CHAPTER 209: SEPHRINA [9]

"By any chance...." Akamir said. "Are you Empress Sephrina?"

Sephrina’s eyes lingered on Akamir with a mix of confusion and wariness.

Her small hands clutched at her father’s sleeve as if grounding herself.

"What type of question is that?" She asked, glancing at her father then at him. "...What do you mean, you are Akamir?"

Akamir let out a sigh as he looked at her. "Are you Empress Sephrina or not?"

"Of course I am." She replied while blinking her eyes. "I am myself—."

Her words halted as her gaze fell on a mirror placed on the side.

Sephrina turned silent as she stared at her childlike reflection.

"What is this...."

Her eyes widened as reality dawned upon her.

"Wait, my curse! Don’t look at me—!"

Sephrina quickly began to push herself back as her body trembled violently.

She used her hand to cover her face as her eyes showed horror.

"No, no! What have I done."

Velyrian was beyond confused as he just sat there unable to understand his daughter.

Akamir let out a sigh as he leaned towards her.

She tried to push him away but he quickly grabbed her hand.

"Sephrina!" He snapped. "Get a hold of yourself."

Sephrina trembled as she kept her eyes closed.

"Take a deep breath and try to remember your past." Akamir advised as he let go of her hand. "Try to remember the time you spent here."

She squeezed her eyes shut, her face contorted in panic. "It’s... all wrong. My reflection, my body—"

"Your body is the same," Akamir interrupted calmly. "This isn’t the real world as you remember...."

Akamir’s words died out as he glanced at Velyrian.

The man was looking at him in confusion as he didn’t ask anything.

Sephrina on the other hand was gaining control as she slowly opened one of her eyes.

"Wait, you are Royal Consort of Krivos Kingdom, right?" Sephrina asked. "Why do you look different."

"It’s a long story." Akamir replied, looking tired. "Have you calmed down now?"

She blinked with one eye before she nodded once.

"Alright." Akamir nodded in response as well. "Now, slowly close your eyes...you will soon start seeing memories... don’t reject them."

Akamir calmly explained everything to her as he stared into her eyes.

Sephrina looked suspicious as she asked. "Why would I get memories?"

"You will just get them, same happened to me." Akamir explained. "You will understand once you see those memories."

Sephrina let out a sigh before she nodded and closed her eyes.

Akamir slowly moved back as he let her be on her own.

Instead, he turned to look at Velyrian who wasn’t speaking.

"What did you guys just talk about?" Velyrian asked when Akamir came closer.

That question caught Akamir off guard as he asked. "What?"

"The talk." Velyrian repeated. "I couldn’t hear anything."

Akamir let out a sigh as he rubbed his temples. "It’s nothing serious."

Akamir quickly dismissed his further questions as he focused on Sephrina.

He wasn’t keen on explaining to Velyrian that he was a fake anyway.

Time began to pass as Sephrina kept on seeing the memories she had in this place.

Akamir on the other hand was busy examining the key that he got.

Sephrina’s trembling slowed as silence wrapped around the room.

---

Almost after three hours of silence the place stirred up once again.

Sephrina sat stiffly, her lips parted as if words kept slipping away before they could form.

Then she pressed her hands against her face, whispering faintly.

She slowly opened her eyes as she first looked at her father then at Akamir.

She slowly moved until she was facing him.

"I am in a world that is based on my dream?" She asked, tilting her head.

Akamir nodded. "Yes."

"And here everything I can think of can come true?" She asked again, with the same flat look.

Akamir nodded once again. "Also yes."

"And you are saying the memories I have." She said, her voice low. "About Uncle Lewin are true?"

Akamir hesitated before he nodded again. "Look I know—."

"What type of bullshit is this!!" She snapped as she stood up on the bed. "Do you actually think I would believe this!!"

Her eyes darted between Akamir and Velyrian, suspicion and anger swirling inside her.

Akamir, however, didn’t flinch. He leaned back slightly.

He more or less guessed that this would happen.

"You don’t have to believe me right away," he said evenly. "But what you saw—."

"Shut up!" She snapped again.

"You think I would believe such blatant lies?" She glared at him. "You think these forged memories of yours can fool me!?"

Her father finally rose, reaching a cautious hand toward her. "Sephrina, calm yourself. You’re shaking."

