Alves couldn't choose what to do. All he could do wa stare at the old man who had bowed and was still in that humble position before him. He knew he should do something. Anything, at least to ease the old man of the uncomfortable position. Yet he couldn't help himself.From his facial expression, it was evident that he had so many questions which had been inspired by the shock. He would never had expected something like. He had come here for something entirely different. The fact that he had to go from one phase of confusion to another was a little too much for him to process. Suddenly, he got a grip on himself and hurried to the man to help him up. "What are you doing? Are you trying to lay a curse on me? How would you bow before me? What would people think if they catch a sight of this?"He scolded as he helped the man return to his seat, but the man was reluctant to go back to his seat. "Allow me to remain kneeling before you, His Eminence. I have wronged you, and can't look y
Driving for a while, he came to a stop at a silent garden and pulled over. He stepped out of the car and walked a length into the garden. Lucky enough for him, there was no one in sight. "Should I keep taking this as a lie?"He muttered the question, staring into the space. "Why does everything keeps pointing in the same direction?"He took a deep breath. "First, it was those weird unclear dreams I used to have when I was young.""A decade later, then I was double crossed by some weird men in black robes who claimed that I am their king.""Then I was warned to be careful of Villian... that he isn't who he seems to be.""Then I found a possible link to the men in robes.""Out of curiosity, and in search of the truth, I hurried to go meet Grandpa's only friend. To ask him if he did the highlights or was told any strange story by grandpa. Only to find out that even the man was part of the story all along."He threw his face towards the sky, letting the fresh air hit on and tickle the
To Alves, it was as though fate had just caught up with him. If you ask him what fate particularly, he had no slightest idea. But he did realise that things weren't what they used to be. Things didn't appear to be what he used to know them to be. And the sudden changes which came in successive file gave him no chance to ponder over the latest discovery. While he was trying to espouse one of the sudden changes, he found himself snatched away by something stranger and threatening. But one thing which he knew for sure was to get to the root of all this. That was the only way to get answers to the mysteries. "Why did she suddenly have a dream about the me? Who is she? How is she connected to all of this?"His left hand which was on the wheel twirled, taking a turn into a long and empty tarred road. The area was unusually quiet, and there was hardly any car in sight. It was just his car and the thoughts stalking him. "Why does everything has to lead to the same direction? Things that s
Alves couldn't break his eyes off his palm. He kept staring at the bird which was seated in his palm. He could swear that he heard the voice from his palm... which could only mean one thing. Since his palm could not speak, only the bird could?"Did you just say something?"He asked, staring keenly at the beaks of the bird as though his eyes could pluck answers out of them. No other world came from the bird anymore. It was dead silence. Alves looked away from the bird towards the direction of the two bamboo stalks which the bird must have referred to. "Can a bird talk?"He found himself trying to review that topic again. It was strange and random. No matter how tall he was, or the height he might climb, he could never had seen that mystery coming. Like he couldn't see the rest too. "Did you just talk? Did you say those two bamboo stalks... I mean, do you mean the space between the two bamboo stalks, that throws me away, is a portal?"He had so many questions, and it was rather funny
From the manner at which Alves stared at the old man who was approaching, there was no doubt that he was crushed under the weight of confusion. And he couldn't get himself the answer that he needed. He would have to wait it out, for either of the two to tell him what the hell had just happened. "Crawl your way down to his Eminence!"The old man yelled at the youth, and the latter started to do as instructed. He kept crawling until he got to where Alves was standing, with the bird in his palm. As soon as the both of them got to Alves, the old man went down on his knees too. And both the old and young man were kneeling before Alves, in heartfelt bows. Before Alves could even think of words to speak, the old man had beat him to it,"His Eminence, please forgive my insolent son for his thoughtless behaviour towards you. I will take the punishment for this abominable act which he had just exhibited."Alves' eyes were on the old man. He couldn't take his eyes off. It was obvious that the
Alves drove towards the big apartment of Mia. There was no life in sight. It was unusually quiet. He could take that as a sign, but instead, he stepped out of the car. There was nothing to be worried about in sight. The fact was that, he knew that the last thing he should do was visit Mia. Not necessarily because of how they departed the last time. But because of the possible threats the media posed at any meeting that brings the both of them together. The large gate holding the fences together couldn't open before him, because his car was not registered to the building. He walked closer to the gate and pushed the alarm bell. He waited for a while and the small gate for legs was pushed open. "Who is that?"He heard a voice as soon as the door was pushed opened. Following the voice, was a head pushed past the barrier of the door. "I want to meet Mia."He said to the man. It would be reasonable if the man choose to be rude to him. Mia might had fed her workers with venom, following
