Armendora - Chapter 7

I wanted to release my tension from my mock exam a bit, so here's a brand new chapter of Armendora... Enjoy!

Chapter Seven

The Great Waterfall

 

 

 

They took about fifteen minutes to reach the Great Waterfall. From far away, the sound of the water splashing can be heard clearly and this made Ned really excited about his little swim. Once they arrived, Ned opened his mouth in awe.

Have you ever been to the two famous waterfalls in the world? Well, this waterfall is much, much, much bigger, wider and taller than the waterfalls in our world. But, the most curious thing is the water is not cold, but very warm; just like the showers at our home. The surrounding was really calming and cool, making the waterfall a really nice place to have a picnic. Karta the tiger followed them, to guard them in case there are unwanted visitors around.

“Wow, this is great!” exclaimed Ned.

“Really? I thought the waterfalls on Earth are much bigger than this,” said Alyssa.

“No. This waterfall is much bigger,” said Ned. “The biggest I’ve ever seen!”

“Well, come on then. We don’t have much time. Let’s swim!” said Alyssa. She dived straight away into the pool. Karta followed her. Ned watched at first, thinking whether to just dive in like Alyssa or go in slowly.

“Come on, Ned! What are you waiting for?” shouted Alyssa, waving her hand, telling Ned to jump in.

“Is it deep?” asked Ned.

“Not really. Come on!” shouted Alyssa.

Ned dived in. He didn’t think of the deep of the pool, or even the fact that he’s swimming with the girl he loved. The only thing on his mind was the fun he’s about to have. I bet you guys are wondering what they are doing in the pool. Truth is they didn’t do anything! Just swim, swim, swim and swim. Boring, isn’t it?

 

They were enjoying their swim, laughing really hard when they heard a low rumbling noise coming from the north of the waterfall. They stood still in the waters, listening for the strange noise. At first, they thought it was Karta. But, seeing that Karta is also pointing her ears here and there, they knew it wasn’t her. They move closer to each other, with Karta defending them. Slowly, they walk out of the waters to their towels at the bushes. And there is where it happened.

Two Rotters jumped out of the bushes, their claws pointed towards Alyssa. The three of them immediately backed up, screamed as the Rotters stood in front of them. Then, it came out of nowhere. Just when Alyssa was in her weakest point, Ned suddenly drew a sword out of thin air and fought the Rotters bravely.

“Ned! Be careful!” was the only words that came out of Alyssa’s mouth. She’s terrified and surprised. How can the Rotters find them here? What possible trail that had led the Rotters to them? As far as Alyssa had confirmed, and she’s absolutely sure, that she had all signs or hints that they had left behind ‘erased’.

As Alyssa thought about the trail, Ned had managed to kill the Rotters. Surprise was on Ned’s face as the sword vanished from his hands.

“How did I do that?” asked Ned.

“How should I know?” Alyssa replied.

“Then, how am I supposed to know what and how I did what I did?” Ned asked again.

“Hmm. I think Gloria should know. Let’s go back and ask her. But we have to be careful. There might be other Rotters around,” said Alyssa.

 

As soon as they got back from the waterfall, both of Alyssa told the story to Gloria over lunch, with Ned filling in details that Alyssa had forgot. After lunch, they gathered at the living room to listen to Gloria’s explanation of the magical event that happened at the waterfall.

“Hmm. I think Ned’s family is from here,” Gloria said.

“WHAT?” both Ned and Alyssa exclaimed. “How can my family come from here?” asked Ned. “As far as I’m concerned, my family came from Haybury.”

“That’s the only theory I can come up with. You see, only the ones who came from Armendora will have magical powers. Have anything happened in your life that no one can explain?” asked Gloria. “Something like it happened by magic?”

“Once,” said Ned after a pause. “When I was ten, there are bullies in my school. I was bullied all the time. But one day, they tied me onto a chair. I was screaming to them, asking them to let me go. I was tugging my hands; to free them as those bullies laughed at me. Suddenly, my hands are free—like my hands went through the ropes—and the bullies are shouting in pain, clutching their stomachs—like they are being punched or something. After that, no one bullied me again.”

“See!” exclaimed Gloria. “That proves you are from Armendora.”

“I have lived in Haybury since I was born, Gloria. How can I be Armendorian?” Ned asked.

“Simple,” Gloria began. “Your ancestors must have come from Armendora. They must have left Armendora, either by mistake, forced to leave or willingly leave Armendora. Either way, your ancestors must have first arrived in Haybury when they left. So, they must have been living there ever since.”

“Are you saying that I have Armendorian blood in me?” Ned asked.

