A Memory From the Future

Finding Key

“The door was enchanted by a strong spell,” he said, thinking. “How did you opened the door?” He asked, looking at me. I want to say “duh, it was just a freakin’ puzzle.” But I'm not sure if he knows, back then, I didn’t ask him if he knows or not.

“I solved the puzzle” I said plainly. He look like he’s brewing some questions in his brain.

“What puzzle?” he asked again. “You mean, I'm locked by a puzzle?”

“Yep” I said, nodding. He doesn’t know. Poor thing, he doesn’t know.

“Looks like he still knows how to hit he hard.” He said, joking but he’s forming a fist, so I can say that he’s half angry.

“What do you mean?” Well it’s obvious that he’s talking about the evil wizard who locked him down but I can sense something. Something that I don’t know or maybe I've just forgotten about this thing. Are they friends turn enemies? I asked myself.

“Nothing serious.” He said. “I felt foolish not to escape that room.”

“Aren’t you?” I said sarcastically. I laugh and he smack my head again. He sit down on the floor and put his back on the wall. I join in.

“Now, let me tell you how this kingdom fall and why I'm only facing my spirit.” He said, looking at the dusty old ceiling. I already know it, well not every detail. “This kingdom was very wealthy, and not a single person was experienced hunger.” He started. “King Martino was a smart, friendly, kind but fair. I'd watched him grow up. He can handle every crisis that came here, in his kingdom. The kingdom had an misunderstanding with the kingdom of Zaroah.”

“What was this misunderstanding?” I asked. I can’t recall this part.

“The Zaroah was trying to expand their territory...” He said. Right, the borders. “...because of their envy. As I said, the kingdom was wealthy and blessed I might add. This issue almost lead to war, but instead of fighting, they made a treaty to solve the problem of Zaroah. The treaty said that they can borrow some food, livestock, poultry, gold, etcetera, without paying it in few months. If they didn’t pay what they borrow, they can never ask again for something. The treaty worked but not enough to satisfy the king of Zaroah. Because of their greed, they attacked the kingdom and attempted to colonize it. Each kingdoms' castle has a unique interior layout, like a maze, and this layout is confidential, not a single citizen knows it, only the officials, servants and royal guards knows. Telling the layout inside the castle in public or even inside your house is a crime. The punishment: Death penalty. No one dares to leak the layout of the kingdom, until the Zaroah invaded it.” He continued.

“So, how did the kingdom got invaded?” I asked, like an impatient child, listening to his grandpa.

“I think someone inside the castle defied the law.” He answered. Who was it? I asked myself. “I still don’t know who was this traitor but I wish that person is suffering.” He said. I can feel anger in his voice. Who is not going to get angry when someone betrayed you?

“You didn’t use your power to know who the hell was that traitor? I asked, looking at him with disgust. Oops!! I said inside my head, remembering that he drained his strength and magical powers. “Oh, sorry, I forgot.” I said.

“What did you forgot?” he asked, looking at me quizzically. Oh no. I forgot. He doesn’t remember that this is the second time we've met.

I shook my head. “Nothing, nothing.” I said, forcing a smile. I look at him if he put that thought away from his mind.

“Hmm,” he said looking suspicious. “Okay, back to the story...” wew. I thought he will ask me questions again. “...Where was I?” he asked himself. “Ah, yes. I did not predict about the invasion, perhaps, someone blocked my magic and it’s true. Someone strong and powerful blocked it. When they finally invade the castle, they killed all the people inside, I don’t know if the queen managed to escaped or the king. Augustus, the wizard of Zaroah, tried to kill me. He didn’t won against my magic. As our battle continued, I felt tired and drained, and he took that opportunity to imprison me,” his he speak out words with regret.

“but before he finishes his spell, I used my last bit of magic to cast a powerful spell that pushed them away, back to their kingdom and that spell killed my mortal body. Only my spirit is left, imprisoned in my own library. That time, I lost my sense as a wizard. And that time, I don’t know what was happening outside.” While telling me the story, he feels useless and powerless. This is how he told me the story, except that I can feel his emotions again.

I feel the card in my pocket getting hot again, I wonder why. I pull out the card and it cool down. I remember that Bartholomew is beside me but I also remember that he can’t see it. The hologram did not appear. I start recalling what does this indicates.

“I can feel someone will be walking this way.” Bartholomew said, looking around. I can’t feel it, then I hear footsteps coming closer and closer. Is this what the card indicated? I think while looking around. The footsteps got louder as it gets closer. The sound is echoing in the hallway then I see a shadow, a shadow of a woman. I stand up. The shadow is getting smaller which means it’s getting closer. This didn’t happened when I first time I played this game because I and the old wizard haven’t stayed here and told me the story. Is she the queen? Shouldn’t she sitting on her throne and I'm the whose gonna come to her? I wonder.

I turn around to Bartholomew. “Is that the queen?” I asked him.

“The queen? Amanda is alive?.” He exclaimed. He looks so happy, like there’s a reunion that is going to happen

“I don’t know, that’s why I'm asking you, right?” I said.

