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CHAPTER 4
Setting In
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The world was black and white.
Afloat from everything, she stood there with her head low.
She felt like a doll, drowning deep within the sea, numbed as if her mind had detached from her body.
It was concerning but there was no worry.
Raising her gaze, she stared at the darkness that appeared to gaze back. Like one's own shadow staring at themself.
After a timeless hour, the shadows of fate twisted, changing the very frame she was cast in.
With a flicker of sight, the world around her changed. Filled with the scent of acrid smoke, she stared at the burned uneven land filled with those twisted corpses where their blood ran like a river.
She couldn't move nor could she speak. All she could do was carve this image deep in her mind. Their countless dull eyes stared at her as a human solitude, surrounded with black mist as they stood atop of the mountain corpse.
Looking at her with those pair of misty purple eyes.
The world turns black as an old clock ticked backward.
Surrounded in the sea of blood, her hands were covered with dark crimson liquid, dripping as she gazed upon those countless scattered weapons, almost unrecognizable due to their broken state.
Letting her hands fall, she watched as those human shadows appeared, looming over her fragile self. Like a cat cornering a mouse.
Shrinking back with great discomfort, she wanted to disappear, and hide from those people but she stopped as something different than those shadows appeared before her eyes.
Unlike this dark world, and those unrecognizable shadows, those four human outlines, radiating with bright color, shine above the darkness that wanted to consume her.
Their very existence appeared to light everything as the one who was nearest to her, radiated bright red, like a flower rose, giving a sense of comfort.
Right behind them was the one who shone in white like snow. They were cold but in some sense, they also gave her the feeling of safety.
The third was black, slightly gray. Unlike those voids, this one made her conceive the night sky, giving her a sense of protection.
And the last was the yellow that shone like a sun, giving her a sense of warmth and joy.
They stood in front of her as a large golden double door appeared behind them, opening wide as red held out their hand, like an angel giving her a hand.
Briefly looking past red, towards the door, she saw figures standing inside, like the four lights in front of her, they also shine with their own color, waving their hands as if also motioning her to come.
Turning her gaze back on Red's hand, she was about to grab it until something suddenly shot up from the ground.
Dozens of long black hands wrapped themselves around her limbs and body, tying her down as the light faded into ashes.
She cried out as the skin of those long hands oozed out black ink, dripping it into her body, almost covering her from head to toe.
Frantically struggling, another black shadow appeared, instantly catching her attention.
Seeing the figure, she trembled as she sensed its frigid vibes.
It was that scary human shadow that stood on those mountain corpses.
She didn't dare meet its eyes, lowering her head as her own heartbeat quivered with either anxiety or something else because she felt like she knew this person yet at the same time, she felt like she shouldn't be anywhere near this person.
She senses the figure moving, walking towards her and leaning down close to her ear, bringing a strange sensation that makes her shiver as a deep cold and dull voice comes into her mind.
"Soon..."
Alena snapped her eyes wide open, glazing over the white ceiling as she gasped, feeling her limbs stiff and her back drenched in her sweat.
Soon? What is soon? Inhaling deeply, she briefly closed her eyes before looking at the white room that is clearly not hers. How did I get here?
Sunlight streams through the white curtain as she slowly up, slightly wary that she may be in a stranger's home and god knows what may have happened while she was unconscious.
Noticing something sticking to her arm and chest, she briefly tensed, squinting her eyes as she examined them.
What she saw made her blink, recognizing the items, it was an IV tube that was attached to her arm, Huh? Trailing the tube, she saw the IV fluid bag hanging from a rolling pole beside the bed.
Did I get into an accident? Alena thought, furrowing her eyebrows in thought. While it is rare for her to get into an accident that results in her going to a hospital, she doesn't remember doing anything foolish that day.
As she went over the memory when she went home, like a flash of a lightning bolt, she quickly recalled what happened.
Starting from how she was suddenly accused by her father and got herself kicked out, falling in some dark hole that may have been a portal and ending up in this world, finding a burning village which she foolishly stepped into and almost caused her own life, if it wasn't for that woman who saved her...
After that, an aircraft came and flew us away from that village... Alena frowned recalling the whole view of the village.
It was still clear in her mind, like an image burned inside her head. The vivid scene of those buildings burning to ashes through the enormous dark clouds as those countless dark creatures crawled all over like parasites. Rampaging like an army of death machines that are hell-bent on destroying everything upon their paths.
