Chapter Text
This has to be a dream right? If so, it is one that I do not enjoy one bit with all the different events that are happening. It is also the longest dream I have ever experienced in my life as well.
“Are you alright?” Tarik asked while we were walking towards the castle at Jano Rion here in Zhong.
“Of course not.” I answered. “We’re going to a party when Zerif and his Conquerors are about to destroy all of Erdas!”
“Again with this, Rollan?” Tarik asked as he stood in front of me. “I think you’ve been reading too much fiction that you’re confusing it with reality.”
I just gave a sigh and nodded, this wasn’t even the Tarik I knew and grew fond of anyways. That Tarik was gone… one way or another. “Sure.”
Tarik nodded and we continued to walk towards the castle. What is worse than no one believing you? A certain princess not believing you.
“Remember, we are invited to this party even if technically we shouldn’t be here.” He told me. “Be in your best behavior”
“Don’t worry.” I gave him a reassuring smile. “I’m always on my best behavior with these large gatherings.”
Tarik raised his eyebrow as we stopped just outside the castle, I could hear his suspicions already without him saying anything. “Don’t worry, Tarik. I’ll even raise my pinky finger whenever I drink!”
“That’s not what I was-”
“Ah! The two of you must be Greencloaks.” An adult man said.
“Yes we are.” I replied, not waiting for Tarik’s response. “We have green cloaks as you can see.”
Tarik cleared his throat before adding. “Yes, General Chin, we are the Greencloaks Olvan has sent as representatives, my name is Tarik and this here is Rollan, one of our newer recruits.”
The two shook each other’s hands for quite a long time. “Good to know.”
Before the two of us could enter, a certain warrior princess caught my attention, to which the general introduced her to us.
“I believe the two of you know my daughter.” General Chin said.
And there she was, who wouldn’t know about the general’s daughter called Meilin? Except… her makeup is off the roof, did she use to look like that?
“Of course, General Chin.” Tarik nodded before looking at Meilin. “Good evening, Meilin.”
“Good evening, Greencloak Tarik.” She bowed her head after replying back.
It was my turn to greet her since it’s only natural anyway. I bowed down to her like any gentleman would. “Good evening, your royal highness.”
She nodded in return. “Good evening to you too, Greencloak Rollan.”
That’s it? No snarky remarks? No eyes rolling? No trying to kill me with a handkerchief? I guess her father was there too- no… I forgot… I am alone in this new world .
“Greencloak Tarik, would you mind going with me to my commanders to talk about something… more serious? ” General Chin asked. “In the meantime, maybe my daughter could acquaint herself with your new recruit.”
“I don’t mind at all, general.” Tarik smiled back before walking towards me and helping fix my bow tie and whispered to me. “Remember Rollan, best behavior .”
“Of course.” I replied with another reassuring smile.
As Tarik and General Chin enter the castle to mingle with other adults, I’m left here with a Meilin I’m not familiar with whether it is just an act or not. It was actually starting to get a bit awkward with the silence.
“So… how is Zhong?” I asked, trying to destroy this weird aura on the atmosphere. “Are there problems in or around it?”
Meilin looked at me before answering. “I unfortunately do not know the affairs of Zhong as a whole, you must ask that question to my father or to the Emperor himself.”
“Right…” I replied. This was really weird as she still acts formal towards me even without anyone here! It’s scarier than her normal version I kinda got used to.
GAH! I can’t find a way to go home or even get comfortable in this world while waiting for a way to go home and help fight Zerif!
“What’s with the formalities, princess?” I decided to push some buttons. “Don’t worry, your tutors aren’t here to judge you.”
“Wha- I- It is- I’m not a princess .” Meilin’s eyes narrowed and I could feel a tinge of annoyance coming from her voice. “It’s just expected for the host to be kind towards his or her guests, which… includes you.”
“Are you saying you’re not having thoughts about you accidentally pushing me to my death if I climb the walls of Jano Rion?” I asked.
She hesitated to answer, this meant that I was finally getting inside her head. “Wha- Why would I have such thoughts about doing something to you, Greencloak Rollan?”
“Because I know who you really are, princess. I know that you’re not really all that formal or kind to someone as annoying or charming as me. I know that you are a capa- good… okay-ish fighter because you have been training day in day out-”
Before I could finish my speech, she pulled me in a corner and strangled me. “How do you know that? Have you been spying on me?”
I couldn’t answer partly because I didn’t know how to tell her that I’m somehow not from her world, but mostly because she actually found a handkerchief to strangle me with. “I… can’t… talk…”
Finally, she loosened her grip and I was able to stand up, even offered my hand to help her stand up but she refused, looks like she’s really herself. “I am not a spy-”
“If you lie to me, Greencloak…” Any trace of Meilin’s formality is starting to leave. “I swear you’re not going to enjoy the rest of your life.”
Yep that’s her alright.
“Listen, I don’t know how and why, but somehow I got transported from my world to your world, and this world doesn’t make sense!” I tried to reason with the princess that cannot be reasoned with. “I have to get back to my world so that I can fight Zerif and the Conquerors!”
“Zerif? Conquerors?” Meilin’s eyebrow lifted. “You’re probably influenced by something.”
See? The princess that cannot be reasoned with, though if we swapped positions I would’ve said the same thing. “I don’t care whether you believe me or not, can you please just don’t block me from finding a way to return?”
Meilin took some time to answer. “I wouldn’t really want to do anything with you anyways.”
Well… better than a no I guess.
“Meilin!” General Chin, who was with Tarik, called as the two walked towards us.
“Yes father?” She replied.
“Could you please show our guests to their rooms?” He answered.
“Which guests, father?” Meilin bowed while asking. Looks like I can finally leave this version of her to try and find a way to go back to my world… and see the same girl when I return.
“Why of course our Greencloak friends!”
…WHAT?
“Tarik, what does the general mean?” I asked Tarik, who didn’t seem surprised at all… which could only mean one thing.
“It means… we’ll have to stay a bit longer at Jano Rion.” Tarik smiled before whispering to me. “It’s for the safety of the General and his daughter, the Empire is under attack.”
Those words can only mean one thing… Conquerors…
“By whom?” I whispered back.
“Anti-Emperor sentiments.” Tarik replied before walking away with General Chin. “This way, Rollan.”
Anti-Emperor sentiments? Is it an internal issue? When has that ever become a problem for the Greencloaks? I mean, it hasn’t been long since I kinda joined but I already assumed that they were more spiritual warriors than political ones.
“Greencloak.” Meilin whispered behind my back and my heart might actually stop.
“What? You almost gave me a heart attack!” I told her but she held her Zhongese hairpin like a knife and pointed it at my stomach.
“I’m not done questioning you.” I forget how scary she was whenever she wasn't hotheaded.
Well… I guess this is my life now, at least for the short term… right? I’ll return home… right?