CHAPTER TWO

I didn't want to wake up, but what can you do when you have a voice in your head that refused to shut up. I was having a very special dream, and I mean it was special. I saw myself dressed in the finest clothes, shoes, anything, you just name it and I was being tended to from both side. I was just about to eat the delicious chicken served on my plate when that mechanical voice spoilt everything.

"Alert Alexander, it's time to wake up," the mechanical voice sounded in my head, it kept on repeating this word until I finally rose up.

In my previous world, we had alarm clock to wake us up in the morning. I did break a lot of them though; but what can you do when you finish your work late in the night, and it is at that moment when your sleep is getting sweet that one man-made annoying thing will ring out. It was that annoying thing that woke me up on that fateful morning that the incident happened; I was on my way to the lab to grab some equipment I will be using on the site. I told my colleagues not to wait for me that I will meet them there, I had promised my younger sister to help her get in touch with the event planner and that was what I did. Don't judge me, I might be the eldest but marriage is not just my thing. And moreover, I am a guy.

And this annoying thing might be the improved version of the clock, the only problem is, I am stuck with it.

"Take a chill pill, my name is Nickolas not Alexander, don't you know how to do your work" I said in my head to the mechanical voice.

"For being rude and for sleeping beyond the time limit of the hours needed for your body growth, you no longer have the right to your current level, you have to start from the lowest level," the mechanical voice said.

"What're you saying?" I asked, I didn't even know that I was in any level.

"Information needed for the next level is being withdrawn; right now, the resident of the body will be a page boy for the nobles," the mechanical voice concluded.

"What? You can't be serious," I said, not believing the words. I have never served anybody and I mean nobody.

"I refuse, I won't be a slave," I said stubbornly.

"Resident lack of manners and inability to comply with instructions punishment is: changing the attitude of the people in the resident kingdom. Resident now tagged a reject until his behavior change," the mechanical voice said and stopped talking.

I couldn't wail, howl or hit something, what have I done to deserve this? Who did I offend in my previous life? Was it because I didn't treat the alarm clock right? Are they living things? Why were their spirits following me? I lamented.

"Nicholas," a male voice called from outside the tent.

"Yes," I answered as I step out of the tent to meet the person. The person turned out to be Arthur, he was holding two towels. Guess it was time for a bathe. I collected the towel he passed to me.

"Follow me," he commanded as he turned around and left. I followed him, he maneuver his way as if he was used to it. I saw a flower blooming and it was amazing, I wasn't really a fan of flowers but I couldn't help being drawn to it. I wanted to pluck it when I heard a warning voice.

"Don't touch it," Arthur said to me as he takes hold of my outstretched hand.

"Why," I asked curiously, I had never seen such and I wanted to keep it with me.

"That is an enchantress flower, male can't touch it," Arthur said. "Come on, let's be on our way, we have to be done on time before the food is done," Arthur said as he left.

Enchantress flower, why? I wanted to ask not understanding why a flower will be given such a name. But, the word "food" has a special way it works to make me forget myself. Following Arthur down the path, I bounce on my heel. Eager to have a quick bathe so that I won't miss the breakfast, I just couldn't wait to eat, since I couldn't eat the chicken in my dream.

"Do you still remember the path we took before we got here?" he asked as we finally arrived at the river bank.

"Yes, I do," I replied back.

"Good, go and find a spot to take your bathe, when you are done return to the camp," he said as he turned towards the right to find a spot for himself, leaving me alone on the river bank.

Moving to a hidden and quiet place near the river, my hand touched an object while taking off my fur clothes. It was strange as I didn't notice that I had something around my neck since I have been reincarnated into this world. It was weird though, because for the very first time in my life, I had something hanging around my neck.

I took it off, it has a half oval shape, carved out of the oval was a dip in the middle. There was a protruding key from the left side of the oval shape. Hanging down from a string, turning the supposed owner pendant to check the back, it was smooth and transparent, it looked like it was blue sometimes it changes color. It was arranged the same way a crystal will be arranged. I was curious to know if it was an artifact but I knew if I wanted to find out who the owner of the body I inhabit was, I have to keep it safe and sound and that too -- without a scratch. Putting it back on, I step into the river.

After bathing, I dry myself with the towel and went back to the place where Arthur parted from me. I didn't wait there for long as I traced my step back. Seeing the flower in the same position that it was before, I just couldn't control myself. I finally did what I wanted to do. I continue on my way to the camp after that.

Everywhere was chaotic; the guards were running around, trying to complete a task. Someone bought the horses over. They were fine steeds. Although, I am not a fan of horse, I didn't go near them.

I hope I am not late for breakfast, I thought as I was looking around for the lady. Seeing the lady, I went to meet her; she was always at the corner. This time around she was serving the food to those that came over. Not wanting to miss out, I queue behind a guard. I was next as the guard left after collecting his share of the food.

