Coming out of illusions.

It was still early as the earth was rory. The short grass covered their feet in dew as they swept through and along the narrow path leading opposite the cave. They walked for a while before finally arriving at their destination.

The village was empty when they walked in. Everything was build from mud. No electricity lines nor signs of modernisation. It was odd. Mae led him ahead calling back to him as she took his hand and drag him forth. "This village is the oldest ever." She said as she pointed at the old mud huts. They walked round the huts observing the patterns and art on the walls. After a short walk they came to an end, the hugest hut in the village built majestically infront of them.

"This is my grandpa's home. He is the chief."

She informed Bryan who just nodded with a 'oh.'

"Wait for me here, I'm going to call him."

"Ok. Just hurry." Bryan obediently stood aside as he watched the energetic beauty stroll towards the hut as she called out.

"Guka! Guka!" She knocked on the door once and invaded the privacy of her old grandfather.

"Hey, My little princess, what brings you here so early.?" Guka almost freaked out as Mae shook his shoulders calling to him to wake up.

"I have a visitor from town." Mae explained as she walked out to wait for Guka to get ready.

A bell rang in the distance echoing over the ranges. "What's that for?" Bryan asked Mae who had returned to give him company.

"That's the morning bell. In this village their is a taboo not to wake before 6 unless necessary."

Herself she had no idea why since she did grown up under the rules.

Way ahead, after some unboresome minutes, an old man holding onto a stick walked out. His face full of wrinkles but his posture still strong. He smiled revealing his strong yellowish teeth that had yet to drop off. He walked towards them slowly and steadily.

"Hello young man." He stretched out his arm in greeting. Bryan didn't hesitate as he clasped the frawny hand as weak as a rake.

"Hello too chief." He replied trying to pull back but the old man still held on his hand shaking it slightly as he shivered.

"May I know who you are?" He finally let go of his hand as he studied his face with interest.

"I'm Bryan. Bryan Gindi." He answered avoiding eye contact.

"Hmm Gindi Gindi Gindi??." He repeatedly spoke memorizing the name before looking back at Bryan who now just stood with a weak smile. For some reason the old man had bluish sunken eyes that where misty. He thought he was partially blind until he spoke, "The mark under your ear. That belongs to the royal family."

'What mark!' Bryan wondered since when did someone notice a mark he himself had never seen nor heard of in his whole life by just a glance.

"What mark chief?" Bryan asked touching the skin under his ears.

"Hehehe young man. You can't feel a mark from a touch, take this, have a look at it." He dug into his overcoat and pulled out a shard of glass which he handed out carefully. Mae too observed Bryan keenly.

"Yes! It's there!" She shouted placing the mirror just at the right angle of reflection.

"That's a birth mark." Bryan suddenly realized the mark being mistaken.

"Yeah. Only the chosen heir has that mark." The old man agreed. "You are the crown prince."

Bryan didn't understand a thing.

"My little girl, it seems my time has come to an end." Guka continued ignoring Bryan's state of confusion. "The prophecy says the crown prince would be delivered unto my doorstep by the princess. At that time I will pass on to the next level of life." Guka held his stick shakingly as he faces Bryan. "It has been a long wait. Now i'm ready to meet my beautiful wife Naliaka. Don't forget, this ..." Guka suddenly dropped the stick as he cried in pain, his hand over his chest. "Guka!" Mae screamed as she reached out and held him up but failed and both dropped on the ground. Now Guka was all but lying on a frightened Mae's chest. He choked and coughed. This had been soo sudden. "Remember this... You are the prince... You are destined to bring the world into one... Mae ... she was engaged to you when you were young.." Cough cough cough. "Promise me you will stick to Mae." Guka begged.

"I promise I will stick to her." Bryan replied but Guka almost choked himself dead again as he angrily retorted. "Promise the princess, not me!"

"I promise to stick to you." Bryan said looking at Mae who was all but crying. The village was now buzzy as villagers showed up in two and witnessed this dreadful scene. The local witchdoctor tried his best to save him but the chief slowly showed signs of weariness.

"Leave this place. Go back and save the princess!" Guka suddenly came back lively and said faintly. His hand travelled up Mae's cheek, "Take care of the prince." He finally said as he closed his eyes, his hand dropping.

