Delythena's POV
I had been home for a while now, but my head was pounding from everything I was trying to process. I was already confused about this whole Battle of the Enchanters thing, and now that lunatic Zadkiel had to add to my problems.
"Agh! So annoying!" I groaned, rolling around on my bed in frustration.
Good thing it's the weekend tomorrow no classes, which means I won't have to see that lunatic guy again.
"Why should I care if he's the one in ruler of this country or if he's the most powerful? He's still a lunatic!" I grumbled in frustration. "I just hope I never have to see that guy again!" I added, crossing my arms.
The next day, boredom got the best of me, so Evely took me out for a stroll to explore the area since I still wasn't familiar with the place.
As we walked around, I couldn't help but be amazed by how beautiful everything was. The village was lively yet peaceful, filled with people going about their daily lives in harmony. It was nothing like the chaotic world I came from.
I truly loved this place no internet, no gadgets, no overwhelming skyscrapers, and no noisy vehicles. It felt like stepping back in time, into an era untouched by modern innovations.
The only truly strange thing about this world was how normal everything seemed to its people things that I had only ever seen in myths and legends existed here as part of everyday life. Even beings that should have only belonged in fantasy stories walked around like it was nothing.
But honestly, I preferred it here. My life was comfortable, and for the first time, I felt like I had a fresh start.
I stopped in my tracks, my thoughts interrupted as I spotted a familiar figure. I squinted, focusing on the woman standing beneath a tree near an apple vendor.
My breath hitched the moment I recognized her.
She was the old beggar woman the last person I spoke to in my previous world.
Why is she here?
I turned to Evely, who was beside me.
"Can you buy me something to eat?" I asked.
"Of course, Lady Delythena. Wait here" she said before walking off.
I quickly turned back to the woman only to find her gone.
Frantically searching for her, I spotted her walking away from the stall. Without hesitation, I followed.
I had too many questions, and she was the only one who could answer them.
I kept my eyes locked on her, afraid that if I looked away for even a second, she'd disappear. She moved swiftly, weaving through the crowded streets, making it difficult for me to keep up. People blocked my path, slowing me down, but I pushed forward.
Before I knew it, I had followed her deep into a forest.
And then she was gone.
"Where did she go?" I muttered, scanning my surroundings. But no matter how much I looked, she was nowhere to be found.
That's when it hit me, I had no idea where I was.
I had been so focused on following her that I hadn't paid attention to where I was going.
"Damn it! Where am I?"
Only now did I realize that the sky had started to darken. The once lively village was nowhere in sight. There were no people, no houses just endless trees and the eerie silence of the forest.
I tried retracing my steps, walking back in what I thought was the right direction. But was it really?
I let out a frustrated laugh. "I told myself I'd live peacefully in this world, so why do I keep ending up in danger?"
A strange, guttural sound echoed through the forest a deep, menacing growl that sent shivers down my spine.
My blood ran cold.
And then, out of nowhere, a massive lion emerged from the shadows.
My eyes widened in horror.
It wasn't just any lion it looked exactly like the Nemean Lion I had read about before.
Before it could get any closer, my survival instincts kicked in, and I bolted.
"Aaaaaaahhh!!!" I screamed as I ran for my life.
The lion chased after me, its heavy footsteps thudding against the ground. It was terrifyingly huge one bite and I'd be done for!
"Aahhh! I don't want to die yet! Why does death keep chasing me? I swear I was just joking when I said I didn't care about my life back in my old world!" I wailed, running blindly through the forest, no idea where I was headed.
Fear and panic surged through me as I kept running, my breaths ragged and my heart pounding wildly in my chest. I had no idea where I was anymore, nor how I was supposed to escape this monstrous lion.
"Ah!" I cried out as my foot caught on something, sending me crashing to the ground.
So unlucky!
Pain shot up my ankle, and tears pricked my eyes.
Damn it, my foot hurts!
My breath hitched as I looked up—
The lion was getting closer, its massive jaws wide open, ready to devour me whole. I wanted to run, but my legs refused to move. The pain was unbearable, and I was completely drained.
Is this the end for me? For real?!
