Were you chosen?

I can't tell how long I remained in the cell all alone. I must have stayed there for more than a day or whatever. But there was no way I can know the time. The place was as dark as it was when I was brought here.

There was no change at all.

I sat at the far end of the cell as I tried to relax. However, the cold floors and hard walls made it difficult for me to languish.

"Is this the part where my soul will be taken back to my body because I'm also dying?" I glanced around the place, half expecting to see the blinding light that brought me to this place.

However, nothing showed.

Everything was as it was. And there was no sign that a deity heard my question.

Gosh.

How did I end up in this place?

My life back on my planet was going too well.

And who knows, I would have been dating—The rattling of the chains caused me to look up.

"Stay in there." One of the detectives, in this strange place, threw a man into the cell before he locked the door.

"I would rather not be chosen! Let me go!" The man rose from the floor and started hitting on the bars. "No one knew me until now. Why will I go on a quest just because it was a decree?

Let me go!" The man continued to knock his fists on the bar. But no one paid him any heed.

"You will stay in there!" The detective said before he left the place.

However, it didn't deter the man from shouting to be let out.

"They won't listen your cries even if you strike the bars until the world collapses." I frown at the man.

"Huh?" He turned at the sound of my voice. "Were you also chosen?" He crawled over to where I was.

"Chosen?" I scoffed, "I was arrested. Why do you think I was selected?"

"You weren't chosen? Aren't you lucky?" The man sat in front of me, with his legs in a frog pose.

"Lucky? Tell me about the choosing thing."

I need to see if it was better than being taken to the mountains where I will be devoured before my legs step into the place.

"The crown princess from the kingdom of Rista was taken by the witches." He glanced around the place as if he were afraid a witch might be leaning on the walls, watching him.

"Taken by witches?" I frown when I recalled the scene that happened before the police captured me.

"Yes. The village intended to raid the mountain of Dew, and when the witches heard it, they attacked."

"And it was to capture the Crown princess? Why didn't they seize the king or the queen?" I place both hands on my head, and leaned on it, with my legs stretched out, and crossed.

"The crown princess is supposed to get married to the crown prince!" The man spoke as if I were supposed to know that titbit of information.

"So, why were you selected?"

"To save the princess! All the able men in the kingdom are being taken against their will, to go and save the princess!"

"Ah, I see. So, you are afraid to go to the mountains of the witches?" I arched a brow at him.

"Who isn't? Everyone is afraid of going to the mountains. Don't tell me you are not afraid?"

"It's better than being taken to the other mountains. Although, I'm not going to both.

What concerns the royal family, doesn't concern me."

It's not as if I'm from the royal family. I came from a different world where we have presidents and not Kings.

There's nothing like the Royal family in my world.

"Exactly my point!" The man sounded happy. "No one wants to die for a royal family that never cared for them until the princess was Taken."

"And how much are they giving?" I suddenly asked.

In all the fantasy movies I've watched, there's always a pay for those who embark on the journey.

Although the pay is high, in the end, no one gets it.

It's more like a motivational thing.

"That's it. They are trying to make us go there with the amount of money they are planning to give to any who successfully gets the princess back."

"How much?"

"Two pieces of land, and thirty-five pallies."

"Shit! That's more than enough money. Why is no one eager to go there?"

"The dangers. It's better you live poor, and die at your old age than to die at a young age, all for getting the money."

"But the money is worth the risk."

"Worth the risk?" He hastily knelt in front of me, "please my kind sir, will you be willing to go there in my stead? Should you get the money, you can take it all. I don't want it. What I want is my life, and nothing else"

"Who said I'm intending to go there?" I uncross my legs.

Unlike the man who only has a problem which is to evade going to the mountains at all costs, I want nothing but to return to my planet.

That's what I want, and nothing more.

"Your words Said it."

His words caused me to laugh, "you have your issues, while I have mine. Don't assume what you don't know." I started whistling as I closed my eyes.

"Why are you this carefree when you are in the cell? Don't you—"

"What gain did your shout bring?"

"At least, it made them know my displeasure."

"And when they knew, what happened?" I peeked an eye open, to look at him.

"Nothing," he shrugged.

"Then, join me here, sir. You don't have to think of tomorrow, it will think of itself. All you need to do is relax and think of your next plan of action."