12

Ada found herself alone in the room that Astra had provided for her. It had been a few hours since she had arrived, and her mind was filled with thoughts of her family. She wondered if they believed she was dead, and if her sister's wedding had taken place as planned. These thoughts swirled in her head, causing her great distress. Unable to find solace in her thoughts, she got up from the bed and walked over to the window.

As she approached the window, Ada anticipated feeling a chilly breeze. However, thanks to Astra's powers, she assumed the air outside would be warm and comforting. There was an aura of intrigue and captivation surrounding Astra, and Ada could only catch glimpses of her emerald eyes, which both fascinated and tormented her.

"I can't keep thinking like this. I'll lose my sanity if I don't find a way out of here. How did I end up in this place?" Ada muttered to herself, feeling the weight of her confusion and desperation. She climbed back into bed, doing her best to calm her racing thoughts and find sleep.

A few hours earlier, Ada had left her room and joined Astra near the window. They both gazed out at the scenery, but Ada's mind was consumed by questions. She broke the silence, mustering up the courage to ask for an explanation.

"From our conversation earlier, I gathered that I'm no longer in my own home. I would like to know where I am and what this place is called," Ada spoke calmly, her body betraying no signs of anxiety, though her mind was in turmoil. She needed to remain composed if she wanted to learn more about her whereabouts and how she ended up there.

Astra finally turned her head towards Ada, her eyes scrutinizing every movement and gesture. Then, she locked her gaze with Ada's, seemingly probing her thoughts. Astra found the answer she was seeking—Ada was not from this realm.

"Huffm... these lands are called Nxy, a desolate land of ice," Astra whispered, turning her gaze towards the window. Ada's attention was immediately captured by the name she had heard before. It was familiar to her, always lingering in her mind. However, when Astra mentioned the empire, she realized she had never heard of it. According to Astra, this continent was called Aetheria. Ada's reaction revealed her surprise, but Astra remained motionless.

"You say Aetheria? That's impossible," Ada said, desperately seeking confirmation from Astra that it couldn't be true. Yet, Astra didn't flinch.

"Based on your reaction, my suspicions about you being from another time are true!" Astra stated, her eyes fixed on Ada.

Ada stared back, her curiosity piqued. "What suspicions?"

"You are not from here. There's something about you that screams 'foreign.' If you speak of an empire that doesn't yet exist, it means you come from the future—a bit of a cliché story, isn't it?" Astra chuckled slightly, turning fully towards Ada. "Is it possible that where you come from is the future of my world, if I may phrase it that way?" Ada listened intently, realizing that perhaps the events that had transpired weeks ago weren't mere coincidences.

"You're right. I don't have concrete evidence to prove it, but I've come from a distant place," Ada replied.

"How far away?" Astra inquired, her curiosity growing. She wanted to learn more about the history of this distant land.

"The Bohania Empire existed a century ago. Before its establishment, these lands were known as Aetheria. Today, we are one of the most powerful empires in this land and others. We have an imperial family, magic, technology..." Ada's words hung in the air, capturing Astra's undivided attention. "I was traveling to another city to further my research and work on my book. The last thing I remember was an explosion, and then everything went blank. I woke up in the forest and encountered a group called the Brotherhood of Shadowlings who sought to kill me. I narrowly escaped, and to my astonishment, I discovered this vast land on the other side. The rest, as you know, is history."

Ada's gaze shifted from Astra, her mind filled with memories of her family and the life she had left behind. Astra observed her in silence, trying to decipher the depths of Ada's emotions. Her keen eyes allowed her to perceive the turmoil within Ada, but she chose not to pry. After a moment of contemplation, Astra decided to break the silence.

"What are you going to do?" she asked, a faint smile playing on her lips.

Ada finally looked up, her eyes revealing a mix of determination and vulnerability. "I want to know how I ended up here and how to return home. This is not my world, and I have no family here."

Astra, with a touch of sarcasm, replied, "And how do you plan on accomplishing that?"

Ada gazed at her for a moment, then averted her eyes before slowly turning back, her shy demeanor speaking on her behalf.

Astra chuckled. "And what makes you think I will or can help you?" she asked, raising an eyebrow and regarding Ada with amusement.

"I have a small clue, and you saved me. Just this once, please help me find my way back home," Ada pleaded, pulling herself inward and raising a timid finger.

Astra found Ada's plea amusing and said, "You don't have to beg. Breakfast is ready. If you want to regain your strength, you need to eat. We can't go to the city yet; we have to wait for the solstice." Astra stood up and headed towards the kitchen, inviting Ada to follow.

...

The next morning, as the sun's rays gently caressed her face, Ada slowly woke up. Before heading downstairs to inquire about getting ready, she glanced out the window and witnessed a rather unsettling scene. Astra was standing near her vegetable garden, summoning a creature that appeared to be a rabbit, but with a monstrous twist, passing through portals in the air. Sensing Ada's gaze, Astra turned to face her, locking the creature in one of the portals, a mischievous smile playing on her lips. She then returned inside.

"Are you a mage?" Ada blurted out, unable to contain her curiosity.

Astra paused, looked at her, and continued toward the kitchen. "Why is this the first time you've seen one?"

"No, I come from a family of mages too," Ada replied as she followed Astra into the kitchen. Astra revealed the motionless creature, which seemed to have lost its vitality after its escapade through Astra's portals.

"What kind of mage are you?" Astra inquired.

"I... I don't possess magical abilities. I'm an alchemist; I create weapons," Ada explained.

Astra nodded knowingly. "Ah, I see. Could I see some of your creations? Alchemists aren't highly regarded here. I used to have an alchemist friend, an old soul. Haven't heard from her in a while."

Ada looked at her with a perplexed expression, wondering why alchemists were not accepted in this world. She turned away, lost in her thoughts.

"If you don't plan on showing me your creations, we can go hunting instead. I'm curious, and if you don't mind, of course," Astra suggested.

Ada remained silent for a moment, pondering the offer. Eventually, she agreed that a hunting excursion would be a good idea. She stood up, and Astra showed her where to get ready, each of them filled with curiosity about what this outing would bring.