Into Another World

Chapter 2: Azamantha

Foggy surroundings, tall trees, wild plants, and tall grasses. Where the hell am I?

I went for a walk to find out where I am but all I can see are trees and wild plants. I wonder how far did I travel under the water to get to this place.

After hours of walk, the sun is already setting and I felt hungry and thirsty. Until now, I have never seen any people and houses. I feel like I’m in the middle of the sss forest. I sat on a rock to take a rest and think of ways for me to have food to eat tonight. My stomach suddenly rumbles loudly.

“Food, I need food,” I said sullenly.

After a while, something moved behind the grass not far from where I was. “What was that?” I said in shock. I stood up to check what it was.

It moved again. I hope it’s not a snake. I slowly approached the moving grass while praying that I would not die.

Before I could get close, it suddenly came out causing me to step back. A smile formed on my lips when I found out what it was, a rabbit. Grace came to me, literally.

Out of excitement, I started chasing the rabbit but no matter how hard I chase, I can't catch it. I was about to give up when a thought came to my mind.

“If I can’t chase it myself, then let the arrow do the work,” I mumbled as I am making my bow and arrows.

As I finish my weapon, I confidently stood up and looked around to check the trace of the rabbit.

“Got ya,” I said and started to follow in the rabbit’s footsteps. After a while, I found it on the big root of a tree doing something. I aimed my bow and arrow and was about to take a shot but then, suddenly, I can't do it. I know I'm hungry but I can't dare to kill a rabbit for my survival. Shortly, an arrow suddenly appeared on the rabbit's chest which made me shocked.

Someone shot it. I looked back to find out who it was. A girl around my age wearing a brown cloak, looking like a hunter.

A person. I finally found a person. I rushed to her but stopped when she aimed her arrow at me.

“Don’t move,” she said with her cold deep voice.

“Please don’t shoot me,” I said, raising both of my hands then I was stunned when I saw her dazzling blue eyes. Woah, I know blue eyes are kinda common, but hers is different, it’s bright and beautiful.

“Who are you?” She asked while still aiming her arrow at me.

“I’m Irene Lopez and I don’t have any bad intentions. I am lost and I need help.”I answered without hesitation.

She lowered her arrows while frowning at me. “Your eyes…” She said. I just looked at her. She slowly walked closer to me and I stepped back because she might do something to me. She seemed to notice my fear of her as she stopped approaching me.

“Come with me.” She said. She took the rabbit and started to walk.

“Are you going to help me?” I asked while standing behind watching her walk away.

“Maybe.” She answered.

“How can I trust you?” I asked.

“You got no one here but me. You trust me or you starve, your choice,” she said.

“Yeah, she’s right. I have no choice but to trust her or starve.”I mumbled as I followed her.

“We’ve been walking for almost 2 hours if I’m not wrong and my stomach keeps growling the whole time. I can’t count how many times I’ve asked her if we’re close to our destination but she didn’t even bother to answer me. Ugh!

I keep looking around while I’m walking, hoping to find food when she suddenly stopped walking causing me to collide behind her.

“Aww.” I reacted.

“We’re here.” My eyes widened when I heard what she said.

“Really?!” I said excitedly and I hurriedly peeked. I saw a decent white house surrounded by flowers and various animals.

“Woah. Is this your house?” I asked her in astonishment. She then faced me.

“Don’t do anything stupid inside the house and please before you enter,” She looked at my shoes. “Take off your shoes.” She said and immediately walked away.

I just smiled as I followed her. The place looked so fresh and peaceful. There are a lot of fruits and vegetables too. At the back of the house, I saw a pond with a bridge. I suddenly felt excited to go in there.

When she opened the door I was very amazed at what I saw. Everything inside was clean and organized. There are also a lot of flowers and plants inside the house.

As she said before, I took off my shoes before entering. We headed straight to the second floor, then we entered a room near the terrace. I even took a glance at the terrace before I entered the room.

“You can stay here for a while." She said. I looked at her, surprised by what she said.

“Really?" I unbelievably asked.

“You can take a shower in the bathroom, there are some clothes inside the cabinet, you can use it. I will give you a cold compress bag for your face later." She said and left the room.

