I stir, a strange sensation washing over me as if I'm floating through an endless void. Am I dead? I remember fighting Asterian guards, and then... an Arcanist. I think I'm lying on a bed. But where?
My vision is a blur, and all I can hear is a high-pitched ringing that seems to be echoing in my skull. I try to sit up, but my body feels sluggish, unresponsive.
With great effort, I rub my eyes and clear my throat. Why does my mouth taste so... odd? It's a mix of chocolate and... Sablethorn berries? The poisonous fruit causes dizziness and confusion when ingested and can be lethal when consumed over a long period. Is that why I feel so disoriented? What's going on?
Slowly, my senses return to me, and I become aware of the softness beneath me. The bed is luxurious, with a plush mattress that cradles me like a cloud. The silk sheets feel cool against my skin, their smooth texture unfamiliar yet soothing.
"Where am I?" I think to myself, struggling to grasp my surroundings.
My eyes adjust to the light, revealing an opulent room straight out of a fairytale. The four-poster bed where I stand, intricately carved with vines and flowers, dominates the space. The walls are adorned with tasteful paintings, while an antique dresser sits in one corner, its polished surface gleaming. Lightweight linen curtains hang from the windows, letting in the sunshine and warmth of the outside world.
"Is this some noblewoman's chamber?" I wonder, feeling out of place amid such grandeur.
My gaze drifts down to my clothes, and I stifle a gasp. I'm wearing a frilly dress! The garment is a confection of white and pink layers, with delicate lace trimming the edges. It's both cute and pretty, but I've never worn a dress in my life, and I find it incredibly uncomfortable.
"What on earth is this monstrosity?" I think, trying to move my arms in the oppressive garment.
I raise my hands to examine them, only to discover that they're no longer rough, but delicate and pale. My nails are long, painted a soft shade of pink that matches the dress.
"Okay, seriously, what the hell is happening?!" Fear begins to rise within me, and I struggle to tamp it down.
As my senses continue to return, I finally become aware of a soft sniffling sound. My eyes drift to the side of my bed and I'm shocked to see a young woman kneeling there, her face hidden in my sheets, shoulders shaking with each sob. She's wearing a simple but elegant maid's uniform, which means she must work in the Asterian Palace.
I wonder what's making her so upset so I place a comforting hand on her head, and she suddenly looks up.
"Y-Your Highness!" she exclaims, clearly shocked. Her eyes widen as she grabs my hands, beaming at me through her tears. "You woke up! Oh, I'm so glad, I thought you were dead!" The maid is young and has a nice heart-shaped face framed by chestnut curls.
"Who are you?" I ask, my voice sounding like a pretty, sweet melody that I don't recognize as my own. The maid looks at me with worry in her soft brown eyes and places a hand on my forehead to check for a fever.
"Oh, no, Your Highness! Are you okay? Did you lose your memory? I'm Lily, remember?" she says, her tone filled with concern.
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I shake my head, not understanding anything. Who is this woman? Where am I? Everything feels so strange and out of place...
"Hey," I say slowly, trying to make sense of the situation. "Why did you call me 'Your Highness'?"
Lily looks confused, her eyebrows knitting together as she searches for an answer. She opens her mouth to say something, but I stop paying attention to her. Instead, my gaze is drawn to a huge mirror behind her, and I see myself - or rather, who I've become.
"Wh-who... what happened to me?" I stammer, staring at the reflection in the mirror. My heart races as I take in the delicate features, golden hair, and clear blue eyes of someone who is most certainly not me! It's as if I'm looking at a stranger, yet the stranger follows my every move! What's going on?!
My heart pounds in my chest as I continue to stare at the reflection in the mirror. The frilly dress, complete with white and pink lace, engulfs me like some foreign creature. The stranger's sweet, beautiful appearance is a far cry from the cool and hardened exterior that I'm used to observing in the mirror. Her clear blue eyes shimmer with innocence, and her golden hair cascades down her back in gentle waves, making her appear pure yet alluring.
"Is this really me?" I mutter under my breath, reaching up to touch my smooth cheek. My fingers tremble as they glide over the delicate features that now belong to me. I pinch myself, hoping that the pain will wake me up. "Ouch!" I exclaim, quickly realizing that this isn't a dream at all – it's reality.
"Your Highness, are you alright?!" Lily asks, her voice etched with worry.
"Wh-what happened to me?" I stammer, panic bubbling up within me. Scared, I start to scream as I realize I'm not in my body anymore.
"Your Highness!" Lily gasps, rushing over to my side. Her soft brown eyes widen with fright as she takes in my hysterical state. "What's wrong? What can I do?"
"Who am I?!" I shout, tears threatening to spill from my eyes. "What happened to Raven?!"
"Your Highness, please calm down," Lily pleads, gripping my shoulders gently. "I don't know of any ravens! Please, just take a deep breath and tell me what's going on."
"Nothing makes sense!" I wail, my hands shaking. "I... I woke up and... I don't even know who I am anymore!"
"Alright," Lily says, her voice quivering. "I'm going to find a doctor for you, Your Highness. Just try to stay calm until I return." And with that, she hurries out of the room, leaving me alone with my newfound identity.
As the door clicks shut behind her, I take a deep breath and attempt to steady my racing heart. I may not know what's happening to me, but one thing is clear – I need to figure it out before anyone else discovers the truth about my transformation!
I push myself up from the bed and stumble over to the mirror. My reflection stares back at me with wide, clear blue eyes that seem to sparkle. The golden hair cascading down my back is in stark contrast to the sleek black mane I'm used to.
"Okay, okay... Well, at least I'm cute, right? Could be worse," I mutter under my breath, trying to reel in my panic. "This doesn't make sense, but I have to figure it out."
I hastily lock the door, needing some time alone to gather my thoughts. I start pacing the room, desperately searching for any clue as to why I've woken up in the body of a pretty noblewoman. The lavish chamber is adorned with silks and velvets, gold accents gleaming at every turn. It's a far cry from the cold, austere quarters I once called my own.
"Alright, let's think. What do I know?" I ask myself. "Last thing I remember was... being on a mission to kill the Ironhold Prince. Until someone betrayed me and I died. And now I'm here and I'm... in somebody else's body? Argh, this is stupid!"
The absurdity of the situation is almost enough to make me laugh – if only I weren't so utterly terrified!
"Ok, so how did this happen?" I continue, my voice barely more than a whisper. "Some kind of magic? A curse? A twisted joke played by the gods themselves?"
My frantic search leads me to a portrait hanging on the wall. It depicts a radiant young woman in a flowing gown, her golden hair artfully arranged atop her head. The plaque beneath it reads: "Princess Seraphina Brightwood of Asteria."
"Whaaat?!" I exclaim, my eyes widening in disbelief. "I'm not just any noblewoman – I'm the freaking Princess of Asteria!"
Although I try to maintain a semblance of calm, my mind races with questions and fear. How did this happen? Why me? And what on earth am I supposed to do now?!