[幻想类] Black Bride

写在前边的话：

1.本文为全英文，是本人为练笔而写。本人所用单词及句型为最初级程度，个人是希望能写出如《麦田守望者》这样的文章。本人英语并不高，请原谅语法上的错误，如能帮我修改，我会十分感谢。

2.在文章中如看到有熟悉的句子或故事，请不要奇怪，我参考了一大堆的动画˛书及电影等，可能句子有照搬，但故事翻译版权是本人的，如版主认为不当，本人可自行删除。

3.以下为参考的动画˛书及电影目录（小说尚未完成，只给出一部分）：

动画：Hero Age，叛逆的鲁鲁修，钢之炼金术师，DC系列，XXXholic...

书：Bible，荷马史诗，失乐园，飞鸟集，Harry Potter系列，物语系列，文学少女系列，凉宫春日系列...

电影：Constantine...

Drama: Black Bride

This is a story spread in the world, about a girl and her mythology country—Eden, which disappeared secretly five hundreds years ago. Do you hear about it? If not, please let us perform it for you.

Scene one:

Song: our great country, holy Eden, flashing glory of sun, was standing on godsend island. Beautiful and fertile, it was the garden of god. The Lord of Hosts once said. “Of all inhabited countries under the sun and stars of heaven, there is none that I so much respected as Eden with Michael and his whole people.”

One thousand years ago, there was a war, called Great Battle, broken up in Eden. The King Dragon, which called Devil or Satan, wanted to conquer this country. It came with disease and pest, brought pain and fight. It seemed that Eden’s last day is soon reached. And Hero Michael turned up in front of King Dragon in this crisis. They fought. And Michael cut down the heads of the dragon. And happiness fell on this country again.

A royal-feast was held to celebrate this great time. The whole nation joined in the jubilation.

There was cry of infant, resounding through the palace.

Twin bright pearls were born in the royal family. Golden hair, delicate skin, they were lovely angels. They were Princess Lucy and Princess Lily.

People presented flowers to their princesses.

Scene two:

A girl in white was playing in the garden. And maids and servants were around her. And in the shadow of a corner, there was another girl in black, sitting alone with a book. They were twins. They had the same figure and the same status. They were Princess Lily and Princess Lucy.

Clever bright as Lucy was, she didn’t have good health. And while Lily was playing with friends, Lucy just could sit aside. Loneness and disease made her soul warps; and jealousness and prejudice enlarged her seamy side.

Devil whispered in her ear and showed her the scene of the living hell, greed, lust, wrath, pride, envy, gluttony, sloth… The heart of the girl was broken bit by bit.

Who, who wake me up? It’s not the echo of forest. It’s not the silence of night. Blood, it’s the smell of blood. Why do they want to hurt each other? Why do they waste their life in the war? The sky blue, the field green, but why does the world is glutted with sorrow?

Everything came like a scorpion. And its sting hurt others and itself.

Eden was a country that one half of its time will be controlled by the winter general. And as time went by, the heart of Lucy was frozen, cold and stiff, just like the ice and snow. Her eyes looked at the dark, but not the light again.

King Damocles passed away. Princess Lucy succeeded to the throne. And Princess Lily would be the witch of Rocky Castle.

The scene of the Rocky Castle turned up；a huge building with flashing lightning floating in circles around it rapidly like an eddy. It locked King Dragon, that old serpent, which was the crime culprit of the Great Battle. Suddenly, a terrible cry—a long, hard, unnatural scream turned up.

Scene three:

On the witch ceremony day, young man drew back the heads of the victims and killed and flayed them, and then hierarch laid them on the wood fire and poured wine over them. When they had finished their work and the feast was ready, they ate it, and every man had his full share, so that all were satisfied.

Theyenjoyed the song of peace floating in the air. None of them noticed the blackcloud in the sky.

EmpressLucy turned up on the square, but her black full dress was frightening. Astrange feeling of dim and gloom came down on the people, made them felt depressedand oppressive, just like the light of life was taken out from their bodies.

Standingon the center of the square, Empress Lucy announced the release of King Dragon.These words aroused much fear in the crowd, for it’s the greatest taboo.

“Human, you're handed this precious gift, right? Each one of you granted redemption from the Creator. Murderers, rapists, conspirators, all of you, you just have to repent, and Goddess takes you into her bosom. God said you shall not kill. God said you shall not commit adultery. God said you shall not steal. But why do you, time and again, steal and murder and destroy everything? Ask yourselves, do you deserve such right? Not a care in the world, not knowing that you are nothing, but just hurt each other.

Why do you have no mercy on other lives? Just though you are the Lord of all. Look at the world, which is destroyed, human. Where once were blooming flowers of all colors is now dry and arid. Where once the very air vibrated with the twittering of thousands of kinds of birds is now only silence. Where once seals and beasts of the ocean bobbed in waves, all life is now at an end. Merely taking care of human is adequate work for god, you say? You take too much upon ourselves if you believe that!

It’s not fair.

What if Goddess loves you so, then I'll make you worthy of her love. It's only in the face of horror that you truly find your nobler selves. So, I'll bring you pain. I'll bring you horror. So that those of you who survive this reign of hell on Earth will be worthy of Goddess' love. Human, struggles in front of the fate now. It’s your only way."

Without benediction, the pearl angel married herself to this devil.

Black Bride, people cried out in great fear.

Lucy disappeared in the crowd.

Scene four:

The weather turned to be dreadful: it’s snowing off and on. All things on the earth were covered in a desolate scene.

Hierarch Artemis announced that the Seal is removed. And the Rocky Castle was in the control of King Dragon.

A large red dragon turned up. One had seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon its heads. A terrible yellow air of brimstone covered the island as its appearance. And no man could help being dismayed if he is standing near it, for the power of King Dragon is a very awful thing.

The dragon sounded, and as it was a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood. And there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp. And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died.

Princess Lily becomes the No.2 Empress of Eden.

Empress Lily led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of Goddess Verdandi.

Scene five:

Listen, people was singing the Goddess’ song. Their figures were shaking like candles flickered.

Empress Lily in companied with seven brave followers fought with King Dragon and its follower, let them go back to the hell.

Lucy turned up beside the devil. Blue flowers stuck on her black dress, made her look dim and gloom.

Every man put up a heroic fight. And Empress Lily fought with the cruel and fierce King Dragon.

Thunders and lightings, and a thick cloud were upon the Rocky Castle, and the voice of the trumpet was exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled.

Fate symphony echoed in the battle field. The musical notes fought in the air.

Humans are stupid and doleful creatures. Listened, this is the sob of earth. What sick, ridiculous, puppets human are. What a gross little stage they dance on... not a care in the world, not knowing that they are nothing.

Human is incomplete. Lust, purity, gluttony, self-restraint, avarice, vigilance, sloth, integrity, wrath, composure, covetousness, giving, vanity, humbleness, they are all part of human heart. The human mind may be delusion, lust and plot of dirty, but at the same time, it’s stage of dream, nest of love, mine of courage. Man is a born child; his power is power of growth. Believe that, through all the hurt and pain, we can create a new world.

Black screw and white screw collided on the field, and then twined together and expanded to the sky. The lightning was vivid, like a sword cut open the dark, but after it, the sky and earth were covered by the darker darkness again.

One by one the braver passed away. And Princess Lily concentrated all the power at the last effort. Golden light danced in the air, flashing across the sky.

The heads of King Dragon were cut down and the warm spring sunshine came back to this island.

Princess Lily collapsed down in the sunshine. She had tried her best. Her golden hair was shining with dazzling light.

With holy song, angels from the heaven welcome the spirits of Lily and the braver to Pantheon, the house of gods. They danced in the blue sky and disappeared one by one.

Lucy stood in the ruined city lonely.

Ending.

Everyone, do you like our show? Please excuse our poor performance.

About this story, actually, it’s not ended. You see, Lucy is not perished, just disappears without trace. Maybe, one day, she will come back.

Thank you for your join. See you.

Spring

In February of Babylonia Calendar 496, Iwent to Iceland with my friend Zero. In that time I was a student of Atlantis ImperialCollege. And Zero had once been a royal knight, but just was fired by the kingof Atlantis several weeks ago. All knights were dismissed from the service andreplaced by the mercenary army. It’s said that the mercenary army under thecontract system would be much cheaper than the knight. World changes and oldthings will be replaced. Honor, faith, tradition, was no longer important. Knightjust was one of them. Was it right? I didn’t know.

Now, he was down, lying on the boatsluggishly, looking at the sky without a word. In the orphanage, the nun takencare of us told me that Zero was abandoned when he was about one year old. His father might be a knight and died in battle for there was an honor medal of knight left in his toweling coverlet.

I hoped he could feel better. But since he dreamed of being a royal knight, it’s a hard time for him.

Our destination, Iceland, was an island far from the continent. And it’s a mysterious place always enveloped in the densefog. Calm, cold, foggy and wet would be the first impression of every strangercome here.

As the territory of the lost country Eden, which once was the most powerful country in the earth, lots of tales and stories about this island or Eden were circulated in the world. And the story of Black Bride absolutely was the most famous one. For centuries, her story always was good material for play or metaphor, with different performance, different content and different ending.

We went there by boat. The sea was coveredin the fog. And our boat drifted slowly like a small leaf.

I would not forget the scene when we wentthrough the mist: a castle appeared in the air. And at the moment I glanced atit—I do not know why—a strange feeling of dim and gloom came down on me and covered me like a blanket.

It’s a large building with high stone walls and narrow windows, standing out against the sky. And the dark clouds, with flashing lightning were floating in circles around it rapidly like an eddy, and the black flag tied on the spire was fluttering with the violent wind.

Everything on it took hold of my heart like an icy hand let me feel cold and sick. I couldn’t think one happy thought to chase away this terrible feeling as though all the happiness had gone away from the world.

Why, I wondered, did this castle have so strong feeling of gloom?

The boatman told us that it’s the Rocky Castle, which was home of devil in the story. A castle in the air, lots of adventurers wanted to find it, but none of them had succeeded yet.

Before I could find a notebook, the castle had dissolved in the mist.

Toward evening we reached a small village—Spring, and had a rest in an inn.

Spring, a small coastal village among hills, with a small brook glided through, was under the control of Atlantis, and had a population about 800 and famous for its snow scene and the Magic PurpleCrystal mine, which is the main energy resource of the world.

Most houses here were stone building. They were low, thick and solid, in the shape of mushroom, adapting to the climate. And when the thick snow piled on them, they were much lower than even. In the center square of the village, which was called Vatican Square, there were some shops, selling clothes fromLancelot, drugs from Witch Forest, appliances from Gawain and so on. And the inn we stayed in was just next to the square.

And since this island was an ancient relic, adventurers and businessmen had come here frequently to seek their fortune. Recently, more and more refugees came and settled in this peaceful village.

There was a special place in the north ofthe town—the Fairy Altar. In this island, when one was born, parents would have the citizen right to get a fairy from the Fairy Altar and hold the fairy ceremony to place the fairy into their new born baby. After the ceremony, fairy would grow along with its owner, protect and help its partner.

This fairy ceremony once was forbidden as the devil worship by the church, but it turned to be a way of prevention and treatment of disease in some countries since the fading of the church in the pass one hundred years. But, as this technology had been oppressed for hundreds years, just a tiny witches and wizards could hold this ceremony now.

Owner of the Fairy Altar was a young witch—Susan, with light blue pupils and golden hair to her waist, a standard lovely lady with a face a man might die for. Someone said. Although she was appointed witch to Spring only one years ago, now, no less a person than the landowner here and was a noble and amiable lady respected by the local. The first time that Zero met this lady was he sought out information about the relic in this region for me. I wanted to do some research about the relic scattered around, and Zero needed something to do. He had been looking at the square through the window for hours.

A fairy ceremony was just over. A woman with an infant taken in arms was making farewells. “Thank you, Susan. Ken, says goodbye to our witch.” The woman moved the palm of the infant. The baby gave a chuckle of delight as response. “Ha, ha… He will grow up healthily and to be a goodman.” Her golden hear was shining, like the music of the Eternal.

The woman left with her baby and made a smile to the boy standing on the doorway. The boy gave way in a hurry and took a step into the hall.

“Excuse me, madam. Could I ask you some questions?” Colour flooded his face when he looked at the lady in her rosy cheeks.

“Yes, please. Are you a knight?” She combed the hair beside her ear and smiled at him.

“Yes maybe.” He felt uncertain about this answer.

“I am glad to make your acquaintance.”…

The sun was low in the west. And everything in the hall was plated with honey.

Long time after this affair, Zero told me that he had a feeling could not be described, a very happy one, when he was talking with this lovely lady.

It’s said that there was an underground relic in Spring. But as the war hundreds years ago, although King Dragon did not appear again, its magic power made this island were full of monsters and they were much crueler than any other place. And about the underground relic, it’s a dangerous place for a number of monsters were looking after the treasure in it. They would attack the gate-crasher with their iron fists, sharp teeth, fire and venom. And it had been sealed by the local government. It’s dangerous to visit the suburb alone, the guidebook said that.

Susan said that she could give him permission if he wanted to have an adventure.

Dangerous it was, but I thought it’s an easy job for him. Anyway, he once was the royal knight of Atlantis. Dealing with the monsters was their daily practice. So he went ahead alone. However, I found it’s a wrong decision soon, for the next day morning he was taken back by the locals from the relic gate,covered in blood, fallen into a swoon. My brain was bland when I saw him and could not do anything, but following the locals and took him to the Fairy Altar.

It was two days later when he came to his senses. And then, it’s the seventh day morning.

“O Goddess! No, no. Rose, give me a hand. Lie down, Zero.”

“I have told him. He just won’t listen to me.”

“I am fine, madam. When can I go out?”

“Call me Susan, I have told you, my friend.”

“Okay Susan, could you tell me when I can go out?” His paleand weak cheeks had colour for great anxiety, which made him look feebler.

“Why don’t take a rest? Fairy Altar is a good place for convalescence.”

“Susan, you don’t say the point. Rose, you know something?”

“Er…”

“OK, I tell you. Listen, you are badly hurt and shouldn’t live as a knight any more.”

“…” His face was out of colour again and began to cough.

I was so sorry for that. It’s my guilty that let him go alone. I wanted to say something, but the word could not go out of my lips.

“I said ‘should’.” Susan neatened the pillow and let him lie down. He moved like a toy. “Last night, I have found a way for you.”

“…”

“Seriously though, it would be really dangerous. If it fall, you will die, at once.” In a serious tone, she asked. “Will you take it?”

“I will recover if I take it.”

“The success rate is 50 percent, as my best.”

“I will take it.”

“No, we can go back to Atlantic, send for a doctor or anything else…”

“Rose, listen. You should know that I have served in the Royalty Hospital just several months ago... I met numbers of patients in my condition, and I knew how the doctor deal with them...” He held my hand with strength, saying out of breath. “Here, will be my last hope... Death, actually, is not a frightening thing to me. But don’t worry, I won’t give up, Rose.”

How can I don’t worry? And please don’t saysuch thing. I don’t know what you are talking about. I don’t know, whatever. Looked at his face which turned up with a piece of colour for exciting, I couldn’t say a word. “You need some time to think it over.”

“No, Susan. Please prepare for it.”

“I repeat once again. This ceremony will beat the risk of your life. Do you authorize?”

“Yes, Susan.” He closed his eyes and fell asleep very soon.

Susan had a talk with me before the ceremony. We talked a lot, about the ceremony, about the fairy, and about Zero.

“Why does he come to be a knight?”

“His father may be a knight, his foster father is a knight, so he dreams of being a knight when he is a kid, then he succeeded.”

“Inheritance?” She sighed with emotion.

“Susan?”

“I am fine. Just recall something,” She made a smile. “Although he takes his life too light, he is a brave man. Listen, our knight makes the dream again.”

Zero was speaking in his dream. “… I will fight for the justice and freedom… I will come to be people’s sword and shield…till my body changes into earth and floats away with wind.”

It’s the oath of knight. He became a knight when he was sixteen and came to be a royal knight two years later. It’s not an easy way. Practice, practice, and then practice again. He liked these sentences and recited time by time.

“Incurable idiot.” I had thought seriously whether it’s the ending of our friendship when he told me his success. But I couldn’t find an excuse. Should I blame him when war breaks out? And should I censure him when he kills someone on the battlefield?

“He has tried his best. His hands haven’t been dyed by blood.” Susan came to his bedside and held his hand in hers. “Your spirit is clean and brave. In the honor of my holy name, I admit you as a knight.”

The way what Susansaid was holding a fairy ceremony for Zero. If the ceremony was succeeded, asthe vitality of fairy, he would recover. But, the fairy shouldn’t be put intoan adult, for the soul of adult was too mature to accept another spirit. Their soulswould reject each other, which leads to the worst situation. It’s hard to dealwith. However, Zero was on the boundary of life and death just like a newbornbaby so he might be able to do so, Susan said.

Ceremony was held in a cellar of Fairy Altar that no one could bother. In the beginning of the ceremony, Zero was put into a full-green-blue-liquid pool and surrounded by lighting candles which stood in circle at the side. And a palm size paper, the fairy card, was placed on his breast.

Susan turned up in a white robe. And a light blue belt wound round her slender waist. Her long hair was tied up by a white ribbon. And a moon shape bell was held in her hand. It’s said that the sound of this bell can wake up and communicate with the fairy that slept in the card.

All was ready and the fairy ceremony was begun in silence.

In front of the pool, Susan prayed. “Doraqunos Ravsonna Uruferos...” It’s a language familiar to me, but it’s not the time to think about it. Zero dozed off with his palms upward. He was looked calm without pain. It seemed that Susan’s words were full of power. I could fell a warm current flowed into my body. And as her words came out, the yellow candlelight danced in the windless cellar, turned to be emerald green and rose higher. They would go out of their body and float in the air. They would connect together to a big one. And they would chase each other like playing game.

Following the spell, Susan danced with the bell around the pool. The dance was similar to one of festival dance of Atlantis, which is called Yu step. Different with other festival dances, slow moving was its characteristic. Every step would take seconds. It’s a little boring for the audience, but each step was the quintessence of power. And the clear sound of the bell which accompanied by her steps turned up, just like the undulating coast tide.

The colorful water began to wave. And it came to be violent as Susan moved fast, and then turned to be several small water-tornadoes surrounded the man who was lying in the center.

Shadow and light contrasted with Zero’s pale face, made him seemed weaker than before. Gradually, the card which was placed on his breast glinted, melted and disappeared at last. The water andcandlelight returned to be tranquil when Susan stopped chanting and dancing.

“Now, his will is the key. Once he contracts with the fairy, he will wake up soon. But take my word, he will beall right.”

Zero, there are two girls waiting for you. Asa knight or as a man you shall wake up, no, you must wake up as soon as you can. You should know that make girl waiting is guilty of the most heinous crimes. I prayed.

The next day morning, Zero waked up. And he wielded a sword in front of us happily with grin like Garfield. I wanted to send him a fist.

Zero told us what had happened.

The relic was an ancient tunnel, wet and freezing. And the dark creature, Basilisk, Drake and Imp attacked alternately.It’s threatening but not dangerous. And after all monsters were dealt with, he got the treasures—a stone plate and a crown. (Basilisk: one kind of small lizard, not only could kill animal by its venom, but also fire the bush and hitthe stone by its breath. Drake: one kind of tiny dragon just could fly andbite. Imp: one kind of small devil, half or one-fourth of human height, like to make surprise attack.)

When he on his way back, a swords man turned up suddenly in the crossing and aimed for the crown, without any convincing argument. For the honor of knight, a fight couldn’t be avoided. “So pure swordsmanship, nothing I could do. At the end, I blacked out and the crown maybe taken away.”

Susan kept silent all along, seemed to be absorbed in meditation or there was something she has to decide with great reluctance.

“My friend, as your doctor, there aresomething I must tell you.”

Susan gazed at the boy’s face and pausedfor a while. Her mouse opened and then closed again. Is there something she doesn’t know how to express or just doesn’t want to say? I wondered.

Zero stopped playing his sword. “Susan, if there is something I have to know, please tells me.” He smiled, “I’m not hysterical nor am I given to fainting. I promise.”

Susan smiled back, “Frankly then, your ceremony is succeed. If you don’t consume your energy too much, in most of cases, you will be fine all your life. Every ordinary career, you can go in if you like.” She took the sword away and let the boy go back his bed.

“But, this is only a provisional treatment makes do for the moment. In a tiny chance, the fairy may desert you. When and why, it’s not sure, but I must tell you. And once it happened, you will…”

“Die?”

“I’m sorry, but I just can say yes.”

“What do I feel when it happened?”

“En… In some cases, the man will feel a great pain, heartache or broiling hot, and then all will be over in a while. Please excuse my powerlessness.” Susan’s voice came to be deep and trembling, just like a child makes an apology for broken the china.

“Please don’t. You have done a great job. Anything I can do?” Zero wanted to stand up from bed, but was stopped by Susan.

“En… Yes, there’s a way, but only a story. In legend, there is a sword in the island. It is not produce of our era. Strong power is attached on it. We called it— Ko-oh-yoku. Relying on the power of the sword, maybe I can do something.”

“Whereabouts?” “In some tales, it is sealed in the Rocky Castle. I will tell you all about it, but now you must have a rest.”

“I see.”

Confession of A Liar

I am a liar. One has to lie everyday.

Yes, I knew. I live in a world full of lie. People live in lies and tell lies to let others live in. Even, the history itself is full of lie. Historian resents about it, but we all knew that history is always written by the winners. And what is history? But a fable agreed upon. Look, I am finding a pretext for my guilt.

Every event has its own purpose, or our universe has not meaning and it is unthinkable. I have one, which I have to attain to, even have to be a liar. I knew it maybe just a dream. And whether it is good or bad, I can’t measure. Anyway, I am not the god. Human acts like the butterfly. What does the flap lead to? That is the biggest mystery of human.

Should I think about the morality and utilitarianism? Lelouch once wept over the misfortunes of the world in my bosom. “The world is a fine place, and worth fighting for.” I just could say such few words to comfort him. I will hurt many people. I knew it. But I can’t withdraw it. I don't want to hurt everyone, however, they died because I. Is it guilt? Does it worth for? I just can walk forward now. I have decided it.

I have to live in this world, so I have to be a liar.

I find a mean to be a liar: telling the truth, but hiding some links. Event is a chain made up by links, all linked with one another. And the chain will be guided to a complete different direction when the key-links miss. In this way, I am creating lie one by one. Maybe I have been disqualified as a human.

I know strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leaded unto this dream, and few there is that find it. But I have to. Even the guilt, like a snake winds round me, kill me little by little.

The wheel of time which has stopped for hundreds years is moving again. Maybe this time, goddess will realize my desire. I am praying.

Relic

“Rose, take care.” He support me with hand from my back, didn’t let me slip over in the mud.

“Thanks again. I am fine. Susan, takes care. The road is slippery.” I said to the lady who was walking behind gracefully. I took her hand and pulled her forward. “Don’t be so hurried…” A lovely voice came out.

Let me tell you what is happening first. It’s the sixth day after the fairy ceremony. In these six days, Zero had been restored from injury and accepted a short course on the fairy power. The boy yearned for sunshine everyday. And today, Susan released him from the ward. Anyway, for this new power, some practices were good for him and the relic that outside Spring was a suitable spot.

This relic might be a magnificent temple or castle in the pass, but now was the wilds piled with rubble. Only several lonely pillars were standing there, telling the story about the prosperous country to the passengers.

But no matter what it had been, now, it was the lair of mud-monsters. The mud-monster, just like its name, was a pile of mud. An adult mud-monster could be twelve feet high if it stands up and four thousand pounds in weight. They would lie in waiting for their meal on the ground. When birds, small animals, even kids stay beside, they would stand up in a second, which speed you would not find in any other time of their life, then fall heavily onto whatever they face to, and keep them without air. The target would be suffocated and putrefied, and then was eaten little by little. Kinds of grasses liked to parasitize on their skin so that most of time you will find they were in green.

Monster could be divided into low, middle and high levels. Though the mud-monster belongs to the low classes, it was hard enough for a swordsman or knight to deal with alone.

Nowadays, the high level monsters were dying. Fire Dragon, Green Giant, Titan, such great monsters almost could be read in the book. They were hunted by human, excessively. Although powerful and violent they were, they could be killed by weapon. Human didn’t live on their magical power, but the full magical power “seed”, the energy organ of monster, always fascinated people. In the continent, a pair of fire-dragon eyeballs, the seed of fire-dragon, could exchange with a castle. It’s said that once an Atlantis king had sent an army to catch a fire-dragon. And more than half of soldiers were killed when the fire-dragon breathed fire. And the seed also was the material of the philosopher’s stone and elixir. Yes, up to now, no one succeed. But, they like to. That is world!

Two days before we arrived in Spring, a small child lost and his one shoe was found just outside the relic. Mud-monsters were blamed for it. The local government would like to have a clean in the relic, but no soldier wanted to join. So now, we were the mud-monster-cleaners.

But, the team was a little strange. Two ladies talked and laughed all the way, only the gentleman was in a worried look, kept looking around.

Susan was good at magic, but use magic will consume magical power. If want to recover, she had to take a break. Anyway, human was not demon or god.

Yes, there were sorts of potions could be used to recover or increase the magical power. The potion could amplify everything that is inside, the physical power, the magical power, the psychic force and so on, so good becomes great, bad becomes worse. And you could buy them from the magic goods store or just make them by yourself. The main raw material was the seed. But I wouldn’t take it forever. There were some reports that man changed into half-monster and lost human sense after taking the potion, and caused lots of tragedies. My uncle said, man is worse than a monster when he is a monster. I believed it.

We enjoyed the sights and went on our way. For the geothermal water, though this island now was covered with snow, the relic was warm and full of life. The sun rises just to startle birds of the mountain. From time to time echoed the valley bird notes light.

The characters and pictures carved on the rubble were not in their integrity, but still could be read. They made up a picture of an ancient country, Eden; a prosperous country once controlled the Iceland, which disappeared secretly five hundreds years ago.

In the last one hundred years, some stone plates which recorded the Black Bride and the war between light and dark had been found by archaeologists and theologians came from different countries, but there were still lots of mysteries. And none of them found the records since the battle, just like all the people disappeared without a word, or, someone destroyed this phase of history completely. About the ending of the battle, some experts kept the point that neither side gained in the war, if not so, the demon had enslaved the world.

And this relic and some other relic on this island had one common ground that those ancient buildings above the earth almost were destroyed at the same time. What was a power can do it? A mystery again.

Around noon, we took a break out of a moldering ruin of an old temple. I dealt with my research with the characters on the wall while Zero and Susan chatted and prepared our lunch. Zero flaunted his knowledge about the continent like a child. And Susan smiled by his side. I did not see his joyous smile since he was fired.

“Rose told me that you dream to be a knight, right?” Susan changed the subject.

“Yes. But I am fired, can’t be a knight anymore.” He raised his head and looked at the sky. He always looked at the sky while he was hesitated.

“Your dream is not only a job, is it? If you just treat it as a ready disposable thing, you need to change something. You should know that, our works are going to fill a large part of our life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what we believe are great works. You believe the knight is your dream. It’s the great work you want. So, don't lose faith.” “But I don’t know what I should do,what I should fight for. Time is changed. I don’t know who I should dedicate my sword to.” “I dreamed of being an actress when I am a child. Spark of emotions, masks of glass, unlimited wonderful stories, they are my dreams. But now, I come to be a witch. I have no regrets. It’s my way of life. I decide it. And I am happy when I look at their smile faces. Knightis your dream. You decide it. Recall your vow. It is not a wastepaper.” “My vow…” “The one you promise to your sword. The sword can break, but the faith can’t be deserted. It’s a great relationship. It will get better and better as the years roll on. And while you are in mist, recall your original point. It’s a good idea.” “Keep looking your way of life until you find it. Don't settle.” The wisest men follow their own direction. How strict the lady was!

The character was so meaningful that I was going in further and further. Suddenly, I felt something was not quite right: the earth began to move and quake. What’s worse, the flat ground became a hill and I was on the crest.

Goddess, I was standing on a mud-monster’s head.

“Zero,” I knelt down and called out as loudly as I could. “I am sorry to interrupt your lunch time, but can you help me out of this?”

They looked at me in surprise.

Put hand on the sword, Zero stood facing with the mud-monster immediately. And Susan stood behind with a worry look.

This mud-monster was about eighteen feet high and looked down from a height. It didn’t move neither Zero did. Maybe keep the point that the enemy is motionless I to be motionless.

Everything was in its silence, the tree, the wind and the world itself. Only the naughty bird would break it, cried out one or two. The cloud… hey, what am I doing?

My mind came back from the cloud and found myself was still kneeling on the monster’s head.

The stalemate lasted about five minutes. The mud-monster moved.

It weighted down suddenly and wanted to press flat the two men in front of it. Zero drew his sword from the scabbard.

The point not faced up but down. Penetrated into the ground, a green light twinkled around the sword. In a second, ten or more rattans boomed from the earth and tied up the monster. The fairy power! He not just stood there but did recitation at the same time.

The monster tried to escape but couldn’t take a step forward. The rattans kept growing, thicker and thicker.

“Rose, hurry up, come down.” Zero cried loudly.

I like the ground.

But before I could move the monster put up a last-ditch struggle. Some rattans broke in two. Some broken rattans struck the earth and the dust was blowing. The feeling that lying on the monster head was just like a little boat on the storming sea, I hated it.

“Don’t sit still waiting for death. Come down, now.” Zero shouted loudly.

The rattans remain kept growing and the broken one was replaced. I clutched one nearby and climbed down as quickly as I could. The monster kept struggling and making rumbling sound. When I passed its face I could see its eyes. Its black eyes on its brown face were reflecting something, maybe anger or maybe fright. But while I studied its eyes, the rattan tore and I fell off like a leaf.

Down, down, down. It’s said that a man will see what he like best when death is near. But before this rumor could be confirmed, suddenly, thump! The fall was over.

“Rose, Rose. Are you all right?” It’s Susan’s voice.

I open my eyes and found that I came upon a heap of stick and dry leaves.

“Thank you, Susan.”

“You are welcome.” She took me off the bed of leaves.

“I thought I have to stay in Fairy Altar as patient.”

“Ha… One is enough, two is excessive.” She looked at Zero with a smile. “And you should say thanks to Holy Bell, without her I can do nothing.” Holy Bell was Susan’s fairy. With a pair of white wings, golden hair and deep red pupils, she was a lovely fairy. It’s the second time I saw her. Susan introduced her to me before the ceremony.

“Thank you, Holy Bell.” She sent me a smile and then disappeared in the air.

What do Zero’s fairy look like? I was curious about it.

“Excuse me. Can you stay a little further? It’s too danger to stay there.” Zero said loudly.

Now, it’s time of Zero and this mud-monster. When the sword drew from the earth, the rattans stop growing and the monster got out from the trap soon.

“What are you doing? Why don’t take your sword?”

Zero thrust back his sword into the scabbard and placed it on the ground. “It doesn’t have a weapon, so I don’t need it. It’s rule of knight.”

“It is a monster. You can’t beat it with naked fists.”

“Don’t worry. I know how to do.” Such a crazy fool. “We won’t look after you, even if you are beaten black and blue.”

“Yes, you will.” Zero answered.

He moved. He jumped between the trees and pillars like a monkey, reflected from the trees like an arrow, moved nimbly like a squirrel. Face, stomach, back, he beat the monster in one go. And his opponent stood on the earth, yelling, pushed and pulled its body around, overwhelmed everything it passed by. It rushed at zero, but Zero always moved away in a sudden. Idiom says eagle can never catch a sparrow. This battle was over when the mud-monster collapsed.

It seemed that the boy had been recovered. And his power couldn’t be mentioned in the same breath. I found a smile on Susan’s face.

“I saw something in the relic when I am in the air. Maybe the child is there. You two wait here.”

Zero wanted to walk away, but was stopped.

“You must take a rest firstly.” Susan said confirmed.

“I’m fine. I feel the power spring up from my heart.” He didn't want to sit still. He was too full of adrenaline.

“I say must. The power and your body are not proportional. Men called men because they can control the power. If power controls their soul, they just can be called animal. You must know that. Remember the rules of using fairy power.”

“I don’t forget. The fairy power rules, No.1, don’t rely on the fairy power… I knew, but the child…”

“For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own life? or what shall a man give in exchange for his life?”

“But…” Zero looked on the anxious seat.

“Keep calm. More haste, less speed. You know why.” She drew him aside in the shadow. “Let’s take a rest here.”

Twenty minutes late, we headed for the relic, though Susan wasn’t quite willing to. Zero went first, we followed.

The relic was damp. Rattans, moss covered the broken wall; various ferns and flowers grew out from the crevices; different spaces or rooms were linked by corridors. If mud-monsters were not waiting their supper here, this place should be a park for the kid. We met three more mud-monsters on our way. And we passed them easily.

We turned right and then left, left and then right. At last, as the sun declined toward the west, a square turned up before us.

I was surprised in the scene in front of me.

Apple-trees, berries, pears and any other crops which you can name could be found here; grasses and flowers covered the square like a carpet full of colour; multicolored butterflies and bees were busily for their living and shuttling in the flowers. What a beautiful garden!

“There are some things.” I looked on the direction Zero pointed out. Eight or so unidentified flying object floated around an old apple tree. In the shape of dish, they ran after each other slowly just like playing game. “They are infants of the mud-monster. They can fly and live on fruit and grass.” Susan expressed it for us.

“So, the monsters outside are watchmen.” Zero took a glance at the relic as if thinking of something.

“Don’t worry. They are fine.” Susan said.

When we headed for the apple tree, an infant of mud-monster went out from the weeds. I found it could change its body color, green on the earth, milk white on the air. It’s cute, floated around the strangers and didn’t want to leave.

This apple tree grew in the center of the square. Huge, luxuriant and the age-old feeling, it maybe stand here hundreds years. Apples on the branches, with the red color and maturely sweet smell were attracting.

“Here, the boy, under the tree.”

“Hey. He is enjoying the siesta.”

The kid was sleeping well and some apple-cores were lying on the lawn just beside. He was smiling; maybe just have a good dream. Golden yellow sunshine penetrated the leaves and sprinkled on him, so warm. Susan took out the shoe which he left and put it on for him.

What a naughty boy! I felt hungry now, but where was the picnic box? Oh, we left it outside.

The Mazy Road

Zero was told that the fairy might desert him any time and any place. Once it happened, he would die in a moment, hence he must venture in the island to obtain the Ko-oh-yoku. Relying on the power of that sword, he might possibly be able to be saved. Since Zero ventured around, I stayed in this peaceful village and did my research.

I would go to the Fairy Altar twice or thrice a week, helped Susan dealing with the refugees. Britannia and Atlantis, the two supper powers in the world, were busily scrambling for supremacy. Although the war between them had not broken out yet, the small countries all over the world were destroyed and annexed one by one in the last several years, not matter what reason, holy or evil. Anyway, war does not determine who is right—only who is left. So, this border island became a fictitious land of peace.

The Fairy Altar took part of government function, checked out the refugees identifies, arranged their daily jobs and the place they stayed. Every morning when the ship came from the continent would be the busiest time of Fairy Altar. Ten or more refugees would arrive at the same time. And by now, there were more than two thousand people came and asked for help. Some of them would stay in this village, but most of them would put here as a springboard and leave for the other cities, for example, Lancelot, the biggest city in the east of this island.

Susan would meet every refugee and pray for them while I dealt with the paper works. And when darkness fell, we would have dinner together.

“I worry the government food supplies whether enough if the population increases so far. The social security will out of control if supply go less.” Susan looked worried when she looked at the bread in hand. “In hunger and no longer hunger, only lies between a piece of glass. It is so easy. Spring Festival is coming. Hope everything will be right.”

Every time I passed the mail-station I would check out my mail locker. The mail-station was set up in most of cities and towns, used to send articles and messages from place to place. You could rent a locker as your address here and your friends could send everything to you from other cities or towns, by machine but not man. There was a ray-machine. Based on the ancient technology, its power came from the Magic Purple Crystal. Articles would turn into particles and send between the machines. Thanks for this technology; my homework would be sent to my teacher in time. Convenient it was, it would ask for a high price, one Lelouch silver coin per pound, as my three days board expenses. Zero would send me odds and ends which he got in his way: stone plates, jewels, antiques and so on. These stone plates I would keep for myself as material of my research and the others I would like to sell to play for my meal.

There was an antiques store near the inn I stayed in. The shopkeeper was a talk man, on his fifties, had been here for decades. His hair was touched with grey and his blue eyes, eyes of eagle, sent a message that “don’t play game with me”. But I found that he just was man that business is business. He was easy-going when I inquired the stories of this island of him.

Five weeks after Zero left, in a chilly morning, I went to his shop with some antiques. April of Spring was cold and wet; snow still lay thick on the crest. More villagers were staying at home with furnace fire; occasionally one or two passers-by went on their way facing a biting wind. I heard someone was talking with the shop keeper while I was on the door way.

“…Everything is on its way.” It’s the shopkeeper.

“It has been ready for hundreds years. It’s time to let it work.” It’s a woman’s voice, which was familiar to me.

It’s a little cold outside. I pushed the door and came in.

The sound of door bell interrupted the conversation here. People in the shop all looked at the doorway.

“Good morning, Mr. Glasgow. It’s cold outside. And Susan, my dear witch, I thought you will never get out from your Fairy Altar.” I closed the door and said hello to the shopkeeper and the lady.

“Good morning, Rose. Your cheeks are bulged like a squirrel with nuts in its mouth. It’s lovely. Ha, ha, ha…” She failed my invitation to hot spring resort yesterday. Reason was that it’s cold outside. Her maid said so.