Just thinking how close she was to that place, she shuddered at the different scenarios in her mind.
Not wanting to dwell, she took a deep breath, clearing her mind and focused on the present.
Turning her head, she looked through the closed glass window where she saw a strange city whose buildings reminded her of European architecture.
It was intriguing but she wondered where this place is right now.
The last thing she remembered was sleeping on that aircraft.
From the seawater, she could see outside and the familiar feeling, she guessed they must have landed somewhere safe enough to get into a ship and travel to a city.
A city. Alena's lips slightly curl. While her arrival in this world was terrifying, she was excited to know the world. A world where magic or whatever power this is is real.
Thinking of that, Alena wanted to roll but forced herself to relax and moved her legs to the side.
Stepping on the carpet, she stood up, careful not to move the tube in her arm.
Grabbing the rolling pole, she straightened her back, stretching her free arm, and rolled her shoulders, popping her muscles before walking towards the window, staring outside the window with curious eyes, like a child seeing Santa for the first time.
Slightly leaning forward, Alena intently looked outside, analyzing them closely to find any hint of what world she may get into.
In the distance, she saw a large cruise ship heading to the left and a cargo ship on the right, stationed near the docks of the city where dozens of people could be seen unloading cargo boxes.
Nothing was out of the ordinary. Like a glance to the window and seeing a car passing by.
However, this wasn't the usual day she was costumed to and noted that those ships were not made in woods but in modern material.
Recalling the aircraft, Is this really a futuristic world? She briefly wondered before furrowing her eyebrows, noticing something amiss.
Wait a minute, since when was I able to see far?
Not only did she manage to see the clear outline of those ships, but she could also discern the color of the clothing of those people!
Before Alena could argue how this was impossible in her mind, she recalled what Mavis had done to her.
How the heck could I have forgotten that!? I have magic now! Almost bouncing at her feet, her mind quickly shifted to the strange feeling within her body.
Feeling the energy coursing within her, Alena opened her mouth in amazement, slightly squirming as the urge to move around tempts her mind.
This is amazing- "Miss Alena."
"Jesus mother of Christ!" Alena almost hissed out, feeling a shiver run up from her back as she twirls around with a beating heart, almost knocking the rolling pole as her sight fell upon the smiling beauty of a woman wearing a white uniform.
"Good morning." The ginger-haired woman chirped, completely unbothered at her startled and shocked expression,
"My name is Ahri Coral, I am here to help you around for the time being."
Before the woman could finish her words, her voice seemed to be getting far away as Alena's mind almost turned blank because above the head of this woman, Ahri.
Was a pair of fox ears.
Alena wasn't exactly the type to care what others looked like but this time, she couldn't help it since this is something that only appears in fantasy or in fictional shows.
As someone who liked fantasy to the point, she tried to create her website based on her fantasy, this meeting is like a god finally granting one of her long-time wishes.
After a good few seconds have passed, her fox ear twitches when Alena does not answer, just staring at her extra pair of ears.
Slightly tilting her head, Ahri kept her smile as she scanned the shining glint in Alena's eyes. As a very important guest brought by Lady Mavis herself, Ahri wasn't exactly sure why Lady Mavis appointed her when there are others that are much more professional than her.
Whether it was because this girl is an animal lover or a sadistic racist that would love to see her pain, which is doubtful. Ahri would serve to her best ability.
Besides, she doesn't sense any hostility or disgust in her eyes, almost as if she was in... Awe?
Slightly shaking her head, she snapped Alena out of her daze, directly informing her,
"Ahem, Miss, we have prepared the bath for you."
Seeing Ahri motioning her to the door, Alena blinked, "H-huh?" After a moment of registering her words, Alena let out an ah of understanding before awkwardly nodding, unsure if she should question her now or wait for her to speak.
"S-sure."
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
"Please excuse me."
Alena silently watched as Ahri carefully took the IV out of her arm before grabbing the rolling pole and stepped back with her head slightly bowed.
"I will be waiting for you, Miss," Ahri told her with an unwavering smile that somehow made Alena officially shut her lips and obediently walked inside the bathroom.
As the door closed behind her, Alena sighed in relief, patting her chest. For some reason, that woman almost reminded her of her mother when she's mad, unlike others that would stomp angrily, her mother would just smile sweetly at her with a long stick in her hand.
Shuddering, Alena shook her head, deciding not to let Ahri wait longer, and quickly took a bath.
