THE ECCENTRIC

OLGA

The violent gust of wind tore through her cardigan. Standing at the ledge of a 180-foot drop gave her the creeps. If she lands feet first, all the bones will push their way up her body... falling head first must be easier. Nobody will look for her anyway. In a week, she'll be laid out of teaching - cost cutting they say. For a 28-year-old struggling single woman, getting fired is a damaging blow.

Maybe I'll become someone just like what my dreams have been repeating recently. She smiled at the frantic constable trying to wedge his way through the metal path. He was safely secured by harnesses but of course, looking down would be nauseous even for a veteran officer.

You are too young to die miss. Think about your family.

Family? She chuckled. Olga grew up with an elderly couple who died when she was just 7 and was left to tend the old home until she was noticed by a young couple who took pity on her. She was employed to do petty jobs and two years later, agreed to babysit their new baby. They were a good couple. When the mother died, she looked after the baby boy till he grew up, in fact, he is one of her students.

Just relax and I'll be there. The constable calmly persuaded Olga.

In my dream world, I was a princess. I know it sounds ridiculous, but the past months, my dreams repeat over and over. And every night, details have become so vivid I thought it was for real. She murmured and dropped her purse. It is not like her current life is sad. Olga just felt like an outcast, living in a stagnant dimension, repeating patterns of life in a monotonous cycle. Her fascination about fantasy worlds only brought her to more misery, realizing she would not be able to do things on her own, let alone survive and have family.

No miss, don't even think about it! Was the last words she heard before getting carried off by a strange gust of warm current.

--------------------------------

You are a candidate...

A subconscious call forced Olga to wake up. Soaked with sweat from a dream she almost thought to have been real, she slowly sat. No... It was real, and Olga is in a familiar place she once called home, in days of yore. The dried earth beneath her and the darkened vegetation began to teem with life as portions of her skin made contact. Olga's awakened state eventually brought the dead wilderness to life, as if awaiting for her arrival.

But the warm earth from where she laid on began to crumble. Olga stood and ran, barefoot and confused. The musky stench of the revived forest, darkened by tall Sequoia trees hovering several hundreds of meters above ground, began to suffocate her. A loud, raspy howl encased the seemingly shrinking backwoods surrounding her. She sensed a slithering huge creature on the rear, waiting for the right moment to exact its jagged fang into her nape.

Remember. Whispered a soothing, husky voice. She was in the same situation before, facing similar behemoth. Be calm and steer clear from all fear.

From all fear. Olga muttered while staring at a huge protruding forked tongue coming from a colossal serpent. Its eyes locked on hers, she knew the creature was out for a kill. I'm beyond fear. You just brought me here to become this monster's diet. Are you going to save me, or you're going to tell me I am a warrior and I can actually beat this creep?

Its size is just a false front. A man clad in charcoal-shaded eastern warrior garb soon appeared from a cloud of golden mist that enclosed her from a trickle of highly acidic venom dropping overhead. I was expecting you would be in total panic.

I'm in panic. She answered, all hairs standing but elated from the unusual circumstance she was facing. Moments ago, I jumped off a tall structure. The next thing I knew, I'm in this situation. What else could go wrong?

The young man chuckled and stared at the enormous set of fangs trying to break the barrier he set up for partial protection. As someone befitting a queen, you possess strength, speed, stamina, endurance... This crazy giant here is just an insignificant entity compared to your prowess.

My prowess.

Since you have nothing to lose, trust me on this one. Imagine what a superhuman can achieve in this situation. Let your body act on your thoughts. He patted her shoulder in full assurance. Besides, you have an awesome support.

Awesome, eh? Sensing comfort from a stranger, she indeed has nothing to lose dying on that spot. Olga closed her eyes, trying to remember all the things she loved about wars, blades and superpowers. Maybe that's why I'm fascinated with them, she thought. Shaping from her inner thoughts a particular sword she always admired, a shinobigatana - thick, heavy, straight and short blade at only 60 centimeters. Move like a ninja, attack like a swordsman, strike like a gladiator. Sensing a surging burst of warmth from the inside, she found herself leaping above the unsuspecting serpent. With the sword appearing on her palm, a single armor-piercing slash from the crown, down to the protruding fangs severed most of the serpent's head. A momentary shock violently left the rest of the body sidewinding before eventually dropping, pushing juvenile sequoias flat to the ground.

It wasn't before long Olga's muscles began to manifest extreme stress from sudden movements, resulting to immediate muscle tear. The excruciating pain rendered her unconscious, muffled.

x.x

How long was I out?

Probably four hours. Answered the young man, now carrying her while heading towards a steep climbing cave, probably at the edge of the coniferous forest. I was surprised you really manifested your abilities without any kind of training. Your body would naturally break down from the sudden stress.

I feel fine now.

Of course. Your body can heal on its own. That doesn't mean you can exploit your abilities just like that.

I know. Within that four hour journey, Olga caught a glimpse of the young man's past and his future - from a lowly orphan to a future king appointed by the great man whom they call the Wolf King of Fenrir. Nice to meet you Ryoubou. It's an honor to meet the future King of the wolves. Future King of the Wolves, but to a seemingly unassuming vibe of the raven-haired man, she secretly thought he might die first in a war.