Alves kept walking. As he walked on, he took a glance at Mia. He expected her to look away at once, or perhaps roll her eyes at him, but she didn't. Instead, she had concern crawling up her face, or perhaps curiosity. Alves was approaching the young man standing by the hanging fancy basket. Even if he wanted to, he couldn't allow himself to be distracted anymore. He got to the man, wearing no precise reaction. He threw his searching gaze at the old man, the celebrant. The founder of the VIAL SHOWER. That would be his first time seeing the man. "So, Mr Alves, can we please get to the good part? There are a lot of attendants who would love to present their gifts."The young man announced. When the fellow had referred to the rest of people in the hall as attendants, there had been a wave of chatter inspired by disagreement. But neither Alves nor the Young man was willing to say anything to that. Soon enough, all attention was back to Alves. Alves turned to the crowd, looking from on
"What was that about?"That was the first words that Mia would utter since they made out for the road. They had been driving since quite a while and dead silence had been their neighbour. Asking that question changed everything, as Alves turned slowly to look at her. Her eyes were searching and serious. It was obvious that she wouldn't give him a break until he had answered her question. He took in a deep breath, then looked away from her. After a wave of breeze had swept past the both of them,"Shouldn't the question be where I am taking to?"Alves changed the direction of the question. She plucked her gaze from him for a while. "You don't want me to stop this car by force. But if that's the one choice you give me, I'll do just that."She reached out suddenly to struggle with him, trying to snatch the wheel away from him. "Okay Okay..."Alves couldn't take the risk. WHAT A CRAZY LADY. He cussed within him, then found a place to pull over, by the road side. There was a weird sil
News began to spread across Grimmings about the mystery of the newly discovered Dragon King and mysterious Trillionaire. The news started as still and random as the flowing breeze, until there was a twist which made it hostile, raging like a ferocious wind across Grimming Hills. "That can't be true." Someone said to the people who surrounded him. "The dragon King? He is who?" The same person carried on the argument. "You were not listening?! I said that he was the same person as the son-in-law of the Casper mansion!" The lady who was the centre of attention, said. "What!" Almost everyone who was encircled in that group exclaimed at the discovery. "How is that even possible? It does not make any sense." Someone argued passionately. "That was the same thing I thought in the first place, but for no reason, things started to play out." "But we only just discovered that the dragon King is alive. It hadn't even been more than twenty minutes ago since the press meeting ended! How coul
Inside the Casper mansion, there were a couple of people gathered in the living room. They all had their eyes glued to the screen of the TV. Their facial reactions emphasised how absorbed and engulfed they were by whatever was going on on the screen. "Why does it feel like I'll die of curiosity?" Michael muttered, almost falling off his seat. "My heart will be ripped open." Simeon had few of his fingers over his lips in anticipation. "I can't breathe." Their sister was trying to divide her attention between not looking and looking. Madam Casper was seated in her special chair, staring sternly at the screen. Her gaze was locked in as though she would be paid handsomely for the attention squandered. No, invested!On the screen of the TV, there was an explosion at the entrance of the media train, and everyone was waiting, watching with their hearts in their mouths. A man dressed in an entire that wasn't typical of the modern era walked into the media train. There was a black mask on
The Prime Minister walked briskly into the media train. There were all several screens set up. As soon as he stepped into the designated area, all the cameras and lightening whirred in his direction. His face was supplanted in the chain of screens, which looked like a cinema. There was hardly anyone on the media train. The cameras seemed to have the mind of their own, zooming in at intervals on the face and other parts of the Prime Minsiter. "Now you are live." A robotic voice said in the train. The Prime Minister took two steps forward into the stream of limelight. "I'm sure that everyone knows who I am." He started. "I am the Prime Minister of this great country, Grimming Hills." He continued. "There has been a lot happening in this country ever since I assumed the position. Though most of them have been significant changes and growth in the economic sector of the country, some of them have been a little concerning." "At least, so it started in the past few months until recen