"Aaaaah!" I squeezed my eyes shut as the lion leaped toward me.
But... nothing happened.
No sharp teeth tearing through my flesh. No unbearable pain.
Slowly, I cracked my eyes open and what I saw made me freeze. Zadkiel.
He stood in front of me, his sword dripping with the lion's blood. The beast lay lifeless on the ground.
"Zadkiel?" I whispered in shock.
He glanced at me and let out a deep sigh. "What the hell are you doing in a place like this?" he asked, brows furrowed in frustration.
I couldn't answer. The overwhelming fear, the relief of being alive it all crashed down on me at once. Tears welled up in my eyes, and before I knew it, I was crying.
"Why are you crying? The lion's already dead." He looked at me, utterly confused.
But I couldn't stop. I had really thought I was going to die just now. And what a tragic death it would've been.
He bent down and looked at me, letting out a deep sigh before helping me stand up.
"Ah" I winced in pain as I felt the sprain in my foot.
"What am I going to do with you?" he muttered, sounding exasperated.
As if things couldn't get any worse, heavy rain suddenly poured down. I gasped when he suddenly lifted me into his arms.
"I'm taking you to a safe place" he said, and in an instant, we disappeared from where we were and reappeared in a small hut.
"Where are we?" I asked.
"This place isn't far, so don't worry" he said as he set me down.
"Does anyone live here?" I asked, noticing that the hut looked like it belonged to a poor person. I couldn't imagine it being his since he was the Supreme.
"Are you seriously thinking about that instead of your injury?" he asked, sounding irritated.
I immediately fell silent.
He gently held my foot and slowly moved it.
"Endure it. I don't have the power to heal wounds" he said seriously.
"I thought you were the most powerful one?" I asked, but he only shot me a sharp glare.
As he massaged my foot, I couldn't help but wince in pain.
"Tsk. Why did you even go to that place alone at this hour?" he asked, clearly irritated.
"I got lost" I simply said, since I couldn't exactly tell him I was following a woman—he might start asking more questions.
"Don't you know that the beasts in this forest are savage and could devour you whole? You're aware that you have no strength to fight back, yet you're being so reckless" he scolded, making me frown. Well, he wasn't wrong. "Good thing your future husband arrived in time, or else my future wife would've been eaten alive" he said seriously, making me raise an eyebrow.
Future husband my ass!
"Shut up" I scolded him.
He looked at me. "Is that how you're going to treat the person who saved you?" he asked, his tone firm. I grimaced. "You really have the audacity to speak to a supreme ruler like that." He added soundly amused.
"You're just spouting nonsense" I snapped at him. When he finished massaging my foot, he sat beside me.
"I'm only stating facts" he said, without a hint of teasing.
"I appreciate you saving me, but I am not your future wife and will never be" I said, annoyed at his ridiculous claims.
"You'll end up with me anyway" he replied, completely sure of himself.
"Don't be so sure of yourself! And stop with all that marriage talk" I complained, clearly annoyed.
"No one can stop me" he said with a smirk, though his tone remained serious.
"Whatever," I rolled my eyes. "I'm going home." I stood up.
He leaned back casually on his seat, smirking. "And how exactly do you plan on getting home? Do you even know the way?"
I scowled and sat back down, realizing he had a point.
"See? It's fate that brought us together, my lady" he said smugly. "Look at us now, alone in the middle of the forest."
"Why are you even here?" I asked, still irritated. He had just appeared out of nowhere earlier.
"Oh? Now you're interested in me?" His teasing grin only made me angrier.
"Argh! Shut up!" I snapped.
"Alright, I'll take you home. I wouldn't want my fiancée to be mad at me" he said with a smirk.
I didn't know whether to be grateful or just plain annoyed at his words.
"Can you stop with your nonsense? And since when did I become your fiancée?" I asked, irritated.
"My heart, my dreams, my wish, and my future" he said dramatically.
I rolled my eyes. 'This lunatic has such thick skin!'
Before I could argue further, he suddenly lifted me into his arms.
"I'll take you home" he said, and I had no choice but to hold on to him in case he decided to change his mind.
In just a blink, we arrived on the balcony of my room. He gently set me down.