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After taking a quick bath and changing her clothes, Alena silently followed Ahri with a stiff back as they went through many corridors, passing many unique and strange fashionable people.
Wearing a white T-shirt, black jeans, black and white sneakers, and a brand new black hoodie, Alena couldn't help but feel something off.
Whether it has something to do with her enchanted senses or the fact that they somehow figured out her name, size, and even her favorite style of clothing, she feels some doubt within her mind.
As if she senses that saving her and bringing her here may have another purpose than just saving her from that place.
Perhaps she was overthinking as it could be the usual plot she saw in those shows.
Where the main character who was normal suddenly gained abnormal power after someone unlocked theirs and then suddenly, they are dragged into many dramas and rules they must follow into whatever secret society they got into.
If that is likely the case, would they recruit me by stating the danger of whatever I got myself into? Alena thought, feeling slightly nervous and excited. Recalling the near-death experience and the bright light that healed her almost instantly.
I wonder if this power is common in this world. Alena snapped out her thoughts, stopping in time before she bumped into the back of Ahri who suddenly stopped in front of a double door.
After many halls and stairs, they had to go through, they arrived somewhere on the top center floor of this ship, presumably the office or whatever this room is for.
Seeing Ahri's ear twitching, Alena glances at the door, guessing her super hearing is hearing something inside.
Taking a step forward, Ahri slightly opened the door.
Alena stayed quiet as the voices of other people came into her ears.
Inside the room was an office. A glass window behind the main chair where Mavis was seated.
In front of her, stood a blue-haired man and a black-haired woman.
"Sure this is wise?" The man in a black suit questioned with doubt in his tone, showing the white envelope in his hand,
"This is from the headmaster Oz-"
The door was then slammed open, startling Alena as Ahri strode inside the room, her calm expression was replaced with an anxious look that made Alena a bit confused.
Why is she anxious? Alena thought, trying to recall anything she might have missed.
"Lady Mavis! I am here to bring you some very classified news!" Ahri's voice was filled with anxiety, glancing at the two other people, silently asking if she should talk while they're here.
Alena who stood behind Ahri, glanced at the two people, guessing that it might be because of them? Oh... Shrinking herself from getting their attention, she hoped they would not notice her like an invincible figure.
Unlike the two who didn't even glance at her, Mavis who was sitting stoically glanced at Alena before saying towards the two people,
"Leave."
The blue-haired man was about to say something but the woman next to him grabbed him by the shoulder. Clothed in a dark green tunic and black and white jeans, her black hair tied into a high ponytail swayed as her pink eyes slightly glowed.
Inhaling the mellow scent, his body froze, words dying out from his throat as his sight locked upon her slightly glowing eyes. He wanted to speak up but, with his senses literally screaming not to dare it, he didn't resist while recalling his place in this organization.
As one of the lower workers of this organization, he had heard enough to know how dangerous this group was.
Despite being an official business organization in the four kingdoms, they operate in a more... wider operation.
Disappearing overnight due to an accident may be one of them.
While their boss may listen to their suggestions and thoughts despite their occupation, there are times when she does not as there are more important things to do.
Today may be one of those.
Knowing some stuff could not be said now, he slightly lowered his upper body, bowing his head, and turned around, feeling a sweat sliding down his forehead as he walked out. Briefly noticing the girl behind Ahri.
So it was her. He thought, finally connecting the dots on why Ahri acted like that while coming into the office.
The black-haired woman also bowed and followed the man outside.
Alena watched as the door closed. Thinking of the man's glance at her, she had a gut feeling that the man might know it was due to her presence that he was kicked out.
Ahri stepped back, her anxious expression had already turned back to normal.
She looked at Alena and motioned for her to take a seat in front of Mavis.
Glancing at Mavis who is calmly sipping on the green mug, Alena stiffly sat on the chair, nervous as she watched Mavis put down the mug that had a good scent.
Taking the time to examine her savior properly, she was a young woman with flawless smooth skin and sharp features that made her appear like a supermodel despite wearing a casual dark blue long-sleeved shirt.
She also looked pretty. Alena thought, keeping her expression neutral as she did not want to be rude while wondering if all the people here are good-looking since even the man earlier was quite handsome.
Aside from being in another world, and the chaotic events that happened yesterday, this is the first time she got a close-up view of a woman who could make those so-called beauties in her school look like dummies.
Beautiful as she is, she didn't want to make her savior uncomfortable.
"Tea or coffee?" Mavis softly asked.