“Cold compress? for my face?" I hurriedly looked in the mirror to see my face. I stared at my face in the mirror as I remembered what had happened.

“Oh yeah, I was slapped... and murdered. However, I survived, should I consider myself lucky because I’m alive or unlucky because I have to live in vain?” Tears start dropping to my cheeks but I wiped it immediately and starts chuckling.

“It's too early for you to go crazy." She placed the cold compress on the side table. "Use this to relieve the pain." She said and was about to leave when I spoke.

“Why are you doing this?" I asked, confused by how she treated me.

“Doing what?" She asked.

“You don't know me, you don't even know where I came from," I said.

“Does that matter?" She asked.

“What if I'm a criminal?" I asked.

“Are you?" She asked. I sighed. Why does she keep answering me with a question?

“No, I'm not." I just answered.

“Okay, I'll be back in an hour." She said and left.

Seriously? Did she believe me? Just like that? What if I lied? or maybe she's just pretending to be good but she's a criminal? So it means I was abducted without me even realizing it?

I aggressively messed up my hair. I don't know anymore. I just headed to the bathroom to take a shower. I took some clothes from the cabinet and got dressed. I was glad because the clothes fit me like it was mine.

I took the cold compress and gently applied it to my swollen face. How I wasn't able to feel the pain earlier? I mean, it hurts like hell when I touched it. After an hour, the girl came back.

“Let's eat." She said. My ears tingled at what I heard. I quickly followed her. When we got to the dining room I immediately sat down and started to eat.

She sat in front of me and also began to eat. I was happily eating when I suddenly remembered something.

What if she's a criminal and she put something in my food?

I slowly looked at her suspiciously which made her stop eating.

“I put nothing in your food." She said. I frowned.

“How did you know what I was thinking? Did you just read my mind?" I asked. She just answered the question on my mind earlier. How did she do that?

“Your facial expression says it all. And I'm not a telepath, I can't read your mind." She answered with her calm voice.

I can’t decide if I’ll believe her or not but I just keep staring at her, thinking about things.

“You’re making me uncomfortable.” She reacted.

“I’m just wondering why did you help me?” I asked as I put down my spoon and fork. She ate a spoonful once more before she looked at me.

“Your physical state needs assistance... and your eye color...” She leaned forward making her face closer to mine. She looked directly into my eyes making me feel uncomfortable. “Honey brown eyes, an eye color I’ve never seen in my entire life not until now.” She said which made me chuckle.

“Are you serious? Honey brown eyes are very common, it’s your eye color that’s unique.” I commented.

“You’re not from here,” she said.

“Obviously. That’s why I said I’m lost.” I responded.

“Yeah right, you’re very very lost,” she stated.

“What do you mean ‘very very lost’?” I asked, confused.

“You’re in Azamantha.” She said.

“Aza what?” I asked. I’m afraid I misheard what she said.

“Azamantha.” she answered.

“Azamantha? What country is that from?” I asked.

“There are no countries in this world, it was changed to territories 58 years ago.” She said which made me even confused.

“What the hell are you talking about? You’re making me confused.” I stated, frowning.

“Me too, I’m confused if how the hell did you get in here.” She uttered.

“What?” I asked.

“It’s going to be a very long conversation. You should take a rest.” She said and immediately stood up.

“Why can’t we have that long conversation right now?” I asked.

“I don’t have all the answers, but my mom does. Also, it’s almost 10 p.m., we need to sleep.” She said as she headed to the sink to wash the dishes.

“Where’s your mom?” I asked. I haven’t seen her ever since I got here.

“Work.” She answered.

I was about to head upstairs when she suddenly talk. “Don’t try to do anything stupid or what, I can sense you.” She said which made me kinda confused.

She can sense me? Does she have a sixth sense?

I just shrugged and headed to the room where she brought me earlier. I lay on the bed and sigh heavily.

“I should find my way back,” I uttered. A few moments later, I fell asleep without noticing.

I woke up because of the sunlight coming from the window. I got up and opened the window then I felt the fresh breeze coming from outside.