"I’m not shaking!" she snapped, slapping his hand away.

"I just—" her voice cracked, "...I just don’t want this to be real."

Akamir rubbed his temples as he let out a sigh. "Sephrina—."

"What are you even doing in my dream." She asked in anger. "Why would I even have you in—."

"You didn’t make this World." Akamir cut in. "It was Greater One, Kros."

She blinked as something dawned upon her. "Wait...my kingdom, Kros was..."

Her body stumbled back as she trembled violently. "Wait, what actually happened?"

"Well, long story short...." Akamir mumbled, taking her attention. "Your kingdom is going to end soon."

Sephrina snapped her head towards him. "W-what do you mean?"

"It’s as I say." Akamir replied shrugging. "In three days Kros will be born again and will kill every elf regardless if they are innocent or not."

Sephrina opened her mouth to speak but no words came out.

She just stared at him for a while before she asked. "...Why would it do such a—."

"Because Lewin is greedy for its power." Akamir cut her off once again. "He provoked a literal God."

Sephrina’s legs wobbled as if the ground beneath her had suddenly shifted.

Her lips trembled, but she forced words out anyway.

"Why would..."

Akamir folded his arms, his gaze steady. "He was blinded by ambition or maybe for you."

Sephrina stumbled back until her shoulders hit the bed frame.

Her childlike frame seemed too small to carry the weight of the truth pressing on her.

"No... that can’t be. Uncle Lewin would never..."

"Stop clinging to that image," Akamir said flatly. "You’ve seen the memories, he is nothing but a fucking pervert."

"Shut up!"

She snapped at him but deep down she knew he was right.

Sephrina held back tears as she looked up.

Lili zipped past her before she hugged Sephrina.

"I am glad you are safe." Lili said. "And please believe in him...Akamir isn’t lying."

"..."

Sephrina looked at the boy but didn’t speak another word.

She just kept on staring at him.

Akamir coughed lightly as he said. "We need to get back before things go too far."

Sephrina nodded in response. "Alright let’s go."

Akamir gave her a long look. ’She is mentally strong.’

For a girl who always longed for a life like this...she was ready to leave it all for her kingdom.

’...Her kingdom is her weakness, huh?’

Sephrina frowned as she asked. "What are you standing for?" She gestured towards the door. "Let’s go!"

Akamir shook his head. "We can’t do that." He replied. "To be specific I don’t know how to go back."

Sephrina turned silent as she placed her hand on her waist. "Really?"

Akamir tilted his head. "What?"

"What were you doing all this time?" She asked as she began pacing in the room. "Can’t you even find a way out?"

"It’s not easy, alright." Akamir grumbled. "Why don’t you find a way out yourself?"

"I am trying." She replied, rubbing her temples. "There should be a way—."

"We need to destroy what is connecting Kros with this world." Akamir replied, which made her stop. "It could be more than one thing."

Sephrina blinked as she stood in front of him. "Do you know what they are?"

"I have an idea." Akamir shrugged. "But I can’t be sure how to deal—."

"Let me." She replied. "I can create anything in this world right?"

Akamir nodded silently as he fell into deep thought.

’Right, she doesn’t have her childlike mind now.’

Last time all this happened because Sephrina was just a child.

She couldn’t think the way Akamir wanted her to.

But that changed now.

"You kids." Velyrian said with a tired sigh. "What are you guys talking about?"

Sephrina turned to look at her father.

She opened her mouth to say but no words came out.

Finally, she mumbled to herself. "Why did you always leave me?"

Velyrian didn’t hear it. But Akamir did.

But he wasn’t in the mood to point it out.

’How should we get out of this palace.’

Knock! Knock!

A sudden knock on the door made them look at the door.

"I am the royal tailor, my lady." A voice of a woman came from the other side. "I am here to take your measurements for the wedding gown."

Sephrina immediately snapped. "I don’t want that! Go away!"

But ignoring her words the woman opened the door anyway.

She walked in along with six soldiers who quickly grabbed Velyrian and placed a sword on his throat.

"Father!"

The woman bowed deeply towards Sephrina.

"Don’t make things hard for me."

Sephrina glared at her but her eyes lingered on her father.

Akamir’s eyes widened. ’Wait, the wedding!’

He finally got a clue to break this world.