Briefly, Alena was tempted to say tea as she wanted to try what it tasted like but in case it doesn't suit her taste, she goes with coffee.
"Um, coffee," Alena answered and Mavis nodded at Ahri who was quietly standing nearby.
Ahri gave a brief nod, turning around, and grabbed a metal tray. Putting one green mug similar to Mavis's mug, and a coffee maker, Ahri walked with grace towards them.
It was silent, with Ahri filling up a mug of coffee while Mavis stared at her, examining her as Alena slightly shifted, feeling her throat dry as she felt a bit uncomfortable.
Silently watching the coffee fill her mug and glancing at the other mug in front of Mavis, smelling the faint fragrant scent of the tea, Alena wasn't quite sure where to start this conversation.
The social talk was unfortunately not one of Alena's natural abilities. Even with her fame within the school for winning the championship, she was awkward unless she knew what to talk about or when a friend started a conversation with her.
"Thank you." Alena thanked Ahri who stood back, putting the coffee maker back into the other table and standing by the door, as if guarding it with her fox ears alert to the outside.
Turning her gaze back to Mavis, like a child not knowing what to say to a stranger.
"How are you?" Thankfully, it seems Mavis didn't mind.
"I... A bit confused but, I feel fine," Alena almost stuttered while keeping a calm facade, "Thanks to you, Ma-um... Lady Mavis?"
"Call me Mavis," Mavis interjects, her eyebrow slightly furrowing, seemingly not liking her calling her in that title.
Awkwardly nodding, Alena folded her hands above her lap, lightly rubbing her fingers to ease her anxiety, "R-right."
Pursing her lips into a thin line, looking at her in thought, "I suppose you have a lot of questions." Mavis spoke and Alena nodded in response,
"Yes."
Glancing at the hot steaming coffee, she recalled how she woke up with an IV attached to her,
"Did something happen to me?"
She didn't know much about medical knowledge but she felt fine to the point she thought medicine was not required. However, recalling her fatal injuries that should take weeks or months to heal and whatever magic Mavis did to help her heal at a fast rate.
Perhaps, there was a side effect?
Seeing Mavis slightly nodding, Alena prepared herself for the worst, grasping her hands together on her lap,
"After we managed to get away, you fainted and slept for three days."
"T-three days?"
"Yes," Mavis confirmed, "Even with your aura unlocked, your body had yet to adapt to your new state, much less when it just healed your previous injuries." Pausing for a bit to let it in, Mavis glances at Ahri before continuing,
"Other than that, we assumed you were in shock and exhausted from all that and fainted afterward."
In thought, Alena lowered her gaze. Connecting dots in her mind.
"I see..."
She understood what she meant.
Because of what's happening at that time, with her life literally on the line, she was forced to give it all, staying conscious and alert, moving around beyond the limit of what her body should do.
Once it is over, the aftermath will be painful as the side effects of overdoing it will intently hurt her muscles and organs.
If she hadn't had her aura unlocked and healed most of that, she shuddered at the pain that would surely come.
Moving on, she decided to focus on the next topic.
While there are more mysteries to solve, she needs to get things one step at a time,
Study with awareness, learn carefully to adapt with stability.
The path may be painful and scary but it's what shapes us.
Straightening her back, Alena glanced at the window behind Mavis, where it showed they were approaching the docks,
"Could you tell me where this place is?" Alena politely asked, looking straight into her eyes.
Mavis let out a hum before answering, "We are currently in the center border of Vale."
Vale? "Oh..." Alena just nodded. She did not know where in the world that place was but she would take any information she could.
Taking a sip of her tea, Mavis' eyes flicker to her coffee that had slightly warmed down.
Knowing she had yet to touch her drink, Alena awkwardly grabbed her mug, a bit hesitant to take a sip but give it in, tasting the creamy taste.
"So, Alena." Mavis lowered her mug back to the table, with a calm expression like a peerless ruby gem, she asked, "What are you going to do from now on?"
Lowering her mug, "Pardon?" Alena blinked. Feeling that Mavis is looking at her with either pity or sympathy.
"The Haruka village had already been destroyed and unfit to be rebuilt at the moment because of the sudden enormous number of the Grimms."
Mavis sighed, a regret itching her expression,
"Even with our help and the Huntsmen and huntresses, the quantity of their number isn't decreasing, almost doubling. We have no choice but to abandon the village and evacuate the remaining survivors to Mistral or Vale."
