35 Silversilk Castle 3 (1/2)

”Kelly! Wake up, Kelly! Come on!”

Upon hearing the sudden shout, Garen opened his eyes. The bright light in front of him forced his eyes into a tight squint. Dale Quicksilver was anxiously tapping his face.

”What’s going on? Why’re you here, Dale?” Garen sat up, realizing that the event that had just occurred was only a dream.

”Why are you asleep down here in the basement?” Dale looked at Garen curiously. ”Were you here looking for something by yourself and ended up falling asleep? Didn’t I tell you to wait for me to move together?”

At this moment, Garen found himself lying against the wall in the basement. Dark and narrow walls made from cold stone bricks surrounded him. The room was completely empty.

The basement was partially underground. Sunlight spilled in from a window near the ceiling, making this place resemble a dungeon more than a basement.

”What’s going on? I clearly remember going to sleep in the bedroom…” He lowered his head as a wave of excruciating pain rose.

Suddenly, his heart skipped a beat -- the sound of silence greeted him.

In the blink of an eye, Dale Quicksilver had vanished right in front of him.

The room was empty again.

”Dale?”

”Dale!”

Garen crawled up from the floor and yelled again. There was no answer.

A sharp pain arose from within his head once more, and then he remembered: Dale had woken him up from the basement. That had happened three days ago.

”Three days ago?” He covered his head, his vision blurry. ”What happened? If that was three days ago, what was I doing in these past three days? How come I don’t remember anything? He was right here in front of me!”

He felt the pain assault his temples again. His mind was in chaos.

”No, I can’t stay in this castle any longer!”

He pushed open the door and rushed out of the basement, running toward the castle’s gate through a straight and empty path.

His footsteps echoed inside the castle.

‘Peng!’

The castle door was slammed open. He then stumbled through the door and fell down the stairs, tumbling onto the grass.

‘Gasp’

He lied on the grass, breathless, gasping for air. Suddenly, he felt a sense of drowsiness encroaching upon him. Unable to resist the drowsiness, he passed out.

Not knowing how long it has been, he slowly opened his eyes. he was still lying on his bed inside the castle.

”Kelly, are you up yet?” Dale Quicksilver’s voice came from outside.

”I’m back here again? Was that all a dream?” Garen sat up from the bed. ”This place… this place is too strange!” Goosebumps formed all over his body. Even though sunlight was shining on him through the bedroom window, he didn’t feel any warmth. Thinking back, the images in this room seemed more real than those in his dreams.

”Was it all a dream?” He took a deep breath.

After getting up, he quickly dressed up and opened the door. Dale Quicksilver was standing there with a surprised look.

”What’s wrong? You look like you stayed up all night.”

”It’s nothing, just a nightmare.” Garen forced out a smile.

”Nightmare?” Dale Quicksilver laughed. ”A nightmare could scare you like this? What happened in it? Come, tell us and grab some breakfast.”

”Fine.” Garen rubbed his eyebrows. He knew it was ridiculous. ”Although that nightmare was unbelievably real.”

”You go down first, in the main hall downstairs. I’ll lock the doors.” Dale Quicksilver tapped Garen’s shoulder. ”Seems like I shouldn’t have shown you that document.”

”It’s okay, I’m not so easily frightened.” Garen laughed and left for breakfast. He didn’t notice Dale Quicksilver’s gloomy expression behind him.

********************

Main hall

Garen followed the stairs down to find Si Lan sitting in the corner of the hall. She was drinking a cup of tea, wearing a dark brown hunting uniform. Her blonde ponytail hung from her back, contrasting against her clear skin.

”Mr. Kelly is up too? You don’t look too well. Did you not have a good rest?”

”I had a nightmare… it was … too real.” Garen rubbed between his eyes and sat down at the table.

”Have some tea. I got it from the Garfield Province.” Si Lan made an inviting gesture.

”Thanks.”

Garen lifted a cup of hot black tea and put it up to his nose, smelling the fresh minty scent mixed with a hint of milk cream.

He sipped from the cup and found that the tea tasted like mint water.