Thanks. He smiled, a bit flustered. Seems like you have recovered, would you still indulge yourself carried like this? We still have a long way to go.

Yes. She nodded. Meanwhile, tell me more about these hazy memories pouring into my consciousness. I might forget my own self if the strange memories overtake what remains of me.

Well, sure. Ryoubou breathed deep and entered a cave of elaborate tunnels leading to different portions of the mountain. One of them is a secret passage to their destination. It'll be a long while so don't fall asleep.

She is a descendant of the great Wolf King. Although they have existed 30,000 years before any recorded human civilization, the culture of the wolves lived on despite the evolving world. They survived recorded and unrecorded wars including the two infamous modern wars that involved machines.

What? So your fantasy kingdom is existing until today?

Yes, basically. In this same world but in a location obscured from machines. While the descendants have lived in and out of the empire, once the emperor is about to perish, the youngest descendants shall compete for the throne should there be no male heir. Your generation was left with young women to compete. He explained, deciding not to mention the male heirs were killed soon as the current wolf king showed signs of decline. Only six youngest females survived and she is one of them.

And?

It's complicated. Ryoubou chuckled and put her down. And like all empires of the world, we have enemies constantly rampaging and aiming to destroy our blessed lands.

A human figure appeared before the two. Eyes greatly furrowed and angst drawn clearly on his face. You wretched generation, you shall not fulfill the prophecy. Perish here and now.

A hammer? Is this guy Thor? Olga stood and stared in awe the muscular man wielding the mighty Mjolnir, subtly emitting sharp sparks she could identify as lightning shards.

So you know your history. Ryoubou stood on her defense, understanding that the deity is more powerful than her. The Thor of the legends was always shown a handsome huge man of honor and courage. He was every man and woman would desire.

History? Are we the enemies? A man from Asgard trying to eliminate us means we did something wrong. Olga asked, quite confused. We are, right?

You could say that. The great wolf Fenrir was destined to destroy Odin after all. And since its soul is sealed in your father's being, any son would dispose the threat, hence this gallant warrior is here to destroy the prophecy. He whistled to a musical tone and before Thor's hammer fall dead on them, two wolves deflected with their electrically charged barriers.

How dare you scum. Thor retracted his weapon, releasing the tension of two charges as that of two similar poles. Once owned by Odin, the mighty wolves' loyalty now lies with Ryoubou. Fight me head on Ryoubou. Show me a man you are.

He sneered and patted his guardian beasts, Geri and Freki. Calm down, hero. Like I would look pathetic in front of this lady. Raising his fist the size of Thor's two fingers, the hero of Asgard laughed in insane anger.

Certain entrances of the labyrinth oldways began to crumble as Thor gather bolts of power on its weapon's face. What came next was a thundering surge from inside out incinerating all life within the battle's radius.

Olga wasn't sure what happened, however the one left standing was Ryoubou. He grinned and immediately picked her up and left, warning the next attack would be critical for their safety. The wolves follow in haste, still tense and keen. Everything went blurry as she see visions of the place where her ancestors once lived.

I can't believe this. These creatures are actually real. I thought...

They're just a product of mythology? Ryoubou jumped down a seemingly endless ravine. Well, I know you understand obvious secrets. It's just a matter of time before our lands shall be rediscovered by humans. Until then, we will continue holding on to the skepticism of the geniuses.

I'm just a regular office girl you know. Half of what you said sounds too implausible.

But you actually experienced it. No human feat can rival your existence once awakened.

I see. Said she as she calmly drifted back to sleep. The surrounding steep drop and labored breathing didn't bother her.

She and Ryoubou shared abode for a year.

x.x

What? She opened her eyes and stared at the boy she babysat for many years. He ate all the presents supposed to be hers and slept watching Major League Baseball. Olga stretched her left arm, still feeling the injury incurred from her training... From a different world... That place was real, and where she is now is also real - in a private hospital ward.

That was lame. Einar Kazuya sat and stared at her. You were terrified of heights. Olga looked down, trying to remember why she decided to commit suicide. The class only knew you had an accident. But man, you could'a died a virgin.

She threw her pillow to him and leaned on her back, unable remember. Olga just knew she tried to jump off a bridge and was somehow brought to another place. Don't sneer while scolding me. Why are you here anyway, don't you have classes?

It's Sunday. You've been in coma for a week. So he decided to eat Olga's gifts while looking after her. Most of her nights were critical for some reason; every time her heart would stop beating or her brain stops functioning. Having no family to look after, Einar volunteered despite his schedule. And I deserve these treats.

One week. But her body felt so refined and half-a-year's worth of training already manifested in her muscles and bones. She was in a different place for a year but was on a coma for a week in a world she grew up in. Thank you for taking care of me.

Well, you actually know how to appreciate. He chuckled. But while you were in a coma state, it's quite amazing you look healthier. Anyway... What's with that look?

Can't be... She held her mouth and looked down. The prophecy of her return was long told that she will meet her first mate. That first person she laid eyes on is the one fated to join her quest to find the the descendants of the Duergats - the human manifestation of the future Wolf King's seal and protection.

Once you meet that person, you may begin your journey. I pray for your safety and protection, Olga.

#end first#