"You're Zelus, the daimon of envy."

???

 MY EYELIDS BURN BRIGHT, BUT that isn't convincing enough to open them. Another reason is that the alarm has yet to ring, indicating there's still time to stay under the covers.

That is if only my feet could find the covers.

Perhaps it has fallen off the bed?

I move slightly and turn to my side when something painful wedges my spine, causing my eyes to shoot open. I lie face to face with the wall, bricks that aren't cemented or painted. And as I recall, the walls of my room were navy-blue. My eyes climbed up to discover further unusualness, and I knew something wasn't right. I sat up, fully awake to notice I was not in my room. The panic within me builds up, believing I've been kidnapped, and I'm unaware of how or when it happened. The foreign room is spacious, but there's only a small cabinet by one corner of the room, a bathroom, and an empty desk leaning by the window. From the dust and cobwebs, it hasn't been touched for a while.

My palms are sweaty, but they're free to which I support my body off the bed, but my spine pulls again, providing an uncomfortable feeling. I turn around to see feathers, lots of them, stretched across the bed. Small ones followed by larger ones dangling over the edge of the bed. I refuse to believe they're attached to me. As I stand and step away from the bed—a musty single bed with only one pillow and no covers— the feathers drag along, adding more weight to my back. While walking, I could sense the rough, sandy texture of the ground. I stomp the tip, wanting to ensure this was real.

I cuss to the instant stimuli response.

I wanted to panic further, but I remained calm, realizing things could be worse. I'm not tied up, nothing is blocking my mouth to scream for help, and the windows are open wide enough for me to fit through if the doors are locked.

Keeping my eyes on the window, I move closer, afraid but curious to see what's outside. Judging from the ancient-looking building structures, no vehicles– excluding the use of horses and chariots—and the people's simple fashion choices, I'm no longer in the city.

Wherever this place is, I'm far, far away from home.

What's worse, I have no memory of how I got here.

I stare at my reflection in the window. I couldn't recognize myself with this large pair of green wings. On its shoulder are horns resembling a wild boar's tusk. Dark, firm, and solid. I have on a tunic. Or is it a chiton? Regardless, the base stops across my thighs, the equivalent length of a mid-thigh skirt. It's attached to the upper body fabric that hangs over my left shoulder and connects back to the base, exposing half of my body in the process. An additional fabric was used as a belt around my waist.

I felt naked regardless I was clothed. Sort of.

Though, the breeze blowing the base of my tunic up made my arms stick to the side. An act inspired by Marilyn Monroe.

I began placing the puzzles individually and remembered my encounter with Sulod Hyde. I was in Alex's house when we met, and he is responsible for everything that's happening. I knew it was him, and somehow, I couldn't wrap my head around the fact that this wasn't a dream. Everything is indeed real. I got my wish. A wish to begin anew where no one knows me. However, even I do not know who I am. These wings and long, light hair is a whole new identity.

Sulod granted my wish, but as with every magic, there's always a price to pay. So, what was my payment?

In frying my brain to figure out the payment I've made, the door pushes open, and a woman steps in. She's dressed in lemon-yellow peplos, and her dark hair drapes clumsily over her shoulders and back. She holds a tray containing food and water.

"Good morning," she sings before setting the tray on the bed. There's a set of plain bread, a small helping of green grapes, and a glass of water. "It appears you've overslept again. Please do hurry, you don't want to be late for your classes. Eat your breakfast and take a bath. I'll have your clothes ready by then."

"If you don't mind me asking, but who are you?" I need some answers.

Her eyebrows furrow in confusion before rising again.

"Bethany, your servant?" She answers after a while. "Is this a trick question?"

"No, I'm genuinely asking to see if you still remember why you're here, Bethany," it's time to lower the suspicions, and it's working. She seems relaxed once again. "Now, who am I?"

"Who are you, as in?"

"As in my name."

"You're Zelus, the daimon of envy," I didn't know what I was expecting, but it wasn't that.

Zelus, why does this name sound familiar? I recall reading about him somewhere, but I can't remember where.

"And are these real?" I hold up the left wing.

She nods.

"How do you work them?"

"As if I know," she snorts. "I don't have wings, my Lord, so I couldn't educate you on that."

