We arrive at a small tavern on the outskirts of town. It seems oddly familiar, but I’m not sure why.

“Go inside. Remove the people. Bring the man with you,” the Voiced orders her guards as she puts on the hood of her cloak.

Gai is shoved forward. He and the two guards move into the tavern. There’s shouting at first, then an eery silence. People begin exiting via the front door. They glance at me and the Voiced but pay us no mind. There’s fear on their faces

What the hell did those guys say in there?!

The three men come back out.

“It is clear,” states the blonde-haired man. “The owner is pouring us drinks as we speak.”

The Voiced smiles. She places her hand on the small of my back. “Shall we?”

I nod weakly.

We enter the tavern. Again, it looks familiar, but I’m not sure wh—

“You!” The bartender stops working. He points directly at me. “You stabbed that guy and fled without paying your bill, you bitch!”

Oh.

Did I do that?

Gai frowns. He looks between the bartender and me.

“Is there a problem?” the Voiced says beside me.

Suddenly realizing where he is, the bartender recoils. He stares into the Voiced’s eyes for a moment. A range of emotions passes across his face before they land on awe. “My apologies.”

“It’s alright. Will you forgive my friend here? I’ll pay her tab.”

I look at the Voiced with surprise. Gai does the same.

The bartender lowers his head slightly. “Of course.”

“Great!” The Voiced pushes me towards a table into an empty chair. “Please, sit! Get comfortable.”

“Thank you?” I say as I comply.

The Voiced takes the seat at the opposite end in front of me. Gai and her guards sit at a different table together some distance away.

“Oh, report?” the Voiced asks from her guards. She ignores me for a moment. “Hear anything interesting in the crowds while I was moving about?”

“Nothing we don’t already know,” says the bearded guard.

“We did too good of a job earlier in the day,” complains the Voiced loudly.

“The country will be agriculturally sustainable in the very near future.”

“How so?”

“Word is the southern baron, and this territory’s baron will become connected via a marriage between their son and daughter respectively,” mentions the blonde cheerfully. He kicks his feet up on a table and stares at Gai as he talks. “If that’s the case, not only will this country be self-sufficient, they’ll steal profits away from our trade abroad.”

“Ah, that sucks. Maybe I should destroy this place,” grumbles the Voiced.

The air in the room suddenly feels massively heavy as if the gravity of the planet suddenly increased.

My eyes widen. Gai makes a shocked noise. The Voiced’s companions hardly make a sound. The bartender is brought to his knees. He uses the side of his counter for support.

The strain releases.

“Nah. That’s too much work. Not very nice either. A letter to our King should be enough. I don’t feel like trying that hard. There are better ways to keep the balance,” the Voiced mentions. “But enough about that,” she says, turning her attention back to me. “What’s your name?”

The bartender moves between our two tables. Drinks are set before us. He slinks back behind the counter, opting to fade into the background like an unwanted chameleon.

Avoiding the question, nervously, I speak, “Why do you want to talk to me?”

The Voiced cocks her head to the side. She lovingly rests her head on her hand, offering me a warm yet sinister smile. “I’m deciding whether to kill you or not.”

My face tingles as I struggle to comprehend the words coming out of her mouth.

A slamming noise occurs behind me. There’s grunting. I turn to see Gai out of his chair. The two men he was seated with are effortlessly restraining him. Gai’s face is rested into the table. His arms are behind his back. He grunts, shaking, trying to get the brown-haired man off his back, but the blonde-haired one holds a short blade to Gai’s throat.

Gai looks at me with fear. Not for himself but for me.

“Do we kill him?” the brown-haired one asks, bored.

“That depends on whether or not we deal with this one.” The Voiced points a lazy finger at me. She does not pull away from our eye contact. “Mr. Regal seems like the sort of dog that would hunt down his owner’s killer. Best to put him out of his misery in that case.”

“Understood.”

My teeth clench together. I struggle to breathe. My chest hurts. Fear rises in my heart.

The Voiced notices this. “Settle down.” She waves at me playfully. “It all depends on how you answer my questions.”

