Chapter Two

Adriana awakens with a groan, feeling as though her entire body has been through a grinder. Hearing similar sounds around her, she feels safe to assume her family also shared in this. Oddly, she hears the sounds of animals around them. She cracks open an eye, getting a blurry image of rustic furniture and log cabin walls. She closes her eyes against a headache, her memory slowly being jogged. Suddenly, she remembers her and her family's misfortune of being chosen by some being, it spoke to them in a human form made of blue light. She recalled the memory clearly...

*********************

"Greetings, you have been chosen to be our newest cast members! We will be sending you to the world of Emperor Beyond! Since you are all already familiar with the show, we're certain you will fit in and find a way to entertain us easily!" The being pauses as though expectantly waiting while the family blinks at him in astonishment. "Oh yes, now you may ask three questions before you're sent away."

"Wh-where are we?" Quinton blurts out without thinking, instantly a lit up board appears with three check marks, one instantly changes to an X with a ding.

"You are in a dimension where we directors reside. I am Director Maxus, and I have chosen you to become my newest cast members. This dimension is referred to as the casting call, you will only ever be here in between being casted after this meeting."

"You keep saying we're chosen, that we're cast members… What do you mean, what do you want from us?" Rolan questions next, another X being added to the board.

"We simply wish to entertain our societies, both yours and ours. We have found that the truest of acting still cannot compare to real life. Your jobs will be to find a way to survive the show you're casted into, make your choices of how to go about it. But, and this is the most important thing, try to keep us entertained! If you don't… Well, you'll be removed from the cast!"

"How can we return to our previous lives?" Adriana asks before anyone else could, determined to figure out what she could.

The Director's glow seems to pulse in waves of dimming and brightening as it seems to stare at her for a moment before it's echoing voice replies. "Once one reaches the position of a stardom god, you will be granted a wish. So long as it's not the end of the shows and castings, you may ask for whatever you desire." The circular room of light around them starts to twinkle and hum as the lights flow and pulse. The entire time, the room was made of different lights that aimlessly changed color and patterns, but now they all start to spin. "And that ends our meeting, good luck!" Director Maxus states as they all start falling through the flood of lights, protesting and screaming is all that's heard before they pass out.

***************************************

"I hope like hell that was a dream…" Adriana mutters before trying to open her eyes again.

"My head hurts!" Victoria whines from beside her, soon followed my Hero's complaint. "Me too!

"I know babies, just give us a moment and we can help you…" Evelynn coaxes them while everyone tries to regain their bearings.

The cozy log cabin was built by Evelynn's grandfather, him raising his family on the farm that she inherited when her mother passed. Evelynn found work for herself as a botanist, raising and studying many plants. This lead to her meeting Rolan, him being a renowned herbalist in the nearby village, soon marrying and having kids who each had their own home nearby. Ulysses became an herbalist after their father, Jerald and Tamara both also work for their parents, being how they met one another. Illiana is a popular artist, Quinton a potter, him meeting Helena who runs a popular cafe. Adriana is a popular musician and dancer, often earning a decent amount of coin from tips.

Besides this, the four siblings all inherited clairvoyance from their father's side, though he himself didn't have any. The children didn't show any signs of it, but the siblings have started having premonitions, which the result is them quietly planning to move from this village to a town in the Spider's territories to better understand and hone their new-found powers. However, they are aware that should any lords find out about it and capture them before they reach said place, they will try their best to utilize them in the wars, even harming their loved ones. That's why they were hurrying to fill their wagons and get on the road, each having sold their homes prior except for their parents. They were joining a caravan under the guise of looking for bigger and better things for their families. This is all information they awoke knowing.

"I'm glad to see Adriana with us! Maybe we'll get some entertainment along the way." One woman attempts to whisper to the man beside her who simply grunts in reply.

"I feel safer with Mr. Rolan Byrne with us! He's the best herbalist around!" A man happily chats with a group of others that agrees with them.

"Mistress Adriana, I wish to thank you once more for allowing us to join you." Heith Trenholm says for the umpteenth time, causing her to roll her eyes.

"No problem Heith, you've been my bodyguard for years now! Not to mention Marigold has been a tremendous help to me! How could I not allow you to join me?" She shares smiles with the two hired help that just recently had a baby girl named Rosaline. Heith insists on driving the carriage for her, but promises to hand it off when he becomes tired and she would help with little Rosaline along the way of their travels.

