AFTERLAND and The Cryptic Prophecy

15: The Snow White Bedtime Story

Khurl's eyes crushed with disappointment. Grand Lady Adela was Aunt Leona's sister, which made Khurl and Diordin cousins.

"My apology, your highness, but I don't understand." Diordin shook her head gradually.

I knew she clearly got what the grand lady said. She just couldn't believe it. The old woman, who happened to be Diordin's aunt, walked slowly and faced the enormous window.

"Leona, is the inspiration of this window." She touched the clear windowpane. "I told my people to create this because I know how much she enjoys gorgeous landscapes."

"So you're my mom's sister," Dior said.

"Yes, but not by blood." Grand Lady Adela stared at her. "I lost my parents when I was young." She took a deep breath. "When I became an orphan, Leona's parents took me in. Her parents raised me like their own daughter, and she treated me like her own sister."

"Oh grace gods." Khurl breathed in relief and continued eating.

"My mom is from here, then?"

"No, dear," replied her aunt. "Leona is from Agate Guild and we grew up there together. I became the grand lady of Chalcedon Guild when I married the grand lord of Chalcedon, Henry."

"And that's my dad," Khurl said proudly.

"Where is your dad?" Franco asked, slicing a steak.

"He's gone. He's in the Highest Kingdom already." He grabbed another drumstick of chicken.

"Highest Kingdom?" My brows scrunched.

"That's what they call heaven here in Afterland," Harris clarified, so Franco and I snapped a look at each other.

"You mean he's dead?" Diordin stated in the most careful manner she knew.

"Exactly!" Khurl smiled. For ticks of seconds, I asked myself how he managed to smile while talking about his deceased father.

"He was just two years old when Henry died. That was also the day your parents left Afterland," said Grand Lady Adela.

That explained Khurl's childish behavior. There was no ironman beside him as he grew. However, a realization kicked me. Grand Lord Henry died the same day my parents escaped from the Afterland. That was seventeen years ago. An idea nagged behind my head, pondering his death had a connection to the escape of our parents.

"I'm done!" Khurl stood from his chair and danced like a kid.

"Khurl, your manners," her mother said in a saintly voice, but her eyes glittered with eagerness to swat his son with a fork.

They looked more like friends than mother and son. I felt envious on that part. Mom and I never had that kind of relationship. Because of her strict parenting, I lost the courage to get closer to her.

After we ate dinner, we talked about why we entered the world of Afterland and why we came to the Chalcedon Guild. We also informed the grand lady that the Ancient Anarchy had taken our parents, though we were not sure about it yet.

When the discussion was over, the grand lady and her servants led us to a colossal room with four beds. Everything inside the room looked expensive, and for sure, one item costs an arm and a leg. Apart from the expensive furniture, there was also a flat screen television bigger than my whole body. An ongoing news TV show flashed on the screen. It's called Glory News, with two news anchors broadcasting about the upcoming concert of a singer named Armani. They even quoted her as "The Singing Nightingale" of the Second Domain.

Everything in the Afterland flowed like the mortal world, except on the part that this world was more advanced in technology and used magic as part of Afterling's daily activities.