CORRUPTED FILE [Lumina Chronicles Past Drafts]

Level Seven: Meeting The Mermaid

The entire rest of the walk to Faye's room, I contemplated a way to ask Kindle about the queen. Or, more precisely, his relationship with her. But how could I? First of all, I couldn't think of a way to word it that didn't sound too invasive. And second, who was I to think I actually could ask such a question? I had to keep reminding myself that I had only been here— awake, at least—for little over a few hours! I had about one decent conversation with Kindle. That didn't make me worthy of what might be a deep secret. But there was one question I could ask.

"How old is she? The queen, I mean." When Kindle tensed up again, I regretted asking. He had finally relaxed and I just went and blew it.

"Seventeen."

Well there's a shocker, she's the same age as me! And here I thought she was twelve or, If I was being generous, thirteen. But, now that I think about it, she did speak and carry herself much more maturely than a twelve year old would. I guess it was just her size that made her appear so much younger.

"And the king?" I guess he's not a pedophile now, since someone in their twenties with a seventeen year old really isn't that big of a deal, especially since I doubt there are laws against stuff like that in this world.

"One hundred and twenty three."

"You're kidding!" I gasped.

"Nope." Kindle replied.

"But... you said that the two of you grew up together!" I cried.

"We did." He shrugged, clearly amused by my reaction.

"You said you're nineteen!"

"I am." He shrugged again. It was obvious that he was fighting a smile.

"But... but..." I sighed heavily, completely confused. "I give up. This dream is just too weird."

"Dream?" Now it was Kindle's turn to be confused.

"Mhm, dream." I nodded matter of factly. "I've decided that this is all just a dream. Because other worlds, and girls with silver hair and purple eyes, and one hundred and twenty three year old men do not exist."

"Maybe other worlds don't exist, you're in another realm. The Shadow Realm, to be exact." Kindle corrected. "The queen has silver hair and purple eyes because everyone of her species does."

I raised an eyebrow at that but kept silent.

"And about Seraphim's age, it's just another species thing." Kindle explained. "His race remains a baby for the first one hundred years of their life. That way, their parents can teach them all sorts of things while their brains are still developing. So technically, the king is twenty three."

"So let me get this straight..." I said slowly, "You're trying to tell me that the king and queen are not human?"

"Of course they aren't!" Kindle laughed, like that was supposed to be common knowledge. "In fact, I'm almost positive that you are the only human here in the castle right now."

Oh. Cool. I love how creative my mind is, this dream was really in depth. It's amazing, actually! "But you look human." I countered.

"Yep, we can do that."

With a newfound curiosity, I studied the stranger walking beside me. We can do that. So Kindle made himself look human. He didn't really look like that. Everything I saw about him, everything I knew about him (as little as that may be) is all a lie.

So let's say, for arguments sake, that this isn't a dream. That I'm really here in the lair of the villains of the video game Elle and I have obsessed over since its release. Why am I even talking to him? Why am I carrying on a normal conversation with him as if we're friends or something? He's evil for crying out loud! He kidnapped me! In the game, he stabbed me in the stomach without even a moment off hesitation! And here I am walking along next to him like it's a perfectly normal thing.