Chapter 2

A P H I A

I quietly returned to the castle, and I am now sitting comfortably in a European style room. It is a white room with brick in every corner, and the floor is well tiled. I can see the garden from here through the glass windows.

Erskine offered me a cup of tea, and I gladly accepted it. Erskine is wearing black trousers and boots. He's also wearing a royal blue long sleeve covered by a white frock coat. He looks young too, probably the same age as mine.

Erskine has a combination of green-hazel eyes and light brown hair. He's one hell of a pretty mage! He looks like one of the monarchies in this kingdom.

Wait, did I just accept that I am actually in a kingdom?

"What should we call you?" Erskine asked.

"I'm Aphia Gray."

"It's my pleasure to meet you, Lady Aphia." O.M.G. Lady Aphia?! "You are in the Kingdom of Arcovia." The Kingdom of Arcovia? I've never heard of it even in our world history during high school.

"It's a kingdom that does not exist in your world." He said that made me look at him questionably. What? Is that even possible?!

"Why is that?" I asked as I tried not to freak out. It is beyond doubt that I am not dreaming, but how come I am in a world that does not exist?

"Believe it or not, there are other worlds than yours. We know that you came from the other world, so we are not surprised to see how you dress." How did I dress? I look at myself to check if I'm still presentable.

I am wearing a navy blue high waist pencil cut skirt, a white sleeveless top covered with a navy blue coat partnered with flat shoes. I'm still wearing my eyeglasses and my hair arranged in a messy bun. I like how I dress. I don't see anything weird about it unless they compare it to theirs. They are stranger than I am.

"Prince Kalmin De Arcovia." He said that caught my attention back to him. So, they named their kingdom after their surname? "He's the crown prince of this kingdom and the one who welcome you earlier."

Welcome?! What kind of welcome was that!? I can still feel my blood boiling whenever I think of him. Gosh. I don't want to see him anymore!

I suddenly remember how that frog prince scrutinizes me from head to toe as if I'm the ugliest human on earth! I know I look stressed and tired, but he has no right to judge me based on my physical appearance! Hmp!

"Please forgive him for being rude towards you." He said as he bowed his head.

"Please stop doing that." I said that made him look at me in confusion. "Stop bowing your head on me. I am uncomfortable watching you do that."

"You will get used to it." He said as he chuckled. Gosh. It's not funny. "The Kingdom of Arcovia is once again facing a threat."

"Once again?"

He nods. "The resurrection of monsters and evils around our kingdom happens every 100 years. It is also the time that we need to ask for the help of the priestess."

"Priestess?"

"The priestess has the power to defeat the monsters and devils lurking in our kingdom. We have troops of knights, but their magic and battle skills are not enough to kill all of them." Power?! Magic?! I can't still believe they undeniably exist in this world. "We need the priestess's magic."

"So, we have decided to summon the priestess from the other world, and it's you, Lady Aphia." He announced while smiling from ear to ear.

"Me?! Are you crazy?! I'm just a normal human from the other world! I don't have powers or magic! I can't even clean my room, for Pete's sake!" I rant. Wait… what is my room has to do with it?

"I am aware of it, Lady Aphia. That's why we are here to train and to guide you until your hidden powers awaken."

"What do you mean?"

"Our summoning spell never failed to summon the right person. It's 100% accurate, and I can tell that you're the priestess because of the omnipotent powers inside you."

"I don't know what you are talking about. I don't feel anything inside me."

"I'm the great mage of this kingdom, and I can feel how powerful you are, Lady Aphia." Gosh. I can't still believe that I am talking to a mage! That kind of person did not even exist in my world.

I sigh. "Will I be able to go back to my world? I have a life there too."

"It's one of the things that I cannot answer yet." What the hell? They summoned me without knowing if they could send me back?! I pulled my hair in frustration.

How about my parents?! My only friend?! My work!? What about my love life?! How about my future?! What will happen to me now?! What if those monsters kill me first before I can use the power he's talking about?!

"Are you alright, Lady Aphia?"

I shake my head. "No, I'm not. I don't know what I will do in this situation. My neurons are having a hard time processing every detail you mentioned. I'm worried about my life back to my world, and I don't know if I will be able to help your kingdom." I did not hold back from saying what was in my mind. They should know how I felt about all of these.

"I understand, Lady Aphia. We won't rush you to accept everything just yet. We are aware that we must have shocked you. Please take your time, and if you have questions, please feel free to approach me." He stood up, so I looked up to see him. "Your attendant will take you to your room. Please have a rest while you're pondering all about it." He said, and he bowed again.

A knock on the wooden double doors caught our attention. A middle-aged woman peeked inside as she smiled the moment she saw me. "Lady Aphia, let me take you to your room." She said, and I nodded reluctantly. I looked at Erskine, and he just bowed again while smiling.

I followed the attendant, and I was surprised to see her wearing a maid's uniform. She's wearing a black dress with white trim and a full skirt at knee length. It is covered with white half-apron with ruffle and a lace bonnet partnered with stockings.

Wow. I can't believe I can still see someone wearing something like this. It amazes and shocks me at the same time.

After taking a few stairs and a few turns, we finally reached our destination. She opens a white door with a gold knob. "Please come in, Lady Aphia. It will be your room from now on." She said as she bowed.

My eyes roamed around the room, and my mouth gaped open as I was mesmerized to see the appearance of the room. "Are you sure this is my room?" I asked, and she chuckled at my reaction.

The whole room is white with a gold accent on every corner. It has chandelier and torch sconce hanging on the walls. The bed is big enough for one person. It has a table and couches. The bathroom has a tub and hot shower.

"It's beautiful," I exclaimed while checking the paintings hanging on the wall. It is a painting of different places. "Thank you," I said, and she smiled at me.

"Please take a look at your wardrobe. Let me know if these dresses and gowns are to your liking or not. I can request for a few sets more." Dresses and gowns?! What the heck? Am I going to attend a ball gown?

"We have also prepared coats in different lengths and colors. You also have booths and shoes of different kinds." She explained, and I almost fainted at what's in front of me.

These are gorgeous! I have never got a chance to buy these kinds of clothes and shoes! These are too much! Am I dreaming?! I like all of these except for the gown. I think those gowns will suffocate me. I prefer wearing pants, denim jeans, and skirts.

"I will take my leave now, Lady Aphia." She said, and she bowed again before leaving.

I check all the dresses and luckily there is an available nightdress. I indulge myself in the hot shower before slipping into the nightdress that I picked.

I lay on the bed and sighed in frustration as realization started hitting me.

I'm not dreaming, am I?

I pinched my cheek, and it hurt, so I am not dreaming.

Erskine's words about the kingdom and the priestess's responsibility suddenly give me pressure. It feels like I have to do it, or else they are going to kill me. I started to feel the weight of the responsibility given to me, but why me?!

The current world population is 7.9 billion as of December 2021, according to the most recent United Nations estimates elaborated by Worldometer. There are 7.9 billion people to choose from, so why it has to be me? Gosh. My head hurts all of a sudden.

I should probably sleep for now and will think about it again tomorrow. Perhaps tomorrow, when I wake up, I'm already back in the world where I came from… or not.