Mystical Academy: The Mystery of the World

After two days of staying on the hospital, I decided to leave it. The doctors are amazed and call it miracle that I survive. They also say that I might get comatose in days or weeks but after twenty-four hours of sleeping, my energy regains and I am ready to fight. Without permission from the doctor, I told Andrew to pay the bills and we both escape the hospital which he found really exciting.

My life is not exciting anymore without my love. My life that I describe now is a fight that I have to win; A love to save; A dignity to raise. My mother gave me drinks that will regain my strength. I had known that Mr. Gregory, Marissa's father (not the biological one) died saving his family. The Burial will be on next week. My father and mother help to make a monument near the house for Marissa's father.

I drove my car to their house together with my mom and there are few cars lined outside their house. Their relatives and Marissa's grandparents on her mother's side. I enter the foyer with my mother. Mrs. Carmen Gregory found me that she immediately run to me and I hugged her as she cries on my chest. I hold back my tears. I have to be brave.

"I will take Marissa back." I murmur to her. She stop sobbing and she face me. She scoop my bruised face. I look at Masen who is all bruised too and he give me a nods. "You are now the head of the family Masen."

"No matter what happen, make that man suffer."

"I will. I promise that." I oath to them. She deserve to see that man suffer on the way that man make her suffer.

"Promise me that you will survive and save my Marissa."

"I promise." I answer immediately without hesitation. "Nick won't let his father hurt Marissa. I know that." She wiped her tears.

"I am happy that that young man wasn't like him." I am happy too and glad that Nick wasn't like his father.

After staying there for a while and my mom help to serve the people who wanted to glimpse at Jayson Gregory, I decided to go back the place where I last seen my love. There are yellow tapes around and there is my wrecked car. Marcus's car was near too and he was nowhere to be found. Andrew told me that he tried to follow them and he guessed that he is already on the Insideworld. If Marcus was there, then it is time for me to gather my father's people.

I drove my car directly to Mystical Academy where my apprentices are. Clarence hugged me and he look so worried. I feel like his father. Clarence was a bright child and he told me everything as a prodigal son. He was kicked out from the Insideworld because he wasn't good enough warrior. But for me, he was a great warrior. His skills are exceptional and his gifts are for saving people.

"Damn man, I thought you'll sleep forever." I pushed him and mess his hair.

"Patrick!" Davin runs to who has bruised on his face and hugged me too.

"Professor Patterson." Calisie Bolton, Catastrophe's former adviser. "I heard on what happened. How are you?"

"I am fine, thank you for your concern Miss Bolton." She nods her head.

"Is there anything I could help you?" I look directly into her eyes to seek on her mind. She's only thinking of helping me. I feel doubting on asking her a favor.

"You know King of Era."

"Elliot." She spoke his name. A mad king of Era… where everyone inside that kingdom are mad, that includes Leona and her crazy godmother.

"How?"

"He's a great king. I believe that's what people say about him."

"Thank you. There's nothing I asked for." She nodded her head and told me that she's leaving.

The boys followed me to my office. I stop seeing Marissa on the picture frame on my table. I cleared my throat and face the boys.

"I am leaving."

"As we expected." Both of them said at the same time.

"Do you want us to go with you?" Davin asked.

"No. This is something I wanted to do by myself. But I want both of your loyalty."

"You already have it." Clarence grins. "Tell us what to do and we'll do our best for love."

"Good then, I want you to stay here and do all of your assignments, excel in your skills without me. I am sure that they will find a mentor for both of you. Or maybe, I can find someone else."

"Someone else not creepy." Davin said and he shivers. "Mr. Jemson is alright with me."

"He can be trusted." I told him. "I will talk to him about the two of you."

"Then what?"

"Davin will tell you when you can follow me." Davin shot a quizzical look on me. "I trust you Davin. Do you wish to be my foreteller?"

"Y-yes!" I smiles.

"Good then. Davin will tell when you can follow me."

I went to the Headmistress's office and she asked about my condition and so on and so forth. I tell her everything I wanted to be and to do. Then everything are settled and I left the school back to our house. I didn't take any chances to let the days pass. I have to leave.

My father scanned and printed in his old map of Insideworld. The map of the five kingdoms and another map where he believe others are. I told my father and mother to go to our people gather them. My plan was my own and I told Andrew to go to Era, find Adhiti or Nick and make sure that both Marissa and Adhiti are in safe condition.

"Are you certain of this, Son?" my father asked. I nod my head and tighten my jaw.

"You said that the Goddesses and the Gods gifted us these gift to fight evil and darkness. To save those who are in need and give light to those people who lost their way. And I take that as an oath in saving my love and our people, Inside and Outsideworld."

"I believe in you." My mom hold my hand and I nod.