“Yes, dear one. You are truly an Armendorian,” said Gloria.

Accepting the fact that he is from Armendora really troubled Ned. He just can’t believe it. One minute you’re from Haybury; the next you have Armendorian blood running in your veins. Even though it’s hard to process, Ned has to accept the fact that he is Armendorian. Ned was sitting outside, looking at the trees surrounding him when Alyssa sat next to him.

“Are you alright?” Alyssa asked.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” said Ned.

“You look troubled,” Alyssa said.

“Of course. I still can’t believe the fact that I’m from here,” Ned said. “I mean, I know how this made you feel, but me? I still have to get used to it; get used to this.”

“Don’t worry,” said Alyssa, taking Ned’s hand. “You’ll be fine. I’m here, okay? I’ll help you with this. Gloria will teach you everything she knows about magic.”

“Are you sure I’ll be fine? What if I mess things up? What if I make a mistake and… ruin everything?” Ned asked.

“You won’t, okay? I promise you. Gloria and I will help you the best we can,” said Alyssa.

“She’s right, Ned,” said Gloria. She was standing behind them. “I’ll make sure you won’t make any mistake.”

They watched the sun set together—which amazes Ned because that was the first time he watched sunset—before they went back in for dinner. Gloria was a really good cook. Ned really enjoyed his dinner that night—roasted beef and mashed potatoes. After dinner, they went straight to bed. Gloria had prepared the guest room for Ned and before they go to sleep, Gloria came into his room with a box in her hands.

“This is a Hacker,” said Gloria, handing the box over to Ned. “It’s like a telephone in your world.”

“Who am I supposed to call?” asked Ned.

“Your parents, of course,” said Gloria.

“I can call my parents from here?” Ned asked.

“Of course,” said Gloria. “I wouldn’t have taken this out if it can’t be used.”

Chapter Seven Coming Soon!

Chapter 7 - The Great Waterfall will be posted this Friday. But, since my writing has been held up by my assignments and my upcoming mock exam tomorrow, I can't update any more until I've finished writing another chapter from where I've stopped.

In the meantime, do wait for Chapter Seven and wish me luck for my exam!

Pause on Armendora... Mock Exam!

I'm very sorry to say this but I'll be pausing "Armendora" for a moment due to my upcoming mock exam... More information, click here.

I'll be posting a new chapter of "Armendora" sometime in April, way after my mock exams. So, wait for it and wish me luck!

Armendora - Chapter 6

Chapter Six

Miss Gloria Grayne

 

 

 

“’Boy’? What does she mean by ‘boy’?” Ned asked curiously as he looked at the note that Alyssa had let go as soon as she finished reading it.

“It’s you. I’ve had these dreams and I drew them on pieces of paper. I’ve put them in frames on this table. That’s why I was so surprised when we came in just now. I thought my stepfather had come and get them,” replied Alyssa.

“You’ve been dreaming about me? How come? I’m kinda surprised and curious right now,” said Ned.

“It’s quite complicated. It’s one of the many reasons my stepfather wanted to get rid of me. I can see the future, especially in my dreams. I can see them and clearly remember them. That’s how I know you. Even though I didn’t know your name, I can clearly remember your face,” said Alyssa, looking at Ned.

“Hmm... OK then. I think I understand it right now. Come on, let’s have some dinner and go to bed. It’s already dark outside and we need a good rest for tomorrow’s journey,” said Ned.

 

Their dinner was ordinary for Alyssa but very weird for Ned; roasted deer and apple juice. For Ned, camping is something common but he had never tasted any food cooked on fire like he’s experiencing right now. Every time he went camping, his mother will provide home-cooked food. They just have to reheat them on the fire and eat them. This was a new experience for Ned. Little did Ned know, this was also a new experience for Alyssa. She had never eaten with a boy before and in her dreams, she had had several meals with the boy sitting next to her. She’s waited for this moment for a very long time.

“I’ve been waiting for this moment for a very long time,” said Alyssa, breaking the silence.

“Really? I’ve been longing to have a date with a girl,” said Ned.

“So, can this be considered as a date?” asked Alyssa. She had finished her dinner and now was facing Ned.

“Yes, of course it’s a date,” said Ned. He finished his dinner with a cough.

“Are you alright?” asked Alyssa, patting Ned’s back.

“Yeah, I’m fine. I drank too fast just now,” said Ned.

“Do be careful. I don’t want to see you choking,” laughed Alyssa.

“Haha. I’ll remember that,” said Ned.

