She doubled over with shock when she saw herself in the mirror. She looked like her eighteen-year-old self, bright-eyed, flushed in the face. There was no sign of the wrinkles and world-weariness that age had tattooed on her.

She soaked herself in the perfumed waters prepared by Tara and adorned herself in the mirror-embedded gown that Tara had left for her. She couldn't help but smile at herself. Even if this was a dream, it was a beautiful one that made her heart sing.

She didn't know when she had fallen asleep, but Tara gently woke her up.

"Lady Akira, it is time for us to proceed to the feast."

Akira hastily washed her face and braided her hair, which was back to its former glorious, lustrous, long, black tresses.

They walked towards the dining hall, Tara leading the way. She spoke little. Outside the enormous door, Tara turned and said, "I will leave you here, Lady Akira. Please proceed ahead."

With that, she turned and disappeared.

Akira braced herself and opened the door. The young lad who had found her in the morning was sitting at the table in his casual outfit along with three others who, unlike him, looked quite stern and scary, if she might add.

Wait, the young lad had the uncanny talent of reading her thoughts. Darn. They didn't look that scary; just a small smile would make them look more endearing, is what she meant. She corrected herself. She then hastily glanced at him. He looked like he would choke from laughing. She stared at him indignantly. She was right; he did read her thoughts.

"My friends, Akira is here, and she has a small request for you three."

The others looked at him. "Smile a bit, would you? You are scaring her!"

The tall one sitting next to the red head smiled. His silver hair and emerald green eyes, willow-like appearance, and pale, moon-like skin made him seem dreamy and godlike. When he smiled, Akira almost melted. 

He, like the other two who sat in the room, wore a silk robe with silver and green that complimented him. He had a huge earring shaped like a dragon that covered the entire lobe of his left ear. He looked a little older than the red head.

He must be the god that guarded these heavens, she thought to herself.

She took in the other two. One was a little plump and short. He had brown hair with streaks of blond. He wore matching silk robes with copper and gold work. He did not smile but stared at her watchfully.

She switched her attention to the last one. He had raven-like features, with a sharp nose and a thin face. He reminded her very strongly of a tuition teacher, the strict sort who didn't think twice about hitting between the knuckles if the student made a mistake.If she were to guess, the silver-haired man was the god, the red-headed man his adopted stray, whom he indulged, the black-haired man was the tutor, and the brown-haired, plump one? She couldn't think of a suitable role for him.

She glanced at the redhead. "This time you won't be able to read my mind. Ha! I cast a blocking spell before I thought this time." She had a neutral expression.

She heard a voice inside her head. "Spells don't work on me." The redhead was laughing uncontrollably.