The Dark Magician Girl Page 5

  ~~~~~~~~~~

  I slowly look around in disbelief.

  Am I actually back? Can I find my father around here? Where did Myst and Ike go?

  Many soldiers are running around the castle in constant panic.

  What happened? What is going on?

  Anxiously, I make myself stand up and start to search the castle halls hoping to find something, anything. Every room is giant and open, with giant white columns running all the way up to the tall ceiling up above against the walls. The main room I find myself in has a giant balcony in the center of the back wall with a giant spiral staircase in the center of the room. Behind me stands the looming main doorway draped with red drapes on each side of the double doors. Red drapes are spread across each window and railing. Once the soldiers begin to notice who I am, they call out to me, not even acting surprised to see me, like I had never left.

  How strange?

  "Oh, Princess Star!" I hear several of them say and quickly bowing to me as they pass.

  "...we must get her safety at once...King's orders..." I hear one of them say as they rush through the rooms, being cut off by the loud movements and constant running about.

  Why are the soldiers acting this way? Did they not know I was missing? Did my father not tell the kingdom what had befallen of me? Did my mother and father keep this a secret? Why? Is that why they are saying they must keep me safe at all costs?

  I keep moving through the many rooms and hallways, anxiously searching the castle.

  I feel as though I have not been here in a thousand years. Things look so different now. I do not recognize anything here.

  I dash up the spiral staircase, dodging rushing soldiers as they greet me and then rushing off themselves. I dash through the maze of the hallways on the second floor to find my room hidden in the small alcove with a small staircase leading up to it. My room is inside the small tower on the left side of the castle. As I stand inside the doorway, I realize this was the only room I recognize. It looks the exact same as I remember leaving it, what feels like an eternity ago. Nothing is important here, I find nothing, so I shove myself into the air and fly out my window above my bed, onto my small balcony. I fly up above the tower which houses my room and look down at the courtyard just below. It is my room's view, where I have watched my father perform his practice sessions those many years ago. As I glance around anxiously, I notice there are no enemies in sight, only my soldiers were running about.

  Where is my mother? Father? Wait...he did mention that he must give chase...he must not be here...

  I immediately begin flying towards the east, to the border of Lycia.