“Good morning, Miss Carroll. April of Iceland always keeps the tail of winter. But such beautiful snow is our honor, please enjoy it. Have you heard from your friend?” It’s this shopkeeper found Zero fainted away in the relic and saved him from Death.

“May be in Lancelot now. Just send these stuffs to me, never a letter. I sometimes wonder whether he ever truly grows up. He seems to remain little boy forever.”

“Ha. Don’t worry about it. And kiss him better when he came back, in a matter of speaking of course. It’s romantic of man.”

“Let me think about it. Susan, your face is so soft. Mr. Glasgow, would you like to try?” I was pinching her cheeks.

“Please don’t… I will go with you next time. Forgive me, please.”

“Okay, so, you tell us a story as compensation.”

“Story…” There was a flash of light in her eyes. “I have a story happened in Lancelot. You may like it.”

Lancelot was the biggest sea town on this island. A commercial city had a population more than 10000. Different from Spring, as manor of Britannia, it was a city bustling with activity, attracting foreign travelers with various aims came here.

Ships bore with wool and wood, poultry and tea came in this city at noon, carried off wheat and wine, bean and salt in the other day morning. When dark fell, sailors in different tone drank the draught bear together at the wharf with campfire and talked all kinds of stories until spoke with a lisp.

The clock stood in the center was big and huge, expressed the wealth here. And from Monday to Saturday, its chimes in the early morning declared the beginning of the bazaar and the busiest time of the city. And its song in the evening claimed the end of the business and men and women would hang around in the beerhouse zone until mid night.

Though it’s a city full of light and wealth, Lancelot had a nickname—Crazy City. Like the other big cities all around the world, poverty and enslavement, fake and crime hid in the angle without sunshine. The seamy side of the human soul would out of control like a nightmare someday somewhere. Especially, Lancelot was a city built on an ancient relic full of skulls and ghosts. Although monsters couldn’t control the human spirit, they could attract the dark in the human soul, or, be attracted by it. It’s said that heaven and hell are right here, behind every wall, every window. The world behind the world, and human was smack in the middle. And god and devil were fighting, and the battle field was the human heart.

The local called this relic under their feet “the Mazy Road” as it was a giant and complex tunnel building underground. And once you lost your way in it, it’s not an easy job to find the way out. It’s said that every year ten or more corpses were found in it, though just half of them died for hunger. There were several entrances in the city and suburb, linked by tunnels. It might be used in military affairs hundreds or thousands years ago, but now, it was a good place for monsters and crazy smugglers.

There was a adventurer called Athena. She want to have a visit to the Mazy Road. She got the information that south of the city had an entrance of the relic. It was said that there is a stream of green light spread from it when the night screen hangs down. Was light of treasure or monster? Lured by the lust of curiosity she would like to have a try.

The entrance was a well dried-up. But just one year before, this well was an important water resource for the local. An earthquake happened one year ago, though it didn’t do great damage to the city, the well turned like this and an entrance was found in it.

The well was connected with the Mazy Road by a corridor went down slowly, wet and full of mud deposit. The character or picture on the wall had been worn out by water and couldn’t know what a story it wanted to tell. The cold water dropped on her neck by surprise made the lady screamed out and almost ran away. I don’t like it, Athena told herself. The darkness in the corners and the dancing light came from her lamp mixed together made this place thrilling and horrible.

Passed the corridor, there was a room, high and large but nothing special. And then there were corridors again, connected with more rooms. Had been walking about forty minutes, but nothing was found. “Of course, if there is anything valuable, all has been taken away.” Athena talked to herself and read the map— she bought it from an adventure goods shop.

In the next half and an hours, Athena checked out all rooms marked on the map. She couldn’t remember how many time she hesitated to go further. The dark corridor seemed to be endless. “It’s time to go.” A voice whispered on her ears, but another voice said to her, “You can go further, keep moving.”

She had a rest on a rock against a wall. The air was cold and full of smell. Suddenly, while she laughed at her idea that spent a good night in such a place, she heard a sound.

“Di-da, di-da…” It’s sound of footsteps, she confirmed. Where did it come from? It's behind the wall, which she was leaning. Was monster or human? She didn’t know. The sound came and left, just like to pass by.

What important was, there was a hidden passageway behind the wall! That was why she ventures: lose and crazy, disappointment and out of expect, all they are the funs in adventure.

She checked the wall carefully. And one piece of it seems to be different to the others. There were some patterns deeply cut on it. She tried to push it. It didn’t move. Tried again, it managed to move a little. A sliding door! Little by little, with noise fricative, an unknown place appeared in front of her. Marked it on the map, she stepped into this new world.

Corridor again, and just like the other, was damp and cold, thrilling and terrible.

Maybe I can find something valuable; she went forward and talked to herself.

“Di-da, di-da…” Sound of footsteps echoed in the narrow corridor of her left hand, when she came to a crossing.

It’s the footfall she heard just before. Was monster or human? She couldn’t identify. The sound became loud and louder.

She turned down the fire and hid behind a pillar and peeped out. And she found her heart was moving faster and faster, just like to jump out from her chest.

The footsteps kept coming and a beam of light turned up from the corner.

Light, it’s light of fire. The flicker yellow color made Athena released. It’s human, not the monster. Fire was gift come from the god and its light could kill the monsters. She read this in a book that published by the church.

The light was stronger as the footfall coming near. She stood up and prepared to say hello to the stranger, but the next scene simply made her blood freeze.

An oil lamp with flicker fire turned up from the corner and a tall man appeared. The man was in suit, this one you would dress in a formal party, wore a pair of high boots and a black hat, and a long sword was stuck in his belt, all in all, odd dress. But contracted with the colorful cloth, his face was so pale in the light, just like the…

Goddess, she wanted to scream out: I can’t find his ear.

Peeped at the hand which caught the lamp, she saw the finger-joints without muscle and skin.

She tried to take a step backward, but her legs wouldn't move: they were shaking.

The man seemed to find the lady with pale face, maybe as white as he did. He looked over his shoulder. Skull without eyeballs, without nose, without lips, but bone was looking at her.

Game over.

You can’t see me… you can’t see me… she prayed.

The skeleton didn’t walk to her, just stared at her for a while, several seconds maybe, but like days. Then he turned away slowly and went on his way, left from the corridor on Athena’s right hand.

“Di-da, di-da…”

The sound disappeared at last, followed up with a deathly stillness. Athena slumped on the floor and drew a deep breath.

Suffered the shoot of the monster gave her, Athena managed to make a decision—go out at once. Not matter what treasure was, now, it’s meaning less.

She went back in the way she came at once. She had made marks on the roadside so that she wouldn’t lose her way.

The corridor was still cold and horrible, with shadow in shadow. Had been walking about half an hour, Athena found there was something wrong. Is it such a long way? No, she assured. But the marks and the footprints on the floor were all right. She hesitated and made a new mark on the wall with her silver knife.

She kept going, but it’s a seemingly endless journey.

“Di-da, di-da…”

The footsteps of the skull came again. What a terrible sound! Where did it come from? She didn’t want to know but kept going.

“Di-da, di-da…” The footsteps became louder and when she came to a crossing, the very skull with oil lamp turned up from the corner.

O my Goddess!

The skull looked over his shoulder slowly and looked at the lady for a while, several seconds. The darkness came out from the rim without eyeballs. And his light yellow teeth spread thrill. His mouth, bones only, seemed smiling, gave her the shivers. Then he turned away slowly and went on his way, left from the right.

“Di-da, di-da…” The footsteps died out.

The relic turned to be silent again.

Impossible, she kept saying to herself, but never believed it. She turned left—the way this skull came from. She swung around the crossings and galloped down one corridor then another.

Crossing, corridor, crossing, corridor...

How long I have been like this?

How long I have passed?

Where am I?

She had not idea.

She raised her head and looked around: thrilling corridor just like the others. She calmed down and checked out again—corridor, wall, and dirty floor with footprints.

She found something strange on a wall, a mark, a mark made by knife.

Oh, goddess helps me.

It’s the very mark she carved herself, which her name was on it!

She got a breath of the terrible cold air.

“Di-da, di-da…”

The horrible sound echoed in the corridor once again. She ran again, wanted to keep away from the sound.

But at last, like it or not, the skull in suit turned up from the corner not far from her, took the same actions—looked over his shoulder slowly and stared at her, and then turned away his head and went on his way.

What the heal it was!

“I can’t wait to die.” Athena had her silver knife in hand and followed the skull carefully in a distance. “Don’t scare.” She kept talking to herself.

“Di-da, di-da…” The footsteps echoed in the narrow corridor.

In a speed that neither fast nor slow, the skull was moving forward. Athena kept following. When came to a crossing, the skull didn’t go straight but turned right. Athena wanted to catch with it and turned right at once. But there was nothing. Disappeared, the skull was disappeared.

“Di-da, di-da…”

She could hear the awful footsteps, but where did it come from? Left, no, right, no, ahead, no, behind, no.

It was coming from every direction.

It was echoing in the relic.

Athena felt out of power and slumped on the center of the crossing. I had been trapped, she told herself.

It was colder and colder. And the darkness seemed to be thicker and deeper. Light came from the lamp huddled itself up with cold. Athena knew what was waiting for her: die from hunger, kill by the monster, or, or commit suicide. Dismissing these thoughts, she kept pondering over.

Now, what was the next step? Waited for help? Who would come into this hell? And actually none knew her was here.

Tried again, she made up her mind, to conquer or to die.

Cold, weariness and stress came from both emotion and body made her will like to have a sleep, but god knew whether she can wake up again. And she had no time to think about this. Something gave out blue light appeared in the darkness in front of her.

Illusion?

No. She looked carefully. They floated in the air, in football size, came out of the wall and floor. They chased each other, first this way, then that way, took over the way.

Disasters pile up on one another. Not a good thing, she knew it.

“Now turn your back slowly and run as quick as you can.” A voice said in her mind.

But the strange thing seemed don’t want to be kept alone and took action one step ahead. One of them rushed toward her, speeded up and flied like an arrow. Athena took a step backward in hurry, and the light ball smashed into her right leg.

“Oh!” She felt a great pain on her right leg, which came like a bolt of thunder. The oil lamp, which in her hand, dropped on the floor and broke in two, and then became a fire wall between the light ball and her in a while. She thought her leg was bleeding, but there was no blood or wound while checked up. The light balls seemed don’t like the fire and stop moving forward. “Go, now.” She took out another lamp and walked into another way with her spasm right leg.

The light ball might scare the light from the oil lamp. She turned up the fire. Walked with tottering steps about twenty minutes, her leg grew worse.

She looked back. There was nothing except thrilling darkness. “I need a rest.” She sat down against the wall.

Oil in the lamp could last about four hours. In another word, my life has only four hours now, she thought with quivering breathing. I’m trapped and then chased, she felt hopeless.

Every several seconds, she would look around nervously, hoped the monster not to turn up. But it seemed that they want to laugh at her, or just didn’t want to grant her a piece of peace. And now, once again, the balls glowed with blue light were floating toward.

“I’m too tired to play the game. Whoever, please come to save me. I’ll marry to him.”

The fire was dying out with the passage of time little by little. And it went out at last. Now, it’s a complete darkness world, a hell full of crazy, desperation and thrill.

She gave up all hope and slumped down, complete powerless.

To be killed or commit suicide, she asked herself hopelessly and supportless. Her eyes filled with dark, which just like storm, which just like whirlpool, which let her close to the edge of madness.

“Di-da, di-da…”

The Death’s footsteps echoed in the corridor once again and the loathsome yellow light turned up in the corner next to her.

Yes, it’s time to make a decision. She picked up her silver knife and aimed at her heart.

“It is all over.” She closed her eyes.

“Stop. Stop.” A young man voice came in her ears.

Hallucination?

She opened her eyes unbelievable. A young man with flaxen hair and green pupils was kneeling down in frond of her, his big warm hands were holding her hands which grasping a knife.

Not the ugly skull, not the thrilling light ball, it’s human, not illusion.

“You are safe now.” The man said with a smile. She nodded her head and felt the tear sprung out, dropped from her face. Then she blacked out for dizziness.

She felt warm, did I in the monster’s stomach? Opened her eyes and looked around: the strange and cold stone ceiling assured there wasn’t her bedroom; an oil lamp was glowing with golden light that made her feel relieved; a young man about twenty was sitting beside, looking at her. She tried to get up, but the man gesticulated, let her lie down.

“Don’t you feel better now?” He asked with a pleasant voice.

“Yes. I can hardly express my gratitude to you. If you don’t stop me, I should have…”

“It’s my honor. The sally port, you open it? I didn’t find it when I came before.”

“Yes, I do, but I hope not. How can you find me?”

“I heard some noise and found a warm broken oil lamp, you dropped it, right? I looked around and found you at last.” He answered and gave her a cup of chocolate.

“Thanks,” she caught the cup. It’s warm. She liked it. “Do you meet the monsters? The skull?”

“Skull? Is a skeleton with an oil lamp? It’s called Incubus, can make people fascinate and under delusion. So you are trapped. But you are fine now.”

“But why you don’t…” Athena looked at the young man. His face was still with qualities of boy, full of passion and power.

“I don’t know,” he shook his head gently, “I just taught to go ahead when I meet it. It found that I didn’t walk into his trap, and then pointed his sword at me. But his swordplay was so terrible.”

“You killed it?”

“No, actually.”

“No? Why?”

“The monster is the maze itself. It’s the specific image of the maze. I can’t destroy this relic? And if I do so, my friend will face me with frowning brows and angry eyes. She is much more dangerous than the monster.” He made a wry face.

“Ha, ha, ha… What about the light ball? They make me crazy.”

“They must be Specters. People will catch sight of them when they are exhausted.” He sent her some jerky and bread. “Eat some food, take a break, you will never see them again.”

Half an hour later, they went through the sally port. The man closed the door. She remembered the tale.

“Do you hear about the story that there is green light spread from here when dark fall?”

“Yes, I heard and knew what it is. Do you like to have a look?”

“Of course I do. I come for it.”

The man turned off the oil lamp and the relic turned to be utter darkness.

“Hey. What are you doing?” She held the man’s arm and drew near.

“Wait, wait for a moment, let you eyes adapt to the dark.” She felt the man looking at her nerously. “It’s safe here. I have checked out.”

She could see something now. Something on the wall, floor, even her hands and clothes were giving out green light weakly.

“The light come from some small animals live in the mud. They just stay at the place like this, wet and dark. What you say that spread out from here are their spores. The spore can float and drift in the air, then settle down in a new place. Interesting, isn't it?”

“I don’t think so at all. I just want to have a bath now.”

The man lighted the lamp and the green light disappeared.

When Dawn in robe of saffron was hasting from the Coral Sea they climbed up from the well.

She recalled something.

“Oh, I have not introduced myself yet. I am Athena Gloucester, an adventurer. My friends call me Athena. Nice to meet you.”

The man seemed to be shy and answered at once. “I am Zero C Cadmus, a knight, please call me Zero. Nice to meet you, too.”

…

“Susan, why does the hero call Zero?”

“Coincident, just coincident, in the mind of universe…”

“But why do you want to run away?”

“Because Rose is more dangerous than the monster. Ha, ha, ha…”

The Church

The church was set up by an oneirocritic in 42 BA (forty-two year before the establishment of Atlantis), and in several decades, its power came in every corner of the continent, like wild grass grew crazily. By now, it had a history about 538 years. Its source land was a country called Bohemia Kingdom, once the largest country in the continent.

It’s said that the initiator could shadow forth some future occurrence by making dream. And by this special power, he won the faith of the king and people. He was called Pope Abaddon in the history. In the church painting, he was a tall man with a book in one hand and a spear in another. The book was called Codex, the rule of church. The spear was called Destiny, the power symbol of church. But both of them were stolen from the church museum in the pass one century. It’s rumored that there was an organization plotting behind the scenes.

The church once was not only a religion organization, but also a military affairs organization. It had its own army—the Cross Troop. And in the history, it had done several great affairs. The first one, the Expedition, enlarged the territory of Bohemia and church. The big one, the Pagan Hunts, ended the chaotic situation of religion faith in the continent.

“Let us take a holy war, regain the holy land from the evil pagan now. For seven consecutive years of famine, poverty, hunger and sorrow are all over the place, everywhere is a sad scene, and at the same time, the devil slavery conquers the land so rich where gold, spices, pepper bent can be picked up. We are people of god. How can we be enslaved by evil? It would be such a shame. Deport the evil pagan out of our land, I tell all of you now: This is the god's will.”

“This is a war worthy of participating and we will fight to win. Do not for loving family and refuse to go, because you should love god more than loving families; do not for loving hometown and refuse to go, because the whole world is land of god; do not for having property and refuse to go, because the greater wealth is waiting for you.”

“If anyone do not love the god, let him be accursed. We are the sword of god. Oh, my god give glory, god, give glory, not For us, god, but for your name. Let’s fight now.”

------ Pope Abaddon

The power of Pope was enlarged in these successes. It’s said that the Pope could even control the list of king candidate of a small country. In this age, which historian called it Middle Ages, the church rule was the law of the world itself.

The church was strong, but its power had been cut down bit by bit since its main supporter was beaten. Three hundreds years ago, Britannia was a small country just set up, located on the south coast of continent. The war between Bohemia and Britannia broke out on Babylonia Calendar 197. This battle should be a cheesecake for Bohemia, but it turned to be a disaster. In this battle, Britannia army used one odd and powerful weapon. It’s a kind of black powder, could explode and burst out in a second, called gunpowder. Lots of men of Bohemia died in this battle. Their blood made the river red and their ghosts were still crying in the battlefield. And Atlantis took part in this war when Bohemia was beaten and had to find their way home. And this loss came to be a crisis of Bohemia. After this war, Bohemia was eaten little by little by Britannia and Atlantis. And one hundred and fifty years ago, Bohemia was annexed by Britannia.

Babbitt was the capital city of the church, now located on the north of Britannia. Magnificent temples and churches stood on both sides of the river which ran through the city attracted travelers come from all over the world. But it’s said that the Pope had to ask for the repair money for these buildings from the Britannia royal family recently.

Have a Cup of Tea

At the early May, Spring had been walking out the snow, and now was covered in fog and light rain for days. Everything in the small village hid themselves in the mist, like playing game with other. It’s silent. Only rain with blowing wind sang down the roof and street. And it announced that the spring princess had been arrived in this island.

In the Fairy Altar, Susan and I had a tea and enjoyed the rain scene through the window.

“Black tea—white, no sugar.” Susan poured out the tea for me.

“Thanks.” Susan was good at making tea. I enjoyed it very much. “It’s busy yesterday, but I like it. The ceremony is quite unique. I can write an essay on it.”

Yesterday was the Spring Festival of Iceland. And a large ceremony was held in the Fairy Altar, in its Gothic style hall. Susan had been preparing for it for months, hands-on from the program to the repast.

"I like festival. And their smiles … are my only support.”

Locals and refugees took part in together. And the local was kind to the outsider. They poured wine in the strangers’ cups and piled meal on their dishes. And they sang and danced and enjoyed each other all day long.

It’s said that this custom can be traced back to three hundred years ago when people of the continent settled in this island. This island and the ocean around it once were permanently covered with dense fog, and with the devil story, so no one want to close to this zone. But, three hundred years ago, in Babylonia Calendar198, a fisherman found this mysterious island by accident. This news spread on the continent and people from different countries came to this new world to find their fortune. And Spring was their first station. And they held this ceremony together made no distinction between one's own and other in this festival.

“A party will be held in the Vatican Square if it’s a fine day.”

“What a pity.” The biscuit was delicious. Susan was good at cooking. It might be the gift from her great-grandmother, she said so.

“Five month later, in October, there is another festival, isn’t it?”

“Yes.” Susan had a biscuit, “October 1st is the Moon Day, the most important day of this island. Have you ever heard tell this matter?”

“Only hearsay, what is it exactly?”

“It’s a day for our Goddess—Verdandi. Have you heard about this goddess?”

“Verdandi, is the Goddess Verdandi who led the Hosts of heaven against Lucifer and his accomplices in the theomachy?”

“Right.” “I read this legend in some books. But I have not idea that she is such an important goddess here.”

“In our faith, Verdandi is the Lord of Hosts—Orlog’s daughter, the foison goddess, takes charge of harvest. Although the church is not happy for that, Verdandi is our goddess, the most important one. Have you studied the painting—Winged Victory that hung in the Atlantis Public Museum.”

“Winged Victory... I would like to, but it is hung in another place, the palace of Atlantis—Louvre.”

Susan looked surprised. “I don’t know such affair.”

“The painting has been a collection of the king of Atlantis for more than a hundred years. And the museum what you said has closed down for forty years.” I stared at her face and asked. “When do you watch it in the museum, my dear witch?” It’s interesting to study her face which glowing like the setting sun.

“Rose is a bully. I made a mistake, okay? The painter of this painting is a citizen here. He drew it at the base of the tale of this island. And his draft is placed in Fairy Altar here.” She switched the points. “Well, in that painting you will find a goddess clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, leading angels, fairies and human fighting with Lucifer who has six wings: with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. This goddess is the image of our Verdandi.”

“But why this goddess associates with Iceland?”

She clarified for my question. “It’s said that Goddess Verdandi was born in this island on October 1st, in a full moon night, and then signed the contract with the people and became the patron saint here, so we hold a celebration every year on October 1st as her birthday party. And in this island, there only six months are appropriate for farming. And it is the ending of cultivation of a year. We will hold a great party in the Vatican Square and make a wish that we will have good harvests next year.”

In a moment, I sensed her eyes were glistening with sadness. But it disappeared in a twinkling.

“You remind me. I have read some local tales about Verdandi these several days. Different from most of mythologies in the continent that the god is the leading role, declaring the fear of god will be with man to keep man from sinning, Verdandi always is a minor role, an ornament here. It seems that those tales are contradictory with the authority of goddess, and you forget yourselves and call thee friend who art your lord?”

In most of stories, Verdandi would appear suddenly and say one or two dialogues hard to understand, even a smile only.

“Well, they are produces on the basis of a philosophy idea here: there is not miracle in the world, only necessity, accidental and something who has done. So, the religious authority of Vedandi is limited. Guide is what she can do. And then we choose the way.”

“Is it an error in logic, believe the goddess in one hand, but deny her holiness in other hand?”

“We never pollute her holiness. Nobody is denying Verdandi inspires people to better lives. All we are saying is the way we treat the goddess. Goddess Verdandi symbolizes the positiveness. The light of her music illumines the world. And we ever listen in silent amazement. Our heart long to join in thy song, then we learn, but not beg, we worship, but not fear. Any other question?”

“Yes, teacher. One more question.”

“Yes?”

“How old are you?”

The colour was coming back to her cheeks.

“Rose! If you ask this question once more, I will, I will take your biscuit away.”

Nightmare

She waked up with sweat on her back. Nightmare turned up frequently recently, made her uneasy.

They were the records which are noted in the scripture of truth. She knew it well. I am just reading the memories of the earth.

Nightmare.

It’s a large room with moonlight came through the windows. The carpet and walls were filled with strange and fantastic shadow full of gloom. And a man and a woman with pale face were lying in blood, breathless. Beside the corpses, a lady was standing against the statue of Goddess Verdandi.

The lady’s eyes were closed, but even breathing, just fainted away. In the yellow light of candle, her face, her hands, her arms and clothes were covered with brown bloodstain. And in her hand, a dragger was held.

Everyone was amazed at this scene.

The lady opened her eyes slowly, and ran down the people surrounded.

She felt she was grasping something. Lifted up her right hand, the dragger which was covered with blood appeared in front of her. For seconds, she just stared at the article, and then suddenly, with a scream, she threw the dragger on the ground. Looked at the blood on her hands, her arms, her clothes, the lady opened her eyes wildly and keened on the ground, and then fainted away when she saw the corpses…

The nightmare was going on.

A crowd ran out of a huge building. Sound of fight and screech came from the center garden made everyone to be nervous. The crowd was stopped suddenly. Two huge men appeared in front of them. Six men charged to them. Without dodge or resistance, the two men just stood there. Swords chopped at their chests and arms, left shallow bloodstains on their body.

“Monster, monster…” They screamed out. They were scared; their sharp sword couldn’t cut into their muscle.

The two men stood there still, just liked to enjoy it. One of them licked the blood on his arm, and a mad light came out from his eyes.

“Blood is good.” A dull sound turned up.

Men who braved these monsters were beaten one by one, dripping with blood. And two of them became the victims of the two monsters; they were torn into piece before their death.

They knew their lives no longer grasp in their own hands.

A braver was knocked down and the monster was standing in front of him; fear on death made his face warping. His colleagues were fighting to help, but the monster threw them away, just like to throw away his dolls. Step by step, the monster was walking toward him...

The nightmare kept going like endless.

A large dragon with seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon its heads was flying in the air. It howled and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.

There was a lady in black beside the dragon. Three blue flowers stuck on her black dress, made her look dim and gloom. She was peering at the crowd on the ground out of emotion.

A man turned up in the battlefield, with a pair of snow white wings. In his hand, there was a sword glinting with golden light.

Dark clouds, with flashing lightning were floating in circles around a large building rapidly like an eddy. And wind from the violent storm seemed to be going in circles around the tree, giving a long screaming sound.

The man fought with the large red dragon. And time after time, he was beaten on the ground.

The dragon howled again. And the third part of the sea became blood; and the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died. And by the fire, by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of its mouths, the third part of men killed…

Is it my limit?

She stared at the moon. The cool moon in the sky was as beautiful as usual, as hundreds years ago.

This was a sleepless night again.

A Tale of Seasons

Every year, the winter general will control this island half of turn. Cold biting wind will blow from the north, carrying with the goose feather like snow to this country. Everything in this world will turn to be white, a flawless white.

Snow, white snow, floats from the thick dark clouds.

Those dancing leaves and snowflake, these little smile faces and shivering body, I want to carry in my breast tightly.

However, I can’t, have to take my hands back. But I am happy, even though I can’t embrace what I love.

Yes, sticking out my chest, I can say, my life is happy.

“Do you know why the snow is white?” A lady enjoyed the sight outside the window.

“Maybe it has forgotten its original color.” A man thought for a while and then answered.

“Forgotten…” The lady had a cup of tea, “it’s sad.”

“Maybe, but the white snow is beautiful.” The fire in the fireplace was dancing.

“You like it?”

“I like it just you do.” …

After the long term of fighting, the spring princess will hold off the winter general at last. And the spring comes down this island from the heaven.

Where are the songs of spring? Ay, where are they?

In the running stream, in the chirping bird, in the blooming flower, yes, they are in the life of the world.

“Why do we marry up?” The lady sitting in the garden asked this question suddenly.

If they were not growing up together, he might fail to answer this question.

“We are enjoying the same sight, listening to the same melody, having the same happiness. My eyes are yours, and your ears are mine.” The man held the hands of the lady gently.

“And we want to be one flesh, no more twain, but one flesh, so, we marry up.” The lady’s hands were soft just like the silk. Her fingers were pretty just like the ice engraving.

“I don’t think so.” The lady answered.

“You and I are two different individualities, always different. But just because we are different, we need to know and understand each other. I marry you, for I want to know more about you. Yes, I want to know you much better, so we marry up.”

“And I hope you can read my mind one day.”…

With unceasing coaxing and pestering, the son of the sun – summer – wins the truncheon from the princess spring. He is naught and full of power. See, the rain, heavy or light, is the sweat dropped from his body. Listen, the wind, whistling on the grassland, is the trace he left when he runs through.

A man and woman were planting flowers beside the summer house. They wanted their home becomes a large flowerbed which full of colors. Now, the red roses, yellow tulips and white lilies all were blooming in their garden.

"What is their name?” The lady pointed to a tract of blue flowers and questioned.

“They are fleur de lis, or called iris. It is similar to the lily, but the number of petal is different.” The man answered.

“They are beautiful, just like blue butterflies flying between the leaves. What is its flower implication?” A delicate smell seeped out of the flowers came down with the winds.

“Good news, the light or the happiness of believer.”

“What about the pink one next to them?” The lady was interested in the plant.

“They are the clove pink, symbol of the mother’s immortal love.”

The man reminded his lot. He had tried to find his parents in different means, but there was not any news.

“Don’t worry about it. Your parents will come to find you soon.” The lady was looking at him. Her clean eyes just liked the most beautiful stars in the Milky Way.

“I am fine. Don’t worry. Yes, they will come one day, and happy to embraced you and me. Oh, the tart is delicious.” Looking at the girl in front of him, the goddess treats me quite well, he thought.

“Thank you. I have made up my mind.” Her tongue turned to be stern suddenly, just like to decide something important.

“What?”

“We will have fruit salad and pancakes tonight.” …

In some countries, people will describe the flickering plump wheat head as the running wolf, for their gestures are similar. The wheat uprooted by the gale is wasted by the wolf, and is eaten by the wolf when have a bad crops. This metaphor is appropriate, but the derogatory sense in it is a tiny flaw.

Maybe the foison goddess will laugh out of court; she likes to walk in the farmland in the look of wolf. Peering at the autumn sky from the crack of golden wheat, what a clear and boundless sky!

It’s a harvest festival. Now a pack of wolves are running in the field.

There had been a noble living beside the Asgard. He was fraudulent and treacherous, and liked to pocket a portion of his workers. One day, he had a bad idea.

“You,” he called the workers together, “listening, my son is getting marry next week. There are three jobs you have to do: first, make a bed as large as the sky; second, cook meat as heavy as the mountain; third, brew wine as deep as the sea. I will hold a big party to entertain the honorable guests. If you can’t do these in time, I am sure that you will miss your wages.”

Everyone was upset, and cursed this cruel man.

One of them called in the Asgard. The owners here were kind to them. He sighed deeply and recounted his grief.

“It’s easy.” The hostess said with a smile. “You ask that man to give you the figures, the sky large, the mountain weight, and the sea depth. If he can give you the numbers, then you can prepare for them. Ask him to pay for the material first, get it?”

The worker did as what the lady said. The noble had nothing to say in reply and had to pay the workers.

Refute that guy with his own argument. The man assured that he was married to a clever lady.

Looked at this lady’s happy face, he reminded their childhood in the Rocky Castle. Although the lady would play truant from time to time, she was a good student in her political class, and was welcomed by her teacher, Professor Plato, for this girl always had good idea to deal with his difficult political questions, territory, war, tax… And owing to the lady, he was one of his students. Plato had once planed to persuade the king to adopt the lady as his heir. But after had a talk with the lady, the old man stopped talking this affair.

“Do you remember Professor Plato?” He asked.

“Our political teacher,” the lady placed a cup of tea in front of him, “The interesting old man, right?”

“At the time, how did you talk him out of choosing you as heir?” Professor Plato was interesting, but he also was headstrong, the man knew it well.

“Err…” The lady recalled to her mind. “I just said I will run away from his class if he does so.”

“Threaten?” Indeed, it’s an easiest way.

“Professor likes the company of the famous, the successful, and the powerful. He enjoys the feeling that he influences these people. But I’m Pandora. I’ll go on my way. And I don’t like the political science at all.”

“You don’t like it? But you never cut this class.” He was puzzled.

“You,” The lady fell upon his neck at the back. “You were there.” She kissed his cheek gently. “Would you like a cheesecake?”

“Thank you!”…

Shadow

The Lunatic Calendar 250

The horrible King Dragon, the beast for riding of Fallen Angel Lucifer, came into our kingdom like a thief in the night. It sent a pestilence upon the island to plague our people. And one by one our strong and brave people fell down dead.

This devil attached our King Apollo and his family in a full moon night. None of them survived.

More than 13000 people were killed in this year.

The Lunatic Calendar 252

Hero Michael was voted as our new king.

Our great country, holy Eden, flashing glory of sun, is once again standing on this godsend island in the protection of Verdandi.

All hail Eden. All hail Michael.

The Lunatic Calendar 262

An inauspicious earthquake has happened in March. As the King Dragon was sealed in the Rocky Castle, for the sake of security, our king Michael sent his daughter, Princess Sherry into the castle serviced as a witch.

The Lunatic Calendar 277

Princess Sherry died at the age of thirty. King Michael held her state funeral by himself. Princess Kallen, the No.3 princess, daughter of Crown Prince Holmes, taking over the duties of Princess Sherry, severs in the Rocky Castle as a witch.

The Lunatic Calendar 278

Our King Michael died at the age of fifty-four. The whole nation sorrows for our great hero. The royal family held the state funeral. Crown Prince Holmes ascends the throne.

…

These texts were annals, cut on stone plates that Zero sent to me. (Annals: chronological record of events. The event was written in the order of time. It’s a way of recording the history.) And they were written on Runes, which was an ancient language could be traced back to 8000 years ago. It’s said that the ancient believed the Runes contains magic power like spell so that they just used this character in formal occasion. And for this reason, there were seldom texts on it excavated. Susan was good at this ancient character. She helped me a lot on my research.

I straightened my back and had a cup of Darjeeling. Susan sent a box of tea to me by her maid. I liked this black tea. The grape aroma, the champagne color of tea and the soft taste made up one of the most famous teas in the world.

It always was the article of tribute. I had tasted it once before while I joined a party held by the imperial family.

Susan was busy and busier after the Spring Festival. The government officer called on the Fairy Altar everyday, about the refugee, about the food support, about the public order. You need a vacation, I said. But she just shook her head. She left Spring yesterday, the servant said so. This news did not surprise me. Susan had announced it in advance.

The two biggest enemies to human happiness are pain and boring. And now I was bord. I would die for it, one day. So, Susan, please come back soon.

These records about Eden were interesting, but not enough. Most of them I had read on books. And Michael’s story was as popular as Black Bride.

It’s said that while the King Dragon was at its most deadly outside, hero Michael went by the shore of the Sounding Sea and prayed apart to Goddess Verdandi whom great Orlog had borne.

“Hear me,” he cried, “O goddess of the gold sword, that protect Yggdrasil and holy Eden and rule time with thy might, hear me oh thou of servant. If we have ever decked your temple with garlands, or burned your thigh-bones in fat of bulls or goats, grant our prayer, and let your sword avenge these our tears upon King Dragon.”

Thus did he pray, and Verdandi heard his prayer. She darted down at a furious pace from the summits of Olympus, with her gold sword in her right hand, and the wings rattled on her back with the rage that trembled within her.

The goddess fused with the fearless Michael. And the hero flew to the terrible battlefield.

King Dragon stood on the corpse, with fire coming out of its mouths. Hero Michael lifted his keen sword and brought it hacking on the dragon. The sword of Michael from Goddess Verdandi was giv’n him temperd so, that neither keen nor solid might resist that edge: it met the iron skin of the red dragon with steep force to smite descending, and in half cut sheere, nor staid, but with swift wheele reverse, deep entring the dragon all his right side. As the dragon fell to the ground, it gave a terrible cry—a long, hard, unnatural scream.

The body of King Dragon was sealed, and goddess bestowed her gold sword upon the hero, promised when stars flash up in the darkness, she will come down from the summits of Olympus and scatter the dark.

The Great Battle was ended as it is.

Although there was nothing new, I had found something strange in these records. Consulted the record I had translated, there were 45 records about the news of the royal families’ death. And they belonged to 7 kings, 8 queens, 4 prince, and, 26 princesses. And in these twenty-six princesses, twenty-three of them had been serving in the Rocky Castle. Most strange was, their death ages all were thirty or so.

Why did the princess served in the Rocky Castle turn to be early death? Was the power of King Dragon or just a mere sad coincidence only?

A noise of commotion came from the street interrupted my job. What is happening? I opened the window.

A two-in-hand close carriage was running in a great hurry on the street. It ran through the street like a mad beast, and the passerby got out of the way in a hurry. A cloud of dust rose as it drove off, and left the curse and swear behind. Two aged men were too late to dodge and hurt, yelling with pain on the sideway.

This carriage made a turn followed up with yet another commotion. Who was the mad man? Was the landowner here, high official and noble lord from the continent or just a rich drunkard? Why didn’t they catch it? I wondered. It should be easy to do so with fairy power. Zero would charge into at once if he witnesses this scene. He was a idiot, and a knight.

The local calmed down in short time after its disappearance and tidied up the street, seemed nothing had happened.

Spring wasn’t a retreat away from the turmoil of the world!

I closed the window and picked up a newspaper from the table. Spring didn’t have newspaper itself, and every morning ship from the continent would take newspaper here, but the news were days ago.

The grave news on it was: the crown prince couple of the Principality of Liechtenstein was assassinated when they joined a show held in Persia.

The crown prince, Roderick Usher, was the staunch ally of Atlantis; he supported and established the Holy League, which made for mutual defense, between the Principality of Liechtenstein and Atlantis. And his pungent criticism about Britannia always was the news. And Persia, an independent state, but was faced with the civil war for racial prejudice; and it’s said that Britannia had a hope in one side when Atlantis supported one another.

The news said that the spokesman of Atlantis Foreign Ministry had made a statement that Atlantis was faced with a serious struggle, hoped it would be settled through diplomatic channels. And the prime minister of Britannia, Otto Von Bismarck, condemned cruelty to this assassination in his daily speech.

The legendary Bismarck family was famous in the world. From his great-grandfather to him, his family entailed the position of prime minister of Britannia. Their family motto was: Goddess' in her heaven, all's right with the world. I read it in his father’s autobiography.

And none organization had announced to be responsible for this assassination by now.

This news was easy to read: world is in the state of war; Atlantis needs the excuse for war, and Britannia doesn’t want to take on the responsibility of shooting firstly. The balance between big powers might lose in a second.

Such unsettling news.

One of my teachers once said “War is the source of everything. War is not only a biological rule, but also the first law of human. It’s an element of civility can’t be dispensed.”

