I wasn't able to post a chapter yesterday, as I had my share of problems IRL:)

If you guys may share some your thoughts on characters or side stories, I would love to hear them out!

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Chapter 40 –Desperate.

I had a wide grin on my face. Transformed back to normal human form.

[Bartholomew]: You almost got me! Duchess von Raden, you are lucky to have warrior of this caliber and a dragon by your side.

[Luna]: Thank you my king.

[Bartholomew]: We will solve the monster problem for once and all. All kingdoms are preparing for a war, but this time we will be the ones attacking. In future, I’ll call upon you to aid me in the conquest of Cursed Lands. Until then you are free to rule over Wallington domain.

Bartholomew Beaumont announced the war preparation plan and conquest of cursed lands to all of his subjects.

[Luna]: My king, I wish ask you for a favor!

[Bartholomew]: It hasn’t been ten minutes and yet you need my help… (He smiled)

[Luna]: My familiar, Aslan wishes to go back to his world and as much as I have understood from his story neither Aslan nor Gorn were dead when they were transported to void. You are personally looking after the progress in Landgrave, so can you please enlighten us in matters of magic that could him being sent back to his own world.

[Bartholomew]: Why would you want to send him back?

[Luna]: I do not want to force him to stay against his will.

[Bartholomew]: You should go to Landgrave tomorrow, before departing back to Wallington house tomorrow.

[Luna]: Thank you, my king!

We rested in palace’s guestroom reserved for Luna. The next morning after the breakfast we went o Landgrave. Observatory was inside the forest. As soon as we plunged into a thick forest, which made me forget about the mere existence of civilization - it felt so untouched and primordial. We reached observatory after twenty minutes of walk. I had heard of observatories back in my world but never been to one. I wasn’t into science much. Landgrave was mostly used for scientific study of the atmosphere. They were mainly forecasting weather conditions of the continent. It was used to predict when the weather will be bad in on Cursed Lands and to calculate approximate time inhabitants of the Cursed Lands would move. What struck me was the underground base under the observatory. It seemed endless. There were lots of magicians, scientists working on different projects.

We were greeted by Lin, who was a renowned magician of the Marlings Kingdom and vice-director of the Landgrave Observatory. He showed us around to introduce Luna about the Landgrave Observatory and what it was used for. Luna explained him about the conditions of our summoning and whether I would be able to travel back to my own world. I thought they would not be able to answer but Lin didn’t even think about anything, replied back…

[Lin]: There are two possible ways for Aslan to get back to his own world, first is for him to use the portal created by Dark Magicians of the past. The second option is standing beside you. The Dark One could do it, if he wanted.

I turned to face Gorn. Our eyes met, and he turned his face towards Luna with a wide devilish grin on it.

[Me]: Where is the portal?

[Lin]: Somewhere in the Cursed Lands.

[Me]: No exact location?

[Lin]: No, it has not been used for millennia. The only clue what we have about portal is that its usage has been described in some books from different sources and they overlay.

[Me]: It means, I have to look for something that may not even exist?

[Lin]: Why don’t you ask the Dark One?

[Me]: I have different plans about him!

I was not thinking that everything will be going smoothly, but finding a portal with a questionable existence put me in doldrums. We left observatory soon after. Luna’s carriage was waiting for us at palace ready to leave. We departed royal palace and traveled back to Wallington house.

On the way to Wallington house…

[Luna]: You seem perplexed!

[Me]: I am! Won’t you? Won’t you be stressed out if you were stuck in the same boat with someone who massacred your loved ones, your home and you couldn’t even touch it? You killed your uncle and cousin for killing our parents. Do you think I loved my family less than you do?

[Luna]: I didn’t mean it that way! I’m…

[Me]: I’m sorry Luna. I shouldn’t have let my emotions take over me. I’m sorry…

My elbow joints on my knees, I had my face pressed onto my hands. I was feeling desperate.

Next: Chapter 41 - To Sleep