Chapter Two

Upon entering a vast, desolate chamber with minimal light filtering through the windows, my gaze swept across the room, landing on a large, grotesque creature seated upon a throne. It rested its face against its cheek, its crown askew to the left. Flanking this imposing figure were several guards, identical in appearance, standing vigilantly.

The atmosphere was both chilling and unsettling, instilling a profound sense of dread within me. Silence enveloped the space, amplifying my anxiety. I was uncertain of the intentions of these creatures, yet I fervently hoped that my fate would not be sealed with death. The absence of my family and friends weighed heavily on my heart, and I longed for their presence, fearing that I might never see them again if I were to meet my end here.

As I was unceremoniously thrown to the ground by a guard, who uttered something incomprehensible while pointing at me, I let out a cry of pain as my knees struck the cold tile. The chill radiated from my palm, and the fear of death caused me to sweat and tremble, struggling to swallow my own saliva. I cast my eyes sideways, clinging to the hope that they would spare my life, though my confidence in that hope was waning.

The lord straightened in his seat, grasping his staff and looking down at me. When he spoke in a foreign tongue, I could not bring myself to meet his gaze. I wished desperately to comprehend his words as he continued to address me. As he approached, I gradually raised my head, only to be met with his piercing red eyes fixed upon my face. His shadow loomed over me as he lifted his staff high, still speaking. In a moment of panic, as he swung the staff in my direction, I instinctively lowered my head and cried out, “Please, don’t hurt me!”

Confounded, the lord refrained from striking me with his staff. He exhaled heavily and turned to one of his guards, shouting in an unfamiliar tongue. After the guard exited the throne room, the lord directed his gaze back at me, remaining silent as he continued to observe me intently.

Eventually, I braced myself for an impending blow, prompting me to open my eyes wider. I gradually raised my head once more, only to find him still staring down at me, rhythmically tapping his staff against his palm.

I straightened my posture and maintained my focus on him, resting my hands on my knees, perplexed by the situation. Was that bracelet the reason for my presence here? How long would I be trapped in this place?

When the guard returned to the throne, both the lord and I turned our attention to him. This time, a reptilian creature clad in a black cloak and wearing blue goggles approached, wielding a staff topped with a red gem. The lord began conversing with the creature in the same foreign language, gesturing between the monster and myself several times.

Though I could not comprehend the lord's words, it seemed evident that he required the creature's assistance to translate. As I glanced up at the monster again, I raised an eyebrow, curious about how he understood my language. Had he ventured into my world? If not, how could he facilitate the translation?

As the creature nodded to its master, it turned its gaze toward me and pointed its staff in my direction. When the gem emitted a red glow, I swallowed hard, hoping that he had not unleashed a dreadful spell upon me. Here we go…

Bathed in the red light, I felt a sense of relief upon realizing that I had not sustained any injuries. As I opened my eyes, I noticed that the light had vanished, and I turned my gaze upward to confront the creature before me. It paced back and forth, communicating in a language I did not understand.

I was at a loss regarding his words until another voice resonated in my mind, stating, “The king informed me that you attempted to flee. Is that accurate?”

Perplexed, I scanned my surroundings, questioning whether the voice belonged to him, raising an eyebrow in confusion. The creature observed my reaction and addressed me once more. Moments later, the voice echoed in my mind again, “To clarify, yes, that voice was indeed mine, and I was speaking to you. Now, respond to my inquiry immediately, or prepare for punishment, girl.”

“Understood… I comprehend,” I stammered, a slight tremor in my voice as I swallowed hard. My anxious gaze darted between the monster and the small assembly of onlookers. Sensing their growing impatience, I felt compelled to provide an answer without delay. “I was not attempting to escape.”

“Is that so?” The monster ended its motion, disarray apparent on its visage when it turned to confront me specifically. “If that’s the case, what were you doing in that room? What caused that commotion?”

“I did nothing. I merely sat there, restrained by the chains.”

“Do not hoodwink me!” the beast hollowed while it progressed towards me, swinging its staff menacingly.

I instinctively lowered my head and squeezed my eyes shut, enduring the pain. Despite my insistence that I was not lying, he remained unconvinced, relentlessly repeating his question.

I yearned to escape this dire predicament and return home. The more he struck me, the more unbearable the pain became. It was imperative that I find another way to respond. Who could predict the consequences if the assault persisted?

"It was the bracelet that made the noise and lit up the whole room!" I at last shouted, my eyes still firmly shut. The creature ceased its assault at last and directed its attention to the back of my head.

"Oh, is that so? Which arm is it on? The left or the right?"

"The left."

"The left, you say?" The monster moved its glance to my cleared out arm and after that back to me. "You better not lie to me, girl."

"I am not, I swear." The dread of another beating compelled me to glance down at the lower left side of its body, hoping the bracelet was there to validate my truthfulness. As I heard it recite a spell, a blue light filled the room while it searched for the bracelet.

"Hm?" the beast asked, tilting its head in perplexity. Frowning, I realized that my assumption about the bracelet's presence was likely incorrect. I swallowed hard as the creature turned back to face me. I could have sworn the bracelet had been on my left arm just moments before. "The bracelet is not there at all, you liar!" the monster howled once more, continuing its attack after reviewing my other arm.

I begged it to cease the beating, insisting that it was all a misunderstanding. The creature, however, refused to heed my pleas and continued its attack until a swirling mass of red and black smoke enveloped it instead.