My world was blurry, although I guess it always was. The static in my brain eased as I forced my eyes to open, revealing a dark room. So dark, I couldn’t make anything out at first. I sat myself up, ignoring the searing pain in my temples, and allowed myself a look around the room. It appeared to be made from wood, the kind that was polished and lacquered daily for pointless reasons. Across these walls were several frames, some containing assorted plants, and others had scrolls with writing I couldn’t read. The bed I was lying in was rather comfy, but small, as if it had been taken out in a hurry. When people wake up in foreign places, you can probably bet it’s a hospital or some place of the sort, but I wasn’t entirely sure what this was. As the grogginess left me, I realized that this didn’t look like a hospital at all… No IV, annoying beeping monitor, no chatter from bored nurses waiting for their shift to end. In fact, it was quite silent. Normally, I would’ve have appreciated such a thing, but now, it disturbed me.
Upon shifting my gaze to the left of the seemingly shrinking room, my pulse quickened at the sight of something that looked like it didn’t belong, definitely not in a hospital. On a white iron stand that took up most of the left wall, were weapons of all kinds. With no knowledge of weapon vocabulary, all I could see were swords, smaller swords, axes, and weird orb looking things. These were all shelved as if they were ready to be used in an instant. The thought of somebody creeping in while I was sleeping and placing one of those blades towards me… I forced the thought away before I could finish it. With nothing attaching me to problematic equipment, I was able to get to my feet. The wood paneling underneath me was lighter than that of the wall, but still felt just as slick. I craned my neck towards the mahogany door, endowed with a small, colorful stained-glass window. Before approaching it any more, thought, I noticed my slim reflection in a mirror that casually leaned up against the wall. I stood there, staring for a bit, my hand reaching up to my shoulder to touch my hair. My hair that should have ended at my shoulders but stopped at my hips. What…? In addition to this bizarre change, I was wearing a pale pink nightgown, trimmed with lace flowers. It didn’t look cheap either. I felt around the edge of the gown, and it was silky to the touch. Certainly nothing I could afford. Before I inspected my appearance any longer, there was a light knock at the door.
“Miss Marie? I’m coming in…” The door creaked open, crying out with age, and a small, curly haired woman walked in. “Oh, goodness, you’re already up! How do you feel, dear?” I blinked at her. She was wearing a maid dress… how typical. But this one went down to her ankles and looked awfully heavy with all its layers. It seemed like it would be a workout to simply walk around. Realizing I was staring, I cleared up my throat.
“Um, yes. I am, thank you.” A wide smile spread on her freckled face.
“I’m so glad! We were afraid you’d never wake up, hehe!” I tilted my head a bit, showing my clear confusion. “Ah!” she exclaimed. “Of course! You must be so confused. I apologize, but before explaining anything, I must ask you one thing… do you remember how you died?”
At her grim words, my heart slammed to the bottom of my lungs, and it felt like they were filling up with water. Water that made my chest and stomach feel as if I was submerged in lava. The walls that I had so casually observed earlier began to spin and I couldn’t tell whether they were actually the ceiling, at that point. I crumpled to my feet, stretching the night gown, and tearing the bottom seams.
“Miss Marie! Miss! Oh dear, somebody call the nurse!” was all I could hear before I blacked out.
This time when I woke up, I was in a different room, one that a hospital might accept. I sat up, glancing down at the tattered dress. It was so nice, one of the nicest pieces of clothing I’ve ever had the honor of wearing. Just like me to ruin such a thing, wasn’t it? I let out a small yawn and noticed a figure standing awkwardly in the corner. We made eye contact and she offered me a concerned smile and said,
“It’s lovely to see you awake again, Miss Marie. How are you feeling?” I gave myself a mental once-over and decided that everything was fine.
“I’m okay, thank you.” Her smiled grew more genuine at my remark. She began to approach me, her smile fading a bit with each step.
“Miss Marie… it seems the news was quite shocking to you…”
Do you remember how you died?
I swallowed back a gasp. So, it wasn’t a dream… But my heart eased quickly. If I really was dead, there was nothing I could do about it now. And even if there was, would it really be worth it to try? I let out a shaky breath.
“How?” I asked tentatively. She furrowed her brows.
“I beg your pardon?”
“How did I die?” The silence that hung between us was like poison gas, threating to kill if either of us so much as breathed. Although, I can’t die twice…. Right? She cleared her throat and focused on a clipboard that had been in her hand this whole time.
“Marie Maves, age 18, died on December 23rd, 20XX. Cause of death: Suicide.”
“Ah…” was all I could say in return. Her eyes were apologetic and kind.
“Miss Marie… I’m sure you’re very confused, yes?” I nodded. “Then, allow me to grant you some answers, just wait one moment please.” She sauntered up to a space in the wall, surrounded by solid gold curvature. Despite this, is appeared to simply be an intercom. “Nurses room 414, patient of platinum status is requesting the Informants services, please do be quick.”
Platinum Status…?
Before I even had the chance to ask a single question, the door swung open, revealing a tall, lanky, red-haired man, eyes covered in thick glasses and face bearing a dreadfully happy smile.
“Ah, Marie! How nice it is to see you!” the nurse beside him cleared her throat a bit, and the man grimaced. “I mean, uh, Miss Marie. How are you?”
“I’m… okay. Are you here to answer my questions?” he nodded enthusiastically.
“Yes, yes! Any questions you’ve got, I have an answer!” So, Miss-“
“How did I kill myself?” I asked gravely, cutting off his cheerful banter. His eyes darkened at my quick retort.
“Straight to the point, huh?” he mumbled. “Well, Miss Marie, you jumped off a 700-foot computer science company high rise.” I blinked.
“Oh.”
“Is… Is anything sounding familiar?” I shook my head and he exchanged concerned glances with the nurse. “Well, um, that’s okay! I’m sure you’ll be fine in just a little while, yes? Now, about where you are… This is the Tavern of Lives, as we call it, centered smack dab in the middle of the most famous cities in the nation: Rasvyx. Here, we find and rehabilitate those who have died and been reborn into this world, for whatever reason there may be. And you, my dear, are our first guest in over 300 years”
“300 years?” I asked, as I reeled my body back in sheer surprise. “I-I don’t understand, why me?” He shook his head slowly.
“That, I do not have the answer to. But we have a few speculations.”
“What?” I asked hurriedly. “What are they?”
“Well…” he began. “We have reason to believe that you have been summoned.” I grunted and closed my eyes in confusion.
“By who?” They went silent. “Hello!?”
“We do not know,” the nurse chimed in. “and do not think the person who summoned you does either.” I scoffed.
“How do you summon someone without knowing?”
“Desire.” The glasses man replied. “The desire to need you. A desire so strong, that one might unconsciously manifest such an emotion. We believe that is why you have come to this particular place, Marie – er, Miss Marie.” He paused. “But there is much more for you to learn in the time to come, yes?” He opened the door that led out into a grand hallway, smiling like this was the norm. “If you would, please accompany me to see the King.”
I didn’t bother being surprised at the usage of such a title. Instead, I did as he asked and padded quietly into the hallway, on the path to meet the person who ruled much more than I could ever imagine.
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