The Ethereal Kingdom

A loud sound of explosions was heard from the outside. The food on the table was flying all over the place. The hall was shaking and the floor start to cracking.

Screaming could be heard everywhere. A pair of hand grabbed Aya's hand from a black pit hole that appeared on the air. All of a sudden, Aya felt she was sucked into the black pit.

She heard Carmen screaming out her name, Zaden trying to hold her around her waist but his hand now slowly losing strength. Aya could only give in and praying that everything will be less hurt whatever this thing is.

When Aya opens her eyes, she saw a rusty fireplace. The cracking sound of the burning firewood somehow makes Aya feel calm as she was finally home.

"You awake?"

The voice was cheerful and warm, like someone who always there waiting beside her all along. Aya hold the warm blanket tight to her body. This is cozy. Unwilling to look at the man who now stepping closer to her, Aya close her eyes.

"I know you can hear me"

The man sits on the bed. His eyes look at the lady. She was born with a fate. Cruel destiny, she has to fight for her life.

As time passed, Aya still felt the man staring at her in silent. After it was so long, she slowly opened her eyes. The pair of deep blue eyes, and dark burgundy hair was staring at her.

"Prince Aiden?"

He look shocked, but its like he was expecting this. He knew she will recognize him, because the bloodline that flowing in her body.

"Its me. I am a bit different from a moment ago. Yet you still know its me."

Aya still laying, let out a soft sigh. She curious but at the same times she actually didn't care. What should she do? She asking herself while looking at him. Why did he changes his appearances.

"Would you be nice and listen to a long.. Long story?"

Prince Aiden standing beside the fireplace. Playing his long slim finger and the sound of burning firewood make the room getting weirder. Aya nodded blankly.

"Do you ever wonder where have all your emotion go?"

Ayanna look at him. She wonder.

"I dont know. But i don't have my memories with me"

She staring at the fire, and something appear on her mind. Zaden must be looking for me.

"Can you let my friend at the hall know that I am fine? It's fine if you want to detained me here. They must be crazy looking for me right now"

Prince Aiden smile and take out a small piece of paper from his sleeve than writing something. The paper was burn in his hand.

"Done. The noted will appear in front of them. Come on, follow me I show you around"

Aya follow Aiden step, the room starting to change, it becomes a very long hallway.

He pushed a big door that have an emblem on it. It carved with the symbol of the royal crest.

"Welcome to the Ethereal Kingdom Princess Ayanna"

The door has brings her and the prince Aiden to a city. The city is no different than any city she know except, things slightly different.

There have building that look like a normal building but, the people around is not like human at all. There are human mixed in the crowd but this is like being in a cosplay event.

Prince Aiden walking peacefully, but it seems no one have seen them. They have different look. Some wear a long black leather coat and their skin were green. Few ladies was walking, giggling watching a man with a broad shoulder but has a tail like a lizard tail but it was bigger.

Some were wearing armor like they were going to war in medieval time with spear and swords in their hands.

When she looks at the ladies, they have tails too, their skin was dazzling when it hit the sunlight and she realize they have scales on their skin.

Something flew above them and when she look up, a child sitting on the broom delivering letter to every windows to each floor. The building has four level but has no ground floor. There were lots of floating building.

Aya was lost in her thought when she then realize Aiden was buying something strange in her eyes. In any human eyes it will be strange but it seems normal to everybody here. Aiden buying a flower with a big mouth on it. The flower was inside a glass bottle, floating and living.

"Don't tell me you gonna give me that as a souvenir"

Aya forgot about who he is. Being casual with royalty was not something will be assume as friendly. Aya look at the shop, the seller was an old lady with half her face covered with burn mark. She look like a decent human to Aya until she saw she have four arms that moving around organizing her shop.

Aya dazed but she didn't scared. She wonders if she is normal while she has no problem accepting all this weird thing. But she wishes she can be friends with that lady so she can make her to scare Carmen sometimes.

"You are not thinking anything weird, aren't you?"

Aiden look Aya frown and she then nodded to herself. She rather amazed with things around her than asking anything. She just calm and trying to adapt things without any assumption. Is this woman real?

"You are not afraid?"

"If the day can be night, the light can be dark, and sun can be moon. Why things like this was be impossible?"

Aya answer with honesty but it is too simple. Aiden look at her, thinking on if the next thing would be scare her.

"Alright, enough sightseeing. Let's go the darkest part."

"But I havent seen anything yet"