Chapter 3

After 15 Devian years, Camilla had built a solid reputation in the small town where she lived. It didn't take her long to learn their language, which sounded Arabic to her ears, and their way of life is very similar to some she knew back on Earth. She had a rough start learning, but she excelled in them by the end.

The community let her stay for as long as she wanted, they helped her generously, and they built her a hut and weaved clothes for her. Food was plentiful and never seemed to run out. In return, she made it her job during the day to assist the community. While their parents are at work out in the fields or the sea, she could clean, babysit, and teach the children. She then continues her studies at night. She may be intelligent, but learning a completely different culture takes time.

She had immersed herself in studying their politics, culture, science, history, and geography from the town hall which also serves as a library. Though limited, the slave towns in each kingdom's halls and libraries are quite remarkable. The information she gleaned from the books perplexed her, but it didn't her all the answers she needs.

She remembered the plane exploding, being sucked in by a vacuum-like force, and sliding off in a gut-like tunnel.  She didn't see anything like it up on the hill. 'What could have swallowed her and dumped her like shit? 'Ugh,' she felt grossed out thinking of it.

Camilla couldn't comprehend what happened to her back then; nothing she knew on Earth could explain it. She felt like a stupid Alice in Wonderland, wishing she could just wake up.  She's not the type to get caught up in such fantasies. But now that she has, she's got no choice but to ride it.

For the first few months of her stay, she frequently visits the area the locals had said they'd found her. It's just a small field at the top of a hill, overlooking the town.

She was high up in the meadow and it feels kind of special for Camilla, it’s the only reminder she's got from her previous life, and of how she came into this world, like a birthplace.

She breathed in the quaint smell of the air, imagining herself lying in a hospital bed while her aunt held her hand affectionately and asked her to open her eyes. These scenes in her head made her cry. As she looked down, she considered jumping in the hopes of waking up. But something tells her that if she did, she'd be dead and just have frittered away her life on a foolish idea. If this was a bonus life, she'd have to take it, even if it meant living without the person she cared about the most. She can only hope that her aunt can move on and find happiness, as she intends to do. Even though she knows in her heart that they will miss each other for a long time.

*****

Camilla woke up to the sun shining down on her face. She felt especially happy today—she'd been living well with everyone.

"Mmm, you got a kiss an angel good morning…” She hums and sings to a song by Charlie Pride while getting up to prepare breakfast. She usually has coffee and eggs in the morning. They looked weird with their capsule-shaped shells, but they're eggs nonetheless.

"Good morning!" Vega peered through the window and greeted her in her native language. "Morning!" Camilla yelled back smiling, the lingo not so strange in her mouth anymore. Her accent has greatly improved and no one would have mistaken her for a foreigner if not for her unusual appearance. "Come have breakfast with me."

"It looks different..."

"Oh, it's scrambled this time."

Vega thanked her as she put some on her plate. People are used to consuming most of their food raw, especially plants and eggs. The only times she saw them cook something, is when they roasted animal meat or fish.

The two young women finished their meal and carried on with the day.

Camilla added to her usual routine a month ago. Every afternoon before going home, she'd take a stroll with Vega and Meryn whom she became very close to since they were about her age. Furthermore, she owed them her life.

"So you're turning 67 this year?"

Camilla asked Meryn as they ramble about in the outskirts of town. She wasn't surprised anymore, but when she first heard about it, she was dumbfounded. With their gorgeous and young-looking faces, they're saying that they're older than her and even older than her aunt!

“M****a!” she cursed, she thought she might have eternal youth in this place. Only to find out from a book left by the scholars of Rendor which she read later on, that they only have 88 days in a year. This means they age four times faster, but only in number. She knew she can't tell them her actual age from the earth,

‘How many years has it been? I should be in my late or mid-twenties now, so...’

Camilla stopped pondering and changed the subject when Vega said yes, but doesn't seem to be happy about it. She recalled having previously asked her if she would be serving the upsies—her term for the wealthy class.

"She won't, we're exceptions. Oh, how lucky you'd be if you get to serve the Royals, it's an honor." Meryn answered wishfully in Vega's stead.