 

That night, they slept in the two separate bedrooms. The sound of the forest made it easy for Ned to fall asleep. Alyssa, on the other hand, felt strange, like someone was watching them. She felt like there’s someone hiding in the tree house, unseen, waiting to strike her. So, to make sure she feels safe, she went into Ned’s room and slept beside him. The following morning, Ned was quite surprised to see Alyssa sleeping beside him.

“Are you alright? What are you doing here?” asked Ned.

“I’m sorry. I was afraid last night. I can’t really sleep. That’s why I came here. I hope you’re not mad,” said Alyssa.

“Of course I’m not mad. I was just surprised that you didn’t wake me up first,” said Ned.

“I didn’t want to disturb you,” said Alyssa.

“It’s okay. At least you know what to do when you’re afraid,” said Ned.

 

Their breakfast was as simple as last night’s dinner—bread and jam (no toast) and some juice. After that, they continued their journey to Alyssa’s guardian’s place, hoping that there’s no danger waiting for them along the way. The forest was as quiet as it should be. No animal sound; just the rustling of the leaves blown by the wind. About half an hour, they reached the waterfall, the one that Ned had seen when they were at the Old Castle. At the same time, Ned can see a clear path, like a road for travellers leading the way. They followedthe path and about ten minutes later, they reached a small cottage. There is smoke coming out from the chimney and as they walk towards the cottage, they can smell cooking food coming from the cottage. Alyssa knocked at the door and a few moments later, the door was opened and out came a very nice lady. She’s quite tall and her face was very pretty.

“Your Highness! You’re back!” exclaimed Gloria, hugging Alyssa really hard.

“Can’t breathe, Gloria!” said Alyssa.

“Sorry,” said Gloria.

“This is Ned,” Alyssa begun, gesturing to Ned. “He’s—“

“The boy who’s been in your dreams for the past month. I can see his face, dear,” continued Gloria.

“Hi. It’s nice to meet you,” said Ned, holding out his hand.

“We don’t shake hands here in Armendora. We hug,” said Gloria, giving Ned a big hug.

“I’m sorry,” said Ned. “I’m new here. So, I’m not really familiar with the customs and cultures here.”

“Don’t worry. You’ll learn more than you can imagine. Except now, the customs have changed. There are a lot of new rules and I’m breaking all of the new rules,” said Gloria.

“You mean the rules on Alyssa?” asked Ned.

“Of course. The king is so frustrated to know that you have escaped. I was worried so I went to our tree house and took all of the pictures. Come in!” said Gloria. She finally realized that they were talking outside. “Come in, children. Really sorry about the mess,” said Gloria, leading the way.

 

Gloria’s house was like an ordinary house. You might think you’re back in your world, except that you’re not. The only thing different in the house was Gloria’s pet; a tiger. Ned was shocked when he saw the tiger lying on the floor in the anteroom. The rest of the house was as ordinary as ever; the couch, dining table, kitchen; everything was the same as his own house back in Haybury. The only thing missing was the television, which is quite common when you’re living in the forest.

“Please, Ned. Sit down. Make yourself at home while I make something to drink. It’s still too early for lunch,” said Gloria.

“Thanks,” said Ned. “It’s quite scary to sit with a tiger in the house.”

“Well, you’ll get used to it. This is Karta, my pet tiger. She helps me with the hunting,” said Gloria.

“She’s really sweet, once you get to know her,” said Alyssa, petting the tiger. “Hello, Karta! Long time no see!”

The tiger rolled herself, happy to see Alyssa again. She let out a small growl, which frightened Ned.

“Now, now Karta. Ned’s new here. He’s still getting used to seeing a tiger in a house. Come, Ned. She’s really tame,” said Alyssa.

“I don’t really know how to pet a tiger. I’m used to cats,” said Ned. He’s still sitting on the couch, scared to even approach the tiger, as if the tiger will eat him once he get too close.

“Oh, come on. It’s just like petting a cat. Except, this cat is a bit bigger and stronger. Come, she’s eager to know you, right Karta?” said Alyssa.

“Okay. I’ll give it a try,” said Ned.

You’ve all been to the zoo, right? You all know how a tiger behaves when approached by a human, especially one that she’s not familiar with. Just imagine, the tiger was crouching as Ned approached. This made Ned a little scared. But, he tried to maintain a calm, steady face and this helped a bit. The tiger was rolling once Ned petted her on the head.

“Hehe. This is quite funny. She’s acting like a cat! I’m definitely enjoying this moment. It’s not easy to touch a tiger; to even approach a tiger will need a lot of courage. Good girl, Karta!” said Ned, playing with the tiger.