He was right in some way, but I couldn’t recall what he said. I was busily painting on my textbook when he was talking loudly with funny body language. I didn’t like his lesson. It was boring. And I hate war. If someone like it, please find a spare room, don’t bother me with such stupid idea.

Threw the paper away, I remembered a folk tale heard from the local.

In this island, there was a mysterious thief called St. Tail. A girl might be. Some witnesses saw her long hear, exquisite and wonderful figure in the silver moonlight when she leapt onto roofs and vaulted over walls.

She would send an advance notice before her action, and leave a card in where she dropped with a sentence on it: I have called on, and her mark: St. Tail. Stolen all the money from the tax office of Lancelot and distributed to the poor in a full moon night was the greatest job she had done.

And now she was the No.1 criminal wanted in Lancelot and some other cities. The government offered a substantial pecuniary reward: 1000 Lelouch gold coins. One Lelouch gold coin could be converted into 43.5 Lelouch silver coins, and one Lelouch silver coin could exchange into 35.5 Lelouch copper coins. Just read these numbers, you may feel nothing. But if I say a quarter of Lelouch gold coin can buy apples full of a cart, you may sense something.

By the way, the Lelouch coin was the flat money of Britannia, and was the main one in the world money market. Atlantis had legal tender itself, called Pence coin, and also was divided into gold, silver and copper. And for Gold Specie Standard, Lelouch and Pence, these two moneys were convertible currency. As the noble mental net content of Lelouch was higher than Pence, as Britannia was a powerful financial country, people liked the Lelouch more than the Pence, even in the Atlantis territories. The Atlantis royal economists warned the government about it in a financial report the last year. In their words: who catch the wallet, which has the world. Yes, it’s danger, especially when you are fighting with the man held all your money.

And just like all the old stories: the heartless rich cursed her while the good poor blessed her.

There was a song about St. Tail circulating among the people:

St. Tail is a very good girl, and a very good girl is she.

She takes from the rich, and she gives to the poor.

And she does it all for free!

St. Tail is a very clever girl, and a very clever girl is she.

Nobody can find her.

Because she is protected by the Night!

St. Tail is a very good girl, and a very good girl is she.

She takes from the rich, and she gives to the poor.

And she does it all for free!

This tale recalled me the story of Robin Hood. Where there is oppression there is resistance, goodness knows.

But the biggest mystery about St. Tail was – it’s a story lasted more than three hundred years. Although her major heroic deeds circulated among this island, her several cases occurred on the continent. Was she a family, a gang or a kindness goddess descended to the world? No one got the answer, but knew that she had been a myth.

The last news about St. Tail was her show time in Gawain, a large independent city in the north of Iceland.

I had a cookie and recalled Zero. Did he have breakfast now?

Adventure in The Witch Forest

This island was covered in rain. The loud and clear thunder, the dazzling light once in a while, made there’s a feeling of summer in the air and earth. A young man with flaxen hair appeared at the entrance of a large primeval forest—the Witch Forest.

Be situated on the center of Iceland, this forest was gloomy especially in this weather. The fir-trees and pines, tall and big, covered the sky, without a thread of light. Occasionally, unnamed birds chirp echoed in it, made this forest look deep and wide.

Young man reminded the tale. It’s said that Witch Forest was the dividing line of human world and Alfheim—country of elf and fairy. In the ancient, witches and wizards all the world would come here for power, signed contracts with the fairy. With this contract, they would become mediums of intercourse between the fairy and human.

But this culture had declined since the upgrade of church. The church declared this behavior to be devil worship and forbade all ceremonies or festivals relate to Nature worship. And in this battle between the paganism and church, the paganism lost. Rumor had it that, during three hundred years of pagan hunts, an astounding five million people were burned at the stake by the church. And the follower of Nature worship was persecuted; witches and wizards had to hide themselves in the place which is hard to get to, for example, this Witch Forest.

Maybe the descendent of witches would welcome me warmly, he thought. It became a heavy rain. He put up a tent, lighted a campfire under a big pine.

It had been raining hard all night. The whole forest came to be silent. It’s a silence just like the ears covered by someone, depressed and oppressive. The gentle sound of rain dropped on the leaves like a lullaby made him felt sleepy gradually. Stuck his large sword in the earth, he leaned against the sword and closed his eyes.

He felt he changed into a fresh breeze suddenly, flowing between the trees. And the scene was roaring past.

Once again!

It is a dream, he told himself. He made such strange dreams, or said he watched such strange scenes from time to time since he began his journey. The content and form of them would change every time. And in these dreams he just was an audience. There was nothing about him, both people and scenes.

They were someone’s memories. This was his conclusion.

In the dream, there was a lady turned up very often. He called her Pandora, and she called him Michael. Who are they? Zero had not idea. But they were interesting, he liked them.

And, the lady was beautiful. (Wake up, Zero.)

What will happen tonight? His dream was going on.

He was standing in front of six men. The leader was called Samael, a noble. Zero met him before, in the dream. But every time Zero looked at his pale thin face would like to associate him with gray archway, dusty windows and all the ancient castle ruins.

And it seemed that Michael didn’t like this man too.

The dream kept going on.

“Well, sir,” there was a light coming from Samael’s eyes. “You have less strong constitution than I should have expected. Oh, it’s a dangerous habit, playing a weapon in the pocket of one’s dressing. My men have reported to me.”

“You are Michael, the gardener in the Rocky Castle,” Samael took out a notebook from his pocket and took a glance. “Well, seem my intelligence web has not yet completed. I didn’t expect you will be here.”

“I also didn’t expect a Comte will do criminal activities.” He stared at the man, spoke loudly. “Calculated crime, bribe, murder, sir, I can’t image what you won’t dare.”

“High praise from you. I only choose the most efficient way. You may call it wisdom.”

“Wisdom? Homicidal act, just is homicidal act, nothing else. Do you have a pity of human life?”

A slight smile appeared in Samael’s pale white face. “Will you take care of an ant when you go through the lawn?”

“Sir, I think I won’t know you, forever.”

“No matter, I don’t need your understanding. But you must know one thing: you must stand clear, Mr. Michael. Go home and have a sleep, forget everything you saw and heard: these are the suggestions I give you.”

“And what if I refuse?”

“Man, you stand in the way not merely of an individual, but of a mighty organization, the full extent of which even you with all your cleverness have been unable to realize. You must drop it or be trouble under foot.” That man’s face turned to be paler than even.

“You know I’m afraid that in the pleasure of this conversation I am neglecting the competition. The time has gone. Excuse me, sir.” Michael took a step forward. Samael’s men encircled their owner at once.

“Well, well, it seems a pity, but I’ve done what I could.” The sharp voice came beyond the man wall.

But before Michael could protest, he heard a slight sound and something was going to blow against his face.

Zero was surprised and opened his eyes wildly. Everything was disappeared, Samael, his men, and the thing was going to blow against his face.

It is a dream, he told himself.

It’s early morning. The forest was still enveloped in a dense fog. It cut everything like a white blade. And everything came to be partly hidden and partly visible.

A melodious voice came from the forest erased his sleepiness.

Someone was in the forest not far from here. Is a dryad? The melody is so beautiful, he asked himself. He followed the song through the fog and undergrowth, got to a space.

It was an opening among trees. The mist disappeared. And in the golden morning sunlight, luxuriant flowers in various colors were sprinkling on the green lawn; exuberant trees were standing up one by one, with leaves dancing in the breeze; and with the soft wind, the flowery air was full of happiness and vividness. Everything was warm and brilliant. Everything was shining and vivid. A complete different feeling to the gloom forest behind him.

He looked around and found a girl there, the owner of the voice. She was wearing fine linen and a dark blue skirt, just singing beside a withered tree in the center. For standing with the back towards him, he could just look at her slim figure.

And the song, the sound seemed to have a wonderful power. Accompanied by this cheerful melody, flowers began to blossom on the earth and new leaves sprout from the trees. And the animals in the forest, beasts and birds, came and listened peacefully nearby as audiences. And he felt a stream of energy, soft and gentle, was breathing into his body. I have heard the song, he assured. But when and where, he couldn’t recall.

Several faeries were flying around the girl. And one of them was sitting on her shoulder. As an ancient magic race, the faery had its own culture and custom. In the size of human palm, they liked to venture and flutter in the unknown world. And they were a race can’t be conquered by force of arms. They would only close to someone they liked.

He sat down against a tree, closed his eyes, and enjoyed the beautiful song.

“Mister.” A soft voice waked him up from his slumber. I drifted off, he thought, impressed he was relaxed enough to sleep.

Who wake me up? He opened his eyes.

A wolf stared at me? He felt his muscles tighten and fixed his eyes.

No, it’s the girl in blue skirt wore a wolf mask, looking at him with deep red staring eyes.

“Mister, are you fine?”

“Sorry,” he stood up “I am entirely without malice. I just is attracted by your song.”

The girl seemed to recall something. “Oh! I am sorry.” She took off the mask. Her pretty face was blushed with shame. “I don’t mean to startle you. But you will get a cold if you sleep under the hobgoblin. (The hobgoblin was one of fairies. They were naughty and liked to play practical jokes on people, for example, let you get a cold.)”

He raised his head and found that there were two small kids in green, hand in hand, sitting on the branch, looking at him. Before he could see clearly, they disappeared like the wind.

“They like to play pranks, but don’t want to harm anyone, please must excuse them.” Her deep red eyes looked at him just like praying.

“Don’t worry, madam. None taken.”

“Thank you.” She smiled at him sweetly and combed her long golden hair by hand. And a delicate sweet smell of flowers sent forth from the girl relaxed him.

“Can I introduce myself? I am Zero C Cadmus. Please call me Zero. And I’m a knight. Nice to meet you.”

“My name is Heno, caretaker of this forest. I am very pleased to meet you.” Heno shook hands warmly with him. Her smile was wonderful. “If you need anything, I am at your service.”

In the depths of the Witch Forest, there was a thatched cottage standing between two bodhi trees. Its roof made of thatch and wood, had a dormer window on it. And its light gray stone walls were covered all over with green ivy. The borders in front of the house were planted with different flowers, blue irises, white lily, and all sorts and kinds of sweet-smelling jonquils.

“Welcome to my home.” Zero was invited to have breakfast together in Heno’s house.

It’s simple and unadorned inside. One small round table stood in the center, two chairs beside. A square table was placed under the window, and some herbs lay on it. And a wood cupboard with carvings was leaning against the wall. The drawing room and bed room were divided by a screen, which had a landscape painting on it.

Everything was neat and comfortable.

Walking to the fireplace, Heno knelt and touched a match to a pre-laid arrangement of oak logs and kindling. A fire quickly crackled to life. His clothes were wetted by the morning dews, nothing was better than a fire.

“Make yourself at home.” She said that with a lovely smile. “Breakfast will be prepared soon.”

“Please let me help you.”

“Okay, can you help me prepare the table? The dish and tableware are in the cupboard.” She smiled her thanks and busied in the kitchen.

A quarter later, when Zero enjoyed the peaceful scene out of window, the breakfast had been ready.

“Be a big help.” Heno served food onto dishes. “Bacon and eggs, hope you like these.”

“I don’t have such a good meal for months. Thank you.”

“Please enjoy yourself. Ordinarily, no one will come here, except some lost tourists, and you are my first guest this month.”

Zero found Heno put her palms together devoutly before her dish, and Heno felt his curious eyes. “I am praying.” She clarified, “praying for the animal and plant we live on. Human being, can’t live without them, so we hunt them. It’s the natural law. We can do nothing. But when we enjoy them, we can pray for them, at least. Hoping that they will live in our body as part of us and we live on bravely with their power.”

She poured out a glass juice for Zero. “Please enjoy.”

After the breakfast, they had a chat beside the fireplace over a cup of tea. Zero asked about the information of Ko-oh-yoku and the Rocky Castle.

“Yes, I know the way to the Rocky Castle.” Heno said that frankly.

Zero hardly believed his ears. He had asked the same questions for months and always got the ambiguous answers.

“Is it a secret?”

“No, I can tell you all about that. But before I say, can you come with me to a place?”

“Sure.”

They went out the cottage and walked along a path. Following the path through the woods and a steep hill turned up in front of them. They climbed the hill slowly without saying a word.

What did Heno show to him? He felt uncertain.

They reached the crest in the sunlight. There trees were sparse, came to be a piece of lawn. And on the lawn, the top of the crest, there were some fifty or more odd things placed in alignment. And, he knew what they were very well. They were graves. Simple graves piled up just by several stones without tombstone or remains. He had done one for his companions when he was in his first battle.

“They are…” Zero looked at her not convinced.

“They are the final resting-places for the brave men who went to find the Rocky Castle.” Heno knelt to pray. There was a moment’s silent. Several birds were crying, few and scattered. “In the pass four hundreds years, lots of men came for the Rocky Castle, in different motivations, and they went, but never came back. These are the only thing I can do for them.”

“And now, you know what will happen.” Heno stood up and stared at him. Her crimson gaze was keen. “Do you still want to know the information?”

Zero looked at the grave, said, “my teacher has a motto: every man dies, not every man really lives. He gave it to me and hoped me to do my best in every time, every moment. I have told you my situation. Fight and I may die. Run and I’ll live…at least awhile. But I don’t want to regret when I am dying in my bed someday. So, please, tell me all, Heno.”

“Are you sure you have thought about it?”

“Yes!”

“Fine, please come with me.”

Another path, a path went deep into the forest. Towering pines and firs standing on the way were green and luxuriant. And curious squirrels and birds stopped to look at their guest.

“There are two doors connecting with the Rocky Castle. One is in this forest which I will show you, and the other one is in Gawain, a city to the west of this forest, looked after by another family. There is a door key placed beside the door, but opening the door needs two keys. So you can take the door key here to open the door in Gawain or get Gawain’s to open the door here.”

“Why does it have such design?”

“You knew the story of Black Bride. King Dragon was sealed in the Rocky Castle. The whole Rocky Castle was a large prison for this devil. So the door was designed for security.” A thread of grief flashed though Heno’s face, Zero sensed it.

“And the door is an ancient technology device. Have you used the ray-machine in the mail-station?”

“Yes.”

“The cardinal principle is the same. You pass it and you will enter the Rocky Castle. But the door, since the Great Battle, is guarded. You are sure you know what will happen?”

“Yes.”

They talked while walking and reached a tattered temple surrounded by trees and hills. Rattans climbed up the moss-covered walls and several collapsed pillars lying down on the doorstep. No one would fix attention on this broken temple, but the door connected with the Rocky Castle was waiting in it.

“I just can send you here. Now, I will say nothing, but pray for you. Fairy will stay with you and guide your way.”

“I will come back soon. I promise.” He walked into the temple with a torch in hand.

Inside of the temple was dim and cool, but not damaged heavily. Passed through a narrow corridor, Zero stood beneath the cupola. He examined the deserted temple. It’s a large empty hall. Every step would arouse dust. And there was a hole opened in the roof. A beam of sunlight was flooding into the hall, like a waterfall, drew a light spot on the ground. But out of that, shadows lay in all corners of the room.

There were eight pillars standing surround, two toppling down to the ground. Pillars on the left were carved with simple, vertical lines, while pillars on the right were embellished with flowering spiral. Some statues were sitting down on the top of the pillars. They had the shape of beast, with horns of ox on the head and large bat-wings on their back. Their mouths were gaping to reveal their menacing hollow throats. But some of them had been destroyed. And a closed black door was in the end of the hall.

His eyes traced the curvature of the chamber’s broken stone perimeter, taking in the scratch on the pillar and wall. They were scratches made by sword or something like that.

He took a footstep forward and looked around. Nothing happened. Well, go ahead just like that, he thought and maintained sharp vigilance. And every careful footstep echoed loudly off the shadowy walls. Step by step, the door was only sixty feet away. But, suddenly, he sensed something wrong.

Looked up swiftly, he found a statue staring at him, with blood red eyes. Worse still, the statue was standing up and flapping slowly off. He scanned around. Four, no, six statues had been waked up. And now, he had been besieged by them.

Gargoyles, they were the gargoyle.

Gargoyle was an imaginary animal in the tale, Susan told him. They were products of black magic, and covered with irony skin that neither swords nor spears can penetrate.

Ah, they are really good guards.

Susan’s voice echoed in his head again. “Weak point of Gargoyle is sunlight. Black magic can gobble up every substance except light. For instance, there is a large empty dark room, what does you make the room be suffused easily and break up the dark at the same time? The simplest answer is lighting a lamp. Light, especially, the sunlight, the power comes from the heaven could scatter the black magic product.”

Thanks my dear Susan!

They don’t take action for I am standing in the light sprinkled from the hole. In the moment I leave the light circle, they will tear me to shreds. He tried to figure out his next move and got an idea.

I have them.

He took out a fairy-card from his pocket.

The fairy-card was in the size of palm. Fairy was sleeping in it. The one was used to snatch Zero from the jaws of death. There were the race name and picture of the fairy drew on the card. For instance, Zero had a fairy-card with a element symbol character “Watery” and a picture of a small girl with fish tail, a mermaid, drew on it.

Zero signed contracts with different fairies when he called on the relic on the island. The fairy-card was the certificate. Susan had taught him the way.

"Liz, I need your help.” He chanted. Fairy would tell its name to its partner as a contract. And as this contract, the fairy could serve its partner with its element magic.

And the price of the contract was the man will become the food of the fairy. Susan had told him that his body will be eaten away when he passes away.

“Mirror Liz, changes into a convex mirror, and reflects the sunlight to light up every corner of this room.”

He released the card. And the card changed into a large convex mirror placed in the light spot gently. The sunlight was reflected from the mirror and the room was filled with light in the twinkling of an eye. And the monster had to cover their faces with wings and hided in the shadow of pillars.

Simple but serviceable. Wisdom is better than weapons of war, his adoptive father told him.

He moved quickly, opened the door a crack and took a look inside from the opening.

The room inside was much smaller than the hall outside. And this room was full of sunlight for there were two skylights opened in the roof. There was empty except a blue mirror hung in the end of the room, a statue standing in the corner, a stone box about one cubic meter placed in the center and shadow reclined beside.

The stone box was the goal. He saw one like it in a maze.

But the shadow… A shadow?

He gazed at it fixedly, but it took his breath away. No, he knew, it wasn’t the shadow of the box.

I knew it is not an easy task, he sign.

It’s a pitch black dog that might fill the whole space between ceiling and floor if it stood up. And it’s a big dog with three black heads that hundreds of snakes stuck on as its fur; three pairs of eyes, in the shape of will open any instant; three noses, breathing and snoring in their direction; and three drooling mouths, spreading chill, though they were closed.

If a dragon tail as its, it’s the living picture of Cerberus, the dog guarded the entrance of hell.

But Cerberus wouldn’t be here. Its owner Hades, the Lord of the Underworld, wouldn’t let it hand around.

It must be a composite animal combined with different parts of various animals. He remembered Susan had told him that the ancient country Eden had technology beyond expectation. Maybe this was one.

And actually, this wasn’t the first time Zero faced with a composite animal. In Atlantis, there were lots of hermetists. They did various experiments, legal or illegal. As a knight, he was sent to deal with these problems. And in one operation he saw a composite animal in a hermetist’s lab. It’s a shepherd dog with long fur, very cute. When Zero fondled it, it talked, with a small girl’s voice. The crazy hermetist compounded this animal with his six years old daughter and his pet!

Now, how can I deal with this big dog? He felt a little embarrassed.

Maybe I can sing a lullaby or play the harp like Orpheus. (Orpheus, a character in the Greek mythology, son of Apollo, and was a great musician. When hear the melody come from his harp, the lifeless stone, and the withered tree would come to life, and the wildest animal would quiet down soon. He had gone to the hell alone to rescue his loved wife who was killed by a snake when played on the grasslands with her friends. Although the hell was not a place that could be free to pass in and out, he came in successfully with the help of his harp. And Cerberus was a difficulty he had to tide over.) The pity was that he knew nothing about music. Susan was good at playing harp. I should let her teach me, he was seized with regret.

Maybe I can use the fire? Most animals are afraid of fire, he knew it. Maybe the torch in his hand was not enough, but the fairy-card “Fire” in his pocket made him feels at ease.

But he recalled the limit of using the fairy-card. Convenient the magic was, but it would spend a lot of magic power. He had used “Fire” and three other cards at a time to deal with a giant two weeks ago in a small village, but he was sleepy for two days after the matter was closed.

I don’t have enough magic power, Susan had warned it.

Why do I feel miss her so much?

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

About one thousand and five hundreds years ago, Hero Michael created a new dynasty after the Great Battle. It’s called Fairy Kingdom in the history.

It’s said that Eden was destroyed completely in the battle. Although GoddessVerdandi brought them back from death, people could just sleep in the wild landand live by the grass and rain. King Apollo and his family were killed in this nightmare and the heir of line had been cut off. Hero Michael was voted as the new king and vowed that bending his back to the country until his dying day.

King Michael signed the contract with the king of fairy, the friend of human in the battle. And he created new technologies based on the knowledge of the two races, for example, the fairy ceremony, the astronomy technology and the atomic physics technology. With this power, people could interfere in the nature to a certain extent and a wonderful age came into the Eden.

And about Michael himself, he was a legend. He had some odd power. He could fly with snow white wings and run as quick as tiger. These helped him beat the devil in the battle. It’s said that Michael’s unique wings were somewhat alike to the fairy’s natural power.

No one knew the name of the queen, but it’s recorded that she was died in this disaster. He had three children, Holmes, Helen, Sherry. The golden long hair of Princess Sherry was beautiful. It’s said that she was looked like her mother.

King Michael died at the age of fifty-four, and Crown Prince Holmes ascended the throne.

King Holmes died at the age of one hundred and ten. Crown Prince Watson ascended the throne.

King Watson died at the age of one hundred and twenty. Crown Prince Newton ascended the throne…

Every king of Eden was good at operating the country. And Eden came to be the most powerful country in the world while the age of the No.40 King Constantine. Powerful Eden was, but she liked the peace. She didn’t conquer or occupy.

The No.49 King of Eden, King Damocles devoted himself to explore ways of oceangoing voyage all his life. And the royal fleets organized by him bring a great wealth for the kingdom.

But this king died at the age of thirty-four. There’s little report about his death, but some researches said that King Damocles might be died for poison, and the assassin was sent by another powerful country. But was it really? Goddess knew.

And it’s the beginning of the story of Black Bride. And the Fairy Kingdom disappeared in the history by then.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

“Sonny, are you fine?” Zero heard an old man’s voice.

He opened his eyes and tried to clarify the situation. He was lying on the ground in a room. And it must be midnight, for the moon light was flowing down through the skylights. And an old man had meager face and a long, crooked nose, and flowing silver hair, beard, and mustache was looking at him with smile, sitting by his side.

The room… He broke out in a cold sweat. It’s the very room in the old temple which guarded by a composite animal. He stood up at once and looked around flurried. The room was in a state of utter confusion. The big box was pushed to the corner. The large blue mirror was still hanging on the wall, but broken. The big dog, the monster was not here. Where was the dog?

“You have defeated the gate keeper.” The old man seemed to answer his question written on his face.

“Gate keeper? You mean I killed the composite animal?”

“Composite animal, ho, ho, you may say so.”

“But how?” He gazed at the deep scratches on the walls and recalled the scenes that he came into the room.

In his memory, he made up his mind that he will meet the monster in direct mode. But of course, sword in his hand and fairy-cards were ready. He opened the heavy door gently and took a step inside.

The black big dog wasn’t waked up. He was staring fixedly at it. Step by step, he was closing. But while there was only 3 feet away from the box, he made a mistake. He trod on a bone, maybe a bone of man, and made a noise. The tiny noise came to echo in the room.

The six ears of the dog set upright at once and then the eyelids opened slowly. And the three pairs of rolling, yellow eyes were looking around quickly. And He felt they were upon him soon.

The monster was lying quite still, all six mad eyes staring at him, and Zero knew that the only reason he wasn’t already attacked was that he sudden appearance had taken it by surprise. If I don’t do something now, when it was getting over that, there was no way I can deal with those thunderous growls, he knew it well.

He took out a fairy-card from the pocket slowly. The snake fur swayed with the action of Zero’s hand.

“Earthy Dale, it’s your turn.” Zero chanted. “Take the monster in front of us into your stone prison.” The card floated away from his hand at once, and when it touched the earth, lots of stalagmites broke through the soil around the monster.

The big dog stood up in a second, lashed and dashed the pillars with a rage roar. Obviously, it didn’t like the bars.

And as the dog dashed, the stalagmites kept growing and weaving with each other frenziedly, and just before the dog could jump up, a large cage was completed and covered the monster. Now, the monster was shut up and well parted from the box by the leg like stone bars.

I love magic, but it costs too much. He felt a dizzy.

The dog flied into a rage and tried to break out, with its great power, its head knocked, its claws slapped, again and again. The stone bars are strong, but it just takes time, he knew. The cage was shaking and the earth was shuddering, he could sense it.

He moved to the box and took out the necklace sent by Susan. There was an obsidian hanging on it, which was one rare crystal in the world. His friend, Athena said it’s valuable. Where is she now? He didn’t know. She was an odd adventurer. She parted with him at the end of the adventure. It’s said that she had to deal with some tasks. And the obsidian could open the box. He had used it to open one in a maze. Now, the obsidian was lighting with blue light like pulse. He just needed to place it on the box, and then the top of box would move slowly automatically.

But before Zero could place the necklace on the box, he found himself was covered in a pall of darkness. He looked upward as soon as he can. Well, a black cloud was speedily gathering above my top, a cloud made of snakes, by the hundreds and thousands. He shot a glance at the dog. The dog was staring at him too. The monster was grinding its teeth. And saliva hanging in was drooling from its yellowish fangs at its three mouths. He could hear its stridor dentium. And there was a darkness pouring out from its body.

I don’t know its fur can stretch out.

Zero jumped back at once, increased the distance between the dog. The dark cloud became thicker and thicker. And hundreds of snakes’ eyes were floating in the cloud and glowing with wild blood redness. And the snake fur on the ground refused to stay idle, were also ready to make a surprise attack.

The dog started to hit the stone bars violently. And with a loud, explosive roaring sound, seemed to make a order “Kill him”, the snakes entrenched in the air were falling down like rain and arrows with mad hissing.

Their fangs are going to sink through my body; he understood why there were so many graves on the crest. He heard a noise came behind. He took a glance. The door was closed and another dark cloud floated around it. The reason that he could pass through the Gargoyle safely was neither a sweetmeat nor he was intelligent, but a trap. Forget keeping thieves out. Keep them in. It’s a good idea of security. He believed that the Gargoyle had cut off his route of retreat.

To avoid the snakes, Zero dodged in all directions and his sword was terribly busy. Although the snake skin was tough, his sword was sharp, could split the snakes into two. The snake heads chopped down would change into a small piece of black liquid, and then disappeared in the air.

The monster kept roaring when its snakes were cut down. Hundreds of snakes were cut down and more snakes were sent.

Is a cat-and-mouse game? He wondered.

The cage was in great peril. The monster kept dashing on the rock and the stone pillars broke one by one. Zero felt a paroxysmal pain and dizziness while the pillars broke. The fairy power would hurl back when it is destroyed, Susan said so.

And finally, with a rumble, the stone cage fell to piece.

The monster was free.

Zero felt a burst of heartache. He recalled that the description of part from with the fairy, which is named “Spirit Disintegration”. Is my ending? He wouldn’t like to be killed by such an ugly composite monster.

The monster was pressing on toward with deafening snarl.

Picked up his trump card “Fire”, he did all one can in this resistance.

“Fire Violent, the great fairy, I am here to you petition, I am here to you swear, in blocking in my ahead, all the stupid things, set your and my strength, and grant them equal destruction.” As he said so, the fairy card glowed and fused with his sword, and the sword turned to be a flame, brightly than anything in the whole room, the sparkling bright, yellowy-whiteness of the flames almost painful on the eyes, just like the summer sunshine.

The monster took a step backward. It’s its instinct. It sent the snakes rain like storm, but they were burned up in a minute. In a rage, the monster sprang on the man itself. Zero could hear its sharp claws were whistling in the air.

Zero chopped at the monster, and the monster stepped aside, didn’t forget to make an attack later.

It would seem it’s a seesaw battle, however, the man felt stick gradually.

Through the medium of bodies integrated with fairy, men could use the fairy power for themselves. However, this power would consume the man, just like to burn the candle of life at both ends. Use the larger one, the sooner the life burn out. It was one of excuses that the church called the fairy worship as devil worship.

The monster pounced upon Zero. He dodged and it hit the chamber wall, left a deep mark on it. It pounced again, and its snake hair lashed his side. Concentrated his last power, he raised the sword in both his hands—

The monster sprang on him again, and this time its aim was true—Zero threw his whole weight behind the sword and drove it to the hilt into the chest of this monster—

The golden flame spread from the sword to the monster’s body immediately. Drew his sword out, Zero dodged swiftly to a side.

Catching fire, the monster twitched and tumbled on the flood wildly, dashed on the walls with mad roar. Zero hid himself in a corner; he would like the monster to be exhausted completely just like that.

However, events did not happen as his wishes. The fire was put out soon and the monster seemed to be conscious. Once again, it fixed its eyes on the man.

Picked up his sword, vacillatingly and staggeringly, Zero stood in the front of the monster. Fire on the sword had died out. Zero would like to use the fairy card again, seemed that it’s so powerful, but he couldn’t, magical power had been used out.

His cardiopalmus came to be heavy as he evaded the monster. He felt hot; the heat came from the inner of his body, was a heat of fire just going to burn him alive. He felt hard to breathe, just liked someone exhausted the air. And suddenly, he felt a great pain.

Now, a large claw was stepping on him.

The scene of the room came to be blurred and indistinct. The pain and heat mixed together, made him suffering both flesh and spirit.

He tried to revolt against the monster, but the monster seemed don’t want him to go away. The pressure of the claw came to be larger and larger.

Hot, pain, breathlessness…

He fell into a swoon…

“Ha, ha, ha…” Who? Who’s laughing? Lots of people.

“Zero, you are a knight, the symbol of power.” It’s a little girl’s voice. “Please don’t waste my drama.” Rose, small one, was standing in front of him.

“Ha, ha, ha… Sym…” It’s my voice.

“Symbol, means stand for. You are one year older than me.” The familiar voice kept going. “Why don’t you spend time on your book? Just chop the tree with stick everyday.”

“I am practicing. I want to be a knight, a great knight.”

“Knight? The poor tree.” Rose sighed. “Okay, remember, knight should look power and majestic, every bad guy will frighten his turn up, even the devil will scare his appearance. Everyone takes your place. Hurry up, we will practice once more.”

It’s happened when I was eleven years old, he recalled. There was a festival and the orphanage would open to the citizens. And his class would play a drama on the stage. Now, they were practicing for it. Rose wrote the drama herself and served as director. And he played the leader role—the knight.

The scene changed. He and his classmates appeared on the stage. There were lots of audiences, the mayor, the officials and all kinds of peddlers. The president and teachers deal seriously with this festival. These guests were their important supporters and might be parents of their children one day.

This drama was a blend of the brave fights against evildoers. Story of knight and princess, Romeo and Juliet, and tale of Dark Prince, you would find all of them in it. And it seemed the audiences like this style; they warmly applauded the performer from time to time.

But when the show was going to the ending, a tumult suddenly spread from the outside. A huge knight came sprinting into the hall and whispered in the mayor’s ear. Then all officials and teachers were summoned up, and the mayor told them the news.

Their performance was stopped, and then the mayor stood on the stage.

“Everyone will please not panic. Listen, a chimera is rushing in our city and approaching to this school. Soldiers and knight are dealing with it. Now, teachers will lead your students to the playground; women please stay with them. Officials and men will follow me to the street. Teachers, move.”

The scene changed again. The chimera rushed into the orphanage, and the knight and soldiers made the line of defense around the hall. The chimeras were difficult to kill; they had lion head, ram body and dragon tail, and they could breathe fire. And they liked the human as their food.

The situation was very severe. More and more men covered in blood were transported from the battlefield to the playground. And the mayor was there. He had gone to the front and fought with the monster. It’s said that the mayor was a royal knight serviced in the palace and appointed him mayor here when he gets old.

Rose and he were arranged to get water for the wounded, and he met the mayor. Although received burns all over his body and once fainted away, the mayor wanted to go back the front.

“Do I die?” He yelled to the doctor and nurses who stopped him. “No, I don’t, my dear fellows. So, I will fight, for the people I love. To die: to sleep; No more. I won’t be scare. But I have promised: determined not to live until I have no country. So let me fight, like the star in the sky, issued purple light, burning my life.” Sunshine irradiated from his back. And a halo turned up around his body. Everyone on the makeshift camp stopped to watch him with admiring glances. And the weary soldiers stood up again and prayed quietly. The man moved. And people followed. In the sunshine, his figure was powerful and majestic. This was knight, never beaten.

“Yes, I haven’t met my death. I just fell down, but is not beaten. I am a knight. Here should not my battle field died for.” Zero returned back from faraway thoughts. “I will never give up, for my promise to sword, for the people I love.”

“Get away, your little pet!” He shouted at the monster. “I am talking to you, little pet. Look at me.” He had no idea what has happened, but with a push, the monster was overturned.

He felt hot and quick heartbeat. And the blood just likes to be evaporated.

And a stream of power sprung up from his heart and rushed into his limbs. In the fire like hot, the pain didn’t bother him anymore and the tire had disappeared without a trace. He could run as fast as tiger, and move as quickly as monkey.

“I face with the monster again. It’s powerful, and I have tried my best. I fainted away while it collapsed down.” He was excited. He liked to fight with the strongman, and wanted to know which he can reach. Although he would fail sometime and his friend thought that he was an idiot, he just wanted to.

“Resonance, your strange power is called Resonance.” The old man looked doubtful. It seemed that he was interested in the tale and listened carefully all the way. He didn’t make a noise while Zero was talking. But his smile which seems always on disappeared when Zero talked on his odd power. And it seemed that he was surprised.

“Sonny, could I make a body check for you?”

“Sure. Lie down?” The old man was odd, but a good man, he could sense it.

“Yes, please.” The old man placed his hands on the chest of the young man and murmured in a low voice. He is casting spell, Zero thought.

“How...” The old man said suddenly. “Unbelievable, it’s unbelievable. Why...” He kept talking to himself. It seemed that he has heard something out of his knowledge.

“Sir, are you fine?” Zero wanted to talk to him, but the old man just talked to himself in a low voice.

“Out of all the impossible, the last one, no matter how hard to understand it is, it will be the answer.” The old man murmured. “But why...”

Looked at the old man, Zero recalled the old guarder of orphanage. The old man liked to talk the stories about his knight career. It’s funny and interesting. Zero and his friends liked his stories. But several years ago, the old guarder came to be talking out of order and acting in an odd way gradually. The old man had passed away when he called on the orphanage last year.

The stone box in the corner reminded him why he came here. He moved to the box and picked out the necklace. He sensed that the old man was looking at him when he picked out the necklace. The old man didn’t move, just stared at him.

The black crystal gave out light blue light as usual. He placed it on the box. With a loud noise, the box opened. There were a crown and a piece of Obsidian in it. The crown was made by gold or copper, simple and out of adorning. And there were some characters on its backside. Someone will be interested in it, he thought. There was another crown in his pocket which he got in a maze. And he recalled the one in the relic. They were similar, but one was made by iron, one was made by silver. The Obsidian which came from the box was in the shape of diamond as his, but just was smaller. When the two Obsidians came close, he could feel the vibrations they give off. And the light came to be stronger when they stay together. It’s interesting. And it must be the key.

The old man moved to him when he was playing with the crystals.

“Sonny, could I ask you some questions?”

“Please.”

“Do you know what the crown is?”

“No, I don’t. You like it?” He sent the crown to the old man. The man held it with both hands and checked it carefully. He likes it, Zero thought.

“How do you deal with it if you take it?” He stared at Zero.

“I will send it to my friend. She may tell me something about it.”

“Your friend is a witch?”

“No, she is a student of Atlantis Imperial College.”

“Atlantis?” He turned his face aside, just like to think deeply.

“What about the resonate crystal?”

“Resonate crystal? The Obsidian?” The black crystals were glinting with blue light in the moonlight.

“The big one, is yours?”

“Yes, a friend gives me as gift?”

“As gift?” He looked askance at the young man. “Do you know what the crystal uses for?” He pointed to the small one.

“The key of the door of Rocky Castle.”

“Why do you want to go to the Rocky Castle? You know it is dangerous there?”

“The house of devil, I knew. But Ko-oh-yoku is there, I need it.”

“Ko-oh-yoku?” The man stared at Zero, and then looked at the crown held in his hands.

“I can’t make a train of thought. There are so many things I don’t understand. Why?” The old man stopped to talk to himself once again. Zero wanted to say something, but he couldn’t find a topic. His friend always says that he was less of humor, and he had to smile at it.

A big noise came from the hall ended the embarrassment. Sword in hand, Zero opened the door.

In the chilling moonlight which flowed down from the hole opened in the roof, a man was fighting with Gargoyles.

Wonderful. Zero admired.

In the envelopment of six Gargoyles, the man shut unrestrained. His figure would turn up in the snow white moonlight suddenly and then disappeared in the endless darkness in the next second. And the spark came from his sword was hither and thither, made him like a fairy of night.

He is dancing, Zero talked to himself.

And the irony skin of the Gargoyles came to be a piece of paper could be torn into piece. Three had been chopped down and the others would be beaten in several minutes.

The swordsmanship, the man, I knew him; Zero recalled the relic in Spring.

The swordsman...

All the Gargoyles were chopped into pieces and turned to be stone again.

“Pollux, nice to see you again.” The old man walked to the swordsman.

“Teacher Tangle, are you Teacher Tangle?” The swordsman rushed to the old man and knelt down in front of him.

