The Royal Summons

Naria woke up the next morning feeling weak. As she slowly opened her eyes, she felt a throbbing pain in her head and her vision was somehow blurry. She tried to sit up, but her body felt heavy and sore, as if she had been beaten up.

As she looked down at her body, she noticed that she was covered in bruises, small and big ones, all over her tiny frame. She winced in pain as she tried to move, her limbs feeling stiff and achy.

To make matters worse, her hair was tangled together in knots. Strands of hair stuck out in all directions, and it was clear that she had not brushed it since yesterday. She tried to run her fingers through her hair, but it was painful to do so with the knots pulling at her scalp.

Naria's heart raced and her hands trembled as she looked around the room, feeling vulnerable and alone.

She didn't know what had happened to her or how she had ended up with bruises all over her body.

Naria knew that she needed to figure out what had happened to her and how to get back to her normal self.

With great effort, Naria managed to push herself up from the bed, her small body feeling weak. She took a few unsteady steps towards the mirror, stumbling along the way, with her blond hair sticking to her body in tangled clumps. Finally, she reached the mirror and stood there, staring at her reflection she raised her eyebrow, "what happened to me?"

Naria took a deep breath and turned around the room, taking in all the details.

The old old orange walls, which had seen better days. The paint was chipped in places, and there were scuff marks from years of use. Naria was making mental notes to repaint the walls one day, when she had the money.

Next, she looked at the wooden bed, which was sturdy but looked like it had been around for a while. The mattress was lumpy, and the sheets were worn and faded. Naria couldn't help but wonder how many working nights it will cost her to replace it?

The nightstand next to the bed was almost breaking under the weight of the old, grey candle and a few books.

Then she looked up, Naria noticed the high and ugly ceiling. It was clear that the room needed some renovation work, and the ceiling was a good place to start, "if only I had more gold to do so…"

Across from the bed were small cupboards where Naria's few outfits layed. They were old and worn, and Naria knew that she needed to buy some new clothes soon, "I need to hide these before Veronica and Kirsta sees it,"

As Naria turned around, her gaze fell upon a huge window that had a nice view to the city and the sea. The view was breathtaking…

The old city stood proud and strong, its towering walls made of sand-colored stone. It was a kingdom that had seen centuries of history, its streets and buildings filled with stories of kings and queens, battles and triumphs.

From the city, one could see the sea with ships upon it. The water shimmered in the sunlight, and the waves crashed against the shore. The ships were a mix of old and new, some with tattered sails and others with shiny, new hulls.

The air was filled with the scent of saltwater and the sound of seagulls crying overhead. The beach was coated in sand of the same color as the city's walls, a light brown that glittered in the sunlight.

Despite its age, the city still held a sense of wonder and magic. It was a place where dreams were made and legends were born. As the sun began to set, casting long shadows across the sand, the city glowed with a warm, golden light, a testament to its enduring spirit.

Naria felt a sense of calm wash over her every time she looked through the window that was huge enough for her to escape in case of an accident.

Finally, Naria's gaze fell back upon the mirror she was standing in front of. It was old and had a few cracks, but it was still functional. Naria took a long look at herself in the mirror, taking in her reflection. She knew that she had a lot of work to do to make this room feel like home, home she never had…

*knock*

Naria was lost in thought, examining the old wooden bed in her room when she heard a sudden knock on the door. The sound made her jump, and her heart began to race. She hesitated for a moment before slowly walking over to the door and opening it.

To her immense relief, it was her friend Tani standing on the other side. Tani was a trusted friend, and Naria had known her for years. But when Tani handed her a black letter with a royal seal on it, Naria's sense of unease returned.

"What is this?" Naria asked, her voice shaking slightly.

"It's a letter from the King," Tani replied, her expression serious. "He's requesting your presence at the palace."

Naria's heart sank. She had never been to the palace before, and the idea of meeting the King made her nervous. But she knew that she couldn't refuse the invitation.

"Thank you, Tani," Naria said, taking the letter from her friend's outstretched hand.

With that, Tani nodded and turned to leave. Naria watched her go, feeling a sense of trepidation growing within her. She knew that whatever awaited her at the palace was sure to be a challenge, "could this have anything to do with the mysterious man from yesterday?" She slightly bit her lip, while she looked down at the cold letter she held with her shaking hand.