Chapter 9
"Strangeness"
On a broad day, where the sun was overhead, and the blue skies where the birds flew with their fellow. A few hunters were preparing their hunting equipment, from bows to swords. The hunters came from the Volmorg Kingdom, and were ordered to seek animals like Crowned-beasts.
After a long preparation, the zealous hounds then got into the horse-drawn carriage which was pulled by two muscular grayish horses. Shackled the horses, the carriage immediately drove to the hunting location.
On the way, they were happily chatting with each other and wished to bring plentiful fresh meat. The huntsmen group consisted of six people, wearing brownish coats and cowboy-like hats.
"I hope we'll get tons of meat, so we could impress our King." One of the hunters uttered, while he was sharpening his blade.
"I hope so, Hyros. I'm so hungry, I could even eat this carriage along with the horses." Hyros's friend joked, he laughed faintly.
Hyros then quickly replied to his joke, followed with a laugh, "Get out of here, Quarry, and don't forget to bring your tummy."
"You bastard." Quarry replied, followed by him laughing along with Hyros and the others.
The huntsmen were heading toward the southern side of the Volmorg Kingdom, to Tallwood Forest—forest full of unique creatures and different from our world.
After a while, the hunters then arrived at the unearthly forest. The environment seemed tranquil and quiet.They quickly got off the carriage, preparing their brutish equipment and immediately went into the wilderness. They stepped on the green grass, sneaking through the bushes and the woods without making any noises.
"Let's dive into the wild, boys. We're crossing our fingers that we get a lot of meat." Hyros loudly declared, they immediately spread and began their hunt.
With them scattered and split into two groups, consisting of three people. Silently sneaked through the wild, the hunters spotted a few animals with their sharp visions. They right away ran toward their prey, agilely and ferociously. With a blade swung downward, with a few arrows swiftly cruised through the air and impaled the flesh.
The huntsmen delightfully celebrated after catching a few animals, they slowly cut and chopped the fresh meat and put it into the leather-bags.
"We've got a lot of meat within just a few minutes? This is heaven!" One of the hunters joyfully muttered.
They then continued their search, animal after animal they impaled and they hunted. While hunting, they curiously talked about the diplomacy between Volmorg Kingdom and Afflueth Kingdom. One of the great powers from the eastern side, the fragments from the colossal kingdom that once stood.
"I've heard information that the Volmorg Kingdom is trying to weave diplomacy between the Afflueth Kingdom. I'm so curious about it!" One of the hunters spoke in an eager way.
Hyros quickly responded, "It would be awesome to see, for sure."
While they were incessantly locked to their hunt, their attention suddenly paid by a tumultuous and rumble sound on the further southern side. As they were baffled and puzzled, one of them immediately recommended Hyros to check the sound.
"Hyros, what's that sound? Should we check it?" He asked Hyros, looking at him in confusion.
Hyros thought for a moment, he was also mystified by the unknown sound that was so loud. He then quickly replied, "I think yes… but don't make any sounds…."
All his colleagues immediately felt the feeling of strangeness, they had never seen Hyros act like this. The situation was truly serious, without any jokes coming out from their mouths like usual.
As they sneaked toward the sound, they were able to hear the sound of conversation but in language they were never recognized. The sound became more loud as they slowly approached, they were also able to hear the sound of howling wind. So loud, their heartbeat rattled.
They slowly peeped amidst the bushes, ignoring the itchy feeling. In surprise both with the feeling of wonder, they saw a few people in odd clothes—aberrant from common clothing. The unknown people were wearing an iron-based helmet—with glass in front of the helmet, with the clothes that seemed made from light steel.
"What's that?...." One of the hunters questioned, baffled by what he saw.
Hyros immediately murmured, and also questioned those unfamiliarities, "I don't know either… Also, it looks like an iron dragon but it's able to fly mid-air?...."
As they carefully observed the scene, one of the unknown people suddenly spotted them in a bewilderment. In an urgent situation, Hyros immediately commanded all his colleagues to hide.
"Hide! Hide!" Hyros whispered softly, followed by him hiding in the bushes.
As the person slowly headed toward the hunters, their breath was ridiculously heavy. A hunter was scared? Absurd. Unexpectedly, the person was called by his colleague to come back. As the situation slowly became calmer, without hesitation, they took the chance to flee away.
After the terrifying scene, the remaining hunters managed to come back to their carriage while their other fellowmen waited beside the carriage.
"Hyros, why are y'all so panicked?" Quarry asked Hyros, folding his both arms while leaning against the carriage.
Hyros trembled uncontrollably, his sweat fell like a waterfall. He immediately insisted to all his fellows to leave while stuttering, "Let's get out of here now! Don't waste our chance!"
His friends were only able to obey cluelessly, in a short time, the hunters then right away left the tall forest with concerns. They were disoriented by what was happening, luckily, they succeeded to escape.
…
In a quiet journey of returning home, through the Hylor Street with crowded residents. Adrian's golden-eyes deeply fixed on a few people who pleasantly greeted Ludwig, with a smile and sweet words.
"How are you, Sir Ludwig?" A bearded-merchant asked, smiling at Ludwig.
Ludwig immediately replied to the man, landing a smile on him afterwards, "I'm good, sir!"
A sweet boy shyly walked toward Ludwig, looking at him while the prince was riding his impressive horse. The boy gently spoke, "Hai, Sir Ludwig!"
