The sheer joy of finally being back bubbles up inside me so fast that, before I even realize it, hot tears start streaming down my cheeks.
My mother, walking in right behind me with a bag, drops her keys in surprise. "Sara? Oh honey, what's wrong? Why are you crying?"
I quickly wipe at my eyes, offering a watery, embarrassed laugh. "No, Mom, it's nothing! Really. I'm just... so happy to be home. I guess I'm just getting a little emotional after everything."
Mom smiles softly, her eyes glistening too, and pulls me into a warm, comforting hug, holding me tight for a long moment.
After she leaves to head back home, I spend the next hour unpacking my luggage, organizing my space, and refreshing myself. Changing into a comfortable, loose t-shirt and sweatpants, I finally collapse onto my own bed, staring up at the plain, familiar ceiling.
Man... I think, letting out a relaxed sigh. I completely forgot what it's like in my own apartment. There are no fancy vaulted ceilings or crystal chandeliers like in Eleanor's room... but coming back home feels incredible. I can actually see my parents whenever I want, and I can just exist as myself.
As I lie there in the quiet room, a curious thought suddenly pops into my head.
Wait... what about that strange power or blessing the deity gave me before sending me off? She said she granted me a special ability, didn't she? Let's test it out.
Sitting up slightly, I whisper into the quiet air of my room, testing the limits of the skill. "Show me what my dad is doing right now."
I wait.
Nothing happens. The air remains completely still, and no translucent screen appears.
Frowning slightly, I try again, directing my voice toward the empty space above my bed. "Show me what my brother is doing."
Still nothing. Absolute, dead silence. No projections, no visions, no magical prompts.
A sudden realization dawns on me, and I let out a dry chuckle. Ah... I see. So the angel's blessing or whatever that power was... it completely doesn't work in this world, huh? Figures.
Determined to see if it's entirely broken or just restricted to my home dimension, I decide to test the opposite direction. I whisper softly, directing my thoughts back toward the fantasy realm.
"Can it show me the other world? Like when I was in Eleanor's body... show me what Duke Valerius is doing right now."
I hold my breath, waiting for the shimmering light of a portal or a floating display screen to materialize in front of my face.
One second. Two seconds. Three seconds.
Complete, unwavering silence.
Not a single spark of magic answers my call. Duke Valerius, his sprawling estate, and the grandeur of the Valerius mansion remain entirely out of reach.
Well, that's a bit of a letdown, I think, letting my head drop back against the pillow with a soft sigh. So the deity's power really doesn't work in this world at all. I was hoping I could supervise things over there while hanging out safely in my own room, kind of like having a secret security camera or a front-row seat to all the noble drama.
I cross my arms, pouting slightly. Guess that angel's blessing isn't quite as omnipotent as I imagined. It only works when I'm actually tethered to Eleanor's world. Down here in reality? Totally useless. I'm just an ordinary human again.
A small, wry smile touches my lips as I stare up at the ceiling. Fine, whatever. At least I'm back in my own bed.
Then, a sudden memory flashes through my mind, what the mysterious entity told me before sending me off. Wait... didn't she mention something about time distortion? That an hour of sleep over there equals seven hours of rest here, or something like that? I guess I won't know if that part is actually true until I fall asleep tonight and see how rested I feel.
Settling back more comfortably against the mattress, my mind begins to wander, drifting back to the sheer absurdity of my current situation. I gaze out the window as the afternoon light slowly shifts, letting out a quiet, bewildered breath.
What on earth is actually happening with my life right now? I ask myself, the weight of it all suddenly hitting me. Why do I have to be the one caught up in something this bizarre? Living a double life, switching back and forth between a dull, normal routine in the real world and a high-stakes, dramatic noble life as a reincarnated character in a fantasy world... why did it have to be me?
I turn my head sideways, staring at the empty space beside my desk, searching for some kind of cosmic answer. But, naturally, the universe offers nothing. There's no grand revelation, no sudden epiphany, just the quiet, ordinary hum of my apartment building.
I guess some questions just don't have answers, I muse, pulling a light throw blanket over my legs.
BAM!
The sharp, sudden sound of the front door swinging open shatters the quiet stillness of the apartment.
"Hey! I'm home!" a familiar, cheerful voice calls out from the outside of my room.
It's my brother's voice. Hearing his voice echoing down the hallway after his classes at college, my eyes light up. Without a second thought, I kick off the blankets, spring up from the bed, and dash straight out of the room to go greet him.