Brand New

MORNING CAME and I am still in bed with my eyes wide open. My mind is in a daze as I recall last night's events play in my head.

Although my mind tells me that it must be a dream, my reflection says otherwise.

I was lying perfectly still, my hair sprawled across the pillow as I stare at the mirror plastered at the ceiling.

I noticed that I have leaves sticking out of my hair, probably from when I chased the real Eris to the balcony, as well as the harsh crinkles on my dress indicating that I have moved around too much.

"I really must've met the real Eris."

I was still in shock, but I couldn't help it.

It still felt like I was dreaming and all I can think about was how did I ever met the real Eris, but then again, that unnamed god did made that happen.

Speaking of which, I passed after that and woke up already in bed, tucked in.

That unnamed god must've placed me there after the whole ordeal last night.

I sighed, sitting myself up and leaning my back on the headboard. I looked around the room and saw the same pieces of furniture but now, the memory of Eris replaying in my head.

'Thank you, Hana.'

'I was the one who was supposed to thank you, Eris…'

I shut my eyes as I took in a deep breath, the conscience in my heart bubbling up as I remember how she looked at me while saying those words.

It somehow made my heart heavy.

I stood up from the bed and walked towards the balcony door.

It was tightly closed as if it was never opened last night, the latch is still locked at its place.

'I do not regret leaving this world and my life.'

I clench my fist and stared at the bright sky, the glass on the balcony door giving me a clear view.

"She didn't regret anything." I whispered as I stare at the sky.

After suddenly meeting the real Eris, she left multiple questions in my head that needed to be answered.

All about her decision to leave.

I was curious too. I want to know everything that she had done and what made her decide to give up her life as youngest mistress of the Holstead, what she realized, and how she is still alive.

'How her soul is still alive.'

All these events are giving me a real headache.

I thought this was just some romance fantasy!

Since when did it become a mystery-thriller?!

"That unnamed god…"

Wait, that god disappeared again!

Just when I thought I would get answers to my questions, it multiplied when Eris appeared!

I was going to ask that god what would happen to the novel now.

Eris didn't die so there was no guilt that Ekrisilia and Elishia supposedly bear until adulthood.

Will that affect the plot of the novel?

Speaking of the novel…

'This may be the part where I, the extra, live. She supposed to be dead by now, but what will happen if I lived?'

This is also where the main characters are still the same age as me but at the same time, following the novel's plot.

'If that is their purpose, what about mine?'

Where do I stand as the extra?

Also, I'm still confused about is how this went down, like what is that unnamed god's connection to this world and how did they even grant Eris' wish.

'Are they playing a bigger role than I thought?'

"My Lady, are you up?"

I remove my gaze from the sky and looked at the door. It opened as Avril peeked in as our eyes met, she looks surprised that I was up this early.

"Yes." I answered with a smile.

She walked in, her eyes held suspicion towards me as she got closer.

"If I may ask, My Lady," she started, her eyes looking at my entire being before settling on my eyes.

"Did something happened?"

My smile vanished as I tilted my head, confused as to why she asked such a thing.

"Why?"

She paused for a moment as if she is hesitating whether to tell or show it. Moments later, she walked towards the drawer and pulled out a mirror before giving it to me.

I confusingly accepted it and brought it to my face.

The moment that I did, I was greeted by something unexpected.

"What the…" HELL.

My heart drops as my hands begin to shake, bringing the mirror closer as I blinked rapidly. The way my eyelashes fluttered and my eyes followed every movement of mine in the mirror make it seem that it wasn't an illusion.

Holy. Novel. Shit.

"My eyes!"

My eyes have now changed into a more vibrant green, not the dark murky green that I have yesterday, this one glimmers even when the light doesn't hit it, yellow-ish specs of color under them as I saw how it swirl around my eyes as of dancing in delight.

'This wasn't my eyes yesterday! What happened?!'

"I shall call the countess immediately." Avril spoke, bringing me out of my thoughts.

I nodded at her, allowing her to do so, as she sped off the room quickly.

I, on the other hand, am still looking at myself in the mirror and watched as I both feel anxious and somewhat impressed.

What the hell happened after I blacked out? Did the god do something to me that made my eyes like this?

Wait, what if they did?

"No way." I muttered, shaking that thought off.

The god can't intervene with humans as it said before. It cannot change the flow of fate that was destined for humans nor can it give another path.

However, how can that god change Eris's fate?

'There is more to this than I was let on.'

"Eris!"

I was brought out of my thoughts once again when I heard Mother's anxious voice called out to me as the door burst open.