"Hai too!" Ludwig smiled at the boy, while waving at him.
All the people were elatedly greeting Ludwig, while Adrian could only smile. He looked at Allie who was nervous, and seemed embarrassed. Adrian tenderly muttered to the sheepish girl, "Allie, how's the adventure? Is it fun?"
Allie thought for a while, she glared at Adrian for a moment, before answering his questions, "I-I think it's totally fun! Y-you know, it's so cool to see the green meadow!"
"You right! It's also interesting to feel the breeze that blew my hair before!" Adrian reckoned, while stroking his hair, trying to mimic the feeling.
After a long time of walking, the eldest prince delightfully rode his horse without any exhaustion, different from Adrian and Allie who were tired. They finally reached the roundabout Adrian had met before, however, the shy girl suddenly whispered to Adrian…
"C-Cadeyrn, I think I'll return to my home… and t-thank you for inviting me!"
Adrian suddenly stopped, looking at Allie with a somber face. His gaze was sturdy, before replying to her, "So you're going home? Will we ever meet again?"
Allie paused, wavered by his question. She looked at him in bafflement, she seemed faltered to answer his question. Yet, she then soothingly answered the query, "W-we'll meet again!"
Ludwig fell into silence, he gazed at the two with a smile. He slowly began to accept the development of Cadeyrn, yet still puzzled by the sudden change. As Allie slowly headed home, the pair were eventually separated.
Unexpectedly, Allie stopped, turning back and peering at him intently. In a few quiet times, Adrian weirdly felt something was flowing in his vessels. A pure smile pierced toward him? He was able to feel it, though her smile was hidden by her paper bag mask. Allie then turned back and headed home once again, leaving only Adrian and Ludwig there.
…
As soon as they arrived at the Afflueth Kingdom's palace, Rosey immediately came to them with a smile etched on her face. She clenched her hands together, an unstained smile perfectly radiated from her.
"Thank you, Ludwig! You're a great man!" Rosey admired.
Ludwig rolled his eyes, and immediately went into the palace, followed by him replying to her, "Huh, whatever…."
Adrian quietly laughed at Ludwig's answer, he right away went into the palace without hesitation.
…
Adrian closed the door exhaustedly, after going through a journey in this new world. He lay down on his comfortable bed, looking at the windows where the sun seemed still slightly overhead. He swayed both his arms in boredom, before eventually his boredom took over.
"Ah! It's so boring! But I'm glad I'm experiencing new things today…" Adrian whimpered, looking at the ceiling concentratedly.
Adrian then stood up, trying to abolish his boredom as possible. A sudden idea then flashed over his mind: checking everything in his room. One after another he opened his wardrobe, and other things, consuming his energy in the process.
Until he found something inside his bedside table…
Slide!...
"What is this? A book?" He questioned, glancing at the book with many questions.
The book cover's color was brownish, and the smell was quite like wood that instantly pierced Adrian's nose. Adrian slid a few pages, and it was all colored yellowish. The book's title read, "Ilasist," written in Trimatus language.
"The Light?... Is this kind of… divine book?" Adrian mumbled, still puzzled by the old book.
Adrian curiously opened the first page, an old chant was written there, a venerable prayer toward something divine. Adrian was quickly driven into curiosity, he looked at the chant and perhaps wished to try it.
"I'm curious about this chant, maybe I should try it." Adrian whispered, soon he steadily and attentively glared at the chant.
With a serious tone, he let out a quiet whimper, "Yellow Light, Golden Lamp, and Glory Key…."
Secondly, he continued the prayer with an anxious feeling, yet calm…
"I pray, for I am tarnished by the world's sins that are merciless."
With a pure honor toward something he could not understand, he uttered and continued it once again, "Thy blessings will fall upon the earth like the light that sparks hope, opening the effulgent doors."
Adrian hesitated, but he must continue the prayer for he was afraid he would receive something horrible if he did not do it.
"Grant me thy very gold, like a child bathed in gold."
Afterwards, he then finally let out the ultimate line…
"Let the Golden be eternal…."
After doing that, nothing happened. It all looked normal, and he was immediately disappointed by the result. Until something terrifying occurred…
"Huh, nothing happening. I think the book is not special-" Adrian suddenly paused, glaring at the walls of his room with immense fear.
The walls suddenly looked like they were pulled outward, his bed too and all the furniture. They were pulled so far, Adrian was standing on emptiness, amidst the darkness.
W-what the f…
His vision was suddenly flashed by blinding radiance. After that, he found himself in a place that looked like space—adorned with stars and galaxies. He quivered, while before him, there was a giant object that radiated luminous golden light.
There was no conversation, no words dared to come out. Adrian only looked at the object in bewilderment, while the object strangely looked like it was staring at him.
He suddenly heard a faint click, immediately, he went back to his room. It looked normal like usual, yet he felt something uneasy, something terrifying…
But before he was able to decipher all the puzzle, a sudden strike of headache was piercing his head. It was so painful, his head felt like it was being stabbed many times.
"Shit! This headache again!?" Adrian shouted, covering his face.
"It hurts a lot! Shit! Oh God!..." Adrian whimpered, his body shaking uncontrollably.
Unable to endure the pain, Adrian instantly fainted and fell into slumber, lying down on his cozy bed.