Clacking sounds were heard throughout as I stepped on the dirty marble floor. These sounds joined with the my sighs disrupted the silence that once veiled the desolate halls. I could only stare dumbfounded at the place I was in, reminiscing about how this manor was once in the past.

         The luxurious chandeliers once lighted the dark nights, but now they are covered in abundant cobwebs which has become the home for spiders. Ravishing and aesthetic paintings that formerly designed the well painted walls were covered in dust and most were in devastating state. The expensive antiques which were  atop the display tables have now disappeared, may it be the thieves to be blamed.

      I was on verge of crying, water crystals was forming on my eyes. I blinked wanting the tears to be gone but unfortunately, they just fell after another.  I hate the feeling of guilt that was peeving my conscience, I know that it wasn't my fault. The only thing that keeps me going on were voices, voices that for some unknown reason kept encouraging me to live on.

      I strolled around the manor travelling my memory lane. I smiled, I sighed, and tears fell from my eyes, wondering what would've  happened if that calamity did not passed this place.

        When the sun threatened to fall from the sky and the moon's light was about to greet the lands, I decided to leave and head towards the nearest town. I arrived at my destination when my shadow was already right bellow me, the roads were silent but the shouts, cheers and howling of people was still flamboyant. I followed the sounds and found myself  standing in front of a festive inn.

      I nervously entered the lodge and was welcomed by the noises of the joyous costumers. No one cared about me, the newcomer, and I was thoroughly glad about it. I carefully transversed towards the counter but what seemed to be a short walk became a frustratingly long and ouchy one. The people kept bumping on me, pushing me like a rag and stepping on my poor feet. I wanted to rebuke but that would mean saying 'hi' to trouble.

       After a seemingly long time, I finally arrived at the counter. I was welcomed by a middle-aged woman who looked like the owner of the pub. The woman looked at me with pity and it irked me for I don't want to be pitied.

      "Ye alone lass?" The woman asked me while serving the man beside her with a yellow bubbling liquid. I just kept on looking at the drink and was astonished when the man drunk it in one chug.

         "Interested in ale I see." The woman spoke again.

          "Ale?" I asked with interest burning in my eyes.

          "It's an alcohol dear, a child like ye can't drink it, it'll make yer guts turn." The woman answered then eyed me "What's yer name?"

       "My name?" I asked with uncertainty, the woman just nodded in reply. I never introduced myself, it was Sister who always introduced us...

          "It's Haven... Only Haven." I softly replied.

       "Oh, so yer 'Aven, it's a fine name, mine's Sop'ia, but everyone calls me Ia."

        "You wouldn't mind if I also call you Ia? Well everyone does right?" Ia smiled and nod.

         "Ye alone lass?" Ia asked the question again but silence answered it. I was fidgeting and sweating, I think I made it quiet obvious that I was nervous and doesn't want to answer. Ia making her own conjunction on what misfortune I encountered, she truthfully wanted to help me, "I'll let ye stay for t'night, but ye wash dishes in the mornin'."

        I stared at her for a moment then I shook my head "I have some money... But how much is a room?" I asked, seemingly scared about hearing the price.

         "Only a pair of silv'r, included the water for bath but cert'ainly ain't food." I stared dumbfounded at Ia, looking like a fool who've heard a joke.

         "Pair of silvers? That means two silvers right?" I asked for assurance, I really thought that it would cost dozens of gold.

          "Aye lass, so, can yer pocket handle it?" I nodded with a grin plastered on my face.

          First time smiling today. I thought and her eyes glinted with complement at my grin.

          I tugged a small white bag from a big pocket on my trousers. Jingling sound of coins was heard within and this piqued the interest of Ia but soon she dismissed the thought when she saw me having trouble of finding what I want to find. Maybe she thought that I was having trouble on finding silver coins in my bag full of 'copper' coins.

          I was avid in finding silver coins but it seemed that the pouch only contained gold coins. I'm not dumb and knows that a hundred silver coins was equal to a single coin but still, I want to pay the exact price. After several seconds I finally pulled out two silver coins and handed them to Ia.

         "Yer room is in the sec'ond floor, the first room to the left of the stairs. Room 12." Ia handed me a key which I accepted holeheartedly. After asking where the stairs was, I bowed at Ia and went toward my rented room.

         When I entered the room, it felt nostalgic, it was like a deja vu.

          I wonder if I had been here before, but that was imposible, we were never allowed to leave the manor.

          Seeing a bunk on the side of the room, I let out a happy sigh and jumped toward.

          Today is a tiresome day and I just want to sleep and be away from this world at least for a couple of hours.

          Images flashed in my mind. A knight, a mage, a demon, and a witch.

           "Have I met them before? Or am I supposed to meet them?" I asked at no one and soon, my consciousness flew away.

         I woke up and used the water in the bathroom for a short bath then left the room and went to the base floor to meet Ia.

          "Yer 'lready awake." Ia spoke with a smile on her face.

           "Goodmorning." I greeted  "The place is empty, did something happen?"

           "It's Goodaft'rnoon, and for yer question, nay, nothin' bad happ'nd. It's just t'day is the water festival. Ev'ryone is outside playin' water." She answered, completely disgruntled about the situation.

           "Isn't Water festival still a pair of months away? I'm supposed to turn thirteen a day before the festival you see."

            "Nay, t'day is Spring 60 year 1427 of the four great directions." Ia answered with absolute certainty, I immediately computed.

         If today is really Spring 60 year 1427.. Then I just turned 34 yesterday. I thought, this made no sense so I asked her again for assurance "You're not kidding right?"

         "No, look, the people are acting crazy about wat'r outside, go and see it for yerself." Ia answered with sigh.

        I was about to do as what Ia said, go out of the store to check if the people are playing with water, but I didn't even have to, the images seen in the windows are already an irrevocable evidence of the date.

       No wonder why I felt unusually tall and that my chest was fuller than I remember. But I certainly don't look that old...

        And what the heck have been I doing for the past 21 years?