The darkness must have lasted a long time, but I eventually came to… I think.
The first thing I heard was haunting music.
The voices echoing around me were beautiful, even though they sounded far, far away. It felt like I had been transported into another realm that did not have the noise of my real life. I felt taken away by the words rising and ebbing like gentle waves of the ocean.
For a moment, I was certain I was dead.
The song had a certain quality that made it seem like I was being ushered into the afterlife. I could not tell if they were bringing me to heaven because the heaven I was told about always sounded loud and joyful.
It might be pleasant for those who like that kind of scene, but I think I have partied enough to want a peaceful and enlightened afterlife.
If I could hazard a guess at my waking moment, I would assume that they were bringing me to Hades, the Greek version, on Charon's boat. It felt like it would be a peaceful yet sad journey from reality to another realm.
When I finally opened my eyes, I still did not think I was wrong about my wild assumptions.
The ceiling above me looked like something straight out of a gothic fantasy series. The ceiling was high with ornate decorations and lacked any sort of contemporary features. It was a place that would be out of time in the modern world.
I struggled to sit up due to the stiffness in my body, but I was surprised that I did not have any signs of injuries. While I could not remember exactly what transpired, I was certain that I was in a car accident.
I moved the light blanket covering me and found I was in different clothes. They were not my clothes. The long white linen dress was certainly not something I would wear except when invited to a religious setting.
Even then, it would depend on a lot of factors…
But the clothes made sense with the haunting music still echoing around me.
Before I could get out of bed, the door to the room opened, revealing a young woman. She looked much younger than I am. The youthfulness was emphasised by the almost schoolgirl white dress and dark blue sweater, as well as the covering on her head.
"You are awake," She said in a soft voice.
"Who are you? Where am I?" I asked immediately.
The young lady looked horrified. It took a moment for me to realise that I had spoken in my usual loud and almost obnoxious voice. I grimaced a little before making an apologetic smile towards her.
"I am sorry for startling you," I said in a softer voice. "I am just a little confused."
The young woman nodded. "I understand. You are in our guild. We maintain a certain level of decorum to avoid disrupting those who come to worship in the temple. Please do not raise your voice during your stay."
I nodded in acceptance.
While I have always been a free spirit, I was taught how to attempt to be appropriate always according to the circumstances. It was only right to maintain respect where possible, especially since it would not cost anything.
Perhaps, I should have been more scared and even screamed since I did not know where I was.
However, if you live the way I have, you are only surprised (as well as a little thankful and regretful) that you are still alive the next morning. I never did learn the primary principle of not talking to strangers and following them to weird places.
After all, I love a good plot.
While it has landed me in various places and situations that would make people tremble in fear, I live in the delusion that I am a special person with magical protection. Therefore, I have never feared anything because of the plot armour.
(Do not do this at home.)
"Could you tell me where I am?" I asked, being a little self-conscious about my gentle voice.
"You are in Astra Claria," The young woman smiled with genuine joy.
(She did not actually say Astra Claria. She mentioned a certain European island in the southern region. However, I cannot reveal its location for fear that the story will disappear before everyone sees it. So we shall call it, Astra Claria.)
I was flabbergasted by the declaration.
"What?" I shouted.
Her face lost its smile as she looked at me with disapproval. I felt a little awkward because she had just asked me to keep my voice down. However, the shock that filled me was a little too much, I could not bring myself to apologise.
I did things for the plot, but I did not understand how I ended up in an island nation that most people had never heard about. It was not even close to my home city. It would take hours by plane to get to Astra Claria.
"How did I end up here?" I asked in a softer voice.
She frowned. "I am not sure. You were placed under my care by the mother superior."
My face became even more confused. "What?"
"Mother Superior is in charge of the convent for our temple, the Sacred Sanctuary of Knowledge. The temple is quite remote, but we are still a thriving community. Once in a while, we accept tourists who end up stranded and give them care."
I nodded as if I understood.
As far as I knew, I was not a tourist. Despite the insomnia and the irresponsible use of prescription drugs and alcohol to keep me awake twenty hours a day in addition to the coffee, I am sure I would have been able to remember travelling to another country, and an island at that.
I am not a fan of beaches.
"How may I address you?" I asked.
"I am Sister Agatha," The young woman said.
"I see. I am Catherine, but please call me Kate," I replied.
"Catherine is a beautiful name," Sister Agatha said.
I grimaced.
I did not like the name because it was given in honour of my grandmother. I would have preferred something with a little more pizzazz to match my personality. Of course, I did not hate the name enough to change it.
"It is a little old-fashioned," I replied stiffly before switching back to the matter at hand. "Was I very sick when I was given to your care?"
Sister Agatha shook her head with a gentle smile. "No. You had already been treated. It looks like you had a minor issue with heart palpitations and fainted. Nothing some beta blockers could not fix."
I frowned. I had indeed had some issues with my heart due to severe anaemia, but I had only ever gotten ill when under a lot of stress. But again, weeks of coffee and occasional instant noodles as the main source of nutrition could count as stress.
I wanted to follow up more and find out how exactly I ended up in Astra Claria. However, the door opened again, revealing a different person. The new individual was a woman with a severe face, and I guessed it had to be the earlier-mentioned Mother Superior.
Yes, it might be wrong to judge based on appearance, but come on…
"Mother Superior," Sister Agatha bowed.
See…
"I told you to inform me when she awoke." The disapproval was obvious, but her voice was surprisingly soft.
"I am sorry, Mother Superior," The response was humble.
I looked between the two women and admired them. A life of quiet discipline was worthy of respect. Of course, it could never be me. If it had been me, I would not have ended up in a foreign country with no memories.
"Follow me," Mother Superior said, looking at me with that same stern expression.
Normally, I would be snarky, but I was smack in the middle of a hot plot.