Chapter 4:
Emily walked towards Akiko, and with her delicate hand, she untied the ropes that bound her to the chair. There was a long, awkward silence between the two women until Emily finally spoke.
"Are you really a different person?" "Do you remember when we first met when I was a child?"
Akiko, still feeling a sense of uncertainty, remained silent for a moment. But then she forgot her nerves and decided to make small talk.
"Sorry, I have no idea what you're talking about, but... your name is Emily, right? Your hair is beautiful, by the way," Akiko said, trying to make conversation. It was a sincere compliment.
Emily looked away and blushed, then said, "Thanks" and shyly nodded. With the ropes now untied, Akiko stood up, but her legs were still asleep. Emily immediately assisted her, and Akiko could feel the woman's strong and capable hands supporting her.
"Be careful, Your Majesty—oh, I forgot, you're not the true majesty," Emily said, her voice filled with a hint of apology. Akiko bitterly nodded, and the two women walked outside, with Emily still assisting Akiko.
As Akiko and Emily stepped out of the room, Akiko couldn't help but feel a sense of unease as she saw two people in armor standing just outside the door. The two figures were tall and imposing, their armor gleaming in the light of the blue glowing orbs that lined the walls of the castle. The helmets they wore obscured their faces, making it impossible for Akiko to read their expressions.
"Who are they?" Akiko asked, her voice barely above a whisper as she turned to Emily.
"They are the queen's personal guards," Emily replied, her voice calm and steady. "They will be escorting us as we tour the castle and will ensure our to make sure that we are not disturbed during our tour."
Akiko nodded. She couldn't help but feel a sense of vulnerability as she looked at the guards, their armor and weapons a reminder of the power and authority they held.
While Akiko looked at the guard carefully, Emily take a step back to prepare herself for her introduction.
"Miss Akiko, allow me to introduce myself. I am Emily Woodwork, a lady-in-waiting and personal servant of the queen" With a graceful bow and her hand elegantly tucked into the folds of her dress, Emily greeted Akiko with the utmost politeness and respect.
"It is a pleasure to meet you," Emily said, her eyes meeting Akiko's as she stood up straight.
Akiko couldn't help but feel a sense of familiarity in this situation. As a socialite and daughter of a wealthy man, she was used to people bowing to her as if she were a princess. But she knew what she will going to do next, this is now a clockwork for her.
"Likewise," Akiko replied with a small bow of her own.
"Well... You already know my name but I am Akiko Fujimoto, just a regular high school student." She lied since she is not just an ordinary student, but it was a necessary deception.
Emily smiled, "Ah, I see. That was your custom of showing respect. It is like this?" She mimicked Akiko's bow, but Akiko couldn't help but cringe at the imperfection of it. Despite her discomfort, she smiled, finding Emily's attempt cute.
With the introductions out of the way, the two women, along with their guards, began to make their way through the halls of the castle. Akiko knew she had to trust Emily, as she was her only guide in this foreign land. Taking a deep breath, she followed closely behind as they embarked on their tour of the grand castle.
She knew that she had to trust Emily, as she seemed to be the only person who could help her navigate this strange new world. She took a deep breath and followed Emily as they began their tour of the castle, the guards following closely behind them.
As they walked through the castle, Akiko couldn't help but be amazed by the opulence and grandeur of the place. Everywhere she looked, there were intricate carvings and detailed sculpture, each one more beautiful than the last. She couldn't help but feel a sense of awe as she took in the sights and sounds of the castle.
"This feels like I'm in Europe again," Akiko said, her voice filled with wonder. "But this is much more beautiful."
"It is quite something, isn't it?" Emily said, a hint of pride in her voice. "The castle has been in the queen's family for generations... Umm... Europe? Is that a place in your world?"
"Hmm.. yes." Her eyes darted around the room, avoiding direct eye contact with anyone as she fidgeted nervously with the hem of her dress.
As they continued their tour, Akiko couldn't help but notice the way that Emily seemed to be constantly aware of her surroundings. She was always on the lookout for potential threats, her hand never far from her sword. Akiko couldn't help but feel a bit of admiration for the other woman, as she seemed to be incredibly skilled and capable.
"So, what happens now?" Akiko asked, looking up at Emily.
"Well, you will be staying here in the castle for a while," Emily said, her voice calm and reassuring. "Mistress Maxima will tell you tomorrow."
Akiko nodded. She knew that there would be a lot to learn and a lot to take in, but she was ready for the challenge.
"Mistress Maxima also informed me of your identity," Emily replied.
"She provided me with a detailed description of your background, including your family history and personal information."
Akiko looked surprised and a bit terrified as she asked, "What kind of information did she give you?"
Emily continued, "She mentioned your birthplace, your education, your work experience, and even your hobbies and interests." "She seemed to know quite a lot about you." Akiko's expression turned to one of discomfort as she murmured.
