Maurgriann

A gentle hush cloaked the land and the gravel-grey skies were bare. Frozen waters, snow is falling. Winter fireflies glow in the distance.

I awoke to the sound of dreadful winds screeching. Trees outside are covered in layers upon layers of ice. If the God of winter exists, this frozen wasteland is his hideaway.

I stared into the crackling fire. It spats and ignites relentlessly that there's not even a tinge of surceasing. Its lucent light stole away the shadows dancing on the wall. Bright flames licked hungrily at the chimney as they clambered higher and higher.

The fire grew and expanded. The only shelter where I refuge is burning. It is the sole abode in this remote area but now, it's disintegrating into ashes.

When a burning piece of wood fell off and hit me— everything darkened. The crackling fires can no longer be heard, the snowy terrain has just disappeared, and darkness ruled over this seemingly boundless void where I find myself adrift.

It is the same darkness whenever you close your eyes. It felt cold, agonising—the pain of living. But somehow, that feeling seemed nonexistent. They're just there, drifting into the abyss.

Then, a drip echoed.

So I quickly roamed my gaze in search of it but found nothing. But something else caught my eye.

Winter fireflies flickered in the distance. There are thirteen of them, to be exact. Each one drifting aimlessly, pulsing their tiny lights in the darkness.

Then, the space around me wobbled like the surface of a disturbed bubble. It lasted no more than a few seconds, but as soon as it settled, a woman with an ethereal... yet somewhat an unsettling presence emerged.

She has a slender physique. Her curves are just godlike. Who is she?

"Who are you?" My voice echoed into the emptiness.

The fireflies circled her wrist, intensifying their glow as they fused together, forming a delicate, colorful bracelet. She raised her gaze to meet mine.

"Do not follow the same path I have walked," she said in a monotonous voice, but it's crystal clear that she's trying to give me a warning. "Or you will suffer the same pain as me." I knew it.

She lifted her hand into the air, then pointed directly at me.

"Me? Why?" I asked, confused.

The space wobbled again, distorting like a shifting mirage. As quickly as she had appeared, she began to vanish. But just before she was gone completely, her voice rang out one last time.

"You stand before the First One," the voice echoed, steady and absolute. "And you, Arbiter of Primal Chaos... a descendant of mine. Whatever has led to your awakening in these turbulent lands, you are free to wander. Your path will cross with that of many others and shall be marked by warfare, death, and destruction. But in the end, lies the truth. You will never find it if you refuse to believe it."

And just like that, she was gone.

I stood there, frozen and dumbfounded, clearly unable to find the words to make sense of what had just happened. My thoughts were tangled, and my mind is struggling to process the cryptic warning. Nothing's changed around me the sooner it all went back to silence. It's like I'm trapped in a cell. All dark, no sound, just breaths. Heavy breaths.

Hopelessly, I drifted through the darkness, unsure of where I was or how I had even gotten here.

There's just... none.

But just when I was about to lose all hope of ever getting out of this place, there was a sound.

A sound of a glass shattering.

I turned to look in the direction where it was coming from, and found a thin fracture in the blackness of space. It allowed light from the outside to pass through which brightened a small portion of the area, making it appear as though the space is but a small room with no source of light.

I decided to work myself closer to it out of interest to see what it was. And as I approached, the crack deepened. It expanded in all directions as though the entirety of this void is merely made out of pure glass. And piece by piece, it crumbled around me.

Light flooded in, chasing away the void. The cold emptiness vanished, replaced by warmth.

I found myself no longer drifting in the dark. It was all gone.

Instead, I stood on solid ground. Looking at the vast, green valley stretching out before me, rolling hills swaying gently beneath a golden sun. It made the surface of a nearby lake shimmer beneath its light. The air smelled fresh, crisp, and alive.

And there, standing beside the lake, was a tall woman clothed in red. She stood motionless, silhouette striking against the bright, open sky.

She looked like a goddess. Burning red.

Like an ember at the end of a fire.

Alice...

"Aeriah, wake up! It's already noon!"

Quilya's loud voice jolted me awake, making me sit up abruptly. Blinking groggily, I rubbed my eyes and stretched, stifling a yawn.

"What the hell, Quilya! I was sleeping so well!" I snapped, still drowsy.

"Sleeping well, my ass. Here, take this," she said, tossing a cloth at me. "Wipe that dried drool off your face."

Ugh. Just when I was having such a good sleep, she had to ruin it. I was even dreaming about—wait, what was it again? Damn it, I already forgot. All because of this noisy woman.

She was back to her usual self, and strangely enough, I found myself relieved by it.

"Make sure you wash that before you give it back," she added with a smirk.

Never mind. I take it back. I am not amused. Not funny. Not even a little.

