The Mystery of The Forbidden Book: Part 2 - Rough Morning

Among the meditative golden room, the green-haired girl dragged Asahi toward a chair and grabbed something. What she gathered from him was a golden book buried in his pants.

His eyes broadened in fear as he recollected instantly what happened the moment he revealed the book to Akwan. He reached out his hands and screamed at her.

"Give it back!"

Clover shot a sneaky glare at Asahi and shook her head, stepping over to Akwan and tapping his shoulder.

"Hey, Master Akwan. One of the visitors has been carrying this book." Her heart hammered as she rubbed the solid cover, feeling a radiant aura shine. "I believe this is the one you have spoken to me about for months. I… don't understand how they have received it but…"

A hint of greed was displayed in her very actions. But to not overwhelm her with this magic, Akwan grabbed the book. A memory flashed inside his mind as he heard footsteps sound behind his back.

A teeming suspicion dawned inside Asahi, speaking inside his mind as he saw a white-haired girl approach him.

"How long has he been in this world?"

As the book glistened underneath his feet, Akwan hurriedly pulled Asahi close to him and asked.

"Where is the scarf? The one that you have stolen?"

An awkward pause flooded the room.

Aletha, frozen in shock, recollected the fleeting moments of the chase, and the carriage how Brich described that it had fallen from the sky. Akwan's eyes drifted over to the wall, giving an answer as he stared only at the golden book beneath him.

"I honestly have no clue where it went," He spoke with genuine honesty. "If I had your scarf, I would have given it to you the moment I saw your face."

Aletha nodded her head, showing Asahi that he was truthful.

Asahi loosened his fists and stepped forward, "Are you sure?"

"I am quite sure. There is something interfering with my memory. It feels like I have stolen your scarf, but that was to lure you two to the device, The Cradle! Remember that?!"

As his voice echoed across the stone walls, Aletha gave a pitiful stare, saying,

"He's speaking the truth."

Shortly afterward, Akwan interrupted,

"If anything, if I were to steal your scarf, I would be dead. Because I know just how powerful you two are." He began to tighten his fists as he spoke. "It was a death sentence to steal your scarf. But I did it so you can return to this world, YOUR world, and give you a chance to reclaim it back from the Sovereigns and Queens."

Asahi and Aletha went aback at his words, all spoken truthfully.

Akwan sighed deeply, shaking his head and pleading for mercy.

"It took me several years to find where you two went. Can't you fathom like mature young adults and be grateful that I alerted you?" He said, "If it wasn't because of me, you wouldn't even have thought to return your world."

All spoken truthfully. Asahi and Aletha were at a loss for words. They haven't even thought of that before. It was true, if it wasn't for Akwan, they wouldn't have a clue that their world was still alive.

After yet another silence, a loud chiming sounded out from nowhere.

All four hopped up and saw the golden book that had caused problems to glisten and float on the ground. Akwan's eyes widened.

"Where did you find this book?"

Again, Asahi raised an eyebrow in suspicion, feeling a sense of familiarity brood upon him. But rather than the "usual" act of pushing away, allowing a group of bandits to rush into the room, the book's glow faded, leaving nothing but silence.

After the group gathered around the book, confused, Asahi stepped in and took advantage of the silence to insert and input his 'Vision" he saw when he had passed out.

Aletha's face paled, unable to believe this wicked sorcery that had been cast upon her brother.

Surely this room was clean, right?

With this intention grappled on her mind, she stated,'

"Nothing about this place is anything close to what you have seen? Akwan, dying on the floor? That doesn't make sense; he's alive! So why are you saying this room was trashed? It looks perfectly fine."

Asahi tightened his fists, determined to spread the word.

"Just trust me, sis," He said. "I know what I'm saying."

He focused his eyes back on Akwan's face.

Each second had elapsed, and Asahi started to lose track of time, followed by his train of thought. He stepped outside the room and saw golden rays of sunlight beaming across a staircase.

He could have sworn it was the cold atmosphere of the evening a few minutes ago. And yet...

"Asahi, why are you looking so freaked out?"

His concerns were immediately targeting that same golden book, pointing to it, and fighting his sprawling insane thoughts.

"It was night, I swear!"

Clover chuckled lightly, not because she wanted to embarrass Asahi but to cast light on the situation.

To her, it was just a normal day. And so, even with the constant threat emitting from the book, she pushed away all doubts and led the group outside to take a breath of fresh air.