“Now that’s more like it!” Gloria said, carrying a tray with three glasses on it. “It’s good to see you making some progress around here, Ned.”

“Thanks. I can’t really believe I just played with a tiger,” said Ned. The tiger looked like its smiling and this made Ned happier.

“Well, come here. Enjoy your drink. Refresh yourself. Alyssa, take Ned to the waterfall later for a bath. I hope you know how to swim, Ned. Here, we bathe in rivers or lakes,” said Gloria. “I’ll get you a towel.” And with a quick move, Gloria went into her room and came back with a white, fluffy towel.

“Thanks. You’re really great, Gloria,” said Ned.

Armendora - Chapter 5

Chapter Five

The Tree House of Empty Forest

 

 

The view from the Old Castle’s entrance is breath-taking; the green fields, huge mountains with unexplored forests and a small river flowing towards the sea at the east of the castle. Fresh air entered Ned’s lungs as he takes a deep breath, enjoying the most beautiful scene he has ever seen. If you were there, you would say ‘I wish I’m living here right now,’ which is exactly what Ned’s thinking in his mind. A huge waterfall can be seen at the west of the castle; coming down from the river which flows from the mountains high above.

“Come. We have to go and meet my guardian. She’s been waiting for me to return. At least, I hope she’s still waiting,” said Alyssa.

“Wait. Let me at least take a good look at this scenery. I might never see this place again,” replied Ned.

“Don’t say that. You will see this place again. I’m planning to live here when I became Queen. That is, if I get back my kingdom,” Alyssa replied back.

“You will get your kingdom back, Alyssa. I’ll see to it. I’ll help you in any possible ways that I can.”

“Thanks, Ned. I appreciate it very much,” said Alyssa.  “We can’t waste any more time. Let’s go over there,” Alyssa pointed out near the waterfall. “My guardian’s little house is just beside the waterfall.”

“It’s so far. How long will it take?” asked Ned.

“About a day. We have to spend a night in the woods. Don’t worry, Ned,” said Alyssa as Ned opened his mouth in shock. “My guardian and I had built a little tree house there. We used to come over here when she’s teaching me the history of Armendora.”

“You mean there’s a tree house in that eerie looking forest?” asked Ned.

“Yes and no. Yes because there is a tree house there and no because it’s not that scary, especially during the night. It’ll be beautiful than you can ever imagine!” said Alyssa.

 

****

 

The forest is just like what Alyssa said—not scary or eerie and simply beautiful. The trees are so tall with lots of leaves, forming a canopy above their heads, casting a dim green light. As far as they had walked, there are no animals that Ned can see and this surprises him. As far as he’s concerned, there are animals in every forest in every world. Was it possible that there are no animals in Armendora?

“I don’t see any animals. Are they hiding?” asked Ned.

“No. There are no animals here. This is The Empty Forest. There’s nothing here but trees and trees,” said Alyssa.

“But surely there should be animals here,” Ned said.

“Of course. There are animals here in Armendora. But, there’s something about this forest that animals are so scared of,” said Alyssa. Her eyes are focused, looking for the tree house she mentioned earlier.

“And what’s scary about this forest?” asked Ned.

“The ghost. There are a few ghosts here in this forest,” said Alyssa.

“Ghost??? Alright, now you’re really making me scared. Why didn’t you warn me about ghost earlier?” asked Ned, frightened.

“Relax. Those ghosts are friendly. There’s nothing to worry about. They’re my ancestors anyway,” said Alyssa.

“Ancestors? As in your great-great grandfather?” asked Ned.

“No, more like the first few Kings and Queens of Armendora. They’re the ones who conquered Armendora,” Alyssa explained.

“Conquered? What do you mean by that?” asked Ned.

“Well, at first this land was ruled by an evil king. Don’t ask me his name. I didn’t really pay attention in History class. This particular king was very cruel, he made all his people his slave. The rules were very strict, every crime is punishable by death,” said Alyssa.

“Death? Oh, you do know how to give me the shivers,” said Ned.

“Oh, don’t worry. It’s different now. Or at least it was different,” Alyssa said with a sigh.

“Why? Because of your stepfather? What did he do?” asked Ned.

“He’s trying to do what the old king used to do; every crime’s punishment is death. Before I leave Armendora, he made a rule that says whoever is involved in my escape will be executed,” said Alyssa.

Seeing his one true love’s scared face, Ned gives her a hug, calming her down. “Come on. We can’t waste time. The sun’s setting and very soon it’ll be dark. We need to find a place to rest,” said Ned.

