Chapter II: Into the Strange World

Nothing really changed in his dream now compared to the last one. The only thing that changed was the people around him.

They seemed to be always busy early in the morning. But he could tell that something wrong is happening there. He could sense it, the tension in the people or their worried faces everytime they look at the palace.

Oh, Edmund forgot to describe the place that he's seeing in his dream. It was like this, remember some movie of ancient time? That King and Queen were the ruler of the lands. Everything seemed so old. The city usually look not the same as the modern world. People who sells their product were using tents and woods at their stalls. He could tell that there is no electricity here because he sees no cable wirings or electric posts. The houses were made of either wood or brick or a mixture of both.

The people wore dresses like in the old times. Long dresses with plain colors and they wore capes with hoods or shawls. They use sandals instead of slippers or shoes.

Sorry, Edmund apologizes as he can't describe the place well. But he'll do his best, he'll continue to describe the place while at the same time exploring it too.

Edmund got this feeling of confusion and uneasiness as he can't tell whether he's dreaming or not because everything felt so real at this strange place. Except if he's invincible enough for the people can't see or notice him.

He was quite familiar with the place so he took the risk to explore it further. It's because he's looking for someone, a particular person that he'd seen before.

As he jogged by, he nearly bumped a man that was carrying a crate full of different kind of fruits. Thankfully he just have about a second to dodge it.

He continued to walk a few more meters away from the crowd of the market (as what he guessed). From the corner of his eye, he saw the person whom he was looking for ealier. She was sitting beside a tree with bushes at her back. She's alone by this time, and it seemed that she's thinking deeply of something. He could tell it by looking at her eye. He doesn't know why, but he'll figure it out as soon as he can, right after he knew this girl's name.

He walked towards and sat beside her. He was totally convinced that he is invisible because the girl didn't noticed him, and he can't even touched the girl's hair. Ir just went through her like a hologram. Edmund was surprised when she looked up the sky and muttered something.

"I'm so sorry brother, it's all my fault all my fault," she repeated those words over and over again.

"No wait, it's that stupid prophecy!" she shouted angrily.

Tears were trickling down her cheeks.

"And if it weren't for this stupid curse! I could live a normal life with my brother! Damn! How many years should I wait for those four royal bloods to come?!"

Seeing her like that gives him the urge to hug and comfort her in his arms. He usually don't do that especially on strangers. But on this girl, he can feel something special and unique about her. If only he could really go to that place, he would willingly help her solve the problem. But it seemed impossible, he doesn't even know if this world really exists.

The girl spoke again.

"I hope they would come soon to help me. I really beg for it."

"I wish I could help you miss. But I don't even know where to find you and I'm not even sure if you really exist in this world." he said softly to the girl, but he doubted if she was able to hear him.

He just stared at the girl for a minute then something rushed through his body. He stood up to see what was it. What he saw almost made him laugh. It was a small, chubby and very cute animal that he'd ever seen.

The girl was surprised too when she saw the animal.

"Hey wombby! Where'd you go? I was worried that you got lost again." she said while hugging the animal that she called 'wombby'.

Edmund found it so cute he wished he could have an animal like that too.

But wombby seemed to notice him a bit. The animal was sniffing the air where he was standing and started to make some noise. It's like giving the girl a warning.

"What is it wombby? Is something wrong?" she asked.

But wombby kept doing some small shrieking noise and like pointing its chubby little hand at him.

Edmund started to get nervous when the girl stood up and draw her two blade swords.

"Who's there?! Show yourself!" she shouted, looking intently from left to right.

Then something appeared unexpectedly. It's a creature with a combination of man and a goat. Wait, Edmund seemed to remember that creature in their mythology class. What was it again? A grater? Ah, no. It's a satyr, yes he remembered now.

The satyr was exhausted, he seemed to be running for awhile because when he stopped he nearly passed out. Just on time the girl caught him and helped him to stood up.

"What's in the hurry Shao?"

"Sorry your highness, it's just that I received a letter which needs to be delivered to you urgently." the goat-man named Shao said.

