The Aces

C H A P T E R 2

I looked at daddy and Ceasar, I know this could be our last chance seeing each other.

Dad signaled me to go and I immediately followed him. I raised the Maple leaf with my hand. The blinding light starts to appear. I can hear the angry wind screaming and the fowls  of the air shrieking. Hearing that sound frightened me but, this is my reality. I have to face it. My vision is so blurry that my head hurts so much. The wind carries me and swirls me upside down making me feel like vomiting. The swirling lasted about 5 minutes. As the angry wind put me on the ground aggressively, my stomach hurts badly that I need to let it out. I looked looked around while massaging my head when I saw a door. I can see the light on the part of the door and this gives me the urge to check and open it. I stood up and slowly but surely went to the shinning door. I turn the knob and it is open. I peak through the door and saw something surprising. I never thought that there would be something fascinating in the other side of the world. I took my step inside the door and carefully close it. I should pass through this labyrinth for me to reach the town. That’s what I saw when I peak at the door.

I tried to focus and think properly on how to survive this labyrinth but the more I focus the more I get exhausted. I was about to walk into the labyrinth when I tripped at someone. I startled and turn my back automatically and then at that moment, I saw a tall and handsome creature. I thought that there are weird creatures in this place but it was the opposite. He wears a Royal Guard uniform and he looks so handsome with it even I cannot see his face. He was looking down and is staring at the ground.

‘Is he shy or its their culture here?’ I said in the back of my mind..

“What are you doing here, human?” He said with a baritone voice. I badly want to see his face so I bend and peak at him but I still can’t see.

“Well,I-uhm-father wants me to go there.” I said then pointed out the town.

“Who is your father?” He said confused.

“Well,he is Richard. I don’t know if you know him but he’s my father.” I said while fidgeting my finger.

“Do you have your ticket, Miss?” he asked then lay his hand. I’m confuse on what does he mean by ticket. The wind never gave me ticket.

“Uhm-ticket, Sir?” I said then search for what ticket does he mean.

“Your leaf.” He said seriously.

My mouth went ‘aw’ when I realized that I do not know where I put that thing. I looked for it in my jean’s pockets and on my bag but I didn’t find it.

While I was searching, the guard suddenly said,

“Maybe look at your risk or neck, Miss?” Then at that time, he raised his head and look at me in the eye. He was aghast after he saw me. It took him a minute to snap back to reality. I startle when he suddenly bowed 90 degrees in front of me.

“Uhm-what are you doing, Sir?” I asked. The hell I’m surprised by the happenings around me today. First I encountered a raging wind and now a handsome bowing Royal guard? Okay maybe, I’ll see a funny and cute dinosaur in here-ugh. Note my sarcasm.

“Miss!’ He stood straight. “Please let me see your leaf.” He said in a serious but happy voice.

Okay what’s up with the change of mood?

I looked at my risk and the Maple leaf that I raised earlier, it was stuck in my wrist. I looked like a birth mark. I immediately let the guard see my leaf. He’s not  aghast yet he’s happy.

He called the other soldiers who are roaming around the area that time and he lets me come with them. We didn’t pass through the labyrinth instead we pass through a secret door.

I am in aw when I saw the town itself. It’s really clean and bright. The people in that town also has bight and genuine smiles. As we walk through the town a lot of people are bowing at me. Okay, so this is really getting out of hand.

I saw a little boy and he smiles at me. I find him cute and squishy so I smiled back. His mother smiled at me and gave me fresh flowers. I accept it and the mother is really happy. We’re about to enter the palace when I saw a kid with a butterfly swatter. He is trying to catch it and I think the butterfly is teasing him giving him a hard time to catch. He saw me smiling at him and he automatically bow.

‘Okay. It is really weird!” I literally said.

As we enter the palace, all the people who sees me bowed at me and when I am a little away from them, I can hear them talking about me. I’m getting irritated and I really need to know why. I was about to ask the lady who bowed to me earlier but the guards stopped me and said, ”Miss, please don’t go anywhere. It’s dangerous.”

So, even the guards are weird. How can this place be dangerous? Now, suddenly missed dad.

I ate my irritable feeling and just follow the guards until we get to the-

“Realm’s Checker? I said as I read the sign.

The guards left and I am here sitting alone in this elevated chair.

The checker went out of the other room and was astonished on what she sees. She almost screamed.

She stayed like that for a second and snapped back when she realizes something. She pretended as if nothing happened.

“Hello, Miss.” she said then smile brightly.

“Uhm-hello.” I greeted her plainly. I’m not sure if I can trust the people here. Its just that, they are weird.