“We don’t need to find any place. We’ve arrived at the tree house,” said Alyssa, pointing to a large tree.

What was on that tree was the most beautiful tree house Ned had ever seen in his entire life. To tell you the truth, Ned has never seen a tree house before; only in books. The tree house was quite high from the ground; one might think that there are wild predators living in the forest. As Alyssa had pointed out earlier, there are no animals in the forest, so there’s nothing to be scared of. A small ladder, made up of planks and rope, leads the way up to the tree house from the ground. Inside the tree house, there were chairs, books, a table and two bedrooms. The red carpet on the floor was magnificent, beautiful; even though it didn’t have a pattern of its own.

“It’s beautiful, Alyssa,” said Ned.

“My guardian and her brother built it for me. I like tree houses so much, they built one for me. When I spend the night with my guardian, we used to sleep here each night,” Alyssa replied, with a sigh. She continued with a confusing face as she stares at the table. “There’s something missing.”

“What?” asked Ned curiously.

“There should be some pictures on this table; pictures of my family. I wanted to show them to you so that you can know my family. But they’re not here. Where are they?” said Alyssa.

They searched the house for thirty minutes, with no luck. It was then when Alyssa saw a single note stuck near to her bed. She quickly took it and read aloud:

 

 

Dear Alyssa,

            I have all the photos that you have on your table. Your stepfather was here and I can’t risk the life of that boy. Do come and see me as soon as you can.

 

Your guardian,

Gloria Grayne

Armendora - Chapter Four

Chapter Four

Trouble at the Gate

The building Alyssa talked about was indeed very old. It’s already slanting to one side, just like the Leaning Tower of Pisa; except that this building was used to be a church. The cross, still visible on top of the dome, tells Ned everything. The archway was still in good condition; except for the missing gates. Overall, what Alyssa had just said to Ned was true; the old church might be destroyed in a few weeks’ time, judging by the condition of the building which is unsafe for people to use. In front of the church, however, was a scene you might never want to see.

Three hideous monsters were busy eating what look like a human family of three. Blood can be seen splattered all over the walls of the nearby buildings, making them looked uglier than they already are. The monsters’ features are far worse and weird than you can imagine.

Their faces are square-shaped with red eyes, slits for nose (like a snake, only the slits are far smaller), no ears and a wide, lipless mouth with razor-sharp teeth. Their bodies are skinny and covered in scales. They’re quite tall, taller than normal human beings; making them stronger and faster in catching their prey. That’s how those humans became their ‘lunch’.

“Rotters; they’re one of my stepfather’s creations. They feed on other animals; even humans,” explained Alyssa. Her face was white as chalk, scared as she and Ned looked at those Rotters. “I can see that, Alyssa; no need to explain,” replied Ned, pulling Alyssa to hiding.

“What should we do? Can you fight them?” Ned asked; his voice full of fear. Alyssa looked at Ned and said “I’ll see what I can do. I might not be able to fight them long. We have to come up with a plan. If we were to enter Armendora safely, we need to destroy the doorway right after we entered. Otherwise, we’ll be dead.”

“How do you think we’re supposed to destroy the door? We didn’t have any grenades or anything that can destroy such a thing!” said Ned. “Will you be quite for a second? I’m trying to think here. It would be better if you’re thinking of a plan to!” barked Alyssa. Her face looked scared and her fear is clearly seen from her eyes; she was trembling, fearing that the monsters can hear them.

Suddenly, Alyssa spoke. “I have an idea. I’ll try and distract them using my powers while you run to the doorway and wait for me there. I’ll try and cover you. My magic won’t be that powerful, but it might hold them for a while.” “Are you sure?” asked Ned. “It sounds dangerous.”

“It’s alright, Ned. I’ll be fine. Just run as fast as you can and head straight to the door, okay?”

“I’m scared! This is dangerous!” shouted Ned. “Shh! Do you want us to be heard by those Rotters?” barked Alyssa. “You don’t want to die, don’t you?” “Of course not!” answered Ned. “Then, do as I say and run for it!”

Without warning, Alyssa stood up and run straight for the Rotters, casting spells. Amazingly, the Rotters quickly fell back once they are hit by Alyssa’s spells. After a while, Ned ran as fast as he can, heading straight for the church’s gates. Alyssa was doing great, he thought. He reached the gates and turned back, waiting for Alyssa. Alyssa cast a spell, heading towards Ned. Surprised, Ned ducked, allowing the spell to hit one of the pillars that supports the archway. Eventually, it was falling and if it was not for Alyssa, Ned would’ve been crushed by the falling archway. Eventually, they made it to Armendora, killing those Rotters who got hit by the falling archway.