"Really? Hand it to me."

Shao handed the scroll to the girl.

While reading the letter, her expression hardened and she pursed her lips.

After reading the letter she handed it back to Shao. Then she said, "There's no time to waste, let's go at the palace now Shao. Wombby come here at my shoulder."

Wombby hurriedly climbed at her shoulder.

'Phew', he thought wombby felt his presence but thank goodness he was wrong, it was Shao whom wombby seemed to noticed earlier. He nearly backed off when the girl drew her swords which one was made of gold and the other was of silver that looks super deadly.

Edmund, the girl and Shao ran towards the palace.

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When they arrived at the the main entrance of the palace, Edmund was amazed. The enormous building structure design were splendid and almost perfect. They were made of red sandstone and marbles. Glistening by the ray of sunshine. Inside was even beautiful, the space is so wide you can play football there (no kidding). His jaw nearly dropped when he saw the big chandelier that was hanging at the center of the ceiling . It's made of gold and was designed by different kinds of precious gemstones.

After being mesmerized by the castle, he continued to run upstairs together with the girl and the satyr. The stairs are so high he thought it would never end. He was so exhausted when they reached a certain room. It got a huge door which was designed and carved into clouds and winds.

The girl knocked twice before opening the door. When they went inside he saw a huge old fashioned bed with curtains around it located at the center of the room. The decor inside was astounding too. There's a coffee table near the window, and the walls surrounding the room got some hanging frames which were painted with different faces of the royal family, probably the previous kings and queens of this place. The wardrobe beside had a huge mirror at the center of it, while the bedside cabinets were full of jewelries. And on the left side there's a column of different kinds of scepters.

Most importantly his attention was drawn at the sick and weak old man who's lying almost lifeless on the bed. Looks like he barely breathe and he looked so pale and old that all of his skin were wrinkled. The girl and satyr bowed to him and even wombby bowed it's head too.

"Your majesty, why did you summon me? Do you already have a lead on what caused you that cursed? And the disappearance of your crown?"

The king replied, "Y-yes. We already have."

Those words seemed to strain his remaining energy.

Edmund felt sad about him, and wondered on who could've done that to the king. Was the king wicked and cruel? But then looking at the crowd earlier the townspeople looked so worried whenever they looked at the palace. Did the king's enemy do that?

"Did Lady Seerenia return?" the girl asked to the king.

The king nodded and said, "Yes, look h-here she is."

Edmund did not notice that someone passed through him (it's been happening a lot lately, he hates it). When he saw the face of this 'Lady Seerenia' it got him thinking. This woman really looked so familiar as if he'd already seen her. But that isn't possible at all.

Lady Seerenia bowed to the king and said,

"My King, I have returned and brought you some good news that could ease your burden."

The king smiled a bit.

"The great prophecy had started. And about those four royal blood of yours young lady... They will come here very soon."

The girl looked shocked upon hearing those words.

"R-really? The four royal bloods? Coming here? I can't believe this, years and years of waiting.... Finally." she said in disbelief.

"That's a very good news for all of u-us. W-we should be aware of their arrival here at my palace."

The girl still looked shocked and keeps on saying to herself how much she couldn't believe that all of this is happening.

"Shao, tell the guards... And the villagers to be aware of the arrival of the four royal bloods." the king made a deep breath before continuing, "If any of them see those people, inform me immediately."

"I understand your majesty."

"I need to rest now... I'm tired."

All of them bowed their heads and went outside the room silently.

"Lady Seerenia, can you tell me more details about the arrival of those royal bloods?"

Lady Seerenia shook her head and said, "I can't young lady. But don't worry, one of them is already informed."

"What? I don't get it."

"Oh pardon me. What I meant is that one of them is here observing the scenes for quite awhile. Some part of his consciousness is here."

"Huh? Where? Where?"

"Right behind you, Lin Ka-r."

The girl turned towards Edmund and shocked registered at her face.

Edmund felt something in his body, like something was trying to pull him away from that place. He screamed for help and tried to grab the girl's arm but he can't touch it. And then it hit him. Everything went black.