“Sunshine.” Someone spoke from the door so I immediately looked at it expecting to see the girl I met yesterday but no, it’s a different person. I guess it’s her mother.

“Irene, right?” She asked. I nodded.

“Luna told me about you last night.” She stated.

“Her name is Luna?” I asked when I heard her mention a name.

“She didn’t tell you?” She asked.

“No,” I answered while shaking my head.

“I’m sorry about that, well, I’m Carmela, Luna’s mother.” Ms. Carmela introduced herself while reaching out her hand.

I immediately approached and held out her hand. “Irene Lopez.” I introduced myself. She then looked at my eyes.

“You do have rare eye color,” Ms. Carmel uttered.

“I don’t think so,” I responded. She smiled.

“Let's eat breakfast before I tell you what you need to know,” she said and left.

We went to the dining area and there I saw Luna preparing the table. She slightly smiled at me and so do I, but mine is bigger.

A table of healthy breakfast greeted me which made my eyes sparkle. I sat on the chair without taking my eyes off the food. Waffles with strawberry and chocolate syrup and a mug of coffee.

“It looks delicious,” I mumbled.

“It is delicious.” Luna proudly said. The three of us have our breakfast together. While eating, Ms. Carmel keeps asking me about how did Luna and I met in the forest and what I was doing there all day. After eating, Luna washed the dishes, and Ms. Carmela and I headed to take a walk. She said, there was something that she wants to show me.

“Azamantha is a different world.” Ms. Carmela stated.

“How is it different?” I asked, frowning.

“It’s a world with 6 territories. Nethilor, Ravaryn, Zariya, Ellesmere, Khisfire, and Tethoris. The people of this world are called warriors as they are meant to fight. In this world, we are born, we train and we fight to live, that is how you survive in this world.” She continued.

“What do you mean you fight to live?” I asked, confused with what she said.

“Every year, we are given 1 month to have a vacation, the rest of the months will be for learning and training to prepare ourselves for a big battle on the last week of the year,” she said.

“Wait, big battle?” I asked. I can't absorb the information very well.

“A battle for life. That battle will decide what territory will rule the world for a year. The sad thing about it is that those warriors who were sent to the battlefield and are defeated will be exiled. They might even die during the battle.” She answered and I cannot believe it.

“How can this world have a system like that? Life and Death, you’re joking right?” I said.

“How I wish it is a joke but no, it’s the reality, Irene,” she said while looking at me. My heart suddenly starts racing.

“If you are telling the truth that means, I’m not on earth?” I asked, trying to clarify my situation and she nodded as an answer.

“But how?” I’m confused. How the hell did I get in here? Is this for real?

“What happened before you got here?” Ms. Carmela asked.

“I drowned,” I answered then I gasped as a thought came to my mind.

“Am I reincarnated?” I assumed.

I don’t think so. A being can’t be reincarnated as a fully grown-up woman, I mean, every creature starts their life as a newborn.” Ms. Carmel responded.

“Yeah, you’re right,” I said. “Then how am I going to go back?” I asked. Fear of not being able to go back starts to occupy my mind.

“I’m afraid I do not know.” Ms. Carmela said. She suddenly stopped walking and faced me.

“If that so, what’s gonna happen to me now? This is a whole different world, I don’t think I can survive here.” I said nervously.

“You can, Irene. You can survive here.” Ms. Carmela said which I don't believe.

“Ms. Carmela, I’m not a warrior,” I said while trying to stop myself from crying caused by fear, nervousness, anxiety, and confusion about everything.

“Then we will make you one. I will help you, we will help you. Okay?” Ms. Carmela said while staring into my eyes with full sincerity. Tears started to fall on my cheeks and Ms. Carmela immediately wiped them.

“There’s something I wanna show you.” Ms. Carmela said while smiling. She climbed on a hill and I followed right away

When we reached the top, my jaw dropped when I saw a very beautiful view of a city surrounded by mountains, trees, and water forms.

“This is Ellesmere Territory in the world of Azamantha.” Ms. Carmela stated.

What will my life be like in this world

Can I survive?

Will I be able to return to my world?