As if waking up in a unfamiliar place wasn’t nerve wracking enough, again I am not in the same place I was before. However, this time it’s different and not overwhelming but, soft, comforting and, warm. My fatigue must have been immeasurable for me to not feel myself be carried to a different part of the house. I believe Grymm has taken me to a more suitable sleeping spot. My face was on black silk pillow and I was covered with thick plush blankets possibly filled with down feathers.
As I open my eyes a little, the sun shone again to signal a new day. It wasn’t as obnoxious only because dawn has just begun. I still had the coat that Grymm gave to me wrapped around my body. The conversations I had with him yesterday resurfaced in my mind. I snapped upward on the bed while gripping the covers to conceal my chest. I was not sure if he was still lingering and it would be awkward to be exposed to him yet again. The room was empty though. Spacious as it is. It felt like the interior design, now that I am fully aware of it, mimicked that of my old room. Like it was planned for my arrival.
The ceiling to floor windows and doors that went out to a balcony, the color palettes of deep wine reds in the curtains and the same deep dark wooden floors. A black chaise was across the room next to an ornate wooden desk. To add, there were plants nestled in corners to liven up the place. The room was furnished only with the basic necessities and the rest I guess I would fill in myself. With the care taken to this room, it’s quite certain that my arrival here was not just for a short time, but for a long time. How long I wonder.
I scan the room to see if there was a semblance of a closet or wardrobe, anything. I grew quite tired of not being clothed and I would like to at least look decent before I skulk around the house looking for that reaper. …Primordial Reaper. I shake the thought out my head and my eyes land on a door that was cracked open. At a glimpse I could see that it indeed was a closet. I rolled to the other side of the bed, the side the closet was and swung my legs over the edge. My feet I delicately placed on the cool floor. It was manageable this time now that I had control over how fast I can plant my feet.
I creep over to the closet, push the door further open and could see a small collection of clothing that had a somewhat familiar style choice. I just needed something basic for now. The wardrobe also seemed to have matched the colors of the room as well. Even some colors that were actually to my liking. My ears were piqued by the sound of mumbling. I didn’t want to linger any longer in the closet so I quickly grabbed whatever my hands were close to.
“Hmm…” my hands really just chose on a whim. A black suede blazer and gray knit knee length dress. It was chilly yesterday so making the assumption of warmer clothes sufficed for now. With haste, I pulled the dress over, poking my head through then smoothing it down. I pulled out some of my pale blonde hair through. The black ends of my strands were stuck within which aggravated my skin. Holding the blazer in my hand for second, I decided to just drop it to floor. I’ll pick it up later I think the dress is enough for now.
I descended down the stairs swiftly.
“Uh huh, yes…” Grymm was talking to seemingly no one. It dawned on me then, that it was a cellular device. A human way of communicating remotely I saw for the first time. I’ve only heard about it back home in the ElderRealm by the traverser's that would go between the realms.
“Yes, yes I can see if she is up for it. What? Human years would be 17 years of age, correct.” I wonder who’s he talking to. Time works differently here than it does in my home dimension. However, it does make sense for me to still be in adolescent stage here as well. For me, an Umbral beast, eldritch entity to the humans, have longer life spans than them. I never heard of one reaching passed the ripe old age of 1000 years, but apparently it’s possible. Still, I’m young and probably perceived as a naïve lordling to Grymm.
I continue to listen in closely before making myself known and stood still as a statue on the steps.
“Okay, I will be over as soon as I can. Thank you once again. Uh huh, you too.” Grymm moves the device from his ear then walks over close to the staircase where he was still unaware that I was here until he looked up.
“Oh!” He seems startled by my presence. “ Morning. You didn’t finish your tea last night so I just put it away until you were ready unless you want me to make you a fresh cup” he flashes a pleasant smile.
“Who was that?” I inquired.
“Headmistress Regalia. She’s ecstatic that you arrived…somewhat safely” he lightly chuckles.
“Who?” I gave a puzzled look.
“You won’t know her. She’s a good friend of mine that teaches at two academies. One here and the one in Seraphim Spire back home. I’m going to assume you never crossed the threshold of the castle, my lady”
“Well…no” I crossed my arms over my chest with a little disappointment that he would think that. “But I mean if I could without…” I stopped before I could incriminate myself. I don’t know if he was a snitch or not. He put his pointer finger to his chin to ponder.
“Hey, I won’t hold it against you if you managed to sneak away from prying eyes” he grins mischievously. Grymm looks up at me from head to toe. “You plan on wearing that today, or did you just throw it on for the time being? It looks fine if you’re ready to head out or if you want to change.” I examined myself from what I just put on last minute.
“I…I guess? It will work for now. I’m not a colorful individual in terms of clothing so this is good. Maybe I can find a style I gravitate towards later on.”
