The Lost Dynasty

Chapter 2

A source of light gleamed through the cracks of the heavy lid.

Kyda's eyes fluttered open, the bright light seeping through her lids. She assessed her surroundings, realising she was stuck in a rare, highly valuable, one-of-a-kind chest, that she had done some damage on. She lightly groaned in defeat and looked down at her hands; they were red and sore from banging her bare fist on the wood. "I hate this internship", she whined to herself. Kyda leaned her back against the floor of the trunk and her legs in a 90-degree angle, trying to kick the lid with all her force.

Not caring if she is damaging a priceless artefact.

"Did you hear that?" a voice from outside slipped in through the wood. Kyda's eyes widen in shock as she lets her legs slide down quietly.
"H hello?" hesitation was present in her voice.
"Someone is definitely in there; call the guards" It could be heard that there were multiple people outside of the chest, and they began to panic, and the volume of their footsteps began to decrease as they left.  "NO, NO, NO! Are you kidding me?!" Kyda's voice was tight with frustration as she looked around, her patience rapidly thinning. "Is anyone still out there?"

Today was not her day.

From going to a job that she wasn't interested in, being stuck at the reception desk doing absolutely nothing, to now being trapped in some old priceless artefacts that she most likely damaged.
Anger swept through her body; she began to kick and hit the only entrance out of the trunk, throwing all the force and anger she had in her body while screaming to be let out.

"I'M TIRED OF ALL OF THIS, JUST LET ME OUT; I DON'T WANT TO BE IN THIS GLORIFIED CEMETERY!".

Without any warning, the chest fell to its side, and the lid swung open, resulting in Kyda desperately flinging her own body out of the chest and onto the solid, hard ground, accompanied by some gasps from the observers. Kyda was all red in the face from embarrassment. "I'm so sorry; I didn't expect anyone to be around— I didn't mean what I—" Kyda stammered, her voice trailing off as she kept her gaze fixed on the floor, still expecting the familiar creak of polished wooden boards beneath her feet. But instead, her foot met the smooth, cool surface of pristine white marble. Her pulse quickened.
Had she been moved to another room of the museum?
Tentatively, she lifted her head, her heart racing, only to freeze in shock as her eyes slowly took in her new surroundings. The air was no longer thick with the musty scent of old wood and dust. Instead, it was filled with the intoxicating blend of spices, fresh tropical plants, and the delicate fragrance of roses. Everything around her— the elegance, the intricate details, the soft glow of golden light—was like nothing she'd ever seen before.

The strangers in front of her were dressed in the finest silks, their clothes flowing with an effortless elegance that seemed to shimmer under the light. Rich fabrics in deep emerald, royal blue, and burnished gold hugged their frames, each piece intricately embroidered with delicate patterns that seemed centuries old. They were adorned with gleaming jewels—pearls, sapphires, and diamonds—catching the light like constellations in the blazing sun that streamed through the towering, arched windows.
The men wore long, flowing kurtas with intricate thread work, while the women draped themselves in resplendent saris, their waistbands embellished with heavy gold. Every movement was an expression of opulence, their traditional attire more lavish than anything Kyda had ever seen in the modern world. It was as if they had stepped out of another time entirely—one preserved in the museum's ancient relics, yet alive before her now.
Kyda was left speechless, her mouth dry. A world of unimaginable wealth and tradition. There was no mistaking it now: she was no longer in the construction exhibit.

Among the group of observers, an elderly man stepped forward, his presence commanding immediate respect. His silver beard flowed with the weight of age and wisdom, and in his hand, he carried a cane that was nothing short of magnificent. The handle was a golden lion's head, its eyes gleaming emeralds that seemed to watch her with an intensity that matched the gaze of those around him. It was the same lion-headed cane she had glimpsed earlier, near the chest she had emerged from, its majestic design unmistakable in its symbolism.
Kyda began to crawl backwards while still facing him. She had to watch her own back...
... till her back hit a dead end.
She was freaking out

"Who are you? What gives you the right to trespass, the great Emperor Akbar the Fourth, palace?" The elderly man bellowed.

Kyda just sat there in astonishment with her mouth gaped, still in shock from what she was witnessing. One of the guards covered in gold armour came forward and leaned towards the old man's left ear. "I think she a mute, Dr" Another guard took a step forward to lean into his right ear. "She had hidden herself in the new trunk you requested for your office".
The senior man waved his hands to the guards away to re-establish his personal space and scanned Kyda's appearance up and down, noticing her jeans, a material he had never seen before, and a poor-quality sweater made from polyester, along with her long black soft wave hair. "She may be a foreigner... or possibly a spy" The older bearded man presented her with a cold glance.  Kyda had enough of all these confusions. She hated being left out of some sort of loop, especially when she had no clue what was going on.

Could this be a possible kidnapping?

