Jolting herself into sitting upright, Delphina reached to grab at the chair, only to meet thin air. Utterly bemused as to how it seemed to have disappeared, she finally noticed that the air was light once more. And somehow, she was also in a completely different room.
Delphina was back in the bedroom, wearing a chemise nightdress similar to the one she had worn the previous day.
Loose hair spilling over her face, her eyes darted around as she took in her surroundings. Everything was as it had been left before dinner the day before. Well, not if you took into account the crumpled pile of clothes left on the chair by her bed.
Lingering on the suspiciously positioned chair for just a moment longer than necessary. Delphina finally turned her gaze away, back to the metal orb that seemed to be staring at her.
"Uh, Jenkins?"
Glad to see you're finally awake, young Lady. I thought my alarm function was going to wear out before you came to.
"By any chance, does your alarm sound like a very pretty and almost lullaby-like set of chimes?"
Yes? You chose that tone yourself, my Lady.
"Right. Yeah, of course that would be the case… Do me a favour, Jenkins. Go get me a set of clothes suitable for going around the Knightage with Piet– I mean brother. Something pretty but good for exercise if necessary."
I'm glad to hear you're taking people's impressions more seriously, young Lady.
The wash water and cloths are at your vanity when you need them.
Watching her cute little butler extraordinaire pootle his way to the bathroom truly was a delight to Delphina, though unfortunately, she needed to focus on other important things. Sending Jenkins away would only give her so much time.
"This doesn't feel like some Fae glamour or mind-trapping formation… Tch, this is why I hate not having a clock around."
Hopping up onto her knees to look at the bed canopy better, Delphina took note of the tassels that were decorating the ties. She then quickly flicked each one that was in eyesight, before sitting back in the centre of the bed, to see what they did.
Each tassel swung violently before slowing down to a gentle, yet out-of-step with the others' arc. Eyes widening in alarm, Delphina jumped up, rushing towards her desk. Grabbing the first pen she could see, she spun it hard on the surface of the paper left behind.
Spinning erratically, it eventually stabilised from the initial speed to form a smooth rotation. As it slowed down gradually, Delphina looked back to check on the tassels. They were now swinging very slowly in tempo with each other; it was as if they could stop moving at any moment.
The pen, as well, was now almost slowing to a halt. Making its final turn, it tipped the heavier cap bearing end onto the paper and stopped.
Sinking to the carpet covering the stone floor, Delphina finally released the breath she had been unwittingly holding. She wasn't trapped in a dreamscape, glamour, or some form of enchantment. That didn't rule out someone's skill being cast on her or it being a formation she had fallen prey to last night, however.
"I didn't wake up with that gear in my hands, though."
Sitting down cross-legged, Delphina looked to the painted ceiling for inspiration.
The motifs of fighting and clouds like some all-out cosmic battle, whilst reminding her of a famous painting she had once seen in a previous life, didn't provide any insight. Until her eyes drifted to the oval stone face that the central chandelier was hung upon.
Far from some plain piece of stone, it had a soft glimmer that the light gently reflected off of. In the early morning rays, the individual bulbs in the chandelier still had a soft glow that could be seen being almost downlit because of this.
Reaching out towards the lights above her, Delphina lightly knocked on the air.
[Good Morning, Delphina! What can I do for you?]
"Is this reality right now?"
[( ﾟヮﾟ)]
[Is there a problem, Delphina? Do you require a psychiatric evaluation?]
"Am I currently in an unaltered state, such as not having a skill cast upon me, or am I in fact in my bedroom and not in some martial artist's elaborate formation somewhere the Gods only know?"
[You are currently sitting on your bedroom floor, Delphina. I cannot detect any altered state, such as drugs or other chemical effects on your body. But I can confirm no skills or curses have been cast upon you. Is there an issue?]
[ಠ╭╮ಠ]
"I can't remember how I got back to the bedroom. I thought I'd almost made it back but… As it grew very late, I couldn't see properly. Which doesn't make sense, and I didn't even think of summoning you… I guess it was just a dream, but it's made me feel very disorientated."
[You were very tired when you eventually made it back! You got lost on your way back alone, and Jenkins found you sleep-addled nearby. You stripped off and jumped straight into bed. The automaton had to dress and groom you himself.]
"That explains why my hair was undone… Wait, it also removed my underwear!?"
"Actually, no. Do not answer that. I'd rather not think about it; it's not the end of the world, it's just an automaton. Haha…"
Rolling her eyes towards the bathroom door and shivering slightly, Delphina thought it best to simply move on. It might become a frequent occurrence depending on how much needed to be done over the next few months. But being handled like that whilst unconscious didn't sit well with her.
"Did anything of note happen whilst I was out of it?"
[No, but! I do have some new quests for you today!]
"Oh? Will they be helpful if I complete them, because right now, only 15% memory is not cutting it, No.69."
[(ʘ‿ʘ)]
[How about Inventory access being unlocked?]
"YES, give it to meeeee!"
Despite Delphina making quite a childish double-hand-grabbing motion towards the screen as she said this, No.69 sparkled a little brighter, almost in pride. It knew the 15% reward yesterday was just a precursor for Delphina's future efforts.
[Quest: 'For What It's Worth'. 0% complete. Please complete as soon as possible.]
[Quest Chain; 'Who's the Prettiest Princess of Them All'. 35% complete.]
[Quest: 'Who Me?' is currently at 85% completion and ready for submission.]
[Issuing Quest; Did They Bring Me Daughters?]
[Do you want to confirm 'Who Me?' as completed now?]