I looked at her and she hurriedly dropped to the ground and hugged me, I saw that Father followed behind her as the doctor came in with such speed.

"What happened?! Did you feel some pain?!" Mother asks as she held both of my arms and stared at my face.

My eyes traveled to her and I shook my head slowly.

"No, I am fine but…"

Mother looked closely at me and she suddenly gasped as she noticed my eyes.

"E-Eris, your…eyes…" She slowly muttered, her eyes wide.

I nodded at her and smiled, "Yes, that's why Avril called for you."

Father looks confused as to why Mother suddenly stiffened and knelt in front of me beside Mother.

"What is it?"

He turned his head towards me and our eyes instantly met. He froze as his eyes shake a little bit, blood draining from his face as he pales.

"E-Eris…"

The doctor was confused as well, and I am beginning to think that this has turned into something more serious than I thought.

"Count? Countess?" He calls for them as his eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

Both Mother and Father snapped out of their shock and turned to the doctor immediately.

"Check her, quick!"

The doctor, panicked by both Mother and Father's voice ordering him urgently, quickly did as he was told and gently grabbed my wrist to check my heart rate.

He then placed a finger on my palm as he closed his eyes.

I could somehow feel his mana looking into my body as he hit something which causes me to flinch, but at the same time, I was shocked.

'How could I feel his mana on mine?!'

I didn't feel it the first time he checked up on me!

The doctor hurriedly opened his eyes as he looks astonished. He retracts his hand on mine and turned to Mother and Father with a familiar glint in his eyes.

"Count! The young mistress's mana has settled in her soul!"

'…Settled?'

What does he mean by that?!

"Does that mean that…" Father slowly spoke, seemingly knowing what that means.

The doctor nodded and Mother immediately gasped, her eyes are soon filled with tears as it slowly drips down while a sob escaped her lips.

'Uhhh, hello? What is happening?'

Is it good news or bad? I can't tell with all these cryptic conversations!

"Our daughter has finally accepted her mana." Father spoke as he hugged Mother.

Mother nodded, laughing a little, before wiping off the tears in her eyes.

"Yes… She will no longer be sick." She said as if her heart has been lifted with such worry.

Even though she just cried, she is still beautiful.

'Wait, that's not the point right now! What are they even saying at this point?!'

No longer be sick? My mana settle on my soul? Huh?

"But Count…"

Father looked at the doctor as he intervenes in the joyous celebration of the two. He glanced at me, his eyes still glinting in that familiar emotion, as he turned to Father.

"This child held a vast amount of mana in her body, and there is something else inside."

"What do you mean?" Father demanded.

The doctor, although intimidated, bowed his head and respectfully spoke to him.

"I cannot further inquire but I do suggest you take her to the temple of Light to see more."

Both of them were silent after the doctor suggested this but there is something in the air that made me nervous.

'Does this mean the mana in my body is resonating with my soul?'

Did something really changed when I met Eris last night?!

"Is it serious?" Mother asks.

The doctor nodded but didn't say anything after that, still keeping his head down.

Mother and Father looked at each other before their eyes turned towards me who was confused as ever, looking back at them with round eyes.

I don't know why but Eris's voice echoed in my head at that moment.

'I was finally free.'

Slowly, my eyes slightly widened as those words rang inside my head like a warning.

I can't help but laugh a little at what Eris said last night. I was almost at lost as to why she would say such a thing but now that I know…

'How conniving of you, Eris.'

Somehow, upon realizing this, I can't hate her nor do I have the guts. I am still a little irritated that she had hidden this from me, or maybe she didn't know it herself.

Either way, she gave me her identity.

I am not Hana anymore but rather, I have become the youngest mistress of the Holstead House, Eristheria Holstead.

The extra character.

"I will take your suggestion in mind."

The doctor nodded at Father's words and excused himself. Avril senses that there is something Father wanted to talk so she excused herself, leaving the three of us in the room.

Father then turned to me and knelt in front of me, his face leveled to mine.

"Eris, what is your decision?"

Huh? You are passing it to me?

'Do I look like I'm someone who can make good decisions?'

Mother sat beside Father and smiled at me, "No need to be anxious, my child. We are just asking for your opinion."

'Is that a good thing though…?'

"Whatever you decided, we will do it. We won't force you."

I kept their words in mind as I put my hand on my chest and clench the nightdress, the cloth crumbling in my hand as an overflowing sensation filled my being.

It was something I have never felt ever since I came here. Almost as if something has been unlocked from the depths of this body.

'Eris…'

I don't know what I'm saying right now, but I know damn well, that this will be a pain in my butt so...

"No thanks."