Alves was waiting patiently for the arrival of the Prime Minister. No matter how much he tried to dissuade himself from worrying about the punk who had claimed to have his full picture, he just couldn't get the thoughts off his head. He got up from the couch and walked towards the door again. "When did the media get here? I mean, it hasn't even been a minute since the news was broadcast. How could they have arrived here in such a sort space of time?" He murmured, looking through the door. He walked out of the door and headed towards the gate. He was in the compound of the tower. No matter how zealous and intentional the media personnel were, they could never break in. "We are here to meet with the mystery man!" A voice called from outside the compound. "Please, we would love to have a word with you, sir.""Please come answer some of our questions." "We know you are in..."Alves could hear the people calling at him. Leaving the compound premises wouldn't be much of a hassle for h
The flaps of giant wings preceeded the wave of wild wind, which swept across Huthi Farmland. The dragon descended at the front of the two bamboo stalks which served as the portal to the parallel world. "What the hell?" Alves was reluctant to climb down from the back of the dragon. It had been clouds and clouds when they travelled from the place where they left the Supreme Majesty. To suddenly find himself back at Grimming Hills was something he could never have anticipated. "Why did I find myself here? Why didn't I return to the Kingdom? What happened? Is this the doings of the Supreme Majesty?" The dragon pushed its head forward till it touched touched the earth. Alves climbed down from its back. "Did I really fly from like two worlds to Huthi under an hour?" He heard the wings of the dragon flap. The Supreme Majesty had told him that the dragon was his spiritual pet. He still didn't know what that really meant. The dragon lifted itself from the earth, and off it flew, as
"What is sleep?"The Supreme Majesty asked again, waking Alves from his sleep. Alves sat up suddenly. He looked around him. It was as though he was making an effort to understand what was happening."What causes sleep?"The question came again, and he looked in the direction of the voice. Seeing the Supreme Majesty, he looked around him again. He was in a strange area. Clouds surrounded the both of them, yet the earth was rocky beneath him. He slowly got up on his feet. The Supreme Majesty had his back to him. Alves took careful steps towards the divine creature. "Where am I?""Where are we?"Alves asked intermittently. "What is this place?"When he looked to his front again, the Supreme Majesty was no longer there. Alves was neither surprised nor flustered. He had grown to acknowledge wonders like that. "Do not play the word game, Son."The voice came from behind him this time. He turned to look. "Why do you keep asking me what causes sleep? And what does sleep mean?"Alves arg
Warm hands were wrapped around his arm as he was led towards the lake. He couldn't make them stop. He didn't want to. They led him into the water. He took a few steps, pushing the water with his knees. That was how much he had been gobbled up by depth of that part of the lake. When he looked down to see, he could see the depth of the lake so plainly and clearly. The lake was crystal clear. The base of the lake was fine. No stone, no speckle. Just pure white sand. He looked to the front and couldn't find any sort of creature in the lake. No fish, no matter how small. Not even a fingerling. When warm palms glid down his arms and chest, that was when he was knocked back to the reality, which was quickening and pacing. The ladies were rubbing his arms and chest. They were scooping water and washing him. He wanted to argue with them, but then he recalled that it was the man from the hall who must have given them the guts to do that. He decided to go along with whatever they had in mi
"What causes sleep?"A voice zoomed to Alves as soon his eyes opened. He sat up and looked around him. At first, he didn't see who was talking, but when he looked again, there was an old but lanky man standing not far from him. The man had white flowing beards, which were in knots. His hair was snowy white with strands of blacks. "Do you have an idea, dear son?"The man turned away from him and walked towards something that looked like a throne. A shiny throne carved out of red gold. Alves had never seen anything of such elegance and beauty. The sight alone was breathtaking. HE JUST CALLED ME SON?Though Alves' mind was busy admiring the qualities and beauty of the Palace, he didn't trade the important details. Alves watched the old yet young man settle into the thrown. He quickly looked around him if there was any other person in the Palace. There was no one in sight. His only company was the strange old man. DID THOSE WINGED CREATURES BRING ME HERE? IS HE THE SUPREME MAJESTY? MY
"I'll kill you! You are dead!!!"Alves yelled as he kept falling and falling till THUD, his body hit the hot and thick surface of the body of lava. "Oh Lord. Oh God. I'm dead."He started to fight his way, trying to do whatever he could to get out of the thick and sticky body of liquid. "Do something you fucking, Ri. Fucking do something! Where is the hidden weapon I would be able to use in a difficult time?"In the middle of his bickers and yelling, something quite strange hit him. "Huh?"For a moment, he stopped fighting and kicking. "Wait a minute."He pulled one of his hands out of the thick liquid. "What's happening?"He turned the sticky hand to this side and that side. "Nothing is happening. No pain? No scar? No heat?"He couldn't believe his eyes. He tried to move his body in the lava. He turned around and saw how fiery and scary the lava seemed from distance. Moving to this side and that, he felt no pain. It felt like he was drowning in mud. Instead of a lava. "Is thi