“Are you okay?” Alyssa asked Ned, who’s panting and sweating madly like someone who’s been chased by a ghost or a mad chimpanzee. “I’m fine,” he said, kissing Alyssa’s hand. “Are you alright?”

“I’m good. Just a little tired,” replied Alyssa.

They were in a huge room, almost like a ballroom with high ceiling and huge pillars. The floor was cracked here and there, same goes to the pillars. At one end, there’s a huge double-doors that led outside of the place. The other end, two huge chairs – thrones for the king and queen, broken and almost destroyed by time.

“The Old Castle, where my great-great-great grandfather ruled before the New Castle was built.” Alyssa explained as Ned looked around in amazement. “Why do they leave this building to rot? It’s amazing; scary, too. No wonder you said it’s haunted.” Ned said, taking every scene of the castle in his mind. “When was the last time this castle was used? By the king, of course,” asked Ned, curious by the odd looking of the castle; like it has been used recently before. There are carpets on the floor and colourful hangings on the walls. “About 100 years ago. At first, they want to destroy it. But, they decided to keep it; let it destroyed by nature. A bit of history to be learnt by future generation, they said. We used it recently for a little ceremony. That was a few days before I was sent to Earth,” said Alyssa. “Isn’t it beautiful, Ned?”

“Alyssa, how come nobody’s been entering Armendora? I mean, like passer-by who was entering the church,” asked Ned, confused.

Alyssa looked at Ned and answered “In order for someone to enter Armendora, he or she must know when the door will be open. The door to Armendora is not open all the time, Ned. It only opens in certain times or when someone from Armendora wants to go to Earth and vice-versa.”

“This is one big castle. It’s a shame they leave it like this. In my country, this could be the summer house or maybe the guest house when people from other countries are making a friendly visit,” said Ned. “At first, they wanted it to be that way. But, they cancelled the plan since this castle is situated a little too far from the city. Come, I’ll show you the countryside. It’s really beautiful,” said Alyssa, taking Ned’s hand. They walked through the hall and out through the rotten double-doors. Once they’re outside, Ned opened his eyes widely in amazement.

Armendora - Chapter Three

Chapter Three

Flight to Armendora

 

 

 

“Me? Why me? Isn’t there anybody else?” Ned asked, letting go of Alyssa’s hand. “You’re the only one I know with the name ‘Ned’. You must help me, Ned. One way or the other, it must be you,” Alyssa answered, taking Ned’s hand and holding it tight.

“But why me? Why must it be a person named ‘Ned’? I’m not good at handling weapons. I’m not even good at self-defence!”

“My stepfather said that only a person named ‘Ned’ can help me get my kingdom back. He took it over when he married my mother, Queen Ponysta. He said I can never find a guy, not even a girl with the name ‘Ned’. Too childish, he said.”

“Childish? That’s not true!” Ned said, protesting. “Ned’s not a childish name. I’ve been using this name for the past 14 years and nobody’s ever told me that I’m childish; not even my mother! I ought to teach your stepfather some manners.”

“Are you sure? My stepfather is a very powerful man. He can even make mountains collapse with his bare hands!” said Alyssa, warning Ned. “I don’t care if he’s powerful. Saying my name as childish is insulting my mother. She’s the one who gave me the name, okay! Otherwise, I’ll just shut up,” Ned replied. His anger is noticeable through his eyes. “How are we going to go to Armendora? Through the park’s archway?” asked Ned. “No, it’s too risky entering Armendora from here in Haybury. I can’t tell which door here that won’t take us straight into the castle. I don’t want to risk your life, Ned. I love you,” said Alyssa, holding both Ned’s hands.

“I know that. But that doesn’t mean that we can’t defeat you stepfather,” said Ned, kissing Alyssa on her forehead. “What about your mother? What happened to her? Is she okay?”

“She’s safe but I don’t think she’ll survive long. My father had her locked up in the castle’s dungeon. He said if I were to come and save her, I must defeat his beloved pet dragon.”

“A dragon? A life, fire-breathing dragon?”

“Yes and no. It is a life dragon, but it doesn’t breathe fire; it breathes ice. Dragons in Armendora is different from what those fictitious dragons here on Earth. Here, yes; they breathe fire. In Armendora, they breathe ice. It won’t kill you, just freeze you. If it’s long enough, you might be killed.”

“Can’t you fight it alone? You have all of your magic skills. Can’t you use it to fight the dragon?”

