Strangely Familiar - The Stolen Fate | On Hold

Chapter 4

"Sometimes the questions are complicated, and the answers are simple."- Dr. Seuss

***

Naina was sipping her morning tea.

"It's a pleasure to meet you finally." A man materialized in front of her. He had a long but slightly curvy face, high cheekbones, and small yet sharp intelligent eyes. His thin lips twitched upwards at the sight of her. Naina halted her hold on her cup mid-way, her lips parted as she stared at him.

"Sorry for dropping in."

"Popping in, that's more like it." She mumbled.

He grinned and shifted the attendant chair closer to him but did not sit. He was looking at her in expectation.

"You are the one who brought me here?" Naina didn't know how many humans and magical beings lived here. She hadn't had much chance to step out of her room.

"Bran," he bowed his head in respect, "at your service, Saviour."

She had no inkling of the admiration she had gained beyond the kingdom's boundaries. His world.

Bran, a knight famed for his gallantry and bravery with an impeccable sense of courtesy and courage, treated her with respect. He recognized that she had sacrificed herself to save her brother, making her a hero in his eyes - something he was far too humble to share. Even though immortality had gifted him eternal youth, he valued mortal life above all else.

Narrowing her eyes, she stuttered in an uncertain tone. "Come again?"

"That's what you are, the Saviour in this new 'Mixed dimension - Spectral Biverse'," He flicked his fingers, and a newspaper flew into his hand as he handed it over to her. The headlines were the first thing that caught her eye.

Where is our Saviour? Find her and you shall be rewarded.

There was her photograph at the end of the article.

Damn it! Naina frowned inwardly. There were better photographs of her, but it did not matter anymore. She sighed, folding the newspaper.

"This has made the headline ever since you disappeared," Bran explained, disappearing the newspaper. "He has been looking for you ever since."

Naina did know what to make of it. She decided to go for something lighter.

"What is this place?"

"It's a facility center for magical beings. But we have appointed and aided humans as well to help us in curing both magical and non-magical situations."

"You don't discriminate?" Naina was startled. She did not know why the words slipped from her mouth.

"Because I'm an Immortal?"

He chuckled and his eyes sparkled. He was silhouetted by a beam of morning sunlight that streamed into the room, highlighting his thick hair and vibrant smile. She felt her heart skip a beat. She couldn't decide if it was the light or the natural charm that illuminated him. "We are not supposed to discriminate under His Highness's rule, although there are some of his subjects who don't exactly follow those commands."

"The mage?"

"The Seekers." He corrected her.

Her eyebrows squished together, she resisted the urge to scratch her head. There was so much she missed out on. "The who?"

"Magical beings, extremely cunning and notorious. You do not want to cross paths with them. Somehow, they gained Royalty's favor and now disobey him right under his nose."