Little over a year later, the slumbering figure of a tall, slender pale girl is seen sleeping on the black leather couch. One of her legs hangs over of the edge of the couch revealing socks with skulls on them and a strip of boxers that have printed miniature golden cat-like figures with a bolt-like tail on them.

“Miss, it’s time you got up,” the graying older woman named, Dolores firmly yelled as she removes the blankets off the slumbering figure.

The sleeping figure turns around to reveal a logo on the black tee reading, “There is magic in the air and it’s called WIFI!” Izo sleepily murmurs, “What time is it?”

“It’s almost noon,” Dolores snapped back.

Izo groans and covers her head with her pillow. The pillow is forcibly yanked as her nose crashes painfully into the couch headrest. Izo lets out a pained grunt as she rolls to her side, before climbing to her feet.

“No more nonsense, Miss. You haven’t left the house in three months other than for your bi-weekly sessions with Doctor Anderson. Some fresh air will do you good, Miss,” Dolores firmly growled as she folds the blankets and begins to clean the living room.

Izo grumbles, “I’ve gone out a couple of times, I think that’s more than okay. Besides I went shopping on all those previous outings. And I will have you know, I do socialize as I spend plenty of quality time with my friends.”

“Miss, you only went out to buy your games and comics. After that, you’ve been ordering them online and having them delivered to the front door. As for your so-called friends, they’re all virtual. In fact, most of them are middle schoolers to be precise. I do not consider them adequate friends for a woman your age. I would prefer to not have to call, Doctor Anderson or Doctor Wang,” Dolores threatened.

Izo yawns and heads towards the shower. She acknowledges that she’s been lazing about, but it’s the first vacation she’s had in ten long years. It had been long overdue.

After being released from the hospital having faked her way through therapy, the doctors suggested she live separately from Mr. and Mrs. Lee in a guarded complex. Mr. and Mrs. Lee resultantly agreed and paid for a condo.

Izo would have settled for something smaller and less grandiose, but she couldn’t very well say, no. The parents of the original Izo were disturbed by the change in Izo. The only reason they had not denounced Izo as an imposter was because of the DM test and the medical doctors stating, it was perfectly normal for a personality to drastically change under such dramatic circumstances. It may have come as a relief to Mr. and Mrs. Lee when the subtle suggestion was made that Izo their daughter remain dead.

Following that logic, Mr. and Mrs. Lee had officially declared their daughter, Izo Lee dead and mourned her publicly. Izo was given a new identity though she was permitted to retain her first name, she was now Izo Reed. To maintain plausible deniability, a trust fund had been established in her name and would be sufficient to see to her needs until the day she died.

Plus, the police recommended the solution, as well as word, had yet to go out which of the students had been found alive. Currently, at present all the students of Classroom 13 are officially declared dead. To protect Izo’s identity and fragile psyche, all files proving her existence have been destroyed or discarded. In the case, Izo’s identity should be discovered, the police will claim that such information is an utterly false statement that the present Izo is merely an individual who unfortunately shares a similar appearance with the dead Izo Lee.

Dolores, a maid of the family was assigned to clean and care for Izo. Izo didn’t mind as she could spend most of her time reading comic books or playing video games. The games in this world had excellent graphics. But Dolores was right, it had been months since she had done anything outside. She needed to go out and do something.

Izo finishes drying her hair as she emerges into her room. With a flourish, Izo opens her closet and grabs the essentials. A hoodie, a random tee, comfortable dark jeans and a pair of comfortable sneakers. Another wonderful thing about medieval times, they lack excellent clothing textiles or appropriate underwear. Silk is useless, when in battle. Instead, you’re stuck with a tough scratchy cloth that causes rashes on the skin.

Dolores promptly accompanies Izo on her day’s journey. The building’s guard waves goodbye as they head in the direction of the bookstore. Another wonderful amenity of the modern world was that the masses were literate and had access to a wealth of literature.

Izo browses through the bookshelves as Dolores remains nearby reading a steamy romance novel. Laughter like that of a songbird reaches Izo’s ears as she disappears further into the shelves, unbeknownst to Dolores who is currently lost in the Caribbean, where a handsome pirate is about to tear open her chemise to cup her breasts in his silky, rough hands.

