AFTERLAND and The Cryptic Prophecy

13: The Cards on The Curtain Wall

My mouth shut, having the feeling I was deflating on my spot. I realized it was more embarrassing to see someone else holding your sanitary pad than being tripped and face-planted in a dog poop.

"Alright. I saw nothing dangerous," said the watchman.

"See, I told you." I side smiled, mixed with resentment. I was so mad I could eat a whole watermelon in one bite.

"Then what can we do for you?" asked another watchman.

"We wanted to see Grand Lady Adela," Harris answered.

The watchman lowered his laser gun. "For what reason?"

"We need her help. Korra Albertine said she could help us," I said.

"Did the grand lady know you're coming here tonight? Do you have any invitation?"

My lips pinched, staring at my friends. Our top priority was to find and save our parents. We had no time to wait or ask for an invitation.

Harris said, "We don't have any, but we need to talk to her. It's an important matter."

"I apologize, but we do not allow anyone to enter the guild without an invitation," said the watchman.

"Besides, it's already dark. She's now taking her rest," expressed the other one.

"But we need to see her!" I exclaimed, stamping my right foot.

"Apologies, young lady, but we cannot allow you." His tone made it clear we couldn't pass the gate.

My friends and I had a look of desperation. We had no other starting point in saving our parents other than Grand Lady Adela. We decided not to bother the watchmen anymore. I knew no matter how hard we try, they would never let us in to the Chalcedon Guild.

"How rude!" said Franco as we walked away, full of dismay.

Diordin kicked a stone from the ground. "Now what?"

"If only those guards didn't have any weapons, we might have made our way to the castle, our own way," I said.

"Wait -Korra gave you an envelope earlier, right?" Harris reminded, staring at me.

Raising the envelope, I said, "This one?"

"Yes! Korra said if we failed to enter the gate, we can use that," said Harris. "Let me see."

I handed him the envelope. He opened it and saw a piece of paper with a single unfamiliar word. His face rose with hope

"It's a magic word written in Balthazaar language," told Harris.

"Balthazaar language?" I looked at the paper.

"Yes, Charlie. They use Balthazaar language here in Afterland. A language that allows them to perform magic spells. Usually, gamblers uses this kind of magic word on the walls of Morganite Guild."

"Spell for gamblers?" asked Franco, arching his neck to the envelope.

"Yes, they use it to open a passage. There is a secret entertainment house in the Morganite Guild called Solstice that only gamblers could enter with this magic word. I think we can use this to enter Chalcedon Guild."

"Go on! Try it!" Franco gripped his both hands with eagerness.

We ran towards the guild's curtain wall. Harris and I shared looks before he recited the word.

"Ostende!" he said as he stared at the huge curtain wall.

There was a rattling sound of rock. A part of the wall split in half, a small light emerged, then a door came out. It didn't appear ancient to me. The door made of steel looked modernized. Keypad and red button attached at the center part of it.