"Good morning, my lady," I greeted her.

"Good morning and was your night?" she asked.

"It was one of the best nights I ever had," I replied truthfully.

The lady chuckled not surprised by my confession. Serving my food, she passed it to me.

"Thank you for accommodating and feeding me," I thanked her as I collected the food from her.

"Oh, it's nothing, you don't have to thank me and you are already talking like a grown up man, seems like spending some time with Arthur this morning already has an impact on your manner of speech," the lady smiled as she said.

"Now, go and eat your food, it is best to savor it while it is still hot," she said as she attended to the next person.

I went over to where Jasmine was as she had her food and was already eating, while feeding some to the parrot.

"What's up?" I asked as I reached her side.

Looking towards the sky, she looked back at me. "I can't find what is up from the sky," she said.

"Nothing seems strange," she concluded.

I face palm myself, how could I have forgotten that the people here were not advance at all, oh man, they were probably living a life of boredom, I concluded. Trying to find a way out of my predicament, how was I supposed to explain to her, what if she asked me where I heard such a word from?

"Oh, Jasmine, didn't you notice that it is getting bright?" I found a way to cover up my previous word.

"Oh, that, that is because it is morning and we are leaving the forest and the tree canopies are getting scanty. Haven't you travelled through a forest before?" She asked.

"Yes, he hasn't, he is a strange boy, he doesn't even know how to ask a girl out," the parrot said.

"No, no," I said, shaking my head disapprovingly at the bird. Is this bird really a parrot? Parrot only say what they are asked to say. Where did Jasmine get this bird from?

"If you don't want to be a sore loser, don't bicker with me," the parrot said flying towards me and landing on my shoulder, gripping me hard with its talon.

"Ouch," I cry out in pain, I was sure this parrot is a female, I resolved in my mind.

"You see, Jasmine, he is never able to stand up for what he wants, he's already crying out in pain with just that small force I applied on him using my claws," the parrot said to Jasmine.

"Come here now, don't be a troublesome bird," Jasmine admonished the bird. Slapping my face with its wings as it fly back to Jasmine shoulder.

"He is just so weak," the parrot said.

Arghhh, I just couldn't argue with the bird; that would make me senseless, I mean I am a grown up man that has my own self-respect, how can I stoop so low to argue with a parrot that just spatter random words around, I lecture myself, this is what I call silent suffering.

"Jasmine, are you not done with your food," the lady voice rings out from the corner as she asked Jasmine.

"Coming mother," Jasmine answered back.

"I'm sorry about Iris, she was never a fan of people disturbing her personal-private moment with me in the morning," Jasmine apologized and explained the reason behind the parrot behavior.

"It's nothing, I've got to eat the food before it become stone cold," I pointed out.

"Oh, sorry," she said as she went to meet her mother.

Sitting on the log of wood, I ate my food, I couldn't finish it by taking a gulp because it was more than the one I gulp down yesterday; she was really considerate, really adding more to the congee. I have to thank her once I am done eating, I reminded myself.

Standing up from the log of wood as soon as I was done with my food, I went to meet the lady, this time around; she was plaiting Jasmine hair. Thanking her, I turn around to leave. Viewing the camp activities, I could see that many of the tents were already being taken down and some were in the process of being folded and packed. Going to one of the guards, he seem to have some problem with folding the tent, he was the guard standing at my front while queuing for food some moment ago. I went to assist him.

Folding it the way I used to do it in my previous life especially, during one of my wild hunt adventure, I finished it in no time. The guard thanked me and introduced himself as Carlos, as he left to put the folded tent in the storage wagon.

I haven't seen Arthur after we parted ways at the river bank. Someone arrived by my side, thinking it might be Arthur, I look up. But I was disappointed, because it turns out to be the lady and the annoying bird, Iris, was with her.

"I saw you earlier, where did you learn how to fold a tent so fast?" the lady asked as she pets the bird.

What to say, I thought in my head.

"Milady, we are done packing," Arthur interrupted out of nowhere.

Thank heaven; I heaved a sigh of relief inward, did he just arrive back to the camp? I asked in my mind.

"Okay, we should get going, the earlier we leave, the faster we will be able to get back to our kingdom," the lady said as she left me.

"Come," she said as she went to the carriage. I was about to follow her when I was stopped by Arthur.

"She wasn't referring to you," Arthur pointed out as I saw Jasmine running to the lady.

"Oh!" I exclaim, thank God Arthur saved my face.

"You will be sitting with me today, I need to know where you pop out from, so that I can send you back home," Arthur said as he moves to a wagon.

Please do, there were some questions I really wanted to ask him; like what is the name of the kingdom we were coming from or the name of the one we were going to, the do's and don'ts, the reason why the flower has such a name and lot more. I climb up after Arthur, being so eager to find out some information.