"Thank you" I muttered, looking away.
"Anything for you, my lady" he said smoothly. "See you again, my lady."
Before I could react, he leaned in and kissed me on the lips! My eyes widened in shock, but before I could even scream at him, he vanished into thin air.
"Zadkiel, you lunatic!" I shouted, my face burning.
The next day, Savena snapped me out of my thoughts when she tapped me on the shoulder.
"Delythena, I've been talking to you for a while now!" she said.
I snapped out of my daze. "Huh?" I asked, still lost in thought.
"Are you listening?" she asked again. She's here at my house now.
I was completely out of it, my mind still stuck on what happened last night. I can't stop thinking about that kiss...
That crazy Zadkiel... That was my first kiss!
He's so annoying! I thought, feeling both frustrated and embarrassed.
"Are you okay? You seem like you're not yourself today" Savena asked, noticing I was distracted.
I snapped out of my thoughts. "Ah, I'm fine. Just thinking about something" I said, brushing it off. "What were you saying again?"
"Are you ready for the Battle of the Enchanters tomorrow?" she asked.
That's when I remembered. The Battle of the Enchanters is tomorrow. I felt a rush of panic.
"Not yet, I don't even know what I'm supposed to do" I admitted.
"Well, our section is second, so there will be others before us. You still have time to prepare" she said.
But even with her reassurance, I knew no amount of preparation would help me.
"Even if I had five days to prepare, I won't be ready because I don't have any powers to fight with" I said, feeling more worried by the second.
"Okay, here's the thing, you seem really worried. Let me try to help you awaken your power" she suddenly said. I looked at her, surprised.
"How?" I asked in confusion.
She thought for a moment before speaking. "I don't know what power you have, but let's try if the powers that worked for others will work for you" she said, and I became intrigued.
I agreed to her idea, hoping it would work. So, we looked for a spacious place and headed to our garden.
"Let's start with making objects float" she said as she gestured to the surroundings. I nodded.
She demonstrated her power by making a plant pot float, and I was amazed at how easily she did it. "Alright, now it's your turn" she said.
"What should I do?" I asked, unsure of how to start.
"Imagine you want to make an object float, and then point at it" she instructed.
I positioned myself and focused on my hands, trying to concentrate.
As I stood there, focusing on my hands, I tried to clear my mind and imagine the object floating. I thought hard about the pot in front of me, visualizing it rising in the air like how Savena did it. My palms were slightly sweating, but I tried to stay calm.
I raised one hand slowly, pointing at the pot, but nothing happened. I frowned, feeling a little frustrated. "I don't feel anything happening" I admitted.
Savena smiled at me reassuringly. "It's okay. Just keep focusing. The power doesn't always show up right away, but you need to believe that it's there. Try again, but this time, feel the energy building in you."
I nodded, taking a deep breath, trying to follow her advice. I closed my eyes for a moment, imagining a surge of energy flowing through me, like a spark ready to burst into flame.
No matter how hard I focused or tried to concentrate on making the object float, nothing happened. I sighed in frustration.
"I think making objects float just isn't for me" I said, feeling down.
"It's okay" Savena reassured me. "There are other things you can try. What I'm teaching you now are just basic magics, not the main power that people possess. We all have different kinds of powers. My real power is over water. I can control everything that involves water" she explained.
Her words lifted my spirits a little. Maybe there was something else out there for me, something that I could do.
"Let's try again" Savena suggested. "How about teleportation? Just think about the place you want to go and make yourself disappear" she said, before vanishing and reappearing beside me with a grin.
I couldn't help but feel a little envious. "Alright, I'll try" I said, taking a deep breath. I focused hard and imagined the balcony of my room, picturing myself standing there.
But nothing happened.
I stood there, feeling frustrated. "It's not working" I muttered, looking at Savena with a sigh.
She smiled at me gently. "It's alright. These things take time. You just need to get used to channeling your energy and belief. Let's try again when you're ready."
I tried again, but nothing happened. No matter how much I focused, none of the basic powers Savena had asked me to try worked. I started feeling defeated, like maybe I was just an ordinary person after all.
