Chapter 7
"Second Exploration"
The loneliness that veiled the library, sending Adrian into boredom. He sat on the wooden bench while he was playing with his hands, Adrian stared at the book which Thyatis had read to him.
Alone… again? He muttered with a frowned face.
Without hesitation, Adrian then immediately walked toward the wooden door of the library, leaving the grand place in order to cure his boredom. He went to the stairs and saw no one on the ground floor, it was empty and as if lifeless.
Adrian fixed his golden hair, as he went to the exit door with an expressionless face. The two guards who were guarding the door from the outside, glanced at Adrian behind their iron-helmets.
Before Adrian took any further steps, one of the guards asked the young prince in a worry.
"Sir Cadeyrn, where are you going?"
Adrian then stopped upon hearing that, he looked back at the guard, before he replied lightly.
"Uh… I want to go somewhere, don't mind me."
Adrian continued his walk toward the giant fountain, yet something was lingering in his mind—what should he do now? He also thought his acting previously had become to develop, as he tried to not make any suspicions.
He gazed at the sun whose light illuminated the kingdom in golden radiance, he speculated the palace was facing east and his room likely facing north. Hereafter, a click of an idea suddenly flashed his mind—an idea to play with that girl and perhaps develop a bond with the citizens of this kingdom.
"I think it'd be fun to explore this place with Allie!"
Until he was cornered by a question—where does that shy girl live?
"Wait- where does Allie live?" Adrian scratched his hair gently in confusion, "How dumb I am!"
Adrian looked back at the palace, he noticed there were two roads which circled the grandeur place. He then randomly pointed his finger at the two roads, trying to choose what route he should explore. His finger eventually was pointing at the right side, at Hylor Street.
From afar, he was unaware the two guards were looking at him in bizarre ways, while Adrian was focused on his own matter. Afterwards, the young man walked toward the Hylor Road and began his second journey through this strange world. He was stopped at the gate which was also guarded by knights.
There were two knights, their appearances kinda marvelling Adrian. One of the knights suddenly asked him in curiosity.
"Sir Cadeyrn, where do you wish to go? It would be dangerous for a prince walking alone."
Adrian then replied, "It would be fine, can you open the gate?"
One of the knights gently shook his head in refusal, the knight then said, "Princess Rosey will worry about you, Sir Cadeyrn."
Ah! Why are there so many obstacles! Adrian muttered to himself, he looked around in confusion.
Adrian then kneeled down and gently grabbed the knight's hand, with a begging face he looked at the knight. His pitiful golden-colored eyes locked at the knight, while he was trying to adjust his voice.
"Please, can you open the gate for me?... I want to go outside, would you open it for me?"
The knight who was annoyed by Cadeyrn's personality immediately nodded, he then said, "Huh, okay then, Sir Cadeyrn."
With an excited face, Adrian then stood up and cheered his victory. The gate was opened by the knight, letting Adrian to go and explore the Hylor Road. He went to the street after that embarrassing thing, he regretted what he had done.
That's kinda exaggerated, I regret doing that…
Through the Hylor Street, Adrian unstoppably observing his surroundings. The Afflueth Kingdom's people were doing their activities as usual—eating, trading, selling, and other things. However, few eyes stared at Adrian, eyes which were bathed in vexing and perhaps hatred. Yet, Adrian then immediately noticed those stares and anxiously walked through the street while the eyes kept staring.
Why does everyone look like they're staring at me? It's odd and genuinely uncomfortable… Adrian tried to keep himself calm while continuing his exploration.
As his adventure brought him through the tide of people, Adrian carefully observed each detail while also trying to find Allie. Through the street, he smelled the scent of baked bread and fresh meat as well as fruits. His journey eventually led him to find someone among the people, a girl wearing a paper bag on her head.
Allie!? I think that must be Allie!
Adrian then approached the girl through the people, he also shouted her name in the process.
"Allie!"
The girl immediately looked back at him, as Adrian slowly approached. Adrian then was happy to find that the girl is truly Allie. She was wearing white clothes, and a light-brown short coat. She also wore a skirt that matched with her coat, and a short black-colored pants too. Anxiously as before, Allie asked the prince awkwardly.
"C-Cadeyrn?... W-why are you doing here?"
With a pure smile, Adrian immediately replied to the girl, "Well, I just want to explore this place, you know!"
Now… this is the chance! Adrian smiled at Allie while the girl only looked at him in confusion.
"Allie, would you like to… explore this place with me? It would be fun!" Adrian offered Allie eagerly.
Allie nervously looked at Adrian, before she whispered, "E-explore this place with me? I don't think my parents would allow it, I can't go really far from my home.
"A-also! A commoner like me can't play with a prince, r-right?"
Upon hearing that, Adrian then replied Allie, followed with a smile, "No. You can play with me! There's no boundary that separates someone from having fun!"
