CHAPTER 2 — An Unknown Kingdom
(Remodeled)
It had been two hours since I woke up in that strange forest.
I didn't know where I was. My throat was dry. My stomach grumbled.
Desperate, I stumbled along until I found a river. Without thinking, I drank deeply, the cold water bringing a brief sense of relief.
As I caught my breath, I looked around. Nothing I saw resembled anything near my apartment. Nothing resembled the world I knew.
I wandered for hours, searching for any sign of life. Nothing. Silence. Only the whisper of the wind through strange trees.
Then, finally, I saw her.
A young girl, around my age, fishing by the river. Guards surrounded her, and a flag marked the unknown kingdom they belonged to.
They wore old-fashioned clothing, like something out of ancient Japan.
Summoning all the courage I had left, I stepped closer.
The guards immediately noticed me.
"Who are you? What are you doing here?" they demanded.
They eyed me like I was a spy from another kingdom. Their hands hovered near their weapons, ready to strike.
I froze. There was nowhere to run.
"I… I can explain," I said, bowing low.
They ignored me. Not a word.
My heart pounded in my chest. Fear clawed at me.
Then the girl spoke.
"Stop. Listen to him."
The guards bowed deeply, their expressions softening.
"Yes, Your Highness," they said.
I looked at her.
She was breathtaking. Long hair flowing, eyelashes delicate, eyes the color of the sky, a simple yet elegant dress that marked her as royalty.
I couldn't speak for a moment, stunned.
Finally, I found my voice.
"I… I was in my room. I slept… and woke up here in this forest. I don't know how I got here."
She didn't ask anything more. She merely smiled — calm, almost divine.
"Leave him," she commanded her guards. "He seems innocent."
I bowed, gratitude flooding me. My voice caught as I whispered, "Thank you…"
She didn't reply, just smiled again, serene as a goddess.
The guards left, preparing to head elsewhere. I followed a few steps behind, curious but cautious.
A massive wall appeared ahead. We passed through its gates and stepped into a city unlike anything I'd ever seen.
Towers reached toward the sky, streets bustled with people in flowing robes, and in the distance, a magnificent castle gleamed like a beacon.
I stopped near the entrance, overwhelmed.
Where was I? How had I ended up here? Was this even my world?
My stomach growled, reminding me that worrying wouldn't fill it.
I approached a man selling meat by the roadside.
"Excuse me… where is this place?" I asked.
He looked at me, puzzled. "You don't even know where you are? And you look… different. Tell me, who are you?"
"I'm Crish. I'm a traveler. I just arrived here. I know nothing about this city," I replied, voice trembling.
He laughed. "A traveler who doesn't know where he's going? You must be joking. This is Achaemenid — the Kingdom of Peace and Love."
The name echoed in my mind. At least now I knew something. But my hunger gnawed at me.
"I… I don't have any money here. Where can I eat?" I asked.
He smiled kindly and handed me a box of food.
"Eat. You look like you haven't eaten in days. Next time, pay somewhere, but for now… eat."
Grateful beyond words, I devoured the food. Each bite warmed me, each sip of water restored a little hope.
"I… thank you," I said sincerely.
He waved it off. "It's nothing. Just don't bother me now — business calls."
I found a park nearby, sitting to process everything.
Achaemenid. A kingdom. The girl from the river — a princess.
Everything else? A mystery.
But reality hit me fast: I had no money. No home. No idea where to sleep tonight.
I was alone in a world that shouldn't even exist.
Before I could gather my thoughts, two men approached.
"Hey… who are you?" one demanded.
I froze. Their hands glinted with knives.
"I… I'm Crish. I'm a traveler," I said carefully.
"Hand over your valuables, now!" the other sneered.
I laughed bitterly. "I don't have anything. What could I give you?"
They stared, incredulous.
"Huh? You're messing with us? Do you want to die?"
Before anything could happen, guards from earlier arrived.
The would-be attackers were captured effortlessly. Relief and awe washed over me.
The princess approached. Calm, radiant, divine.
"Who are you? How did you end up here? What are your intentions?" she asked.
I… had no answers.
She nodded to her guards. "Bring him to the castle. I wish to speak with him."
I obeyed silently, my mind a storm of questions and fear.
They led me into the castle, and I was told to wait in the hall.
The princess would see me soon.
To be continued…