Day Fourteen: Princess

「???: Where am I?」 I thought as I looked around.

The space I'm currently in is pitched black and I could not see anything, no ends no beginning, and nothing moving either, the complete opposite of the previous area.

I stood still on the spot and didn't dare to take a step, the dark space of nothingness terrified me, I feel like I'd fall the moment I took a step and the thought itself scared me to my bones.

My legs begun to go numb as time passed, I don't know how long I was standing and I don't know what will happen if I remove my feet to where they currently are, all I know is that I shouldn't move.

Time passed as I stood still, nothing appeared and nothing happened. I closed my eyes, I couldn't look anywhere as I felt gazes focus on me as I stare at the darkness.

「???: 'If you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you' isn't that right, Friedrich Nietzsche...」I thought as I shut my eyes tightly, I could feel the countless eyes, as they tried to peer into my very existence.

I couldn't feel my legs anymore as it became completely numb, no matter how hard I shut my eyes, I couldn't wake up.「???: this isn't a dream nor reality...」I thought as I put my hands to both of my trembling legs.

「???: I couldn't hold it anymore... my legs will collapse soon...」I thought as I endured the numbness.

And as if it heard my plea, a voice echoed out to the dark space of nothingness, making me shot open my eyes.

「???: Brother...?」It was a gentle and nostalgic voice, yet I couldn't identify who it was.

「???: ...This voice... seems strangely familiar... wh-who are you?」I asked as I looked around fanatically.

「???: Brother! it's me...! you know, it's me! your little sister! Mia!」 the voice called out to me as she called me 'Brother' before introducing herself.

「???: Mi...a?」I answered. The name was very familiar yet unknown to me, it gave the feeling of unease.

「Mia: Yes brother, it's me...」the voice trailed off her words as she continued

「Mia: Brother... thank goodness I was able to see you again... haa...」the voice sigh a relief, sadness, regret, joy, and satisfaction, I could feel the numerous emotions from her tone.

「???: ...」

「Mia: hehe, It looks like you really can't remember who I am...」the voice spoke, I could perceive the emotion of sadness from her.

Then she continued 「Mia: Aah... I expected this to happen, but... I didn't expect it to hurt this much...!」

「???: ...」

All I could do was listen to the voice, I couldn't open my mouth as the reason why? I have no idea, it feels like someone is preventing me from answering, it made my feeling of unease grow.

Anxiety slowly filled me as I tried my hardest to remember, and little by little as it continued I could feel something inside of me, it was opening its wings as if to prepare for its flight.

「Mia: Aaah! damn it! *sniff* why...? why? why?! whywhywhywhywhywhyWHY?!! why does this have to happen...」 the voice howled angrily, and even without seeing the person behind the voice, I could tell that she's crying just from her voice.

Without even realizing it myself, my gaze focuses on the darkness in front of me, and I could feel someone's gaze from that darkness.

「Mia: hey, big brother...」the voice spoke with a low voice as her words trailed off.

「???: ...」Silently, I stare at the darkness that's looking straight at me.

「Mia: ...why weren't you allowed to remember me? Did I do something bad for this to happen? Was I not a good daughter? A good sister? Hey, big brother... Why do you not speak? Do you despise me for leaving? Do you... not want to see me again?」The voice questioned.

「???: I would talk if I could...」I thought, as I peer deeply into the abyss, my mouth wouldn't part no matter what I do, and the head that I was able to freely move earlier was now stiff, the same goes for my whole body as I tried to move it, but no matter what, it wouldn't budge at all.

「Mia: I'm out of time...」the voice sullenly spoke.

「Mia: I hope you take good care of mom, dad, and yourself as well... I promise I'll come back as soon as possible... So please! Big brother Alex... don't forget me... okay?」the voice spoke declared, I could vividly feel the pain and sadness from the voice.

As the voice fades away into the darkness, the 'something' inside of that was preparing itself, finally took flight.

And at that moment, memories flooded into my head, memories pertaining a girl, from being a baby to a child that could play around, to a kid wearing a kindergarten uniform, to a young girl wearing an elementary uniform, to a young lady wearing middle school uniform and to a beautiful girl wearing a junior high uniform.

The memories keep flowing into me and before I knew it, I could speak again.

「Alex: ...Mia」I muttered.

「Alex: Mia...」I called out.

「Alex: Mia... Mia...! Mia! Miaaaa!!」I howled as I repeatedly called her name, but no matter how deafening my voice gets, no reply came back.

「Alex: Mia...」I called out as I reached into the darkness and as I took a step forward, my numb legs gave in, I fell down and as if to prove my judgment earlier, the darkness covered my body and swallowed me whole.