I started packing things I needed and take a nap in my room hugging my Marissa's dress for me to sleep well. But it will be hard to sleep without her beside me. I hold the ring that I should gave to her as a proposal of my love and everlasting life.

The lampshade on the table beside the bed gives light on my dark room. Two picture frames are there, my sister and my love.

"I promise to find both of you. So we can be all together as a whole family."

Cries… I heard sobbing. I know from the sound that it was Marissa. I run on the endless stairs trying to reach her to wherever she is. Then I heard the cry of a baby. Marissa? I shouts as it echoes on the endless stairs. Marissa!

Rick…

I gasped sitting up and my whole body is in pain. I am sweating. Marissa… I had dream of my Marissa and our baby. Please, God. Don't let them kill my Marissa and my baby. I lean on the headboard and hugged myself together with my love's dress. I shove my face on my arms and felt hot tears stream down my face. I can't lose Marissa. I can't lose Adhiti. I can't lose my family.

The door opens that makes me look up and I saw Andrew peeks. He enter my room and sat on the edge of the bed and look at the picture of Adhiti and Marissa.

"Bro, sorry for entering but I hear you calling Marissa's name outside. I can't sleep too."

I wiped my tears by my arms and stare at the ring that I am holding.

"I will find them no matter what." He promise me.

"Thank you, brother."

"Sorry for being childish when you are fighting all this time while I sulk there when we lose our Adhiti."

"It's alright. I know that you are childish." He laughs and move his fist in front of me. I bump my fist to him.

"We are the best brothers in the world. And we are going to save our sister and your love no matter what."

"Yes. We are. If you found Adhiti, tell her that we love her so much."

"I will and give her lots of kisses and hugs. I will give Marissa your kisses and hugs too."

"Thank you."

We both went to the patio and sat on the reclined chair while drinking the best wine that dad made. He won't get mad when we drank it. I will tell dad that it was Andrew's idea if we get caught. We stayed there until we fall asleep and glad that mosquito didn't even feast on us.

I eat a lot to regain my strength. I have to be strong and to be unbreakable for my love and my baby. My mom packed lots of foods for me and for Andrew and dad gave us an archaic bottle that is made of clay.

"I only have last four bottles of wine that I make after you drank the rest last night." He said.

"It was his idea!" both Andrew and I said at the same time that makes my mom giggles.

"Thanks dad." We hugged mom and dad. "You guys are the best parent's in the world." We said at the same time. I use my army leather boots that Andrew bought for our adventure saving the beauty and love… well that's what he called to it.

Mom went to our family painting near the basement and didn't expect that there's a vault there. She took the big chest and put it on the table. There are velvet pouches and some old cloth pouches. My eyes dilated when I check each of it. Gold coins and silver coins.

"Three golden coins can make you sail to Psychē or to Hydōr. Use the public sail ship. You can buy a horse in ten silver coins." My father explained.

"Damn, if I should know, I can buy a Ferrari in these." Andrew murmurs.

"We can't enter a Ferrari on the Insideworld." My dad grimaced at him. "We have been keeping this for this moment. You can survive in the inside world without gold or silver, but for better survival and to fight their madness, we need a lot of this."

We all parted ways to enter the Insideworld. My father take the east with my mother, my brother to the south and I, to the north which is the shorter way to Psychē. The light blinded me and I was in a mystical forest, and the birds and crickets sang to me.

Almira

I asked my father if I could always be with Marissa to assist her. I use my tone with love and sweetness that makes my father's mood lightens. I thank Goddess Adhiti about her gift and I know that she can hear me. Because she speaks on my mind. I was careful not to be noticed that I cared a lot about Marissa's condition since she's pregnant. I was with my sister Agatha the second daughter of King Elliot my father. The disgust on her face never fades.

"Sister," I look into her eyes. "Please show compassion to our sister Marissa. She need care and assistance. Do you wanted to be disgusted too by the man you loved?" her eyes dilated and I can see that her expression changes and she smiles.

"How should I show compassion to our sister, my dear Almira?"

"Simple care and help for her is enough and not to tire her a lot." I smiled sweetly at her. She smiles at me and took my hand.

"I believe I should." She stood and walk directly to Marissa. "Dear, your back should always straight with poise…" she speak sweetly. I sipped on my tea and smiles on how easily Agatha become soft. Marissa look at me puzzled. I wink at her. Agatha show Marissa the right way of holding a fan and when laughing, the fan should cover the mouth. We are all wearing Cariñosa, golden silks and pineapple fabrics with pearls as beads and other stones.

"How's my daughters?" I stood when father came with two guards behind him. Marissa didn't look at my father and I can see how she hid her anger. We curtsy to my father except for Marissa who never does it. My father raise an eyebrow at Marissa of showing lack of respect.

"Father, I am teaching Marissa about Royal Etiquette and she's fast learner." Agatha said with smiles.

"Is that so?"

