AFTERLAND and The Cryptic Prophecy

19: The Sword of Alexandrite

I had no words while staring at the tip of Wolfang's sword. His cheerful face turned wild and dark.

"I repeat, who are your parents?!" He asked with his glaring eyes.

The four of us looked at each other, waiting to see who would speak first. I could not talk because, obviously, Wolfang's weapon was close to my face and it might become my toothbrush anytime soon. We were raising our hands in a hold-up position.

"I am Franco... The son of Ermund Elrod," he said in a shaky voice.

"I'm Diordin, the daughter of Leona Chaser," she followed.

"I'm Charlie Amberstar, daughter of Belinda."

"And I'm Harris Baltimore, I'm just nobody," he shrugged.

I had to bite my tongue to avoid myself from giggling.

"Really?" the blacksmith reacted as he put down his weapon gradually.

"Yes, that's true," said Harris. "I'm just nobody."

"That's not what I'm talking about," he said. "You're the daughter of Lady Belinda of the Adamus Guild?" the man named Teng Wolfang asked with his slate-blue eyes widening at me.

"Ahm... Yes." I answered, maintaining my arms upward. I couldn't relax because he might point his sword at me again.

To my surprise, he bent down quickly as he placed his right hand on his chest, and said, "My apology."

"O-kay," I responded shortly. He bowed before me. What did you expect me to say?

"I never thought I would see you all again," said Wolfang. The cheerful spirit possessing his body came back. "It's been years. I'm glad you're all back!"

"You know us?" asked Franco.

"Of course, especially your parents."

I took a deep breath as I put down my hands. "I almost had a heart attack."

"Apologies." He chuckled. "There are many rumors about Revenants flying around. I just want to be careful." His muscular body and strong face could make anyone run for their life. "Anyway, what are you all doing here? As far as I know, you're in the mortal world." He placed his sword on the table.

"Right now, we're in a big trouble," I said. "The Anarchy imprisoned our parents at the Thorned Castle and we need to go there. That's why we're here, because we need some weapons in our quest," I explained.

His eyebrows crossed. "Anarchy? But why?"

"We don't know yet. The only thing we know right now is they are in danger and we need to do something to save them," I said.

"In that case –go on, look and grab any weapon that you want," said the blacksmith, then turned to me. "And you, the daughter of Belinda and Reynan, follow me."

I looked at my friends with my questionable face before following him. We went upstairs and his medium-size room, which was built with burgundy bricks, exhibited before my eyes. I passed through a door with cobwebs, but when I entered, I could not help but to feel astonished. The room looked filthy and magnificent at the same time. Carpet placed on the floor near his bed, a bearskin and fur. His bed also looked soft, with its furry pillows –but the pillow moved, yes it moved.

"What is that?" I asked in hysteric, staring at his bed.

"That's Tabi, my dog."

"What do you mean, dog? Dogs don't have three eyes!" I spat.

"Shush!" He pressed his finger to his lips. "You might offend him."

I kept a safe distance from the creature with black fur and three olive green eyes that Wolfang called a dog. It didn't appear to be wild and dangerous, but I was still careful because his gentle triple stares might be superficial. I needed to prepare myself to see more weird creatures. I might encounter a horse with eight legs later on.