The spectral woman's smile warmed my heart, it felt truly welcoming like a Mother's smile. "Grand-daughter, you are welcome here, this land has ever supported our bloodline. Only the Women of our line can rule, which is why it's a Queendom, unlike other nations. Our blood resonates with this land, were I not ill at the time of the Lizardmen's uprising, then you would have been raised here as a True Princess. I can see you're confused, how much do you know?"

  I looked at her, hopeful that I might learn something about myself. "I know my name is Regina, but I have no memories of my past. Common knowledge hasn't been affected, but I didn't even know the woman whose corpse I was lying next to when I first awoke. The only memories I have of my past are of waking here on the beach three days ago."

  She looked shocked and greatly concerned. "Dear heart, you must have amnesia! This is tragic, yet can be helpful too. Your lack of memories will allow you to focus on the now, which is good; we can only hope your memories return in time. Your situation also explains why you're practically naked, hardly appropriate for the Queen to be so... unattired. Place the Coronet on your head; it will allow you to access the vault. In the vault, you will find suitable attire for war. Now you are here, my time is limited, much of my residual energy has been used protecting the vault, so my descendant would have the tools of war needed. You must free our people from the filthy Lizardmen; they took advantage of my Daughter's youth and my infirmity to attack and enslave our people. When you find someone of the blood of nobility, you will know, you must find a mate of a noble house if possible, but the only thing that truly matters is that YOU are the only person who can rule this land. No doubt you have marveled at your own strength. It is the land itself welcoming you home, and the warrior Queen's garb will enhance even that. With a healthy queen returned, victory is certain."

  I placed the Coronet on my head and felt a surge of power, and the knowledge of how this Castle was meant to be, and where everything was. Moving with purpose, I opened the vault, and true to the Specter's word, there was a marvelous set of Armor. Alongside the Armor was a spectacularly huge sword made of steel that gleamed in the green light cast by my crown. There was clothing in various sizes as well. Wasting no time, as the air was cold, I dressed myself in suitably sized clothes and put on the armor, which seemed to expand to fit me in places, while shrinking in others for the same purpose. The armor made me feel even more powerful than I already was, but the sword let me know that this Castle's very stones were at my command.

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  With a mental will, the power of the land surged through me, and the Castle itself began to rebuild. In mere moments, the decay of generations undid itself, the walls and parapets with their crenellations reformed, imposing in the skyline. Linnens rewove themselves, tapestries rehung themselves, furniture was restored to pristine conditions, the only things missing now were people and food.

  "Child, I wish I could teach the laws of the land to you, but I lack the time. You shall save our people, and make laws anew. Would that I could help in recovering any of your lost memories, but for now, my dear heart, I must wish you well and fade away. This fragment of my soul has only been awaiting your arrival, and it yearns to return to the whole. Be well, my descendant."

  "Wait!" I called out to her, but it was too late; her form had vanished, the spell spent. Alone once more, but now with at least some answers and much better armed, I walked through the restored castle and out to my former base. Gathering the fish from my trap, I dismantled it. The fish were just as good for lunch as they had been for breakfast. Along with the restoration of the Castle, so too had the river been restored, and part of that restoration was a much improved fish trap. Large enough to feed the entirety of the Castle's former population for a week once enough fish inhabited it. I found the kitchen and lit the fire in the hearth. It would be safer to cook here, rather than outdoors.

  Next, I climbed to the top of the highest tower, in hopes of spotting at least some settlement I could investigate. I walked around the tower on its balcony, peering out across the land, the Jungle thinned to the east, leading to a grasslands, and there I could see a plume of smoke wafting in the wind, to the north, a small tendril seemingly hidden from sight caught my eye. These Lizardmen filth weren't the type to hide their presence. This made me think perhaps there were escapees there. Anyone who escaped on their own was worth finding.

  The sun was well on its way to setting, but I could still make some progress towards that hidden camp. Relying on the power of my armor, I leapt from the tower straight towards the tendril of smoke in the distance. My leap took me past the walls and a good hundred feet into the jungle beyond.