At first, I didn't believe what Sebastian had said—that I'm different from the others, and it's the first they had encountered a situation like this. For a while, I thought they were messing with me, or maybe I'm just stubborn and vehement in denying the fact that I'm in this kind of weird situation. I couldn't believe it—no, I just don't want to consider it. 

Unfortunately, reality has an ugly way of making its presence known in my life. 

When I saw the other survivors from that burnt small town in the heart of the forest, my heart dropped from the high ground creating a resounding thud. I had to lean into something to stop my legs from giving up on me.

They were all children, barely ten years of age, shivering in the cold while soot and burns cover their tiny bodies. Thankfully, some uniformed men attended to their wounds. Still, the blank look in the children's faces – devoid of emotion- makes it difficult to look at them. It's like they have resigned to their fate. A life soaked with blood and death. A life where dangers find you in every corner. 

I forced my weakened legs to move forward despite its protest, especially when a sharp and cold gaze was shooting at my back. I could also feel other eyes lingering on me, and when I tried to look at them, they would immediately avoid their gaze and act as if I didn't exist. I am almost sure they will escort me with swords pointed at my neck if not for my savior. That's how they hate being in my presence. They were scared for their life as if someone like me could do them harm. I almost laugh out loud because of the incredulity of the thought. I could barely save my life; there's no way I'm capable of harming anyone.

Once I reach the others, I climb aboard at the wagon's back where the other survivors were. There were still other children inside waiting for their turn to get treated. And I don't have the conscience to remain quiet amidst it. I leaned towards one of the healers wanting to offer help when I felt the sharp tip of the sword on my neck. I winced in pain as warm blood slid down at the hollow of my neck. It seems like they love swinging their sword, even with a small amount of provocation.

"What are you planning to do?!" the knight yells out in panic, his hand slightly trembles while still holding the sword. The man tending to the kid with a burn-in his leg suddenly crawls away to safety – away from me. He stares at me with his eyes widened in fear.  

Aren't they overreacting? It's not like I'm going to bite his head off. 

I swallowed the sudden lump in my throat and forced a crook smile. I held my hand in the air signifying my non-existent intention to harm anyone.  

"I just want to help…I can assist with providing basic first aid if that's alright with you,"

His eyes waver just as his hold in his sword quivers with uncertainty. "We…we don't need your help! Just stay put and don't do anything!"

They're unreasonable even at this crucial time!

I felt something inside of me snap. I couldn't help but glare at the cowardly and spineless knight in front of me.  

"You want these children to survive? Then stop being such a weakling and let me help. I don't care what you do to keep an eye on me, but I'm not going to stand by and watch!" I couldn't help but fume in disgust.

The knight falters as his sword slightly draws back from my neck. I used that few seconds gap to grab the pouch where the medicine and bandages were, got up, and walked up to one of the injured children lying on the wooden floor. Even when I kneel in front of her, she remains impassive and motionless. Her russet-colored hair was scorched, but thankfully the burnt didn't reach her scalp. The big problem was her back. The burn runs from her shoulder blades down to her upper waist. What remains of her clothes are sticking furiously to the burnt flesh. It would be painful to remove it, but I had to. 

I gritted my teeth in frustration and fought back the tears threatening to spill out of my eyes. I gently turn her body to the side and starts hacking away the fabric that can still be removed using the small knife I found inside the pouch. 

"Apply this. It will help alleviate the pain until we reach the castle," a soft feminine voice interrupted with her hand holding a round container with a greyish substance inside. 

I nodded, refusing to make eye contact, and quietly took medicine from her palm. As soon as I removed the burnt fabric on her skin, I dipped my fingertips on the cream, and I instantly felt a cool sensation almost numbing it.

I stared at my fingers where the greyish substance rests, feeling dumbfounded because of the weird sensation. And I think there's also something strange with my hand. Somehow, it looks smaller and feels softer than usual.  

"Just what is wrong with me? Don't tell me that even this medicine is not normal?" I couldn't help but murmur in surprise and confusion.

Suddenly, a painful groan escapes the child's lips, and it smacks me back into action. Her detached expression turned into excruciating pain. Despite feeling confused, I immediately applied the cream on her burns, trying to be as gentle as possible. However, every time my finger glides into her skin, her body automatically cringes in pain. When I finished applying it, I started to wrap her back with a bandage, covering it as loosely as possible to avoid putting pressure on her burns.

I did the same with the others. Although some were severely burnt, they were all alive and courageously hanging on to their lives. That was all the assurance that I needed to calm my heart. And somehow, amidst the series of first-aid treatments I had to provide, I didn't realize that we managed to leave the frightening forest teeming with monsters safely and is nearing our destination.  

When the wagon stopped in front of an enormous gate, and inside is an erected whitewashed mansion filled with gorgeous blooming flower garden, a sigh of relief escapes my lips. Although this architectural design is something that I had only seen in books, at least I get to finally see something closely normal in this place. Just a usual elegant and expensive mansion, but without ravenous zombie-like creatures chasing us with the full intention of eating our hearts out. Just the thought of it is making me weak-kneed.

As soon as we arrived at the count's doorsteps, the staff immediately escorted us. Some of the badly injured children were taken into the infirmary room, where the personal healers of the household recruited from the capital would provide them further treatment. At the same time, the others, including me, were accompanied to a communal bath to take a much-needed shower. I quietly followed the staff and allowed my mind to take a momentary reprieve. 

Just for a while, I will allow myself not to think of anything. I have a lot to sort out, but first, I needed a bath. I can freak out after taking a bath because I badly wanted to wash off the smell of blood in my body –including the memory of that frightening experience. 

When the staff left them to fend for themselves, I immediately tried to take off my muggy clothes but realized something too late. I ran towards the nearest full-length mirror that I could find, ignoring that I almost stumbled and had my head split open because of the slippery floor. That is not the most important thing right now!

Like always, my heart feels like it's about to burst out of my chest as blood rushes to my ears, and all I can hear is the sound of my deafening heartbeat. I felt my stomach twist in a painful knot as I stared at the stranger in front of the mirror. I wipe off the steam that clouds the mirror and fully faces the gravity of the situation I find myself in. 

A stranger is standing in front of me, and a beautiful stranger at that. She has the same black violet hair as me, but as I like to wear it short, her hair exquisitely cascades down her waist like a waterfall. I usually hide my dull brown eyes beneath the thick rim of eyeglasses but what gazes back at me is her enchanting amethyst starlight eyes. Her face is so tiny that I could probably grab it with one hand, partnered with a high turned-up nose and luscious bow-shaped lip. When I moved my hand to the beauty mark underneath her thick eyelashes, the girl in the mirror did the same. 

And just like that, my heart further plummets to a deep dark void. This beautiful stranger who possesses translucent skin that I could almost see the veins underneath is me!

My hands unconsciously clutch the mirror in fright, and it created a loud noise that caught the curious attention of the others, but I could not care less. The biggest problem right now is me! And the body of the girl I am possessing!

"What the hell is going on?!"