I close my eyes for a moment. My brain clears up. I re-open my eyes. “Easy enough. It’s not like I have a choice,” I say with determination.

“I like you,” the Voiced says. “Shall we start over? I believe I asked for your name.” She pauses. “Silly me! Rude! I didn’t give mine first.” She jokingly clears her throat. “Astria. No last name. And you?”

“Scarlet Embers. You knew that already, I suspect.”

“Of course. See? If you’d lied, bad things might have happened. You don’t know what I know. Only I know what I know. And I know what I need to know to determine what you need to tell me. Sound good?”

“Absolutely.” My hands are shaking as I lay them on the table. The feeling of a predator closing in on me embraces the back of my neck. “There was no sense in lying since you already knew Gai’s last name.”

“Oh, did I let that slip? Silly me,” says Astria. The look on her face shows how intentional that ‘slip up’ was. “Good. Great.” Astria’s eyes dart over to Gai. She looks back at me. “Are you an inventor?”

“Yes?” That odd question throws me off, making my answer noticeably high-pitched.

“You answer a question with a question. How odd. Was my question too strange? Too complicated? Do you not know what questions are? They are statements of curiosities directed at another person in order to elicit some form of factual or opinionated response. Does that help?”

“Yes.”

“To what part?”

“To everything you’ve said so far.”

“Then you do know what questions are! Great!” Astria clasps her hands together, smiling. The untouched drink next to her trembles slightly in the glass. “And you are an inventor! Brilliant!”

“All of it involves food, though,” I mutter truthfully.

Astria cocks her head to the side. “Is that true? You’ve never made containers for food and water? Those sorts of things?”

“Yes, but those are made to preserve food. Everything I’ve ever created has been food related.”

What the hell is this line of questioning? What is she getting at here? Why is she asking if I’m an inventor?

I’m happy I’ve had years of trial experience to prepare me for this moment. I can answer clearly with an understanding there’s some sort of deeper meaning to her interrogatives. I’m not stuttering. My words remain clear. There’s no hesitation in my voice. In the face of death, I’m doing well. Maybe because I have no other choice?

“Hmmm. Were you a chef before?” Astria asks me.

“Before?”

Astria leans forward. “Ah, you’re cautious. You don’t want the man to know. That’s good for you. It helps your case.”

“Him to know?”

Is she...?

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Astria rolls her eyes. She leans in much closer until her lips are almost touching mine.

“What was it like to die?”

My blood freezes. “You know…”

“That answers my question.” Astria leans back a bit. She winks. “How are you liking our world?”

“How did you know?!” I suddenly shout.

I leap to my feet. All fear disappears from me at the sudden revelation by this woman. The Voiced, at least this one, knows about my reincarnation.

Gai stares at me, confused, since Astria and I have kept our voices relatively quiet so far. The men with Astria seem unperturbed by my outburst. The bartender has retreated out of the room already.

How could that be?! I’ve not told anyone. Is it something I said? No, nothing I’ve said would reveal that. Astria knew before this conversation started. She had a hunch. She asked about my inventions. Wait. New technology. Damn, I have made a lot of “inventions” starting when I was a child. Everyone else thought it was a gift from the Gods, so I suspected that I was an exception. If someone aware of reincarnations saw how much I’ve contributed to society, even if only food, at such a young age, it’d make sense they’d be suspicious.

Wait.

Astria’s words mean I’m not alone. I’m a known concept. Reincarnations exist in this reality. There are others besides me.

I’m not alone.

“All the signs were there.” Astria motions for me to quiet and sit down. I oblige. “You didn’t hide it. Most of your kind prefer to live in society without creating any significant impacts. We prefer it that way.”

“We?”

Astria waves me off. “Then were you a chef?”

“I…I was an attorney,” I reveal meekly in a quiet voice.

“Ah. What is that?” Astria cocks her head to the side.

“We defend people who break the law, deal with documents, research. It wasn’t fun.”

“Then…the food?” Astria questions. “The creations?”

