When the film of sleep leaves my eyes, I find Ela clinging to me. 

“Indeed,” Jak mutters.

“Are you alright, old Jak?” Bret asks, patting the old man on the back.

“Oh? I’m quite well,” he says, his tone subdued. He stares off into nothing I can see, somewhere long past me.

“...”

Bret interrupts the silence, “I thought that maybe whatever’s afflicting Hana might actually be catching.”

“However would you think so?” Jak asks with an amused expression, rubbing a bit of sleep from the corner of an eye.

“Isn’t that obvious? You got all glazed-over like she tends to.” Bret gives Jak’s shoulder a firm shaking.

In response to Bret’s jostling, Jak jerks an arm up and irritably swats Bret’s hand, saying, “It’s not some kind of a catching plague.”

Nursing his wrist, Bret frowns at the two of us. “What’s goin’ on then?”

Raising up a hand towards Bret to shut him up, putting on a smile again, Jak fixes me with a look filled with conviction. “It’s simple. Our friend here is able to peer into the souls of others. It’s a gift from the goddess, not a curse. I’m certain of this after what I witnessed.” He strokes his beard with a twist of his lips.

“...” Looking down, I swallow around a suddenly tight throat. “Don’t say that, Jak.”

Ela’s grip on my waist tightens. “Unf…” I gently pat Ela’s head and look back at Jak. “It’s better to say that I AM sick. After all, this condition nearly cost me my virginity on a backroad with no one around.” Wrapping my arms around myself, I look away.

I never felt so feminine, so vulnerable.

Jak’s eyes bore through me with sudden intensity, but I somehow know that his anger isn’t directed at me.

“Much becomes clear to me.” Jak murmurs. “You are most certainly not ill. Alvera weaves a complex tapestry here with you and your circumstances, Hana. I wonder why she chose to not send you directly to us and instead of selecting such a painful path?” He rubs at his beard. “But these concerns aside, I must say that it’s good to see you again, Princess Halima.”

My eyes widen and my mouth goes dry as I ask, “Are you out of your mind?” Wait… how does he know this girl’s true name? I’ve never told anyone here. Only Vayne knows.

“Isn’t your true given name Halima?” Jak says insistently.

“No. I don’t know what you’re talking about—”

“Enough of this evasion, young girl!” Jak’s eyes narrow and he puts his hands on my shoulders. “Don’t think to flee from fate itself. We can't run from it for very long in the end.”

“You’re out of your mind!” Bret laughs. “It’s finally happened. You finally reached your dotage. Leave her alone.”

Jak shakes his head.

“You’re wrong, Jak.” I pull from his surprisingly iron grip.

“No,” Jak gazes deeply into my eyes, searching. “I know those azure eyes of yours better than any. They make you the spitting image of King Karisma, Lord Defender of Morga, your father. The Keeper of Justice and Peace for man and beast both. A proud line that should rightfully have ruled Alver itself along with his northern lands. The old Alver royalty line.”

“The old royalty line?” Bret blinks. “What are you talking about? Alver has a King already! You’re wanting to supplant him?”

Jak shakes his head. “Not in the least. For the moment her lineage matters little. Aside from this, even if I advised her to go to Alversbridge and make her claim on the throne there, King Alexander is fair enough in his rule and his house powerful. No such claim would find any favor.” He waves a hand dismissively.

“Some say that he’s fair, but he’s leaving all the folks on the fringes of his kingdom to fend for themselves now, ain’t he?” Bret frowns. “Anyone would be better to rule this nation than that weak…”

“You shouldn’t speak of your King so.” Jak admonishes Bret. “You are most correct in some ways in your assessment of your King. Although he and his line are but impostors. At the end of this day or any other, it would be impossible to install Princess Halima at Alversbridge. Such foolish notions, youngling.”

Looking down and away, Jak’s unwavering gaze is troubling, not to mention Bret’s aggression towards him. This man is clearly more than he lets on. What does all this mean, though? It seems that the girl whose body I’m borrowing… Is it even borrowing? — That Halima wasn’t the pilgrim she was raised to be?

…

…

“Have you lost your mind, Jak?” Bret snarls. “What makes you think that I want to replace King Alexander with a girl I barely know! You’re the one who even suggested it!” He gestures at me in annoyance.

Jak thumbs his lips with a small chuckle. “Prudent judgment despite your young, hot blood.” He nods and smiles to himself. 

“Old Jak, you’re just twisting things!” Bret leaps to his ftp and seizes Jak’s shirt, glaring into his eyes. “Enough of all your blathering bullshite! Enough of all your...” Bret balls a fist and draws it back as far as he can. 

Bret’s eyes flash as he throws his fist forward. Startled, I leap ahead to intercept the blow. A hit like that could actually kill him! “Bret!” I yell.

In a blink, Jak raises a gnarled hand and intercepts the punch, deflecting it in a movement that martial artists would take notice of. Bret’s eyes widen in startlement and he seethes. “Just get out of my house! I’ve had enough of you!” He points. “I’ll have you hauled out by the guards if you won’t…”

Jak looks at me with amusement as I gape at him and winks. “A moment of your time, young ones.” Bret growls and leaps forward and in response, Jak’s eyes flash and in a blur of movement, the old man completes his transformation from that old man I’ve come to know in a blink. His eyes harden, and with grace and fluidity, he throws Bret over his head with stunning strength to throw him  onto the floor. He paces over to Bret and offers his arm with a small smile.

Bret groans with a shocked expression, dazed.

“Boy, I’m afraid that you’ve misread me.” Jak smiles like his typical self, stille extending his hand. Ela rushes forward and props Bret up and inspects the back of his head.