“I knew she will survive, I knew it.” He said. He sounds like a proud grandfather. “Why are looking at me like that?” I don’t know how the way I look at him so I just fix my facial expression and stand straight.

“Who are you?” The voice said. It came from my back. I turn around and see that the queen is standing there, six meters away from us. “Why are you here? How did enter our castle? What is your name?” she asked, then walk to my direction.

Bartholomew looks like he wanted to talk to the queen, but he know he can’t, she can’t see him or hear him. I see tears dripping from his eyes, but he doesn’t sobs. I know it’s because of happiness, but what I don’t know is, how they are related. Is she a grandchild of him or something?

I look at Bartholomew for help because I can’t remember what explanation I will tell to her. “Say your name first and tell her how did you passed through the maze.” He said.

“Answer me, young man.” She said again, but louder. I look at Bartholomew again and he give me “go on” look.

“I'm Al–, I mean, Christoffer. “ I introduced myself and tell her the rest. She looked contented with my explanations.

“All right, follow me.”

The hall is still the same. Of course. Aside from sunlight, entering from the window torches which are attached at the Corinthian columns, gives the room the light that it needs. The floor is covered by red carpet with golden line at the edge. At the end of the room are two shipwrecked thrones, above it, is the banner of the kingdom Astanya: rectangular shaped emerald green fabric. A deer, a white deer, alibno? in side view, showing only its head, looking far away, and its horn is like diamond. The bottom of the head is a cursive line, dividing the head and the two golden plume.

The queen sit on her throne. “This is my castle.” She said. I walk closer to the throne, keep looking around. The ceiling is full of dust, but the carpet is good as new. Does she clean it herself? I stand In front of her.

“I expect that Bartholomew already thought you the story how the kingdom has come into this, “ she said, while tip toeing. She wears a blue velvet dress, matched with emerald necklace. Her hair is black, and her eyes are deep blue, almost black.

“If your thinking that I'm being gullible because I accept your explanations, no. I believe you because I know It’s true.” She said looking at me.

“I can feel wizard’s presence here in the hall. He's here, am I right?” then she smile.

“Yes, he's beside me.” I answered, pointing at my right side. Bartholomew walk the sit on the stairs, his feet on the floor and his hands on his head, looking relax.

“I see,” really? You can see him? I joke to myself, but I put that thing away from my mind. I found myself smiling. She look at me then asked, “Why are you smiling?”

“It’s nothing, your majesty.” What kind of answer was that? You’re talking to a queen, be well-bred. I said to myself, making my face look serious. She sit up straight then sighs.

“Okay. I asked you to come here because I need your help,” she said. The second quest, here it comes. “I need you to find the key of the treasury room of the castle.” She stated. What?? I can’t remember doing this quest. Recall, recall, recall!

“Can I know what the key looks like?” I asked her. Recall, recall, recall! I keep saying in my mind.

“It is a gold key, and has diamond on it.” She described. Ah, now I can remember. The last time, she didn’t tell me where did she lost, but now, let’s give it a try.

“Can you tell me where did you last seen it?” I asked, please, let me finish this quest fast. I wish. She’s looking at the ceiling, remembering where the heck she lost it.

A minute later, she finally responded. “I can’t remember, dear.” Not again. She stand up, and took something on the floor at her feet. It’s black, a cloth. “Now that I already gave you a quest, you are now a knight of Astanya.” She said. She walk down, wizard said I kneel down, and I followed. As I kneel, I put my left knee, and right foot on the floor. The queen give me a confused look.

“Did I ordered you to kneel? Stand up” she said. I look at Bartholomew, he's laughing at me, holding his stomach, as if he can’t breathe.

“Sorry, the wizard thought me so.” I reasoned. He's still laughing.

“Looks like he doesn’t change, he's still the same old teacher of mine.” She said giggling, remembering something nostalgic. She cleared her throat, then speak. “This was my kings' cloth armour, from Bartholomew. I will give you this, since It doesn’t suits me, and because you’re my only knight.” She handed me the cloth and the time stops.

I feel the card on my pocket getting hot again, and I pull it out of my pocket. The hologram appears and the cloth float. “King Martino’s Enchanted Armour” and under the name is the “Equip” button. I read first the status of the costume.

“Level 3

“Defense: 130.”

It has higher defense so I press the equip button. I'm now wearing the cloth armour, and my old one is in my inventory. The hologram disappear and I put back my card on my pocket. They start moving again.

“It looks good to you.” She said, looking impressed. “Now, find the key. If you found it, bring it to me.” She demanded.

I bow my head and said, “Yes, your majesty.” And then I turn around and start walking back in the hallway, with Bartholomew at my back.

“Hahaha,” Bartholomew laughing at me. “You looked stupid.” Look who's talking, the one who was locked-up in his own library. The hallway through the north wing of the castle is clean, except the ceilings, and there was no person inside, but us.

“Why don’t you just help find the key?” I demanded, my voice sounds tired. Yes , I'm kind of exhausted because I haven’t rested properly since I came here. Wait, how many hours since my arrival? Maybe a day had past.

