Prologue

“Hey, Zariya! What are you thinking about that? I've been telling stories here, but you haven't said any word. Are you listening, huh? Are you still with me?” I immediately turned to my friend Kaith because she was almost screaming next to me.

I forgot that I had someone with me because of the depth of my thoughts.

We are currently walking towards the library as she tells a story about the man she chatted with last night. I didn't even hear it all. As far as I know, it refers to an Engineering student at the other University and most likely, they have a mutual understanding of that man again. And now, she's telling me about her flirtation.

I just hope she doesn't end up being ghosted like the other men she talked with. When it comes to ghosting, she is always a victim. I'm not sure why she keeps talking to other folks!

She enjoys men who carry red flags. Is she a reincarnation of a flagpole?

“Huh? Pardon me, but what exactly are you talking about?" I asked. I haven't heard it, to be honest.

When I asked her this, she frowned at me, which suggests she was correct because I wasn't paying attention.

"Okay, I'm sorry.” I admit. "I was thinking about what I dreamed about last night.

That dream came to my mind again. They visit me more often in my dream. It's no longer just a coincidence because almost every night, they are the ones in my dream. There was never a day that they did not visit me. Surprising, isn’t it?

I'm already confused. What does that dream mean?

Who are they? Who are they in my life?

Those five Princes, I can’t explain but I seem to have known them for a long time. I just don’t know how and where we first met.

Kaith quickened her pace and faced me. I was stunned because she was in front of me now and blocked the path. Her shocked face was exposed to me. "Omg! Don’t tell me, you dreamed about the five Princes again?" She even covered her mouth as if she was really shocked. What's new? I tell her about my dream almost every day.

I just gave a nod in response. I started walking again and passed Kaith. She was following me. We were now in front of the library after a few steps. We first looked to see if there's any seats available, and because it was just 10:00 a.m., there weren't many students around. We walked up to the tiny table beside the door, where the log book was kept. We signed and then stuffed our bags into the cabinet next to the table. The cellphone, wallet, notebook, and ballpen were the only items we brought. We walked up to the Accounting bookshelf. I went through each one carefully in searching for the book I needed.

"Maybe you watch Korean or Thai dramas so you might dream about them?" Kaith wondered, resting against the bookshelves. She appeared to be foretelling the causes of my dream.

"I no longer watch dramas," I stated passionately.

It's been a while since I've stopped watching it because of the busy schedule we have right now. Instead of devoting myself to watching, I just review or advance reading.

"What does your dream mean, then?" Isn't it obvious that making that dream come true is impossible? Hello, we're in the twenty-first century! "Unless you have a time machine to take you back to ancient times," she said accompanied by laughter.

So I don't want to tell my friend about my dream because she will just laugh at me. It turns out that I could only have an ordinary dream.

Well, I can't blame her. It was really hard to believe those events in my dream.

She continued to laugh, but I'm still trying to stop her from laughing out loud because we will be kicked out, for sure. Did she forget? We’re in the library now. I think she even wanted to let us out in no time.

"It's just funny, you know. It's really impossible for your dream to happen in reality." She looked at me seriously. “Think about it, you are here in the real world so how can you and the woman in your dream be one? If that happens, how can you go to the other world?”

"I know that. It's really impossible,” I agreed.

I just focused my attention on finding the book I needed for review until my eyes focused on the white book. That’s the book I’m looking for, Intermediate Accounting 3. My problem is, I can’t reach it because it’s on the fourth floor of the bookshelf. I can’t take it because I'm not that tall to reach that. I turned back to ask Kaith for help, but she's not there anymore. Maybe she's busy too on finding the Financial Management book that she also intended here in the library.

I turned around, hoping I could get help. But I didn't see any other students because I was in a hidden part of the library. I am the only one here now.

"How can I get it now?" I whispered to myself.

I bent but it was still not enough to reach the book. Why am I so short? I'm already suffering a lot because of my height.

It’s hard to be small.

I have no choice. Maybe no one can see me and besides, CCTV can't reach where I am. I first made sure no one could see me before I put my feet on the second floor of the bookshelf. I just really hope I don’t get caught because I’m dead by chance.

I was very careful because it was a bit slippery because I was wearing stockings.

Finally, I got it! But it seems that bad luck really stuck with me because I couldn't balance my foot on the floor which caused me to slip.

My downfall is solid. I feel pain in my buttocks.

“Ouch!” I screamed when I felt my head hit the floor.

I closed my eyes because of the pain and dizziness I took.

I didn't know what happened next because I had turned around and my vision had darkened.

“Will she stay awake for a long time? The young lady seems to be sleeping well.”

“Do you know her? It seems like I just saw the young lady in front of us just now.”

"Where did you find her, Nesh?"

