This Time It Was a Shock What Nearly Made Me Dead

However, a kind soul suddenly handed me a blanket. Of course, I didn't know who to thank, even though the same person must have taken the gift before dawn, but thanks to this, I at least managed to doze off. I suspected that the help I received might become a problem later, so I was grateful for at least this small measure of kindness shown to me in this unfriendly world. I wondered when they would finally let me go. Surely the princess couldn't be so busy and disinterested in me if she was so eager to meet someone like me. Besides, I wanted to straighten up and move a bit before my muscles forgot what they were for.

Finally, my captors gracefully appeared, in better spirits and clearly after breakfast, as they praised the quality of the meat. Then it occurred to me that I hadn't even considered what dragon-people might eat. Perhaps I'd be presented to the princess as a rare delicacy, but wouldn't that be considered cannibalism? I was supposed to win her heart with my personality, not my taste. Besides, I wonder how I would…? Stop, stop, stop. Without thinking in that direction, I asked myself. It's better to assume these creatures were civilized in some way. They had some kind of government system, a structured society, and buildings—not pretty ones, but buildings nonetheless.

At least they didn't drag me out of that cage but allowed me to walk out on my own. They didn't consider me a threat, so they didn't even bother to hold me down or anything like that; they simply showed me the way in.

I wasn't a builder, but this race didn't necessarily have architectural skills, and they clearly didn't mind that the building housing their royal family looked as if it were about to collapse. And I was more afraid of being killed by the rubble than by their hands, whatever they wanted to do to me, as long as they didn't torture me. I also expected some intricacies in the corridors and interiors, but instead we quickly found ourselves in the throne room. At least, that's what I gathered from the size of the room, which contained nothing but a dais, on which sat a rather crude—well, a throne, I guess. Apparently, they weren't particularly concerned with the quality and appearance of the interior furnishings.

I was led to the center and told to wait behind the princess. I glanced around, wondering where she would appear, who I would actually meet, and how different she was from the male members of her race. They had to be different somehow, right?

I couldn't tell, because a flesh-and-blood woman entered the room through a side door. I had to give her credit for the fact that she was incredibly beautiful, with features as fantastic as this world. No hair dye could achieve such a forest green, and her irises were a similar shade, gazing at me with a friendly manner. My legs gave out when she smiled at me, not from delight at this fact, but from relief that my plan might have a chance of success. Her hair was adorned with a simple, slightly tapering silver tiara set with five precious stones: blue, green, yellow, black, and white. The princess's slender figure was framed tightly by a light, long dress with a plunging neckline. Her feet were bare. She made an incredible impression, and it didn't seem unreal to me that she held power here.

I didn't suspect anything was wrong. I wanted to speak, to start a conversation, but I couldn't because my heart sank. She was somehow pretending to be human and, before my eyes, took on her true form; she, too, was one of them. Even in this form, she had lost none of the aura she had exuded before. Now I was terrified and convinced I could do nothing.

"It was worth the effort to see this," she announced with superiority. "Although I'll need a long bath. Taking human form disgusts me," she said with aversion in her voice, but she clearly wanted to make it clear to me what she meant about me and those like me.

We stared at each other for a long moment, deciding on the next words to say that would best position us for a start. The princess seemed interested in me, but she didn't hide the contempt and disgust I inspired in her. She looked like a female version of the dragon people, except her face had softer features and seemed generally more slender. The dress still fit her perfectly, though it contrasted more strongly with the green of her scales, which, incidentally, was the same shade as her hair and eyes in fully human form. She must have grown bored of the silence, because she spoke first.

"I must admit, you didn't disappoint me, human. I wanted to experience that moment when hope dies within you. That's what it was like when you saw that I wasn't like you after all, wasn't it?" Her voice was laced with excitement.

I nodded because that was what she expected, and I had nothing intelligent to say, or rather I was afraid that every word might be considered inappropriate. She looked around for my kidnappers and motioned them to come closer.

"You said he was crazy. I thought they were more talkative and fun," she muttered, disappointed.

"When the need arises, we'll extract all the information we need from him, if he's not willing to share it himself," the shorter one suggested. "By force."

He directed this information directly at me, probably trying to tell me that I had to fulfill the princess's every whim, or I'd be in trouble. No problem, if only I knew what they really expected of me!

"Human, why did you intentionally smash your head against the wall?"

"I wanted to wake up," I croaked after swallowing hard.

"You weren't sleeping, were you?"

"I thought I was."

The kidnappers looked at me pointedly, a hint of "we told you so" lurking behind their words. The princess, however, waved it off and leaned towards me.

"Why did you think that?" She continued her interrogation.

"Because it's not my world?" Everyone's surprised looks silently told me to continue my explanation. "I was convinced that this world, your world," I clarified. "It's just my dream, and I thought some sudden shock would help me wake up from it."

"So where is your world? You mean beyond the wall?

I didn't quite understand what she meant. Sure, I remembered that stone structure, but I wasn't sure if I was thinking correctly, so I preferred to keep my mouth shut and stick to telling the truth. Maybe then they would really think I was crazy? It would just be good to know how I would fare if they think so.

"No, I don't know where exactly. I think I died in my world, and then I ended up here. And I think you know the rest of the story, my lady," I remarked, not wanting to recount my foolish exploits aloud.

"So you know nothing about this world?"

"Absolutely nothing," I confirmed.

"And you don't know how you ended up here?"

"I have no idea."

The princess considered my words for a moment. I watched her analyze them, mutter to herself, and with her eyes, like a chess player, plan her next move. She began to scratch nervously and tap her claw on the back of the chair.

"Bring me my brother," she ordered, then turned back to me. "I have a feeling he might have something to do with this. You're probably curious about it too, human."