"What are you staring at?"

I mumbled under my breath as I ran my fingers through my mess of hair. "What's her problem this early in the morning?"

And how exactly am I supposed to wash this thing? Magic? I don't have any. Maybe I should just throw it away.

Quilya shot me a glare before turning on her heel and walking away. She moved toward the window, pushing it open before gazing outside.

I suddenly felt an elbow nudge my side. Turning, I found Marreanne leaning against the wall beside me, an apple in hand. She took a bite before holding it out to me. "Want some?"

"No thanks," I replied.

She shrugged. "Your loss."

Now that I think about it, she's been eating apples a lot lately. Is that her favorite or something?

"Anyway," she continued, her voice carrying a hint of mischief. "What are your plans for today?"

Plans? We still had a few more hours before reaching Maurgriann. Judging by the glint in her eyes, she sure as heck already scheming something for when we arrive. As for me, I have nothing in particular.

"Nope. None. Nuh-uh," I told her.

Marreanne suddenly leaned in closer, her lips near my ear.

"Quilya's birthday is today," she whispered.

Oh, crap. I completely forgot.

I fell asleep early last night, exhausted from staying up the previous night without rest. I hadn't even caught a wink of sleep in the morning since we had spent our time exploring Lashevierr, not to mention the incident that followed. Even now, despite just waking up, I still felt drowsy.

A new day. Another day of weariness.

I wanted to rest a little longer, but then I remembered... Urghh, today is Quilya's birthday. Great timing. Anyway, in just a few more hours, we should arrive at Maurgriann. Hopefully, nothing would delay us.

"What about you, Reanne? Do you have any plans?" I asked in a low voice.

She beamed and quickly gestured for me to keep quiet.

I see where this is going.

A surprise, huh? When kaya?

I wish I knew when my birthday was. I wanted to celebrate my own special day, just like they did. I wanted to know what it felt like to be surprised. But I had already used up all my wishes on things I knew wouldn't come true.

Now, all I can say is... sana all.

Marreanne must have noticed something in my expression because she reached out and gave my shoulder a gentle tap. "It's okay," she said softly.

"What?"

She gave me a warm and comforting smile, the kind of smile that will make you forget about your worries, even just for a moment.

"Nothing," she playfully said.

"Huh... O-Okay."

What's with her?

Shaking my head, I turned to the window beside me and pushed it open. A fresh breeze drifted in, crisp and cool despite the sun shining high in the sky. It felt refreshing.

I gazed out at the river running alongside the road. The water is so pristine and clear that I could see straight to the bottom, where small stones rested beneath the gentle current. I had never seen a river this pure before. On the opposite side of the road, where Quilya was looking, tall trees stretched endlessly into the distance, leaves swaying gently with the wind.

Tilting my head back, I watched birds soaring freely across the sky, flapping their wings against the direction of the breeze as if playing a game with it.

The carriage suddenly slowed, and I realized why.

People filled the road ahead, moving at a steady pace. The closer we got to Maurgriann, the more travelers we encountered.

Voices rose around us as merchants chatted, farmers led their livestock, and the sounds of hooves and wooden carts clattering against the dirt road filled the air. Some carried baskets brimming with vegetables and fruits, balancing them carefully as they walked.

And this isn't even the capital yet.

If it is already this lively here, I can only imagine what it would be like inside Maurgriann itself.

What kind of place is Maurgriann?

According to what Quilya mentioned yesterday, it is a kingdom. That means it has to be vast, much larger than Lashevierr or Karirana—probably more crowded too, even if you combine both places mentioned. Well, they're just small towns, so... It's just a stupid comparison.

I wonder what I'll do once I get there. Will I learn anything about who I really am?

Maybe I shouldn't dwell on that for now. I need to give myself a break from everything that's happened. I'm already here, after all. I might as well enjoy the scenery.

A fresh start, Aeriah. Just breathe this air while it's still fresh.

As we traveled further, houses began appearing along the roadside, growing denser the closer we got. More merchants lined the streets, their goods neatly arranged on thick cloths spread over the ground to keep them from getting dirty.

The road itself is paved with bricks and surprisingly wide, which kept the market stalls safe from being trampled by passing wheels.

Some merchants opted for a safer approach, loading their wares into wagons instead.

"What town is this, Reanne?" I asked, curious about our surroundings.

"This is Hübsch," she replied quickly. "It's the farthest town under Maurgriann's domain."

I see. So technically, we have already entered Maurgriann. But this isn't the capital yet.

"How much longer do you think before we arrive?" I asked again.

"Probably less than an hour," she answered calmly.

After such a long journey, we were finally nearing our destination. This is what travel felt like when you're not using cars. It took miles upon miles just to get here. Not to mention the hours, plus all that hassle.