Allie was startled by his answer, she then nodded at Adrian gently. With an excited face, Adrian tried to invite Allie to follow his journey. Both of them walked through Hylor Street, a few people looked at them in a daze. Allie grew anxious, while Adrian was only smiling in excitement. Until the two of them went to a roundabout which splits into three different streets.
In the middle of the roundabout, there was a fountain painted in white color. The people were talking in a warm conversation, kids who were playing with their friends. Wagons and their sellers, and people who read newspapers?
Huh? Is that man reading a newspaper? This kingdom is truly prosperous, and the people are so happy doing their works. Adrian mumbled to himself once again, while looking around in an amazement.
Until his gaze and Allie too was locked to a street singer who was holding his wooden guitar. The man was sitting on the ground while people were looking at him and waiting for his beautiful voice. The man then strummed his six-stringed guitar and sang melancholy,
"I've been waiting a long time for you to be on my lap.
"She's thinking nonsense, I can't fool myself.
"I love to reimagine how we used to be ourselves."
Adrian fell to silence, he was fascinated by how beautiful his voice was. Adrian and Allie then continued their journey and picked the continuation of Hylor Street. Adrian's gaze once again was fixed on a church-like building, on the front of the building there were many flowers!
They were Gremore Flowers! The flowers were colored yellow like gold which symbolized glory, golden era, and prosperity. Adrian stopped for a moment, he was able to hear chanting and praises from inside the building. The sound was so melodious and calming.
What is this feeling flowing through my soul? I-it's just… peaceful, and genuinely calming.
Allie quietly looked at Adrian while she was also listening to the chanting, she felt so peaceful. After hearing that, Adrian and Allie then resumed their walk. After a while, Adrian and Allie also found a street facing west.
Adrian paused and carefully looked at the sign near the street that read, "Phemus Street." Ignoring that, Adrian then once again continued his journey along with Allie. There were many things he had found today!
Ultimately, their journey led them to the Kingdom's giant walls. Their gargantuan size was stunning Adrian both with Allie as they glared from afar.
"Those walls are so massive…" Adrian said to Allie, his golden eyes glistening in awe.
Allie confusedly looked around, her face was full of concern and uneasiness. She immediately looked at Adrian and tried to say something, but before she could say it, her words right away were cut by Adrian.
"Allie? How about we go there? My curiosity is going into orbit! Also, I think we'll find something cool in there."
Allie was only able to nod at Adrian's idea. As they slowly approached the great walls, Adrian's curiosity became more vibrant. The walls were made of strong stone, yet combined with few foreign materials. The heights of the walls were estimated to be twenty-one to twenty-two in height.
From a distance, Adrian saw a gate which was guarded by two horse-riding knights on each side. In the gate there was a wooden door that seemed strong enough to endure any arrows.
The two guards soon spotted both of them, Adrian boldly walked toward the gate with Allie. Adrian looked at one of the guards while he was smiling at them, he was trying to act as usual. The guard who was holding a spear in his right hand immediately asked Adrian.
"Sir Cadeyrn, why are you here? And you brought with you a girl?"
Without hesitation, Adrian quickly declared, "Open the gate for me, O warrior."
The guard only looked at him in puzzlement, he even looked at his colleague on the left side. Snapped by that reaction, Adrian's face reddened in embarrassment. He became more embarrassed when he heard a faint laugh from Allie, he thought his idea would work but instead he was ashamed.
"What are you waiting for? Open the gate!" Adrian soon added.
The guard lightly laughed at Adrian yet was trying to not dishonor the prince. The guard then replied, "Forgive me, Sir Cadeyrn. We cannot let you leave this kingdom without any permission."
Adrian desperately looked down, he was trying to find a solution for this problem. Until an idea snapped his mind, without hesitation, he said, "I think you must open it or…"
The guard confusedly tilted his head, "Or what, Sir Cadeyrn?"
Adrian then smiled before adding, "Or you will lose your job."
The guard's face suddenly turned pale, he once again looked at his colleague in order to seek help. The guard then sighed, before nodding at his colleague to open the gate.
His colleague pulled out a mini-bell, he then rang it loudly and so gave the signal to open the gate. As the door slowly opened, the breeze soon pierced both of them. Allie carefully tried to hold her paper bag mask, while Adrian's blonde hair was blown by the wind gently.
Whoosh!
The opened grand door revealed a vast and green landscape, Adrian and Allie were able to smell the scent of few flowers which were carried by the wind. The wind that perhaps carried tales from distant lands. Adrian took steps forward, followed by Allie behind him.
Before Adrian fully left the kingdom, he paused for a moment, then looked back at the guard and gently said, "Thank you."
The guard looked at him in a daze, yet a smile was carved on his face behind his iron-helmet. The two guards were relieved as they saw the young pair leave the kingdom.
"The landscape… it's beautiful." Allie glared at the vast grass field, she was marvelled by the scene.
It's like heaven… I've never felt like this before, I've never felt summer. Adrian was impressed at the landscape just like Allie, as he knew he had never felt like those in the fantasy world.
Truly a song of peace in another world.