The Red Rose

Chapter XVII

Like my mother said, Grandpa had those same intense neon blue eyes. His hair was golden and he had a perfect trimmed beard, really looking young for being my grandfather. He wasn't very muscular, but he seemed well-toned and athletic. I could already understand from whom my mother inherited her radiant and silky golden hair.

His countenance was serene, and he seemed to have a sort of radiant aura, as if his skin glowed. His beard was perfectly grown, neither too much nor too little, it was ridiculous how good this guy looked, and he had short, casually styled hair. He was dressed in some sort of ancient clothes, but with a futuristic style; if he were walking down the street, people would think he was coming from some nerd convention.

I don't think there was any actor who resembled him; he was really on the same level as my grandmother and mother. But what struck me the most was how his posture seemed so casual and humble, as if he wasn't aware of his appearance. He was tall, taller than me and my grandmother, but the same height as my mother.

He didn't have very strong features, but neither were they delicate. The friendly smile and look in his eyes gave me a sense of calm, and I couldn't help but smile back at him. It was as if I had known him all my life. Now I understood why my father said he was a ridiculously charismatic man, a real mix of rock star and the typical local church pastor.

"You've really grown, kid! I'm so glad to see you!" he said as he hugged me and looked me over from head to toe with a warm smile. Then he added:

"I'm so sorry I couldn't come sooner, unfortunately, as your mom may have told you, we can't stay on this planet for long periods. You know? There's a lot to explain, and we shouldn't waste more time. But I'm very proud of what you've accomplished and how you've adapted to all the horrible events you've experienced lately."

He gestured for me to walk, but I could also see a sense of guilt and sadness in his eyes, giving me the impression that he felt very guilty for all the recent events of the past few years.

As we walked by the lake, I looked at him, and he, with his hands in his pockets, kicking rocks, contemplated the landscape. Then he looked at me and said in a calm and melodious voice, similar to my mother's:

"What do you want to know first? Or do you prefer that I start? Something that you mom may not have told you yet?" He smiled.

"Umm... You've caught me by surprise," I said. After thinking for a moment, I asked:

"Were you the one who sent me to the past? The sword?"

Grampa smiled and calmly said, "No and yes, I didn't send you to the past, but we felt something was wrong when you went to Styria, and I sent this crow to watch over you. The talisman your mother gave you can detect certain comic disturbances, and when we realized things were getting ugly, I sent the sword, and your grandmother gave Laura a medicine to give to you. Your mother was about to pull your soul out, but that would mean you would die, you know, your soul would go to the outer dimensions, being part human, and it would have broken your father's heart. Your grandmother was so worried that she intervened through Laura, and I gave you the sword to kill the Beast of Gévaudan and salvage something from the timeline you had created by traveling to the Victorian era."

I was surprised; I swore it was the raven who had sent me to the past, but apparently, things are more complex than I thought. I don't know why it doesn't surprise me at all.

"Who or what sent me to the past, to the Victorian era?" I asked.

"We honestly have no idea," he said seriously. "We are investigating what is disturbing the cosmic flow on the universe, but we are sure it is a power different from our mystical arts, probably very powerful. We have a candidate, but we are a bit skeptical about it. Unfortunately I can't' give you the information yet. we have decided it would be to overwhelming for you and could distract you from your current mission."