Ada struggled to regain her senses, attempting to comprehend the bewildering events that had just unfolded. The place she had occupied mere moments ago seemed palpably real, as if she had been held captive by an unknown captor. And now, here she was in a room, enveloped in the grasp of a woman who was equally breathless.
It had been an hour since Ada had awakened, and her gaze fixated upon the enigmatic figure before her. The woman's body appeared transformed, encased in an unyielding hardness, while the spot where the shadowling had struck Ada throbbed with searing pain. Ada felt a deep weakness coursing through her, even her once-potent powers now undetectable. Summoning her courage, she ventured to speak:
"Pardon me," Ada stammered, her eyes imploring the woman to grant her permission to complete her sentence. "May I... I mean, could you please tell me where we are and who you are?"
The young woman continued to look at Ada, urging her to continue her sentence. "Madam," Ada added, hoping for some clarity.
"Astra," the woman interjected, her voice laced with disdain. "Call me Astra. Not ma'am, do I look an aged woman," she continued, still smiling. Her look had not changed, her air of trying to decipher Ada remained the same.
With a hint of embarrassment, Ada corrected herself, "Ah, uh sorry. Umm... As... Miss Astra, can you tell me where we are and who you are?"
Astra's expression softened slightly, her gaze meeting Ada's. Stepping closer to the bed, the woman gracefully took a seat, her gaze fixed upon Ada's eyes, her irises a captivating shade of river blue. A smile graced her lips, widening with each passing moment, as she responded, "The questions you pose, my dear, are precisely the ones I should be asking. Do not think for a moment that you are exempt from inquiry. The place we find ourselves in is a treacherous domain, hidden deep within the continent. Encountering someone on the brink of death, making their way to my abode, has indeed piqued my curiosity. Moreover, your aura is unfamiliar to me."
Ada hesitated momentarily, questioning the woman's mental state. The Whispering Woods, in Ada's understanding, served as one of Bohania's borderlands. Yet, the presence of these icy lands that surrounded them was an unprecedented discovery. She had never encountered such a frigid landscape beyond the forest's familiar bounds. Ada sensed that something was amiss, prompting her to scrutinize Astra closely. The woman was adorned in a medieval gown of cyan blue, complemented by intricate purple and gold patterns. It had been centuries since the people of the Bohanian Empire had dressed in such a manner. Why would this woman be an admirer of a bygone era? Even her aura emitted an unfamiliar essence, distinct from anything Ada had previously encountered, save for her encounters with Emrys.
"You study me with such intensity; I cannot help but feel as if you are attempting to delve into my very thoughts," Astra remarked, returning Ada's scrutiny.
"I did not wish to make you uncomfortable," Ada replied earnestly, her words tinged with caution. "However, the assertions you make seem rather fantastical to me."
Astra's expression shifted, a mixture of perplexity and a desire to extract further information from Ada. Despite her laughter, a sense of intrigue simmered within her. "Bohania? What is this place?" she inquired. "Ahahaha," Astra chuckled, her laughter carrying an undercurrent of something more profound. "You have indeed stumbled upon a glacial cavern. You observed it well, to the point of losing consciousness," she sneered.
Ada fell silent momentarily, reflecting upon her unwanted encounter with the creature that had ravaged her body. "The sight was mesmerizing, but not to the extent of risking my life," she recalled. She hesitated before inquiring, "May I know our precise whereabouts? Our wavelengths seem to be out of sync."
Ada attempted to rise from the bed but faltered, her balance teetering precariously. Just in time, Astra caught her arm, preventing her from hitting the ground. "You are not yet strong enough to stand," Astra asserted. "I have treated your wounds, disinfecting and dressing them. But as you can see, your strength has waned. What should I call you? I cannot afford to waste time by merely asking, 'Hey, where are you?'"
Assisting Ada back into a seated position, Astra gazed into her eyes once more. Ada responded, her voice tinged with caution, "I am Ada." She chose to omit her family name, recognizing that she was on unfamiliar territory.
"I shall reapply your bandages," Astra announced, crouching beside the bed and attending to the task at hand. She meticulously cleaned the dried blood that had stained Ada's wounds, ensuring the utmost care. Once finished, Astra rose to her feet and addressed Ada, "We shall continue this conversation later. For now, rest. I shall prepare some invigorating herbal concoctions and nourishment."
With those words, Astra departed the room, leaving Ada brimming with questions and a heightened sense of vigilance.
...
Astra closed the door behind her, allowing a moment to elapse before gathering the necessary supplies from outside and proceeding to the kitchen.
It became increasingly clear to Astra that the young woman resting in her room wasnot of this realm. Her attire, her manner of speech, and the ethereal aura that surrounded her were all unmistakable signs. As she sorted through her bag, separating the various plants and tools, Astra recalled the glimpses she had caught from Ada's mind. This was a familiar occurrence, though the assault she had endured in the darkness was entirely unprecedented—a phenomenon that existed outside the realm of known possibilities. Pushing these thoughts aside for the forthcoming conversation, Astra focused on her current task.
Through the window in the living room, she witnessed the sun's golden rays gradually descending. Using her heightened senses, she peered through the protective barrier surrounding her house, observing as the radiant beams played hide-and-seek with the clouds, casting a kaleidoscope of colors upon the icy landscape. The blue hues of the water beneath the frozen surface danced and intertwined with the shimmering rays, a mesmerizing spectacle in its own right. Lost in this captivating vista, Astra suddenly felt Ada stirring in the room.
the presence advanced towards the door and opened it.
A head passed, and appeared, the eyes of the two women met both wantingfor a real discussion, to quench their thirst for curiosity about each other.