*

A young woman with warm golden hair, sun-kissed lips and rosy cheeks smiles brightly at a group of young men and women. She was like a cute animal that made others want to be protective of her. The group looks familiar as Izo recognizes the figures from the memory spell. The girl is Mary, a “commoner” student, (a normal human being from a normal background), admitted into Summerfield Conservatory. The rest of the group members are former schoolmates or acquaintances.

The Izo of this Earth was viciously jealous of Mary because Mary had gained the attention of Alexander. Though Alexander and Izo had grown up together, Alexander had never considered Izo more than an acquaintance. Izo turns to leave, when the sweet voice of Mary says, “Miss Lee, is that you? I thought-.”

Izo stiffens and turns around to face the startled crowd. “You have the wrong person,” she solemnly replied.

Alexander, though handsome with his golden hair and blue eyes, the icy look on his face utter ruined his looks in Izo’s eyes. Alexander’s dreamy looks would be of no use against Izo as he reminded her too much of Ryo and that cursed person. Handsome men were far more trouble than they were worth. She would much prefer a chubby guy who shared her love for food.

The crowd looks confused as Mary tilts her face in confusion. That arrogant face was identical, but unlike Miss Lee’s face, there was no emotion in those dark eyes. Rather there was a sense of detachment as though watching a bug crawl by.

None of the group deems a response in time as the tall, all too slender woman disappears among the shelves and out of sight. The group erupts into whispers as Mary gapes in astonishment. If it had been Miss Lee, she would have haughtily insulted Mary, before raising her nose into the air and stomping away. The person before them was all too different.

Yes, it surely must be someone else. After all, it is rumored that there is a doppelganger for every person in existence. Firm in their belief, they all forget the incident as they return to enjoying their afternoon in good company.

*

“His hand tears her drawers away reaching for her inner thigh,” a woman’s voice reads over her shoulder causing Dolores to hastily snap the book shut. Izo smirks and says, “Now, now Dolores, one must always remain watchful.”

Dolores fans the blush on her face and says, “Miss, you gave me a fright!”

Izo doesn’t respond as she leads the way out. On the way back home, Izo points to the two massive buildings opposite of each other. Dolores says, “Miss, do you need something done at the Adventure’s Guild or the Hero’s Formal Association?”

“Just curious, what’s the difference?” Izo said rather absentmindedly asked.

“Miss, surely you’re jesting. I find it hard to believe you don’t remember,” Dolores disbelievingly said.

“Indulge me,” Izo pointedly said.

“Very well, Miss. The Hero’s Formal Association are heroes protecting the cities from monsters and criminals. The Adventure’s Guild can fill similar positions on a request basis and are always paid upfront. Their primary job is discovering new dungeons or raiding them,” Dolores swiftly said expecting more questions, but none ever came.

The two women arrive at the condo as Dolores hangs her purse up, whilst Izo sprawls on the couch and reads a comic book. Her feet kick back and forth in the air as she reads. Dolores begins to cook as Izo from the couch says, “Dolores, do I need anything to register at the Adventure’s Guild?”

Dolores chokes almost cutting off her hand as the knife missed her fingers by a hair length. Dolores takes a deep breath and mumbles a few choice words before coming for air. “Miss, is this a joke? Are you just trying to pull this old lady’s chain? Well, you have succeeded, I almost chopped my hand off just now!” Dolores crossly shrieked.

Izo turns a page of her comic book and mumbles, “Like I was saying, do I need anything?”

Dolores looks at the ceiling as pleading for aid from the heavens. Taking a deep breath, she begins to most violently chop the vegetables to make potato stew. “A form of identification, $175 guild registration fee and to pass a classification rank exam,” Dolores sternly said as she pauses for a moment, before hesitantly adding, “But Miss, you can’t use magic nor do you have any skills.”

“Oh, I’m sure something will come up,” Izo said confidently as she got to the good part and was about to discover how the locked door case is about to be solved. It was hilarious, how a brilliant detective had been turned into a little kid. At least the some of the same series of Earth existed in this world too.

Dolores sighs in resignation and vents her frustration on the poor trembling vegetables meeting their doom.