"I experienced the same as Lan yesterday…[guilty]."
"WHAT?''[all together]
" When? How? "
"Easy Guys!... Let me explain.... "
I explained them everything I saw and experienced in the dark room [refer chapter 17]
They all had a confused look all over their faces. They were trying to come up with a explanation for the situation. Fighting the inner thoughts, Fiona spoke,
" stones… that had symbols and which also glowed? "
" Wait….. I know it….. we all know… They are SACRED ELEMENTS!! " Lan hurriedly concluded.
"But the sacred elements were stolen…so come they are here?" Roger triggered his doubt.
"But you said they were stolen before the time was reversed. So if the time is back they still must be safe. Right?" bewildered me.
"Even if the time is reversed, the stolen sacred elements were still missing. They were never back in their places. And for this, the security is high all over the kingdom! " Lan explained.
"But if they are sacred elements, why are they here in the dark room? Were they kept here for safety or something is going here under our eyes?" I doubtfully asked.
We were discussing yet Fiona was quite this whole time. She was taken aback by all this information. Roger and Lan were trying to find a answer to all this circumstances.
"Fiona, why are you so quite?" I asked
"I was… just trying to… analyse the situation. I guess everything is just real till now." She answered calmly.
"Real?"
"The reversing of time.. I thought it was just a passing dream, but when I met you a got a hunch about it. I get that why you look like Queen Ariya. Even the same name as her. At first I thought Queen Ariya lost her memories but… now I believe… that is not the case."
Her words were confusing for me as if she was speaking in riddles. We had a moment of silence. We neither spoke nor looked at each other. Everyone was puzzled in their own theories. Suddenly I had a spark pain in my head and I was reminded of my yesterday night's dream.
("oh I forgot to tell about it…?")
"Hey guys … I had a weird dream again.. yesterday"
The three of them averted their faces towards me.
"I saw another man in my dream. His face was still blurred like last time. We were standing on a mountain adjoining to a plateau where he stood with his griffin which was bigger than the one Roger has. He wore some like of armoured cloths in green like a participant from war… more like a leader. We had a discussion which I didn't get to hear and then I drew a map which he claimed to be wrong one…"
Roger had a amazed face like a fool.
"Again a mysterious guy..?!" Lan irritatingly spoke.
("why are her dreams always filled with various men?…. It is so irritating… !!!")
Roger guess his inner thoughts and giggled while it made my heart fluttered.
"[clearing his throat] Big Griffin?"
"There is only one person who can lead an army and has a bigger griffin then anyone…"grinned Fiona.
Eventually Roger and Lan had a lead….[Grinning]
"KING LUPA !!" three of them exclaimed…
"Huh???"
(" Now who is this King Lupa…? Why is my life filled with so many theories and mysteries.. I mean I love adventure and mystery yet … I never thought like this!")
"Can you all please explain me?.. who is this King?"
"He rules the 'PULVIS CITY', Earth elemental city, flourished with Nature and habitat where happiness surrounds the people."
"Why are you so happy Roger?? You didn't even described IGNIS City so happily [ mocking ] " I asked.
" [Happy] Because…. It is my Home Town…."
("what a foolish smile he has….old geezer..")
"So… Queen Ariya knew him?... I mean personally.. because he talked like a very close friend would speak."
"Yes. They were childhood friends, even King Leo." Answered Lan.
Interrupting Roger asked, " You said Map. Do you remember it?"
"[nodding] I do remember it. Let me show it to you."
They were mystified at how I can show it to them. I walked out towards a room. They followed me inside. I closed all the windows and door to make sure it is dark. I took out the pendant and placed in my fist. I hold it tight for some time until the red light reflected back from the gaps of my fingers. I opened my fist and hold it against the wall. The rays coming out from the rubies made a outline and then completing it into a map. They were astonished to see the map.
"[Serious] how did you knew about this?" asked Roger.
"Yesterday night."
"This map…. Was used in war…. " Lan murmured.
"huh?"
"The same map was used in WAR!" Lan said loudly.
"Is this map wrong?"
"why?"
"The person, King, he said it was a wrong map… yet I felt that it was a right one.. I guess."
Roger and Lan glanced at each other confusingly.
"I think all these answers can be found out only from one person…. King Lupa himself." said Fiona.
Before anyone could comment there was knocking on the door. It was butler. He came inside, bowed and said,
"King Leo is awake and would like to have a talk with all of you."
"Lead the way." Lan answered with a nod.
He bowed again and led us to king's bedroom. We followed inside where king Leo set in his bed looking pal and un-energetic. He felt very sickly and unwell as if all is energy has been sucked out but a Mummy…you know from the movie…
Even so he spoke,
"Lady Ariya [cough]… let us exchange the pnema right now [cough]… it is very important for me now…"
"(Is he out of his mind? He feels like he might die any moment yet he wants….)[awkward smile] Sure!"
He stood up with a support and his trembling body walked some steps. We held our hand and focused the inner energy. This time the red energy fluid got sucked out of body like a vacuum. It stopped immediately after that but I sensed the red energy still residing in my body.
When I opened my eyes, the king who looked weakly and sick was back to his normal arrogant self.
("what the hell is this!... he was like a zombie some seconds back and now he is back to being a HUMAN???.... but still…. the red energy…. why is it still in my body…?")
I was baffled for a moment.
"THANK YOU! THANK YOU MY DEAR LADY!" King Leo took my hand and kissed it. He looked delighted. He was certainly very happy to have his power back. He made an excuse and went out immediately. We were still there standing like some stupid crow… yup.. it was annoying…
Roger and Lan were having some doubts in their mind. Before I could hear their thought Fiona spoke,
"So.. Would all of you like to come with me?"
"Where?"
"Where else?... TO MEET KING LUPA..!"