§Future Empress§

Serendipity

Izumi was distraught. In utter pieces at her carelessness and irresponsibility. She should have been more cautious, more strategic and more curious. Such thoughts spiraled in her head.

Izumi composed herself, just barely, and got up to wash her face with cold water. After she splashed some water on her face, she held the basin and looked in the mirror in front of her. 

This eerily reminded her of the time when she was feeling helpless with herself and was in the bath. She swore it was a god-like divination which came forth to help her and find out about herself, her past and present. She barely remembers the voice which spoke to her but if it did again then she would immediately recognize it. 

"I feel so lonely...maybe betrayed too...what should I do next?" Izumi said in a weak voice. Suddenly she saw reflection of a golden breeze ruffle the towels hanged near the door. She swiftly turned back and followed the magical mist. She opened her room door and went out in the hallway. The mist seemed to be gently guiding her but at the same time it was impatient. She hurriedly ran after it. The mist turned and twisted and led her to many hallways and corners but she kept up. 

Finally it led her to a big door in the deepest part of the castle. She panted slightly and straightened herself- ready to open the door. As she reached out for the handle the mist passed through her and she fell unconscious.

-----

"Damn it's still tricky to enter this place!" A young man with pale blue hair complained. He continued walking after removing some caught up spider webs from his hair. 

He turned a corner and his eyes widened. He saw a lady passed out on the floor. He ran towards her and kneeled beside her. He called out to her, "Hey! Wake up woman...why are you asleep here?!"; but to his disappointment she didn't respond. He was left with no choice and carried her out of there on his back.

-----

Izumi opened her eyes and found herself in a dark and musty room. She looked around cautiously and saw a hooded figure facing away doing something. She tore a loose piece of lace from her dress and wringed it tight in her hands. She slowly approached the dude and wrapped the lace loosely around his neck. 

"Care to explain who you are? If not I will choke you with this" Izumi said and the red eyes of the man looked down at the lace. He raised his arms up and said, "Relax, this is not a way to thank your savior."

^Savior?^ Izumi frowned at the word. "I brought you here after you fainted in front of the Hell Gate" the man said as he gulped when Izumi tightened the lace. 

"Listen, there's a civil way to hold this conversation and what you are doing is not helping. Just remove this and I will tell you what you want to know" the man said and Izumi reluctantly obliged. 

They both now sat opposite to each other on the ground, legs crossed. "Okay then...this place is still the palace but near the storage room. It's my hideout. I brought you here because you fainted in a place nobody would even walk near. Now my turn, who are you?" The man said. Izumi tried to process his words but deducted as much that he isn't a threat. 

"Well I am Izumi, Princess of Galilee" Izumi said and the man's eyes widened. "So you are the future queen of this rotting kingdom?" The man replied with slight belief. "How do you know that?" Izumi was surprised by his knowledge.