Akiko felt a mix of confusion and a sense of dread as she tried to piece together the information that Emily had shared with her.
As they walked through the castle, Emily began to explain more about Akiko's past. She told her that she was from a world called Japan and that she had been known for her peaceful ways and her important status in her community; she is the daughter of a rich family. However, Akiko couldn't quite grasp how Maxima and Emily knew so much about her past. She had no memory of ever telling them about her life.
"Wait, wait, hold on a minute!" Akiko exclaimed, stopping in her tracks. "That's impossible to know that information!" "I absolutely have no memory of telling you that!"
Emily stepped back, her eyes wide with fear, as she took a deep breath, attempting to steady herself before she stepped forward again. "I am not entirely certain if your world possesses this, but..." she said, holding out her arm to reveal a delicate bracelet with a small, sparkling stone embedded in it. "This is called magic," she explained, her voice barely above a whisper.
As she spoke, Akiko watched in amazement as vines and branches suddenly sprouted from Emily's arm, growing and twisting until they formed a small bonsai tree in her hand. The branches were delicate and intricately woven, and the leaves were a vibrant green. The tree seemed to be alive, as if it were growing before their very eyes.
"All of the citizens of Eden possess magic if they touch this material called Magic Stone," Emily said, pointing to the stone in her bracelet. "We can do anything within the limits of the Magic Stone's size, our mental capabilities to imagine, and physical limitations. Cease!"
As she spoke the word "cease" the bonsai tree immediately turned into a cloud of multicolored dust, as if it had never existed. The dust dissipated into the air, leaving no trace of the tree behind.
"Ummm... That is how I know about you," Emily said, her cheeks turning red. "Maxima dove into your mind using magic, which I was not involved in. I am just the queen's personal maid! And Maxima force me to know this. She just presses her hand to me and I immediately know it!" she added, looking down at the ground, feeling embarrassed.
Akiko awkwardly smiled, feeling a sense of relief wash over her. Even though the explanation was absurd, this was the reality she was in, and she knew she had to accept it.
***
Deep within the castle, a secret meeting was being held in a hidden chamber. The room was dimly lit and filled with a sense of mystery and intrigue. The focal point of the chamber was a large rectangular table, surrounded by 5 individuals who were all seated in chairs. Each one was carefully chosen for their expertise and loyalty to the cause.
In the center of the group sat Maxima, her regal presence commanding attention and respect, and she is the only woman in the room. Her gaze was focused and determined, her mind set on the task at hand. The tension in the room was palpable as she began to speak.
"Boys, we all know why we are here. The Queen is no longer in Eden" Maxima said, her words causing a wave of concern and anxiety to ripple through the group. The gravity of the situation was clear, and each member of the group knew that their actions in this secret meeting would have far-reaching consequences for the future of Eden.
"But! She is fine, I know because... We have been Bounded just a week ago," she admitted, her voice tinged with guilt. She knew that revealing this information would be a huge scandal, but she felt it was necessary in light of the emergency situation.
Bounded, a unique and enigmatic ability that is bestowed upon all citizens of Eden who engage in physical intimacy between partners. The origins of this ability are still a topic of debate among scholars and researchers of Eden. It grants individuals the power of clairvoyance, allowing them to sense the actions of their partners at any given time. This ability can prove to be both a blessing and a curse, as it can bring comfort and security to those in a relationship, but also foster feelings of jealousy and mistrust.
A gasp of surprise echoed through the room, and a middle-aged man with brown hair shouted, "What!? This is a huge scandal if this information leaked to the entire Eden!"
Maxima's emotions were a mix of guilt and annoyance as she responded.
"I know what we did, but if we didn't have...intimacy with the queen, we wouldn't know what her current condition is. You can give me punishment later, but not now."
The room was filled with murmurs of conversation as the group weighed their options and discussed the situation. Suddenly, a man with a dark mask etched with the image of a cat spoke up.
"In my opinion, I don't care if The Queen and Maxima scissored themselves or whatever. As Maxima said, this is a good trade-off," he stated, his voice calm and collected.
The man then asked Maxima, "Is the queen still asleep since the last time we checked on her?"
"Yeah, she still is," Maxima confirmed.
Suddenly, a tall, older man with circular glasses clapped loudly, drawing the attention of the group.
"Now that Maxima has explained her odd but extremely valuable ability to know the queen condition, let's move on to the next topic," he said, his voice firm and commanding.
The older man then reached for a familiar box that was sitting on the table. It was the box of the Mirror Stone - the powerful Magic Stone that could swap the minds of two people. As he opened the box, the group was surprised to see that the Mirror Stone had become black and obsidian-like, and it have no reflection.
"This stone ran out of magic, this is the first time the Magic Stone who completely zero magic inside... Our understanding in magic just turn upside down"
