I would like to give a warm welcome to those who started reading this. Honestly, I've no idea how the story might travel to so fingers crossed! I don't know if this chapter makes sense but I'm still quite contented with it. Now, ON WITH THE STORY!

'Patricia.'

I gasped at a sudden contact on my shoulders. My head flickered to the side with no one in sight. I searched around my surroundings for any hints of danger and there was none. The crunch-like noise produced by the sole of my shoes colliding against the branches was the only sound my ears could process at the moment. My eyes roamed around the unfamiliar scenery. I have no idea how I got here.

'Patricia.' There was that voice again. It was a raspy voice with a hint of a pleading tone added to it. It sounded like an older woman but more classified in her late fifties or early sixties.

I decided to throw a response to it, experimenting whether I'm receiving an answer.

'Hello!' I greeted. It echoed throughout the area with myself, silently hoping that it didn't disturb any sleepers around here.

One, two, three minutes had gone by and no signals of the woman's presence. I shrugged it off, feeling hopeless about it. I began lifting my foot up before my ears perked up to the sound of something peculiar.

I took another attempt, 'Hello!'

My breath hitched once I felt a hand resting on my arm. I didn't dare exhaling out another word. I stood there in the same position with no single movement whatsoever.

'Patricia,' I listened, I was still too frightened to speak out a single sentence, 'Your locket.'

I gulped, realising what she meant. My eyes trailed down on my neck, seeking a necklace dangling back and forth continuously. Inside the necklace consists of a vintage photograph of my great-grandmother. It was the last memory she gave me before she fluttered her eyes close with her hazel-coloured eyes no longer to be gazed at anymore. I wouldn't lie that I shed a tear or two before I departed with nothing else to come back for. She was very precious to me.

'W-what do you want?' I managed to stutter out a sentence. I mentally cursed myself for being a such a "scaredy-cat."

'You're the current descendant of the Empire's guardian.' She slipped out of the darkness. Her appearance becoming apparent.

Current descendant? Empire's guardian?

'Patricia, you are not ordinary. You were born with royal-blood flowing through your veins. You may never been raised as one, but you are one.' The woman stated, placing the palm of her hand on my cheek. It felt so warm.

'What is that supposed to mean?' I asked. A lot of questions were swimming in my mind, craving to get fed by answers.

'Child,' she spoke, 'you may not know how special you are.'

I raised an eyebrow, completely puzzled, 'And how special am I?' I could feel her presence getting weaker. She's fading away with each questions I throw.

'Child, I have no time left for me. You may have to figure out yourself. Dearest, always remember to keep your eyes open.' She told, the last remaining of her was swept away by the strong gust of wind.

I stood still, stunned with bewilderment for what I just witnessed. And with those four words repeating within my mind.

Keep your eyes open.