Chapter 1: This is crazy! Who are you?

"Saraaaaaaah! Come down or you would be late from your classes!"

It's already 9 in the morning and Sarah hasn't eaten her breakfast. Sarah is not in her 2nd semester as a college freshman. She's usually stubborn and optimistic but nothing could prepare her for the early classes. She's really not a morning person. No matter what she does, she can't seem to find the motivation to wake up early. She checked her books that she would use in her political science and mathematics classes then hurried downstairs.

"I don't know why I chose the morning schedule. I thought there were only a few classes,"Sarah said as she went to the kitchen, sat on a chair, and ate her breakfast. She usually eats oatmeal, a variety of fruits, and milk.

"That is why I asked you a lot of times if you can handle the early classes," her mom replied. Her mother has always been supportive of her choices but not on this one. Her mother chuckled, "You have to do your best, you already chose this schedule so make sure you attend classes on time."

"Yeah yeah I know that. I'm not planning on failing my subjects because of tardiness. If that happens though, I won't let you know!" Sarah laughed as she stood up and ran to the door.

"Hey! You didn't drink your milk. And, don't you dare fail your subjects, if you did there's going to be war here!" her mother shouted.

Sarah can't stop smiling. She doesn't have any plans for that but it's fun to tease her mom once in a while.

'Oops! I have to hurry to the train station.'

She ran to the nearby train station. Good thing there are no lines in the ticketing booth and the ride was smooth. She arrived at her university in just 15 minutes.

'Hmm there are still a few hours left before my first class starts. Why don't I explore a little?'

Come to think of it, she hasn't seen the whole campus ever since she enrolled. Sarah's been busy with reviewing for her exams and doing activities with her friends. She entered their department building, located in the innermost part of the campus. People could see different kinds of trees on the way to the area but the building itself only has chairs and tables outside. As she walked to her locker, she noticed that the door to the back garden was open. It's usually closed in the morning when the staff are tending to whatever's in the backyard.

Slowly, Sarah walked towards the door and exited the building. She was surprised to see a small orchard. Many kinds of plants can be seen and the flowers are overflowing. She saw the butterflies as they danced from one flower to another. The orchard looked so magical. She walked towards the gorgeous red roses when a small greenhouse caught her attention.

'It's glowing.'

It's just a small greenhouse but she couldn't see what's inside. It was covered by long vines that crept from the bottom to the top of it. Sarah was afraid to go near it but she couldn't help herself. It's like someone is calling her and urging her to go in.

'Why do I feel like crying? This is so weird, I have to go.'

She tried to take a step back but she couldn't. Then she heard a sweet voice.

"My other half, the one who shares the same destiny…"

'My other half? What are you talking about? And destiny?'

"Come inside and you'll see," replied the voice. Sarah didn't want to go in and besides she needed to get back to class but she couldn't go back to the building, her feet could only move forward. Shakingly, she went inside the greenhouse. It was also filled with flowers but weirdly, it felt warm. She was comforted and it almost seems like she's home.

'Why do I feel this way? Who are you and what do you want from me?'

She asked as she saw a silhouette of a lady behind the flowers. The lady looked at her and Sarah was surprised she almost fainted.

"I'm Shila, your twin sister."

Sarah stared at the young lady. She was so distracted that she couldn't hear what she said. Shila, with a soft expression, walked slowly towards Sarah. As they came face to face, she touched Sarah's bewildered face.

Shila couldn't believe it at first when her mother told her that she has a twin and they had to hide her to keep her safe because people believe twins to be an ominous sign in the royal family. It was an absurd thing to believe yet many think this way and the result was her being separated from her other half for a lot of years. Although Sarah grew up in a different world and experienced different things, Shila hopes her twin could help her in this difficult situation.

"I'm Shila, your twin sister," she repeated.

It got Sarah's attention this time. She stared at her twin, her twin sister. She couldn't believe it but she couldn't reject or refute it either. The lady standing in front of her, Shilo, felt too familiar. Still, rationality came back to her and she decided to ask questions.

