“You want answers.” claimed the Speaker.

The weight of Sakura’s circumstances rendered her weak and her legs gave in, leaving her slumped seated on the garden path. She only gave Speaker a look that said Obviously!

Speaker chuckled as she made her way to Sakura. The small woman’s graceful manner of walking could have fooled anyone of her age. Though she was much smaller in size she offered her small bony hand to help Sakura stand. Sakura took her hand but pulled her own weight.

“Where do I start?” asked Speaker.

There were too many questions piled in Sakura’s mind that she herself was struggling with which question to ask first. After careful deliberation, Sakura asked, “How about we start with where this place is?”

Speaker nodded. “This world is known to its inhabitants as Falehvar. In ancient tongue that translates as The Great Turtle Beast. Base on your reaction earlier I assume you have guessed already that this isn’t where you are from.”

As if to further support the Speaker’s claim, a blue-winged fairy passed between them. Sakura massaged her temples. Even though the evidence was right in front of her, her mind refused to acknowledge all of it. These are creatures that she believed to be just a myth. “I’m sorry but this is just hard to believe. All of this is impossible. There are stories of Fae and mythical creatures from books and fairytales but that was all there was to them, they are fiction. “

“And yet here you are. Living in the impossible. ” To that Sakura has no response. No matter how unbelievable things were, she can’t refute facts.

“There are important individuals coming to meet you. Why don’t we go and meet them? Perhaps they can help shed light on your questions.”

“I don’t think I can bear more surprises.”

“I’ll be there with you. And I’ll answer more questions on the way.”

“Must I really come with you?”

“Yes.”

“I don’t have a choice, do I?”

“I’m afraid not, your majesty.”

Sakura sighed. Could her day get any weirder? Speaker sensed Sakura’s concession and took that as a sign to be on their way to meet their guests, so she began to walk back inside the castle.

Sakura watched the Speaker walk away. Everything that has happened to her ever since she woke up was mind-boggling. The elf, the fairies, the griffin, and the mysterious lady. She didn’t think she was brave enough to follow Speaker back inside a castle that could possibly hold more unearthly creatures. And yet, despite her fears and misgivings, as the Speaker goes farther away she felt more compelled to go after her. When she took a step forward, it felt like the right thing to do.

The Speaker had already crossed the great hall when Sakura caught up to her.

“Tell me. Why do you call me Your Majesty?” Sakura asked.

“Because you are a King. Chosen by the gods of Falehvar.” Answered Speaker as they paced slowly to their destination.

It sounded ridiculous to Sakura but she took a deep breath, reminding herself of the impossible things she had already seen. “Why did your gods choose me?”

“That, I cannot answer. Only the gods know.”

“Already an unanswerable question. Great.” Sakura responded sarcastically. “And shouldn’t it be Queen instead of King?”

“I don’t know what a Queen is. All rulers of the four kingdoms are called Kings.” Sakura made sure to take mental notes of all the Speaker had said and prepared herself for more. “Tell me more about this world.”

“Aaah, where to start?” said Speaker thoughtfully. “Falehvar is divided into four Kingdoms; Blue South, Purple North, White West, and Red East. Each kingdom is ruled by a king. And Kings are not of this world.”

Sakura halted. “Wait. You mean there are others like me here?”

The Speaker didn’t stop walking when Sakura did. She simply answered, “Yes.”

“Tell me how to meet them.” Sakura pleaded as she ran to catch up to Speaker. This time the Speaker halted and held Sakura in an intense gaze. “For your safety your majesty, I hope you’ll never meet them.”

Sakura ignored the warning of the danger that the Speaker’s words implied and inquired further. “I’m in a world probably lightyears away from home or I might even be in an alternate universe. Please Speaker, I have to meet them. They are the only ones who would understand.”

“My king, I cannot grant your request. We are at war with the other kingdoms. I’m afraid the only help that your kind will be willing to offer is to relieve you of your head.” The Speaker sounded genuinely sorry.

Tears started to gather in Sakura’s eyes and her heart felt heavy as despair began to fill it. But Sakura was not easy to give up. She held back her tears and hardened her heart. There must be another way. Sakura kept her thoughts about the otherworlders to herself. Even if the Speaker was against it, she’s determined to find them no matter what.

Speaker, being her guide, walked with her in silence until Sakura was ready to talk again. And when Sakura was ready, in an attempt to ease her nerves she tried to make light of her predicament. “So, I’m like super-rich. That’s a grand thing. And a King’s job is not all hard. I mean all I need to do is to order people around, right?”

“Yes.” Answered Speaker. Then she casually a