Fall into a romantic, magical fantasy with Zia Lathyrus, a young heroine with dreadful knowledge of her past life in a new world. From lonely office worker to aristocratic beauty, Zia is swept into keeping the world she once read in a novel safe fro...
This Story is categorized as a "why choose" romantic fantasy, with themes of sexual relationships, magic, and whimsical worlds. This story is inspired by isekais and has references to modern-day earth occasionally and Black femme experiences.
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Chapter One: Limbo of Curls
Jani looked over her mistress, the youngest daughter of the Lathyrus barony, with pity. Three months of a bedridden state, with no clue about what happened to her. She poured a fresh water bowl and placed a soft toilette to soak up the medicinal tonic the Mage recommenced to aid her comfort. Another maid stepped in with a new set of flowers.
"Ah Clara, place those flowers into the vase by the desk... it's a shame Miss Zia is unable to tend to them herself." Jani commanded softly; although her mistress lay weak and unmoving, she still felt the urge to keep her voice quiet.
"Jani...who keeps sending these flowers...they are extraordinary." Clara inquired in a soft whisper. Jani turned to look at her fellow maid and shook her head.
"It's a gift from that poor lass, Lily Umbra... she's been sending flowers every week since Zia closed her eyes," Jani remarked. Clara wiped at her eyes to dab away tears.
"Will miss Zia ever wake up? How long can she stay like this?" Clara whispered. Jani shook her head, she didn't have the answers, but she prayed to the Goddess that her mistress would wake up every day and night.
Clara stepped out of the room, leaving Jani to watch over the sleeping woman whose pink curls framed her face like a mourning veil. She reached over and pulled the sheets further up to protect her from the winter morning's chill.
"Oh, miss Zia... the whole Barony needs you back. We have no life without you here," Jani pleaded softly. She took a seat at the wooden chair and resumed her mending. Her eyes never stayed too long on the work in her hands; she kept vigil over the woman whose life lay limbo.
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Deep within an unknown plane of consciousness, Zia struggled in the dark world that surrounded her. Her body felt bound by force she held no name for. Memories of her life flashed in small bursts, and she struggled to remember what happened to her. All she could recall was walking home from work, exhausted and barely awake after putting in some overtime. The last thing she remembered clearly was the flash of bright light.
A soft voice called out to her into the distance,
"Come back to us, Zia."
"I'm trying...." Zia answered, but she knew that her voice was only a whispering presence in her mind. She tried to wiggle her fingers and stir her body awake, but nothing was working.
