The Wind Surrounding Us

Miss, You're Awake!

Tick! Tick! Tick!

It is the sound of the clock ticking.

'Why is it so difficult for me to open my eyes? I have to try…'

After several attempts, she was able to open her eyes.

'Umm, too bright…'

She squinted her eyes as soon as bright sunlight hit her. She contorted her face simultaneously. Her eyes needed a moment to adjust. Afterward, her gaze landed on the ceiling, a strange place. At the very center of the room hung a crystal-adorned golden chandelier.

Under the bright sunlight, the crystals shone with a dazzling brilliance. She thought that she might be dreaming and then blinked multiple times. She had no idea why she found herself in a bedroom fit for a princess, the kind of place every girl dreams of. She tried blinking several times, but her vision remained the same. Subsequently, she surveyed her surroundings.

It was a vast, pink-hued chamber in the French manner. It was stocked with high-end furnishings and name-brand merchandise. Money was yelling from every nook and cranny of the room. To the left, there was an open glass window; sunshine was streaming through it. On one side, she could see a locked closet; on the other, a massive Picasso painting hung directly in front of her on the wall.

She inhaled sharply. She stared at the breathtaking work of art, utterly oblivious to her surroundings. It was a completely new environment. Additionally, the room was absolutely stunning. It seemed like a room fit for a royal princess from another realm.

However, the place was utterly unfamiliar. She was completely bewildered about how she had gotten herself into this predicament. What's worse, she had completely forgotten who she was.

She panicked. 'Why can't I remember who I am?' she pondered. For some reason, her memory seemed to have been erased whenever she attempted to recollect the most recent incident that brought her to this fairyland. Absolutely nothing sprang to her mind. She felt her heartbeat escalating.

Her unease prevented her from noticing that a nurse was seated in a chair, her head resting on the table, sound asleep.

She felt an urge to get out of bed. Trying to sit up, though, made her realize just how weak she was. She was shaking from head to toe. The more she struggled to muster the energy to stand, the more laborious her breathing became. She appeared rigid throughout. It made her think that she had slept for an eternity.

She twisted her body slightly after some contemplation. After much hesitation, she rose from the bed, but she was almost knocked down. She hastily seized the bed and sat on it. Standing straight wasn't easy. Consequently, she bided her time.

After that, she didn't succeed in her repeated attempts to stand firm. Her lower body lacked strength. Her legs quivered with every attempt at standing. Breathing slowly, she attempted again and again. She managed to stand up for the fourth time with the help of support. She gingerly made her way to the balcony, maintaining her balance as she held onto the wall.

'My, this balcony is enormous!' She exclaimed in her heart.

She was overjoyed to the point where she clapped twice. Afterward, she glanced about and beheld breathtaking landscapes. She found the setting soothing, despite having never been there before. There was no cloud cover. A radiant sunbeam illuminated the sky. White cloud fragments were swaying in the sky. As it caressed her cheek, the soft wind carried the aroma of freshly bloomed flowers. As she closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, a calmness enveloped her.

A lovely vegetable garden lay beneath the balcony. The tranquility of the foliage calmed her nerves. The scent of flowers wafted through the air in a gentle breeze. But why was it that flowers blinded her? It seemed weird to her.

She looked around and saw some flower plants planted in small tubs. The plants had produced white blossoms with an enchanting aroma.

In one of the corners, she noticed a wooden swing with cushions. A surge of pure ecstasy washed over her. She got closer and sat there. The bed of the swing was just as plush as the bed itself. She was about to collapse to the floor. Her joy knew no bounds.

She wished to stay there for a while; however, her stomach was crying out for a meal. Only then did she realize how hungry she was. Getting to her feet carefully, she made her way into the room. As she began to search for nourishment, the sight of the nurse caught her eye. She approached her with increasing speed.

She just stood there for a long time, bewildered. Subsequently, she parted her lips to address her.

"Ex-x-cu...." She halted as soon as she heard her own voice. It sounded strange. The voice sounded completely artificial. In an audible attempt, she cleared her throat.

The nurse might have opened her eyes upon hearing her strange voice.

"Wah!"

The nurse was on the verge of losing her balance when she saw an unexpected figure standing before her. She was visibly shaken.

The girl was also taken aback when she suddenly heard the nurse's cry.

"Miss, you're awake!" The nurse exclaimed in joy.

When she heard the nurse, she gave her a polite and yet nervous smile. "I'm hungry," she slowly uttered. No sooner had she finished the sentence than her stomach growled. She couldn't help but blush in embarrassment.

The nurse heard her and was nearly brought to tears. She covered her face as her cheeks flushed in excitement. She couldn't find the words to express how happy she was to see the woman in front of her awake and standing straight.

She began saying, "Finally, you are awake, Miss… You are hungry, are you? I'll prepare your meal right away. Oh, wait, I should inform the Master. Oh, and…"

The girl heard the bubbly nurse keep going on and on. Her head started to buzz. She caught on to a phrase the nurse mentioned and said, "Master? Who is your Master?"