“My dear teacher, please tell me I am not dreaming.” His voice was full of emotion. He is sobbing, Zero surprised.

“No, my Pollux, you are not dreaming. Take my hands.” The old man grasped his hands and supposed him up.

“Why do you come like this?” The old man was in surprise.

In the chilling moonlight, the swordsman was thin and lean. His face was frighten, black, with long hair, full of beard. His clothes were not in the shape of clothes, piece of broken blanket only. And his shoes were worn-out, and, not in a pair.

Is the man I met in the relic? He was in a good dressing then, Zero wondered. Something has happened to him, Zero thought.

“Teacher, I have to tell you something.” His voice was urgent and full of sorrow.

“Excuse me.” It’s not a good manner to interrupt, but I have to leave, Zero recalled that Heno was waiting outside.

“You...” The swordsman’s black face was out of color when he found Zero in the hall. “You are the man in the cave.” He looked uneasy.

“Yes, I am.”

“I am sorry. I must apologize for I have hurt you wrong.” He said sincerely.

“...” Zero didn’t know how to reply.

“I should kill myself in front of you, but I have to fulfill my responsibility now. Could you wait?”

“...” What’s wrong with him?

“What about I chop down the left hand now?” As he said so, he raised his left hand and lifted up the sword.

“Stop...” Two swords crashed in the air and made a big noise. He is crazy, Zero felt his power.

“Why? I have committed a crime. I don’t understand.”

“I am not a judge. I don’t know whether you should be punished. And it will bother me if you lose one hand.”

“Why?” The swordsman stared at him.

“I will fight with you again, fairly. I will not be satisfied if my match doesn’t do his best.”

“I understand.” He said to the old man. “Teacher, please do the referee for us.”

“Not now.” Zero said before the old man could reply. “I have to leave right away. The match is delayed.”

“I see.” The man nodded. “In the name of Goddess Verdandi, I accept this contract.” His tone was serious.

“I am Pollux.”

“I’m Zero C Cadmus, a knight.”

“Where do I meet you?”

“Now, I am traveling around this island. Maybe we can meet in Spring.”

“The starting village, I understand.”

Starting village, an interesting name.

“Sir,” Zero made salute to the old man. “I have to go. Thanks for your help.”

“Sonny, something has happened between you and Pollux, and I don’t quite understand. But I have to express thanks to you, thank you, sonny. And you need it.” The old man clasped Zero’s hand with pressure and sent the crown to Zero. “I’m Tangle, a wizard. Fairy will guide your way.”

Said goodbye to them, Zero left the temple. The two men kept talking in the darkness hall. Their voices echoed in the corridor. Eden, devil, princess... Such words came with the wind.

Strange men, he thought.

Alice in Castle

Alice and her black cat Luna were playing hide-and-seek in her grandmother’s house. Luna was a nice little black cat. And she’s very quick and good at playing this game. “Oh, where does she hide?” Alice asked herself.

Alice hung about in the house. It was a big house. Lots of pictures were hanging on the wall both sides. One of them was her grandmother’s favor, a painting of a girl with golden hair. Grandmother often stared at it with a smile.

“Who is she, grandma?” Alice once asked her grandmother. “Our great princess, Alice.” Her grandmother answered with a smile. Alice wanted to know more, but grandma stopped her. “Someday I’ll tell you all about it.” Her grandmother said so.

“Where are you, Luna?” Her cat was a nice cat, but often disappeared without a trace. “Perhaps she is busy catching mice,” she thought. “I can find the mice and then I can find my cat.” She knew where the mice live.

There was a large room under ground, damp and dark. She once visited this room and she heard little feet running away.

“Mice like this room.”

The lamps of the room were lit up. “Grandma?” Alice puzzled. She didn’t see her grandma since the lunch. There was a big blue mirror hanging on the wall. She had seen it before. But now it was shining with beautiful blue light.

“So beautiful.” Alice placed one hand on this mirror and her hand pierced through it at once. “My hand gets into the mirror.” She pulled her hand back. “My hand is here.”

Alice tried it again, the palm, the hand and then the leg. “It is magic.” It’s cool inside the mirror, but she liked it. And then she placed her head on the mirror and a beautiful garden turned up in front of her.

She could see a lot of flowers and grass, and butterflies were flying around. She wanted to play with the butterflies and moved forward. Now, Alice was standing on the garden.

Ran after the butterflies, plucked flowers to make wreath, Alice liked this beautiful garden. “If Luna was here, I should be very happy,” she thought.

“Perhaps Luna went through the mirror. I will find her.” Alice told herself.

Gone through the garden, she saw a large building. It’s much larger than grandma’s house. And it’s looked like the castle in her book. “Oh, I am in a castle.” She thought.

Alice went through the corridor and checked the rooms one by one. Luna was not in the rooms. She wanted to find someone for help, but there was not one here. “There is castle, but where are the king and queen?” Alice asked herself.

Alice went into a large room. She felt small and insignificant as she gazed up at the enormous ceilings and down at the dizzying floor. There were lots of paintings hanging on the walls. All of them were paintings of girls just like the one in grandmother’s house. She tried to count them up. “One, two, three, five, seven…” She decided to stop it.

There were lots of stairs, but she didn’t want to walk up. “Luna didn’t like the stairs. She never walks up them.” Alice said to herself. “Perhaps she is not in the castle. There is not mouse. Maybe she is taking a nap under the tree now.” Luna always liked to nap away her afternoon under a tree.

Alice found her way to the hall. She found five stone figures were standing there, men and women. One of them was looked like the girl in the picture which her grandma favored with. She opened her mouth slightly just like wanting to say something, but was stopped suddenly. “What does she want to say?” Alice wondered.

Went out of the hall, there was a large garden. Butterflies rose and danced around the flowers. And a black cat was lying on the lawn in the shadow of a big tree. “You are here, Luna.” Alice walked towards her with little feet. Luna raised her head a little, took a look at Alice and then went on with nap.

Alice sat on the grass. She was beginning to get sleepy. “I’m sleepy too. May I join?” She asked Luna. Luna wagged her tail as answer. “Thank you.” Alice said. Then she went off to dreamland.

In the dream, she was playing hide-and-seek with her nice little black cat Luna in a large beautiful castle.

“Wake up, Alice dear.” A warm hand was placed on her head, combing her hair. “It’s time for supper.”

“Grandma,” Alice opened her eyes, “how long do I sleep?” She was on the sofa of the parlor.

“All the afternoon.” Her grandmother said. “What a long sleep you have had!”

Jottings

In an afternoon of August, I woke up from the siesta. I opened the window. The summer sunshine rushed into was warm and comfortable. In this island, which was covered by ice and snow half a year, sunshine was precious to its people. And the saline taste in the sea breeze was full of happiness and peace, just like this village, Spring. I liked it.

The square was populous, bustling with noise and excitement. I recalled the words of the inn-keeper. There was a summer time market held in the Vatican Square. And the business team came from Lancelot, the biggest harbor of Iceland. Every year, businessmen of this firm would go to the continent with local specialties after the Spring Festival and came back with different commodities before the Moon Day. And they would hold such a market in their return trip. But it’s a little early this year. It’s said that they should come back in September, but the situation of the continent was not very well. Britannia had cut off the crops and animals trade between Atlantis.

There was a family walking out the market.

Boy: Mom, why are you so unhappy?

Woman: Do you read the note on the wall? The price of pork goes up again. Look, the number has been doubled.

Girl: But you can go to other market.

Woman: It’s not way. The war between Atlantis and Britannia is going to happen. Pig, wheat and some other crops from Britannia are embargoed, don’t sell to us. Now, all pigs here are plated with gold.

Boy: So, we can buy beef. Anyway, I like beef than pork. The Kobe beef is wonderful.

Girl: I like chicken. I can eat M Store everyday. Mom, what about we go to there tonight?

Woman: If someone wants to buy you two, I would like to sell away.

Boy & Girl: Mom...

They went far with happy noise.

“I can’t transport my wheat to Atlantis by ship. All the ports of Britannia are guarded. Such a bumper harvest. Shit!” A businessman was complaining to his companion. His stall was stuffed with gunny-bags. The influence of Britannia was along the coast. And the number of its colonies overseas was much larger than Atlantis. It seemed that from the king to his people, men of Britannia liked to venture on the sea.

There was a folk song of Britannia:

I am a lonely traveler.

I am traveling on the sea alone,

Without homeland or home.

Sky, oh, sky, sea, oh, sea.

Sky is my blanket, and Sea is my bed.

Land, coast, coast, land.

I want to go to the land unknown, sleep on them like a kid,

Not leave anyone.

Yes, it’s my love.

Traveling alone between land and coast.

I am a lonely traveler.

I am traveling on the sea alone.

Traveling on the sea, this dream,

Will come true, one day?

Land, coast, coast, land.

I want to go to the land unknown, sleep on them like a kid,

Not leave anyone.

Oh, after I find all of them, I want to start my trip again.

Only, a breeze will be left behind.

Traveling alone between land and coast.

Land, coast, coast, land.

I want to go to the land unknown, sleep on them like a kid,

Not leave anyone.

Yes, it’s my love.

Traveling alone between land and coast.

Oh, I want to travel on the sea alone...

Susan might be will worry about this policy. She once said that there was a well-known saying and she liked it: I fight with you, but not your people. It meant that the leader should not vent his anger on hostile innocent people while countries or parties rub against each other or even they are at war.

Beside the wheat wholesalers, there was a man selling potions and rare drugs, bezoars, gazelle’s horns and something like these. Maybe he has the deformation potion, which one could be used to transform into other people. Don’t think serious on it. It’s used for joking or masque only. It would be easy to be found. Susan knew the transfiguration. She had performed in front of us. She changed herself into a cat and turned back again. It’s perfect. Maybe I can hang around and buy something there in the afternoon.

I looked at the people come and go. It’s busy and lively. I felt a little lonely. I closed the window.

On my desk, there were some papers written the history texts of Eden I translated recently. There were three of them.

The Lunatic Calendar 848

Our kingdom set up the diplomacy relation with the Kingdom of Bohemia and signed a cooperation agreement with King Augustus.

The Kingdom of Bohemia is a land-locked country in the west of the continent, established by the herder nation Somalia in LC 789.

It’s the No.47 country founded the diplomacy relation with our kingdom.

The Lunatic Calendar 876

An earthquake happened in April. People in Capital Asgard could feel the shake, but it didn’t make destructive consequence. And the scholar of the Clamp Institute predicted this happening successfully.

Princess Cindy passed away at the age of thirty-two. Princess Cindy was the No.39 royal witch and serviced in the Rocky Castle since fifteen years old. Her state funeral was held by King Tagore.

Princess Sally succeeds Princess Cindy as royal witch.

The Lunatic Calendar 1251

Year in, year out, there has been one thousand years after the Great Battle. A three days royal-feast was held to celebrate this great time between the Moon Day. The whole nation joined in the jubilation.

Twin bright pearls were born in the royal family.

There came wise men from the east to Eden. It’s said that they have seen the star in the east, and are come to worship her. And when they were come into the palace, they saw the twins, and fell down, and worshipped them.

King Damocles granted their names – Lucy and Lily.

There was a book beside the papers. The name of the book was History of Bohemia. The Kingdom of Bohemia was the world power after Eden. It rose sharply since BA 43 (BA was short for before the establishment of Atlantis.) With its national policy, Sword and Butter, its domain strode across from the west holy city Jerusalem to the east Coral Sea in the period of its great prosperity. In some history books, it’s called Kingdom of the Sun, which described its vast territory.

“The world is lying. In many countries, people admit how praiseworthy it is in a nation to keep faith, and to live with integrity and not with craft, and their heads like to talking these qualities in a flourish of trumpets. However, I can give endless modern examples, showing how them take and devour the territory of other country acting contrary to faith, friendship, humanity, and religion. They deny the weak is the prey of the strong, disguise this characteristic, and to be tricksters and dissemblers. They are lying. They are cheaters. However, we, the nation of the Kingdom of Bohemia is different. We know the truth. To fight, to conquer, to invade, to plunder, in the law of jungle, in the truth of world. Let’s break the lie of the world and reveal the truth. To fight, to conquer, to invade, to plunder, my fellows. I am here swearing to you, all the cheater stop in our way, will set strength your and mine, and grant them equal destruction. All hail Bohemia.”

----- King Azazel Augustus

But its good luck was ended by Britannia. In BC 197, the troops of Bohemia and Britannia met in a hills belt of Britannia. The total number of the soldiers of Bohemia was eight hundred and thirty thousand. In the other hand, the armed forces of Britannia were less than ten thousand. No one would send a helping hand. And who would send expectancy on such a battle in such wild gap of military strength? However, Britannia created a miracle. It beat Bohemia in a week with tiny loss. And Atlantis joined the war while the army of Bohemia lost its head. Only one fifth of its soldiers could go home with their head on their neck. And this unprecedented battle was called Red Cliff Battle in the world military history. Exceedingly high firestorm, blood-curdling bloodiness was its evaluation.

“This blood is the deceased's regret, hatred, sorrow... The feelings left behind by the dead, imbued within the mountains and rivers. It is not something that will disappear for good.” – By King Lelouch.

And Bohemia, this huge grant was nibbled up after this war. In BC 347, the Kingdom of Bohemia was perished. (BC was short for Babylonia Calendar. BC was the calendar of Atlantis. The first year of Atlantis built up was set up as BC 1.)

There was a small island located in the west of Iceland. There was a tale on it. Two hundred and fifty years ago, there was an officer of Atlantis called Bao Zheng appointed as the senior officer of Spring. He was a good man and an honest man. He would never receive the present sent by the local, even a needle. And his great merit was he stopped the invasion of church, the Pagan Hunts. Spring was the door of Iceland in that time. And he obstructed the church here by his wisdom and diplomacy. It’s a long story. Let’s talk about the island.

While his term of office was over, he would leave for the continent. An elder wanted to send a present to the officer, but he knew this honest man will not receive his gift if he sends directly. So, he besought help of the servant of the officer. And let the servant send the gift to his owner while they are home. The present was a small ink stone. The servant thought it over and accepted it.

In a fine day, after bade the local’s farewell, the officer left by boat. But while the boat just left the coast, the sea was covered by the pea-soup fog in a while. And the billow was rushing to the little boat. Everyone could felt the sea was shaking. People was scared and knelt down on the ground. The officer thought that it’s the scene of the god gets angry. “I have done something wrong?” He asked himself. “Or I receive any ill-gotten gains? No, I don’t.” He was puzzled and ordered his families to check everything they brought from the island. And the ink stone was found. The servant told the true. The officer stared at the ink stone and said: “It’s the island’s. I shall not covet.” And he threw the ink stone into the sea himself. Just when the ink stone sank deep into the sea, the sea stopped shaking and became calm and tranquil. And while the sunshine came back, a small island looked like the ink stone turned up in the west of Iceland. As this story, this small island was called Ink stone-island.

Now, this small island was a port relay. I had been there last week. It was a natural deepwater port, had a circumference of 38 li, in a special shape, crescent. And the island was formed by basalt or something else, I was not sure, anyway, I was not a geologist. But I assured that the seafood cooking was delicious. Fish, cowry, prawn, yes, eating seafood in seaside. Might be we can had a lunch there when they come back. Zero would pay for it.

Journey

“Look, the butterflies. Oh, no, they are flowers. Ha…” “Look, there is an odd man. Oh, no, it’s a scarecrow. Ha…”

The girl looked at here and then there. The bee, the tree, the bird, everything seemed new to her. “Her own mornings are new surprises to Goddess. So why don't we feel surprised?”

Her bright mouth was giving a chuckle one in a while. And her long hair as golden wire which is drawn thin by the cunning of the goldsmith was dancing with her footstep in the sun. Everything attracted his eyeballs. And he was infected by her happiness.

He looked around, tried to make sure their direction. They were walking on a deserted farm. Crop had been replaced by green grasses. And several decayed cottages looked at the pass-by with their gloomy eyes. There might be a vivid hamlet five or six years ago. He took a glance at the small fir in front of him.

The girl was walking. No, she was playing. She said Iceland is beautiful. It’s not matter which way you are walking on, and you would find its beauty if you spend time on it. Let the time goes as it is, he enjoyed the smile of the girl. Schedule, I don’t mind. It might be the happiest time of his journey.

The girl was standing beside an ivy and chatting with it. The girl could talk with the plant. She said that everyone can talk with every creature in the world, just you want to learn. The ivy danced in the breeze. Its leaves touched with each other one in a while like mouths opened and closed. What they are talking, he was interested.

“This way, Zero.” The girl waved her hand to him happily.

“Have you been here?” He caught up with the girl.

“En. There was a small village once, but destroyed by flood years before.” Her deep red pupils glance over the deserted farm. Lonesome, he could sense it from her eyes.

“Lunch time is coming. Let’s have a rest under the tree.”

“En.”

He felt happy while he looked at the smile of the girl. It had been half of month since the girl joined his journey. He recalled that day when he came back from the temple...

The moon had moved to the midheaven. Everything exposed its position in the moonlight and plated with silver. And the trees were dancing with the cool wind, sending out an unclear sound just like to speak in a whisper.

He looked around. He was expecting someone. A girl, a girl called Heno. He felt blue. He couldn’t blame it, he knew.

“I am late.” He stared at the moon. “I must apologize.”

From the shade of trees, a figure turned up in the moonlight. The boy looked at it and a smile came up his face. It’s Heno. Though it was shame for a knight made a lady waiting in such a wild, he felt happy that Heno was waiting.

He walked toward the girl in a hurry. The girl was crying. He could see the lady with tears in her eyes.

“I’m sorry. I’m late.” Say something else; he felt his vocabulary was so damned limited.

The girl said nothing, just staring at him carefully. In the silvery moonlight, the girl’s eyes were so clean, like the flawless ice, like the wonderful diamond.

“Welcome back, Zero.” She took out a handkerchief and wiped away the blood stains on his face.

“En.” For a while he remained speechless. “En. I am sorry. The monsters are hard to deal with, but you see.” He picked out the small black crystal. “Is it the key?”

“Yes, it is.” Heno glanced at it. “The key of the door, you get it.” And then she kept on cleaning his wound.

“But I must apologize. I broke the mirror.”

“Broken. It’s pity. But I think the one in Gawain is fine.” A delicate smell came from the girl. Is it lily?

“But it’s your treasure?”

“I just protect it from destroy maliciously. Decayed in the time or been destroyed by accident, is out of my responsibility. It’s accident, right?” She kept dealing with his wound. “Don’t worry about it.”

“My friend will kill me if I tell her that I broke an antique.” (Don’t worry. You won’t die. I assure.)

“I can understand.”

“Pardon?”

“I saw someone come into the temple.”

“Yes. There are two men inside now. One is a swordsman. Another is a wizard.”

“Swordsman and wizard.” Heno stared at the old temple without a word. It seemed that she was looking at the two men through the wall.

“Do you feel hungry?” The girl said suddenly.

“I can eat an ox now.”

“So, let’s go home. The star night is wonderful, but I like my house better.”

“En.”

“Zero,” the girl looked at him. Her eyes were so clean. “You will go to Gawain, right?”

“I have got the key and your message, so Gawain is my next objective.”

“My job here is over. And I want to have a visit to Gawain. Could I go with you?”

“Sure you can. Please must join.” Accompanied by a friend in a journey was a wonderful thing. Recently, he began to talk to himself frequently. Loneliness like a chronic poison eroded the heart little by little.

“Maybe I will impede your schedule. Are you sure?”

“I am sure, definitely. Can we go back now? I’m very hungry.”

“En.”

The girl looked very happy...

“Zero, yours,” the girl sent a bowl to him. “Miscellaneous soup. It’s delicious with cheese bread. I have cooked too much, but you will deal with it, right?”

Heno was good at cooking. He recalled someone and some bitter experience, half cooked rice, burnt fish. (Fine, I confess.)

“Don’t worry. I will eat them up.”

There were hundreds and thousands people living in this world, but everyone was hiding themselves in their own zone. What a probability did people meet a stranger and then to be friends? Less than one percent? So, what about the girl and him? Was it coincidence or fate?

Wind with fresh smell, ran through the farm, and changed its color, from light green to emerald, and then dark green. It’s a fine day. En, the soup was delicious.

After the lunch, Heno took out a book from her pocket. She bought it from a stall in the last village. The name of the book was Fruits Basket. It’s a collection of stories. The girl would read the story for him and today was this one:

The Most Foolish Traveler in the World

Long long ago, there was a traveler traveling in a village. The villagers saw he was foolish and duped this ignorant guy one by one.

“I’m ill, but I don’t have money to buy the medicine.” An old woman coughed.

“There is some money. Please accept it. Illness is bad.” The traveler said with a smile.

“Thank you. You are a good man.” The woman took the wallet in hand hurrily.

“I don’t have a sweater. I’ll die for cold.” A fat man said to the traveler.

“I have a sweater. Please accept it. Cold is bad.” The traveler took off his sweater and sent it to the man. His face was with smile.

“Thank you. You are a good guy.” The man got the sweater in hand hurrily.

Things like that, his money, his shirt, his trousers and shoes were taken away by the villagers. The traveler didn’t feel unhappy, but wished happiness to the people.

He felt shy for nude and walked in the forest. There was a devil living in the forest. It wanted to eat the traveler. It cheated him by a lot of artful talk. And sure, this traveler was fooled.

“I’m hungry. I’m dying. Can you give me your left hand?” The devil closed its face with hands, crying without tear.

“I see. I will give you my hand. Hunger is bad.” The traveler said with a smile.

“Thank you. You are a good man.” The devil said thanks when it was eating.

“It’s not enough. Can you give me your right hand?”

“En. No problem.” The traveler said with a smile.

“You are a good guy.” And then his hand was eaten.

Finally, his hands, his legs, abdomen and chest were eaten. The devil said thanks all the way.

And while he only had a head on the ground, he gave the eyeballs to the devil.

“You are a good man. And I have a present for you.” The devil said when it was eating the eyeballs. A small paper fell on the earth.

There was only one word on it “Fool”.

“Thank you. Thank you. I’m very happy. This is the first time I get a present.” The traveler’s eye-sockets streamed tear.

The foolish traveler died with a smile on his face.

“The story is ended.” Heno said with slight smile on her face. “What are your feelings about this traveler?”

Zero closed his eyes and reclined on the grass while the girl was reading. He imaged the smile of the traveler all the way. A very happy smile turned up in his mind.

“A lovely guy.” He answered. Maybe he was the most foolish traveler in this world, but he was a lovely guy to someone who will never cheat him.

Toil and loss, the traveler never thought about these. Should we think about these when we give our helping hand?

“What about you?”

“I am scared, by the traveler.”

He looked at the girl puzzled.

“I appreciate his selfless dedication. I have a good friend named Myriel. He is a man always has a passion for dedication. He is not rich, but he once sent all his silver tableware to a poor man who wants to steal them from his home. What interesting is, besides the tableware, he gave the man his lovely silver candelabrum as present, just, asked him to use those precious silvers to become an honest man. Myriel has found a good way to help others, both body and soul.” The girl looked at him and spoke in a serious tone. “But we are human. It’s not an excuse. We, human being connect with someone since we are born. As these relations, we have happiness and sadness. If your friend is in trouble, you will worry about it, right? Don’t want to hurt anyone, but hurt oneself, even abandon the life easily. It’s not a good conduct, but a false good, a wickedness.”

He couldn’t say a word. The girl was right. In the battle field, men which fight desperately like berserker are powerful, and only men who know their lives are precious can beat them.

“So, what shall we do when there is a goal that we have to die for?”

“Struggle, desperate struggle, it’s the only thing we can do.” The girl stared at the farm with grass. “The history of human is a history of struggle. I am witnessing.”

A breeze blew directly into their faces, with the scents of the grass and wild flowers.

Her severe look recalled him to Susan. Actually, they were much alike in character, he thought. But Susan was just like a cymbidium, noble and elegant. And Heno was a dandelion, gentle and full of spark. And they always unfolded a different side before his eyes. Maybe just I don’t know them, he wondered.

The topic was serious. He changed the subject.

“You have a nightmare last night, right? I heard you moan in your sleep last night.”

“You stare at my face all night?” The girl poked at his face with finger.

“Sure, I don’t.” I don’t lie, he told himself. It’s not all night. “You moaned a little, and then fell asleep again. Can you share with me?”

“It’s a bad dream only,” Heno pinched his face. “But, if you insist.”

“I insist.”

“En. It’s nothing strange, a nightmare only. In the dream, I was in a dull empty room. There was nothing except me. I was scared and raised a cry loudly but no answered. And then I bogged down in a sea of blood back legs, unable to stop, go back, as far as like, there was no retreat, only got in deeper and deeper. And then I groped in the dark, but fell down suddenly. Down, down, down. And I was hurt, couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe, and couldn’t see little by little. That is all. What's the meaning of it, Freud?”

“I prefer Jung to Freud. Although I can't explain it, I have a way to deal with the bad dream.” He sent a slice of bread to the girl. "Eat it."

“Why?” The girl looked at the boy uncertainly, but still ate the bread bit by bit.

“Now, you have sold your dream to me. So, it won’t bother you any most.”

“Sold?”

“Yes. You tell me the scene of your dream and I offer you breakfast, so the deal is done.” Zero lay on the ground. “Exchange at equal values.”

“Where do you get this idea?” Heno had a smile on face. “So, how do you deal with my dream?”

“I will keep the dream and sell it to the dream-merchant.”

“Who is the Dream-merchant?”

“It’s a kind of fairy. They nurture the dream and carry on the dream business.”

“When do you sell my dream? Can I meet the dream-merchant?”

“We will meet in the dream. But they are busy men, you know. There are a lot of people want to be their clients.”

“What a pity. But, there is something wrong, dreamer.”

“What?”

“I made this bread this morning. I think you can’t pay for my dream by it. So, you are in debt.” A big smile turned up on her face.

“So, what do you want, my dear princess?” He stood up and made a salute.

“Let me draw on your face.” A pen turned up in her hand unnoticed.

“Why…”

They pursued each other on the grassland happily. The wind was cool and comfortable.

Awakened

I am awakened in the night.

Moonlight from the window, plates me with white.

Windy calls on, sent the news of earth.

The night's silence, like a deep lamp, is burning in my way.

Now, I am roaming around the fields.

It’s sad when the world you know, become a world you knew.

I knew it’s sad how time changes.

Sky, the star-spangled sky, stars, the eyes of sky, pleases not so silent.

Why don’t take a glance at me?

Our distance is just like the cicada's wings only.

Yes, I knew.

The world is still sleeping in the Night.

Only the shadow behind would accompany in my side.

Unknown to Death, nor known to Life.

I stand on the vast, holding my chilled shoulders.

Listen, my ears, to the whispers of the night.

Watch, my eyes, to the unseen flame of darkness.

I feel thy beauty, with my heart.

It said every star is a vexation.

So, Milky Way fell down in the earth tonight.

Age will not depart from the war, God once said to me.

Yet, I have withstood endless loneness to create a dream.

My wishes may be fools, shouting across thy song.

And the world may only can rush on over the strings of the lingering heart.

But, I hope, with the noise of this little earth, drowns the silence of all worlds.

I am walking in the world of the roads.

The fountain of death will make the still water of life play, I am witnessing.

I will not grudge. I will not hate.

Even though those hands will never hold anything.

As I pray, as I pray, the universe darkness submerges my tiny body.

夏普尔斯守望者 发表于 2011-7-8 00:26

故事内容不错，而且整篇都是英文，很有创意且勇气可嘉

由于篇幅较长，明天还要考试，所以没怎么仔细看， ...

谢谢。那个词我查字典了，决定修改。关于那时态，我是跟着陈述时用过去式和过去进行时，心里描写用现在时，对话用现在时，这样的格式写的。语法上绝对有问题的，本人自叹能力不足ing。关于那两句合一问题，因为我是在写诗（打油诗...），句子太长不好看，如能帮我改，只要描述类似，我会修改的。

Genesis

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And God created the heaven and the earth by Word.

At that time, the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. God created the light, air and water by the elements of the universe. God can’t create anything out of nothing. And the world has the light, air and water.

And then God wanted to create the living things which with body, with spirit and soul. God made up the bodies of the living things by the earth and water. And then God infused the spirit and soul into them one by one. The spirits and souls were fragments of God’s spirit and soul. And then there are grasses growing on the earth, trees standing on the mountain, birds flying in the air, fish swimming in the water and animals running on the wild. Human is one of them and its spirit and soul came from God’s head.

And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. God blessed them, saying, be fruitful, and multiply.

God rests and moves upon the face of the water. And while the living things come to their ending, their souls and spirits will regress to God. God giveth and God taketh away.

In Mist

I sit at my window this morning where the world like a passer-by stops for a moment, nods to me and goes.

It’s Tagore’s poetry, an interesting poetry, wasn’t it? And its feeling was right down the weather today, for this town was covered in a fog now, like in the deep fish soup. I couldn’t find the sun, seemed the mist is like the earth’s desire, hiding the sun for whom she cries. The street was quiet complete. People was all hiding in the house. The detective might imagine there is a big game gonna happen. But I found there are some unseen fingers, like an idle breeze, painting upon the large paper, creating a landscape of impressionism.

I recalled the day when we arrived in Iceland. Yes, we were welcome by the Rocky Castle, a castle in the air, which was the center of story of the Black Bride. Did I say that there are one or two witness statements of it will be reported to Atlantis every several years? And the number would be enlarged if the reports which don’t send to Atlantis are included. Most of witnesses were fishermen. But there were exceptional cases, for example, it turned up in the sky of Babbitt four years ago. It was big news at that time. And for a long while the church was seized with a panic. The capital of Atlantis, Canon, also had the similar report twenty years ago. And it’s said that the Rocky castle always turn up with a fog, like weather today, which even the tiger hang around will be unseen.

There was a newspaper on my desk. It’s come from the continent two days ago. The splash headline was “The military manoeuvre of Atlantis in Maginot Line”. Now, the continent became a “powder key”, waiting for the spark that makes it explode. The review said so. Prepared for war. It’s hard say. Uncle might be busy at it now. It would not do that his old wound any good. That small town was not a military base. Everything should be fine. Whom should I pray to, Christ, Sakyamuni or Mohammed?

There was a hail of hoof beats came from the street. And a black cart came behind it, slowly and lonely. It passed in front of my window and disappeared in the mist. And then everything was back to silence.

The case of the crown prince couple of the Principality of Liechtenstein was not yet over. Several suspects were arrested and then released. Maybe this case will be closed just like this, a current events survey said so. In the present political background, no one would care about its cause and fact, and impartially trial was impossible. Suddenly, powerless to resist, this feeling came into my mind. Human, your name is frailty.

There was a financial news taken a small space beside the international news. It’s about the financial and monetary crisis of Atlantis. The Atlantis government was nagged by the troubled finance, crop failure and high military expenditure. It’s said that the minister of finance was fired for it. The incoming minister called Arthur was a professor of Atlantis Imperial College. And he was my uncle’s friend. It’s said that this status should belong to him early, but it was rumored that he has relationship with Britannia, so his official career was impeded. I had sat in on his class last term. He was a good old man. And about his class, to be honest, was devastating. Please don’t show the mathematical formula to me anymore.

Beside the newspaper, there was a history book on Eden. I was allowed in the library of Fairy Altar. It’s a private library for the witches here. Collection included the magic, literature, medicine and so on. The book introduced a traditional competition of Eden. It’s called Olympus game, held in the Witch Forest every four years. The Witch Forest was a large forest located in the middle of this island, ruled by Puck, the king of fairy. He was the king of fairies and monsters and all magic creatures living in this forest. But it seemed that the fairy like to stay alone. This game was the rare interflow between human and fairy at that time. About the game, in a simple summarization, it was a long obstacle race, with traps and dust-up included. Goblins would patrol the perimeter and report to the Olympus game committee. And fairies would change the way players came, alter the scene they remembered. And King Michael was one of the winners of this game when he just was a gardener of the palace. And it seemed he married a princess of King Apollo after it. But the name of this princess was not recorded. I did not want to research into the papers now. I didn’t in the mood.

Looking at the grey world, I felt lonely, just like a man standing alone between the earth and heaven.

The Story in Journey

Zero and Heno arrived on a small village and stayed in an inn. There were three travelers also putting up for the night. They came from different countries and spoke in different accents.

It’s raining, on the plain, on the grain, pitter… patter…

It would be a boring night, so all of them decided to stay together and spoke stories in turn as amusement after the dinner.

Heno was the first one. “ This was a story spreading in the east. Two hundred years ago, there was a country located on the Coral Sea coast, called Red Kingdom. And the one located in its vertex was a princess only fifteen years old. The queen passed away three years ago, and this small princess enthroned in the arrangement of the church.

Luxury articles for daily use, servants closely associated to her, and toys only exist for her, everything, everything seemed belong to this little girl. Man who scolded her had already not in. And only the conspirators wandered in the side. A cute kid once the princess was, but now, she was a girl, which would say: ‘If they have no bread to eat, let them eat cake’.

Flower of evil was blossoming delicately. And others were turned into mud like weeds.

Fortunately or unfortunately, this bad girl had an admirer, a young servant in the palace. This young boy had similar appearance of the princess. The princess thought it’s an interesting thing, and then the boy was put in her side. ‘Ah, it’s snack time. What is the tea today?’ ‘It’s Darjeeling tea, master.’… Although this girl was savage and absurd, he loved her and wanted to be her knight standing by her side.

One day, this bratty princess fell in ‘love’. And her target was the prince of Blue Kingdom. She met this handsome prince in a state visit days ago and lost her heart in him at once. Might be as the old saying, love comes like the storm. Or maybe just this girl thought her finds a new toy.

But what a pity, the prince rejected her pursuit, for he had a girlfriend, which is a populace of Green Kingdom.

A golden apple initiated the Trojan War, and this ‘love’ was the start of misfortune.

‘Kill that damn whore. Destroy the Green.’ The princess ordered like breathing. ‘Yes, Your Majesty.’ The young servant answered. And then, his hands stained with the blood of that innocent girl come from Green.

‘Goddess, please forgive her. It’s my sin, not her.’…

The adults were too busy to prevent the situation from deteriorating. And then, numberless houses were burnt, numberless farmland was destroyed, and numberless men were killed.

Blood and rage flooded the earth. The savage act of this girl aroused the great indignation of the people. And then, the Red Kingdom was covered in the storm of revolution. Suffering people took up arms. And soldiers were too fatigued to resist. The wonderful kingdom of the girl, the nightmare of people collapsed in the shout and cry.

The adults had run away with their fortune. And the violent princess was caught easily. She was having tea in the garden alone.

‘Damn slaves, don’t touch me.’…

Revolutionary army decided to put this princess to death.

The execution square was full of people. They wanted to commemorate with the death of the devil. It’s about three p.m. The princess was pushed to the scaffold slowly. Although wearing shackles, the princess was the proud princess has been, even didn’t take a glance at the people on the square.

‘Dang… dang… dang…’ The clock made resounding time bell.

‘Ah, it’s snack time.’ The princess stared at the blue sky and said with a smile. And then, the head of the princess was cut down.

‘Ah, such a devil girl.’ People sighed and dispersed…

While people witnessed the death of the princess, a cart with an old horse was walking on the alley of a small coastal town that far from the cry and war leisurely. A girl in worn civilian clothing was sleeping on the straw of the cart. She slept soundly, might be tired out for escape, might be the effects of drugs, and didn’t get a notice to the new world. The cart stopped at the doorway of an orphanage. And a nun waiting accepted the girl.

‘Where am I? ...’ Here wasn’t her plush bedroom with Lelouch furniture, but a cell with a small bed and a chair only. Unconsciously, she looked for someone. No, he was not here. Maybe he is busy preparing tea. The girl talked herself.

‘How long do I sleep?’ She fumbled in her pocket for a pocket watch but found a letter. It’s he wrote to her. Uneasily, she unfolded the paper in a hurry.

‘My Dear Princess,

I have left the world when you read this letter. Yes, I have died, just as the literal meaning. You will know the reason after you read it. But first of all, I must apologize. I don’t keep my promise. I am sorry, princess.

You have right to know the truth. I am a revolutionary and a spy placed in the palace. My job is gathering necessary information about you and the ministers. My fellows and I are always waiting a chance to rebuild this country. We love of this land, but it has been fouled. And we decide to clean it. They are my truths.

I love you. This is in my heart to say to you—and I say it. I owe it in justice to myself to tell you so. I have been falling in love with you when I accepted this assignment two years ago, just as the old saying: love comes all of a sudden. It’s not a lie. Although you are a wayward girl, you are my goddess.

I once wanted to stop you from falling. But I failed just like the story William Wilson. So I decided, if there’s no one beside you when your soul embarks, then I will follow you into the dark. Please excuse my wishful thinking.

I knew this country would be destroyed sooner or later, even without this event. So, before your life is torn, I planed this revolution. And everything proceeds in a planned way.

You lost your heart to the prince of Blue, was in my plan. Do you remember, it’s me introduced him to you? I knew you would fall in love with him. You have described to me your dream lover. Yes, I knew that he has a girlfriend. I once hoped that the prince could value your feelings. But, it came into the worst option. Then I didn’t stop your insane decision, and became your accomplice. People's uprising and the army mutiny came together. And we escaped from the palace in my planned way. All of them are in my poor script.

You can blame me. And I will not ask you to forgive me. In any case, I have destroyed your happiness. And you can blame my conceit. Anyway, I didn’t consider your feelings.

I once wanted to deceive your whole life. And then we can stay in a small town peacefully. But I can’t. My hands have been stained with blood of a girl. And, I have to put an end to this tragedy.

