My life was pretty monotonous at that time, and it kind of made me feel like a child again. It when that amulet I was wearing returned to me, that things began to change.

An old man known as an artificer visited the palace one day. He wore an Eastern turban, yet I realized I was nowhere in the world I once knew. He reminded me of Master Aristotle, only he was not like he was sculpted but as he really looked. In fact, his clothing was painful to look at. I thought the clothing in my dream was too exotic and otherworldly to be simply from a dream, but the more I looked around this world, the more disappointed I became.

He curtsied me, but ignored me otherwise, and went straight to the King. I listened from outside the audience chamber

“Highness, I have run extensive tests on this companion amulet for the last week, but I am still unable to find out what is wrong with it.”

Father sounded grim, "Is that so? Very well. Would it insult you if I took to another artificer for diagnostics? I understand that magicians have their own code of honor."

I felt happy to hear that he cared so much about me, just like my Macedonian father.

"No, not at all. As I promised, I will not even seek compensation. Please, forgive my incompetence."

The king made a pause and I heard the movement of coin anyway. The artificer spoke in a lower tone for a moment and hastily left the building, not caring if he saw me.

My attendants loved me enough to answer some of my questions to the best of their abilities. A companion amulet is simply a must for all young ladies of class for when they venture unguarded. Of course, they did not know what it did, or how, except it was magical.

I did not believe in magic, but then again, strange things have happened to me. Of course, I would not use this amulet soon, so I schemed to rush ahead my rehabilitation. I like charity work, and I'm pretty able, and it's already been a week, so it must be okay to go by myself.

Dressed in clothes I'd rather be embarrassed in, I did embark with the amulet on hand, but it did not activate. Logically, I didn't even know the geography of my kingdom, and I got lost within half an hour. I went back, wasted the day, and learned that "king" was an empty title, and that really my Father ruled a city-state, named Magon. Of course, I didn't care.

The next day, however, was also rainy and unpleasant. In fact, a whole week passed in which I could neither test the amulet nor work towards defying my amnesia. When my intentions became apparent, I was actually pleased with the permission my parents gave me to go try it. After all, by then enough artificers concluded that it was indeed good to use. I put it on in my personal chambers, only I struggled for rest of the day trying to activate it.

It was heavy and uncomfortable, but nothing that could stop Alexander the Great. It's a tool that helps me with things an attendant would do. Finally, after having more than a few tea breaks (tea was not so foreign to me) I finally asked for the map of the city, and I felt the amulet slightly heat up. The city appeared in my vision.

The companion amulet was a computer, like those I found in China. China was not a reasonable goal for me, but I did know they had some incredible machinery, except for it to display an image in my head, it was billions of times more useful.

"Al, I think this illness might take me, I heard a familiar voice, but I felt that it was virtual. It sounded a bit like Hephestion, but it could've been a hallucination, so I rapidly took the amulet on and off again, until I heard, "I'm dizzy, Al. This might be the end of me."

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Al? That was a familiar name, and I don't think Celine could produce Al. "Hephestion!"

"Huh. Where am I? What Hell have I been thrown in? I was never that perverted."

"It's been too long, friend."

"Who's there"

"Oh. My voice is different now."

"Alex. Al. My vision is gone. I can't feel a thing. Wait! This isn't Macedonia."

Some sense came back to him, and I realized that I was in fact the great general once. He could see all that I could see, and could hear what I could. He also knew he was a companion amulet, and that we were in a strange city in a different land. But mostly, he knew me.

"There's things I just know, but I can't know some things. Also, I'm a computer now, huh."

"You do more than count, Heph."

It seemed that time was also acting strangely. He's been dead to me for several years, though his initial mumblings tell me that he had just died. We were united once more, but as Princess and tool now, strangely enough. I don't think he was happy either. We discussed that we would wait for him to pick up information while I would continue to live as Celine.

That afternoon, I was truly happy working with the poor. Of course, I got see Heph again, only, his operation time was limited. I also met someone else, who'd 'return to me'. Before I talk about that, reader, something pricked at my mind. If I was not quite dead, and I switched with Celine, there was a chance that she was in my body. She would be deadly sick, and I think only I have the sheer willpower to survive that malaria. Of course, it was an exercise in futility.

The day after, my esteemed and "deeply loved" younger brother arrived. I'd be much happier switching bodies with that prince, but, he was just a person who I couldn't be jealous with.

"Celine. You don't remember me?"

"Not at all. Let's start with your name," I was in a particular bad mood when I met him.

"I'm Darius."

I truly, truly hated the name, but I couldn't show it.

"Oh, little Darius. Please, forgive me, I'd grown a little accustomed to princess speak at least. I did the right thing at least, acting like that. He was back from a hunting trip, and that day I learned that both Celine and I did hate hunting. I couldn't stand to hear him tell stories about his trip. All of his friends did seem obnoxious, but Darius himself was genuine. He promised to stay home until I recovered completely, though I would never recover any more memories. Strikingly, he did not have that familiar feeling that our parents invoked in me.

Despite that, I did enjoy his company. He was still a child compared to the real me, but he could outmatch Celine in most competitions of athleticism. He didn't think competing with me was strange, so I suspect that Celine did so too.

These days I had two close friends, doting parents and caring subordinates. My conundrum felt quite distanced, even if Heph could not unearth any new knowledge. One night, I had a meaningful conversation with him:

"What happened to our promise Al?"

"I've conquered a great portion of the world. I've made it all the way to the Indian subcontinent, but I remember I'm sick with Malaria and have to return."

"Actually, there's a little more than that, but I think its fine. Remember, we'd reach the ocean together."

"You sure bailed out of that one, Heph. I'm worried. I might be too content as Celine."

"There's nothing wrong with being content. You've done more than anybody else could. Even if you don't return in time, it would be enough."

"But this poor girl. If she dies, it would be unfairly taking from her lifespan."

"Remember, time isn't the way that we perceive it. I've been dead a week, but you've conquered the civilized world in that time."

"That's true, but Celine had the perfect life, and I've interfered."

"Okay, tell me Al. You seem to enjoy living here, but if you did have the opportunity, would you switch back? Macedonia has no cure for Malaria. You'd die. But, I suppose it's okay. Nothing can be done about it. "

I became angry, "No, Heph. I'm not choosing between you or the girl. I'm Alexander the Great. Perhaps the greatest hero to ever live. I would never take a girl's life."

He acted like he became inert. After a second he resumed. Despite no longer having lungs, reduced to mere assistant for me, he said, "I'll follow you. I'll follow you anywhere and support every decision you make."

Slowly, more sadly, "I've  made that resolution long before."

I couldn't say anything. Even from my best friend, I never expected to hear those words from Heph, my perverted, hedonistic, but heroic old friend. I hadn't seen him in so long, I forgot that side of him.

It made him a worthy future vassal, but it also made him a source of unique guidance.

I was supposed to be the survivor, the wiser and master, but here he was, always with something new to learn.