Olivia opened her eyes to a cult ritual.
The first things she saw were purple flames. They didn't creep up on her like wild fire burning everything in its path. It was just... there, flickering from the invisible breeze filling the whole entire room in a circular shape.
She was at the center of it all. For some reason.
"You awake?"
The world was still spinning for her. She managed to raise her head, at least, even when she got a migraine out of her efforts. "Where...?"
Her senses came to her slowly, like droplets trickling into a small cup. The room was dim. The only sources of light being the countless purple flames.
And the small window on the ceiling, for some reason?
"It's okay," that voice again, from earlier. "You made it through safely. You're okay."
... made it through?
She felt like her body was moving through cotton, but she got her fingers to move. One, two. Three.
Her palm was touching frigid coldness. Her fingers grazed something coarse, like really small pebbles in a line.
Her feet were cold, too. The way her body was bent-- she was sitting. Looks like she's on the floor.
And around her were markings, black in contrast with the plain light-colored floor. There were symbols she couldn't recognize.
Uh.
She wasn't kidnapped in a cult, was she?
She's the wrong kind of person to be in a cult! She doesn't have that much money yet!!She's faithful to her God!! She goes to church every Sunday and prays every day!! Why is she here!!!!!
--just then, a hand grabbed her wrist. The action was gentle, but Olivia can't help flinching anyway.
Her vision was getting clearer and clearer...
In front of her, clutching her wrist, was a woman that looked like she's barely older than 21 years old -- barely older than Olivia herself.
The woman's eyes shone like gems. The color of those orbs were...purple?
Since when did people have purple eyes?
"There you are", The woman smiled at her. "Welcome to Ogygios, our savior."
Olivia blinked.
What.
Did she hear that right?
==
The last thing Olivia remembered before ending up wherever that was is the city lights.
She'd been living in a dormitory for about a year now. The place wasn't too luxorious, and only girls were allowed inside, but it was a good place.
Since she just came back from school, she didn't have the time to change yet. She was still wearing the white uniform paired with dark blue pants, staring at the ID with its lanyard still around her neck.
Olivia Abella. Second Year. Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering.
The course was stressful. Classes were fast-paced, and the seniors weren't lying when they said the lessons were extremely difficult.
Listen, she was used to getting really high grades. All her subjects in high school are graded either A+ or A, with the lowest being B. And now, it's considered an achievement for her to even get a C--the bare minimum in this course.
But, hey. It's fine. It's okay.
All she needs to do is pass her classes, get through the board exam with flying colors, and she'll work in the industry in no time. The pay for Chemical Engineers is insanely high, you know?
Once she finally made it, she and her family will finally live in luxury. She'd get to fund her mother's dream of traveling around the world, too...
Of course, there's no guarantee she'd land a job that pays that high. But she's an optimistic person at heart. She can do it for sure!
--so, yeah. The last thing she remembered was sitting on her bed, looking out the window. The city lights were always comforting to watch, and so were the people below in the streets, minding their own business.
A long day just finished for her. She already made plans for the evening, too; after resting, she'll take a nice warm bath. Then she'll put her notebook on the table, open her laptop, and start studying for two hours as preparation for the next day.
And...
And. Did she actually do those things? Everything else after watching the city scenery was oddly blurry.
She was drugged. Right?? There was no other explanation.
Not with what she just heard from...whoever this is in front of her. "Uh. Can you repeat that?"
The woman barely blinked. "Wasn't I clear enough?"
"Not if you didn't just tell me to kill someone."
A slow, amused smile. "Two people, actually."
...okay.
She's been kidnapped by a madwoman who thinks anyone can be John Wick.
Okay. Not the worst thing that could happen to her, really.
"The path is already prepared for you, savior", the woman continued. "A Duke's family will welcome you after you step out of this building. Since you were summoned from another world, you have many skills people will fight for to have, yes?"
"I...guess?" If the things she does as a hobbies--like baking and cooking--count as a talent, then sure. She's confident in her skills regarding those.
And...maybe her modern knowledge, too? It's not much, but. It's something.
"Then, you won't have any problem catching the third prince's attention."
Olivia stared. Third. Prince.
Huh.
The woman's unnervingly purple eyes were gleaming now. Creepy. "You'll be taken into the third prince's palace when you impress him enough. Get close to him, and get close to the first prince, too. Then kill them at the first chance you get!"
A chilling breeze went by, making the purple flames dim a little. Olivia shivered from the sheer lack of warmth.
Okay.
Olivia, a promising young woman with a bright future, is trapped in the middle of some place with a murderous madwoman. Sitting in this demonic-looking ritual circle.
And she's not wearing any clothes. She noticed that just now.
Okay.
They took her phone in addition to her clothes, too. Downright terrifying. How is she going to call the cops now?
The woman leans in, inches away from her face. "Understand now? Will you accept, savior?"
Olivia stared. That's all she could do, really.
She forced her lips to open. "Can I get some clothes first?"