WHAT SORCERY IS THIS?

"I don't know how it happened. There's even poison in her body, but if something happens to her, we cannot just risk our lives by telling her about us. If she has no memories of us, I don't care anymore. I'm just happy that she's alive and well."

"How come she got poisoned?"

"You know that no one can poison us. There's only one in a million chances that it could happen to us, and you know what that means."

"But you told me you lost sign of her life. How is that possible?" May retorted in worry. "Or is she different from us now?"

"I'm not really sure."

Both May and Linares sighed in frustration. Since it was Linares who watched over the identification check earlier, May had no doubt that Amber was the right Amber who went missing several years ago. But the strange way she was acting and the mystery that shrouded her, was something that they needed to unveil.

*

Inside her room, Amber told her system to check every nook and cranny of her room to make sure that no one was peeking at her since the inn was made of light materials. Anyone could poke a hole in her wall and peek into her room. It was disgusting to think of it, but it was very possible. She had seen it in many classical dramas when she was still on Earth.

System: "All cleared."

Amber happily placed her bag on the table and opened her space storage. She went inside her house and opened her cupboard to take some of her secret food. She wanted to take a bath inside her home, but she thought that the receptionist might think she was strange for not taking a bath. So, she could only endure for now while blending with the crowd's norm.

After taking a small box of groceries as well as a change of clothes for later, she went to check the fox inside the big cage she bought from the system store. The little white fur ball was still sleeping and based on the system's appraisal, it was calm and not in pain. Although it was not completely healed yet, Amber felt happy that it was not suffering anymore.

A few minutes later, she went out of her space storage and placed everything she took on the table.

While sitting on her bed, she took a piece of snack and chatted with her system.

[Did you make a map of the town?]

System: "I did. I was already analyzing the whole place ever since we departed the forest. I also found the best spot for you to build your own store."

[You are the best! I know I could count on you. What do you think should I sell? Will they find it strange that I have extraordinary products when I just came with nothing?]

System: "Trust me. They won't. You can just do whatever you want to survive in this world. You should not allow anyone to trample over you, but you should also be careful. You are in a different world and we don't know what kind of strong people live on this planet or whatever this place is called."

[Why do you not have any idea about this world I'm living in?]

System: "I don't know. I have no idea of my origin. I just woke up to a voice telling me to help you survive. That's all."

[Hmm... What kind of conspiracy is this?] Amber thought while munching on the chocolate bar cake with vanilla filling. [Anyway, let's check the list of quests first.]

She pressed the bracelet on her wrist and her status board appeared right before her eyes. She clicked on the quests and read the long list which showed the things she needed to do in town. [It even included some quests with noble people. Are you sure you are helping me survive or killing me? Didn't Lina say earlier that the inner town is another place that common folks should not enter?]

System: "You are different. You can go wherever you want to go?"

[Including the sanctuary?]

System: "If you have enough level and you are sure you can protect yourself; yes, you can go there."

Amber rolled her eyes at her system's response. Both of them were the same. They were just using each other to measure their own capability.

*

Half an hour ago...

Evening was slowly creeping into town as the sun slowly set below the horizon. Street lamps were turned on one after another using the magic stones that glowed only when it was dark.

At this moment, Regis was riding on a horse carriage on his way back to the palace after visiting his cousin's home. Even though they were blood-related, his relatives didn't live in the palace like him. They were living in another town where they ruled as dukes and duchess.

The only people who could live in the palace were the King, his Queen, and his future successors. If one day, he would finally choose the next ruler, the other children would be given land to manage. Unfortunately, such a rule wasn't applied all the time because the siblings would kill each other for the throne.

They would scheme against each other to make sure that they would become the next ruler. It was what Regis thought about each day. He never really wanted the throne, but the late King chose him. Now, not a single day has passed without him worrying over his sudden death and it made him become a cruel person who thought of his personal safety more than anyone else.

With his eyes closed as he waited for the carriage to arrive at the palace, he felt the faint and strange pull of energy. It was the same feeling when he was watching the Mananga forest and thought that the child was still alive.

"Stop the carriage!" Regis told the coachman and the latter pulled the rein of the horses.

People looked at the carriage in front of them and recognized the crest of their King. They immediately bowed their heads in respect and fear while waiting for the man to step out, but they only saw a gust of wind and nothing else. No one stepped out of the carriage even after ten minutes had passed.

The coachman didn't do anything either.

"Can we leave now?" one of the townsfolk asked in a whisper because they had no idea if they should go or not since the carriage was still there and the ruler hadn't said anything yet.

"Let's wait for a little bit more. I don't want to lose my head," answered another folk who kept his head bowed.

Meanwhile, in the middle of the town with the hood of his cloak covering his face, Regis scanned the area. He tried to feel where the pull of energy was the strongest, but after some time, it was gone.

[What kind of sorcery is this? I must tell Linares about this strange thing.] Regis told himself before walking to a dark alley and vanished.