I have passed away. And now it’s about you, my princess. You will live, by yourself, in this new world. It’s not any amazing grace, but a severe penalty. From now on, you have to learn the world again, live in a new way, and think things out for yourself. It’s difficult, but I believe you can do it.

Now, you are in an orphanage in Britannia. Nun Nightingale will help you. She is my teacher and friend. You can believe and rely on her.

My dear princess, be live, be well.

I am, dear princess,

Your humble Servant,

Len. D. Britannia’

‘Idiot, idiot… I have told you, confession must be face to face. How can I answer you? Irresponsible idiot…’ Tear dropped down from the girl’s cheek. ‘Without you, what’s the meaning I escaped from the birdcage? …’

Yes, they loved each other. But they didn’t declare, for their status gap, for their immature hearts. He wanted to save her from the castle. So, he planed this revolution. And she also hoped to destroy the cage and go with him.

‘I don’t worth your love… I am a princess? No, I am just a puppet, a bird in the cage only, have not freedom, have not future… ’

The life in the palace was ruthless and relentless. In order to survive, she just could wear a mask, looking at those men fighting to protect its own interests. And he slipped into the darkness of her nightmare.

‘Without the day boy, how can the night girl lives in the sun? ...’

Several months ago, the church arranged a marriage matches with her status. It’s impossible for her to deny it. It’s not a request, but an order. The death of the queen had been the best lesson for her.

‘I have fallen in love with the prince of Blue. I will marry to him.’ She pretended to be an ignorant girl, and gave her all in this gamble. She knew that in the royal family’s political tactic, nobles were the key to the stability of the royal family and connections through marriages were one of ways to unite them. The church acquiesced this suggestion. It’s also a good choice to them.

‘You have just given my happiness, and a portion most sensibly appreciated. Why do you take away? Idiot…’

She loved of her motherland. But it’s too difficult to dispel the darkness herself. So, she came to be a violent ruler. She knew what her done involved many fateful consequences, but she believed that they are the pangs of rebirth. All is well that ends well. Destroyed this corrupt country, was it the only way? She didn’t know. She only could struggle like this, for the people, for herself.

Everything seemed to proceed in a planned way. A large revolution smashed the darkness. And she escaped with him. But, destiny played such a joke on them. Let them miss each other like that.

‘How can I live in such a world without my soul, Len? ...’

Shall we say it is their deserts? In any case, they hurt so many people. Or shall we sympathize with them? And ask the god, what kind of destiny will him weave? Maybe you have your answer already.

The story is over like this. By the way, the princess stayed in Britannia peacefully as a nurse afterwards. And the No.4 king of Britannia, King Lin, recorded their story. He wrote a book for them and published after the girl passed away. Everyone, thanks you for listening.”

A Tale of Adventure

“This way, follow me.” The girl spoke lowly and walked into an alley. The road was out of light, dark as the hell. The main roads behind them were full of light. Just they couldn't walk on them. He could hear the damn cry of the huge figure men. They were tailing the girl like the flies looking for sweet. He didn't want to play with them. Knocked them down is a small potato, but it couldn't deal with the problem. The girl was hurry. He caught up with her.

The girl looked tired, but her leg seemed to be better. She worn on her mark, and hid herself in her mantle. A secret make woman woman. Looking at her figure, he remembered this sentence. The girl kept going on, without a word. He shook his head, following her down. The hounds were howling in the night.

The girl stopped at a doorway. She knocked at it.

“Who, is devil or god?” A low voice came behind the door.

“We are fellow citizens of the living hell.” The girl answered at once. A silk of light came out from the door crack.

“So have you gotten the tolerance from the goddess?”

“If I haven't, I hope goddess can favor me, If I have got, wish goddess still giving me.”

As her words were over, the door opened and an old man with a lamp on his hand appeared in front of them. “Please come in.” He made a gesture and let them come in.

It was a bake house. There were lots of flour dumplings placed on a large table in the middle of the room. And the sweet smell of bread was spreading from the oven.

He took a look at the man. Portly and ruby-faced, he had bushy hair and blue eagle eyes that seemed to see through everyone in front of him.

“Do you want something to eat?” He pointed to a table with several trays which was full of bread and cookies when he guided their way to another room with a tapestry hung on. “Hot from the oven.”

“Croissant, it seems delicious. But we are late.”

“I will do it later.” As the man speaking, he pulled aside the tapestry, exposing the wall behind it. He pulled a recessed fingerhold on the wall, and then a sliding staircase appeared. The man took a candlestick in hand and slipped through the door. They followed behind him.

As they descended, the air grew cooler. The only light came from the candlestick looked weak in the black. A maze underground, he glanced at the tunnels and wall. An ancient relic, and in the feel of the one in Lancelot.

“Wait a moment.” The man said suddenly after they walking in silence about ten minutes.

He picked up a metal bar which lying aside and knocked at the wall. “Di, Di, Di… Di… Di, Di, Di… Di… Di, Di, Di… Di…” The stick clicked on the stone wall.

“Break through the night, go and try to fight.” Someone said in the dark.

“Don’t be afraid, now is the time.” The man said immediately, following the one in the dark.

A man in dark cloak turned up from the darkness with a torch and took over the duty of the first man showing them the way. The first man turned and walked upstairs.

Silent, damn silent, only their footfall echoed in this silent maze. And they just like the ghosts passing through the cold tombs.

Why did I be here? He looked at the girl in front of him.

Just two days ago, after he and his fellow traveler hanged around for month, at the beginning of September, they reached Gawain, a large independent city in the north of Iceland. City might be not the right word to use here. As the largest city of this island, Gawain just like a capital city, controlled the most territory of Iceland. But it didn’t proclaim independence as a country, so people called it Gawain City or Gawain as it was, and its sphere of influence was called Gawain Zone. And as the heir of the technology legacy of Eden, Gawain had countless relations with the countries of continent. Excavated the ancient buried city, found and sold the lost technologies, and then it became a city of wealth. The ray-machine in mail-station just was its produce.

Summer was a good time to travel in the countryside. The air and earth were full of spirit and life. Enjoying the figure walking in front of him, he felt happy. Her hair was glinting and dancing in the sunshine. But, he was a little anxious when they arrived at the city customs pass.

The air here was heavy. Soldiers checked the pedestrians carefully one by one like in the prison camp, never want a passerby to pass them by. Packages, carts and clothes, they checked everything brought into or out the city. He had done this job in Atlantis while he was a recruit as knight. He would check the good of the businessman and report to the tax official. And then it’s the business of the tax collector and businessman. And keeping the peace and preventing the trouble came inside was his main job.

But such odd feeling. He took a glance at the soldiers. They seemed looking for someone or something.

It’s his turn.

“Your name? Where do you come from? And why here?” A soldier spitted angry menaces at him.

“Zero C Cadmus. Atlantis. Travel.” Zero answered. The man looked discontented for his terse answer.

Another soldier checked up the bag and credential on a table.

“You are a knight?” The man stared at his sword carried on the back.

“Yes.”

“Oh, I have heard. Atlantis has fired all its knights. So, you are laid-off?” He grinned like a cheshire cat in a moment.

“Yes. So what?”

“I am servant to the poor, butler to the great. If you want a job, I can help you.”

“And then?”

“A little slice.”

“And a little cut latter. No thanks.”

“What a pity. Can I have a look at your sword?” The sword was a present from Susan, called Gram or something else. His original one was cut to pieces when he fought with Pollux.

“If you want.” Zero drew the sword and stuck it in the stone ground, sent out a slight sound. The blade sank deeply into the stone.

The soldier wanted to pull the sword up. He tried his best, but the sword just was immobilized; like the Caliburn, the Sword in the Stone, only its owner could draw it up. The soldier withdrew his idea soon.

“So knight, don’t hang around in the city.” The soldier threw the sundries into the bag and sent it back.

Heno was chatting with an old woman beside the city wall. The woman might be a visionary. There were some divination tools placed on her booth, crystal ball, magic books and something like these.

“Heno. Are you divining?” He smiled to the girl, but the girl looked at him worriedly.

“Yes. But it’s not a good answer.”

“Don’t worry. Divination is one of the most imprecise branches of magic. My friend has said so. And true Seers are very rare, you should know that.”

“Sir.” The old woman said suddenly.

“Oh, I am sorry. No offence was meant.” Zero apologized as soon as he can. He had forgotten that the old woman was standing beside.

“There is no need to say any more, sir.” The woman stared at Zero. “Let’s have a try.”

What…

He winked at the girl, seeking help, but the girl just smiled back.

“Ok, what should I do?” Zero said reluctantly.

“It’s easy.” She sent him a deck of Tarot. “Shuffle the cards.”

Zero did as she is told. The cards were old. Tarot… Five years ago, Rose was once indulging in this game. How to play? How… He wanted to recall the rule, but he just couldn't remember it.

“Are you ready? Give me.” She said impatiently, sweeping over and snatching the cards from him.

“Let me see your future today.” She sent three cards on a table and then opened them one by one.

They were “The Fool”, “Wheel of Fortune” and “Lovers”.

“I have seen your future.” Her enormous, gleaming eyes stared at the boy. “Your happy tour is over. And the girl will leave you alone.”

“What?”

“Ma’am, am I right?”

“Yes... I’m sorry.” (What’s his facial expression then? I’m interested.~_~)

“She is my family and come to pick me up. There is something I have to deal with alone. This journey thanks for your help. I had a good time.” The girl said in a low voice.

He felt strange feelings suddenly came over him, awaking an unhappy sensation. May be sad, may be worry, he didn’t know.

“We will meet again, won’t us?”

“Yes, we will.” The girl smiled naughtily. “And may be in a way surprising.”

“I will stay in the inn over there.” He pointed to an inn on the street. “Come as you wish.”

“Madam.” The woman had cleared her booth.

“So, see you later.”

“See you later.”

Heno and the old woman disappeared in a crossing. Predestined relationship is just like this, come and gone in haste. He stood on the street for a long time, looking at the stranger if in a trance.

He got a loft near the street in the inn. And then he said nothing but sat on the bed staring blankly.

Dinner was troublesome. Sleep is good, he told himself. And then he came into the dream soon.

Yes, it’s a dream.

He was flying. The wind was cutting his face and eyes. In front of him, there’s a large building with high stone walls and narrow windows. The dark clouds, with flashing lightning were floating in circles around it rapidly like an eddy. The black flag tied on the spire was fluttering with the violent wind.

The earth was burning, belching forth clouds of smoke. And the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke. He could smell a terrible smell of brimstone and carrion. He could find there were piles of men and animals, died. Beating the wings rapidly, he was flying on. Wind whistled in his ears, mingled with the screams of fairies.

He forced landing on the square of the building. There were two men on it. One was a lady with golden long hair swinging in the breeze. But she looked like a doll. Her face and eyes were out of emotion, though, her eyes swam with tears.

“Pandora…” He shouted desperately.

“Ah, really touching reunion, Michael.” It’s a man’s voice, eerie, spine-tingling and unearthly. He was sitting beside the lady. His body was like the mummy, and his face was as white as the bone. “How many year we don’t see each other?”

“Leave my wife, Samael.” He felt a rage welled up in his chest.

“Well, Princess Pandora, your husband is calling you. Do you hear? Ha, answer me, sinner stained with the blood of the king and queen.” Samael was in willfully laughing.

“What do you want? You are the snake in Eden. You control everything. Betrayal, murder, genocide, call me provincial. You win, but what do you get?”

“I will get the world. Listen, the voice of thy king's blood is crieth unto me from the ground. It’s wonderful. Hatred, the most wonderful power in the world, now, I get it. I like it, ha, ha, ha…”

“You are crazy.”

“Yes, I’m crazy. And the world is crazy too. Now, I’m holding a party. I need some music. Well, let me introduce my pet, King Dragon, the most powerful devil on the earth. It may sing some beautiful song for us. I just make a vow to it. And it gives me all. And thanks for princess. She killed the king and polluted the Holy of Holies, so my pet can befall here. Don’t move. This lovely toy will break, if you take a step forward.” The man placed a sword on Pandora’s shoulder. “You are my important guest; please enjoy my party.”

Black fog with flashing lightning gathered in the square soon, absorbing the power and light. And then with a long, hard, unnatural scream, a large red dragon turned up. One had seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon its heads. And now, it was standing in front of him like a mountain.

“My little pet, now, sing a song for us.” A crazy and evil smile appeared on the man’s face…

In the second day morning, Zero wakened up. Such a nightmare. He opened his eyes slowly. Where the hell am I? Squinting at his surroundings he saw a shabby room with a bed, a small table and two chairs. And gentle sunshine was illuminating him through the French window, which had a small balcony with it. It might be early morning. He could not hear the noise of the street.

Slowly, the fog began to lift. Yes, I have arrived in Gawain. And Heno has gone home. He felt his heart missing something. He knew what it is. Don’t worry, he told himself. Passion will lend us power, time means, to meet, and tempering extremities with extreme sweet. You are not Romeo, and Heno is not Juliet. He ridiculed on himself. He stared at the white ceiling. What shall I do now?

There were devils and angels in the world. Each performs its own functions. Rose once discussed their functions with him. She said that the angel is existed for the man who wants to go forward, and the devil is prepared for the stagnant guy.

To be, or not to be: that is the question.

Finally, he decided to get out of bed. Life is going on, he told himself.

“Mayor Bruno was killed in his study in the evening one day ago.” Zero was chatting with a bar girl in a restaurant. It’s not the dinner time. Only two old men were drinking slowly in the corner. The girl was leisure. “His page was out this evening. And the old housekeeper slept in the house heard nothing. Just before the midnight, a guard saw a door unlocked, and then found Bruno was attacked the heart by a dagger. Motive possible was not robbery. Valuable collection was untouched. The police have arrested the page. He is a good customer, often dining here. Poor man.”

So this was why the caution is so stern.

“Mayor murder case. Gawain Daily.” A boy was peddling newspaper on the sideway. “Suspect was released.” Zero bought one.

A nice little black brougham passed by his side, raising a cloud of dust. Two soldiers were on patrol duty along the street.

The inn keeper told him. There were two political factions in this city. One was called Dollars, another was Euros. And Bruno was the leader and life of Dollars. “The evidence added up to a case of political murder.” A pedlar told him. Bruno was propelling Gawain to be in league with Atlantis. And on the other hand, the leader of Euros, called John Smith, was on intimate terms with Britannia. And they fought resolutely against each other in the parliament.

“They are both concerned about the future of Gawain. Coming from the same root, what’s the hurry in frying each other?” A bard said so. Internal strife can cause destruction. It’s the universal truth of the world. We knew it. But the human always like to prove it, over and over again.

The page was out. Housekeeper had slept. Bruno was attacked in his study by someone he had apparently invited in. So it seems reasonable to conclude that the mayor knew his attacker. But who? Was really the member of Euros do it? Or it’s an internal conflict? Or something else?

A vibrating needle may signal an earthquake. A great detective had said so. Maybe it’s the beginning of a matter of the utmost importance.

Why should I work for the local police? I’m on holiday. He told himself.

In this way, he hung around for two days. He patronized the news vendor everyday. But there was nothing new in the paper. And the time came to the night.

It’s a crescent night that everything should quiet. And He went to bed early. But between sleep and wake, Zero was wakened up by a noise, which came from the balcony. Thief? He took a look at his silver luminous pocket watch. It’s a present from his adoptive father, a stubborn old knight. Maybe he is fighting with the documents now. It’s a quarter pass ten. Generally speaking, people would dead to the world from 2 to 4 a.m. It’s too early to pick and steal.

When he just wanted to get out of bed, there’s a pack of footstep came from the street. And a part of them charged into this inn he stayed. And then someone were running on the corridor and knocking at the doors of tenant rapidly.

And it’s his turn soon.

“Who?” Zero spoke loudly.

“Monsieur,” a man’s voice said. “I’m the concierge, sir. I apologize for this intrusion, but this is room service.”

Have you the time, room service? Who believes your story!

Zero lit up the candle, and then opened the door. A huge figure turned up in front of him. There’s a pot in his hand.

“Room service, sir.” The man took a step forward, wanted to charge into the room.

“Thank you.” Zero said and barred the way, facing up to the man. “Give me please.”

The man might be smiling, but his eyes were deep and out of emotion. He took a glance at the room. And then he passed the pot and left without a word.

Zero closed the door. The scars on his hands and face suggested that the man was a fighter. He is not a concierge, to say the least. Zero swayed the pot. There was only a small bottle of water in it. Room service!

The hubbub disappeared as the crowd left.

Such a crowd of noisy guys!

So, now, the next problem, it seems that I have a guest. And may be shy in presence of stranger, just hiding in the corner of the balcony.

“Hi, would you like to have tea with me?” He opened the window door slowly. “The cool gust is good, but it seems that it’s going to rain.”

“If you insist.” It’s a girl’s voice, which was familiar to him. “But, knight, it’s dangerous to invite a stranger in. You'll be in trouble, if I am a vampire.”

The girl walked into the room totteringly, put on a mask, and draped a cloak over her shoulders.

“If you are a vampire, I'll let you suck. My dear Heno. Are you in a masquerade ball? This is really special meeting way.” He was happy, as if looking at the rainbow in the sky.

Yes, the girl was Heno, a girl with deep red staring eyes.

“You are really boring, Zero. I was hoping you are taken by surprise.” Heno dropped the mask. It’s a mask of black butterfly.

“Okay. I swear I’ll act surprised next time.” He felt out a salve from his bag. “Sit down, please. Your right leg is cramping, isn’t it?”

“They are too troublesome. I had to run all the way. Ah… Here. Ah… I’m sorry. Get you into trouble. Ah…” She gave forth lovely sound.

“What’s a life without a little risk? Don’t worry about it. Ok, you will feel better soon.” Her calf was gentle like the white jade.

“You should have a lot of questions wanted to ask me.” The girl stared at him.

“You will answer, if I ask?”

“I’ll, try my best. The word which I say will the truth and nothing but the truth.”

“So, first question, do you know what you are doing and it doesn’t go against your will?”

“Yes, I do. I will keep going on, no matter what has happened.”

“Second question, do you like something to eat? I bought some jelly doughnuts back.” He pointed at a small box on the table.

“I would like to. But that is all, Zero?”

“Do you want me to ask anything else, my friend?”

“Idiot.”

“Why do you and Rose always call me with this?”

“Because you are a big idiot.” She paused. “Do you know the case of Bruno? I am busied with it. It’s a serious case for it will destroy the Gawain zone. Zero, I don’t want to destroy your holiday, but I wonder if I should persuade you to join me a couple of days for this case.”

“Well, of course.”

“Are you sure?”

“I shall be delighted.”

“You don’t mind breaking the law, nor running the chance of arrest?”

“Not in the least in a good cause.”

“I promise the cause is excellent.”

“Well, I am at your service.”

“So, we should run quickly. We will have a meeting in thirty-five minutes.”

“But the jelly doughnut…” He had opened the box.

“Napoleon is not good at doughnut. You made a bad choice. French stick is his placard goods. I am sure Napoleon will bring you up a French stick while we are reached.”

“Who’s Napoleon?”

“The shopkeeper of the bakery where you buy your doughnut. He is one of my companions.” A big smile turned up in her face. “Let’s move now, in the way I came.”

It’s said that a secret makes woman woman. He looked at her slim figure. Who are you, Heno?

So, now, he was descending along the stairs in the darkness, after the girl. Chill came out from the stone. And shadow and light danced together like the fairies holding a wild party.

Ten minute later, they came into a big room illuminated by the flickering orange blaze of firelight. There were four men worn masks waiting in it.

“You are late.” An old man with a mask of symbol of Mercury, spoke as soon as they come in. He took a glance at Zero, and kept going on. “The situation is not very well.”

“I just called on Claude and sent a notice to him.” Heno said.

“Advance notice? What is it about?” A man worn a mask of symbol of Jupiter asked.

“Tomorrow night I will steal the murderer of the case of Bruno away.”

“We all know who is murderer, Claude, the secretary of the government, but now we have not any direct evidence testified to his guilt. Claude is protected by the Death. The Death is not stupid. They can hide. They can wait. But we can’t. Playing a game of bluff is useless.” A man worn the mask of the symbol of Mars spoke rapidly. Disaffection broke out almost from the start.

“I see, my friend. But Claude is only a pawn in a much bigger game. And the master head is the Death, our old match. This murder has been carefully prepared. Do they get their maximum benefit now? What do they obtain after this deal? Money of Claude? All those men to snatch one little purse. Oh, no, dear friend, it wouldn’t have paid them.” Heno’s golden hair was shining in the light. “The Death will not stop. We must alarm Claude, get him on the move so he leads us go to the center of the web, and then we will have the initiative.”

“It seems you are right. But I have a question.” A woman worn a mask of symbol of Venus said. “How can they get their maximum benefit? According to their previous way, they will like to raise a disturbance, even a war. The mayor’s death may cause strong repercussions, but a war, I don’t think so.”

“If the leader of Euros, John Smith, also is killed secretly? I have found their assassin hiding out of John’s house.”

“How…”

“Bruno’s death arouses suspicion. And the death of John Smith will set off a chain reaction, and lead to the gravest consequences if the Death adds fuel to the flame.”

Everyone looked at each other, and nothing more was said. Human society is so fragile. A great general once said 90% of the causes of wars are so stupid that will amaze our descent and the last 10% will amaze us.

“Everyone, they are professional criminals. We should better prepare for the worst. Now, this is my plan…”

…

“Everything is ready. It’s your show time now, Zero.”

“A breakfast of bacon and eggs, don’t forget, Heno.”

“And jelly roll, I see. Take care.”

…

This day evening, outside a small house, a man lay on the roof opposite side. This house was a separate unit. A corridor come from the rear connected this cell with the main house. He had been there, staring at that room for four hours. His target came into this building just one hour before. And the light inside was turned off soon. Now, two soldiers were guarding the door with great care.

Captain Saturn, the constable of Gawain, had made an inspection tour and exhorted his colleagues to be careful: keep the man inside safe, making all sacrifices, even the life.

No matter how careful you are, Saturn, you will lose; the man ridiculed his enemy.

The man kept himself in the shade carefully. He should not take action below the moon; the moonlight would expose his position. But he had to. His boss had ordered that he should fulfill his job tonight. It seemed that his accomplice gets into trouble and made his boss uneasy. And he had to deal with it. What is the consequence if he lost? He couldn’t imagine. Might be suffered before the boss let him die. I’ll always be a slave only, he sighed.

A young maid carried a pot and went through the corridor; there was midnight snack in the pot for the soldiers. The soldiers had to stand there until the break; they needed something to keep them warm.

The maid stopped suddenly. It would seem that she has forgotten to bring something, maybe bowls or something else. She looked at the pot and then glanced at the long corridor behind. Several seconds later, she placed the pot on the ground and then ran toward the main house.

The man had a smile on his face.

He moved between the shadows, as quick just like a monkey, as silent just like a ghost.

Three drops of golden liquid slipped into the pot.

These were enough and too spare, he smiled and hided his figure in the shade.

The maid came back with bowls and chopsticks. And the midnight snack was placed in front of the soldiers very soon.

The hot boiled dumplings were delicious and they gulped down without thought; they had been busy on the go all day. The maid was happy they like her work. Cleared away bowls and chopsticks, she went back to the main house.

The moon moved to the mid-heaven gradually. In the garden, trees were dancing with the wind, sending out an unclear sound just like to speak in a whisper. And the lanterns under the roof were swaying in the breeze, flickered low. The two men guarding the door felt somewhat sleepy, and the scene came to be hazy. They wanted to remind each other. However, they felt weak and couldn’t make a sound. Vacillatingly and staggeringly, they toppled down to the ground, didn’t utter a word.

A shade drifted down from the roof with a smile on his face.

With a dagger in hand, he opened the door gently, put his head inside and checked out the interior. Nothing, except the shelves and shadow, there was only a bed with something lying on. He continued pushing the door open, slowly and quietly. And then he heard a sound, light and sharp; his hearing was excellent. He knew the sound, the night bird chirp. Nothing, there is nothing, he told himself. His target was front of him now, wrapped up by a blanket.

He would not feel sorry for his target. This is a dog-eat-dog world, he was taught.

Your time has come, old man! He inserted his dagger into the blanket, to the bottom of the dagger.

Suddenly, he felt something wrong. It’s not the feeling of human body. At the same time, a sudden movement behind him caught his attention. Out of nowhere, a crushing blow to the head knocked him to his knees. Then everything went black.

…

All was quiet at dead of night. Claude paced up and down beside the fireplace in a room inside the guildhall. He had used this boring room as his office and bedroom more than a decade. Yes, it’s boring. Although there was on one above him but the mayor, he wasn’t content with this.

The mayor and Smith’s idea always was different from his. Gawain should be a powerful country in the world, he believed. We have the most advance technology and we should take part in the world, but we are short of a sound policy, he believed. After this night, everything would be solved.

Someone knocked at his door. He opened the door quickly. As usual, he only found a letter placed on the ground. There was only one word on it: Done. He was happy for this. Actually, he didn’t like this way. It was not an elegant behavior. But it’s not the matter, he told himself, anyway, I don’t like that guy. I can have asleep now. Good night, he told himself.

…

“I have a question, Heno. What the Death is it? Professional killer organization?”

“You should ask it early, before the act.”

“I forgot. Tell me now, please.”

“Do you hear about the Cross Troop? Army of the church.”

“I think almost everyone on earth has heard of it.”

“The church once is a military affairs organization. And the Cross Troop is its sword. Expelled alien is its work. Thrown their swords into the scale is its way. In the name of god, burning, killing and pillaging, not do no evil. They are devil on the earth.” The girl was shaking with emotion.

“Heno, are you fine?”

“I’m fine. Don’t worry. Just recalled some unhappy memory.” She took a sip tea. “Talk about the Death. The Death’s history is a precarious world where fact, lore, and misinformation have become so intertwined that extracting a pristine truth is almost impossible. And it’s said that it’s the church’s shadowy architect. But not that it matters, it’s the successor organization of the Cross Troop. The Cross Troop itself is destroyed as the atrophy of the church. But the Death carries forward its evil tradition. Their members include nobles, arms merchants, mercenaries, military-industrial complex and so on. But its veil of secrecy never raises. Secretly instigated and created disturbances are their instinct. And rebellion and war are their want.”

“Warmonger, I see. Battle will make their fortune rolling in.”

“And it’s propaganda.”

“Propaganda? For the church?”

“It’s an opinion of my companion. Social upheaval, people become destitute and homeless. And they need some mental support, for example, religion. So, this is a chance of the church.”

It’s deep water, very deep one.

“Would you like some sweet? Pudding or fruit salad?”

“Thanks, but I've had enough. The jelly roll is too delicious.” The girl was busy in clearing the table. “My stomach has been spoilt. I think I will have a hard time, if you are not in my side.”

“So, how should I make up my fault, my dear knight?”

“Maybe…”

Someone knocked at the door. The good atmosphere disappeared at once. The boy sighed lightly.

It’s the bake house keeper. His apron was stained with flour, made him looked tousled and weary. He sent a letter and newspaper to Heno, and then turned round to go. They had busied for a night. And he had to take care of his business. He should get tired.

“Thanks, Napoleon.”

“It’s my pleasure, madam.”

Heno stared at the paper for a while, and then looked at Zero with a smile.

“It seems that Claude has fallen into our trap. He is busy fighting to protect his own interests in the council now. And our men have obtained reliable evidence in his house. The stupid keeps the letters from the Death as guarantee. Oh, John is a good actor. Read it.” Heno gave the newspaper to Zero.

A big title occupied all a page.

“Murderous Attack on John Smith.”

“The Euros leader, the great statesman, John Smith is attacked last night in his house. And maybe not live the day out. Now, Captain Saturn is in charge of this case.” He read and laughed at the same time. “Got ischemic shock. Oh, rats!”

“It’s in the plan. He may turn to be much more popular after this affair. So far, so good. But the next step is important. I hope the man can easily be hooked. But it’s a gamble.”

“Call it master script, Heno. Has Mr. Smith asked Claude to his house?”

“Not yet, but later. Timing is important. John will beg Claude to come at dusk.”

“Well, what about the Death? It’s dangerous if they get in touch with each other now.”

“The assassin has told us something interesting. The Death has only small members in Gawain Zone. And they are in our control now. So, we don’t need to worry about it.” She took a glance at the letter again. “Would you like to go out with me tonight?”

“Date?” …

It was after a day’s rain: the street facing the west was lit with growing yellow; the black road gleamed. He and the girl walked in the dusk light. It should be a comfortable gloaming. But the street was cheerless, without lovers and pedlar. It’s sure. He told to himself. Taken a glance at the soldier who staring at the pedestrian nervously, he asked himself, who will date in such a tense atmosphere? The girl gave her arm to him with a smile. He held it in his. Her hand was small and soft. He smiled. It’s not bad as a date. The light faded and the sun bended in the west. They were at their destination, John Smith’s house.

There were many people gathering in the quiet turning. They avoided the crowd and came into the room from the back door. A man was waiting there.

“Claude is on his way to here. And everything is ready.” The man spoke in a low voice. He was Captain Saturn, a man with wide shoulders thrown back and moved like an angry ox. Zero met him for the first time last night.

“Captain, can we be onlookers?” The girl asked.

“If you want to,” he paused for a while, seemed he had to think it over. “There is a wardrobe in that room. You can hide in it.”

Ten minutes later, passed through an interesting process of silence, Zero and Heno, he and the girl stuffed themselves into a big wardrobe, with interesting atmosphere, in a posture that embracing each other.

It’s the faint fragrance of lily. The girl exhaled a pleasant perfume. He liked it. Although they had travelled together for a month, this was the first time they were in such a distance. He could even hear her gentle breath. Good idea, captain, he yelled in his heart.

“It’s a little hot here.” He murmured.

“You can relax your hold.” The girl whispered in his ear.

“I don’t want to.” He answered.

“Idiot.”

Night-time sharpens, they stood in the darkness of the music of the night.

…

A nice little brougham was running on the street in an air of complacency. Its owner took a glance the scene sweeping past. A smile appeared on his plump face. He had been busy in the council from dawn to dusk. But he enjoyed it. The council had appointed him acting mayor. And the appointed command would go into effect tomorrow morning.

Now, he was on the way to John Smith’s house. The old man was dying, and sent a man to beg him to come. They were not friend, even not acquaintance, but he knew the man well. This old guy always stood fast, destroyed his hopes again and again.

There were many people gathering in the front of John Smith’s house. It seemed that they are John Smith’s supporters and members of Euros. Mrs. Hudson, the housekeeper of Smith, welcomed him wailingly.

He looked around. The kerosene lamp inside was rather dim, like the lying-in-state hall. It’s a large bedroom but not the small one the man always in. Although it’s not sumptuously decorated, the man ornamented it with paintings he liked. There’s a cell joined to the room by a door. But it’s closed now. A colossal mahogany four-poster bed was placed in a corner beside the window. And furniture and fixtures were opposite to the bed.

Captain Saturn was waiting inside. As the leader of police, the situation must be annoying him. Especially, John Smith was attacked under his protection, just like to test his bearing capability. There was a riot of noise. It’s said that the members of Euros and Dollars were fierce wrangling on the street. The police and soldier were busy at such disturbances for whole day. Saturn and his fellows ran to charge in the riot crowd at once and left him behind.

The doctor had given up the hope and left and closed the door. Now, there were only he and the man lying on the bed in this room. The old man closed his eyes. His face was as pale as death. He touched his hand, which placed out of the blanket. It was cold and wet. The man’s life is losing gradually and not longer for this world, he relaxed. A smile appeared on his plump face.

“Smith!” He cried. “Smith!” In the insistent tone of one who awakens a sleeper. “Can you hear me?”

“Is that you, Claude?” The man lying opened his eyes suddenly. “I hardly dared hope you would come.” He spoke like the whisper, croaking and spasmodic.

The other laughed.

“I should imagine not. Yet, I am here. Coals of fire, coals of fire, Smith.”

“It’s noble.” The man had a cough powerlessly.

“Do you know who attack you?”

“No, I don’t. Maybe you can give me some tips.”

“How can I? You have so many enemies. And by your continual persecution, some of them are in positive danger of losing liberty. You have worked things in such a fashion, and they have only one resource left.”

“I knew, Claude.” He shuddered, made a sound between a cough and a sob

“You never know. But it doesn’t matter now. You are finish.”

“The Death, does this name, familiar to you?” The powerless cough continued.

“What are you talking about?” He spoke in a flurried voice.

“They told you, to burn the letter, after read it. Why do you keep it?”

The whisper voice was just like the hell speaking.

“I am dying, Claude. The Death is dangerous. Sever the relation, with them. If you can promise, I will keep the secret that, you killed Bruno.”

“You always pretend to Justice angel, John Smith. Yes, I killed Bruno. He died without a word in front of me.” There was a sound as he shaking the dying man. “Threaten, a death bed struggle. Where is the letter?”

“Bruno took you for his son.” He spoke with a feverish energy.

“Are you joking? It is enough to make a horse laugh. You won’t keep it yourself. Saturn? No, he will take action at once. Once more, where is it? Where?”

“…” The old man had a bad cough.

“You can’t stop me. The rock is rolling now. Answer my question. Where is it?”

The old man’s voice had sunk to an almost inaudible whisper.

“What’s it? Turn up the gas. Yes, I prefer to see you die in the light.” Claude turned up the gas and the lamp shined out with light.

“There is it.” He found a familiar envelope on the table beside the lamp. “Waste my time. Well, well, is there any little service I can do you, my friend?”

“I am cold.”

“Yes, the death always comes with freezing breath.” He checked the letter at once.

“Come in, Saturn.” The dying man spoke loudly. Claude turned round in surprise, standing in silent amazement.

The doors connected with the cell and passage were opened with noise. A crowd flooded into the room at once.

“While turning up the gas, you, Claude was good enough to give our signal.” The man spoke in his natural voice. “Captain and witnesses, Claude has confessed himself murdered Mayor Bruno. Saturn, he is your man now. The letter in his hand is your last shred of evidence.”

“Damn you.” Claude howled.

There was a rush and a scuffle, followed by the clash of iron and a cry of pain.

“The door of your life will be locked forever. Take him away, captain. I don’t want to see him again.”

“Damn you…”

“You will only get yourself hurt.” Said the captain.

As Saturn wanted to close the handcuffs, in a sudden, the window broke into pieces and gave out a loud noise. And five black figures flashed into the room in a second. Panic swept through the people as they saw those men appeared with swords in hand.

“Claude,” said one of them. Might be the leader who could hardly have been less than six feet six inches in height. “Does the job remain valid?”

“Damn you, get me in trouble.” Claude ridded himself of the shackles. “The Death, merchant of death, professional, just is bullshit, even can’t kill a old man. How much I spend on it!”

“Get off my back.” The leader shoved him aside. “One man 200 gold Lelouch, the old one without extra charge, deal?”

“Too much.”

“That’s your problem.”

Captain Saturn drew his sword. “My Lords, my men will keep your safe.” He spoke loudly. “Move, everyone move.”

With four soldiers leaded the way the crowd flooded out of the room immediately. Captain Saturn and two soldiers brought up the rear.

“Who do you think you’re talking to? Okay, I’ll pay for it. Quickly.”

“Deal.”

The man gesticulated. His men took a step forward. Their swords were glinting with dangerous light. Armed conflict might break out at any moment.

“…”

With a tremendous noise, a scene of shadow passed through their eyes.

The noise came from the corner. The killers turned their heads at once. There was a long pause, and all men in this room were standing in amazement looking at a man and a girl worn black vizard masks, embracing each other, standing in a wardrobe.

“It seems our appearance is too luxuriant. They are scared.” The young man took a glance at the crowd.

“The wardrobe door! You must apologize to John.” The girl looked at the broken wardrobe. A piece of board was at the other end of the room.

“I will mend it later.”

They got out of the wardrobe slowly.

The killer stared at these two oddities, waiting the order of the leader.

“Who are you?” Claude asked. His voice shocked with fear.

“I have called on yesterday and sent a notice to you.” Said the girl. “But I’m afraid you are too busy to remember it.”

“St. Tail…” He fell to the ground. His plump face was warped for fright.

“Bingo. Claude, it’s time to go.” The girl had a glance at the killer. “And accomplices, please take it easy. You have been besieged by us. Stand still, will you?”

“Kill them, quickly. 500, no, 1000, I’ll give you 1000 gold Lelouch. Quickly.” Claude yelled to the leader.

“You asked for it,” said the leader. “Do it.”

As he said so, those four killers drew their swords and rushed toward the man and the girl and surrounded them in a high speed. All big figures, and the scars on their hands and faces suggested their daily tough practices.

“So, it’s not our fault.” The man drew his dagger.

One killer attacked him from the rear like storm. The killer’s sword sailed above the man’s head, just as the man hit his throat. And the killer kneed on the ground at once beside the man, clutching at his throat.

“He was suffering a great pain and the feeling of impending death, but it would not kill him, maybe.” The girl spoke behind Claude leisurely.

“How…”

A piece of unstable flashed through their eyes.

The leader dashed up with sword pointing to the man at once and then the others were coming in different positions. With the dagger, the man made the leader’s sword swept past, and with a rush, his shoulder grinding into this man’s sternum with crushing force. He drove the man backward and threw him toward the killer coming. They crashed into each other and then fainted away. The man could hear the two men remain running toward in the rear. Roiling, he took out two stones from his pocket just the men chopped. Those two stones jetted and hit their hands with swords. The swords dropped on the earth with clunk.

Those two men wanted to picked up the swords again, but found it was impossible, for their target was standing just in front of them with his dagger pointing forward.

“Surrender, or you down.” This was not requiring, but order.

They held their right hands and shot a glance at the man who breathing painfully and the two men piled together. They gave up and sat down on the ground.

“Thank you.”