“I was homesick and wanted some of the meals I liked from my reality. I was in a position at the castle to do that. They leaked out. I never intended for them to be made public, but it’s not like I cared if they did,” I say. “Besides food, I can’t really bring anything of value to this world besides laws and policy ideas. Even then, it’s not like my family would listen to me.” I smile weakly. “I am only a woman after all,” I sarcastically express at the end.

“Does anyone know?”

“That I’ve reincarnated? No.” I shake my head. “I’ve had no reason to tell anyone. It’d only ostracize me. I like this world and the opportunities it’s given me, even with all the hardship. I don’t want to jeopardize my potential.”

It is crazy that I’m even talking about this. What the hell? A Voiced knows about reincarnation. Do the others know as well? Is it a known secret or something more sinister?

Astria stares at me for a moment. She bites the edge of her thumb. After nibbling for a moment, she relaxes. Her body reclines a bit in her seat. She then surges forward again until her face is centimeters from mine.

“Glad to hear it.” Astria pats my cheek. “Make sure it stays that way. Where the world is at right now, we’d like to keep it that way. This level of progression is optimal for peace.”

I blink. “What does that mean?”

“Don’t rock the boat. Stop influencing our reality. Never reveal your existence to anybody, not even to those who you suspect may be like yourself. If you do, there will be consequences.” Astria sighs. “I’ve never had to give this speech before. You’re lucky that you’re right on the edge, you know? Nothing you’ve done has upset anything of significant value. Yet. This could have been bad.”

“Bad?”

“I’d have killed your friend there.” Astria cocks her head over towards Gai. “Then, I’d destroy the castle with everyone in it. Kill everyone you’ve ever been associated with. Torture you to see if there were others. I’d probably destroy this town too in order to ensure your existence was totally erased. Then, in the end, grant you a blissful death.” Her eyes grow cold. “Do you understand what I’m telling you?”

I flinch. “Why go so far?”

“International policy. The past determines the present. That is all.”

I decide not to push my luck with the questioning.

“Do you find it hard here?” Astria asks. “Was being a woman more difficult in this reality than the last?”

My eyes stare into Astria’s for a moment. She thinks I was a woman in my past life. She knows of other reincarnations. None of them revealed they were the opposite sex before coming here. At least, they didn’t feel comfortable revealing it. That or she killed them before they could speak about it. Either I’m an anomaly or it’s the consensus among others in my position that there are no benefits to revealing that fact.

“Yes…”

“Thought so. That’s what the others said. The men seem to enjoy the transition back to ‘simpler times,’ but not the women. A shame. I’d very much like to visit your world. Not that I hate this reality. No one’s life is better than mine. Power. Fame. Wealth. Freedom. I have it all. What more could I ask for?” She chuckles. “What was your name before?”

“Miya,” I lie.

“Lovely!”

“Did you come here because you knew who I was?”

“Happy coincidence,” relays Astria. “But enough about this topic. I have something more important to talk about.”

More important?

“Now!” yells the Voiced, leaning back. Our quiet conversation ends. “Tell me a little bit about your life.”

A sense of relaxation warms me for some reason. This is the more important thing she wanted to talk about?

“What do you want to know?”

“I’ll be honest, I don’t care about this city, your country, or its policies. Right now, just you. Where are you currently in life? What will you be doing in the future?” Astria asks me. Her eyes do not soften from before. At the same time, they aren’t as dangerous. There’s something else within them that keeps them cold. “What do you wish to do? What are your dreams? Desires?”

“Leaving, hopefully,” I mutter.

“Where to?”

“I’m…not sure. That’s kind of the point.”

“Rumor is you’re getting married. Is that what you desire?”

“Not at all,” I reply honestly.

Astria looks over at Gai who is still struggling beneath the might of her men. “Sorry you had to hear that. My condolences.” She mockingly bows from her seat.

“He knows.”

Astria looks back at me with an eyebrow raised. “Does he now?”

“We have a deal. Neither of us wants to marry. I want to leave this life of mine and explore the world. We’re compromising in order to get me out of here.”

“Then he’s a good friend. You’re lucky. Most wouldn’t go so far. It likely helps that, if it all fails, he’ll have an attractive bride he can fuck at his leisure.” Astria eyes Gai carefully for a moment. She then frowns. “You’re both nobility?”