“I tried, Ned. Before I was sent here, I tried to save my mother. I failed. It seems that the dragon had its own protective shield or something because as I get nearer to it, I’ll bounce back. I can’t even reach the dragon; not even close to kill it with a sword. My magic skills are useless. It can’t penetrate the dragon’s shield. Somehow, my stepfather had the shield made to withstand magical powers.”

“Alyssa, listen to me. I’ll go with you. I’ll help you get back your kingdom, rescue your mother and defeat that hideous stepfather of yours. There’s just something you must do. You must teach me self-defence, swordsmanship and other skills. If you can, try and teach me some of the magical skills. That is, if I can use them,” said Ned. As Ned speaks, his hands slowly reached Alyssa's face, touching her cheeks gently. Calmed down by Ned’s touch, Alyssa said “All right. Let’s go to Armendora. If you were to learn all the skills, we must go now. We don’t have much time. My stepfather can do anything; he can even make your worst nightmare come to life. We must go to Algora. We can use the door which I came from. It’ll lead to the old castle where nobody ever walks through. Few people are brave enough to enter the old castle. It is said to be haunted, but it’s all lies.”

“Okay, let’s go then. We have a kingdom to save!”

 

Algora is a very interesting city to visit. It is the only city where buildings are only single-storey and most people living there are aged 50 and above. You might as well call it the ‘Old Town’ once you take a look at the buildings there. Old, preserved buildings with cracked walls; some of them had fallen down, leaving bare rooms visible for passers-by. Some of them had been repaired; making the town looked horribly weird. It’s almost like a new generation is trying to change the old town; making it better. Instead, it looked horribly awful with blotches of new and old walls together. The roads are bumpy and there are holes here and there; making it impossible to drive a car here. Shops selling fruits, vegetables and meat are situated alongside the road, in front of the horrible looking buildings, covering the hideous walls. Even by doing this, the walls are still visible and with the dirtiness of the roads, the town looked like a perfect place for a Halloween party.

Alyssa and Ned were at one of the restaurants at the bus station, eating after a long journey from Haybury. Ned was eating a sandwich while Alyssa was eating some bananas, her eyes looking around at the people who are passing by the restaurant. This was the only restaurant that is clean enough to eat at. The others are like it had never been cleaned for ages. Cockroaches and rats everywhere, making the place looked ridiculously disgusting. It seems like Ned and Alyssa are the only kids here; the others are old people.

“Where’s the door?” asked Ned, nervous from the old people that keep staring at them, as if they are unwanted there. “It’s not far from here. But we have to be careful; my stepfather might have sent some of his men to search for me. They may even be guarding the doorway right now. We cannot be seen,” replied Alyssa as she throws a banana peel into a nearby trash can.

“I’ve never lied to my parents before,” Ned said, after a long silence. They’ve finished their meal and heading towards the door, watching every step, walking slowly. “This is the first time I’ve ever lied to them.”

“They must’ve cared about you a lot,” Alyssa said, taking Ned’s hand and holding it gently with hers. Ned smiled and said “It’s the biggest lie I’ve ever did; telling them I’m on a school trip. It’s a good thing that our school did organize a trip. Otherwise, they’ll found out by now. Is the door still far away?”

“Not so far. Just around the corner there,” said Alyssa, pointing at a junction. They’re walking past a very odd-looking bar. It’s closed, meaning that they’re safe from unwanted people or bad guys. “There’s an old building with an archway that used to hold the gates. It’s nearly collapsed. It may be closed in a few weeks’ time. That’s why I said we have to hurry,” Alyssa continued, her facial expression changed from the happy-go-lucky girl to serious-looking. As they turned at the junction, heading towards the old building, Alyssa stopped. “Why? Why are we stopping? Isn’t that the –“ Ned stopped talking immediately because only then Ned see why Alyssa had stopped.

Armendora - Chapter Two

Chapter Two

Princess of Armendora

 

 

 

            On Sunday evening, Ned asked Alyssa to go out for a little stroll around the park. He was sitting on a bench with a rose in his hand when she arrives. He gives Alyssa the rose, and together they went for a walk.

            “Are you alright?” asked Ned.

            “I’m fine,” said Alyssa with a smile.

            “You don’t look fine for the past two weeks. What’s the matter?”

            “Like I said Ned, I can’t tell you. It’s dangerous. You might get hurt.”

            “I don’t really care if I’ll get hurt or not. I’m just worried about you,” said Ned, holding Alyssa's hand. He can see that Alyssa's blushing. Her cheeks were turning red. “I love you, Alyssa. Come on. You can tell me anything. Nothing can tear us apart, right?”

