Chapter 5: Selene
1425 Words
Lina's pov
I woke up slowly, the unfamiliar ceiling greeting me before anything else did.
For a few quiet seconds, I simply stared at it, trying to remember where I was. The carved wooden beams above me looked nothing like the white ceiling of my bedroom back home. The air smelled faintly of lavender and old stone, and the soft sheets wrapped around me felt too smooth, too luxurious to be mine.
Then it all came rushing back.
The castle.
The other world.
The queen.
Prince Eyran Kestrel.
I exhaled slowly and sat up in the massive bed, pushing the covers aside. My feet touched the cool stone floor, and a strange heaviness settled in my chest.
I wasn’t dreaming.
I was really here.
And home—my real home—was impossibly far away.
My throat tightened as the thought of my parents crossed my mind. By now they would have realized I was gone. My mom would be panicking, calling my friends, asking neighbors if anyone had seen me. My dad would be trying to stay calm, but I knew him well enough to imagine the deep worry lines on his forehead.
They must be looking everywhere for me.
The idea made my chest ache.
“I’m okay,” I whispered softly to the empty room, even though I knew they couldn’t hear me.
If only there was a phone here. If only I could send one simple message.
But this world didn’t have phones.
No texting.
No internet.
Nothing like that existed here.
Just letters… and time.
I dragged a hand down my face and forced myself to stand. Sitting here thinking about home would only make everything worse.
I needed fresh air.
After washing up and changing into one of the gowns the maids had left for me—a simple pale blue dress that felt surprisingly comfortable—I slipped out of the room and into the castle hallway.
The corridor was quiet except for the soft echo of my footsteps. Tall windows lined the walls, letting in streams of morning sunlight. Guards stood near distant doors, their armor glinting faintly.
I offered a small nod as I passed them, still not fully used to the way they straightened whenever they saw me.
Everything about this place still felt strange.
After navigating what felt like endless hallways and staircases, I finally reached the castle gates.
The moment I stepped outside, the world seemed to open up around me.
And I stopped walking.
The city stretched out beyond the castle hill, alive with movement and color.
Stone streets wound between buildings with wooden balconies and bright flowers hanging from windows. Merchants arranged goods on wooden stalls while people filled the streets—talking, laughing, bargaining loudly.
Some rode horses.
Others pushed carts stacked with vegetables or cloth.
Children ran between the adults, their laughter echoing through the air.
I felt a small smile tug at my lips.
It was beautiful.
And so different from the world I knew.
There were no cars rushing by. No horns blaring. No glowing screens in people’s hands.
Everything felt slower.
Real.
I began walking down the road, letting curiosity guide my steps. My eyes moved everywhere, trying to absorb every detail.
Bright fabrics swayed in the breeze at a clothing stall.
A baker pulled fresh bread from an oven, the warm smell floating through the air.
A blacksmith hammered metal nearby, sparks flashing with each strike.
For a moment, I almost forgot I didn’t belong here.
Almost.
But the ache returned quickly.
I missed home.
I missed my mom’s cooking, my dad’s terrible jokes, the comfortable chaos of normal life.
Here, even surrounded by people, I felt… alone.
My stomach suddenly growled loudly enough to make me laugh at myself.
“Okay,” I murmured. “Food first.”
I followed the smell of bread down the street until I spotted a cozy looking tavern tucked between two shops. A wooden sign creaked gently above the door.
It looked warm.
Friendly.
And right now that was exactly what I needed.
I pushed the door open and stepped inside.
The tavern buzzed with conversation. Wooden tables filled the room, most of them occupied by people enjoying breakfast or talking over mugs of steaming drinks. A large fireplace crackled near the wall, filling the space with warmth.
For a second I hesitated, feeling slightly out of place.
Then I spotted an empty table near a window and walked over to it.
A server approached me a moment later.
“What can I get for you?” he asked politely.
“Bread and tea, please,” I replied with a small smile.
He nodded and disappeared toward the kitchen.
I leaned back in my chair, watching people through the window while I waited. A woman outside laughed loudly at something her companion said. A group of merchants argued over a crate of apples.
Life moved normally here.
Meanwhile my life had been completely turned upside down.
The food arrived a few minutes later, and I gratefully began eating. The bread was warm and soft, and the tea soothed the strange knot in my chest.
“Mind if I sit here?”
The voice pulled me from my thoughts.
I looked up.
A woman stood beside my table, holding a small tray. She looked about a few years older than me, maybe in her mid-twenties. Her auburn hair was tied loosely behind her head, and her green eyes held a playful sparkle.
Every other table seemed full.
“Of course,” I said quickly. “Go ahead.”
She slid into the chair across from me.
“Thank you. The tavern gets crowded this time of day.”
Her voice carried an easy warmth that immediately made the atmosphere lighter.
“I’m Lina,” I said.
“Selene,” she replied with a smile.
Something about her presence felt intriguing. Not suspicious exactly… just interesting. Like she had stories hidden behind those bright eyes.
We started talking casually at first.
About the city.
About the food.
About the weather.
But before I realized it, the conversation had shifted into something far more natural and comfortable.
Selene was funny.
Really funny.
She told me about a merchant who once tried to sell a goat as a “rare mountain beast,” and I nearly choked on my tea laughing.
“You’re joking,” I said.
“I swear I’m not,” she grinned. “The poor goat looked just as confused as everyone else.”
For the first time since arriving in this world, I felt relaxed.
Like I could breathe again.
“You’re not from around here, are you?” Selene asked suddenly.
My smile faltered slightly.
“No,” I admitted carefully.
“I thought so,” she said, studying me with curiosity. “You look at everything like it’s brand new.”
“Well… it kind of is.”
She laughed softly.
“That must make this city very exciting.”
“It does,” I said honestly.
We talked for what felt like hours.
About the markets.
The surrounding towns.
The strange traditions people followed here.
For a while, I almost forgot how lost I actually was.
Eventually Selene stood, adjusting the small bag hanging from her shoulder.
“I should get going,” she said.
I felt an unexpected pang of disappointment.
“It was really nice meeting you.”
“You too,” she replied.
Then she paused and pulled a small folded piece of parchment from her bag.
“No phones in this world,” she said lightly. “So we use older methods.”
She handed the paper to me.
An address was written neatly across it.
“My home,” she explained. “You can visit if you’d like… or send a letter.”
I stared at the parchment for a moment before carefully folding it.
“Thank you.”
Selene smiled, then turned toward the door.
But just before leaving, she glanced back at me.
And for a brief moment, something unreadable flashed in her eyes.
“Take care, Lina,” she said softly.
Then she walked out into the busy street.
I sat there for a long moment, staring at the paper in my hand.
Something about that encounter felt important.
Like I had just stepped onto a path I didn’t fully understand yet.
Outside, the city continued buzzing with life.
But deep in my chest, a strange feeling stirred.
A feeling that meeting Selene today…
might change everything.
- Writer
