151 Long, Long Ago (1/2)
No. 221 B, Baker Street was a graveyard. The fog suffused the gloomy night. This was the lowest place in Avalon. After summer ended, the wind and currents from ocean would be gone, and this place would be covered by mist. It was extremely hazy, even during the daytime. After tonight’s rain had pierced through the fog, it seemed to become thinner. The rain fell down on the ground with audible pitter-patters. The decayed soil full of water became muddy like a bubbling quagmire.
The carriage stopped before the graveyard. Ghosthand opened the door for Ye Qingxuan. ”He is waiting for you in the yard,” Ghosthand said. ”Don’t keep him waiting too long.”
”How long do you think I’m going to take for such a short distance?” Ye Qingxuan glanced at Ghosthand, put on his hunting hat, and strutted into the cemetery.
The cemetery was vast and silent. There were few people. Shadowy figures occupied the surrounding high points and entrances, sealing the entire cemetery. Ye Qingxuan looked away and walked forward, treading on fragments of white flowers.
There seemed to be a funeral. There was no priest or guests but an emcee in a black gown stood beside the tomb, leading the sacrificial ceremony. Beside him was an open coffin. The coffin was covered with white petals and a brocade but it was empty.
The emcee stood beside it, studying the tombstone in deep thought. The men stood far from him, not daring to interrupt his trance. But he was not so mysterious and scary. Instead, he looked just like an average old man. He was the Shaman.
”Whose funeral is this?” Ye Qingxuan glanced at the empty coffin, and interrupted the Shaman’s trance.
”Well…I haven’t decided yet.” The Shaman slowly shook his head. ”Funerals are serious matters and the protagonist’s identity is always the biggest puzzle piece.” With that, he turned around and his eyes fell on the strange and young dark musician.
”There are many small gangs that have been instigated to rebel against my rules. They are troublesome little rats. I sent out six assassins to clean them up and I’m looking forward to finding out whose head will be the first to be brought back.” He stared at the youth’s face with his rheumy eyes. ”Who do you think it’ll be? Take your time guessing it. There’s nothing fun about spoilers.”
Ye Qingxuan responded coolly, ”What did the infamous Shaman invite me here for? Is the coffin for me?”
The Shaman was silent for a moment before chuckling softly and changing the topic. ”It’s our first meeting and it’s not appropriate to talk about these unpleasant things. Let’s talk about something else. Mr. Holmes, what do you think of this city?”
Ye Qingxuan was stunned. After thinking for a while, he shook his head. ”I don’t know. I always have a feeling that this place is like an old widow who’s moody and vicious.”
”Pretty much.” The Shaman nodded in agreement, but his expression grew dismal. ”Even though it’s an old widow, it was once a charming beauty. In its youth, gentleness and charm exuded from its body. Heroes gave it their swords; Musicians appraised its holiness and mercy.
”At that time, the King of Destiny was ruling his mighty kingdom. All land was peaceful then and Anglo was in the most western point of the world. But when the man died, everything changed.”
He sighed and offered a cigar to the youth. Ye Qingxuan waved his hand, rejecting it, so the Shaman lit the cigar for himself. In cloud of smoke, his eyes became blurred. ”Mr. Holmes, let’s talk about the city’s history. I want to tell you about this city’s past, this country’s past—its greatness and glory.”
Ye Qingxuan leaned on his cane, prepared to take it all in.
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”You know, King Arthur built this place to commemorate his love, the Maiden of the Lake. That was when the Dark Ages had just ended and the golden era of the Renaissance had just arrived. This was the most brilliant pearl of the West, heaven on Earth—Avalon!
”He gathered worldly treasures, countless poets, mighty knights and legions, the most magnificent brocade and the most fragrant incense here...But not even the beauties of the world could express his love for the Maiden of the Lake, because everything he had was gifts from her.
In the darkness, the Shaman told of the other history hidden behind the known history, the past buried in past. This was a secret hidden behind a heavy curtain.
”Before he met the Maiden, the great King Arthur was just a fisherman’s son. He was a commoner. But when he strayed into the Shadow World he met the Fairy of Lake. Nobody knows what happened during that time but all that matters is that King Arthur won her feelings. It’s the thing that is most worthy of appraisal, the so-called ‘love.’” Shaman chuckled, mockingly or in praise.
”The Maiden gave Arthur her love and strength, so he became and expanded his territory. With her help, he forged the Sword in the Stone, became the strongest of the strong, and created Anglo. He became the true King of Destiny!
”It was his era. The Knights of the Round Table galloped above the sky and the demons hid from their radiance. Even the natural catastrophes were banished one by one. The Western frontier of the human world had never been more peaceful.
”Everyone dressed in brocades and no one went hungry. It was such a beautiful age. Brilliant, great, and worthy of all good words to praise it. It was like a fairy in a fairy tale.