“Excuse me, what is Leike’s Land like?” I asked raising my hand with caution.
“We don’t know, Lola. Never has someone gone there and come back alive. The only one was Zigfrid, a young student who tested the force dome barrier without permission coming back seconds after. He lost his courage for his own good. The only thing we have seen was a small troop led by Elof with his death jackals. But this army might be substantially bigger now.”
The weight of that answer fell heavy on those who were going, and on our teacher, who had a son among the ones doing this suicidal journey the next day.
“Everything we see from Lumen is a dry land, dead. A death castle surrounded by a ghost town. It must be terrifying. We have no idea of what you will be facing. That’s why Nefarious chose the best professors in the Kingdom to train you. Who have knowledge, have powerful weapon. I really like a phrase that comes from your dimension, Lola. ‘Know yourself and your enemy. This is the key to triumph’. We need to understand our own limits and how to deal with our enemy.”
Two hours passed by. She told us many things about Leike’s Land, but nothing proven. More and more I worried about what my father was going through and what we, more innocent people, would suffer. We could be swallowed by the first monster that shows up. Some prisms report hearing the screams of one close to the huge vegetable garden.
From the day I put this necklace on my neck for the first time, I had no idea of what was going to come. Maybe now that I was really starting to live, it was time to die. I had a seventeen-year-old distressed heart, beating like I was seventy. It was a heavy weight.
Professor Nefarious interrupted the class to give me some news that would make me breathe a little lighter.
“Excuse me, Professor Olga. I’m sorry for interrupting. I would like to tell our three adventurers that they are not going alone. Kenzo will join you on this mission. His skills in the Art of Defense are of great value.” Kenzo appeared at the door, next to Professor Nefarious. He was a skilled warrior and would know what to do if we needed help (and for sure we needed it).
Our faces showed expressions of surprise and relief. I think either Nefarious or Professor Cyperus did not believe too much in our potential, that’s why they were sending reinforcements with us. I was ok with being known as weak. I gladly accept, thank you.
We were dismissed a few hours later, since luau was going to be right after both the suns set. Zyba didn’t come back to us. He went home, listening to his mother lecture for being late. Dakota walked off and pushed me with her, so we could get away from being lectured too. We needed time to get ready. We said goodbye at the statues’ hall, where I found the way to my room inside the castle. I met Nefarious at the main hall finishing some issues with the employees. I waited for a little, I had a special request to make.
“Yes, dearest?”
“Nefarious, tomorrow might be my last day alive. We don’t know how this is going to be at Leike’s Land. So, I have a special request to make.”
“Please, ask.”
“I would like to see my family,” my voice weakened, before I could finish. “Can I go back for a minute to the first dimension?”
“I think I have a quicker idea to show you. Come with me.”
We went to Makali library, to the black magic sealed room. I have forgotten how cold and creepy that room was. Nefarious advised me not to touch a particle of dust this time. The bone box was there but switched off, I went straight forward. He passed his hand over a top shelf. On it was a crystal ball.
“Have you seen one of these?”
“Yes, Auntie Eva gave me one as a gift.”
“This is a little different. Take it.”
I had to hold it with both hands, it was a bit bigger and heavier. A strong purple light started to come from inside of it, lighting up my blue eyes. The dark room was flooded by the light beams of the ball. An image appeared, first a little foggy but it was becoming clearer. I could see Auntie Eva at Kaleidoscope, still working. She was cleaning some shelves while her mind seemed far away. It lasted just a few seconds until the image started to fog again. When I had the second clear image, it was Rodrigo sleeping with his blue pacifier on his carriage, next to my mom talking to a friend in the living room of a country house. My eyes filled with tears. It was like I was there with them.
Suddenly the image went dark, a black cloud erased that image. Now I was seeing a dark place where my father was, unawake, laying on a mossed stone.
“Dad! But…” It disappeared!
“Transmissions don’t work in Leike. But he is alive, Lola. Only unawake. Your father crossed with Elof, but won’t gain consciousness until you take him back to the first dimension.”
“How am I going to carry him? Oh, Professor Paspalum explained to us the Levitare potion…”
“Exactly. When you reach the force dome dividing Lumen from Leike’s Land, the spell will break. We will fix it the rest of the way.”
“Can I keep this crystal ball?”
“Unfortunately no, my dearest. We found it at the Kingdom boundaries, left by a north gipsy who got lost in the forest. It is not ours. It is here waiting for its owner. It might be dangerous in the wrong hands, and for this reason it must be kept safe, far away from any curiosity. Please, don’t tell anyone we came here. If someone knows we use something of this room for personal interests, everyone would find a reason to use an object, too.”
Seeing them increased my wishes to do this, I needed to succeed. I would go get my father wherever he might be, and we will go back alive to Gothenburg.
I gave him back the crystal ball. Professor Nefarious put it back on the shelf and we went out of the dark room, leaving Makali and going in the direction of the castle’s bedrooms. We said goodbye at the bedroom hall and I went to my room. We had some time until the luau started. From my room I could hear the crackle of the wood burning faraway, at the big bonfire on the training field. This was the last night before our journey…
Chapter Ten
The Red Moon
I dressed in the outfit bought in Mrs. Xylopia’s store - a black dress with bronze details and a leather corset. It reminded me of the armor we wore at the training with Professor Cyperus. I sat at my mother’s dressing table. All her things were there like a museum. I added a pair of brooches with lotus blossoms I found in the drawers. Her perfume was sweet, a bit strong from all that time standing there. I sprayed some in the air with my eyes closed and could feel the warmth of the scent. It was like remembering someone I didn’t even know.
I was in a huge fight with the mirror, trying to make my bangs stay as one. I gave up, and improvised with a few braids trying to disguise my hair. I heard a noise at my window, it was a tired post pigeon. I ran there and opened the window as quickly as possible. It flew in a bit crookedly and landed, exhausted, on the dressing table, knocking down what was in front of it. I saw there was a message for me.
Are you ready?
We will meet close to the bonfire in ten minutes. Zyba will be there too…
Kind Regards,
Dakota.
I put my boots on and went to meet Nefarious, who was waiting for me at the main hall. He was all pompous, wearing his black gala tunic with a galaxy embroidered on it, it looked like the stars. His white beard was tied in many points.