"Still, we've imposed on you again. We'll be forever grateful to you for helping us once more." Marigold sullenly tells her with a look that states she meant it.

Adriana smiles at the two, embracing the other woman as Heith finishes loading their items on their wagon. "You guys are like family to me, I trust and care about both of you! Now, no more of this discussion, we're leaving shortly." Marigold smiles and nods, turning to fuss with Rosaline and ensure that the baby was tended and comfortable. Adriana found herself eyeing her family out of the opening of the wagon, feeling mixed emotions she hid well. Not only was she anxious and unsure how to go about with what the Director wished, her whole family now appeared slightly different! They had darker skin now, slightly changed features and clothing that fit in well. She supposed it was for those that knew them before to not ask questions, but who knows?

That speculation however leads her to a bigger one… Was the people around them real? For the narrative to make sense, her family has been here for years, meaning the people must have known them the whole time. Or… they spawned them in as either other trapped characters or possibly artificial beings to just fill in the gaps. Knowing there were others like them here was honestly terrifying as it boils down to one thing she couldn't figure out. What was the best way to ask them to figure out who was what?

"Marigold, you and Heith came from another village, correct?" Adriana asks the other woman while trying to gauge her reaction.

"Yes, we're from a village to the northwest called Windrip. It was a pleasant place, but Heith wasn't someone my family wished for me, and so we left and stumbled our way to Keld. Why do you ask?" Marigold replies, looking wistful before turning to Adriana.

"No reason, just was trying to make sure I recalled things right! But, how bold to decide to leave your family and lives behind." Adriana trails off, contemplating her words while still studying Marigold. "My dear friend, have you resided in Windrip your entire life up to that point? I would rather enjoy hearing some stories of the place as we travel."

Marigold smiles shyly as Adriana beams at her. "Why, yes… My family are rather prominent leaders of the town, so we've been there for generations. There was this one time that I decided to climb to the top of the cliff overlooking the lands! The stars shone so brightly there, and my, everything was very enchanting! And just on the street beneath me, I spot my betrothed at the time, Camron Lincon and his friends hassling a lone figure. The other man seemed to have been simply going about his way when he was stopped, then a fight started amongst them. I was so horrified and disappointed at the time as Camron always seemed so polite and well mannered until then, we even grew up together mind you! I managed to reach them right when they had him restrained and was beating him, the man being nearly unconscious at this point. They reached for his wallet and I found myself shrieking for guards and that there were thieves. I've never seen a group run so fast!" She laughs and shakes her head with a wry smile. "I tended to the man as the guards started coming over, finding the lone fighter kind of cute and a tough one to boot. He had taken out half of the gang without any weapons. My Heith thanked me, the charmer had me speechless! He had just arrived at town you know, immediately accosted by someone thinking they're worth something." She snorts in frustration here before continuing. "The following day Camron claimed he was the one attacked, and that Heith had done it! Well, my family believed him, then admonished me when I told them the truth privately later. That started their dislike of Heith and here we are today." She finishes her tale, sharing a smile after that discussion with Adriana.

"It's such a shame they couldn't realize the importance of honor, but their loss is my gain as you two are my closest friends!" Adriana states, giving the other woman a hug. "I just hope we stay so, even if we're from different worlds." She whispers in her ear, then smiles as she pulls back to see Marigold looking perplexed and studying her. " Are you ok?" She asks with worry as she continues watching her.

"Y-yeah, I am…" Marigold trails off, then shakes her head. "Sorry, I'm a bit unsettled from recounting such a tale I suppose. What about you? Are there any tales you have?" She changes the subject, though she appears a bit on edge.

Adriana grins at her. "Oh, this one time, I climbed one of the grand walnut trees in our backyard! My siblings and I were racing to the top, but Quinton fell and got winded on the way down. Needless to say, our parents were freaked out and in a huge rage! Of course, mother made us all a lovely pecan pie afterwards." Adriana finishes her story, both ladies giggling.

"Pecan pie, I would like to try some someday." Marigold earnestly states.

"Well, I believe that the nut is called a gillan nut locally." Adriana says with ease, trying to gauge if Marigold was in fact a real human or not. As far as she could tell, it was impossible to decipher.