Chương 22: 022

Hours later, I slumped against the cold stone wall, teeth clenched to keep the curses from spilling out. Nothing. Absolutely nothing. These damn hallways were a maze of polished stone and torchlight, looping back on themselves no matter how carefully I tracked my turns. I hadn't found a single door beyond the room they'd dumped me in. No libraries. No armories. No servants' quarters. Either this place was deliberately sparse, or I was far more turned around than I wanted to admit.

I dragged both palms down my face and exhaled sharply. My sense of direction had never been stellar, but this bordered on the absurd. My gaze slid to the guards stationed farther down the corridor. … Maybe talking would be easier. I stepped closer, expecting at least a flicker of attention. Nothing. Not even a glance. Right. Stealth.

"How do I turn you off?" I muttered under my breath. It had dropped when the king spotted me earlier. Maybe awareness played a role? Or intent? I closed my eyes and focused inward, imagining the skill loosening its grip, like exhaling after holding my breath too long. A heartbeat passed. Then, the guards nearest me jolted violently, metal clanking as helmets snapped in my direction.

"Where did you come from?!" one barked, hand flying to his weapon. I startled in turn, then forced a laugh, rubbing the back of my neck. Everyone thought I was a lost and clueless 'otherworlder'. I'd have to play into that and see what I could learn.

"Sorry," I said, my tone sheepish.

"I was testing skills and spells. Turned invisible and couldn't figure out how to turn it off. Didn't mean to scare anyone." They exchanged looks. After a moment, the tension bled from the closest guard's shoulders.

"If you wish," he said cautiously, "I can escort you back to your room." I shook my head.

"Actually, I was hoping for directions. To the room where I was summoned. Some of my belongings seem to be missing." That gave him pause. Before he could deflect, I added lightly, "I could always ask King Silas where they went. Or-." I tilted my head, feigning concern.

"Do you think someone misplaced them?" The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. His eyes widened. Immediately, he stepped away from his post.

"There's no need to trouble the king. Your items are likely still in the summoning chamber. I'll retrieve them." I waved a hand.

"No need. If you could just lead me there, I'll handle it. Some of the items…aren't safe for you to touch, being technology from my world." Okay, so my cell phone wasn't dangerous, but they didn't need to know that. He hesitated, doubt lingering. I sighed inwardly and leaned into it.

"One of them contains the collected knowledge of my world. If activated incorrectly, it could overload your mind." I let my eyes widen slightly.

"Explode it, even." His gulp echoed down the hall. The other guards shifted uneasily. After a moment, one nodded.

"Go with him, Bernard. We'll cover your post." Bernard gestured, and I fell into step beside him. Once we were well out of earshot, I offered him an apologetic smile.

"Sorry for pulling you away. I appreciate the help." He nearly stumbled before recovering himself.

"There's no need to apologize. As an honored guest, you hold the authority of a royal advisor…or a general." That was a lot of power for a stranger… We stopped before a pair of massive doors, etched with faded runes.

"This is the summoning chamber," Bernard said, stepping aside. Inside, disappointment washed over me. The room was bare, smooth stone floor, unadorned walls, nothing that hinted at ritual grandeur or lingering purpose. Worse, the air felt wrong. Heavy. Pressing down on my shoulders like a sodden blanket. The longer I stood there, the more it clung to my skin, thick and suffocating. Bernard cleared his throat.

"It seems there is nothing here. Perhaps your belongings remained in your world." I nodded slowly.

"Probably for the best." Relief softened his posture, and guilt pricked at me. Poor guy had probably expected a tantrum. After one last sweep of the room, I turned to him.

"Could you take me outside? A garden, maybe. Fresh air would help." The thought of returning to my room to stew in that oppressive atmosphere made my skin crawl. He inclined his head.

"Of course." We walked in silence. When we reached the courtyard, he bowed once more.

"When you wish to return, request an escort." As he disappeared inside, I drew in a deep breath. The lethargy lifted almost instantly. So it had been the room. Residual magic, maybe. Or something worse. A chill slid down my spine. If that feeling belonged to whatever had been summoned… I hoped I never crossed paths with it. Unfortunately, that left me right back where I started. The king was the only one who might know more, and asking him meant risking everything. As far as Silas knew, I was his answer.

I intended to keep it that way. Dragging my hands down my face, I groaned softly. Wasn't this supposed to be a fresh start? A rustle broke the quiet. I stiffened, instincts snapping into place as my gaze locked on the nearby bushes.

"Who's there?" A faint squeak answered. Then a small figure emerged. She was barely knee-high, half-hidden by leaves, her wide eyes glossy with tears as they fixed on me. Whatever tension remained in my body dissolved instantly. Her white dress was torn and dirt-stained, her small hands clutching the fabric like it was armor. Fear radiated off her in waves, sharp enough to hurt. Guilt twisted tight around my heart. Nikolas de Santos, you paranoid idiot.

I lowered myself to one knee, softening my expression as much as I could.

"Hey… I'm sorry if I scared you," I said gently.

"You startled me." Hopefully, my knack for soothing kids worked here as well as it did on Earth…