The Eye Of The Snake

2 AMIL

Cold. Much colder than anything she had ever felt, with constant shivers running up and down from her heels to her neck. She couldn't see anything, only darkness, and if she strained her eyes, she could make out faint sparks in the distance—or perhaps it was her mind trying to see something. A thousand thoughts raced through Amil's mind about what was happening to her. Perhaps she had found the key to another world, or maybe she was dead. The young woman tried to shake off such thoughts and forced herself to move, if she still had a body at all. After much effort, she managed to take a step, and what she felt chilled her even more, reminding her of the sensation of walking barefoot in the snow. Amil tried to regain her sight by quickly opening and closing her eyes. Gradually, her vision returned, and she immediately recognized the place she was standing in—the main courtyard of Glaia, the main stronghold of the snowy region and home to the Shakin family. She remembered being there just a few days ago.

Moments later, another reality hit her: the young princess of Glaia was standing exactly as her mother had brought her into the world. This deeply embarrassed Amil until she realized that there wasn't a soul in sight apart from her. She looked up at the sky, and before her eyes, a shooting star the size of the moon amazed her. She tried to follow it, but with every step she took, the snow beneath her feet seemed to swallow her, preventing her from moving. Her vision began to fade again.

Amil woke up in her bed, agitated by what she had just experienced. Or had it all been a dream? It had certainly felt far more real than a dream. Upon waking, she realized she had only two things: her nightgown and a necklace that had belonged to her grandmother. It was moon-shaped, with a small, pearly white stone inside. She remembered her grandmother telling her it was a protective amulet. Amil opened the necklace and took out the little pearl, staring at it with the certainty that there was some connection between that mysterious dream and her family's relic.

–Amil... Amil, come out already! –a voice called from behind the door–. No one wants to face a day like today, but that's life, and it only gets worse with time, I assure you.

Amil stood up and threw a robe over herself before heading calmly to the door and opening it.

–Oh, for the love of all that's sacred –said the person at the door, who turned out to be Immi, Amil's maid–. You're still like that! Your mother's already waiting for you to head to the river.

At that moment, Amil remembered what was so important and what she was supposed to be getting ready for: today was her father's funeral. The news of her father's death hadn't surprised her, as he had been visibly frail during his final days, and Amil had mentally prepared herself for the inevitable. However, what gave the young woman headaches was the fact that, with her father gone, she was now expected to take his place as the only heir. She had to become the queen of Glaia, which didn't sound terrible at first, but it also meant marrying a stranger to secure a good alliance for her house. On top of that, she would never live the adventures she had dreamed of as a child. In many ways, she felt as though she were being sentenced to a life lived solely for Glaia, and though she loved her homeland, she didn't feel ready for that responsibility.

–I'm sorry, Immi. For a moment, I wanted to believe it was all just a nightmare.

–It's natural to want to avoid moments like these, but facing them is what makes us stronger –Immi said, unaware that what truly troubled Amil was her position as successor–. Besides, with how beautiful you are, you'll be ready in no time.

Amil was indeed a very attractive young woman. Her skin was as pale as the snow itself, and her black hair created a striking contrast. Her gray eyes captivated anyone who dared look directly into them, and her face, with its sharp cheekbones and delicate features, often reminded people of a cat. Many said she resembled a feline because of her eyes, her high cheekbones, and her slender build.