Chapter 3: The Lord of Northern Land

MIRASOL MCCAIN

We just began walking up on the stairs as I asked Orion if he's okay. What he answered bothers me, "I feel humiliated," sadness reflects on his face.

Fortunately, our feet are synching so I could talk to him while we're walking. "By what Georgia said?"

He nodded, "And by how she calls me,"

"You should forget it. I am sure she just said that because maybe she can't believe we're here." I explained to at least alleviate the humiliation he was feeling.

I know how awkward the people when Georgia called Orion an idiot, which she can't surely justify at first glance. "How do you think they can see me now? I mean, now that I was entitled as an idiot by someone who I just met 20minutes ago?"

I shrugs, "I don't know." I cheaply gave an answer.

I am getting more tired as the stairs are getting steeper. My legs and even my back are in pain, but I was able to breathe in and breathe out. Despite of everything I have feeling right now, I am eager to know who are the people living in the castle we were heading. They'll be a big help for me—to all of us—who needs an answer about our hanging queries.

I look up to see the other guys who stopped in the middle platform that divided the hundreds steps stairs. I saw how they faced the place where we had been earlier. I turned at my back, too, and I see the labyrinth maze, which really amusing because of its green plants and the pathways that formed something different in the eye.

It is unbelievably huge. What we only see now is I think the ¼ of the total size of the maze. I had goosebumps all over my body by both amusement and cold air enveloping the whole Kingdom.

"I am thankful that I am no longer in that maze," I heard Amanda said with visible fear on her face.

I close the gap between us before I could able to pat her back, "You must be too scared. Honestly, I was also scared. Fortunately, Orion had seen me otherwise, I don't know if I was still inside."

Amadeus, on the other hand, tousled Amanda's hair as if he's her big brother.

Amanda gets comfortable as I said that I was also scared. But what made me feel little lighter is when Orion smiled at me as I mentioned his name.

So far, he has the most beautiful smile. He's really genuine. And another so far, he's my favorite because he helped me without thinking twice.

We were about to continue going up when Jacques suddenly says, "How can we be so sure that no one's left in the maze? What if they are stuck until this time?"

I caught Georgia mock, "You want to know? Then go there and act as a hero of them." She then smirks.

I just observe how Jacques would answer the mockery of Georgia. Then suddenly, as I expected, another commotion started to fire up.

Jacques deeply frown, "How can you say such a thing as if you already know me well?"

This time, Amadeus didn't walk in between to stop the conversation instead, he just listened. I embrace myself when suddenly the cold wind blew again. Orion and Amanda also rubbed their hands together to create heat on their own.

"I don't have to explain myself to you," Georgia replied.

"Whatever Jacques said has a point because as per—" A deep sigh from Amanda is what made Amadeus stopped mid-sentence.

"I told them what I saw in the maze. I know I was not hallucinating that time because I had a close encounter to a really small person hiding on those walls," Amanda started. "We're already heading the entrance of the castle, so we don't have to waste time to go back in the maze just to find them…"

I wonder if the giggles we heard and the small person that Amada saw are connected. What if yes? What kind of creature would that be?

"Once we meet the Lord, we will suggest an immediate search, Jacques. You don't have to worry; I am on your side." Then she added again before we continued to walk.

I felt proud of what she said that is why I hold her hand as we both walk.

I have a lot to say, but I decided to keep quiet to save my energy.

The two guys, Amadeus and Orion, already reached the top platform. While the rest of us are still walking, but we could already see the tall double door that really has a great design. Also, surrounding starts to get dark, but the lights around the place gives us enough source to see what we have to see.

Two more steps when Orion offered his hand to me and to Amanda. I didn't expect that the main entrance of the castle itself is more magnificent than what I have already seen downstairs.

"Wow," I gasped.

I felt Orion's arm supported my back while I am busy looking every details of this castle built in front of me. I started to wonder again the possible reason why I was here, and why I was in the circle of different people?

But my mind also started to think how lucky I am right now to be one of the people who can see this in personal. "Before this day, I was just looking at this place on the page of our old books." I heard Orion.

How could he be this happy?

His arm remains on my back, but when the guys started to stares us, he immediately pulled it back. Fortunately, Georgia refrained saying rude about the act of chivalry of my friend Orion.

I was able to breathe before saying… "I may not know how special this place to you, but I just want to thank you for everything you've done to me today." I beamed.

"I am fond of reading books, Mirasol. That's why this whole place has an attachment here," he said, pointing his head. "And also thank you for being there in the maze, without you I think, I wouldn't have been energetic of finding the exit."

That was the last words Orion said to me. After that, he and Amadeus lead the way close to the tall double door. It's odd knowing that there are no guards guarding the door, so we were able to push the heavy door open.

And the moment it opens, we were blinded by the illuminating light. I covered my eyes and slowly, adjusted my eyes to see what's inside the castle. At first glimpse, I see nothing… latter, I see black… and eventually I finally see someone standing amidst the big ballroom.

Amadeus pulls us ladies at his back for protection to whatever that might possibly happen. "Who are you?" he asked.

A bearded man with black and white motif of clothing took a few steps towards us. But we also took few steps backwards.

"Welcome to the North Kingdom," the man didn't answer the question instead, welcoming us here in the beautiful place of North.

I saw the smile on Orion's face as if he has a clue who is the man standing in front of us. While I just realized that the man is wearing a fury cape over his black and white clothes… does this mean that he has a high position?

I am expecting Orion would speak about the man's name, but he kept in silent until Georgia questioned the man. "What are you in the North Kingdom? What is your role in this place?" she earnestly asked him.

This time, a tiny smile curve across his lips, preventing from answering the previous questions.

I gently turned Orion's body towards me, "You are familiar with him, aren't you?"

The rest of our companion were surprised by what I did and what I asked Orion. He did not disappoint me as he nodded slowly, "Yes I am," he retorted.

"What's his name then?"

But before Orion could answer me, the man took another steps. When he paused, another man showed up in the threshold near the grand staircase. The new came man is dressed differently than this man. By just looking at the difference, I concluded that he's in high position.

"He's the Lord," I murmured.

"He is," said Orion, swallowing the gulp in the throat. All attention is on him but his eyes are fixed in the man I was referring.

"Former Lord Stourton bequeathed the Northern Kingdom to him… he is now the Lord... Lord Theodore Tisdale." Orion's voice echoed in the whole room.

The Lord took a blind eye as he heard his name mentioned by a villager.

"He said it all," the Lord cheaply said.

"But that was not enough for us who didn't know you," I commented, looking at him.