            “Fine. But you must promise me you’ll never tell anyone else what I’m about to tell you. Not even Mr. Humphrey.”

            “Why would I tell him?”

            “You’ve been seeing him, aren’t you? You told him you were worried when I won’t talk to you.”

            “Have you been eavesdropping?”

“No. You’ll know how I knew about that afterwards.”

“Okay, so what’s the problem? What’s been troubling you?”

“It’s a long story. I don’t think I can finish telling it by today. After all, it’s hard to explain.”

“It’s okay. Try to make it short. I’m a good listener. You can tell me anything. What’s the big deal?”

Alyssa thought first. How should I tell him? It’s rather difficult. Will he believe me? She said to herself. This is a big responsibility. Can he take it? I do hope he can. But, what if he can’t take it? What if he leaves me, never want to talk with me, and never want to be with me? What if he tells everyone about it? Can he be trusted?

“Are you going to tell me or what?” Ned asked, curiously. Alyssa realized that her facial expression made Ned felt weird. She was still thinking how to tell Ned about her biggest secret ever. Still, she has to tell him.

“Okay, here goes. My name is actually Alyssa Acstoria. I’m the Princess of Armendora, a magical kingdom that can’t be seen by ordinary human beings like you.”

“Whoa! Rewind and replay! Princess?”

“I thought you will never believe me.”

“Who said I didn’t believe you? I’m just surprised. Armendora? I’ve never heard of it before. Where is it?”

“Nearby. The door to Armendora can be found everywhere on Earth. It’s just an ordinary archway that human being didn’t notice. It’s not hidden, though. You can see it, if you look really hard.”

“Archway, huh? How about the archway at the entrance of this park? Is it a doorway to Armendora?”

“Yes. That’s one of the many doorways here in Haybury.”

“You mean there’s a lot more here?”

“There are about 100,000 doorways to Armendora here on Earth. 300 of them are situated here in Haybury. I came here through one of the doorways in Algora. That’s why I said I’m from Algora. Most of the doorways in Algora have been destroyed. There are only about 10 doorways left. There’s none in Alberone City. They’re too busy building more skyscrapers; they didn’t even realize that they destroyed all of the doorways to Armendora. Sad, isn’t it?”

They’re sitting on a bench, watching a few children playing in the playground nearby. They’re still holding hands. To Alyssa, Ned’s hand made her felt calm and safe. That’s where she got the nerve to tell Ned the real story. Ned held Alyssa's hand because he loves her. It seems to Ned that Alyssa didn’t mind him holding her hand. As they sit, Alyssa continues her story.

“Armendora is a very nice kingdom; full of magical creatures like centaurs, dragons, unicorns, even griffins!”

“Wow, that’s fascinating. Has any human being ever entered Armendora?”

“Few had entered Armendora by mistake. At first, they were surprised because the first thing that they saw was a dragon. It’s always like that.”

“What did you do with them? Kill them?”

“Of course not. We’re not that cruel. We ‘deleted’ their memory of being in Armendora and sent them back on Earth. Why do you think we killed them?”

“Well, I’ve never heard of anybody talking about seeing a dragon. The biggest dragon-like creature here is only the Komodo lizard. What about the part where you know I was talking to Mr. Humphrey?”

“We Armendorians have psychic abilities. We know everything. I can even tell your family’s history from your great-great-great-great-great-great grandfather. We’re like those fortune tellers here on Earth. Except that we’re better.”

“You mean you even know my future? What about the meaning of my name?” Ned asked excitedly.

“Meaning of your name? That’s easy. Ned, in Armendoran language means a person with the ability to restore peace. It’s one of the very powerful names in Armendora. Few Armendorians use that name. They don’t want to be called to save the day. The last person who used that name in Armendora died 300 years ago. He died after defeating the wicked king who ruled Armendora that time, King Tortugal.”

“Restore peace? That’s cool!”

“I know. You really did restore my peace. I really like it; being here with you.”

“Hold on, why are you here? Why aren’t you back in Armendora? Won’t they be worried when they find out that their princess is missing?”

“I was sent here, cursed by my stepfather, King Helmcit. Somehow, he learnt black magic and cursed me here. I can never go back, not without help from here.”

“Help? He’s really that strong? Where’ll you find help? Nobody here knows magic like your kind.”

“I don’t really need someone who knows magic; just someone who’s brave enough to fight with me: someone who knows self-defence, how to use weapons; stuff like that.”

“Where is this ‘someone’?”

“He’s my boyfriend.”

“Where is he? Is he here on Earth? Is he an Armendorian?”

“No. He’s a normal human being and he’s sitting next to me now.”