Even with my eyes closed I could still hear the conversation of people I felt were just next to me. All the voices I heard were from different men.

“I saw her in a tree in our garden. I can’t imagine what she was doing there. I was shocked when it suddenly fell and lost consciousness after falling to the ground."

I still haven't opened my eyes. I can still feel the pain in my back because of what I reached from slipping. I couldn't even move my legs. I really had a bad fall earlier.

"I wonder, she is not one of our Kharim so how is she in our garden?" He stopped for a moment before continuing. “She cannot be one of the people I have called to be given five grains of gold. She is not on the list too and the lineup of people is organize so it is impossible for her to be one of them,” the man added.

This man’s voice is indeed handsome. As if I wanted to keep my eyes open to recognize the man who spoke.

I didn’t care what they talked about. I just listened quietly.

"Maybe she's a spy!"

My forehead furrowed. Spy? I was stunned and it was only then that I realized what they were talking about and the voices of these men. Their voices are unfamiliar. These are not my classmates!

Wait, where am I?

I slowly opened my eyes.

"Oh my gosh! So handsome!" I’m referring to the man who looked at me now with a trace of concern on his face. “Are you an angel? Am I in heaven now? ” I added. I can’t help but admire the physical features of the man in front of me.

Looks like I'm in heaven!

"She's awake," said the man I was referring to with an angelic face.

He's also the guy with the attractive voice I'm referring to. His face, by the way, is also attractive. It is not impossible if you are truly blessed and God's favorite child. Maybe he was one of the swimmers on the day that flooded with handsomeness. Maybe he’s also diving that time.

Two other men were standing around me, one leaning against the window and the other seated in a chair near the window.

They're all five, if I'm not mistaken. In my entire life, I've only seen these five men just today. However, their looks and elegant dress have become familiar to me, and I am slowly recognizing them.

I remember now! They are the five Princes in my dream. How come they are all here in front of me? Is this a dream again? Am I in my dream again?

But it's impossible! I was with Kaith earlier before I slipped. I was just in the library awhile ago and I don’t know what happened after I fell.

"Kaith!" I shouted to call my friend and find out what was going on.

"What are you shouting, young lady?" My forehead furrowed again when he called me a young lady. He speaks very formally.

"Probably she had a bad fall and it affected her mentality, Ravi." I sat up from my lying down position when I noticed the man who called Ravi was now floating. Floating in the air seemed normal to him; he could do it without difficulty.

I no longer know how to feel and what I will do now out of fear.

He yelled, "Nesh, stop that because the young lady looks surprised at you."

I was not only surprised, but also scared.

"Get her something to drink, Dern, so she can relax."

A man standing next to me nodded. He immediately followed the order.

My eyes opened as his hand abruptly reached out the door, despite the fact that he was still standing next to me. His hand returned to normal a few minutes later, and he was now holding a glass of water.

How did he do that? Who is he? A stretchy man?

What kind of creatures are they?

"Do not be surprised or frightened. We have this power, so we can do things that ordinary people like you can't," said the man leaning against the window.

Can he read my mind?

“Yes, I can read that. Tell me, who are you? Why don't you know us?”

“I don't really know you! Where am I?”

The man sitting near the window stood up. He approached me and pointed at me with his left hand which suddenly transformed. His hand has now become a sword. I heard my heart pounding as he pointed it at me.

I couldn’t move, couldn’t do anything because the furthest point of his sword was pointed at my neck. One move, he might have scratched my neck. Just one mistake, my life will be taken away.

"Are you a spy?" he was looking at me seriously.

What spy is he talking about? What am I, agent? Did I join the mafia?

How can I be a spy? I didn’t even know them and I didn’t know how I got to this place. After all, they should be the ones I blame. Did they kidnap me?

I could not answer out of fear. The kind man calmed him down. “That’s enough, Cozen. She doesn't look like a spy.”

He gave me an evil look before his hand returned to normal and he sat down again. I took a deep breath as my life was extended. 

"You are here in the Kingdom of Norland, in a world where nothing is impossible," said the man.

Norland? Is there such a city in Manila? Why is it unfamiliar to me?

“It looks like you fell from a tree badly, young lady. It is better if you stay here first as a kharim of the palace until you recover and your memory returns. ”

"K-Kharim?" I repeat because I did not understand the word he used. I heard that term just now.

“Yes, kharim. You will be one of our servants.”

Me? I will be the servant of these five Princes that they almost killed me earlier because of the unique ability they possess? I don't think so! I don’t want to die yet, not this time! I don’t even know what kind of world they have.

I will put my life in danger when I agree to be their servant.

What's going on? Why am I stranded in this strange world that I could only see in my dreams?

If this is another dream, can they just wake me up? I don't want to stay in a world that isn't for me.

Take me back to my world, the modern world!