support as I settled into the soft, inviting comfort of the bed.
The room was dimly lit, and I could sense the presence of a man nearby, dressed in luxurious royal attire, adorned with rich fabrics and shimmering embellishments.
He stepped forward and graciously offered me a glass of cool water, its surface glistening enticingly in the faint light.
As I raised the glass to my lips, I could feel my parched throat yearning for relief. With each sip, the coolness washed over me, quenching my thirst after what felt like weeks of unconsciousness.
I savored the moment, finally feeling revitalized as the cool liquid flowed through me. Once my thirst was satisfied, a surge of questions bubbled up inside me, demanding to be released.
I turned to Serena, my voice rising with authority. "Now, Serena, you need to explain everything. I respected you at first, but now that you've tricked me and brought me here, that respect is gone. I'm not a fool, so don't treat me like a child." My words erupted from a place of exhaustion and frustration, as if I had been trapped in a shadowy maze of confusion.
I felt the weight of the unanswered questions pressing down on me, making it clear that I was done being left in the dark.
"Calm down, dear child," Serena said softly, her voice steady yet filled with an unshakeable gravity. "Of course, I know you're not a child anymore. I apologize for luring you here under false pretenses, but it was important that I brought you to this place. You could have met a terrible fate without the protection of your Aunt Alora. Now that she is no longer with us, it was vital for me to ensure your safety."
As her words sank in, it felt as if a massive stone had dropped onto my chest, pressing down with an unbearable weight, as if someone were ruthlessly grinding that stone against my heart over and over. I could feel tears streaming down my face, blending with the rush of desperation rising within me. "What do you mean she is no longer with us? And who are you?" I asked, my voice trembling as I clenched my fists, trying desperately to rein in my emotions. "How do you even know Aunt Alora?"
The man in the room gently attempted to interject our conversation. "My sweet one, please find some calm," he said, stepping closer to me, his presence warm and comforting.
He tenderly wiped away my tears, stopping the flow that marked my cheeks. "We can share everything with you; we'll answer all of your questions honestly. But first, you must take care of yourself. I can see how much your body has endured just to arrive here in the wondrous Cosmos of Aislinn. You need to relax, eat something nourishing, and allow yourself some time to rest."
He settled into a chair beside Serena, but my attention was fixed on the phrase "Cosmos of Aislinn." I whispered it repeatedly, letting the syllables dance around in my mind as I tried to make sense of it all. Suddenly, a memory flickered in my mind. Aunt Alora's soothing voice narrating bedtime stories about this enchanting realm she described as the Cosmos of Aislinn.
"Is the Cosmos of Aislinn truly real? Isn't it just a story? An illusion? What are you talking about?" My voice quivered with confusion and disbelief.
Serena gently brushed her fingers across my face, her touch soothing as she began to speak "Soon, we will clarify all your worries, my dear, but for now, you must rest. Please take a moment for yourself. If you desire a bath, there's a bathroom located to the left side of the room. In a few hours, a maid will visit with your dinner. Enjoy your meal and get some sleep tonight. We will meet again tomorrow morning in the dining hall for breakfast. If you need anything at all, simply relay your request to the maid who will be waiting outside your door."
As Serena and the man rose to leave the room, he turned back to me, his eyes filled with sincerity. "It is real, dear one. The Cosmos of Aislinn is your reality, not an illusion." His voice carried a blend of warmth and longing that resonated deeply within me.
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"We live in a fantasy world, a world of illusion. The great task in life is to find reality."
- By Iris Murdoch