"Guka!" Mae cried loudly as her grandfather, the village chief breathed his last and kicked the bucket. Bryan felt sorrowful as Mae screamed and called out to her Guka. "Nooo." She cried as the witch doctor and presumably the village elders took away the body, now a corpse. All this while Bryan did nothing but wrap his hands around the heartbroken Mae. The sun which had been high suddenly disappeared above a cloud as the wether turned cloudy and windy.

Whispers could be heard from the crowd as the rumors spread like fire works. "That's the prince," They all assembled as if the death of the chief was all but a long awaited day.

"Long live the Prince!" Bryan heard the worship behind his back as he turned round to see a whole village kow towing to him. He was more than confused as he looked back at the elders who too bend on their knees and kow towed. "Mae?" Bryan whispered in her ears but she was still sobbing. He was confused. He never had found himself in such a situation as this. His mind was full of thoughts as he felt the world spinning making him dizzy. The continued worship of long live the prince made his heart beat faster and instead of pride, fear took over. He held onto Mae as a familiar figure accompanied by two other approached him and helped him escape the stage.

"Abi, thanks for saving me." Bryan said with a voice that was low than usual. He looked down at Mae who had sobbed all the way, her eyes red and swollen. He pitied her as he placed himself in her own shoes.

"We didn't save you." Abi suddenly replied shocking Bryan. "You have to stick to me. You don't have to go back to that cruel world. Dont you love it here?" Abi asked him temptatious.

He looked at Mae and back at Abi. He was just stuck, in a dilemma.

"I promised Her." Bryan finally decided. Mae opened her eyes a looked at the both. She was not in the mood now as she always was. "Leave this place now...please honey, just go back." Mae begged as she detached herself from his grip.

"You don't have to leave Bryan." Abi continued persuading him. The weather had turned the place dusky as clouds covered the whole sky. Everywhere his eyes travelled all was grey.

"What is the name of this place?" Bryan asked once again.

"It's the grull." Tom and Jack happened to reply as they walked in the room.

"Yes it's the Grull." Bryan repeated back. "But we are in the village what is the name of this village?" Bryan questioned. Everyone was silent and just stared at him.

"Hey, I'm asking where am I? How do I get back home?!" He tensed as non answered him.

"Mae, where am I?" He walked up to Mae and faced her.

"Honey, didn't you not love this place,?" Mae answered driving him mad. "I ask what is the name of this village, I just want a name!" He cursed as he realized he was trapped. It was beginning to get dark yet he had no clue where he was. "Please answer me!" He begged all of them.

"This the Grull." Tom answered as Jack supported him. "Yes, this is the Grull."

He felt sick. All that had happened today was total discocombulation. He cried as he begged them but none gave another answer apart from Grull. He could not take the embassment any longer as he dashed out in a mad state into the village.

"Hey old man!" He bumps into a fatherly man who immediately kow tows and beg mercy. "I'm not here for an act!" He shouted back almost kicking the old man.

"How may I be of service to the Prince?" The old man finally asked with a bow.

"I need to know where I am." Bryan cooled down abit as he asked expecting an answer but the old man just shook his head. A crowd soon congested as before circulating him as he ran from one person to the other asking the same question but none knew.

"This the Grull! How many times must I repeat!" Abi,Mae, Tom and Jack got back to him.

"But why do they not know?"Bryan asked as tears filled his eyes. He knew he was trapped, not sure who to trust now.

"Babe, calm down." Mae soothed him as she wiped away his tears. "I want you out too." Mae added.

"Then let's go home, Mae." Bryan said brokenly.

"I don't know how." Mae said honestly as Abi pulled a sword from an elders waist and sliced her throat.

"Nooo!" Bryan screamed as he tried to stop the thick blood from spurting out dying himself red.

"I will kill you!" He cursed.

"You should have kept quiet." Abi said as she turned towards Bryan who had gone mad trying to hit her but missed all times.

"Why is it that I cant hit you?!" He suddenly realized he also went through her. He looked around and the villagers were all leaving, no one bothered to help him out.

"Tom! Help me please." He begged but Tom showed his back following Jack who had long left.

"Where am I?" Bryan suddenly asked again as darkness overtook everything.