“Your name is Melody, right?” She said then again smile. Her smile never fades away.

“How’d you know my name?” I asked her curiously.

“I got it from Richard.” She said.

“From daddy?” I said happily giving her the confused look and surprised look.

“I mean, my daddy’s name is Richard.” I explained.

She murmured something but I didn’t heard it.

“So, Melody, welcome to Maple Realm. This is the place peace, beauty and unity. As you have seen a while ago, people wear bright smiles and yes, they are all unique and true.” She said then roam around the room. “You may wonder why people are talking behind your back? Just let them be. They know nothing about you.” She said then roam again. She has a point. They know nothing about me so why bother, right?

“I am Aida, the Realm checker.” She introduced herself then bow to me 90 degrees.

“Why are you bowing though?” I asked with confusion.

She immediately rise up and smile, ”Respect, I guess.” She answered. We exit the room and the limo car suddenly stop right in front of us.

“Hop in, Mel.” She said with authority. As we are on our way to somewhere, Aida suddenly speak,

“I will send you to your school. When you are at school, you cannot leave the school without a permission from the authority. You have to enroll yourself right away because classes will start next week. ”She said as if she’s my parent or my guardian.

“Okay?” I said absorbing everything she said.

“Most importantly, find friends. Living here without a friend is useless.” She said bitterly.

“Do you have a friend, Miss Aida?” I asked her. Its sounds personal but,I want to know it.

“Call me Aida, Mel.” She said. “I actually had a friend but we broke our relationship because of something.” she said sadly.

“I’m sorry for asking.” Now I feel bad. I shouldn’t have ask her.

“Its okay and please remember that choose who you trust. This may be a peaceful place but darkness lives inside the hearts of the creatures here.” I wonder how they came here but I choose to not ask anymore. It may be a bitter-sad story like mine.

“And please, contact my anytime you need help of something. I’ll stay as your guardian, as long as your here in the Realm.” She emotionally said. I can feel her sincerity towards me and I’m happy that someone like Aida exists.

The car stopped and Aida left the car signaling me to stay inside. It took minutes until she lets me out. I wonder why though.

I get out and I’m aghast the moment I see the school. It’s like the schools that I watch on television.

I looked around and saw children, teens and adults in the school park. There school uniform is cute too. It is a black and white checkered thigh-high skirt with polo shirt on top paired with a short black and white checkered neck tie for girls. Some wears white coat with a school logo at the upper right and their pinned names on the upper left. Their names serves as their identification cards.  That uniform is paired with either plain black shoes or plain white shoes. For the boys uniform, it has a plain black pants and plain white polo with long black neck tie and a black coat. Boys shoes should be black with neat and clean hairstyle.

“Maple Realm University .”I read the school’s name. How important that Maple is huh.

As we enter in the school, it is a new environment for me. Kids, teens and adults do not bow or talk behind my back. I love the atmosphere of this school. Maybe I was meant to study here.

I am still mesmerized by the beauty of the school. From the outside view which has a garden, a fountain of maybe some goddess because she wears a crown and a pond full of Koi fishes. The water is very transparent that I could see my reflection. The flower in the garden blooms beautifully and healthy.

‘Just like my dream school and dream uniform.’ I said.

“I’m happy you like it here.” Aida said. I thought maybe she can see through my face. I just smiled at her and happily roam around. We enter into the dorm and the big and well-lighted chandelier caught my attention. The ground floor of this building is the dining area, the kitchen, well we can cook whatever we want, the gaming area, the television and the sofas are all neat and clean. Starting from second floor above are all rooms of the students enrolled in this school.

“You room is in 313.” Aida said and help me carry my luggage and bags.

We reached the room and before she leaves she make sure that I’m already inside the room. “It is really clean in here!” I said astonished.

“Yes, it is. Please enroll yourself tomorrow using the leaf on your wrist.” she said then pointed out.

I agreed and she left. I locked the door and check the bathroom first. It smells like strawberry and the bath tub is really huge. It also has jacuzzi in it. At the right side of the wall it has scented candles which gives me the feeling of being born with a golden spoon. I also checked the refrigerator and it is full of fruits and vegetables. At the right side of my study table, it has a big basket and when I opened it, it is full of honey like coins. Each coin has a umber and the highest number in the coins are 10. I feel so happy with the atmosphere I had here but it also feels so empty. I knock off that feeling because for sure if dad knows, he’ll get sad as much as I do. I  jump into my bed. It is really soft and fluffy. It also smells like strawberry. My favorite fruits. My eyes gets heavy as I lay down on my bed. ‘I should sleep” I said and I did sleep.