A soldier walked into the room. He had a glance at the mess. “Captain, the Death’s lair and its members are in the hands of the police. And the member attacked here have been arrested.”

“Well done.” Captain Saturn smiled. It’s the first time tonight. “Take them. Be care.”

“What about Claude, sir?”

“Please lend the guy to us, half an hour, just half an hour.” The girl requested before the captain could answer.

“Okay, if you insist.”

“Thank you, captain.”

…

Time: 9:30 P.M.

Locale: the doorway of a police station which standing on the busiest street of Gawain.

Witness: Soldier Dubhe, which made things difficult for Zero three days ago.

The whole course of the incident: a man was fallen down from the sky in front of Soldier Dubhe when he was yawning on the doorway of police station. The soldier was scared and had to be helped up by his colleague. And the identity of the man has been confirmed. He just is Claude, the suspect of the case of Mayor Bruno. And just half an hour ago, Captain Saturn and several officers issued a wanted circular for him. And it’s said that his accomplices have been arrested in an action a little early. And the government spokesman said that the greatest criminal trial of the history of Gawain will be held in a week. Identity of the police assistant was confirmed.

There was a piece of board lying beside Claude. There was a sentence written on it: I have called on. St. Tail.

…

“It’s said that Mr. Smith will be recovered in several day. Well, the newspaper spent a page for his miracle survived. And his approval rating is sharp increasing. But, Heno, is it your desired results?” Zero sipped at his black tea.

“People is not always rationalism. They will lost their reason in front of the miracle. The government needs a leader to deal with this disaster now. And John is the first candidate.” Heno overlooked the street from the French window. The city had been recovered from the tense atmosphere.

“Used ice and wax to make up a dying man. Created opportunities and let the assassin as messenger escape from the prison. They were master jobs, deception upon deception.”

“Just as the psychological level, the attacker will want to flood in from the weak point while they find the vulnerable point of their target. And as the defender, they must protect all important sites. But while they are ability inadequacy, creating flaw deliberately, and then hiding and waiting in advantageous position, will be a effective way.”

“Well. It’s fortune of the community that you are not a criminal.”

“Pardon?” Heno was staring at him with a very “lovely” smile.

“I said you are an odd organization, even don’t want your name to appear.” For the sake of his meal tonight, he said.

“We are the knight of darkness. And our work is its own reward.” The girl poured out tea for Zero.

“Thanks. What about the Death, do you seize a thread to the mastermind? Their members are in our hands.”

“Do not have too big hope. We just caught several small fish only. For years we have endeavored to break through the veil which shrouded it, but we still can’t close on it, only the list of suspected persons. The case of the crown prince couple of the Principality of Liechtenstein, do you read something on it?”

“The Death is concerned?”

“Just like see them do it. It’s a really big game to them. May be unbridled. May be anxious. But it’s a sally port to us. Our members have been following its detail for months. And they have seized a thread, and follow it to the mastermind. When matters are right, they will close on them. The master mind and all the principal members of its gang will be in the hands of the police. Then will come the greatest criminal trial of the century in front of the people. Maybe some of them will dart right and left out of the net, especially, the noble, but they will under people surveillance from then on. Fundamentally, people are pacifist.”

For a moment, the girl stared at the street, lost in thought. Her eyes were fill with pity and sadness.

“Heno…”

“I’m fine, just a little tired.”

Moon Day Miracle

Once upon a time, there was a little boy called Ida living in a peaceful pleasant country of Eden. Although he was blind and left in the orphanage when he was baby, he was always in good mood and tried his best to help the others. And three years ago, when he was twelve, he was adopted by a family.

This day when he went to get water from the well as usual he heard a familiar voice.

“Ida, Ida, where are you?” It’s a melodious voice and its owner was his family loved dearly.

“I’m here, Salu.”

“I find you, Ida. Are you drawing water?” He felt the girl bouncing toward him.

This girl was the only child of the family which adopted Ida. Silver-long-hair, a pink-in-snow-white-face, purple-pupils, pleasant-facial-features, everything went together harmoniously and turned to be one of the most beautiful girls in this nation.

“Mm.” “Ok, let me help you.”

Ida shook his head, “No, I can manage it.”

“Uncle and aunt treat me very well. And I want to do something myself for them.”

“You don’t need to regard such thing. Ida and I are in one family. Dad and mom love you just because they love you, so do I.” Ida felt a soft hand holding a handkerchief and wiping the sweat on his head tenderly.

“But I like to. Uncle and aunt are busied with the coming Moon Day. Now’s the time to replay.” “Ida…” “O, yes, I must get more firewood ready-made.”

“Yes, Moon Day is coming. Ida…” “What, Salu?” “Ida, tell me what present do you want to get from Fairy Christmas.” Salu clasped Ida’s hand and waited for the answer nervously.

“Christmas’ present? Let me think. Yes, so many things I want.” Ida said with a big smile, “I will tell Fairy Christmas only.”

“Why? Tell me please.” “I will be bashful for it.” “Tell me, Ida. I can keep absolutely secret.” Salu wanted to hold Ida in her arms, but Ida kept dodging.

“No way. I’m time to go.” Ida answered with smile and ran away quickly.

“Ida… What a pity! But what kind of present does him like? What present can I give him in Moon Day Eve?” Salu’s face was full of anxieties. “Can I serve as a qualified Fairy Christmas as well as father and grandfather?”

Actually, Salu’s family was Fairy Christmas’ family. But not only the neighborhood had not come to know it but Ida who lived in had not sense on it.

“I shall not worry about it. This is my first Moon Day as Fairy Christmas. I must give Ida a beautiful present. Not matter what he want, I will fulfill him, because, I love him.” Salu gazing at Ida’s receding figure, muttered to herself.

Some days later, the Count Von Frederick, a Bohemian nobleman, riding his lovely white horse, proposed to Salu. (The Kingdom of Bohemia, one of the greatest countries of the continent hundreds years ago, had been annexed by Britannia.)

“O, such a beautiful lady, so angelically mild. Salulu, please accept my love. Will you sail away with me to discover our Garden of Eden?” Frederick moved his long beard back and forth. “And you answer must be Yes, Yes.”

But not matter how Frederick pestered endlessly, Salu’s answer always was No. She loved Ida with all her love, and all sorts of pretty things.

Although she loves Ida with whole heart, she didn’t transmit this feeling to him up to the present. Her love was shut up like a little lake in the embrace of some big mountains, deep, shinning and quite fathomless.

“Sir, I’ll not marry to you, never.” Salu refused point-blank.

“Why, why? I can’t understand.” The count’s face wore an unimaginable look. Maybe in all his life has never been refused.

“I, I must take care of Ida.” When she made this excuse, she heard some noise came from the bush behind her. She glanced around, but found nothing.

“Ah! My dear Salu.” Ida stood up after the footsteps moved far away. The ice-cold soil made him feel bad. Although it’s not he wanted, he had heard every sentence what they said. He felt sad and sorrowed out with tears. “How, how can she refuse such a proposal, stop seeking happiness just, just for me? No, I don’t want it. I wish, from my heart, Salu can live a happy life.”

“The everlasting goddess, powerful, infinite, and omnipotent Verdandi, the merciful Fairy Christmas, who is goodness itself, please, have mercy on Salu and grants her the happiness she deserves. I don’t want to be a burden to her anymore, please! I am praying for it, not matter it will be at the cost of my life.”

Several days later, the village was intoxicated with the advent of Moon Day. The adults were busy preparing for the celebration tonight while the children were busy paying game in the square. Such a great celebration was seldom held in this village all the year.

“Happy Moon Day!” “Happy Moon Day!” Villagers sent blessing to each other and enjoyed the celebration late into the night.

It’s the first Moon Day Eve of Fairy Christmas Salu. After the celebration, when the night grew late, Salu began to work in a big red suit.

“The present for this boy is a big toy bear.” Salu came in a bedroom through the wall. She whipped out her wand, waved it, and muttered something. “Doraqunos, Uruferos, Ravsonna. Our goddess, great Verdandi, please gives the blessing to your followers. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Hue Makari.” A jet of bluebell light was sent from the wand and a big toy bear was appeared at the bedside after the light faded away.

“Happy Moon Day and be a good child. Our Verdandi will always with you.” She enjoyed the kid’s honey face and left for another destination.

And when the moon passes work on to the sun she called on the last child. Yes, it’s the boy, Ida, who slept in her home.

“It’s Ida. I am sending a Moon Day present to Ida.” She felt happy and excited.

“En… Is someone here?” Ida waked up while Salu mused on which present was better. He couldn’t see but feel that someone was standing at his side.

“Oh. Good evening, Ida.” Salu changed her voice to be an old man.

“Fairy Christmas!” Ida was excited. “You are Fairy Christmas, right?”

“Yes, yes, I am. Ida, what present do you want?”

“Anything I want?”

“Yes, anything.” Salu was excited.

“The Moon Day present I want is… is” “Yes?”

“It’s let me disappear.”

“What?”

“My wish is let me disappear and remove all memories about me from my families and friends. I hope I can disappear completely.”

“Why do you make such a wish?” Salu’s voice was shocking.

“I like my family. I like uncle. I like aunty. And I like Salu. But for my eyes, I am putting Salu to trouble.”

“Trouble?”

“Salu refused a good proposal several days ago for me, just for taking care of me. I wish her happiness from my heart. I don’t want to be a bother to her anymore.”

“Ida…” Salu felt her strength was losing.

“So, please, Fairy Christmas, listen to my wish. The Moon Day present I want is let me disappear. And if one more, please grant Salu a happy life forever. They are all my wishes.”

“Why? Why does Ida think about that?” Ida heard the old man was sobbing.

“Fairy Christmas?”

“I am sorry. Ida, there is not present for you this time.”

“Why?”

“Because, if I come true your wish, Salu will lose her most important person—Ida, you, forever.”

“Er…”

“This magic, this magic, I can’t use it. Ida, she loves you, never, never take you as a burden. She refused the proposal just because she loves you and wants to stay with you forever.”

“So, Ida, please, please doesn’t ask such present again.” Salu sobbed out and held Ida in her arms.

“Fairy Christmas? No, you are Sa…”

They held each other close, very close. And suddenly, a light flowed down from the roof.

“So bright, so dazzling, but it’s such a warm light.”

“Ida?”

“I can see…” “Ah?” “Fairy Christmas’, no, I can see Salu’s face.” Ida stroked away her tear gently. “Ida…”

The Moon Day miracle had happened. Ida could see now. “I can see. I can see your face, Salu.” “Thank goddess. Ida…” They held together close.

A wisp of sunshine came through the window and several birds were singing happily on the tree outside just like to celebrate this wonderful miracle.

It’s the love between Salu and Ida created this Moon Day miracle.

Salu whispered in Ida’s ear, “I have gotten my happiness I pray for.”

…

This was a drama circulated in continent and this island for centuries. And this drama would be performed on the Moon Day celebration every year as routine program. The locals were busy practicing on the Vatican Square. I enjoyed it in my room through the window.

It’s said that this story was adapted from a true tale happened in Eden. There was a clown in the drama, Count Von Frederick. This Bohemia nobleman was a real historical figure, born in BA 38. He was a favorite disciple of Pope Abaddon and one of leaders of Cross Troop. And it’s said that he lived in a lifestyle of Don Juan and lived it up everyday. In some tales he was a heartless trickster willing to lie, cheat and steal to seduce the women he desires. He died in BA 4 in a military action, but there’s not any detailed report about this action.

It’s September 10th. Zero and I had been staying in this island for seven months. It’s autumn of Iceland now. Stray bird of summer came to my window to sing and fly away, fluttered around the autumn seeking its former nest. It’s a good time of Iceland. If they are here, it would be perfect.

I called on the library of Fairy Altar yesterday. There was a cell inside, placing with artworks in various ways. The draft of Winged Victory was hung on inside casually. Just like what Susan said, there’s a goddess clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet is leading angels, fairies and human fighting with Lucifer. Her light golden hair and a pair of white wings were beautiful.

There were five new stone figures in the corner. The servant said it’s Susan’s friend sent them here. They were good figures in the size of human. And as natural as though they were living. Susan might like it.

Recitative

Star of Olympus star on high, your luminous light from heaven enter our hearts.

Oh, please listen to my pray.

Goddess of destiny goddess of time, you weave the universe and flame the life.

Let these innocent lives come back to life.

You give the living water you send the life-giving stream. Your glory fills every empty space.

Restore unto them the joy of thy salvation. Bestow on them your mercies everyday.

The body on earth the soul in heaven, I will consecrate to this wish.

With your strength with your song, I don't have to be afraid.

Star of happiness star of wonder, oh, fill the earth with love.

𐄞

“The Clamp Institute is a large comprehensive school, covers an area of 13.7 acres, included three different departments for students in different ages and levels. It was created by King Michael one thousand and five hundred years ago. You would find the school building was his castle which King Apollo granted as present.” A docent worn crimson robe explained to the visitor the history of the building. “But it has been heavily damaged in the age of Black Bride. The building in front of you is restored on its ruin in BC 350 by the Gawain government. And now, it is one of the four oldest institutes in the world.”

They went through the building.

It was a clear, breezy day, and the grass rippled under their feet as they walked down the sloping lawns toward a residential area which was on the opposite side of the institute. Old country houses there were sporadic arrangement, some had been falling into decay, and the others were beginning to look shabby. In the distant, trees around them were swaying darkly in the wind.

Far from other buildings, there was a big house standing on the hillside. A small girl was sitting in the flowering garden alone.

“Heno, he is your boyfriend?” The little girl about five years old spoke to the lady next to him.

“No, Alice. He is not my boyfriend.”

“What a pity. Alice has a boyfriend. Alice wants to show to you.” She had long golden hair. There were several freckles on her face. She might like to play in the sunshine.

“Oh, yes? Please must introduce him to me.”

“He is Luna.” The girl picked up a black cat. “She is Heno. Luna, says hello to Heno.”

“Nice to meet you, Luna.” The black cat gave a purr as response.

“Luna is my boyfriend, but he always disappears without trace.”

“Ah, it’s terrible. Alice, I think you need a haircut. It’s a little long.”

“Alice likes long hair. Luna likes long hair too, isn’t it?”

“Your grandma is waiting inside?”

“Yes.”

“Okay, I have to say hello to your grandma. So, see you later, Alice. Bye-bye, Luna.”

“Bye-bye, Heno.”

“My disappointment is complete, Heno.”

“I don’t know what you are talking about, Zero.”

They came into the house. The door didn’t lock.

“Trinity, I am Heno.” She said loudly.

An old woman around seventy turned out. She was the visionary he met several days ago. “Welcome back, Heno.”

“And how lovely to see you, boy!”

He thought she was glad to see him. She liked him. At least, he thought she did.

“Here is the key you wanted.” Trinity placed a Obsidian on his hand. “And the door is there.”

They were in a large room under ground. The lamps of the room had been lit up. There was a big dark blue full-length mirror hanging on the wall. Zero had seen an analog before in the temple of Witch Forest.

“Where is Heno? I want to say goodbye to her.”

“She is taking a bath. You want to join?”

“No. I’ll go at once.”

“Good. Now, grasp the key in your paws, one in one. Walk close to the mirror.” The two stone and the mirror were shining with blue light. “The door has been opened. You can go now.”

“Please say goodbye to Heno for me. And thank you, madam.”

“Don't mention it. And get out of my face now.”

“Ha, ha. So I'm on my way. See you.”

Trinity waved her hand as answer.

She is disgusted at me completely, he thought. But why?

Zero placed one hand on this mirror. Then the mirror moved like mercury. His hand got into the mirror. It’s cool inside. He walked forward. The mirror turned to be a channel. He kept walking, and a bright spot soon turned up in front of him. What will turn up, monsters, devil, dragon? He wondered.

He blinked unconsciously for a dazzling light. He open the eyes immediately and was surprised by the garden in front of him. The little girl would like to wander about among those beds of bright flowers and cool fountains.

Is it really a devil house? He had no idea. Anyway, no one see the hell. Who does decide the devils must live in the dilapidated houses, but not the Elysee Paradise? He walked forward, returned from faraway thoughts.

“He has gone?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“So, it’s time to go. Thank you for everything, Trinity, and your family.”

“It's our honor.”

“Thanks a lot, Trinity. Please see me off, smilingly.” She kissed the old woman’s cheeks which tears streamed down.

“Yes your Majesty.”

“Alice, something terrible will happen, but doesn’t be scared, just stay with your grandma. It won’t take much long.”

“You don’t stay with Alice?”

“Don’t worry. I am with you forever.” She kissed the little girl’s brow.

“Did you have a good holiday, ma’am?”

“I think it's a once in a lifetime chance.”

♪

Investigation Report:

The investigation of Lorraine case has no progress yet. The locals have lost confidence in the stranger. We can’t get any new clue from them. By now, we get exhibits and clues from Lorraine as follows: a defective broadsword with a mark of the Atlantis Army, we can’t decide whether it pertains to the criminal or not; on the floor of the scene, there are several footprints of the outsiders. From the footprints we infer that there are at lease seven armed elements participating in homicide; there are three survivors: Benjamin Baker, Daniel Carter, Jack Cook. Their background information have no doubtful point; from the affidavits of the survivors and the trail of footprints we infer that the murderers entered the country from the direction of the national territory at noon, did violence in one hour, then left the scene in the same way; we have tried to follow the tracks of the murders, but lost their tail till around the national territory.

The Atlantis police refuses to share any information about the Belgium case with us. We can’t infer the relevance between these two cases.

Now, our research focus on border terroristic organization and the movement of the Atlantis Army.

Reporter: Robert Hunter

September 14, BC 496

𝄢

September 16, I called on the Fairy Altar early as usual. The caretaker witch Sisi who Susan prearranged asked me for help for the Moon Day celebration. Sisi was one year senior to me, and a cute little girl with a nice figure that I wondered the witches have some folk prescriptions to keep fit. I liked her. And thank you for this girl, my holiday would not be a pool of stagnant water.

The entrance door had been open.

“It’s impossible…” It’s the voice of Sisi.

“We know we are making things difficult for you, but could you make an exception this time?” It’s voice of man.

Sisi was pretty shy at talking with man, for before she came here, she had been living in a small abbey. She must was very nervous now. Her voice was shakily. It’s not the office hour. Why do that man call on so early? I walked into the hall in a hurry.

There were two strangers standing in the hall.

“They want to enter the library. It’s forbidden without the government admission.” Sisi caught my hand and hid behind me at once.

“We just want to have a look.” The negotiator was a young man with a sword on his back. I could sense his impatience.

“Some important data and documents are placed in the library. The master here has gone abroad for months, and we have no idea when she comes back. We have not right let you in. If you insist on get into the library, you can go to the local government and ask for the official admission.”

The young man couldn’t write his own ticket and looked at the old man beside him. The old man had meager face and flowing silver hair and beard, looked like the great wizard Merlin.

The old man looked at me with smile for a while, like looking at my soul.

“I’m Tangle, a wizard. He is my student, Pollux, a swordsman. Please excuse our discourteous claim. We have been looking for something very important for months. And I sense that they are here today, too impatient to wait.”

I thought I could communicate with this old man.

“I’m Rose Carroll, the conservator here. Can you tell me what you are finding? Maybe we can help you.”

“So, thank you.”

“The important things are books or works of art? Actually, the library just like a box-room.”

“Statues, life-size, maybe a total of five, two women, three men. One of them is a girl about 17 years old.”

Too exact to believe. He was staring at me.

“Well, I think they are here.”

“Could I have a look?” The old man said excitedly. The young man was in a look that want to break into.

While I thought about how to refuse him, a big sound came from the library. Sisi clenched my hand immediately like a startled child.

I took a glance at the two men.

“We can wait here and do nothing.” The old man said.

“Sisi, you go to send for the guardsman, by reason of the odd sound from the library.” Sisi ran for the guardroom like a rabbit.

“Could you give me a hand and come with me into the library, gentlemen. As reward, you can check what you said.” I looked at Tangle. “Deal?”

“At your service, madam.”

In front of the door of the library.

“I open the door. Please ready.” I said to those two men lightly. They nodded their heads as response.

With slight noise, the door was open. The library had two floors. The first floor was a document storeroom with twenty large iron bookshelves which were arranged in 2 rows, standing like domino.

First floor was all right.

So, the sound came from the second floor. The second floor was a treasury. It seemed that the witches here were collectors. Their troves were multifarious, from rare treasures to street stalls. Those small troves were placed on wooden shelves, and the big works of art such like statues which they want were placed in the corners.

With the slight sound, I came up the cockle stairs. Those two men followed.

“Who?” A tiny voice of woman came out from a corner suddenly.

“I’m the conservator here.” The shelves obstructed the line of sight. “So, who are you? What are you doing here?” I walked toward the corner slowly.

“My name is Lily. I don’t know why I am here.” The woman said feebly.

Before I could answered, those two man rushed forward and disappeared between the shelves. I had to catch up with them in a hurry.

Passed through the catwalk, I ran to the corner displaying the statues.

In the golden sunlight through the skylight, a girl with long golden hear wearing ancient costume was sitting on a chair. There was a fallen bookshelf beside. Four statues were standing there as they were, but the statue of girl was disappeared.

“Princess, nice to see you again.” Those two men genuflected in front of the girl respectfully.

“Princess…” The swordsman was crying.

They are actors?

“Teacher, Pollux, I have told you I don’t like such unnecessary and over-elaborate formalities. Please sit down beside me.” She looked at me with a smile. Her eyes were like the most beautiful rubies. She wanted to make a salute to me, but sat back unwillingly. “Excuse me. I feel a little dizzy.”

“I want to ask you a lot of questions, but I think you need a rest. And I have to deal with the guardsman now. I’m Rose Carroll, the conservator here. There is a lobby. Please help yourself, Miss Lily. Gentlemen, can you come with me?”

“Thank you, Miss Carroll.”

The old man looked around for a while and then went after me. The young man was a face of be reluctant to part.

How to fool the guardsman? I took a glance at those odd men.

𝄞

Walked through the garden, Zero saw a Gothic architecture, the Rocky Castle, the house of devil in the story. He felt a yearning for it, maybe it just look like the one in his dream.

Different from the namby-pamby Rococo style, which was widely popular in Atlantis, and the hedonism Baroque style that widely popular in Britannia, the Gothic style building was covered in a solemn atmosphere. Pointed arches gave a feeling of mysteriousness and pathos, and the steeples which reach to the sky gave a feeling of upward. The Fairy Altar just is this style, he liked it.

Enjoying the splendour of the palace, he came into the hall.

He went through the silent corridor and checked the rooms one by one. Everything inside was excellent without damage, seemed the time was stopped here. He went into a large room in the depths of the building. With sunshine came through the rose window, he found lots of paintings hanging on the walls. All of them were portraits of girls, sixty-nine picture altogether. There was a card placed under each painting. Some characters were inscribed on the card. Maybe epigraph, he couldn’t identify.

Who are they? He stared at the paintings with rapt attention.

“They are witches of this castle of past ages.” Someone answered his question in mind from the rear with deep voice, unnatural one.

He turned around at once. A woman was standing on the corridor. Black Bride, only one name went through his mind, for she was wearing a black full dress like black lotus, even her eyes and nose was covered with a black veil.

“Did you have a nice holiday, Zero?” She knew me? He looked her up and down.

“Who are you, madam?”

“Such a fickle man! Just a few months, you have forgotten me completely.”

“Are you kidding me?” Susan? Athena? Shirley? (R: Who’s Shirley? Z: An inn waiter of Lancelot. R: What’s your relationship? Z: Friend… Just is friend. R: Why do my name is not here? Z: Don’t worry. I will never forget you until death. Are you ill? Your face is so red. R: I don’t know I am so important to you. Z: I cherish my life. How do I know what you will do if I can’t recognize you? What are you doing? Please lay down arms. It’s… too danger…)

“Ha, ha, ha… I knew you can’t recognize. Ha, ha, ha… Wait for a moment.” She breathed deeply with mouth for seconds.

“Hello, hello, I think my voice is recovered.” Her voice came to be sweet and clear.

“Susan, you scared me.” Yes, the lady in black just was the witch of Fairy Altar. She took off the black veil and shook hands with him.

“It’s funny. Moissan and Lebeau have done a good job. Sulfur hexafluoride, SF6, voice changing gas, an interesting invention, don’t you think so?”

“Yes, it’s funny. Rose must like it. And there will be lots of sufferers.”

“Ok. Don’t let her know.”

“Brilliant decision.”(>_<﹟)

“Would you like to have tea with me? I have ready in the parlor.”

“It’s my pleasure.”

“This way please.”

In a flatlet Zero and Susan were having tea together.

This was a delicate room. The floor was covered with Persian carpet. And on the yellowish walls were hung landscapes of different sizes. It seemed they were works of the owner here, for there were some painting tools placed on a shelf next to the fireplace. Above the fireplace a painting of girl, maybe self-portrait, was hung on the wall. Beside the fireplace there were two rose-pink sofas. A tea table was placed between them. On one of sofa, there was a violin. And outside the balcony, it was a large garden with lush grass and flowers.

“Keemun black tea, the top one of the extraordinary incense teas, is called ‘Prince Tea’ according to its unique style and excellent quality.”

“Thank you.”

“That lady is the owner here?” He looked at the portrait.

“Yes, but she has passed away.” Susan took a glance at the violin. “She was called Euphy, good at drawing and playing violin. We often had tea together.”

“And today is her birthday.” She looked at the portrait with a smile.

“So happy birthday, Miss Euphy.”

“She would like to meet you. Only several servants and participators were admitted free to this castle. She had to get along in being austere, solitary and lonely.” She overviewed from the balcony. “She knows the sorrow and pain of the world deeply, but never cry or complain in front of us. It is the most pitied thing.”

“She was the witch of this castle?”

“Yes, one of the pity girls.” She took a sip of tea. “Now I want to tell you a story about this Rocky Castle. It may be a little boring. Please don’t doze off.”

“I love story. Pray go on.”

“Long long ago, there was a war between the gods happened. Lucifer, the great Seraphim, and his followers rebelled against the Lord of Heaven. As leader of the angel army, Goddess Verdandi took part in this war. The war lasted for seven days. And at last, Lucifer was beaten, fallen like lightning from heaven, and locked in the hell, but some of his followers escaped, brought evil, illness and pain to the human world. King Dragon was one of them. It slipped into Eden and left a seed here. It is the beginning of this story.

Year in and year by, the seed turned to be a princess of this country in the joke of destiny. The princess was called Pandora, a beautiful and gentle woman. On her 18 years old birthday party, her father King Apollo declared that the winner of the Olympus game which is coming would be Pandora’s husband. King just wanted to marry his little daughter to a hero, but it made Pandora becomes a Golden Apple.

As a princess and a beauty, Pandora always had men run after, for example, Comte Samael. He had been courting the princess since they met in a royal party four years ago, but Pandora was not interested in this man, for she had had a lover. This man was called Michael, a gardener in Rocky Castle. He was abandoned when he was a baby. And the old gardener adopted him and gave him this name. Pandora and Michael, they became friends and then fell in love with each other.

As every sweet love story, storm is hackneyed plot and here is no exception. The Olympus game turned to be a small war. Samael excluded the rivals cruelly. Most of players were hurt badly and even killed. At last, it came to be a duel between Samael and Michael. Samael was overwhelm with numerical strength. And Michael had to fight alone. Finial, with the power of love, in the help of the fairy, Michael won in an imminent peril. Gratifying, gratifying.

After the game, Michael and Pandora got marry and settled in the Asgard which is called Gawain now. They had a quiet life there, like the blueness of the lake, like the gentle breeze.

Happy time is fleeting, and twelve years passed.

In the Spring Festival, there was a traditional ceremony held in Rocky Castle, for the beginning of cultivation. Every member of the royal family was summoned, included Pandora. Michael got the invitation, but he declined it for he had to take care of their young daughter Sherry. The little girl didn’t like to pin down in a shaking carriage for days. Pandora had to go alone and stayed there for a week.

Disaster came imperceptibly. A homicide was happened.

In this castle, there was a temple which was standing along. And its hall for worshipping, which erects a large statue of Goddess Verdandi standing in the middle, just was the room held the ceremony, which was called Holy of Holies. And it had only one door. Closed the door, inside was a complete silent world.

The royal family would stay in this room for a whole day, from the first day evening to the second day evening, and pray for Eden in turn. After they came in, the door would be locked inside. Maid and servant couldn’t come in until the end of the ceremony. And the royal knights would guard the door outside.

King should open the door himself when the ceremony was over, but, that night, the door was not open when the fixed time passed.

Servants came to be anxious. They knocked at the door, but there was not answer. Then they decided to open the door by themselves. Under the supervision of the noblemen and royal knights, a servant opened the door. The door was opened and a smell of bloody flooded out. Immediately, they knew why their king didn’t open the door: he was lying on the floor in front of them, lifeless.

The carpet and walls were filled with strange and fantastic shadow full of gloom. And not far from the king, they found the corpses of queen and one of princes lying in blood. In the shadow of the statue of goddess, they found the corpse of another prince, and, Pandora who was standing against the statue beside the dead body.

Her eyes were closed, but even breathing, just fainted away. In the yellow light of candle, her face, her hands, her arms and clothes were covered with brown bloodstain, and in her hand, a dragger was held.

All the evidences directed the spearhead at the only survivor—Pandora. She was sentenced to death while she was fainted away. The charge was ‘murdered the King Apollo, the queen and two princes, conspired against the state’.

It’s a political intrigue. The trick is too boring. I don’t want to say anything about it. The killing methods have many kinds, but each one is a boring waste of wisdom. Michael, in the help of the royal knights, brought the machinators--Samael and the minister to light.

Twelve years ago, Samael was lost, maybe his first fiasco, and this failure made him crueler and crueler. He hid his breath like a snake, waiting till the time was ripe. Intrigue was not taken effect, but mutiny had ready. Bioloster, it’s the name of the solider of Samael. They were the products of his inhumanity research. You know that man will change into half-monster and lose human sense by chance after taken the potion which the seed is the main raw material. Bioloster was similar to that half-monster. They were strong, even the sharp sword couldn’t cut into their muscle, and they had lost human sense, only acting on orders from Samael.

In front of the powerful Bioloster, human was in the inferior position. However, the Biolosters were just dozens of members, with heavy casualties, people prevailed over them gradually. However, it didn’t trouble Samael. This just was a part of his plot. The real purpose of Samael was devil summons. The very devil that he wanted to summon was King Dragon. Twelve years ago, Samael got in touch with this devil. Devils couldn’t hurt the human being directly. They just could attract the dark in the human soul, or, be attracted by it, whispered in the ears, spoke in the dream day and night. And this turn, it wanted to do evil in the human world directly. The summons ceremony was obligatory. Samael was an aggregate of avarice, covetousness, wrath and vanity. He was a good devil summoner.

Samael took up the Holy of Holies and caught Pandora as sacrifice. This island lost the defense of Goddess Verdandi for the Holy of Holies was profaned by the blood of the royal families. This was what the devil wanted. Michael fought to prevent the disaster, but he failed this turn. In front of him, a large red dragon with seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon its heads appeared with a terrible yellow air of brimstone.

It was ironic that while Samael raved his success and wanted to present Pandora to that devil, the devil took this man in its stomach in one bite. The evil thought was source of power of devil. How could King Dragon desert such a cate?

Pandora was still confused and standing by the devil like a doll. Michael fought with the large red dragon and was beaten on the ground time after time. The dragon howled. And the third part of the sea became blood; and the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died. And by the fire, by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of its mouths, the third part of men killed.

Michael had to retreat temporarily. He went by the shore of the Sounding Sea and prayed apart to Goddess Verdandi. Thus did he pray, and Verdandi heard his prayer. The goddess fused with the Michael. And the hero flew back to the terrible battlefield. Now, King Dragon had a real match.

A battle between good and evil was happened. Michael had tried his best, but the devil was just a little better in strength. It seemed that Michael would be lost once again. However, the devil was attacked by Pandora suddenly. She regained consciousness while Samael was eaten off. As a seed come from King Dragon, might be the spiritual connection, might be the knowledge sharing, she knew what had happened and why she was here. She was waiting for this opportunity for combat. And Michael attacked at the same time with all the power. They won. As the dragon fell to the ground, the war was ended.

This is the full story of the Great Battle.

King Dragon was beaten, but it had hit its aim. Eden was destroyed. Countless lives lost. Three fourth people were killed. Feelings of hate and despair covered this island like a dense fog. As a devil, it had done a good job.

How to deal with this catastrophe? This was not an affair human being could handle. Pandora and Michael prayed to Goddess Verdandi for an end to their sufferings. Verdandi, Pandora and Michael made a decision together. All the lives would come back to life except the men killed by Samael and his followers. Verdandi, Pandora and Michael would pay the prices in equivalent exchange. God can’t create anything out of nothing.

The prices what they pay were: Goddess Verdandi, her soul and spirit; Pandora, her memory; Michael, his life.

They succeeded. Lives once lost were brought back from death. Michael led them to found their new homes, and then created a new dynasty. This is the beginning of the Fairy Kingdom.” She poured tea into her cup and took a slip. “It’s a long story. Let’s stop here provisionally.”

“Rose will be excited if you tell her this story.”

“I have written it down on a book and hidden it in a good place. I have told her how to find it. Please tell her just like this.”

“Treasure hunt game?”

“She will like it.”

“Well, I will tell her.”

𝄢

I succeeded in getting the guard believed that the noise was caused by a cat and sent him away. Sisi became my accomplice unconsciously and was playing with the cat happily in the garden now.

“Please sit down, gentlemen. Mr. Tangle, your magic is wonderful.”

“I am very sorry. Let you lie for us.”

“Just a white lie. He will forgive me.”

“Thank you.”

“It’s my pleasure. Mr. Pollux, please have a cup of tea with us. Miss Lily said she will join us while she feels better.”

“Yes…”

“As a officer here, I want to ask a question now, Mr. Tangle. You will tell me the truth, won’t you?”

“I’ll tell them so.”

“The stone statue turned to be a real human being. It seems that Miss Lily was sealed and became a statue, and the seal was lifted today. My question is, will the other four statues change into human?” I had checked the library up. I believed they didn’t play trick on me.

“I think so. And if they don’t, then it is my job. I wouldn't want to put you to any trouble, but it’s my responsibility.”

“So, replicas are necessary. Can you prepare for it, Mr. Tangle?”

“Forgery, I can do so, but…”

“These statues are personal collections of Susan, the master here. Such an urgency, she will forgive us. And it is a mean in order not to cause unnecessary confusion. Please don’t worry.”

“I understand.”

“Thank you. Fossilization is a very special magic. And clothing of Miss Lily and yours are in a style of Eden. As a student of archaeology, I would like to hear your story. It’s a private desire, no a requisition. If it is inconvenient, please don’t mind.”

“Miss Carroll, you are a righteous lady. I will tell you all I know. And I hope we could get some information from you later.”

“A game of quid pro quo. Very well. It's a deal.”

“Thank you. How much do you know about the Black Bride?”

“As a story, I have it down cold.”

“I bought this script in a bazaar.” He placed a booklet on the table. Drama: Black Bride, these words were printed on the cover. I browsed through it.

“Just a ordinary script. Style of writing and idea are not outstanding.”

“I want to talk about the story itself. Although the process is exaggerated, the first half of this script is correct. Princess Lucy really declared the release of King Dragon and to marry with the devil. It aroused much fear in the crowd indeed. However, to marry with that devil, it’s impossible in fact, for King Dragon has died in the Great Battle. The story that King Dragon sealed in Rocky Castle just is a fabrication spread deliberately by the Eden royalty in order to conceal the facts.

Eden has been destroyed, so I have no scruples. Let’s talk about the facts hidden. At the end of the Great Battle, Goddess Verdandi saved the lives at all costs. God can’t create anything out of nothing. As a toll, goddess lost most of her soul and spirit. She handed down her magic power, which was sealed in Rocky Castle, and then disappeared. This is one of facts that the royalty hid. Goddess Verdandi had been being the Eden’s shield and sword since the Genesis. Considering the social environment after the war, lost the religion would be a terrible thing, so, the royalty kept it a secret from the people.

This approach caused another problem. There were lots of works waiting for the goddess, for example, to maintain the harmoniousness of the world. Someone must work in goddess’ place, and then the witch system was created. The witch of Rocky Castle controlled the magic power of goddess. With that power, they listened to the voice of the people, gave happiness to the good man and punished the bad guy. This is another fact hidden. Although it’s not a thing to be boasted, this system had protected Eden for one thousand years.

However, Princess Lucy occupied this magic power without explanation. Princess Lily wanted to verify her purpose and went to Rocky Castle with followers, but different from this script, they didn’t fight with Princess Lucy. They were enchanted and turned to be statues as soon as they reached. And then their time were stopped till now.

This is our version of the Black Bride.”

“So, this Lily is that Princess Lily, and you are that followers?”

“Just as what you said.”

“Well, let me think it over. The disaster and abnormal weather are the consequence of Lucy occupied that magic power. You didn’t stop her, but why do she and Eden disappear together from the history stage?”

“I have got no idea too.”

“Is it such a simple thing to occupy that magic power, without ceremony or anything else?”

“I infer that Hierarch Artemis took part in this event. To control that magic power, she is essential. However, before I call on, I was turned to be a stone.”

“What does she want to do indeed?” Sisi was still playing with the fat cat under the blue sky and white clouds.

There was sound of footsteps come from the corridor. It’s Lily.

“Are you fine, princess?” Pollux seated her next to us immediately.

“Thank you, Pollux. Miss Carroll, we owe you one.” She made a formal salute to me.

“Don't mention it. Please have tea with us.”

“Miss Carroll, I have a presumptuous request. Could you tell me what has happened after we slept?” She said sternly.

“Is that OK?” I took a glance at the old man.

