Chapter 7 Vial
Aillenne flinched and stiffened when she felt warm arms wrapping her body, but she couldn't see anything aside from darkness, the room's poor condition and the sculpture.
She felt goosebumps in her skin and the hair from her nape seem to rise and float in the air.
"Did the room suddenly become chilly? Brrrr... I should've brought a coat with me."
"Well, on one sense, why should I worry about getting cold if I'm here to die? Psh... silly me."
"I should've brought two lamps with me. What's with this place? Doesn't seem to be a monster's den. Are those maids making fun of me?"
She said and look around some more. Seeing that there's nothing to see other than the sculpture, she went back to its place.
"What's this? Uhh...drink me? Is this Alice in the fairy tale book? Silly. But I hope I won't get smaller or get too big. Is there an "eat me" too? Ohh... there's none."
"Hah... where's the monster here? I badly wanted to go back now. I wanted to live but I also wanted to die. Uhh... so complicated."
"What plan should I do next? O don't know if time passes fast here compared to the previous world, but if it does, I need to go back quickly."
She spun around and attempted to get out but the door won't budge.
"Hyuk!"
"Huh? Why? It doesn't seem to be strong though? Am I still so weak? I eat three meals a day though, unlike the bread and water I usually have. Why... won't it... budge?"
Her face became red from constant pushing and pulling of the wooden door, but to no avail.
She felt trapped.
"Of all things--- I'll be trapped in here?"
Memories began swirling her mind and struck her courage.
"It's alright to die one swift move than be trapped again. I don't want this. Let me out. Oh my! Oh my!"
She anxiously looked around in search for tools that may help her, but she saw nothing.
"My god, there's nothing in here but dirt!"
As she continued to frantically fumble the room, the vial shone slightly as if inviting her to take a sip of the suspicious liquid.
"So the people think there's a monster here, but the basement only contain a statue and a vial. I wonder if this vial is a poison."
"No thinking anymore. Let's just die swiftly. I wonder if they will find this body. Anyway, that's none of my problem."
She desperately drank the content, but nothing happened.
"No stomache? No nauseating effects? Is this water?"
She heard a click and the door swung open.
'Oh, what was that?'
"Well, let's just leave then."
She shrugged then left the basement.
Little did she know, her decisions would be a catalyst and a huge turning point of her life.
***
Now she's sitting in the garden reading some books and spending time unproductively and four months had passed since she woke up in a strange place.
For one and a half month of struggle Aillenne decided to live and just accepted her fate.
The world won't let her die since she still have a role to play.
'So, should I just play my role and wait till I die?'
One sunny morning, Aillenne went out for a walk. The nanny has been so lenient with her as she doesn't have any schedule and lived her days in a boring manner.
At that time, there is a schedule of cleaning the whole place. People got busy and everyone thought that Aillenne is in her room.
"Hmmm... this should be enough."
The girl stared at her reflection.
Brown hair slightly hid her blue-violet jewel-like eyes and her shabby clothes were covered by a cloak.
She took Aillenne's purse filled with silver, gold and blue coins. She glanced at the mirror again as her preparations were complete.
She snuck out of the Marquisate easily since nobody knew exactly how Aillenne looked like to outsiders and also to guards who stupidly guard the western gate.
"Easy as a cake."
***
It was still early but the people around were already busy. Children were playing by the road and their mothers would talk and gossip in one side.
The men can be seen with their hats in their side as they talk with friends or eyeing a beautiful lady that passes by.
A lot of things can be seen in this place. Aillenne contained what she saw in her head and analyze the factors for her plans.
It may not be grand, but it can shake the empire.
Aillenne looked at a piece of paper containing a brief description of the place she wanted badly to go.
Standing in front of the bar, Aillenne looked up to confirm her location.
"Call me"*
It is an information guild disguised as a bar filled with drunkards.
Aillenne went in and the chattering suddenly came to halt. Their attention was directed her way. The eyes that stared at her seems like shards piercing her body.
"Hey kid, you must have been lost eh? I advise you to go back before anything else. Go away. This place isn't for you. Beg on the other side of the alley."
The man with a big scar on his face said roughly. He folded his arms in his chest and looked at her with intimidation.
Aillenne pulled her chin high disregarding the man and went towards the counter.
"Hey! This brat---"
"I'll order two bathbomb grenades with a pinch of diamond salt in a 111 gold bottle."
The man and the crowd got silent again.
The seemingly nonsense words spouted by the kid's mouth rendered the people in the bar speechless. Some people who came just to drink and had fun laughed belatedly at her nonsensical words, but those who worked for the guild had a different expression.
'How did she? It is a code used only by high end customers.'
The man in a bartender outfit looked intently at her. He smiled after watching her trembling hands and agitated face.
Interesting.
"Yes, I will take you to your order right away."
He led the trembling Aillenne and they passed through various doors before coming to a luxurious looking room.
'How much money does this guild rakes everyday? The money I have brough might be so insignificant.'
The floors were covered with soft red fur and the ornaments around looked shiny and expensive.
But beyond that, a young man sitting in the desk filled with papers came to view.
It was another extra that appeared at least three times in her current read, but had the capability to stir the story.
He's the man Aillenne surely need for her plans.