"Thank you for your effort Savena, but it's just not working" I said, my voice tinged with disappointment. "Maybe we should just stop. You'll only get tired, and it's not helping."
Savena looked at me with concern, but she didn't push me any further. "It's okay, Delythena. You just need more time. Sometimes, the power takes a little longer to awaken. Don't give up just yet."
I couldn't help but feel a bit hopeless, but her words gave me a small glimmer of comfort. Maybe she was right, and I just needed to be patient.
It was late at night, and Savena had already gone home, but I couldn't shake the anxiety about the Battle of the Enchanters happening tomorrow. I was too restless to sleep. I stood up from my bed and walked out of my room.
As I walked down the hallway of our mansion, something caught my eye a wall in a dimly lit corner. From a distance, it looked like just an ordinary wall, but up close, I noticed a strange, square shape on the side with a small crystal ball attached to it.
My curiosity got the better of me, and without thinking twice, I reached out to touch it. To my surprise, the wall suddenly shifted, revealing a hidden passage. I hesitated for a moment, unsure whether I should go in or not. But my curiosity won out, and I stepped into the passage.
As soon as I stepped inside, the wall slammed shut behind me. I continued walking and was taken aback by what I saw a vast library surrounded by towering trees. It looked like a forest, but instead of branches and leaves, there were bookshelves filled with books, and scattered around the space were chairs and tables, giving it the feel of a school library. I had no idea something like this even existed in the mansion. I couldn't help but marvel at the sight as my eyes roamed around the entire place.
While I was taking in the surroundings, something caught my attention. Up above, there was a floating book surrounded by a swarm of blue butterflies. I looked around, searching for a way to climb up to it, but there was no visible path.
"How do I get up there?" I wondered aloud, a bit frustrated.
As I looked to the side of the tree, I noticed a torch, and right next to it, there was an inscription carved into the wood.
It read, "Leviora althir'na, soarus elevas?" I carefully read the words out loud, not sure of their meaning, but before I could even process what I had said, the ground beneath my feet suddenly gave way.
(Translation: "By the winds of Leviora, lift me to the skies!")
A large carpet, seemingly out of nowhere, crumbled and fell beneath me, lifting me up into the air. I gasped in surprise as it carried me upward, towards the floating book. It felt like I was being lifted by some unseen force, my heart racing with both excitement and confusion.
What's happening?
I carefully held the book, 'Veridellum Arcanum', in my hands, feeling a strange weight in my chest as I stared at the now blank pages. What had just happened? A shiver ran down my spine as I tried to make sense of everything around me. The strange pen-like object with the feather, the vanishing butterflies, and the sudden shift in the air when I opened the book.
(Translation: "Secrets Beyond the Veil")
I couldn't help but feel like there was something more to this book. But what was I supposed to do with it? The cover itself seemed so ordinary, yet the title felt powerful, ancient even. I glanced around the library, feeling like I was being watched. The weight of the moment hit me as I realized I had just unlocked something—something mysterious.
With a mix of curiosity and trepidation, I flipped through the blank pages again, hoping something would change, but still, there was nothing.
What did it mean? What was I supposed to do next?
I was startled when the feather pen began writing by itself in the book, and the words written were:
Write down your curiosity.
I felt even more intrigued, so I decided to write down my curiosity.
Is this world real? Isn't this just a dream?
That's what I wrote in the book. Moments later, my writing vanished, and new words appeared in its place.
"Yes, this world is real, and it is not just a dream. This world has no parallel to the one you came from. Your mind has yet to fully grasp it, but all I can say is that the world you are in now... is the world meant for you."
I read the words carefully, my heart pounding.
I was about to write another question when, suddenly, the feathered pen disappeared, and the book shut itself.
"What just happened?" I asked in confusion.
I tried opening the book, but it wouldn't budge. I examined it closely and noticed something written on the back cover:
"By fate's design and time's embrace, one question now, no more to waste."
I furrowed my brows, trying to make sense of it.
What does that even mean? Ugh, this world is so confusing there's no Google to search for answers!
Then, at the bottom of the inscription, I spotted a small line of text:
"The spell activates only once a week, so you must choose your question wisely."
I nodded to myself. So that's how it works...