AFTERLAND and The Cryptic Prophecy

Epilogue

Two weeks before summer, we spent our time at Harry's Cup Café to review for our final exams. Mom told me if I didn't get an A+ in all subjects, she would not allow me to go back to the Afterland with Franco and Dior. Still strict like before, but I adored her new version of being strict.

"Charlie, what's your answer to question number three?" Franco asked, holding his review booklet. Just a little tighter, and he would definitely tear it apart.

"Letter B," I answered.

"What?!" he reacted. "Neil Armstrong was the first man to walk on the moon?" he asked, gripping his hair with both hands. His wavy hair grew longer. He hadn't had a haircut since we left the Afterland.

"Yes, with Edwin Aldrin. Why? What did you answer?" I asked.

"Thomas Edison," he replied, so Dior and I burst out laughing. Even the students on the other table laughed at him. "I hope it's already summer so we can go back to the Afterland now."

"We still have two weeks and we need an A+," I reminded.

"Hey!" Dior poked me, looking at the entrance of the café, staring at Harris, who just arrived. He's spending time here in Kingshire City for a week because of this year's Math Olympics. He's the representative of their school again, the Springfield High School.

"Your boyfriend is here," teased Franco.

"Excuse me?" I said. Harris was getting closer to our table, so I wasn't able to smash Franco's face.

"How's your review?" Harris asked, holding a brown paper bag of cheeseburgers he bought at Bun Jovi.

"After the exam, we will go straight to the mental hospital and not to the Afterland," answered Franco. "Is that the one I requested?"

"Yap!" Harris responded and handed the paper bag to my friend.

"Thanks!" He grabbed the cheeseburger inside, unwrapped it, and bit a half in an instant. His anxiety over our upcoming exam disappeared in just one bite.

"Anyway, I want to show you something," Harris said and his hand went to his pocket. He took something from it and showed to us.

"What is that?" Franco asked.

"Is that a ring from the Emerald Guild?" I said right before Harris could respond.

"Like the ring Grand Lady Adela gave to me," Diordin said.

"Where did you get that?" Franco asked.

"Professor Diogo gave it to me when I was young. He told me to never lose this. That's why I was surprised when I discovered the function of this ring when we were in the Afterland."

"It means someone had been watching over you since you were a kid," Diordin concluded.

"Then who's holding the pair of that ring?" I asked.

Harris became silent, didn't know what to answer. Even if we wanted to ask Professor Diogo about it, we couldn't. It was impossible because he's already gone. The mystery behind his ring was something that we needed to look for.

The story continue in...

Afterland & The Arcane Pentagon