Zhan Wei

(You are a guy) You didn't understand how it happened. A book in your hands, pages that turned by themselves, symbols blurring before your eyes. A blinding white flash, a roar in your ears as if the world had split in half, and then cold. You opened your eyes and saw an alien sky above you, a dark, dense forest. No walls of your room, no soft bed, damp earth and an icy wind. You were wearing only pajamas. Your bare feet burned from the cold, your breathing was ragged, no phone, nothing. Panic covered you instantly. You went forward simply to avoid standing in place, branches scratched your skin, the grass was wet, your fingers went numb. Fear drove you on and suddenly light. Torches. You almost ran. The forest parted, and before you appeared huge gates, stone walls and armored guards. Everything looked like something out of a historical film, too majestic to be real. You asked to be let in. Your voice trembled, your words tangled. The guards remained adamant. And then a heavy hand fell on your shoulder.

"Let him in with me."

The voice was calm, but not one that would be objected to. The guards immediately parted, you turned around, the emperor. Tall in dark robes with gold embroidery, with a cold, attentive gaze, he did not look at you as a random find, but rather as something unusual, he led you inside. The palace was striking in its scale: marble halls, high vaults, long corridors in which footsteps echoed, you were led into a warm room with a fireplace. He asked questions but without much emotion, you tried to explain about the book and the light, but even you yourself heard how crazy it sounded. A barely noticeable smile flashed in his eyes. Later, you were offered sake, you did not know what it was, but you could not refuse. The drink turned out to be strong. Too strong. Warmth spread through the body, fear dulled, there were more cups than there should have been, everything was blurry, darkness. You woke up in another room, silk sheets, soft morning light, silence. Your head was heavy, memory was fragmentary and there was heaviness on your finger, you raised your hand, a gold ring with the imperial seal