Archive Of Potentialities.

Short Story: Dreamer [8]

Chapter 8: Trapped in Amber
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“Urgh…”

I didn't have the presence of mind to stop myself from groaning like a large animal as I groggily rose from bed.

Yellow light poured through a nearby window, but I didn't feel any warmth from it.

Placing my bare feet on the cold ground, I took a moment to observe my bed again.

It was a king sized thing that felt soft enough to drown in, but I still felt suspicious about it.

Carrera had seemingly made it out of thin air yesterday, after all. 

I tousled my already messy hair as I wondered if the piece of furniture could even be considered real.

“I guess that's a fantasy world for you..”

Rising to my feet, I made my way to the window that didn't have any glass in it. It was like a hole in the stone that made up this castle.

The world outside was as terrifying as ever. Infinite explosions going off in the sky and black soil that had surely seen better days.

It was an uninviting and potentially dangerous world, but it was also a world I could freely observe.

Memories of my time in captivity invaded my mind.

Dark surroundings, and darker people. I remembered how suffocated I felt, how confused.

But now, gazing at this vast but dreadful world with my own two eyes. Touching the cold stone of the castle with hands that were free of bondage, and thinking of my future with a mind unclouded by fear, it finally sank into me.

“I'm free.”

Nathan Kim was free.

I didn't have a mirror at the moment, but I knew I was smiling. Today, Carrera will begin to teach me magic. 

The mere thought made me want to jump with joy, but doubt lurked at the back of my mind.

What if I lacked talent? What if I couldn't learn anything?

I shook my head, this wasn't the time to waver. I had made my decision to try.

The door opened, interrupting my self reflection. Carrera stood there, already dressed, as if she never went to sleep?

“Huh?”

“What's that stupid look?”

Is this woman serious?

“You just barged in here!” I shouted. She tilted her head as if failing to recognise the problem.

“So? Actually, don't answer. You have an annoying ability to derail conversations,” She said dismissively.

“Look, I don't want to hear that sort of accusation from you of all people. Why are you here this early anyway?” I decided to go along and ignore my problems with her sudden appearance.

“I said I'd teach you magic, didn't I? Did you forget already, such shallow resolve…”

“No, I didn't. Besides, I haven't taken a bath or brushed my teeth or anything, give me a few minutes,” I said, finding her enthusiasm odd.

“Is that all?” She asked, but I could sense some sort of intention in her tone.

“Yeah…? And I'm sorta hungry too,” I answered 

Carrera nodded before snapping her fingers. I immediately felt a change in myself.

“Wait..did you just-”