"But have you seen me flying with these?"

"Most definite, you're practically in the air more than you should be on your feet," her perkiness fades. "What's going on, my Lord? You seemed different from your usual self, asking many odd questions."

"As I said, it's a test to see if you remember why I took you in," I put on a leader's tone and pretended to be tough. Something that came naturally to me, and I didn't know why.

"I understand, my Lord, forgive me," she holds her hands against her stomach with her head bowed. "If there's nothing else, I'll return to my duties now."

"Yes, you can go."

She turns and exits the room.

"Wait!"

She returns, her face expressing fear as though I'm unsatisfied with something.

"You mentioned I have classes? Where is that?"

"At the castle of King Polydectes," she said.

"Are there other students like me?"

She shook her head. "There are princes from other kingdoms, while most are commoners. Regardless of their titles, including yours, everyone is treated equally."

"Thank you," is all I could say. I mean, what does one say after knowing their school is in a palace? Or having to wake up in a new world you're unfamiliar with.

"Of course," she smiles in gratitude before bowing her head again. She then continues heading towards the exit. "I shall retrieve your clothes. Your bath is ready at the temperature to your liking."

What the hell have I done?

...

I thought my encounter with Sulod was a dream, but the current situation feels more like a nightmare. One that I'm unable to wake up from.

Never in my life would I find bathing to be a hassle. The wings kept getting in the way, especially when I tried to scrub my back. Though I bathed, I still felt dirty because there was no soap. I told Bethany to bring some, but she returned with a clay bar. I assumed it was a bar soap, but its unappealing colors and texture assured me that it was pure clay. I dragged it against my arm and instantly regretted it, for the texture was rough and smelled like soil. And that's not the scent I'd want to walk around with.

I'd rather smell like myself than an earthworm.

I got out of the bath and slipped on a chiton—indigo shade with some swivel patterns sewn by the waist—of the same length and size, made from wool material. Though, the undergarment is something new. It's loose, with its flimsy fabric feeling more like shorts than underwear. One wrong move and out comes the nuts.

It got me wondering how girls can style mini-skirts and not be self-conscious that their glutes are somewhat visible, especially when they walk up the stairs.

I check the routes to the castle as I fasten my sandals on, which is probably the only thing I'm excited to put on. The sandals are made from genuine leather and feel rich around my feet. If this is in the twenty-first century, it'll cost more than a pair of Converse.

It isn't a challenge to outsmart Bethany with all these questions. She's the type of person who trusts others easily, no matter how many times it backfired her. She provides a map to which I can follow a path leading to the school. All my life, the only map I've used is Google Maps, and the paper in my hands portraying numerous confusing routes and images hurt my head. It's like opening a Math book and seeing more numbers than words. On the bright side, the castle stands far north of where I'm standing. Aside from Athena's temple, the palace is another building that's hard to miss.

"It seems like I'll be walking today," I mumbled, eyeing the streets filled with people performing their daily routines. Most of them are dressed like me, and I assume we belong in the lower-class group, while those with heavy jewelry and silk clothing are upper-class folks. I was amazed that nobody looked at me funny. The only person with wings on his back. They glance at me as if I'm just like everybody else. If this were Seattle, I'd be the center of attention for the rest of my life.

"Aren't you going to fly, my Lord?" Bethany creeps behind him, and I jump.

"I want to exercise my legs today," I stretch them as if they're in pain.

"Well then, you best be on your way," she enters the house and returns with a single strap of silk in her hand.

"What are you doing?" I panic but remain still.

I felt her hands around my wings. She's tying the silk around them.

"Here," she gestures to it. "I remembered the ranting of your wings being uncomfortable from dragging on the ground during the Olympics. And I found this method to be helpful. Pull the bow's tail if you're ready to fly, and it'll loosen."

I crane my neck like a dog chasing its tail, trying to see her creation. I gave up after noticing the tip had been lifted off the ground ever so slightly. After a few hops and the on-spot-running, the silk is secured firmly on them.

"Thank you."

She raises an eyebrow and lets a smile stretch across her face.

"Once again, you're welcome," she claps her hands twice. "Now go, it's getting late. You should've been there already."