"Yes father." I smiles at him. I look at Marissa. "Sister Marissa, can you show father the right etiquette of curtsy of a lady." I nod at her and she nods. She close her fan expertly and hold her dress at the both sides as she gently bow with a foot at her back, and bending knees a little.

"Excellent. Keep up the good work, my dear. The Five Kingdom's festival is near." He left us.

"See, if you show a little respect even it is all fake, you can survive on this." Agatha told her.

Marissa looked at me and I smiled at her just to assure her. I heard rustling sound. Agatha and Marissa are busy at each other while I walk towards the forest a little away from the garden and saw a silhouette of a man leaning on the tree and look dying. When I glimpse on his face my eyes widens on the sudden familiarization. He falls down on the ground with thud and groans. I immediately go back and witness that Agatha is laughing.

"Marissa, no man can love without giving you pain."

"Actually, Agatha. I was loved by a man who cared so much to me and never gives me pain."

"Oh, is there such a man?" Agatha asked so curious. Agatha wanted to be loved like everyone else.

"Yes. If you truly seek through his soul and if he oath his love to you without hurting you physically and mentally, you will see that it was true love." Marissa told her sounding formal. Good. That's what I wanted her to learn.

"Agatha, can you escort Marissa back to her room. She look tired and both of you need to get ready for another reunion dinner."

"Of course, you have to join us to pick what's best for my favorite stones." Agatha said and scoop Marissa's arm. "Tell me about men." I think they are getting close at each other. Thank you, Adhiti for giving me such a gift. I gasped when I remember something.

I run towards the direction of the man who has a big bag and a sword. I gently pulls him and make him lay down on his back. He look bruised and I heard the guards coming near and I whisper on the grass and vines.

"Please cover him." I walk back to the table and face the guards. "What is it?" I asked them. They bow at me with respect.

"There's a rogue who entered the boundary and killed two of our men." I gasped and breathed where it was all an acting.

"How many people know about this?"

"We are in high alert, your highness. You don't need to worry. I will call someone to guard you here."

"It's alright. I am sure that they had find the rogue already." I walk towards him and gently scoop his cheek to seduce him a little. "Poor thing, brave warrior. You had done well. Tell your brothers that the rogue had escaped and no longer in the boundary of the castle. Tell them that all is well and you have to seek outside the castle."

"Yes, your highness." I smiles and stepped back holding my hands again. He bows at me and leave. I look around to make sure that no one is watching me. I run back to where the man lie on the grass and I whisper to the grass and vines to let him go. I push his cloak and he got a slice on his abdominal and he loses lots of blood.

He groans in pain and when I look at him, our eyes met. Those gray eyes of him, makes my heart skip a beat… or is it just a coincidence? I look on his hand that he is gently lifting trying to caress my face. I push it down that makes him grunts in pain.

"That's not a dream." He mutters.

"How dare you trespass the castle and killed two guards." I hissed at him. He chuckled bitterly. Since he is Marissa's friend and Adhiti's brother, I healed him and I felt the pain he felts but after I had heal him, everything are not painful anymore. But it drains my energy that makes me sat on the grass. I breathed in and out to regain my strength and relax my mind.

"We meet again." I look directly into his eyes.

"What are you doing here?"

"None of your business." He stood and picks up his bag and look around and peek out the garden. He's arrogant. He didn't even thank me. I stood as I tried to remove those dirt on my dress.

"Is that how you thank me?"

"No." he utter. I grimaced at him. He pulls me and pinned me on the mulberry tree next to us and he pointed a sharp dagger in my neck. "Are you living in this castle?" I gritted my teeth and raise my chin acting brave and all. But I hate those sharp things.

"I am. Now, brave one. Put down your dagger," I said it in my seductive voice. He chuckled that makes me puzzled.

"Are you trying to hypnotize me?"

"No. I am trying to tame you."

"Well, sweetheart." He leans closer putting his dagger down. "No one can tame me except my mom and my sister. Tell me, what's your name?" he asked it slow and little sexy.

"Almira." I answer still grimacing at him.

"Are you one of the daughter of the crazy king here?"

"I am." I said it with chin up didn't want to look small in his eyes.

"So you know, Nick?"

"He's my brother." I blurted that makes his eyes widens. Then he smile slowly and lopsided.

"And Marissa?"

"She's inside the castle." He was about to leave but I speak again for him not to make any crazy plan. "You can't get her out the castle." He turn to me and those strong jaw of him makes him more adorably beautiful.

"Why is it, young princess?"

"Because, you'll put her in a great danger if you did."

"Then," he put down his bag and close the pace between us that makes me stepped back and hit the tree. "I should thank you…" my eyes widens and I gapes when he scoop my cheeks as he pressed his lips on mine, and kissing me passionately that makes me drawn into his hot mint breath. I feel hypnotized and not myself, unable to move and gather my thoughts.