She's already in her 70th year. 67th is the ripening age for female slaves in this country where they can start to work but Meryn never got the chance to join the Slave Gathering. A triennial event, wherein all who passed a certain set of tests will be sent to be of service in the upper echelons of society.

The slave is taught from childhood to perform their duties well before their coming of age. However, a healer is a necessity in town, and she's the only one left. Mary's mother is a healer herself and she had trained her daughter well in the field for her to take her place. Meryn didn't want it, she was more interested in crafting and sewing clothes, and wished to work in the central city someday. As for Vega, she suffered from seizures at times and thus was refused by a physician as she was deemed unfit.

Camilla felt lucky for having the freedom she had, that her friends would never have or even get the chance to.

Being born a slave in this world means you have been cursed by the goddess for the sins of your family and only servitude could relieve you of your burdens.

'What a load of crap!’ She was sure it was just a strategy for those in position to maintain the current system of the world, the poor stay poor and the wealthy stay rich.

A modern woman like her would never serve someone just because they're born of nobility and to think of it as an honor!

'What a bull,’ she thought. Maybe it'd be worth it if it was someone as great as Alexander or even Jesus himself. Even kings and queens of her world have made fools of themselves and she had no doubt it’s the same here. She looked at the two and sighed. She felt relieved they couldn't go, quite selfish of her but she's sure they'd be safer and much happier in this friendly town.

The three talked some more before saying their goodbyes and they headed to their respective homes.

Camilla couldn't care less that she was in a slave ground, she came to adore it and its people. They had shown her nothing but kindness since the day she got rescued. They only questioned her once before about where she came from, and she lied about being from a faraway land. It is technically true but in a way that the land she was referring to is Earth, and to tell people of this world the existence of another, might be suicide. And if she couldn't go back, she knows she'd do well out here.

As the land of stones, the place is overflowing with it in different sizes and colors, the whole place is like a massive painting. Camilla finds the scenery breathtakingly beautiful. She even proposed to use stones to build a house instead of wood and grass and was granted permission. She started the project as soon as the head leader approved it.

Everyone thought it wasn't possible but lent her a hand anyway. The result was even better than anyone expected, and from then on the locals followed through. Camilla had introduced so many things to them including fashion, sports, and pop music from Earth. She also hoped to build a school for the children as well and give cause to those in need. She'd been to and from the town hall discussing a new project, the slave leaders have acknowledged her contributions and are all ears to her proposals.

The changes they have made had become so strikingly noticeable even from afar, that anyone who passed by the town couldn't help but be intrigued. The word spread throughout Yvedra, and the small community gained popularity for a while. Many ventured out of their homes just to pay a visit to the growing wonder. Unbeknownst to Camilla, everything she'd done would be her undoing.

She was too preoccupied with the town's affairs that she didn't notice someone had been following her for quite a while. After a busy afternoon, as she was on her way home, she glanced to her side and saw a man wearing a long black coat, which she had seen earlier in the day. He was smoking a pipe while leaning against a tree not far from her. She had a weird and slightly unsettling feeling, but she dismissed it, reasoning that it was only a coincidence. After all, she is in a secure and tranquil environment. Not once did she hear of any crime around the area.

Camilla finally arrived at her place and dropped onto her bed–drowsiness taking over. Her house is quite far from the central town and all the walking she takes is exhausting. Her eyes snapped open when she heard a knock on the door. Thinking it was Vega who usually visits her at night, she didn't bother to look and dragged herself to unlock the door but didn't open it. Knowing Vega she would just burst into the room as soon as the door unlocked hitting her on occasion. She quickly left the door unopened after unlocking it and headed straight to her bed while telling her loudly to do what she wants while she takes a quick nap. Shortly after, she heard footsteps but hearing no reply she turned around.

“What's wrong—” she was about to ask what was up with her when her words were muffled by a cloth placed forcefully in her face covering her mouth and nose. Her eyes widened in fear when she saw the same man with the long black coat and she started to struggle beneath him. Out of breath, she couldn't help but inhale the cloth with a strong chemical smell. He was much stronger than she was. He tightly seized her hands and held the cloth in place till her body went limp.