“Eden has perished, I knew. Forgive me, Miss Carroll, I have read several books that on your bookshelf.”

“Although Pollux and I have waked up for months, we have no information yet. It is a capital mistake to infer before one has information. So, please give us a hand.” The old man nodded his head in agreement.

“Well, I'll do my best.”

Although Lily was eager to know everything, the stone statues turned to be humans automatically one by one in the next few hours. It seemed that it’s the sequela of fossilization. They didn’t feel well. I had to let them rest in the drawing-room. Lily busied herself with them in a worried look. I recalled that girl. Looking carefully, her long hair and fascinating eyes, they were very much alike.

After a hurry-scurry, around the teatime, a special course for ancient people was held in the library. I was the history teacher. Seven men in bizarre dress were siting in front of me. I was moved for it. They were the living historical data. I was talking with them! By the way, Sisi panicked for the strangers and hid herself in the studio of library, but peeked at them from behind the door from time to time. So cute.

In the next several hours, I talked about the history about the Kingdom of Bohemia, the church, Britannia and Atlantis. And then, it’s the question time.

“Miss, what has happened to the people of Eden after we were sealed?” A crew-cut well-built man asked in haste.

“Mr. Pegasus, as what I said, this island, Iceland, had been covered in a persistent fog for two hundred years since the battle, or so we may call it, since it was clearly you didn’t fight with Princess Lucy, just like this island was erased from the world map, no one found the record since the battle, just like all the people disappeared without a word, or, someone destroyed this phase of history completely.”

“Any rumor or conjecture?” It’s Andromeda, a tallish well-endowed woman with brown and curly hair.

“To the best of my knowledge, there are three conjectures popular in the archaeology academia. The first one, the highest reliability one, the people of Eden fled from the calamity, left for the continent and settled down in Atlantis. There are several circumstantial evidences. Atlantis was a country of multi-nationalities founded in LC 1274, four years after the disappearance of Eden. The timing is identical. And a part of sciences and technologies of Atlantis are similar to Eden’s. These technologies were brought by refugees from all the world. Is it any relationship between the refugees and the people of Eden?”

“It’s possible” Cygnus cried out happily. He was medium height, very slim and his skin was as white as snow.

“However, there’s no nation in Atlantis called themselves the posterity of Eden. So, it’s only a fantasy. About the remaining two probabilities, you may don’t like to listen.”

“Please go ahead.” Lily said composedly.

“The second one, the people left for the continent, but were chased and murdered by the church and the Bohemia government, and to be ruthless bit by bit. It’s a conspiracy theory. The three hundred years of pagan hunts were in fact stealth missions to erase members of Eden. The assertions are dire, but you must understand their powerful motivations to conduct such a heartless business. The religion tenets of the church and Eden are nearly irreconcilable. The church should want to get rid of it quickly. And the threat of the system of philosophical and political founded by Eden posed to the tyranny of Bohemia was potentially ruinous. In this conjecture, it can explain why there is no one called himself the posterity of Eden. As what I said, there is no historical evidence supporting this is substantial.”

There was a feeling of gloom and depression in the room.

“The last one?” Phoenix asked gently. He was a tall man, with square face and chestnut hair.

“The last one is full of mysteries, but now, it’s most impossible one in my opinion. Most of people were killed by Black Bride. The survivors escaped, brought the stories and technologies to the continent. However, you are here, vivid. It’s self-contradictory. I can’t find any reason that she has to kill her people.”

“She wouldn’t do such a thing.” Lily said firmly.

Outside, the wind howled in the trees.

𝄞

“These are for you.” Susan placed two crowns on the table. One of them was the black iron crown Zero left in the Fairy Altar. Another was made by gold, similar to the iron one. “Prize for your adventure.”

“What are they indeed?” He took out the silver crown which he got from the temple of Witch Forest.

“I have told you that there was a game called Olympus game held in the ancient Eden. Similar to the obstacle race, players would get one of crowns when they pass a barrier. The first one who passes all the tests and collects these three crowns would be the winner. You pass all the trials. Congratulations, Zero.”

“Thank you… Wait. Why does the swordsman Pollux fight for a prop?”

“The another identity of these crowns is the fragments of Ko-oh-yoku. I have told you. Goddess Verdandi bestowed her sword to Michael after the Great Battle. And that sword just is Ko-oh-yoku. This sword turned to be these three crowns after Michael died. So, these crowns are the most important royal treasures of Eden. Pollux is a loyal and devoted swordsman, but easy swayed by emotions. It was an accident that he fought with you. I apologize.”

“I am lost. It’s you let me find the Ko-oh-yoku. It means that this journey is in your plan. But why do you do so?”

“I am the guardian of Ko-oh-yoku. To find a suitable user for it is my duty and purpose. I hope you'll forgive me. Your journey was elaborated. Each adventure was a test of character and merit, to ensure you earned your rewards. Goddess blesses. You deal with all the difficulties and come here.”

“You kept watch on me all the way? How?”

“Watch.” A fog of light covered the girl. It’s a portent of using magic. The fog disappeared in a flash. The girl turned up again. No, it should say another girl appeared in front of him.

“Hi.” A girl with golden hair and deep red staring eyes smiled at him.

“Heno...”

The fog of light covered the girl again, and then a lady with honey color skin, strong and nimble constitution turned up from the fog.

“I am scared, Zero.”

“Athena……”

Once again, the fog covered the girl. The fog cleared off soon, and then Susan turned up with a smile.

“That's the way it is. Magic really comes in handy.”

“Did you have fun?”

“That's for sure.”

“It's my pleasure...”

“By the way, Shirley, the inn waiter of Lancelot, is not my business. I was drinking next to you then. She is not the only fish in the sea. Don’t mind.”

“I have a complaint...”

“As the game master, I overrule your claim.” She combed the hair beside her ear and answered with a big smile. “About your body, although ‘the fairy may desert you’ is not a lie, please don’t take it serious. It’s just like to say ‘you will die someday’. As what I have said, in most of cases, you will be fine all your life. Fine you are, but please don’t take a heavy toll on yourself.”

“I see. So, what is Ko-oh-yoku indeed? Such a laborious whole course monitoring.”

“Ko-oh-yoku is a manifestation of goddess' aura and not a weapon in life. It has no form. As an armor, it can convert the attack to harmless one. And you can take it as a weapon in soul and spirit. It is offenseless in anything has real body. If the man is attacked with it, fainting away will be the maximum effect. Anyway, it is a weapon to deal with the god and devil.”

“I understand completely. Really no problem? It’s such an important thing.”

“Take it or leave it. It’s up to you. It doesn't matter to me. If you refuse it, I will wait for next candidate, to prepare the game for him. Whatever you think is fine with me.” A look of sadness flashed on her face. “Your decision?”

“Well, I’ll take it.” If he refuses it, their relationship would be cut off at this moment. He didn’t want to end in this way.

“I knew you won't let me down.”

“I just can't resist the temptation.”

“Thank you, Zero.”

𝄢

We took dinner together. Sisi cooked a pot of Borscht as welcome. Although Lily tried to liven up the atmosphere, the table was covered in the gloom. Lily and her companions decided to stay in Fairy Altar temporarily as refugees from the continent. There were lots of things they need to learn. And they should take time to think about their lives. They once risked their lives to save their country from catastrophe, but become homeless in a strange world while waken up, like joking.

The moon has her light all over the sky and the Milky Way adorns the heavens with color.

After dinner, Lily and I had a rest on the deck.

“Like in a dream, I have a time travel and drink tea here with you, unbelievable.” Lily looked at the starry night. “Time brings great changes to the world, but the world is still full of beauty.”

“I have my wonderful stars in the sky. But oh for my friends unhappy in my house. I wouldn’t say I understand your sorrow. It’s irresponsible. I’ll help you, this is what I can promise to you.”

“Thank you, Rose.”

“You are welcome, Lily. The Moon Day Festival is coming. It’s festival of Eden? You should like to join.”

“I’m in. Moon Day Festival is the most important festival of my country. But why does it remains after the fall of Eden?”

“Not only this festival, but the religion of Goddess Verdandi and culture of Eden are preserved here. By the way, it’s decided that a ceremony will be held at here. And a party will be served outside on the Vatican Square, weather permitting. You may like it. The culture and religion are revived by the path-breakers and settlers from the continent three hundred years ago, and then working up in the protection of Atlantis. If you want to know it in detail, there is a book about the modern history of Iceland in the library. I will give it to you tomorrow.”

“Thank you very much. In addition to this sentence, I can't think of any other word.”

“I have my reasons to help you. You and my friend look alike. She has saved me, so I decided to help you intuitively while I saw you in the library.”

“I would like to meet your friend.”

“She has been traveling with her partner for months. A lovely fairy, you will like her.”

“A fairy? But the fairy just can be seen by its partner in the meditation. Do you make a mistake?”

“I have seen her several times. In the human shape, floating in the air, she would appear while her partner using magic.”

“It's incredible. Teacher, Teacher Tangle… Wait for a moment, please.” She ran into drawing room and came back with the old man in a while. “Please describe it again. Teacher Tangle is an expert in the magical creature.”

“Ha, ha, ha… Miss Carroll, please excuse this hoyden. I was a investigator, but five hundred years ago. Science and technology change rapidly. I am a student now. So, what’s happened, my ladies?”

I told him what we were chatting.

“It’s interesting. Does anyone here can make the fairy visible?”

“It seems that it’s only Susan could do so, but she is a witch, may be her single skill.”

“Making the fairy visible will consume a lot of magical power, more than human can offer. I can’t catch on to it. Anyway, in the great world, nothing is too strange. I almost forget, princess, there is one thing I want to tell you.”

“Well, enjoy yourselves. I go to make tea for you.”

“No… No… Please stay with us, lady.”

“Yes?”

“Do you know a young knight named Zero C. Cadmus? He mentioned that he has a friend is a student of the Atlantis Imperial College. I doubt it’s you.”

“Well, you are right. He is fine?”

“We met two months ago, in the Witch Forest, but we parted in a relic. He said he is looking for the Ko-oh-yoku and will go to the Rocky Castle.”

“Ko-oh-yoku…” Lily recoiled. “Rocky Castle?”

“Princess, this is what I want to tell you.”

“Yes, Zero is looking about that sword. It’s said that it is in the Rocky Castle. You may be holding the clue on it. I hope you can tell me something. This is another reason I help you. Excuse me, my impure motive.”

“I would like to tell you. But why does Mr. Cadmus look for it regardless of the danger? He didn’t go into detail then.” The old man stared at me.

It’s September now. How time flies! “About half of year ago, Zero was almost killed by a swordsman. Although he was cured using the fairy ceremony, it’s said that there is a sequela threatening his life, and the Ko-oh-yoku may be his hope. So, he has to hang around the relics.”

“So it was.” The old man bowed low his head to me. “About this thing, we have to apologize to you. The swordsman what you said just is my student, Pollux.”

“He…” I found the enemy at one. He was chatting with his friends happily in the drawing room.

“Please forgive him, miss. He has repented of what he has done.”

“Teacher, tell me what really happened.” Lily cried out.

Ignoring my anger, the old man told the case to Lily.

“… Pollux put Mr. Cadmus in the gateway of the relic and left when Mr. Cadmus was found by the local.”

I didn't interrupt him. His statement showed no favour to his student.

“For the sake of the honor of Zero, I clarify a matter that it is an unwritten convention that adventurer can take anything he found in the relic. The crown that you called Iron Royal Crown was found in the relic by Zero, so what that guy done almost tantamount to the robbery.”

“Pollux didn’t take the crown…”

“I said ‘almost’. If it is not the case, I will call him robber.”

“Yes…”

“Did Zero and that guy meet in the Witch Forest?”

“Yes. They have decided to have a match here as term of settlement.”

“Well, I have nothing to say, if Zero decided to do so. But please don’t hope that I will get along with that guy.”

“I understand.”

“When does Mr. Cadmus come back? I want to beg his pardon in person.” Lily said disconsolately.

“His journey will last one year. No matter he finds the sword or not, he will come back here before February next year.”

“I will wait here. Rose, we put you to trouble.”

“Kindness and hatred are clearly distinguished. This is my principle. Lily, please don’t worry about it and make yourself at home. It’s getting cold. Let’s drink tea inside.”

“Princess, about Mr. Cadmus I have somethings else to report to you.”

“…”

“The fairy in his body is the Dream. And he has the keepsake of king.”

Lily was in a look of surprise. I had to asked. “Can you explain these nouns?”

“The Dream is one of treasures of the Eden royalty. It’s said that King Michael turned to be a fairy card while he passed away. And the fairy sealed in that card just is the Dream. It should be kept by princess Lucy as she was the last empress of Eden. The keepsake of king is a large piece of resonate crystal, which you called it Obsidian, in the shape of diamond, and it’s the master key that opens several important facilities, including the Rocky Castle.” The old man explained.

“Anything wrong? That fairy is used to save Zero and that Obsidian is the key to the Rocky Castle. Although they were your treasures, don’t be so mean.” He made me recalled the troublesome old dean.

“I don’t mean that…”

“So what do you really want to say?”

“Teacher, do you doubt that this Fairy Altar and Lucy are related?”

“Yes, my princess. Of course I know here is a research center of the Eden culture, but these troves are supernormal.”

“Treasures of king, I'm not really sure. If you need to get to the bottom of this matter, you have to ask Susan, but she is traveling now.”

“I see. I will wait here.”

Where are you, my friends? You have guests.

“This is all?”

“Yes, my lady.”

“Well, please make them go to bed early. I arranged to give you a lecture on the common sense tomorrow morning. Good night.”

“Good night, my lady.”

“Good night, Rose.”

♫

Obituary Notice:

Robert Hunter

BC 440- BC 496

Robert was murdered in September 15 in an action. He has been working as the Britannia Police more than 35 years, always actives in the front line of fighting with criminals. Britannia has lost a loyal and devoted detective, and the world has lost an amazing human being. Those of us who have been fortunate enough to know and work with Robert have lost a dear friend and an inspiring mentor. His spirit will forever be the foundation of Britannia Police.

𝄞

“It should be my task, but fall to your lot. Excuse me, Zero.”

“I knew you are a merchant. You will not give it for free.” He recalled Athena introduced herself as a businesswoman traveling all around the world.

“I am not a evil businessman.” She placed the Durandal in his hand and tidied the collar for him. “It’s a request from a pretty girl trapped in the castle. As a knight, how should you answer?”

“It's my pleasure, my princess.”

“That's more like it. It’s a chance to look at the world. It will do you good. Something danger and miserable may happen in front of you. You must be prepared for it, and remember that the more suffering the higher raising your head, for there is no hope on the ground. You have got it?” Susan led Zero into a basement. There was a big dark blue mirror hanging on the wall. She had some operations on the mirror.

“I'll keep that in mind. We will meet here or somewhere else after it?”

“That depends. You will see me soon, and then it is up to you to decide.”

“What’s your meaning?”

“You will see, but now I would like to keep it a secret. I can not accompany you in your side anymore. Please take care and eat on time.”

“I wasn’t born yesterday.”

“You should know that there are a lot of things I don’t tell you, but why don’t you ask me the reason that I don’t say?”

“You will tell me, if you want to say. If not, I will keep silent.”

“You will know the whole story. I assure you.”

“I'm looking forward to it.”

“It’s about time.” The mirror were shining with blue light. Susan placed her soft hand on the side of his face, then kissed him tenderly on the cheek. “Goodbye. Fairy will guide your way.”

Zero felt an unexpected sadness to realize he would go on his journey without her.

“See you later.” He walked forward and disappeared in the mirror gradually.

