Maya stared at the meager amount of silver coins in her small pouch, as she sat in the train which was slowly coming to a stop at its destination. Maya was thinking of how she would have to pay her entire fortune for the transportation fare.
A displeased expression formed on her face.
'Worst of it all, my fortune is borrowed!'
'Bless you, Tafyla. My beloved equally poor friend who's still willing to lend me her inheritance'.
“Hello, all passengers should please disembark at Worchester. Thank you.”
The driver's voice came from the speakers, alerting every individual in the train as the train came to a halt. Those who were asleep, awakened. Those who were awake, began packing up their things to exit the train.
Maya begrudgingly lifted her duffel bag and walked along with the passengers to the exit. Where each person paid silver coins to an attendant in red and black uniform.
‘Humanoid AI's.’ Maya noted.
‘Flashy display.’ She commented as she gazed into the light blue eyes of the robot. Maya's eyes occasionally glanced at the exposed 'flesh' of the robot which was not covered by the artificial skin.
Pieces of its skin were pealed from the upper jaw to neck. It unnerved Maya why they couldn't just maintain the robot, but had left the glaring image of the robot's fake bloodstream and flesh open. It was roo realistic. And the red and black color wasn't pleasing at all.
Taking her eyes off, Maya received her change - a single copper coin discount off the original price of twenty silvers.
“Maya Gazi?” The robot inquiried in an apathetic tone.
Startled, Maya raised a brow. Seeing the robot maintain its unchanged posture, with its fake smiling face turned serious, Maya slowly nodded in affirmation.
“Please step aside, and wait for a bit.”
Maya did as instructed, thinking about why the robot attendant would have her do such a thing.
'Wait for what?' She wondered.
'I did not commit any crime... but this doesn't feel like the apprehension of a criminal.'
'Mistake?'
'AI's rarely make any mistake... so what's this?'
Maya waited patiently as the AI collected all the fees from the passengers, and then it turned to her once its job was done.
“Candidate to the King of Hearts, all applicants are expected to be escorted by the delegated guards. Please take the left route and meet your assigned guard.”
The attendant pointed to the left route, where a door guarded by various bodyguards was located.
Maya never knew why such a conspicuous route was needed. What do people do secretly in such a public setting of lesser security? Shouldn't things that needed to be guarded be guarded in private? Especially odd looking doors that stood out of place, leading to the unknown. But now, she's found a reason.
'Used to escort 'important personnels' if they're ever caught riding a train.'
'Quite odd. Should it have even existed in the first place? Must have other reasons.'
Maya nodded, and without further questions, walked to the direction. Maya arrived at the door, and was stopped by the intimidating stare of the guards.
“Identity?” One of them asked.
“Candidate of the royal selection to the King of Hearts.” Maya had adjusted to the script well.
YOU ARE READING
Allure of Fate
RomanceBetween surviving as a college student in an institution of deadly Magick, or becoming the hundredth wife to a seemingly fiendish King, which would you choose? Maya Gazi is stuck with one option: Both. But perhaps both is way better than becoming a...