“Yes.”

“And you think that plan will work?”

I hesitate. “Yes. Gai has been avoiding his family for years. I believe in him,” I admit openly for the first time.

“Then he has enough brothers and sisters to do such a thing,” remarks Astria. “Are you in a similar situation?”

“I have a younger brother.”

“So no. Assuming your plan doesn’t go through, will you still try to flee? It is your goal to leave, to travel, is it not?” Astria’s voice grows venomous. “Will you let the wills of others deny your convictions?”

I do not speak. Her words stun me into silence.

“Could you kill for your freedom? For your desires? Kill your father? Mother? Brother? Friends? Will you allow such things to keep you from your happiness?”

“I wouldn’t be happy if I had to.”

“At least you know,” Astria replies, but her words are curt. “Then why not flee now? What keeps you here? Why not flee years before this? If you get far enough away, no one could catch you. You’re skilled.” She examines me. “Your hands are that of a warrior. You have light and dark gifts. You do not need Gai. Any attachments you have will disappear in time, especially if you find true fulfillment in life. Cut out all the outside factors. Do what you wish. No one can stop you but yourself.”

“How did you know all that?”

“Stop.” Astria holds up a hand. “Answer. What keeps you from doing as you wish?”

I pause for the longest time.

I have friends here. I like this city. My life is comfortable. Yes, I want to see the world. Explore. Help people. I absolutely wish to do that. Still, I can’t just leave. That would be irresponsible of me. It’d affect too many people. I have to do this the right way. Once things are settled and my father gets what he wants, everything will fall into place.

“Responsibility.”

“Cowardice,” Astria says instead. “You’re afraid. You’ve maintained eye contact this entire time with death looking you in the face, but when asked about your future, you no longer do so. You have some perception of what you wish to do in life, yet even then, you are uncertain. You are either too afraid to make it a reality or too broken to desire anything substantive.” Her gaze shimmers with disgust, emitting nauseating vibes. “How pitiful. I was starting to like you. This is who you are?”

My eye twitches.

Astria gets up from her seat. She moves the table between us with the side of her hand. It flies across the room in an impressive show of strength. The wood splinters into pieces against the wall. It further stuns me.

Astria walks where the table was until she is standing before me. Her hand grips under my chin. She holds my gaze firmly.

“What is your dream? Your desire?” Astria asks softly. Her words are almost romantic. “What is your purpose in life?”

For the longest time, I say nothing. Her golden eyes burn through my pupils. They seemingly sear my brain as if searching through my mind for knowledge.

“Hero…”

“Come again?”

“I’ve always wanted to be a hero who helps people. There’s nothing more I can think of to give my life value,” I nearly whisper.

“Is that so?” Astria assesses. “Then who have you helped in the past eighteen years? Whose life is better now because yours exists? You have such a noble desire, yet your life does not reflect it. You live a life of luxury, even with a marriage you do not want. It is your only burden in life and a minor one at that. You are blessed with amazing gifts. You are clearly strong, smart, and talented. Even so, you waste it all. You risk nothing for your desires. Calling them such is almost shameful. You’re a coward. You stand for nothing. You embody nothing. You’re pampered, careless, and boring. Such a waste. What a pathetic girl.” She releases me, almost like she’s throwing me aside.

Little shivers run down my back as the entire speech repeats over and over in my head.

A pair of lips lean into my ear. “I congratulate you on wasting yet another life.” Astria’s hand pats my shoulder. “What a shame!” she bellows. The noise echoes throughout the tavern.

The sounds of three sets of footsteps receding into the distance indicate that Astria and her followers have departed.

A body rushes beside me. Hands grab my face. My vacant gaze is thrust to my left as Gai forces me to look at him.

Gai frowns. He wipes tears away from under my eyes as sobbing overtakes my body. He presses me into him as my entire plan, my thought process, my beliefs over the past few years crumble with those simple words that sear a pain within my soul I have not felt in years.

It was a wake-up call.

Because I know…deep down…she’s right…