------

Huufft, Zaaahh! ha, ha, ha, haa... haa... haa...

After the darkness swallowed me, my eyes shot open and what I saw was an unknown ceiling.

As I laid down I looked to my left and right, well designed furniture could be seen from either side.

「Alex: Haa...」I sighed as I put one hand to my forehead.

「Alex: was it... a dream...? No, that's not an ordinary dream or a nightmare either... that dream... was it a lucid dream?」I thought as I tried to remember what happened in the dark space of nothingness.

The existence of the Dark space was unknown to me, all I could do to know anything about it is ask somebody knowledgeable about it, that said.

「Alex: Why... did I heard Mia's voice there?」I questioned as I stared at the ceiling.

「Alex: Why and how did I forget her...? No. That's not the question I should ask, Why did she say to take good care of our parents... that she'd come back... that I should not forget her...!」 Different questions pop-up inside my head but no matter how important they are, I shook it all off, as the biggest question pass through my mind.

I immediately shot up as I realized what Mia meant, my hands trembled and my body shivered, as I spoke.

「Alex: Don't... tell me...! She was also summoned somewhere?!-」I yelled, but immediately realized that I'm not alone as I covered my mouth.

Though I yelled loud enough for anyone to hear it, nobody came bursting inside my room nor knock to check the situation, they could be either lax in protection or weren't worried because it came from the room of one of the heroes, either one is fine.

��Alex: That said, I don't have any proof that she was also summoned, it may just be someone playing with me or some nasty dream...」I thought as I shrugged my shoulders.

「Alex: But... If Mia was also summoned, would she be in this world or somewhere else entirely?」I immediately shook my head as a horrifying thought pass through my mind, then I stood up and out of the room.

「Alex: I need to cool my head for now...」I thought as I looked around the hallway.

I look to my left and right as soon as I got out of the room, and saw no one, not even a shadow, I began to walk to the opposite side of where we came from and noticed that the hallway was brightly lit up, as there are numerous lamps at the walls and large chandeliers hanging at the high ceiling.

Night or Day could not be perceived inside this enclosed hallway as there are no windows, and as I was walking in the hallway I heard a familiar voice.

『???: Hey --- well --- come on!--- 』

The voice came from the sole room In my vicinity, the voice was muffled by the enclosed space inside the room, but I was still able to identify that it came from a girl, as it was still somewhat audible.

「Alex: This is going to etched into my consciousness...」I thought as I silently went near the room, I looked around the area to confirm that no one was there before pressing my ears to the door.

『???: I did what I could okay?! Sheesh... don't you know how hard it was to keep acting like that?!』the voice growled as was talking to someone.

「Alex: This voice... I've heard it before... but I couldn't quite point my finger to who it was from...!」I thought as I focus myself on the voice behind the door, then a new voice emerges, it was a voice of a man.

『???: Well, you've certainly outdone yourself, princess, I was certainly stunned when you began acting all gentle and sincere, it gave me goosebumps you know?』

「Alex: Princess...? Ah! that voice, it was from the second princess, Miss Eleonora!」I exclaimed internally as I continue listening to their conversation.

『Eleonora: Goosebumps my feet! you're the one who told me to act like that! It's tiring you know! Always smiling, doing favors... Aargh! I'm not Vanessa you know! I couldn't do those honest and sincere things forever! It's out of my character!』

Eleonora screamed, but the man just shrugged her words off as he spoke.

『???: Well, you're going to do it from now on, it's training for you, princess』

「Alex: ...」

I was speechless, the words that princess Eleonora and the man spoke up, stunned me dumbfounded, nevertheless, I continued listening.

『Eleonora: Anyway, Mr. soldier』The princess spoke, Her previous agitated voice was now gone and seriousness could be felt from her voice.

『???: hmmm...? What is it, princess? you're making a pretty serious face right now, you know』the man answered.

『Eleonora: ...you're mocking me...aren't you?』The princess spoke, her voice was low and her tone was so cold, that I who was outside held my breathe, it was an overwhelming pressure.

「Alex: Is this princess Eleonora's real personality?」I thought as I hold my chest tightly.

『???: Hey now princess, you know I wouldn't even dare-』

As the man tried a rebuttal the princess cut him off.

『Eleonora: Mou... just shut up already... you liar...』the serious tone from her voice disappeared as she cut the words of the man, the change of her tone surprised me on another level.

「Alex: ...? Wait what?!」 To my surprise, I unconsciously yelled out, and as if to notice me, the talking from inside disappeared.

And after a few seconds, I heard approaching footsteps from inside the room. Startled by the steps, I immediately move out of the door and break into a run, my destination was the room I was given.

「Alex: That was dangerous...!」I thought as I ran through the hallway.