“Right, I just wasn’t sure myself. Though the black trailing gown that was tailored to your body was all I ever saw you in. I can’t really make an assumption based off of that alone.” My cheeks flushed red when he mentioned my favourite gown. I missed it so much and wonder why I didn’t come to this world with that. It was tight fitting so I guess that he noticed the shape of my body. Somewhat embarrassed by that.
“We can get you more clothing that better suits you. Just go shopping and all” that last part was more cheery in tone. Just by how he dresses he must surely like looking his best. With that it made a corner of my lips twitch into a smile at his delight.
“If you insist, I wouldn’t see why we can’t go gallivant at a marketplace.” He lets out a deep belly laugh in response.
“Of course. Well, go on and get your shoes on and bring a coat. You’ll find out soon enough that the weather here is quite dreary.” I nodded and made my way back up the stairs to the room. I saw the pitifully thrown blazer on the ground and reached for it. I also picked out some ankle high boots and put on some stocking before the boots. I bounded down the stairs while in the process of putting one arm into the blazer and then the other. Grymm was already at the door fetching the keys from a short column statue. Opening the door he motions for me to exit first.
“Today we will get your affairs in order. Don’t worry, the people you’ll meet is well versed in the human world and ours. We have a good amount of our kind that has chosen to either live here among the humans or to go between the dimensions.” Grymm explains.
“What of you then? Do you live here normally?” We walked towards the vehicle and he reaches for the door handle.
“Essentially, Grims will have set locations in this realm that they are charged with ferrying souls and reaping the malevolent ones. So yes, this is my place of duty. Sometimes we get to choose where we can be.” He closes the door behind me.
“Oh, forgot to remind you, Your sister is also here. She’s been here for a couple of years.”
“Ah, yes…my sister” I say flatly. I never really understood her fascination with the human world. She did mention she wanted to study them and their ways as it was more her style. Maybe I will be able to see what she sees in this world. It couldn’t be bad minus the harsh sun.
The drive to the school wasn’t long and was nestled up on a hill…also gated. It looked prestigious and reminded me of the Arcane Academy I’ve witnessed a few times with my parents back home. The school did stand pretty tall and overbearing with its intricate architecture. Dark stone bricks, arched windows and pointed spires that pierced the sky as if to tear it open. The overcast sky made it gloomy and unsettling as if it needed anymore help.
The vehicle came to halt at the entrance of the school then idled. Once again Grymm made it his mission to be gentlemanly and open the door.
“I keep forgetting to thank you for opening the door for me. I hope it’s not troubling for you to do.”
“Ah, well you are of royalty, your highness.”
“That’s fair but I just don’t want to feel like a spoiled brat.” His expression darkened a little.
“Aaisuke, don’t worry about how others perceive you. And quite frankly” he said in a more positive manner, “I wouldn’t give a damn myself how people perceived me.” I place an assuring hand on my shoulder and smiled.
“Thanks. I just feel self conscious is all. Plus we can be a little informal now that we’re here and not our home dimension.” He smirked at my response. I know he was just doing his duty but I don’t want him to feel like he is obligated to be at my beck and call.
As the towering doors opened a speckling of adolescent aged people filled the halls. It was bustling with students rushing to classes or trudging along and lingering among the walls. Both I and Grymm weaved our ways through the students to a spiraling staircase. Some curious looks were aimed at me. I would be curious too if a new entity had entered a familiar space of mine, disrupting the flow of a daily established routine.
We reached the fourth floor to a door that was ajar. Grymm peaks through it to check if it was appropriate to enter. This must be the office if we stopped so abruptly here. I can somewhat see a figure at the desk with bluish glow glinting on their face from some sort of screen.
“Grymm? Is that you” a feminine voice calls out.
“Headmistress Regalia” he responds. I can see the figure more clearly now that it got up from the seat. Grymm pushes the door open to walk right in. I trailed behind him cautiously along with my wandering eyes taken in the scenery. Bright pinks and yellows with cute little plants on the desk was inviting. The room even smelled of vanilla.
“Oh is this your majesty? ” The slender women towered over me. I was not used to being the shorter one. Her gown was off-white with gold trim and a matching caplet that had a furred collar. I could see off to the corner of my eye that this woman’s chair had a pointed hat resting upon it with dangling pearls coming from the brim. The woman holds out her hand in greeting. I take it to shake it. They were just as pale and pure as mine without a blemish, though her face was soft with tired eyes from teaching probably.
“Uh..hello,” I say weakly still taken a back by her height. As she tilted her head slightly in an attempted bow some of her blonde hair and a couple pink and purple strands spilled over her shoulders.
“Welcome, darling” she straightens her posture, “To Aster Academy” She returns her hand to her side as did I.
“Let’s begin the orientation shall we?”
With that, Grymm takes a seat by the desk and holds out his hand to the other next to him. I took my place and sat down. Guess this is where my new life begins for the time being.
“ I’m looking forward to it.”