Things got really awkward after Kreeda and Ordovic left the room.  King Naro seems like a good ruler, but he's intimidating as fuck.  I had to refrain myself from calling him 'your grace' or some shit.  That would've made things even more awkward.  I didn't really see the point of why I had to talk to the guy.  I mean, all he did was ask me a few questions and made me go into some super secret room with a super secret machine and it determined that I really was of Four Worlds - and Autumn's Eve - blood.  Eventually they were going to see whose blood I was, but they said that could wait for another day. 

When I exit the super secret room, Ordovic is standing outside with another guy, who just so happens to be equally attractive.  He's a lot blonder than Ordovic, with pale violet eyes and a deep set smirk on his face.  I bet he knows he's attractive.  But seriously, what do they put in the water over here?  I shake my head, trying not to think of how beautiful the men in Autumn's Eve are and just follow behind the boys when they push off the hall and start the trek to my room. Ordovic faces me slightly, still walking forward.  "So, Ansley, this is Aice Falle," he says, gesturing toward the blonde.

"Hi," he says, raising his hand to wave slightly. 

"Hello," I respond, a bit confused.  I look over the two of them silently.  "Um.  Are you brothers or something?"  They both start to chuckle. 

Aice answers me.  "No.  All of the Knights of Autumn's Eve have the last name of Falle.  Like, Kreeda's brother, Ahlwin, is in training, so right now he's still a Redleaf.  Soon enough he'll be a Falle."

I nod, signaling I understand, even though that's like, the stupidest thing I've ever heard of.  But hey, I'm not going to insult my home country.  I try to keep track of the way to my bedroom, but this place is so huge, and we keep making so many turns, that I stop bothering at one point.  Eventually we end up in front of my door.  I have no idea how, but we did. 

Aice pulls on the handle, opening it for me to pass through.  I offer him a small smile.  I'm walking to my bed, ready to pass out when Ordovic stops me.  "Ansley.  I've just received a page.  King Naro is honoring some ambassadors from Wintergrove with a lunch, and His Grace wants you to be there as well."  I took in a breath.  All I want to do is sleep!  Ugh. 

I shake my head, pinching the bridge of my nose.  "Alright.  Fine.  But don't expect me to dress up.  I don't have any other clothes." 

This made Aice grin.  "Don't worry, Ms. Thorton.  You'll be generously compensated."  And with that, they left the room, chuckling to each other. 

I sat down on my bed, thinking through what I should do.  Exhausted, I decide to just take a shower.  I mean, I did fall through a street puddle not too long ago.  I get up, letting my feet drag behind me as I make the trek to the bathroom.  I go to survey my appearance, and "OH MY GOD!  WHAT THE FUCK!"  Kreeda barges into the bathroom.

"Ansley!"  Her voice is full of panic.  "What's wrong?" 

I'm still staring at my reflection in shock.  "My hair."  I bring a hand up to it.  "What happened to it?"  Kreeda touches it lightly as well. 

"I don't see anything wrong.  It's a lovely color."  I'm in shock. 

"But... But it wasn't this color this morning.  It hasn't been this color for... six years."

Kreeda looks me over, eyebrows scrunched in thought.  "Did you die it?"  I nod my head.  "That's why.  All of the Beyonds strip away any additional... additions to the human body."  I frown, thinking myself over, and the pull up the sleeve of my t shirt.  My tattoo's gone.  Poof.  As is the one on my wrist.  I place my arms on the counter, leaning toward the mirror. 

"This place is so weird."  Kreeda laughs at me.

----------------

Kreeda walks into my bedroom, right after I get out of the shower, carrying a black garment bag.  I groan.  I was hoping that it would've all been a joke!  Damn it.  Kreeda, again, laughs at me.  "You have to go, Ansley.  King Naro will get suspicious if you don't.  He might think you're a drop in from Eye of Spring or something."  She shivers. 

I sigh.  All of these people are ridiculous.  "But he might be suspicious if I go down there and say something wrong.  Anyway this goes down, I could be killed."  I raise a shoulder absentmindedly.  She glares at me, and I find it a little disheartening that a child's glare is better than mine.  "Hey," I say, frowning.  "How old are you?" 

She tilts her head to the side.  "I'm afraid I don't follow."

My eyes narrow.  "Um, you know.  How long have you been living?  I've been living for twenty-two years.  I'm twenty-two years old."

The confusion on her face disappears.  "Oh!  Yeah I couldn't say.  Time is different here.  I think you call them months and days, or whatever.  We have more of those in what we call a cycle, which is I think, a year for you.

"We don't use age.  We count everything by moon cycles.  So," her eyes go up, thinking.  "I've been living for about 197 moon cycles."

My mouth drops open.  "That's crazy!  But those aren't... years, er, cycles, right?  That makes you really old."  She giggles, amused by my sudden dilemma.

"It's by moon cycles, which are your months.  That's how many... months I've been alive."

With that, she exits the room, leaving me with a garment bag and a confused expression on my face.  "Ugh!"  I put my head in hands, and plop down on the bed.  "This place is so weird!"