"Forget all that boy's nonsense. I don't want this problem to ruin all of my days. Besides, today is national starch day! It's basically where every shop in the city offers low prices of starch-related goods like bread."

Asahi raised an eyebrow, confused about how this would spark up any importance in him.

"Is that important at all?"

Clover puffed her face and shook her head.

"No, but... it's something interesting. Right? Come on, since it's been a while, I want to take this opportunity to show what this city has to offer."

Akwan nodded in agreement, pushing his dark hair back and following Clover out the door, feeling the sense of turmoil rushing within the busy streets.

"I stand with Clover. Nonetheless, I still advise that Asahi, you should HIDE and keep The Forbidden Book at all costs. Let no one steal it."

Asahi backed up and made a proud smirk.

"Ah, so you DO remember what happened. You warned me about it and the bandits barging in?"

"Yes, but only barely. I don't remember thieves barging in, but I can recollect warning you of that book's power." He waved dismissively to strangers, whispering as he shoved the book in Asahi's pocket. "Just be aware of your surroundings, okay? I don't want any of you two to get hurt."

Aletha struck and straightened her posture, confidently chuckling as her eyes gazed straight at the beaming sun.

"Haha, don't worry. We're strong enough to defend ourselves."

Akwan shrugged.

"Just be careful."

. . .

The main streets were crowded, except for the occasional passage of horse-drawn carriages; the road was filled with pedestrians.

Asahi, Aletha, Akwan, and Clover, were all bunched up together, living their lives in suspicion with The Forbidden Book in their possession, watching the cold gaze of strangers pass by with a blur.

"Stay close."

The wanderers pondered how the streets flooded with individuals, despite the narrow passageways among streets.

Though there were an increasing variety of people, Aletha noticed that all of their faces were strangely clean, with no marks or discrepancies. She shivered while they passed by a pastry stand near a bridge.

"How come none of these people have any mistakes on their faces? All of their skin looks super, SUPER smooth and clean like a baby. That's soooo weird."

Asahi scratched his head, stood next to Akwan, and examined the bread choices offered on the sleek oak table.

"Don't mind them. You have your own life to worry about."

There were four choices, whole wheat, white, grain, and... sesame seed. Though the variety and market looked savory and delicious to choose from, Asahi could barely recognize the language plastered on each sign.

"Ugh, why are the words so difficult to read? I can't even see the price!"

Akwan chuckled, hearing carriages pass by behind.

"Ha, yeah... I suppose some of what you were familiar with may be completely changed. Remember, it's been five thousand years since you left. Of course your world ought to change."

Warm sweat slid down Asahi's face, remembering the sheer scale of that time and feeling the moderate temperature warming the city.

He felt panicked and afraid, almost betrayed, acknowledging his brain's utter bluff, saying it's only been ten years.

By the same token, Akwan still has yet to explain what this "time-dilation" means. In opposition to this, Asahi stepped forward and asked, hearing bells ring in the distance.

"So. About earlier. You said something about time dilation? What is that about?"

But before Akwan could have heard him, a long, metal, pointy sharp tip of what he assumed was an arrow nearly skimmed his head, piercing through one of the loaves of bread and splattering chunks of it into the air.

"What the--?"

A fleeting feeling of uneasiness dawned in him, hastily turning backward and hearing a loud, orotund voice sound out from above.

"Settlers standing in front of the hut, step forward and surrender!"

The siblings' pupils rounded in surprise.

"Eh?!"

Akwan felt an ominous aura lingering around and pulled them away, warning.

"I sense the power of a thousand men prying close."

Suddenly, the same loud voice echoed over the empty streets.

"Cease your cares and draw your attention upward! That is in ORDER!"

Probing visual caress, the wanderers backed away, focusing their attention on the flat rooftops. As their faces flashed from the blinding sunlight, in front was a silhouette holding a slender arched bow, aiming it straight at the white-haired individuals. They said as his hands reached over to his leg.

"You are under arrest for intruding and invading this city without going through the process."

Aletha blurted in confusion.

"What are you talking about? I thought the city was free for all citizens?"

The distant silhouette crossed his arms.

"Then you have been highly mistaken. Stand still. Do not move another centimeter from your position. That's in order!"

A loud rumbling echoed over the walls, coupled with the sounds of chains dangling and clashing on a metal surface.

Akwan darted his vision upward, and just as he tried to interfere with the mysterious person, the sight of him vanished.