“You’ve got to be kidding me, Dad! I literally told you, it was an accident. It’s not like I meant for it to happen!”
“I don’t care, it happened, and that’s all that matters. You’re talking to me as if I have a decision in this matter.”
“Please! Everyone here knows that you have the council at your fingertips.”
“Son, you disappoint me.”
The young boy’s bright, green eyes grew hazy with tears at this statement.
Both wished the conversation had gone differently, but their attentions were now turned to something even more important than the boy’s decided fate.
When Alyssa woke, there were a few things she was able to notice. First, the fact that her stomach felt very empty, and second, there were very many black spots and patches slowly dancing in her vision. But on the occasional moment where she would get a clear view of the room she had been laid in, her eyes were filled with color. Bright emerald green mingled with a collection of pastel purples and blues, and the whole room was lit with an unknown light source, to bright and powerful to be any sort of ceiling light, or lamp. Alyssa assumed it was the sun that made the beauty of it all so stunning.
And as her senses started to become more clear, she also began to hear the muffled voices of what sounded like two men, one younger and one older, although none of the words seemed to make sense.
She was more awake now and aware of her surroundings, although despite the alarming scenario, she felt strangely calm and at ease. She slowly tried to sit up, using her arms to push herself off of the fluffy white bedding that she could never dream of leaving on a day she had to get to school. School. The thought of her friends, classmates, and teachers made her curiosity as to where she ended up even more strong, although as soon as she started to worry, a wave of drowsiness and warmth washed over her. Despite her rebellious nature when it came to obedience and safety, Alyssa had never touched any mind altering substances in her life, but she believed if she had, this is what it would feel like.
She put her face in her hands and let out a long groan, trying and failing to understand her current situation. Every time she tried to use her previous knowledge to understand how she’d got here or where she was, the same feeling of taunting fake safety came over her. She released her head from the hold and nearly died twice over at the sudden appearance of an elderly man standing at the foot of her bed, gazing down at her. When he saw that he had startled her, he cocked his head slightly, cold and hazy green eyes glinting with amusement. Alyssa could only stare, not daring to utter a word. The man stared back, challenging her silence.
After what must have been at least a good minute or more, he shifted slightly on his feet, and spoke, his voice kind and gentle.
“Welcome,” he declared softly, “to Emerald Province.”
Alyssa didn’t know whether she should be terrified or in awe, but before she had time to respond or even react, a giggly laugh came from a small doorway to her right.
“WeLcoMe,” the girl’s voice was mocking and teasing, “to my GrAnD KinGdOm oh unwise little one!” She burst out in a fit of laughter, pointing at the man.
“You should’ve seen your *another fit of laughter* face!”
As this had been going on she had made her way into the room so that she too was now standing next Alyssa.
“Oh boy,” she chuckled, wiping the tears from her eyes. “You couldn’t have said it better.”
The man looked unamused, but he spoke with a voice of playfulness,
“Are you finished or did you have more to say?”
“Axar told me to come fetch you — something about Emerson throwing the leftover shrimp at the council.”
The elder rolled his eyes, as if this was not something that surprised him. He turned to Alyssa, who was watching the conversation with curious eyes, still oblivious to any feelings of fear. He made eye contact for a few moments, as if trying to decide something, and then told the girl,
“Stay here with her. Answer her questions. When I come back she better be in that bed and any traces of Hemalin should be gone.”
“Alright, alright. Good luck with Emerson.”
The two girls watched his departure as he muttered to himself all the way to the door. Once he was gone the young girl turned to Alyssa, a small smile on her face.
“I guess it’s just us two now! I’ll start this out real simple since I’m sure you’re feeling a little weird right now. Would that assumption be correct?”
Alyssa could only nod her head slightly.
The girl paused a moment before starting again.
“My name is Ezra, do you know what yours is?”
“Um…A-Alyssa.”
“That’s awesome! It’s nice to meet you Alyssa. Look, you can ask as many questions as you like and I’ll answer them as best as I can. While your getting settled here, I’ll be your guide. I will always be beside you when I can be. I know what it’s like to be in your situation, and I just want you to know that the more you listen and try to understand, the more it will all come together. Give it time. You have plenty of it. More then you think.”
Alyssa was trying her best to retain all of her words. After a few moments, she choked out her question.
“Where am I?”
Ezra smiled gently.
“You are currently in Emerald Province, one out of billions of Realms scattered across your universe. I could read all their names out to you, but I don’t think I should bore you just yet. The place you come from that you call Earth, we call The Last Planet. It is a home for the Nameless. You should know that anyone on The Last Planet that you knew or had connection to has completely forgotten you existed and you no longer exist in their memories. We have preformed a simple and harmless memory wipe. You no longer belong there Alyssa. You got a chance to do something that no one on The Last Planet has ever done…”
She paused for a moment, staring at the wall in thought. The next time she spoke, it was barely a whisper.
“You got to come home.”