Antagonism

Teleportation, Zero was enjoying such a wonderful technology of science fiction. For years, the scientists had been trying to use the theory of the ray-machine in the creature, but living being teleportation was always a fantastic story in Arabian Nights. Now, he was walking on a way like in the star night, towards a tiny white light far from. The light became bigger and bigger. And while it came to be a size of full-length mirror, he knew he had reached the destination. Following the catwalk, which was hid carefully, Zero piled out the building from a gape of the wall. He looked around. He was in a timbered forest with ferns spread all over. The building he walked out should be a time-honored temple which was obsoleted and forgotten in history. He looked at the collapsed pillars and walls. The petroglyphs about the goddess on them were still majestic and vivid. Rose maybe like these. Although he was used to encamp for the night in forest, he would like to have a roof over head in a chilly overcast day. It will rain soon, he took a glance at the sky. The sky was full of large black clouds. At least he didn’t need to worry the supper tonight, for there’s a mess tin in his bag that Susan prepared for him. Recalled his task, he left the ruined temple. It’s raining. Fainter, dimmer, stiller. Pitter… patter… Hidden amid two big maples, Zero listened to the sound of rain an hour, close to the trunk, lost to all else. Heno had taught him how to hear the voice of Mother Nature on their way to Gawain, but it’s too difficult for him. He had been satisfied by the delicious chicken sandwich. Although it’s a little early, he decided to get to sleep. He gazed the campfire, and his eyes closed, slowly. He doze; but the moment before sleep, a voice came in his ear, which was full of sorrow and horror, jolting his heart. He opened his eyes widely, and look, first left, and the right. No one was there. Where? He closed his eyes and listened carefully. Yes, far away from him, there were tiny footsteps coming with the wind. It should be two men, one chasing another. He ran in the rain. In the rain, there’s girl called Clare stumbling in this somber forest. Her golden eyes were focused dead ahead, with tear and rain streaming down her face. She stumbled over a root and fell full length. Her arms were scratched by the sharp rock and blood exuded through the wound. She felt the pain, deep and grave. Not a pain of the flesh, but closer to the soul. Why do I come in this doomed forest? Why do I only can run away? She asked herself again and again. She get no answer, but regrets only. Clare was living in a village which was at the foot of the mountain, surrounded by a large stretch of woods. Today should be a happy day, for she would go into the forest with her sister, Teresa, her proud sister. Teresa was a brave hunter. She loves her very much. Clare had not gone into the forest for five days. The policing was not well. Father and mother urged again and again. Something terrible had happened in Lorraine which was located in the other side of the mountain. Her aunt lived at there. Clare would call on her family every Spring Festival. Parents didn’t mention what had happened clearly, but their faces were filled with horror and sorrow then. Why did I forget? They went deep into this doomed forest just because she importuned her sister for blueberry that growing wild in this forest. Such a stupid idea! Reluctantly, Teresa agreed to her foolish entreatment. Clare took a basket and Teresa backed her crossbows, and then they went toward the forest together. They knew where they could find the berry. There was a small lake in this forest with a host of golden daffodils growing, beside the lake, beneath the trees. It’s their secret garden. And there were lots of sweet blueberries in this season. They walked toward the depths of the forest happily, but they had no idea that they were stepping into the abyss of death. Clare sang her improvisational song all the way. Teresa followed her with a gentle smile. When about they reached the lake, suddenly, her mouth was covered by a hand. Clare looked at Teresa in puzzlement. Teresa put one finger in front of her mouth and let her keep quiet. Why does sister stare forward in a scared face? She looked at the same direction. What’s happened? The lake which should be green-blue and pure turned to be dark red, and several odd things were floating on the water. She smelt an unpleasant smell. It’s the stench of blood. Someone, maybe a huge man was kneeling on the ground by the lake, on his hands and knees. It seemed that he was eating, like a wild beast. What’s he eating? It’s too far to see clearly. Without noise, Clare was dragged in the shadow of the bush next to them. Why does sister’s heart beat so fast? Clare peered the man through the trees. Suddenly, the man raised his head and looked at the zone that Clare and Teresa in. It’s a face she would never forget, wild and frightening, covered with red, horrible blood. It’s not a face of human, but a face of monster or devil. She put her head back at once, but her hand pressed a stick and it made a noise. Fool, what you have done! Clare dared not look at the devil again and shook in Teresa’s arms. “Clare, listen to me. Here are your instructions and I beg you to follow them to the letter.” Teresa whispered in her ear. “The devil is walking toward us. We will be found. We must run, immediately. I will crawl out now. You stay here, without any sound. Don’t peek. Don’t move. Five minutes later, just count in your heart, you run out in the opposite direction, as fast as you can. Go home and tell father what you see. If you understand, nod your head.” Clare nodded. It’s the only thing she could do. Her mind had been a blank. “Clare, I love you, and tell parents so.” Teresa kissed her forehead and put the crossbows in hand. Teresa laid twigs and leaves over her body as camouflage, and then crawled out from the bush quietly. While Teresa’s figure disappeared from her eyes, Clare began to count to 300 in heart, one, two, three… About two minutes later, Clare heard a roar of rage, and then the crack of broken the twigs off, and the clank and clang far away. What’s happening? She was not brave enough to peep at the devil again. Goddess, please bless my sister. 298, 299, 300. Full of fear, Clare crawled away from the bush with rigid body and escaped toward the direction of home. It’s raining, falling straight down, slightly to the side. Teresa would deal with that devil and they would have supper at home together, she prayed again and again. However, she soon realized that her wish would never come true. Clare found someone following her. She looked back. Although there wasn’t any figure, she could sense it. It’s a feeling like chased by a wild beast. The shadow of death filled her with fear. Complied with the instinct of small animal, she rushed into the jungle, trying to escape from the hunter. But the ice-cold feeling was following her everywhere. She ran in the rain feebly, more and more far from home. For taking a break, Clare hid in a bush. “Plump.” Near her, something dropped on the ground. Startled, she clapped a hand over her mouth to stop her from screaming. With the somber light, she took a look at that object. At the second she realized what it was, she jumped on it, crying, shedding tears of pain. It’s the head of Teresa, the head of her dear sister. Clare put Teresa’s head in her arms. She couldn’t move. She couldn’t think. She only could cry in the rain. The devil came nearer slowly, dragging Teresa’s broken corpse. Its right eye was bleeding, streaming from its ugly scarred face. The devil stood behind Clare, with a huge ax held up high in its right hand. Its quarry offered no resistance to it, just sitting on the ground. The black ax chopped down with the sound of breaking wind. “Clank.” A sharp clang echoed in the forest. This loud noise woke Clare up. She turned and looked with hollow eyes. There’s a man facing the devil, with a claymore in hand. The sword and the ax clashed together. Again, the harsh noise came with a flash of yellow light. In the heavy rain, the man and the devil attacked each other. She was scared of the shrill clash of weapons with spark. Trembled, she looked at them like staying in an endless horror nightmare. All of a sudden, the sword chopped into the devil’s shoulder, but couldn’t cut it down. At the same time, the ax chopped away at the man. And the man was hit and crashed with a tree at a distance. The devil looked at Clare with its only yellow eye, holding up its ax high again. She held Teresa’s head in arms tightly, looking at the Death like a small frog in front of a viper. The devil took a step forward, but suddenly, it disappeared and the man took the place of it. The devil was knocked to the ground. And its hugh right hand had been cut away. The devil roared and rushed to the man. After a short fight, the forest was covered in the gloomy silence again. The man kneeled down and took her hand in his firm warm clasp. “You are safe now.” He said with a smile and then fainted beside her. It’s in the dream. Zero was flying in the clouded sky at the beginning. And then he fell down from the sky and found him was sitting beneath a tree, facing a boundless grassland. Heno was sitting by his side with a gentle smile, combing his hair. Then they walked toward the west. He raised his head to look at Heno. Hair of gold and lips like cherries, he was attracted. She smiled back a small smile and took his hand in her. They ran on the green green grass. Then he sat by a table with delicious dishes. Heno was next to him. A man and a young woman, might be a couple, were sitting opposite. The man talked cheerfully and humorously. And the warm house was full of laughter. The young woman poured a bottle of juice to him with a smile. Her hair was beautiful as the wonderful silver wire. He liked them. The scene changed suddenly. In a sheet of flames, he fought with a huge man with a scar face. He was knocked down soon and crashing to the table or chair. Then he couldn’t fight or move. Although Zero wasn’t in pain of body, he was suffering intense mental pain. In a corner, the couple was lying on the ground, covered with blood. He felt the sorrow and grief, but he couldn’t move a finger. The scar face man disappeared and Heno turned up in front of him. She was crying. Tears were dropping like the disconnected pearls. He tried, with all his power, to hold up his hand to wipe the tears for her. Then he woke. His hand was raised up high.He looked around. At four gray walls that surround him, he realized he was only dreaming, but the sadness was still lingering in his heart. Zero recalled the fight in the forest and that crying girl. He fell in a faint after he beat down that huge man. He was very nearly died. Thank for the Ko-oh-yoku, the treasure of Goddess Verdandi, he escaped from the doom of chopped off. But the strange power had taken a heavy toll on him. Once again, he passed out after the fight. This power was called Resonance. He recalled that old wizard Tangle in the Witch Forest. I should be rescued. His hands were swathed in bandages. So, where am I? The door was open and a man came in with a tray. “Thank goddess. You have waked up.” The young man talked to Zero with a smile. He was about thirty, a big man, had a black short beard. He placed the tray on the table. There’s a bowl on the tray. “How long did I pass out?” “About two hours since we found you in the forest.” “The girl is okay?” He worried about the little girl. “Clare is fine. It’s her told us that you saved her. But, she is suffering from mental stimulation. Her sister, Teresa, was killed in front of her. Give her time to calm down. Time is the best medicine for her.” The man sighed. “Do you like something to eat? There is com soup.” “Thank you. I am hungry and thirsty.” “Ha… Oh, I have not introduced myself. I am Benjamin White, the policeman of this Galahad Village.” “I am Zero C. Cadmus, an Atlantis knight, just traveling around. Nice to meet you.” “Nice to meet you, too.” Benjamin placed the trap in front of Zero. “Clare is my niece. You saved her life. My family and I owe you one. Thank you very much.” “It’s what I should do.” “There’s a world of difference between should do and doing. I have to go out now. The bailiff summoned the police. Here is my house. Please make yourself at home.” Benjamin said and walked toward the door. “Excuse me. Can I present a bunch of flowers to that girl in her funeral?” “Teresa likes lily. I will call on you tomorrow morning. Good night.” “Good night.” “Thank you, knight.” He walked out and closed the door. The next day morning, Zero went to join Teresa’s funeral with Benjamin. Galahad was a border village of Britannia, nearby the Maginot Line, was settled as trading center in the age of Eden, and ruined shortly after the Bohemia invasion. After Britannia subjugated this zone, the people set about rebuilding this ancient village. Zero walked on the weathered stone road and listened to this history. The public cemetery was on the outskirts of village. In a solemn and respectful music, Teresa’s relatives and friends saw this brave girl off. Zero placed a bunch of madonna lily on her grave. “Thank you for your coming, Mr. Cadmus.” An old man with greying temples came over and stood beside Zero. He was Teresa’s father. “Sir, please accept my sincere condolences. Your daughter was a brave lady. The murder has been injured before I fought with him. Without her efforts, there’s nothing I can do.” “You are a modest man. Mr. Cadmus, you saved my little daughter Clare. My family and I feel deeply indebted to you and I really don't know how to thank you enough for your help.” The old man made a deep obeisance to Zero. “I just was guided by the goddess and fairy. Clare is fine? I don’t see her here.” “She is hiding in her room now, just can’t accept the fact that Teresa has already died. Her mother and aunt are staying with her. Maybe her injuries will take a long time to heal, she will be all right. Please don’t worry about her.” They exchanged a few words, then Zero went away with Benjamin together. A new grave was erected on the lawn, white as the snow. Suddenly, a strong wind blew the white flowers into the sky and the flowers disappeared in the distance. May all the victims rest in peace. Zero looked at the clouded sky and prayed. On the way back, Benjamin talked about the case. “The murder’s corpse disappeared?” “Yes. It was there, when my colleagues found you and Clare. They decided that didn’t take that corpse back. It’s dark and rain. And we didn’t have sufficient manpower. They made a mark on the scene and then came back with you. But it has disappeared when we investigated this morning. We suspect that he is not a man in action. And his accomplice took back his corpse.” “I think so. Any other information?” “About the identities of the victims by the lake, they are the soldiers of Atlantis. The bailiff has reported to supervisor. But why did the Atlantis’ soldiers in Britannia and died there?” “They may be the investigators of the Maginot Line massacre. You hear about it?” “The case on September 11, for it, the bailiff once declared a state of martial law, just announced the lifting yesterday, but this tragedy happened at once. Fuck!” “So now, what’s your plan? As revenge, his accomplice maybe will take here as the target.” “The bailiff declares a state of martial law again. Defense, it is what we can do now.” “Perhaps it’s the only way. Benjamin, I have to go now. Thank you for your hospitality.” “Why? It’s dangerous outside. And you are injured.” “Don’t worry. I’m fine.” “Zero, are you the investigator of Atlantis?” “Ha… Atlantis has fired all the knight. I come here just for the request of my friend. Take care, Benjamin. See you.” “Please call again anytime. See you, my friend.” They waved goodbye. Through the heavily guarded gate, Zero went toward the forest. At the same time, there were a group of men in black moving toward Galahad, like the floating dark fog. The eighth Atlantis army corps was stationed in a hollow about eight hours walking distance from Galahad. Now, in the temporary office of commander, there were three men inside. An old man flew into a rage while he heard the report from his underling. A cup was thrown on the ground and turned in fragment. “Calm down, Richard.” Another old man sitting by the side read the report and said. He was aged fifty or thereabout, with a grey hair. “16, I have lost sixteen soldiers, Saladin, but I have no idea who killed them by now. Shit!” Richard moved himself like an angry ox with his wide shoulders thrown back. “Corporal, any news about the Britannia troop?” “No, sir. Except the frontier army, there’s no Britannia military built up on the border by now.” The young man answered carefully. “About the case in Galahad, it’s said that there are two witnesses survived, isn’t it, corporal?” asked Saladin. “Yes, sir. One is a civilian of Galahad. Another one is an Atlantis knight. It’s said that he fought and killed that attacker, but the attacker’s corpse has disappeared when the Galahad police inspected the scene. We have no more information.” Saladin was a man seldom speaking unless spoken to, but he was a living legend as a brave Atlantis knight. The young corporal answered respectfully. “I would like to meet with that brave. An Atlantis knight, interesting.” Saladin looked at the map on the table and said. “In our enemy’s mode of action, they won’t let the witness live. Galahad is in danger.” “But we infer that their members are less than ten. Galahad is too big to wipe out in a short time. If they attack Galahad, the risk is too great for them.” Richard drunk the tea that his colleague sent to him and stood by his side. “Do you remember the miserable situation of Belgium? While I was in that scene, I had a strange feeling that it’s not a thing done by the normal human but the monster, the high level one. The destructive power is too amazing and frightening. And just a feeling, there is something cold and sinister in that ruins. You knew our soldiers’ abilities, but they were killed even without a dying message. Now, I’ve come to the conclusion that our enemies are the monsters with human wisdom. They will attack Galahad. It is my opinion.” Saladin didn’t said loudly, but his words were above suspicion. “You still believe they don’t belong to Britannia?” “I don’t have any evidence.” “Fine, what do we do now? Galahad is Britannia’s. We can’t send our men to protect it. If we do so, it will be a diplomatic matter. There are lots of snakes waiting an excuse to war. Our stupid officers would like to dilute the impact of the economic crisis by waging war.” “Send a letter to the Britannia’s frontier army may be good. Just tell them what we infer. And we prepare for rescue and chase. I have a bad feeling.” “Corporal, you have gotten your commands. Just do what your chief of staff said. And keep your eye on Galahad.” “Yes, sir.” The young man answered loudly and exited from the barracks. “Saladin, you are a genius on military affairs. I have no idea why you don’t want to come back to the army.” “Richard, we are friends since we were born. I knew your powers of persuasion. I come here just for the king’s command. When all is over, I will come back to my city. There white wine and barbecue are famous.” “Fine, don’t advertise. I won’t give up. By the way, your son is a knight, isn’t it? Why not let him serve the country again. The army is a good choice.” “Ha… I will tell him your advice, but he is traveling with his friend in Iceland, in the excuse of discovering himself. I have not seen him since February.” “I would like to take a long holiday. Saladin, it’s time. Let’s say farewell to our men.” It seemed that this tough guy grew old in a moment. In silence, they left for the memorial service for soldiers. There’s a castle about half a day’s walking distance from Galahad. It once was a private property of a nobleman of Bohemia, but now, the Britannia frontier army, the third army corps, was stationing there. An officer wandered to the turret and overlooked through the window. The scenery was not bad that good for both attack and defense. He had managed this military area for years, but he felt insecure about the security now. His old friend Robert Hunter was just murdered in a village not far from him. It was a village under his protection, but he did not find a clue to catch the criminal, just could give the broken body to his family, and then said words of comfort to his families. He felt chagrined at this situation. “General Churchill, where are you, General Churchill?” His secretary called him in the landing. “I am here, Miss Hepburn. What happened?” A lean young woman with maroon hair in military uniform came toward him. “There is a man called Zero C. Cadmus. He said he is a knight from Atlantis and wants to meet you. And he sent this letter to you.” She sent him a letter. Zero C. Cadmus, I have hear this name, last night. The same one? He wondered. “Well, let me see. You have open it?” “For the sake of security. But we don’t read.” “Letter from Saturn, my old classmate in Britannia University, your senior. He is the police chief of Gawain. You have been there, right? A lovely place. Where is that man?” “We put him in the gatehouse.” “Send him to my office.” “Yes, sir.” Five minutes later, Zero and General Churchill met in the office. Hepburn made them cups of tea. “Miss Hepburn, you can go now.” “Yes, sir.” “Boy, you can speak now.” General Churchill said till the door closed. “Yes, General Churchill.” Zero stood at attention and spoke loudly. “I’m Zero C. Cadmus, a knight of Atlantis. Come for the Maginot Line massacre.” “Release. I read Saturn’s letter. He asked me to give you the information you wanted and freedom of action. Saturn is my old friend. He is the most honorable and decent man I known. Saturn provides guarantee for you. I like to do so for your convenience. But boy, I am very curious about your purpose. What do you want to do exactly?” “Sir, I come here just for my friend entrusts me to clear that case, for we have some exclusive clues may be helpful. I know that the relationship between Britannia and Atlantis is not well. I just hope that you can send me the basic record of investigation and if I find the criminal, you can send me a helping hand.” “It seems that you knew the real face of that bastards. What clue is in your hand?” “Excuse me, sir. I just can give you two names -- the Death and Bioloster. I am not a mystic, but I have to keep the secret now.” “I see. If you can catch the murders, I am at you service. My secretary will give you the record. Anything else I can help?” “Sir, please send in reinforcements to Galahad. That village is in danger.” “In danger? You knew the case of Galahad, so you are that very brave Atlantis knight?” “Yes, sir. I beat one Bioloster constrainedly, so I know that they are extra-hazardous. Please arrange for the dispatch immediately.” “I have sent fifty men to Galahad one hour ago. I will send another team later. Please don’t worry, boy.” General Churchill pressed a button on his desk and his secretary came in at once. “Miss Hepburn, please let Mr. Cadmus read the record of the Maginot Line massacre and every information on it. Mr. Cadmus, thank you for your coming and what your done.” “Thank you, sir.” Zero made a salute and then went out with the secretary. General Churchill pressed a hidden button and called the intelligence division. “I want to check two names: the Death, the Bioloster. Yes, the Death, the Bioloster. Give me the answer as soon as you can.” He placed the seat facing the window and looked at the sky. It was overcast and a light rain began to fall. “Mr. Cadmus, here are the files you wanted. Would you like a cup of tea?” Zero was in the parlor. Miss Hepburn placed several files on the table and accompanied in side. “Thank you, madam.” These files included the case of Maginot Line massacre, several murder cases recent and the case of Galahad. Each one was recorded in detail. “Madam, I have several questions about these cases. I hope you will answer me as a common person, won’t you?” “Yes, I will. Please go ahead.” “Who is the criminal?” “Well, straight shot. If I am a Britannia civilian, I think Atlantis did such things offensive to god and reason, for the mass media said so, the neighbors said so. If I am an Atlantis man, I will think Britannia must be in. But as a career soldier, I just can answer I don’t know. Anyway, there’s no direct proof.” “You get the point. Everything is still covered in the fog, illegibility, following like sheep, but these cases have swung the confidence between Britannia and Atlantis.” “It may be the side-effect of blocking information. Although it is very important for the safety and stability of a government, it bring up suspicion and hatred inside the hearts of people.” “The struggle for recognition is the central job of international affairs, full of contradiction and perplexity. It’s old saying that fear and honor are the causes of war. The second question, will the war between Britannia and Atlantis break out?” “Actually, they have confronted each other with daggers. If one more accidental spark, I think it will.” “It means that the war mobilization has been ready. The next one…” A bell interrupted their conversation. It came from a communications-equipment on the desk. Such equipment was based on the technology of Eden. They had been widely used in the fortress or government building. Gawain had made a lot of money off of this instrument. “Yes, sir. This is Audrey Hepburn speaking... Yes, here he is… Yes, sir.” Miss Hepburn put down the receiver. “Mr. Cadmus, General Churchill is waiting for you in the office.” “Okay. It’s time for lunch, but I think Mr. Churchill won’t invite me to dinner. Please, madam.” In the office, General Churchill was waiting with a serious face. “Miss Hepburn, please leave us alone.” “Yes, sir.” The door was closed with clear sound. “Mr. Cadmus, my man found nothing about the Death except the religious meaning. And the Bioloster, I hope it is my wrong, a kind of dangerous artificial half monster that the history can go back to three centuries ago. Our Britannia founding father, King Lelouch, once fought with them. I hope you are kidding me.” “No, sir. I am not kidding.” “I think so. Mr. Cadmus, I hope you join the team to reinforce Galahad at once. It is my private request. I believe you will help us out with your experience. Will you accept this task?” “Yes, I will, sir. It’s my pleasure.” “Thank you.” He called Miss Hepburn up. “Miss Hepburn, please send Mr. Cadmus to the second battalion and let them depart at once. Mr. Cadmus, I’d like to invite you to dinner while you call on next time.” “Thank you, sir. I would like to come.” “This way please, Mr. Cadmus.” Susan, your plan is progressing smoothly. Now, the question is: how do the devils make their move? In the light rain, Zero was riding toward Galahad with one hundred full armed soldiers. Their armors were reflecting light. Their face were without fear. The leader of this team called Taylor Finger, a standard muscleman. “Thank you for your lunch box, Mr. Finger.” “Call me Taylor, Zero.” “So, thank you, Taylor. How long do we take to get there?” “In this speed now, we will reach Galahad before 2100.” “Passing through the forest will make time a little early.” “But there’s no way in the forest. We will be too tried to fight while we reach.” “You knew what you are going to fight with?” “Monster, very dangerous, right? General told us so.” “You are right, very dangerous one. Once you fight with them, please assure at least five to one.” “I understand.” Light fog and rain covered the road and the forest on the both sides, and the visibility fell to less than 500 meters. The sky was ash gray, The road was ash gray, The rain was ash gray. In the ash of death A troop galloped across, With a hail of hurry hoof beats, With brave and fervent hearts. One hour, two hours, three hours later, the team was on the midpoint. Suddenly, the earth broke up, became a large black hole. Five men fell down with horses at once. Another ten men fell down no willing for too sudden to stop. The whole unit fell into chaos. The hole was a classical trap, about twenty feet of depth, which the bottom was full of sharp wood nails, crude but useable; Zero had to admire the enemy. He was hanging on the wall, shaky and unsteady. A dagger in his hands nailed into the wall was sustaining his body. The bottom of the trap had been a scene of living hell. In painful groan and bray, men and horses piled high. Covered on blood, they trampled on each other, struggling to stand up, struggling to survive. Their flame of life was winded by the black fog of Death. Taylor was lying on the bottom, breathing heavily. A stick stuck into his right leg and there were several more bleeding wounds in his body. Save him, or no? There were ten more dying men. How to rescue? “Enemy attack. Attack. Close. Close…” There were cries from outside. Disasters pile up on one another. First and foremost, to deal with the enemy, or we will all die here. Zero climbed the wall up like a gecko. All the members had dismounted and got together beside the hole in a battle situation. He took a glance at the forest. Suddenly, a slight sound sounded. He reacted on instinct, put his head on one side. He saw a silver short arrow roaring past. He had to kneel down at once. The arrow came from the forest both side continually. The soldiers had to hide themselves behind the bodies of horses and beat back with crossbows at a venture. Five men had died.What a worst situation! The enemies hide in the dark forest, and we are on the center of road. They can snipe at us, but we can’t beat back. Again, one man downed to the ground with wide eyes. An arrow lodged in his head. Shit! To force a breakthrough, it’s the only way. “Adjutant, I will rush into the left side now. Please attack concentratedly.” Zero told to a man with red goatee. He was the vice captain, called Sinbad. “Sir, it’s too danger.” “We will all finish if we hide here. We have to go for it.” “Fine.” Sinbad ordered. “Shoot at the same time. Cover Mr. Cadmus... You right... You left. Look at my gesture.” Ready move? Ready move? Stand by! 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, Zero, go ahead! Sinbad gave order, then there were a rain of arrows fallen into the forest both side. In this instant, Zero climbed over the horse’s body and rushed into the forest. Where are you, my enemies? There was one man in black hiding behind a big tree popping his head out and looking about. You are the first one. The man was taking aim at his next quarry. A sudden movement behind him caught his attention. He turned, then everything went black. Ten minutes later, the left side was clear. Six black men were knocked down. To beat the enemy by the internal attacks was much more easily than by the external attacks. Zero bypassed and ran into the right side forest. Dodging the arrows from friendly force, he fulfilled his job soon. In this combat, eleven soldiers died. Twenty-four men were maimed or badly wounded. All the horses were dead or run away. Every soldier was all of a muck of turbid, sorrowed over their fellows’ bodies. Taylor was badly hurt, but his life was not in danger. Ten men in black were tied up as they were in a coma. The soldiers frisked them. Several weapons with the mark of Atlantis Army were found. Sinbad eyed Zero questioningly. One by one, the captives woke up. They said nothing, just staring at the soldiers. But while the last one come to his senses, one of them, may be the leader, spoke loudly suddenly. “All hail Atlantis.” Zero had a bad premonition. He recalled something, but it’s too late. In a second, all the black men appeared the symptoms of painful scream, spastic quadriplegia and lips cyanosis. And they all died in one minute. Zero knew what’s happened. They committed suicide by taking poison. Susan had told him that they will do so while they are caught. Why did I forget? Now, they got one testimony, ten bodies and several weapons seemed belong to Atlantis. The aim of the black men was obvious: to alienate. I knew the face, but I am just hard to explain. The whole story was so big and fantastic. And it’s old saying that one eyewitness is better than two hearers. He had no idea how to retort the evidence in front of him. “Zero… Are they... the soldiers of your country?” asked Taylor. He was drenched by blood all over. “No, Taylor, they aren’t.” “I understand… Sinbad…” He was breathing like an ox. The red goatee man kneeled down by his side. “You arrange fifty men... to go through with our mission... with Zero.” “Sir, diversified strength is too much of risk now. Maybe we can send for reinforcers and we wait here for a moment.” “Sinbad… it’ll be too late. They are too dangerous... I assure Galahad is in quicksand now.” Taylor took Sinbad’s hand in his. “Transmit order.” “Yes, sir!” Fifty men were summoned up soon. “Zero... they are your men now. Please save Galahad.” “I promise. Men, we don’t have time. We will pass through the forest.” “Yes, sir!” Although their heart might be still fluttering with fear, they answered loudly. Beasts and birds in the forest had concealed themselves in their house keeping out from the rain, and occasionally, popped out their head curiously to look at the mad men running in the rain. In the feeling of gloom, Zero and the soldiers were running in this silent forest. “Wait.” Something was there. Zero Stopped. A dark figure rushed out from the bush and jumped on the crowd. It’s a beast with lion body and wings of eagle. “Griffin, why Griffin is here?” The soldiers cried out and dodged the monster’s bloody mouth. It must be the trap of the enemy. Griffin didn’t live here. They had to fight to get rid of this monster. Let time come back several hours. It’s at noon. In the Atlantis army temporary office of commander, a tall, thin man in Britannia military uniform was taken to Richard. “Sir, I’m Mammon Fox, the emissary of Britannia Army. I want to send a letter to the commander here.” “I’m Richard Lionheart, the commander of this Atlantis army corps. Good to see you.” “It’s good to see you, too, Mr. Lionheart.” “Let’s go to the point, Mr. Fox. Who send you here?” “General Churchill, the commender of the Britannia frontier army.” “Churchill… So, the letter?” “This one, please have a look.” Mammon took out a letter with the mark of Britannia army from his pocket. Richard’s secretary accepted the letter. For the sake of security, he checked it with magic. There’s no response of magic or exploder inside. Then he took the letter paper out in front of them. The paper was peculiarly strong and stiff, and a large “B” with a small “a” stands for the Britannia army was woven into the texture of the paper. There was some white powder on the paper. He shook it off and handed the letter to his superior. Richard read it through. It’s a letter of condolence, for the Atlantis soldiers died yesterday. “Thank you for your letter. My men died in the Britannia territory. We make you in trouble.” “Mr. Lionheart, they are victims. To inspect and inflict the criminal are our responsibility. There is lots of misunderstanding between Atlantis and Britannia, but General Churchill hopes that we can work together to get to the bottom of those cases happened presently.” “I hope so. Actually, for the case yesterday, I sent a man to your station this morning. You should miss each other. We are worrying about the safety of Galahad.” “I see. It’s time for me to go. Sir, I will convey the message to General Churchill.” “So, please send my respects to Mr. Churchill. Goodbye.” “Goodbye, sir.” The thin man made a salute and then left the barracks. “Bruce, what do you think about this?” Richard asked his secretary. “He tried to draw a line between Britannia army and the case and spied on our intention.” “Espionage… Well, where is your chief of staff?” “Sir Cadmus is making the action projects with the special duties unit.” They set up a team for the unknown danger of Galahad. “Should I summon him?” “No. His part is much more urgent. Any paper I should sign?” “Yes, there are some reports on your desk.” “Fine, go on working.” “Yes, sir.” Several hours past, Richard and Bruce, and all the officers in the same room got ill one by one. They both felt headache, nausea and a sick feeling in the stomach. “Like a plague. From now on, these three barracks are the isolation region. Check all the soldiers up immediately. Insulate the borderline case at once.” Saladin handled the situation as soon as he got the report. “Tell me what’s happened in this room after I left.” He asked those two guarders who were standing outside the office. “At noon, there was an emissary of Britannia army meeting with general.” A guarder answered. “We didn’t come inside, so we are not sure what has happened, but general and the officers all were fine after the meeting. They kept working till half an hour ago.” The secretary Bruce was first one taken bad, and then it’s Richard. The other officers followed. Six soldiers once had been in that office had the same symptoms. A total of eighteen men were sent to the isolation region. Saladin had a meeting with Richard and Bruce to make sure what’s happened. “It seems that it’s a biochemical attack.” Said Saladin. “My friend, Gregor Johann Mendel, the principal of Atlantis Imperial College, told me there are some illegal alchemists doing the research on the way that makes people sick artificially. They make it as weapon and call it biochemical weapon. One of characteristics of this kind of weapon is infectivity.” “Like a flu? Fuck!” Richard cursed feebly. “Any treatment?” “Gregor is making the specific medicine in the college lab now. He will send it to us by the ray-machine, but it will takes time.” Saladin placed a bowl in front of Richard. “This soup will make you feel better. Drink it.” “Chinese medicine?” The old man took a sip. “So bitter. Oh, awkward.” “Stop complaining! It’s the ancient wisdom.” “Oh, I hate you!” Richard drank it up. “What do we do now? Such an apparent provocation. If anyone dies for this attack, Britannia will be beyond dispute. In the worst case, the war will break out immediately.” “I think so. So now, you go to sleep and I deal with it.” “Okay.” The old man laid down under help. “Don’t worry. I won’t die so easy.” “See you later.” “Take care, my friend.” One hour later, Richard and the other patients all fell in a coma. In a state of busyness and tension, now was the dusk. It stopped raining, but the sky was still clouded. “Sir, the messenger sent to Britannia has not come back yet.” An officer reported. “Bode ill rather than well.” Saladin stared at the clouded sky. “Corporal, what is the first cause of war?” “Sir, in my opinion, the greed for the possession of object, such as territory, economic resources and prestige is the first cause of war.” “Greed is a good point, but my answer is the hostile sentiment. A man does not have himself killed for a half-pence a day or for a petty distinction. Some excuses and reasons must be spoken to his soul in order to electrify and satisfy himself. Hatred is an important component part of the cause of the man standing on the battlefield. The mobilization of hostile feelings will be effective to motivate man to engage with violence and wars.” “I assure that our soldiers will march forward courageously.” “Corporal, wars will lead to unimaginable atrocities. To draw the sword easily is dangerous, especially, while we are in an unintelligible state.” “Sir, do you have your doubts about this assassination?” “I am surprised at that they would act in such a flagrant way. Something illogical.” “Provocative act?” “I doubt it. Corporal, send a team to find the messenger along the way. Be care.” “Yes, sir.” The night of this hollow was cold and windy. Saladin took a glance at the fading sky and came back to the camp. It’s 6 pm. The little girl Clare was having meal with her parents. Although she didn’t want to eat anything, her mother pulled her out from the room with tears in eyes. There’s an empty bowl on the table. It’s Teresa’s. Those dishes were Teresa’s favorite. It’s the custom that the families should have the last supper with the decedent as a memorial ceremony. Staring at Teresa’s bowl, Clare took hold of the necklace subconsciously which Teresa sent to her as birthday present. Grasping this necklace, it seemed that she could feel the warmth of her sister. She ate without relish in a piece of sorrow and silence. 8 o’clock, the street of Galahad was empty. Every door was shut, not revealing a hint of light. Fifty soldiers of the Britannia’s frontier army had reached on time in the afternoon and joined the garrison at once. Under the dim street lamps, their armors were reflecting the cold light. Suddenly, houses in different blocks caught fire in the same time. At the beginning, it’s only one house, and then the fire spread to the entire block. In an instant, panic-stricken people ran and shouted in flames. The house next to Clare’s also caught fire. Her parents and neighbors had to fight the fire and ran around. Clare stared at the burning house at a loss. The fire spread quickly. The attic of her house caught fire too. It’s Teresa’s room, and soon disappeared in the yellow fire and dark smoke. Tears rolled down from her cheeks. She wanted to hold the necklace in her hand. Nothing, there’s nothing around her neck. It should be lost in the panic. In the firelight and shade, she kneeled down on the ground and fumbled around helplessly. Where, where are you? In front of the conflagration, the rescue of garrison was an utterly inadequate measure. Soldiers who stationed at the gate had to be busy putting out the fire. At the same time, several black figures climbed up the ramparts and slipped into the village. One by one the garrison soldiers were caught and killed soundlessly and stir-less. These black figures were the most dangerous cold-blooded killers of the world. Slaughter, blood and screams were what they seek. And they were the deaths and devils from the hell. There was none that human could resist them. The gate was conquered and shut soon. After that was done, they hid themselves in the shade. The sky was incarnadined. The air was vitiated. The earth was burned. The world was in a chaos. Is it the world's malice? Is it the destiny’s cruelty? There’s no answer, only the decedents’ sorrow. About half pass eight, Zero went through the forest with the Britannia reinforcement unit together. “Mr. Cadmus, the team is ready.” Sinbad said. Looking at the burning town, they were burning with anxiety. “The gate should be conquered. It’s impossible the garrison shut the gate in this situation. We must recapture the gate and open a way.” Zero won the trust of these soldiers in the way they went thought the forest. Their enemies had set several traps on the only way which must be passed. Zero found those traps. Under his command, the team succeeded in overcoming them and reached Galahad. Sinbad listened to Zero’s opinion carefully. Thanks to the hard work of this young man, if not, his team would suffer heavy casualty. He nodded and gave his men task assignment at once. Arson attack, Susan, does you have anticipated such thing will happen? Gazing at the towering inferno, Zero seemed to hear countless cries for help from the town, behind the huge gaze, on the street, in the fire. Susan, is this the pain what you have been suffering? They rushed to a corner of the rampart and climbed the wall up as soon as they could. As they were on the wall, a dark shape loomed up ahead of them. Zero felt his muscle tighten. It’s the same feeling while he facing at that man in the forest. The Bioloster, this name echoed in his mind. It’s dangerous. Zero motioned the soldiers to keep a distance with that guy and he took a step forward. A scimitar turned up in that guy’s right hand as he jumped on Zero like a ghost. When they were got together in one place, sword clashed with sword with noise and spark, as torrents swollen with rain course madly down their deep channels till the angry floods meet in some gorge. Guarding aside, the soldiers had to stare them afar and strike dumb with horror and surprise. They knew that there was nothing they can do. This guy was powerful, but he was not a creature anymore, just a killing machine. Looking at that guy’s poker-face, Zero felt sorrow at this man. It’s too hard to beat him in a short time. In order not to waste time, with an onslaught, Zero forced that guy to the wall edge, and then kick him out of the wall. That Bioloster fell down from the wall and disappeared in the dark. The Galahad residual force was fighting with the secret enemy in front of the gate. The garrison fought to regain control, but they were repelled time and again. “Ah…” A soldier who had climbed up the wall was thrown down and never stand up again. The corpses and mutilated bodies made the soldiers panic. They were in a dilemma. In front of them there were a cold closed gate and a ground of cruel enemies. And behind them there was a crowd of victims surrounded by fire. “Kaboom!” A big sound like thunder echoed in the village. And then the iron gate felt to the ground with a great and terrible ringing sound. People and the soldiers all stopped to look at the direction of the gate. A unit of Britannia soldiers went through the black smoke and appeared in front of them. Such a great power! Zero understood why Britannia keeps this black powder as the secret weapon. Although it took a long time to prepare, its great damage made a big harm to the enemies. There were several bodies of their enemies. They not died for the explosion, but committed suicide with poison as they were caught. Ten or more members retreated from the battlefield and disappeared in a minute. They are scary enemies, the incarnation of cruel and discipline. Zero sighed. Goddess says you shall not kill. Goddess says you shall not have a heart that devises wicked schemes. Goddess says you shall not stir up dissension among people. Why does them like to spend life and great effort on killing? At the darkest hour before the dawn, the fire fighting work completed finally. Thirty-six soldiers were died in the battle or fire. Sixty-seven people were buried in flames. At least one hundred men were whereabouts unknown. The number of injured was more than one thousand. Thirty percent of houses were burned to the ground. And at least forty percent of buildings were half destroyed. People immersed in sorrow and sadness. The scene grieved him to the heart to look at people’s blackened face and tearful eyes. “They are the Atlantis soldiers.” Someone checked the bodies of those men in black. And this news spread in the crowd immediately. There was a hail of hurry hoof beats came from a distance, Zero heard. It’s a cohort of people riding toward Galahad. A moment later, they arrived at the village. They were the a team of Atlantis soldiers. A man, maybe the messenger, got down from horses and walked toward the crowd. Following the crowd, Zero came near and looked at that man with the firebrand light. He was an old fogey and a sincere knight. Zero knew him very well. That old man not anyone else, but Zero’s foster father Saladin Cadmus. Why is this old man here? “I’m Saladin Cadmus, the chief of staff of the eighth Atlantis army corps. We found that here breaking out in fire, so we come to the rescue. Please let us do a little help.” Why does him stand there alone? “Sir, I’m Franklin Washington, the bailiff of Galahad.” An old man stood forward and said. His hair and beard was burnt in the fire. “Thank you for your coming. But you see, the fire has been extinguished.” “We bring the surgeons here. Please let them join the ranks of the rescue. And we take some medicines with us.” “Arsonists, weep over an onion.” A solid voice cried out suddenly from the crowd. It’s too dark to identify who said so. Tossing a rock into the lake makes thousands of high waves. In an instant, cursing sound came as one falls. “Murders…” “Drop dead…” “Bring my daughter back…” “I could kill you!…” The bailiff tried to control the confusion, but had no effect. “It’s a misunderstanding. We come for peace.” Saladin spoke loudly, but it’s useless. The scene was nearly out. “Ah…” Suddenly, Saladin fell to the ground with cry of pain. An arrow plugged in his chest. “Goddess.” Zero rushed out from the crowd and kneeled down by the side of his father. “Father…” Several Atlantis soldiers rushed over and stared at Zero alertly. “Father, I’m Zero.” “… Zero… Boy... why are you here?” His expression was very painful. The arrow maybe hurt his lung. His life was in danger. “Some reasons, I will tell you later.” Zero looked at the soldiers. “Operate, immediately.” Saladin was sent to the rear and undergone surgery in the camp. Due to the sudden accident, the crowd calmed down and looked at each other, puzzling what’d happened. “Why did you come here?” Zero asked the adjutant Edward in tone of anger. “You should know there are some odd things happened around the border. Just twenty men, but come into the territory of another country. What do you want to do? Commit suicide?” “Calm down, Mr. Cadmus. We knew this place is dangerous. And sure your father knew it well. Please let me explain.” The man with eagle eyes said collectedly. “Our identity now is not the Atlantis soldier, but the mercenary army of your father. And we have the order that our task is protecting the doctors’ safety. Your father will take charge the representations. Once in the life-threatening situation, we will retreat immediately, even forsake him. You know what that means?” Father has expected such thing will happen? “Yesterday, an attack took place in the camp of the eighth Atlantis army corps. It is a biological attack. Captain Lionheart and seventeen men are in a coma when I came here. The suspect is the Britannia army. For this attack, the command system is nearly damaged. In the midst of this terror we got the news that Galahad is breaking out of fire. All the officers said no to the rescue plan, except your father. He insisted that the Atlantis army should join this humanitarian aid. I asked why does he want to do such a dangerous thing. And he said ‘I want to save them. They are innocent. If I don't do it, I’ll have nightmares every night. And, I want to save Atlantis and Britannia. Once we pass it over, the war between Atlantis and Britannia may break out at once.’ Then, we come here.” “In the situation now, they won’t accept your kindness.” “Maybe, but we have reached one of the goals -- send the message to the survivors that this fire doesn’t matter with Atlantis. Although we don't expect they believe it immediately, just let them sway is okay.” “I don’t think this action will prevent the outbreak of war.” “Better than just to look on and do nothing. And it’ll buy time. We need time to find the snake.” “I understand. Then what do you do?” “Escort your father to leave in peace. What about you? If you stay here, maybe you won’t get along well with them anymore.” “I know, but I have to stay for a while. Don’t worry. I have friend here.” “I see.” “Sir,” a soldier who guided in the front ran into the tent. “There’s a man called Benjamin White came and let’s retreat at once. He said he is the policeman of Galahad and friend of Zero C. Cadmus.” “Yes, I knew him. Did he say why?” “He said the citizens are discussing how to deal with us, but the point became crazier and crazier, even someone said they should kill us for revenge. For safety’s sake, both sides, he wanted us to leave at once.” “Although superior ordered we can’t put up a fight, we have to strike back if our lives are threatened.” The adjutant looked at Zero. “I understand. Please retreat when the first aid is finished. I am going to find what I can do.” “Swear with my life, I will take care of your father. Please take care.” “Thank you. See you.” As gone out from the tent, Zero heard the groans of pain. He rushed toward and smelled the smell of blood soon. In the depths of the forest, by the dim light, he saw a man covered in blood leaning against a tree. It’s Benjamin. And a guy was holding up a sword high next to him. As that guy chopped down his sword, he lost his target. No, the target was still sitting against the tree. Correct, it’s he himself knocked to fly out. He found a man with a claymore in hand standing between he and the target. To kill all the witness was one of orders his master gave him. So, there were two targets. Once again, he took a step forward with sword held up. Shit, a Bioloster, Zero cursed. He had hit that guy with great accuracy, but only leaving a shallow wound in his abdomen. He took a glance at Benjamin. Benjamin was fainted away for excessive loss of blood, but no life-threatening temporarily. Wrong time, wrong place, wrong enemy. They were the words describing the situation now. The citizen would conflict with the Atlantis soldier at any time, but he was blocked the way by a formidable Frankenstein. I’m in a hurry, you go to the hell immediately. He cursed in the heart. Maybe I can use this one. He fumbled in the pocket that the fairy-cards in it. But it’s too danger to use it now. He took out the fairy-card Fire. He recalled the old temple in Witch Forest. He fainted away after he used this fairy-card. Make or break? “Fire Violent, the great fairy, I am here to you petition, I am here to you swear,” he decided to gamble, “in blocking in my ahead, all the stupid things, set your and my strength, and grant them equal destruction.” The yellowy-whiteness flame fused with his sword. In a second, the claymore became a fragment of the sun, dispelled the dark in the forest. The Bioloster didn’t draw back, just stopped for a while and then went on throwing himself on Zero. There was no trace of expression on his face. Once again, Zero recognized that the Bioloster not creature anymore. At sunrise, that man was beaten down and didn’t need to fight again. His scar face was still without any emotion, even pain. The Death, I will destroy it. Zero promised to himself. Dispelled the magic, Zero began to get dizzy spells. He wanted to take a rest, but at the same time, he heard the noise come from the direction of the camp. A cold sweat broke out on the back of his neck. Terrible, they were confronting. Put Benjamin in the back, he rushed toward the warfare place. The leader of the Britannia soldiers Sinbad tried to prevent the situation out of control, but in front of thousands of raging people, his voice was too weak to hear. “Kill all the Atlantis pigs. They are the arsonists. They are the murders. We must avenge for our relatives and friends.” From time to time, someone in the crowd yelled such inflammatory speech, Sinbad couldn’t find that speaker out. Finally, the people broke through the police fence and surrounded the Atlantis camp. Someone threw a firebrand to the tent and the tent caught fire at once. Emerged from the flames, the Atlantis soldiers had to surrounded the noncombatant in the middle and drew the swords out one by one. They were going to run foul of each other. Is it too late? Susan, if you are here, how do you deal with this crisis? What should I do? “Zero... Go. You can save them.” Benjamin came to his senses. “Any idea?” Zero let him sit against a tree. “Do something to attract the attention ... of all people and then let them calm down by your voice... Streaking, maybe a good idea... Just joking.” “To attract their attention?” He had an idea suddenly, must better than streaking. “Benjamin, I have to go now, and please witness the miracle of the moment.” Zero recalled the scene of his dream. You will do so, right, Susan? “All the world's a stage, And all the men and women merely players. I am one of them. So it’s my show time.” He once asked Susan how to use the Ko-oh-yoku. She said image will leads to its real power. Imagine, imagine the feeling in the dream. He felt a power springing out from his body. Something was growing out from his back. Touching, they were smooth and soft, just like the… He looked over his shoulder. Yes, they were feathers, a pair of wings appeared on his back, which were the great snow white wings like the angel on the book. Flapping the wings, he felt his body becomes lighter and lighter. With a hard kick, Zero was rising straight up like a cork shot out of a bottle. I can fly! “See you, Benjamin.” He looked at surprised face of his friend. This plan will work. He told himself. A man rushed toward the Atlantis soldiers. “Kill them.” His voice made the citizens’ feelings run high. Suddenly, there was a scene of snow-white before his eyes. He blinked at this sudden change, had to stop running. “Both sides stop and put down your weapons.” A resonant voice came from the man flying. “In the name of Goddess Verdandi, I order you both sides to stop fighting.” All the people looked at the man hovering in the sky. He was in the dress of knight, shining with the sunshine of sunrise and the snow-white wings on his back were flapping with whistling winds. An angel, am I dreaming? Their countenances seemed say so. The first step was okay. “I am Zero C. Cadmus, the knight of Goddess Verdandi. I come here for the lackeys of devil. Those guys are hiding into the crowd and intending to trigger a war. And they are the convicts who set fire to your city. I have chased after them for a long time. Everyone, I hold you can give me a helping hand to catch those scoundrels.” Goddess, please forgive me, for I took your name without authorization, but, I promise, I would not take your name in vain. “Don't listen to his nonsense. He must be a running dog of Atlantis.” Someone cried out in the crowd. “If you want to say anything,” Zero captured the position of that guy and hovered in front of that guy in a second, “please step forward.” Strength is the best proof. Now, I’m the knight of goddess. That guy was scared and sit on the ground in a panic. People shrank back, but still looked at Zero. In front of the nonhuman, if it can communicate, human will tend to talk to it. He took a deep breath, continue to speak. “Everyone, I was born in Atlantis. I am an Atlantis people. About my identity, you can ask the leader of your garrison, Sinbad, or the commander of Britannia frontier army General Churchill. They will testify for me.” Zero spoke loudly. “Saladin Cadmus, the chief of staff of the Atlantis army, who was shot in front of you by those scumbags, is my father. He is in a state of stupor now. As a son of man, I must punish the criminals. Benjamin White, the policeman of Galahad, was attacked by those bastards. As his friend, I must look for the murderers for him. Galahad, a beautiful village, I once received its grace, was burned for the plot of those wretches. As a knight of goddess, I must punish the lackeys of devil. Please help me, citizens of Galahad.” “What should we do?” It’s Sinbad. Good timing. “Just stay with your relatives and friends, and stay away from the strangers.” It’s said that man would know people all the world, if he makes six friends. Lateral connection is a strong power, especially, in the relatively closed community, like Galahad, which set in the forest alone. If only the citizens calm down, it’s easy to find a stranger out. But it also was a gamble. If the Death has lurked in Galahad for a long term, but not mingle in the crowd while the chaos, Zero would not find them and his standpoint would be placed in jeopardy. In the sunshine of sunrise, the crowd divided into two portions gradually, one large, one small. Some men wanted to slide away, but were held back by Zero and the soldiers. So far, so good. “Citizens of Galahad, please cross-check the men next to you, don’t let the devil hide beside your familiers and friends.” “Ah, help...” A woman cried out. A man, with a dragger in hand, kidnapped a small girl and removed her from her mother. Zero attacked the man as sudden as lightning and pulled him up like an eagle catches its quarry. “Ah...” In the sudden acceleration and sudden deceleration, the guy fainted away soon. “Kill them.” Men in the small group, ten people, drew the draggers and swords out to launch an attack against the citizens and soldiers. One of them piped and made a shrill sound. They should be the Death. Four big men in black cloak ran out from the forest and jumped toward the crowd. They come, the Biolosters. “Fire Violent, the great fairy, I am here to you petition, I am here to you swear.” Zero landed in front of the Biolosters and drew his claymore out. He felt a dizziness. “In blocking in my ahead, all the stupid things, set your and my strength, and grant them equal destruction.” Fire fused with the sword and wrapped Zero around. His wings were shining like the sun, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in color to polished brass. Taken a deep breath, he wielding the flaming claymore rushed toward the Biolosters. The Biolosters wanted to disperse, one toward right, one toward left and two rushing toward Zero. Zero put his sword to penetrate into the ground. A flaming sword which turned every way turned out and stopped them. “Come.” In the sea of fire, Zero fought with those Biolosters. It’s a fight which the consequence will be one shall stand, one shall fall. Out of the fire wall, the members of the Death had been killed or caught. The sound of fighting come from the other side of the fire wall was exceeding loud, so that all the people trembled. They looked at the fire, praying Nike, the goddess of victory can favor him. Five minutes passed. Ten minutes passed. Fifteen minutes later, finally, the sound stopped and the fire died out. The men in black all lay on the ground. Supported by the sword, Zero kneeled on the ground. The side effect of Resonance was terrible. Rapid heartbeat, anhelation and dizziness hit him like the surging waves. I don’t faint away this time. It is a progress. He laughed at himself. “Zero, are you fine?” It’s Sinbad. “Awful, I would like to sleep.” Zero wanted to stand up, but his body was as heavy as lead. “Those snakes are caught. I won’t let them commit suicide this time. Several citizens were injured in the confusion, but not serious. The garrison are checking the identities of the citizens and patrolling everywhere to make sure there is no remaining confederate...” “Sinbad, sorry, I can't go on, I have to sleep now.” Before answer, Zero had been asleep with steady snoring. “Good night, Zero.” It’s one day later when Zero waked up. He was lying in a tent. “Are you okay, Mr. Cadmus?” Edward, the adjutant of his father sent a bottle of water to him. “You have done a great thing.” “I’m fine. Thank you, sir.” His father Saladin was sleeping next to him. “The operation was successful. Please don’t worry.” “Thank you.” “The rescue operation is going in good order and well arranged. The rescue party from Britannia frontier army has reached in yesterday morning. Our team members also participate in the rescue. Your friend Benjamin White is in the hospital, but please don’t worry, he can get out of bed now. The hostility has disappeared just like waken up from a nightmare. Governments, both sides, have gotten the reports. We have tried our best to restore the fact. For this event, the government officers and diplomats are busy like the bees all day long. Of course, there are lots of hard nuts to crack, who the wire-puller is, what event they have done, and so on, but those are the problems of the police, not the soldier.” The adjutant put a bowl of porridge in front of him. “What about the state of the illness of the eighth Atlantis army corps?” “For the principal of Atlantis Imperial College, Gregor Johann Mendel, sent the specific to us in time, the disease is under control, but a full recovery will take time. It’s a lucky that no one die for it.” “Yes, very lucky.” A wrong act could cause the devastating outcome. How many times have you waded through the Acheron like this, Susan? “Officers from Atlantis and Britannia and journalists all the world are waiting for you. Do you want to meet them? By the way, you have fans now. The citizens would like to take you as an angel.” “Please reject them. I will leave quietly when I am ready.” “But you are the knight of Goddess Verdandi now. You have to speak something to encourage the suffering people.” “Please don't make fun of me, sir. It’s only a white lie. I’m a knight, no an angel, no a clergy. I gained the power of goddess by chance. I can’t hear voice of god. I don’t get the message of god. I come here just for the request of my friend. I don’t want to be a cheater.” “There is not miracle in the world, only necessity and something who has done.” The man spoke with a smile. “I’m interested in your goddess, so I checked some books. There is not miracle in the world, only necessity and something who has done. It’s the clou of the system of theology and philosophy of Goddess Verdandi. This goddess will give hint to us when we are in trouble and let us choose the way we go. Maybe you don’t hear her voice directly, but you did come here and save us as a knight of goddess. Why don’t you take it as the message of goddess? You don’t need to be a cheater. You just need to send a message to them that the world is still full of hope. Except you, no one can do this job now.” “You are forcing a donkey to dance.” “You have done such a thing. Do you think you will have a reclusive life? Follow you heart and feeling, and fulfill your responsibility.” “Sir, can you tell me something? I doubt if my father had been shot was a ruse, your ruse. Please tell me the true.” “Where did you find the flaw?” He lowered his voice. “Timing. If it’s the plan of the enemy, they should attack at the same time, but they were just in a daze.” “Well, it don’t matter now. It’s your father’s plan, not mine. I was startled by it while I heard.” He whispered. “Don’t worry. Our marksman is smart.” “The ruse of self-injury to win the citizens’ confidence?” “But it seems no effect.” “About your advice, I will think it over.” Susan, I have to ask for a raise in salary. What about breakfast for a month, no, half of a year at least. With such fancy, he fell asleep and fell in the dream. “My dear, please take care of the children and yourself. It’s time to say goodbye.” The beautiful woman with golden hair was stroking his face gently. He was holding her hand, fighting back the tears. “Don’t cry. We knew the outcome and then made this decision. Please see me off with smile.” She kissed him. “I will never forget you, even to the end of the world.” “Idiot, it won’t end. You are fighting for it, aren’t you?” Her body was fading away. The fragrance came from her long hair was disappearing. “You are right. Goodbye, my dear.” “I love you, Michael.” “I love you, Pandora.” She turned to be light and vanished in the air. An Obsidian necklace dropped on the ground. He picked it up and looked at the sky with swimming eyes. Zero waked up. His eyes were swimming with tears. I have recently become melancholy and moody. He laughed at himself. His father Saladin was still sleeping with steady breathing. The two soldiers guarding outside paid obeisance to Zero respectfully as he went out the tent. Zero had to return a salute embarrassedly and find his way out in a hurry. I’m not suited to a notable. He didn’t like the feeling followed by others. Avoid the crowd, he hanged around the field of fire. A small girl was digging on a ruin of a half collapsed house. She moved the charred wood and stone away arduously, and then searched in the gap carefully, again and again. “Good afternoon, Clare.” Zero said hello to that girl. “...” The girl seemed frightened by the man told to her suddenly. She looked Zero up and down and remembered the man smiling at her. “Good afternoon, Mr. Cadmus.” She made a salute. “Are you finding something here?” She nodded. “My necklace is lost last night. It’s a present of my sister.” “So, let me help you.” The girl nodded again. They began to look about in the ruins. “This one?” She shook her head. “No? Okay.” He turned back and kept searching. “Why don’t use the magic? You are an angel.” One hour later, the girl could not help but asked him. “I am not an angel, just a man. And about the magic, you have made a mistake. Magic is not so simple and easy-to-use. Do you know the story of Genesis? You knew? Ha, ha, ha... I did not look down on you. Let’s go to the point. To exchange at equal values is the basic law of this world. You want to get something, so you have to pay for it. Magic can’t break this law.” “Even the goddess?” “Yes, even the goddess.” “Exchange... How much should I pay for my sister? I want Teresa to come back to life.” The girl stared at him with her blue eyes. “Life is precious. Its price is too expensive, more than human can pay for, even King Solomon's Mines can’t exchange with it.” He recalled the story of Rocky Castle and his dreams. What’s happened to them, Goddess Verdandi, Michael and Pandora, after they saved Eden? “No man has power over the spirit to retain it.” He had to dispelled her desire cruelly. “Why,” the girl cried out with tears in her eyes, “why did my sister must die? She is so kind, so gentle.” “Clare, don’t insist on asking why. It just will make you crazy. Your sister has come back into goddess’ bosom and is looking at you in the sky. Please go on your way of life bravely.” He felt a great sorrow. He remembered the story of the witch of Rocky Castle. In all their distress she too was distressed. Do you also feel this sorrow, Susan? “Don’t cry. Let’s get hurry. The sun is going down.” Goddess bless. While the earth colored with honey, they found the necklace. Clare wore the necklace and said goodbye to Zero at the doorway of her temporary house. Time may be not the best medicine, but time is a good piece of plaster. He wished.In the next few days, Zero took part in the reconstruction work, though the citizens both threw the awe-stricken look at him, a feeling like tickled with eyes. “You are from zero to hero. We all need a process of adaptation. You will be use to it.” Benjamin said. Edward sent the newspapers to Zero everyday. Those papers were passed by the ray-machine of the Atlantis army, absolute fresh. “The angel of the goddess, he lifted the sufferers up and carried them. It’s a miracle.” These exaggerated words fill in the articles. Zero would like to cast them aside. The Death had been the formal name of those sinners and their criminal organization. It seemed that it came from the report of General Churchill. The investigation progress on the Death was not smooth, though public opinion had tended to believe that someone try to alienate Atlantis and Britannia. The member of the Death still refused to confess, so there was no new clue. He didn’t expect the police can get any useful information from those desperadoes. Anyway, their testimony was not credible. Some newspapers connected the case of the crown prince couple of Liechtenstein with the series of Maginot Line massacres, but the veil of secrecy of the Death hadn’t been raised yet. It seemed that the tension in foreign relations between Atlantis and Britannia will remit generally. It’s said that the trade embargo will be end soon. Although this was an age of constant change of events, they changed their countenances were so rapid. Is it your work product, Susan? Looking at the burned city, he sighed. When does this battle end, Susan?