3 Chapter 3

"Excuse me, young man but can you tell me the direction to the North-East kingdom?"

Judging by the voice the man seemed to be at his father's age or above. So without making him wait George looked behind to give the answer to the old man. But when George had a view of him he was surprised after looking at him.

Fancy clothes, long red hair tied up and big red beard. His body was big at size than a normal person. He was also seen walking with a long stick. His head was also a bit of mysterious. It's head had a small glass ball that was big enough to be grabbed by the hand. By looking at him he seemed to be an ordinary man but George had his thoughts since he saw him with a cane to support him in walking.

"Umm, young man. Could you tell me the direction to the North-East Kingdom?"

"Ohh,,,,,,, yes"

George got up from his imagination and started talking with the stranger.

"You have to go along this path and you will reach the kingdom. But it's still pretty far away from here."

"Is that so? According to my navigation it should just be here."

"Ohhh..... Sir, if I may ask, are you a traveller?"

"Ah, yes. I have come from a pretty far land from this, young man."

"Ohhhh..... Which transportation are you using to travel?"

"There's my horse."

Then the man pointed at a white horse. It was really beautiful. It was also drinking water from the river. While the white beautiful fur was flying for the gentle wind.

"Ohh..... I totally forgot to introduce to you myself. I go by the name, Astol. Nice to meet you"

"Nice to meet you too. My name is George Bell."

"Are you suppose to be the prince of the North-East kingdom? Where are my manners? It is an honor to meet the prince of the North-East kingdom."

"The honor is also mine. It's really rare to see visitors from foreign lands to visit at this time."

"Well, Prince George I started this journey in order to achieve a certain goal."

"What might it be?"

"It's not something I can tell anyone. Why do you ask, Prince George?"

"Well I just got curious for someone to come this far just to achieve something."

"Even if it is like that I really like to travel a lot and I am finding this very fun to visit this land."

"How long are you travelling till now?"

"If I remember it correctly.... three years."

"That many?"

"Yes. I dreamt of travelling the world from when I was a kid. So it's nothing to me when it comes to this. I ah e experience from little. And what about you, prince?"

"Well I also like to travel the world and also went to many places with father and mother but I also have a bigger goal than that."

"And what might be that eye-catching that prince of the North-East kingdom dream of?"

"It's only a child's dream I dreamt about. Forget about that."

"It's nothing to be embarrassed about. Everyone has the right to dream. So you can tell me about anything."

"Well..... how could I say? Do you the fairy tale that goes around till now? About the wizards."

"Yes. I heard about it."

"Like that story I also want to become a wizard and go to the magical kingdom."

"Pretty interesting aim you have there."

"But everyone tells me that they don't really exist and I should give up on that. Judging by the progression, they are right. But somehow I. still want to believe that they really exist. So I came this far investigating about them."

"That's some determination you have, boy."

"Ohh.... Thanks for the compliment."

"I also really believe that you should always follow your dream until the end."

"Is that so?"

"Well, boy for that I managed to reach at this point. Don't be half-assed and somehow I think that you might reach your dream."

"Do you also think that?"

"Yes. I really believe in that. I know your determined to find something. So search it and grasp it at your own two hands."

"But these might just be a half-assed dream that I saw."

"... Prince, if I may ask you what would you do if you're really one of the luckiest ones and really met a wizard right in front of your eyes?"

"Well, that's a hard question. I really cannot imagine that. All I could say is that I might be really surprised at that moment."

"Say can you give me. some time? I am feeling really thirsty right now."

"Please take your time. Oh, you can give me that. I will be glad to refill it up for you."

"No. You do not have to do that."

"Please. It'll be pleasure."

"If you insist that much."

Mr. Astol gave the bottle to George and he hurriedly came back with a bottle of water. Mr. Astol took that and started drinking to his heart's fill.

"Ahhh... Feeling great right now."

"It's good to hear that."

"Ohhh. Is that so?"

George just gave a smile at Mr. Astol and somehow Mr. Astol also felt really good after seeing his smile.

"Hey, boy. Can you answer a question of mine?"

"And what would that be?"

"Say that someone kidnapped a little girl and you were assigned the task to rescue her. But in rumors everyone say that who ever fights with the kidnapper dies.... But if someone also manages to entertain him with his death he will fulfill his last wish. So what would you do?"

"It's simple. I will choose the little girl's life over mine."

"But say that you are really needed for your kingdom and also everyone are hoping that you can save the girl. So choose one, if you choose the little girl your life will be in danger and your country will also fall in despair. While by choosing the other option your life may be saved. But everyone will never obey you and someday no one will acknowledge you and never follow you."

"Well that is a hard question to answer for that. But I think I might go for the little girl."

"And why's that your answer? Tell me the reason."

"The world is mainly cruel. The more you have experience in this world the more suffering it becomes. Because no one or nothing cares about the old and rusty ones. The new ones also has the potential to suppress the old ones and maybe become a legend itself. So if I. save the little girl she might acknowledge me but she will surely suppress me and become the leader of this world. So the answer is clear. I will only choose the right path. Save the little girl."

Mr. Astol went silent for a while.

"So will you believe in your ideals for your while life?"

"Yes. And I truly believe that I will not back down on my words."

"Then will you please be again kind enough to bring water for me?"

"Yes. With pleasure."

He again took the bottle from Mr. Astol and went to the bank to the bank of the river.

Suddenly he noticed the weather changed and black clouds surrounded the the whole sky. Birds chirping here and there. They might be giving signs to themselves about the weather to come and take preparation. Leaves rustling wildly.

"Strange. The weather suddenly changed all of a sudden... Well It's nothing maybe. Maybe I should also wrap up the problems here and go back home. Father and mother might be worried about me for this strange change and I also don't want to be in another problem. After realizing that he went near the river to fill up the bottle.

𝑊ℎ𝑜𝑜𝑠ℎ!!!!!!

A huge wind blowed and George was distracted by it. Suddenly he saw a little girl near the bank. 𝑊ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑚𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑏𝑒 𝑠ℎ𝑒 𝑑𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒? 𝐷𝑖𝑑 𝑠ℎ𝑒 𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑡 ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑤𝑎𝑦 𝑡𝑜 ℎ𝑜𝑚𝑒? 𝑀𝑎𝑦𝑏𝑒 𝐼 𝑠ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑 𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑡𝑜 ℎ𝑒𝑟. 𝐴𝑛𝑑 𝑠ℎ𝑒 𝑚𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑓𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑟𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑟 𝑖𝑓 𝑠ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒.

"Hey little girl? What are you doing there? You should back up a little bit or you might fall into the river.... Hey are you listening?"

Then everything happened in a moment. The girl fell into the river. George then threw the winds to the winds and jumped in the river to save the girl.