Year 3988, 29th Day of the 7th Moon
Ember Isle, Fliamma Kingdom, Continent of Humana

"I TOLD you, she's not one of my women!"

The abrupt shout woke up Elise. She blinked a few more times and twisted around, taking in her surroundings.

'Not her bed. Check.'

Her bed was never like this with intricately carved bedposts and deep-colored draperies that looked like the antiques that her dad loved.

'Different clothes. Check.'

She was actually wearing a frilly dress that she would never wear even if her mom forced her. Most of all, it was seriously long that she can feel the cloth up to her ankles. She touched her body all over and nothing was amiss. Looking up, her eyes darted to where the noise was.

'Unusual strangers. Check.'

She stifled an inward groan.

'For the love of gods! This nightmare continues.'

There was a sinking feeling within her since she was fully aware that no dream could be this long but she completely denied it.

"Then what is she? Don't tell me you're going to marry her?" the woman, who had her back facing Elise, interrogated.

She had stunning hair that was like a burning flame with hair strands that were down to her hips in different shades of red, yellow, and orange. Elise instantly wanted to dye her hair like that. If she could achieve such beautiful color, she would be willing to be reproached by the department head again.

"Stop it, Dryann. You're overreacting again. You were exactly like this when Arllian and I got together. Now, you're doing it with Erkhan. Aren't you happy that the libertines in the family are settling down?" There was another man sitting beside the woman, his voice a little rougher in tone.

"Glad to know you're aware of your lecherous ways, Brother. Nevertheless, your lover is so kind that I hate her."

"Don't talk about Arllian like that." Iciness hints at his tone.

As the two began to argue, the guy with the eyepatch noticed her.

"Oh, you're awake! I've let the servants change your clothes as it appears uncomfortable," he told her as he approached.

She sat and leaned her back on the headboard before answering, "No, it was not. This is more uncomfortable. Give my clothes back."

"The nerve! How dare you order us? Don't you know who we are? Why are you not addressing us with respect?" the woman snapped.

"Am I supposed to know you?" Elise asked her with matching haughtiness.

"Of course!" the woman replied as her eyes narrowed. Her light blue eyes shone brighter with annoyance.

The extravagant gown the woman wore exuded an elegance of a high-class people but it was not just Elise's taste. It was puffy and seemed heavier than hers. It felt uncomfortable merely looking at it.

"Don't fret it, Dryann. You know how Aricson loved to value our privacy that there are still people who may not know our identities."

She turned to the other man who was talking a while ago. Elise was momentarily dazed the closer he got. The eyepatch guy was already handsome but this man set the standards higher.

"Ha! As if. Everyone who sees your eyes will know you are a Flamion. Only a stupid Mundran cannot recognize a sign of lineage, Brother."

But the woman's words fell on deaf ears. Elise was studying the two men. One had a mischievous appearance while the other appeared gentlemanly with a hint of danger beneath.

Their features were made as if they were personally sculpted by god and to show more favor, they were even given irises that were similar to a polished ruby glinting with a certain shine.

A thought suddenly slipped through her mind when those kinds of colored eyes reminded her of something. A secluded island, a room that resembled the medieval era, and men with red eyes. There was no doubt about it.

"Oh my god! Are you all vampires? Am I going to be a sacrifice or something? I surely did not sign up for this!"

The handsome man chuckled. "You're strange. What are vampires anyway?"

"Told you she's strange," the eyepatch guy seconded.

"That's rich coming from you. Why do you have that odd red eyes? Anyways, vampires are the ones with sharp teeth and suck blood from humans," she paused, letting out a breath. "Why am I even explaining?"

"You must be talking about the demons but they don't just suck blood, they also eat their victim's bodies and not leave a single bone," the handsome man informed. He was smiling which could make anyone blush but she felt her face drained in color instead.

"Now you scared her, Brother! She's as white as a sheet," the eyepatch guy chastised.

"Stop this nonsense. She's awake so let her leave," the woman interrupted.

Elise could not help but sigh again. 'This one is such a long weird dream.'

"You kept saying that this was a dream. I assure you, it's not," the eyepatch guy stated.

She realized she actually said her thoughts out loud. The eyepatch guy was still smiling at her but in Elise's view, it looked more like a pitiful smile to someone who was being silly — or, more like insane.

"Do you remember who you are?" the eyepatch guy inquired.

"Of course," she answered confidently.

"So, why are you here?" the woman cut off with a sharp tone.

"I don't know."

"You're found on our territory so you must've been a new servant if you're not Erkhan's woman. She said she remembers everything. She should leave but it's obvious she won't. You must have set it up so that you could get close to my siblings especially Erkhan since he's well known for accepting any girls!" Her voice rose and rose for every word she uttered.

"Dryann! Stop your nonsense," the handsome man reprimanded.

"How could you not see her conniving scheme?"

"Well, excuse me, why don't you just write a book with all your stupid accusations?" she quipped back. After all, her parents raised her not to back down when she was humiliated.

"You!"

The woman stormed at her but was hastily stopped by the two men. Elise's body shivered, feeling the temperature drop.

"I guess it's time to leave," the handsome man said and pulled the woman to him.

He did not wait for someone to speak and dragged the woman, who was glowering at her up to the moment she disappeared from the door. Elise was suddenly left alone with the eyepatch guy. A moment of silence enshroud before he initiated to speak.

"I apologize for my sister's behavior. I'm Erkhan Flamion, by the way. Those two were my older siblings. The man is Brennan and the woman is Dryann. She's quite overprotective so she's like that. And you?"

"Elise Johnson."

Erkhan's brows twitched. "Johnson? Is that a family name?"

She simply inclined her head.

"How can that be?" He was watching her weirdly, making her uncomfortable with each passing second.

"What?"

"You have a family name!" He pointed his finger at her like it was the most outrageous thing he heard.

"So what?" He was confusing her again.

"You should not have one. It is even a strange name. There are only eight families in the whole of Elith who have a family name."

"Seriously, why is this dream getting more complicated," she muttered to herself seeing his reaction.

"You keep saying that. This is not a dream, Elise," Erkhan reminded.

"You're joking," she said, still trying to deny the obvious fact since that was just too impossible.

"You felt pain yourself. Mother always told me to pinch myself to confirm I was not dreaming."

"My mom too but there is no way you are true. Everything is only my imagination I didn't know I had," Elise asserted, upholding her belief.

"But it's true. You're awake. This is all real," he spoke in a voice that almost sounded like he was urging her to believe him.

The air became still. Her eyes scanned the room and stopped at the sword on the bedside table.

"What is the date today?"

His forehead formed deep lines but he still answered. "29th day of the 7th moon."

"7th moon? What is it?" Her brows wrinkled with the strange term.

His expression reflected hers. "The month?"

"What?"

The gigantic bird. People with natural red eyes and even a different time...

'I should never have watched those transport to another world movies!'

༻❁༺

U n S c e n e s

Q: First impression of the new world?

Elise: I prefer my old one
( ￣＾￣)

Note: As I've mentioned, I will be posting unseen scenes (UnScenes) every end of a chapter. They are not directly related to the chapter since it is more like an interview session of our characters to know them better.