The ride till the town was rather awkward.
We decided to walk through the town since riding on a horse would gain us more attraction. We crossed through different shops that were opened on the streets. I would stop at every shop where I found something pretty or cute which Al didn’t seem to like it.
He sighed. “We’re not here to buy anything, let’s get going.”
I looked at the crystal pendant that was on my hand. It was shaped into a flower with white crystals. ‘This is way too cute, but I didn’t bring a penny along with me and I possibly can’t ask Al for money’. He already looked mad and I wasn’t going to aggravate it further. I placed the pendant back and went ahead with Al.
We reached a certain area which was far off the main town.
“Let’s ask the people here.” He said as he stood in front of a small house.
“Just go in and ask like that?” I asked but Al had already knocked on the door and entered the house. “Wait for me!”
Inside the house was an old lady. Al put down the hood from his head.
“Lord Al, what brings you here?” the old lady said.
“You know her?!” I asked Al, surprised.
“Oh young lady, anyone in Naroaika would recognise those deep blue eyes and black hair. Lord Al Ascian, the second son of Duke Ezer. A young man powerful and courageous, who -” the old lady answered.
“That would be enough.” Al cut her off. “We came here to know something else.”
I looked at Al. ‘Was Al that popular already?’ I thought.
“Forgive me for my impoliteness, Lord Al. What is it that you wanted to know?” she asked.
“Is there any sort of sorcerer living in the outskirts of Azalea? Maybe he’s over a hundred years old.”
He got straight to the point. I turned at Al with eyes wide open. ‘That’s not the way you ask someone, especially when our question is quite unbelievable!’ I didn’t say that out loud but hoped he’d understand by the way I looked at him.
He raised his brows and back down.
‘Did he just talk to me using his brows?’
As we were communicating using our ‘special skills’, the old lady spoke.
“I never heard of any such person my Lord. Maybe the outlaws may know something.”
“I see. Thanks and sorry for barging in like that.” Al turned out.
‘Just like that?’ I thought and followed him.
“Farewell Lord Al, Lady Jerinah. Have a good day.” The old lady said.
“Wait a second!” I turned around. “How did you know my name? I don’t remember Al calling me by my name after we came in here. Who are you and what do you know?!” I pointed at the old lady.
“Guahuahua!” the old lady suddenly started laughing in a peculiar way. “That was careless of me. You’re a sharp one, Lady Jerinah.”
We both stared at the old lady. Her voice transitioned to a low voice and a bright light surrounded her; she transformed into a man.
“The old lady is a man!?” I exclaimed.
“Are you the person we are searching for?” Al took a step ahead and stood in front of me, as if he was trying to protect me. “The sorcerer?”
“I am indeed the sorcerer, Occazlo Aqinn. Pleased to meet you both and as you have heard from the sources, I am a hundred and sixty five years... young, to be exact!”
I don’t know about Al, but I was certainly surprised by everything and especially when the old-lady-turned-man who declared himself as the sorcerer, looked nothing like someone who is over hundred years old! Rather, he looked like someone who was still in his late 30s. I know, unbelievable but I wasn’t lying!
“Sorcerer Occazlo, do you know how to open portals?” I asked.
“Oh please call me Azlo. Also, I am not sure what this ‘portals’ are, that you speak of.” the sorcerer said.
“Quit with the act!” Al raised his voice. Why did he seem so pissed?
‘Maybe he doesn’t know the word portal’ I thought.
“Al, could you let me handle this?” I said. I didn’t want to get on the wrong side of the sorcerer since we had finally found him.
“We know you were responsible for those unknown spaces that connected this world to our world which led us here.” I said.
“Ah, you mean those wormholes.” Azlo said. “Indeed it was I who created it and you were brought into this world.”
“Then does that mean you could open another one that would lead us home?!”
“Uh uh uh. That’s not possible.” He quickly said.
“What do you mean?!” Al shouted.
I calmed down Al, and then Azlo explained that even if he could make another wormhole, it would be one way, meaning the wormholes he made could only lead to this world from the real world and not the other way around. But he said that once a being that’s not of this world enters, a wormhole opens once after every three years.
Al and I looked at each other. He had been here for three years now but it still wasn’t a year for me yet. Even though we entered the wormhole within a time span of just some few hours, we ended up in this world on different years. We explained the problem to the Azlo.
“I see. The reason why you ended up on different years was due to the instability of the wormhole. Since you were sucked into the wormhole at different times but within 24 hours and you’re both here together, a wormhole will open a few weeks from now. ”
For the first time, I understood something that was so complicated.
“So, where will it open? Also could you give us an accurate date?” Al asked.
But Azlo said that even he didn’t know when and where it’ll open because he didn’t control the wormhole that led back to the real world. With no more questions left to ask about the wormhole, we asked Azlo if there was anything we could do for him. As for that, he only wished to return back to his tower which was taken over by the outlaws.
"Can't you just retrieve it using your powers?" I asked. Well he was a sorcerer who could even connect different worlds, getting back a tower wouldn't be that hard.
