The Inner Kingdom

Chapter Twelve - The Recognition

Location: Royal Hall

◑ April ◐

The guy just stood there staring at me unblinking. As if he hadn't been following me when I was back on Earth, the more he stood there motionless, the more I was beginning to think I was actually going crazy, but the way everyone else was staring at us, I knew he wasn't just a figment of my imagination.

"Do you know him?" Angie asked, looking at the boy, I had come to believe was a ghost.

"Yes, I thought he was a ghost, but now I see he isn't."

"Apologies, I have not had the pleasures of meeting you before," the guy stated, removing the hood from his head. "My name is Rṓgaire and you are?"

"These young ladies are the dragon warriors, and he is my assistant," Nolin explained.

"And my son," Raven added, reminding everyone that she was still there. "What news do you bring?"

"From this point on, this matter is an official royal guard matter. I'm afraid you will have to bid your good-byes," Leo said, glaring at her.

"Very well. We will talk later, son." With a smile on her face, she touched her son's face, and then continued walking down the hall.

"I am very interested in hearing what you have to say, but I am afraid I already know what it is," Nolin stated, leaning more and more on his cane.

"Elder, Inda's wings have turned red."

"Then it is what I have feared. This doesn't give us much time to prepare."

Leo stepped in front of Nolin, his presence demanding attention. "As captain of the guard, I need to know what's happening."

"Jewel has awakened, and what we just felt was pure evil."

"That can't be. I thought we had more time."

"As did I. It will take some time for her to regain her strength, but with the upcoming enchanted moon, it may be enough to speed up her recovery process and cut our time in half."

"What is an enchanted moon?" Angie asked, interrupting their conversation.

"As you have witnessed Eupai has two moons and two suns," Rṓgaire clarified. "Once every century, the two moons will unite, causing the moons to become one. When this occurs, it is said to become a power source, which Jewels can use to her advantage."

"This world just keeps getting better the more I get to know it," Angie sarcastically said.

I heard everything they were saying, but I could not take my eyes off of the boy who I had believed was a ghost. Unable to just let it go, I said, "I know I have seen you before."

"Maybe you saw him at the ceremony," Ashley reasoned.

"That cannot be. I have just returned from official royal duties not too long ago," the guy in question explained.

"We have more important problems to worry about than where you have seen him," Prince Leev motioned toward Rṓgaire.

"No, I have seen him on Earth at the school, and also on the bus."

That statement grabbed everyone's attention, causing all eyes to be on me.

"I don't remember ever seeing anyone like him at our school. Have you?" Ashley admitted, turning to Angie.