Kyda scrambled to her feet, her heart pounding as she stared at the group before her, the weight of their silent judgment pressing down on her. She could feel the tension in the air—thick, like a storm ready to break. She didn't trust them, and from the way their eyes flicked over her with cold calculation, she knew they didn't trust her either.
Without warning, the guards moved swiftly, stepping into fighting positions with practised precision. Their swords and spears were aimed directly at her, their grips firm and unyielding. The message was clear—she was a threat, and they were ready to act. Kyda's pulse raced, but she raised her hands slowly, the instinct to surrender overpowering her pride. She was outmatched and surrounded—there was no choice but to give in.

"Woa, woa, woa, do I look like someone who is going to hurt you guys?... I mean, look at me," she tried to justify herself; she was clear that she was not wearing the apparel to fight back, and her build compared to theirs was absolutely pathetic.
The old man raised his hands, fingers adorned with gold rings, each one gleaming with wealth and authority, signalling the guards to lower their weapons. He came forwards again but this time she didn't back away, in fact as soon as he came closer the more, she realised that she was taller than him, maybe because he was hunched over. "I am the Royal Dr and advisor of the emperor. I am the man who knows all... and you were in my medicine trunk; it has taken me many months to retrieve this furnish". Kyda allowed his words sink into her brain before facing the furniture that she came out from " This is way better than the one we had at the Museum" as it was not eroded and fragile.

"Museum?... Is that the Empire you're from? I have never heard of it" he presumed all her claims were all false statements. "No, no, no, I'm from England, it's a country... by the way, you guys are kind of old-fashioned. What era are you dressed up in?" she hoped for a logical explanation.

The Dr eyes widened in shock like he was going to have a heart attack. "Old-fashioned? How dare you... these are the finest fabric that you will probably ever witness". Kyda nodded "That dedicated to the roleplay, huh?" she spoke under her breath before facing him again. "Okay, so what era are you guys acting out? I mean, what year is it... It's so realistic; it feels like I'm in the time period". The Dr and the guards displayed complete utter confusion, then back at her, "It's the year 1784".

Kyda nodded. "Well, you guys are nailing the part... keep up the good work; I'm just gonna find my mum" She tried to remove herself from the situation through the nearest exit. When she took a step closer to the exit and to those before her, one of the guards believed she was going to cause harm. He wheeled his machete towards her, but Kyda managed to move swiftly to the side. However, he slit her arm, making her gasp at the sudden affliction. She held onto her freshly wounded arm. It wasn't a deep cut, more like just a paper cut. Nevertheless, it didn't hurt.

Kyda stared at the group in shock "THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU?!" she comprehended this may not be some acting event being held by the museum. The Dr raised both of his hands up, telling them to halt. As the Dr was trying to calm down the guards, Kyda, with logic, wasn't going to stick around. She threw herself out of one of the glassless large arched windows, landed on her hands and knees and ran as her life depended on it since it most likely was as she applied pressure onto her lightly wounded arm.

The Dr turned around to find her gone and then faced the guards.
"Where did she go?".

━━━━━━༻✧༺━━━━━━

Kyda stumbled into a breathtaking open courtyard, her senses immediately bombarded by its overwhelming beauty. The sunlight, sharp and unrelenting, reflected off the immaculate white stone floors and walls, almost blinding her with its brilliance.
Around her, the scene seemed to pulse with life and colour. Women in intricate, vibrant shalwar kameez, churidars, and gararas moved gracefully, their garments adorned with glistening gold necklaces, bangles, earrings, and tikkas placed delicately on their foreheads. Dupattas draped over their heads like regal veils, completing the picture of elegance. The wealth on display here was more lavish than anything the richest people from the modern day could ever afford—an almost absurd level of opulence that seemed to transcend time.
Peacocks strutted elegantly across the courtyard, some stopping to be fed by the women, their iridescent feathers flashing in the sun. Kyda took a tentative step forward, but a massive elephant's foot appeared before her, causing her to stumble back in surprise. The elephant, unfazed, continued its slow stroll through the courtyard as though its presence was the most natural thing in the world. No one seemed to notice or care.
Exotic birds, their feathers as vibrant as jewels, flitted around the lush greenery in the centre, while a fountain in the middle of the yard sent streams of crystal-clear water splashing into the air, glinting like diamonds in the sunlight.
It was all so magnificent, so impossibly extravagant, that Kyda felt almost dizzy, her mind struggling to process the richness and beauty of it all. This wasn't a place that belonged to the modern world. It was something out of another time entirely—an opulence so extreme that it made modern wealth seem almost laughable by comparison.

Could it be a Mirage?

Can something so pure and beautiful exist on this earth?

"Am I dead?" Kyda questions herself.

Before she could take in the whole scenery, a loud and frightening voice hits her eardrum: "THERE SHE IS!". She looked up at the source of the sound, and it was the guards on the balcony, pointing down at her with authority. Without sparing another moment, she sprinted across the courtyard, making the women scream in terror and hide their faces with their dupattas as the guards entered. The animals that were present began chaotic, and an elephant almost stamped on the chasers.