"I believe that's not possible. You see, I have been away from the tower for a long time now that I don't have enough magic in me to fight against a overwhelming number of people. I cannot fight in close combat either, since sorcerers didn't have to depend on that."
He meant that he needed magic to defeat the outlaws but since he lacked of it, it would be next to impossible for him to win. So the only way was to defeat the outlaws with a large army.
"If you do lack of magic, how did you open the wormhole in the first place?" I asked.
But he said that he didn't expect to use up a huge amount of his magic while trying to open up the wormhole and now he tried not to use it anymore but preserve what's left in him.
Al agreed that it would be done in a few days time.
With that said, we thanked Azlo and made ourselves out of the house.
•••
As Jerinah and Al walked out of the sorcerer’s house, a voice spoke to Al.
“Buy her that pendant from earlier. She’ll definitely love it!”
Al turned back with eyes wide open and looked at Azlo, who winked back at Al.
•••
The sky was already turning to an orange hue as the sun slowly set in. We still had a long way back to the Estate, though I didn’t know where Al was staying. As a sorcerer, Azlo was rather decent than the kind of sorcerers I had read on books. He even told us to come to him if we had any problems, anytime we wanted to.
“Hey Al, what did Azlo mean when he referred to you as ‘powerful and courageous’? I mean what did you even do in those three years?” I asked with curiosity.
“He was referring to the old Al Ascian. Presumably, he was an excellent swordsman.” He said.
“Then, can you also use the sword?” I asked.
“Yeah, I didn’t have any problems when I first held a sword. It all came naturally to me.”
I was kind of jealous that Al got the memories as well as the skills and talents of the 'Al' of this world.
‘Whoever is writing this could’ve atleast left me with the memories too?!’ I yelled in my mind.
On our way back, the streets looked different. The shops were lit with bright lights and decorations. I ran ahead and looked around the town. “It’s so pretty!” I exclaimed.
“I have a small work to take care of, wait for me at the centre of the town, near the fountain. Don’t wander away and get lost.” Al said who was at some distance behind me.
“Alright!” I said raising my voice.
‘He seems to have a lot of work.’ I thought. ‘Since he has to live up to what the old Al had been doing, I guess it’s normal.’
I waited for him near the fountain as he had told me to. After fifteen minutes or so, he returned.
“You never told me you had something else to do here.” I said.
“Here” he didn’t answer what I had said and handed a small package to me. “Open it.”
I opened it and there was a box. Inside the box laid the beautiful crystal pendant necklace that I saw earlier.
“How did you know I wanted this?” I asked.
“You don’t have to know that.” He said touching the back of his neck. “Here, let me put that on for you.” He took the pendant and put it around my neck. His face drew close to mine and I felt my face grow hotter as his hands grazed my neck.
“It suits you.” He said.
“T-thanks. I really love it.” I smiled and quickly looked away.
We were both red on our faces.
“Let’s head back. It’s getting dark.” He said as he walked ahead.
The ride back on the horse felt even more awkward than it was when we came. Al dropped me off at the Estate and left. It was already late and I believed father would be worried about me.
I slowly opened the door.
“Lady Jerinah, where were you this entire time? The Duke was worried about you.” Rine said as I entered the house.
“I’m sorry. Can I know where father is?”
“He’s at the living room. I’ll take you there.”
I entered the room and saw father sitting; reading a book.
“Papa?” I called out.
“Adline, you’re home!” He got up from the couch and walked towards me. “I was surprised when Zed came to me after the meeting and said that you went out to the town without him but I was somewhat relieved when he said that you were with Al.” He hugged me tight as he said that.
“I’m sorry. We lost track of time as we were there.”
“It’s all right. What’s important is that you returned safely.” He said. “That boy, he is old enough to know that it isn’t proper to take a lady out around till nightfall.”
He certainly sounded overprotective of me which was kind of cute that I giggled.
“What’s so funny, my angel?”
“Oh it’s nothing, Papa. I was just thinking how much I loved you.”
Father’s eyes got teary as I said that and brought me to another embrace.
“I love you too, Adline.” He said.
After sometime, as we sat on the couch next to the fireplace, he asked.
“Where did you get that pendant?”
“This, ah well, I bought it back at the town.” I couldn’t say Al had bought it for me; not in front of this overprotective father.
But he already figured it out. “I know that little brat gave that to you. Papa will buy you a better one. Let’s go shopping!”
“Papa, you can’t call Al a brat just for that and there’s no way the shops would be open now!” I said.
“So you mean to say you like that little Al’s gift better than the one Papa is going to buy for you? And wait, did you just say his name without his title?” He started crying dramatically.
“It’s nothing like that and I just forgot to say his title! Also, he’s like a year older than me don't call him little!”
Rine entered the room and left as soon as he saw the drama we were in.
“Rine, don’t leave. Please help me!” I cried.
In that way, we spent the next few hours at the Endron Estate and left Azalea the next morning.
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