15 Inside the Artefac (2/2)
”Sprigg, always remember to stay out from anyone's sight. Understood?” I want to hear her confirmation before we began. She nodded and smiled dubiously.
”As if people would see me as I am if they don't have any magical powers.” she snorted.
”Right. I just want to be certain that no one will ever know. Use your invisible skill permanently and only if you have ascertained a good reason to dismiss that, is the only chance you may do so.” I poked her with my finger and added, ”You got that?”
”Understood, master.” she slightly bowed her head but I know for a fact that she's really excited.
”Then, let's do it.” I summoned the new skill I received after gaining the authority over the artefact and said, ”Portal”.
It is the magic word that will help me travel directly to any territory that I am familiar with. By focusing on thinking the place and saying the word, and to return to this place, I simply just need to add the Dungeon before the Portal. The sole purpose for this magic is to practically get back here anytime I want. After a couple of breath, I can sense the mana haphazardly attaches to the two logs next to us while slowly growing branches majestically intertwined just above our head forming a curve of two branches that met on the top as it appears as a single giant tree with a shallow opening in the centre. It then glowed the same incandescent colour as the announcement window in the centre as if dancing, basking in the bright light of the sun that looked like a door of colours.
”Is that it?” Sprigg asked.
”I guess that was it,” I answered.
We walked around the tree to see if there's anything unusual but it is just a simple tree with glowing and dancing colours on its trunk. I guess that's our way out, huh. I looked at Sprigg and gestured her two hands showing her complete lack of thought. This is the moment that we've been waiting for, might as well grab it and go. I jumped on the shallow opening and hope for the best. This feels like walking past a warm sludge of gooey crumbs but isn't damp. On the other side of this gate, I can see the usual sway of green tall grass on the slow mild-hot breeze. I can also smell the light aroma of the small fruits that fell on the ground and the newly flowering buds of the flowers oozing with fragrance.
Wait. Springtime? Is it Springtime? No, it can't be. When I left, that was almost the end of springtime. All these days, I am under the impression that it is already summertime with the hotness on the other side. I may have not minded it since I knew summertime is coming but this is absurd! I instantly trotted and ignored all the incredible scent from the blossoms of Forest of Krane until I reached the entrance of the village. There, I can see the usual people working in the fields. New small kids gathering all sorts of branches from the side of the forest while some of them are looking at me, dumbfounded. Murmurs can be heard from them.
I ran as fast as I can to reach our home and yelled, ”Mother! Father! I'm home.”
Glancing at our partly eroded small residence, I started looking for my parents and checked if even my siblings are here. I looked at every possible place they've gone to the neighbourhood but they're nowhere to be found. I went to the next rows of homes to ask the location of my parents but no one can provide me with an answer. All they can say is, ”where have you been” and ”you've been gone for too long”, saying as it happened a long time ago. In addition to that, all the grown-up seems to have grown older with their whitish and gaunt bodies. These people can't offer me the answer that I want. I am only gone for a couple of weeks and such changes occur? That's absurd! I continued asking for people but the response is the same.
”Heart rate increasing. Master, please calm down.” I heard Sprigg whispering at the back of my head.
”Not now, Sprigg,” I replied.
”I understand. At least, keep your head cool.”
I am not giving attention to Sprigg anymore. I really have a bad feeling about this. Seeing all the cloud of dust and filth scattering inside of our house like it has not been maintained for a long time, my head jogged and my heart racing. Looking at the fields, I stumbled upon one of the beautiful ladies preparing for their lunch. She looked really similar to one of my playmates we call Cordola, a flower that only blooms at midnight. I approached her and asked, ”Do you mind if I ask something?”
*********************************
#IntoTheUnknownWorld
MakulotNaBuhok x Einvee
©2020