Kyda made it safely across, but she did not dare to stop running. She feared if she stopped, a spear would appear in her back, talk about a backstabber.

Droplets of sweat trickled down the side of Kyda's face, and her mouth felt dry, as if all the moisture had been sucked out. The heat was unbearable, making every inch of her body feel like it was on fire. Her feet, trapped in thick thermal socks and trainers, were damp and aching, the oppressive moisture sticking to her skin with every step. It was the kind of discomfort that made every movement feel like a struggle, and all she could think about was finding a way to cool down and get some water. She managed to find shelter from the guards and shade from the heat underneath some random and yet dazzling ornate green parasol featuring intricate golden floral patterns, decorative fringe, dark brown wooden pole, and tiered white stand.

"I can't be in England... It's never this hot... damn, I'll never take rain for granted again"

She flopped to the ground to catch her breath and closed her eyes. Her inner eyelid shade was changed by someone's shadow cast upon her.
Her eyes are slightly open to find a middle-aged lady in an Emerald green churidar with a matching dupatta covering her head and her gold Nath nose ring, almost blinding Kyda.

"HOW DARE YOU USE THE EMPRESS PARASOL!"

Kyda sat up quickly, knowing where this was going.
"What is your name?" the woman's eyes were practically shooting bullets into her.

"Tumhare ma"
(Translation: your mum)

Kyda muttered in frustration, her patience wearing thin, but there was no time to stop. With a sharp breath, she forced herself to run once more, her legs screaming in protest as the lady screamed like a wailing bobcat for the guards.

Great, now she had 2 sets of people out to get her head.
Kyda was gasping for air; they were on her tail, and she was out of shape, not a great mix.
It was like a whole army was after her. Kyda bolted up the first staircase she could find.
Kyda burst onto the open rooftop, the cool breeze immediately brushing against her skin, offering a brief but welcome respite. Her eyes were drawn to the expansive view that stretched far beyond the unknown place—this was no place she recognised, and certainly not England. The landscape before her was unfamiliar yet captivating, with vibrant colours and sprawling architecture that spoke of a world far older than hers.
Scattered across the rooftop were several Charpai (traditional woven beds), their intricate designs gently swaying in the breeze. Kyda's heart caught for a moment—she hadn't seen them in years. The sight instantly took her back to her last visit to the homeland, where the scent of the air, the warmth of the sun, and the sound of laughter had filled her senses. It was a fleeting, bittersweet reminder of home.

With her Nana (grandfather).

She jumped from one Charpai to another like it was a game of hopscotch.
The guards, main aim was to be fast enough to catch her. Consequently, it seemed they had placed themselves at a disadvantage as they tripped and fell over each other as they tried to re-enact Kyda's performance. As she made it to the end of the large quantity of Charpai laid out, her eyes laid on a large and not surprised, gold cage holding exotic birds that she didn't even know existed.
She slammed herself into the cage door and assessed how far the guards were.
As soon as they entered the designated area, Kyda unlatched the cage door, and the flock of wild and yet-to-be tamed birds flew into the crowd of guards without warning.

Attacking them.

However, Kyda was at a dead-end, and the birds could only buy so much time for her.
The adrenaline raced through her veins, and her pupils shrunk.
Her mind wasn't working.
But it may be for the best.

Kyda leapt off the rooftop.
The gust of wind cooled her burning skin and danced with her hair.
For a moment, it felt like she was invincible.
Like she was flying.
It's just a dream.
She will wake up, and all of this is just her wild imagination.
...

Gravity began to take its place.
She would casually go back to the reception desk like nothing happened.
The ground was getting closer.
And continue to watch 'The Office' with Priscilla.

"IT'S NOT A DREAMMMM!!!" Kyda screamed from the top of her lungs as she came to the realisation.

Miracles seemed to have been bestowed upon her. Kyda felt herself free-fall, the ground rushing toward her with a terrifying speed, a sharp instinctual panic rising in her chest. The marble floor was only a meter away—she was certain this would be the end. Then, with a deafening splash, she hit the deep, crystal-clear water, the shock of the cold sinking into her skin like a sudden breath of air after suffocating.
The frigid water hit her burnt skin like a wave of relief, the coolness soothing the searing pain that had been gnawing at her. Her body twisted in the water from the force of the impact, the air knocked from her lungs as she sank deeper, her limbs heavy and disoriented. The muffled sounds of the world above her blurred, leaving only the soothing rush of water in her ears.
For a brief, fleeting moment, she could hear another splash—someone else entering the pool—but her fading consciousness couldn't grasp who or what it was. The last thing she remembered, through the dimming light, was the intricate mosaic design of the pool's floor, its vibrant colours slowly melting into darkness as her body went limp and the world faded away.

{Authors note: this is a rewritten update version as my grammer and spelling has been improved.

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