Grimms? Is that what those creatures are called? Alena mentally noted those as she nodded with a solemn expression. Showing she understands, even a bit of it.
"When you were still unconscious, we had asked the survivors if you were any of their relatives or someone that knew you and was willing to take you in, but in the end, no one knows you nor they were in the position to be able to help you," Mavis told her as Alena paused.
Oh... Wait, did Mavis just think she came from Haruka Village?
"I..." Not knowing what to say, Alena looked down, mentally debating whether to say she's not from that village or say she had yet to think of one.
Being so busy to survive, she has yet to consider what she should do once she gets into civilization. Since this is not some fantasy world where you could earn by hunting monsters or doing labor in an adventure guild.
Noticing her expression, Mavis tapped her finger on the table, looking as if she had just decided something,
"I don't usually take in an orphan child but for you, I am willing to make an exception."
The words were very blunt. If Alena had truly lived in that village, she would be angry despite the kind offer she may give to a homeless girl like her.
"Your aura is vast as your future, if guided correctly, you would surely become a powerhouse." She said, looking at her with an unreadable expression.
"Alena, I will give you a home, food, clothes, and money to nurture you, that is if you are willing to accept me as your guardian from now on?"
Staring at Mavis' serious expression, Alena slightly opened her mouth, gaping with a look of 'Really?'
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Nighttime finally came.
Inside a two-story house painted in a white and dark brown.
In one of the three bedrooms of the house, Alena who just finished brushing her teeth and changing her clothes into a white pajama, walked towards the solid wooden table, glancing outside the window, through the large buildings with well-kept brick facades, concrete paths, and those bright street lamps that looked holographic.
Despite it being nighttime, there were still people, ranging from those who stood out with either their looks like their eyes and hair or wore quite fashionable clothes that made them stand out, and those who looked ordinary and plain that she could easily forget them were still walking around, chatting while carrying bags on their hands or just passing by.
It reminded her of the time when she and her classmates went on a field trip to the main city, filled with swarming people.
Among the people, a married couple holding a child's hands caught her eye.
Seeing them laughing as the child continued to speak cutely, seemingly telling a funny story, her mind briefly wandered to her family.
Do they miss me? Pursing her lips, she lowered her gaze, setting her sight on her closed journal on the table.
Picking it up, she put her attention on this journal and reviewed her notes in her mind.
In this world, there is magic/power called an aura, something anyone with a soul has.
Aside from humans and animals, there are other races called Faunus. They are people with one animal trait.
Unlike her world where nations are scattered around the world, this world has Kingdoms, to be exact four, and countless villages.
Despite having Kingdoms, this world's technology is quite futuristic. One that may be more advanced than her homeworld technologies. Probably due to the threat of those Grimms that forced mankind to develop their weapons to fight against those destructive creatures.
A futuristic-fantasy world all right. Alena thought, sighing as she also grabbed her black pen and walked to the side of her bed.
Putting those two in her bag, Alena closed it back and also closed the window before heading to bed.
Covering herself with the white quilt, Alena blankly stared at the pale green ceiling. Wondering what future will be ahead of her.
Everything feels like a dream, a vivid dream she will wake up and return to the mundane lifestyle despite knowing this is all real.
A few days ago, she was just a normal athletic girl living peacefully with her life before she got into a heated argument with her father and got kicked out of the house.
Knowing she could survive in the wilderness without their support, she stomped out with what items she managed to grab, into the nearest forest, away from the source of her boiling emotion.
One of the main reasons she didn't have many worries was because she knew in her gut that her mother would calm her father down, talk to him before setting off to find her and talk with a stable mind; however, she didn't expect to be thrown into another world, truly permanently exiting from her family and her world.
I would never see them again. Alena thought, furrowing her eyebrows at the uncomfortable feeling in her heart.
If only she had known this would happen, she would have given her family, especially her mother a farewell note to let her know she will be all right.
Shaking her head, Alena rolled around, shrinking herself into the quilt to sleep while pushing those thoughts at the back of her head.
She should be angry at them but she just can't. No matter what reasons, she can't hate them other than her short-lived anger.
Snorting, Alena quickly emptied her mind, trying to fall asleep since tomorrow is going to be a busy day.
"I know it hurt and neither could my words comfort you like this, but know from today onward, I will take care of you." Before she could fall asleep, the words from Mavis replayed in her mind, as if they would bring her peace of mind.
Whether it worked or not, she eventually fell asleep, not noticing a lone crow landing outside her window.
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