Despite all the mental stress, I genuinely have never felt this relieved before.

Not to mention everything bizarre that had happened along the way.

Even now, I still find it hard to believe that all of this is real. As in, real. The realest among all reals. The fact that I am in another world. That magic actually exists.

I was forcing myself to absorb it all, but it's just difficult to wrap my head around.

Do I have magic too, like them?

That's another question I am curious about.

But I quickly brushed the thought away.

Nope. Not in hell. That's too good to be true.

I came here to learn about my existence, not to chase after fantasies. Thinking about magic is beyond me. It's not something I need to worry about. Me? Wielding magic? I can't even begin to imagine it. The thought alone was ridiculous.

I shook my head, brushing it off. How silly.

"Riah," Marreanne called. "You haven't eaten anything yet. Here, have this," she said, lightly worried.

She handed me a plate of sliced watermelon and a peeled apple. On the side, she had arranged a handful of berries and a couple of plump, sweet cherry tomatoes.

"I also made pineapple juice if you want something to drink," she added, barely containing her excitement.

Gosh.

This girl and her love for fruits. No doubt about it.

Since there's nothing else for me to do during the long ride except watch the scenery pass by, I decided to eat what she had prepared. The refreshing taste of the fruits was a welcome relief, especially at this hour. I got so lost in enjoying them that I didn't even realized that we stopped.

When I finally looked up, a towering fortress came into view. Guards were stationed at the entrance, standing tall and alert. Just as expected, the place was teeming with people, all bustling in and out of the massive gate.

Two heavily armored guards stood on either side, clad in bronze-plated armor from head to toe. Their weapons hung at their waists, ready for use at any time.

Beyond the gate, towering structures stretched into the horizon, and their designs were unlike anything I had ever seen. The architecture looked otherworldly, intricate yet grand, as if lifted straight out of history.

It felt as if I had stepped into the medieval era.

Everything here is simply breathtaking. Nothing like the world I had known before. Here, nature intertwined with civilization in a way that made even the simplest things beautiful.

Unlike the Chinese setting of Lashevierr, oh... this theme.

"This is Schönheit, the closest city to the capital," Marreanne informed me, pointing toward the towering castle atop the mountain, surrounded by countless homes nestled at its base. "And that," she gestured grandly, "is Prächtig, the capital."

As it turns out, Maurgriann is a mountaintop kingdom. Protected by the fortress walls, the settlements were built around the base, all the houses, shops, and a lot more. While the castle itself sat at the very peak.

I couldn't help but marvel at everything. My eyes wandered, taking in the endless rows of merchants lining the streets. Compared to what I had seen in Karirana and Lashevierr, this place was on a whole different level. Everywhere I looked, merchants and traders moved about, shouting their prices and advertising their goods.

People walked through the streets, some accompanied by pets, others conversing animatedly. There were inns and dining establishments specifically for travelers, I just knew just looking at the banners waving proudly in the wind.

The streets were so packed that our carriage could barely squeeze through the crowd. I lost count of how many people had already bumped into it. That is how busy this place is.

Then, suddenly, a massive shadow loomed over us.

I heard the unmistakable sound of an engine humming in the sky. Curious, I leaned out to take a look.

What I saw left me speechless.

A colossal ship was floating above the city, drifting through the air as if it belonged there.

I thought things like this only existed in myths. I had read about tales of flying ships in ancient legends, but never once did I think I would witness one with my own eyes.

Am I the only one impressed?

"Mom, can I go down?" Marreanne suddenly asked.

"Of course, sweetie," Miss Kreziana replied with a smile. "But take Aeriah with you and show her around. We'll be waiting in the castle. Be back before sundown."

She agreed way too quickly. Did she not consider the possibility that we could get lost in this crowd?

And wait...

Did she just say castle?

Is she referring to that castle? The one perched atop the mountain?

"Okay, got it!" Marreanne beamed. She turned to me eagerly. "Riah, let's go!"

"Wait a second," I hesitated, glancing toward Quilya, who was still seated in the carriage, gazing outside with no particular interest.

Ah, she and her mood swings. That's just so like her.

"Shouldn't we invite Quilya too?"

But even before she answered, I already knew what the response would be.

"She won't come, I guess," I murmured, slightly disappointed.

Marreanne sighed but quickly perked up again. "Come on, this timing couldn't be more perfect!" she whispered.

"For what?"

Her face lit up as if she had just thought of something brilliant.

"A surprise for Quilya, of course! We'll look around, find something nice—this is our only chance," she said, her voice hushed so only I could hear.

I thought about it for a moment. Well, if that's all she planned, then I had no reason to object.

"All right," I agreed. "Let's go."