“Let’s go to Royal Garden.” He suggested. He looks serious now than lately, acting like a child, lack of attention. Yeah, the queen loves gardening.

“Okay. But where can we get there fast? I think it’s far from here.” I said. It’s far from the northwest wing, I've been there when the queen gave me a tour in her, what does she call it? Her piece of heaven. We reached the Hall of the Artists on the first floor of the northwest. We look for the key on the area just in case there was it, but no key.

“We will exit this way,” said Bartholomew, pointing at the wall. What does he thinking?

“What? I'm not a ghost like you!” I yelled at him. “What do you want me to do? Break the wall?” I demanded.

He walked near me and put his middle and index finger at my head and pushed it. “No, you i***t! Let me finish my sentence before you protest.” I looked at him and said in my mind: then what? We did not exit in this way the last time, so of course, I don’t know what to do.

“Touch the wall, and if you feel that part is weak, push it.” He said. I walk toward the wall and touch it hardly. I tap the other part then the other until I heard a cracking sound. “That’s it, My secret wall.” Secret wall? This old man sure has many doors in this castle. Maybe the door where I fell is one of his shortcuts. I push harder so the and the has show up, then I continually push the door and see what’s behind it. Once finally open, the light outside is blinding, maybe it’s because it’s darker inside. We exit the hallway.

The smell of green grass is somewhat soothing. The sun is high but it’s not hot, and not cold, just fine. I look around, checking if we’re already in the garden. But no garden, only Bermuda grass and some daisies. I turn around to Bartholomew. “Where is the garden?” I asked. I can’t remember where is it, maybe I need to take food supplements for sharper memory when I hot home.

“I think it’s approximately four kilometers away from here.” He said, smoothing his beard.

“What? Four kilometers?” I exclaimed. What do I protesting for? I walked more than four kilometers to get here.

“Yes, so start walking west.” He said. He's flying in the air like a dragonfly, his spirit is almost unseen because of the sunlight. “Follow me!” he shouted.

He fly fast, so the walk shift to jog then running. He continuously flying faster, so as my running. My body automatically slow itself. I think it’s the stamina. I'm out of stamina. Stamina is used for faster running or movement. As I run, I remember that I have a special ability for regaining my stamina.

“Heat–Up!” I said, between a hard breathe. My body’s temperature is getting higher, but I'm running fast again, faster than before, and my breathing is back to normal, like I'm just walking. While running, I still look around. I saw a horse, a mare, giving birth. But I didn’t pay attention to much because I want to finish this quest, as fast, as I could. Wizard still fly fast, I run faster, and now I'm on his heels.

He turn his head to me. “You managed to keep up with my speed, eh?” he said, boastful. I smile at him. “You’re cocky.” He added.

After a few minutes of running, we reached the Royal Garden, a perfect timing because the effect of my ability has subsided. The garden is beautiful, unharmed by the attack of Zaroah, perhaps the queen herself fix it. It has a big metal double gate, a bit rusty because of time. I check first if the gate has a lock.

“It doesn’t have a lock, Amanda hates lock.” Said Bartholomew, in a matter of fact. “Just push it.” I follow, I push the right side of the gate. Just like when I fist open this gate, it’s heavy. While opening, the sound of metal against each other makes my teeth shake. When I fully to open the gate, we enter the garden.

The garden has the same Bermuda grass outside. There several small trees on our both sides like, orange, lemon, etcetera. Mostly on left side are sunflowers, daisies, daffodils, and tulips, while on our right are rose, camellia, bougainvillea, poppy, carnation, and others that I don’t recognize. I know a lot of kinds of flower because we study botany as a topic on science class.

Bartholomew is looking behind the hedges, I thought he was looking for the key, but no, there are some big insects he's looking at. “Can you stop playing with those bugs, and help me find the key?” I demanded.

“I am looking for the key, you idiot.” He said still looking at the bugs. “Just wait there.” He's murmuring words I don’t understand, bug language? I didn’t see him talked to bugs. While listening, I heard him said, “yrtit–osio?” and “eisai sigouros?” and “havala, prijatelji.” Language I don’t understand. After chatting with bugs, he fly toward me.

“They said, the ladybug say it at the herbs section.” He said. Then he fly slowly to the left. I follow.

After a few minutes, I smell various scent, I smell India. Maybe we’re close at the herbs section. “Are we close?” I asked him.

“Yes.” He replied. Then he turn right. “Alright, here we are,” I see small plants on pots, rosemary, mints and other herbs you might know. “Start looking for the key.”

I look under the table where some of jar are at on. No key. After a few minutes, I got impatient. “Is the key really here?” I asked.

“Of course. My bugs won’t lie to me.” He answered. I sigh heavily then I stumble upon the wood. I bend down to pick it up. The wood is as big as a brick, and at first, I thought it was only a line, it is a line but gold. I dust if of and open it. Inside is the golden key. Yes I finally found it! I said in my mind, smiling. The diamond is as big as a raspberry, reflecting the sunlight. Beautiful up

“Hey, GOW! I found the key!” I shouted in victory.