She gives a sigh of relief. “He’s alright, but… Jak… why?”

Jak takes back the hand that Bret refused to take and walks back to me with a serious expression, he lowers himself to a kneeling position, holding his arms up towards me. I blink and for a moment see a sword in his hands. He looks at me intently and then bows his silvered head before me. He lifts his hands upwards towards me and I can almost see his imagined sword there.

It’s something about his aura that projects…

“My liege.” Jak murmurs. “I apologize for my unruly behavior. It’s your right to discipline me should you wish it.”

I blink and draw back, shaking my head. “No… it’s Bret’s place, not mine.”

“It’s yours.” Jak nods his head at me. “Like your father, King Karisma, I am  your man. Although your father and my old friend and liege is dead, you are rightfully the uncrowned Queen of Mulga.”

Ela looks at me with a shocked expression and Bret with her, the anger and aggression fading from his eyes. Bret frowns and shakes his head. The both of my friend’s eyes show doubt.

Looking at them for a long moment, finding no answers in their faces, I turn my eyes back to Jak with a hesitant laugh. A laugh that I can’t hold back. “No. You’re mistaken, Jak. I’m not what you think. My name is Hana. I truly think that you’ve lost your mind.”

“Forgive me for speaking freely, liege, but I respectfully disagree.” Jak says firmly, his voice full of conviction.

“Answer me this: what of this gift of yours given by Alvera herself? No common man would possess it. Tell me how you are able to peer deeply into a man’s soul, wringing things from the dusty corners of a man, showing them memories that they have nearly forgotten.”

I look away, chewing my lip, my arms wrapped around myself. Is it really a gift? It really is a curse. This whole world is cursed, right? It makes sense that I’d be cursed the moment I…

Jak looks deeply into my eyes and asks, “Did you not see what I did, Princess? I witnessed the very moment I left Mulga with you in my arms. Not only that, I saw again our wild flight across the grasslands to this young girl’s village. King Karisma, your father, ordered me to take you there for refuge. To keep you hidden from any who wished to do you harm, I was ordered to run onwards, leaving you in the tribe’s capable hands.”

Meanwhile, Ela’s ears have sprouted, showing her distress and uncertainty. Her tail thrashes wildly and her nose twitches. Looking over his shoulder, Jak chuckles softly, pointing at Ela. “And, my liege, did you not behold the moment that Alvera touched my mind and made me stay from your side, despite my desire to return and hide in the countryside somewhere nearby, always keeping an eye on you, regardless of my King’s command?” He looks firmly at me. “You surely felt her touch with me at that very moment. Please speak truly.”

Feeling shivers going up and down my whole body at his words, I shake my head in denial. “I’m not a princess, Jak, let alone some kind of a Queen!”

“Please, my Princess. Speak truly.” His eyes shame me.

“... Damn it!” I pace wildly. “This body… Her real name is Halima, but I’m NOT HER! Do you understand what I’m trying to say to you? I can’t ever be what you… Jak, I’m a fucking man on the inside! I’m from another world, in fact! I don’t really belong here. My true name is Haku. I come from a place on Earth… a great city called Tokyo.” Ela and Bret stare at me with wild eyes. The horse girl’s ears flatten and they look into each other’s eyes, probably certain that I’ve gone insane along with Jak. 

Jak looks at me calmly and thoughtfully, thumbing his bearded chin. He tilts his head and his brow crinkles.

“You know, oh well.” I laugh and shrug my shoulders. “I’m sure that this is all just a stupid dream, a trick my mind is playing on me. And honestly, this whole experience is like torture! Heh…” I laugh and turn away. “I’d wager this is probably just some kind of a hallucination in my last moments. I was shot and bled…” I swallow around a tight throat. “I… I—I’m afraid that I’ll never wake up ever again and go home. I will die, and you’ll all probably disappear along with me when that happens!”

Everyone looks at me with mixed feelings. I can feel their eyes. Ela stands and rushes to my side and grasps my wrist. “Hana… tell me this… that you’re lying. This is all too…”

I shake my head negatively. “It’s all true. I’m sure Jak is right… but you… you all don’t exist! I’ve made you up in my head to keep me company in my last moments.”

Ela’s grip on my wrist loosens and she wanders away with tears in her eyes, crumpling in on herself.

Bret haltingly starts to laugh, becoming wild. “I’ve surrounded myself with madmen and women, haven’t I? Hahahahaha!”

Flinching away from Brets scornful and maddened laughter, I turn and dash to my room and slam the door behind to slump against it.

Shit… did I fuck everying up by opening my mouth like that, telling them everything? They’ll certainly think I’m insane now. I feel like I really might REALLY go insane. Clutching my head, more tears roll from my eyes.

“...”

“...”

“...”

After a long period of crying alone, there’s a firm knocking on the door behind me. Ignoring it, I curl up. “No… no… no… Just go away. Make this all go away, please! I… I…”

“Princess, or Haku, whichever you wish to call yourself,” Jak says in a somber tone. “We have more important things to discuss than how we feel about the hand that Alvera dealt you and us along with yourself. Please come out and speak.”

“N—no…” I yell loudly, sobbing. “Ela… she hates me now. I’m not the girl she thought I seem. I lied to her, a bigger lie than any she ever told. It’s me… Hahaha… She’s not a good friend to me, really? In reality, I’m just trash.” 

—

“...”

—

“I’m telling you Jak, I’m just a man from another world—borrowing your Princess’ body!”

“That’s precisely why we must have a conversation.”