"I don't know what you're talking about. You're saying I'm your twin sister but as far as I'm concerned I'm an only child, who are you really?" Sarah courageously asked.

"I wasn't lying here is the proof," Shila holds out a brooch that is familiar to her. It's a brooch designed with a purple daisy. Sarah has the same brooch which was given by her mother. Her mom told her that it's very important because it's a very significant treasure in their family.

"I know that you have the same one. The daisy is the symbol of our family and the royalties of Lou Empire have this kind of brooch. I'm a princess, which means you're one too. Sarah, I need your help," Shila immediately told her.

"Whoa, slow down, will you? This is crazy."

"I have no time, I ah," Shila flinched and it's then that Sarah noticed that she had a wound.

"What happened?" Sarah held Shila.

"A few people tried to assassinate me in hopes to take the throne. I'm the only heir left as far as they know. I came here to ask for your help, I know I can't last long, the arrow was poisoned," Shila desperately told her.

"What? It's poisoned? Wait, let me take you to the hospital. I'll call-"

"No! There's not much time and I need to transport you to Lou. I can't let them win!" shouted Shila.

"But, but, this is crazy. I must help you. I'm not sure if I believe you but I should help you," Sarah was agitated, she wanted to help her, to save her.

"Take my brooch," Shila said as she grabbed Sarah's hand and put her brooch. Kei and Ryuu would know who you are. They are my trusted officials. They are the only ones that you should trust," Shila said determinedly. She doesn't want her twin to be in danger and she knows her advisor and general would protect her. Her wound hurts and the poison was fast to take effect. She didn't expect that, she needed more time to talk to her sister.

Shila has always dreamed what it would be like to have a sibling. She would like to try out dresses, travel to different places, and eat a lot of food with Sarah. Now that her sister is with her, Shila is frustrated that she won't be able to experience such things with her. Nonetheless, she has to do what she can to protect Sarah.

"Sarah, listen to me, My officials, Lord Kei and General Ryuu are my trustworthy people. You can ask for their help, you have to promise me, protect the Lou Empire and the people. That's my only request, you have to promise," Shilo looked at her twin intensely. As much as she wants to say more, she already feels weak.

"I-I promise, but Shila, you have to let me take you somewhere so I could help you," Sarah insisted.

"I need to transport you to the Lou Empire. I don't have much strength," Shila lets go of Sarah's hand.

"You-Your eyes," Sarah was surprised, her twin's sister's eyes turned red. It shines like the brightest gem. She was drawn to the color and is affected by it. Sarah stared at her sister's eyes and slowly felt weak and sleepy.

'What is going on? Why do I feel sleepy? I have to go to class. I should leave this orchard. The exam results will be released next week. I still have to study and become a lawyer. Bu-but I can't move! I don't know what's happening.'

"May the deities protect you, Sarah."

"Shila, what are you doing? I should save you," Sarah lost consciousness as she felt her body being embraced by strange warmth and brightness.

"Your highness? Princess, you need to wake up," a deep voice calls out to her.

"How is she, Kei?" asked another person, this time with a lighter smoother voice.

"I don't know what happened but the princess seems to have fainted a while ago in the garden," replied the person named Kei.

'Princess? I must be nuts, garden? Oh yes, I was at the orchard at the back of the university building. I-I should'

Sarah opened her eyes and stared at the ceiling. Everything came back to her, the orchard, the brooch, the lady, "Shila!" she shouted as she sat up immediately.

"Princess! I'm glad you're awake. We're worried about you. Kei here wouldn't stop scolding the maids for letting you go to the garden by yourself," a man in armor said.

"Forgive me your highness, I was careless and I wasn't able to protect you," a man in a blue robe said.

"Hi-highness? You mean me?" Sarah hesitated.

"Of course, Princess Shila, the heir apparent to the throne of the Lou Empire," the man in blue robe confidently said.

'Princess of the Lou Empire? What?!'