Normally I would’ve got up on my own. But that day I couldn’t get up. I knew I should have got up by now. But my body betrayed me. Finally, my mom came to my room and woke me up. The time was ten. In my house, all ate in regular time and that regular time was eight. Then I played with Bruno. Maria behaved so casually that I thought it was usual for her to sneak up the terrace and talk to a weird bearded man. I didn’t talk to her until lunch. Lunchtime came and we all ate a simple lunch. Then I went to my room first and left the door slightly open. Maria came after some time. When she crossed my room I opened the door, pulled her in and closed it.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“We have to talk” I said.
“It’s not an answer to my question” she said.
“Sit down” I ordered. So she took her place on my bed and I took the study chair. It was like the same scene that happened before matchday when we got introduced but this talk was something different.
“Why did you-” she started.
“What were you doing on the terrace last night?” I snapped. Her expression became guarded and I was sure she hiding something.
“I was….um….just seeing the stars. I enjoy seeing them.”
“Oh! Seeing the stars, through a portal like thing with an old man with a weird beard. TELL ME THE TRUTH” I raised my voice.
“See Oliver it’s a little crazy. You won’t believe it even if I say to you.” I got angry but I had to maintain my patience.
“Tell me, Maria.” I said with gritted teeth.
“Okay, okay don’t be angry. I’ll tell you. I just don’t know where to start.”
“I WANT THE TRUTH. Just start anywhere.” I said with all the hatred I had developed on her.
“See Oliver I do not belong to this century.”
“What do you mean you do not belong to this century? Do you have a time machine or something?”
“Not exactly but I can time travel” she said. I had to put all my effort to hold my jaws from opening. Part of me wanted to laugh at her.
“Bu-but how?” I asked with a shaky voice and that’s all I could manage. She took a small bag. It was green in colour. It was like the same bag that I had seen last night.
“This is the bag you used last night, isn’t it?” I asked.
“No. It’s this” She took another bag from her pocket and showed it to me.
“So…you just take some powder from this bag and throw it into the air and you can time travel?” I asked.
“I have to do some chanting work” she said as if it were very important in this situation.
“You’re from which century?” I asked. Still, a little anger remained in my voice.
“Actually I’m from the 17th century and I’m a commander in an army.” With that answer, the anger resided from my voice and I stared at her in astonishment and disbelief. Finally, I said
“Tell your true identity” I said plainly.
“Okay. Listen carefully. My name is not Maria Jane and I’m not from an orphanage in Wingston. I was born on 2nd April 1615 in Wingston. My parents were farmers. We were a poor family. I always wanted to become a warrior and fight for my kingdom. At that time the king who ruled the kingdom was Augustin. One day I was walking in the street with a cloth bag in my hands. At that time a robber came and plucked my bag and ran. But I didn’t simply shout for help. I chased him through every street. He was fast but I didn’t give up. I caught him and beat him up the same way I beat your friend on the match day and got my bag back and turned. I was lucky that day. The king had come in disguise to watch the condition of the people. So he was watching the fight and when I turned he was right in front of me. He ordered his men to arrest the robber and took me to my home.
He was talking to my parents for a long time. Finally, my mom came out and gave me a rib breaking hug and said that I was going to live a royal life. After that everything happened so fast. At that time I was twelve years old. The king took me to the palace and I was given training for my life’s goal. I was trained in sword fighting, horse riding, warfares and I learned some ancient books from which I knew this portal communication and time travelling. I trained hard for four years and I joined the army in 1631 at the age of 16.
I have fought in many wars. Our chief was a brave man named Carlo. One day Carlo saw me while I was practising in the yard of the palace. He called me and asked if I would be his assistant. I was so excited and asked, “Can I lead an army like you?” He smiled and said “Yes”. Then he took me to the king and placed his request to the king. The king also accepted it and I was made the assistant chief of King Augustin's army. Then I fought many wars side by side with Carlo. I was also trained in medicine. I was kind to the injured soldiers and earned the loyalty of the soldiers. Only one kingdom was unbeaten. In 1645 we waged war on them. The king’s name was Sebastin. King Augustin said that Sebastin was a bad king and his army was unbeatable. He had the best archers.
The war started in 1645. It went on for weeks. We killed them. They killed us. New recruitments were coming in for both sides. One day Carlo was surrounded. I tried to help but before that, he was overpowered and he was killed. That’s it. It is my history.” She finished and I stared at her dumbstruck. These many days I have been talking, playing and eating with a warrior from another century. Finally, I spoke up.
“What does this history got to do with me?”
“About that….In our days we believed that one human has two lives. If one lives in the past the same person will live in the future but a little younger. The person living in the future will have the qualities and habits of the person living in the past but they are hidden. Sometimes some of the appearances are also same like eye colour, scars. Like that. Wait. I’ll show you something.” Then she took something like a scroll and gave it to me.
Thank you for reading this chapter. Keep supporting. See you soon.
