Chapter 6

**Acacia Point of View**

It was a fire torch surrounded by wind like swirls and above the fire was a bird flying freely with its wings spread open.

This emblem was carved on almost everything in this castle and I have never seen such a symbol before. Being an aspiring architecture, I dabbled into several subjects, history and mythology being my favorite. They not only educated me with the lifestyle of different time periods but they also gave a good lesson of different styles of architecture.

Over years of reading almost all the books I got hands on about the past reigns, the Vikings, the tribes and the crests they left behind but I don't remember even seeing something like this.

I bent down and took hold of the empty plate that was arranged to serve a portion of food for myself and scrutinized the emblem that sat in the middle of the plate.

What does this represent?

Every symbol has some meaning and sentiments attached to it then what does a fire torch surrounded by wind swirls and a bird flying above it?

My hands shook when a sudden realization dawned unto me. I clearly remember the ship I and my friends has the same emblem on it and if what I remembered was correct then -

My mind spun with different theories and thoughts as I tried to think back to the symbol on the ship. Reeling through the whole scenario of that day, I vividly remember seeing the same emblem on the either side of the ship.

I shook my head trying to remember it again as paranoia can make you see what you want to but no matter how many times I go back to that day, I see the same thing all the time.

I know because I remember looking at the emblem on the ship for two minutes as I admired it.

If so then -

Then the shipwreck maybe orchestrated?

But that's not possible. It doesn't make sense.

No, I'm just putting two baseless theories into one calculation. Yes. There is no way that the shipwreck was preplanned and I happened to find myself alive on the same island that the users of the said emblem used to live.

It's a coincidence.

An accident is called an accident because it happens suddenly without any reason.

Shaking my head, I discarded the impossible thoughts raking my mind. With shaky hands, I put the plate on the table and took a gulp of water to calm myself down.

One thing is for sure, even though I'm supposedly not hurt by my invisible captor, I am not safe.

Not for a long time.

Dressing up warmly, I served myself some healthy amount of breakfast in a plate. I took the first bite of freshly made croissant and hummed in delight when the warm goodness settled in my stomach.

How many days has it been since I ate something?

Taking big hungry bites, I finished two cream croissants and a sandwich. While having another sandwich, I walked to the glass window and looked out. Looks like the rain stopped long ago and the sky is clear although not sunny.

At least the climate is much better than the other night.

I rattled the windows to try my luck but they as expected they don't open. A tear rolled down my eyes as I gulped down my frustration, my anger and my fear.

There is no use if I let my overdriven emotions to take charge. If I am to escape this place, I need to take my time, scan everything either to know who my captor is why he is keeping me here while he is hidden all the time or a possible dog hole to squeeze myself out.

With decision made, I completed having breakfast in the next ten minutes and walked out of the room I was kept in. Thankfully, the door to my room is not locked.

Taking slow cautious steps down the hallway, I bent down the iron railing to see how high up I'm on. Counting down the floor, I realized I'm on the eighth story which is the highest floor of this castle.

Walking around the same floor, I saw that there are only four rooms on the whole floor; two bedchambers and two study rooms. All the four rooms looked like they are meant for royalty.

One level down on the seventh floor, I found several rooms with the doors engraved with the same emblem although the bedchambers on this floor were much casual than those above.

By this time I'm not much worried about how clean every room and every inch of the castle is. It's as if hundreds of people are living here when I know it's not possible at all.

Forgoing my quest to look around, I climbed down the stairs to the main hall towards the kitchen. Walking inside slowly, I glanced around one of the largest kitchens I've ever seen in my life. To be honest, even five star restaurants dimmed at the size; only, there is no hint of electrical appliances here.

Now that I come to think of it, there is no hint of electricity anywhere. Everything is so old school. Almost like this island is still living in tenth century or eleventh century.

Forget about appliances, there is no clock or anything that can show what time of the day it is. I don't even have my phone here considering I woke up on the island with nothing but my clothes on me.

Only God should know where and what this place is.

Getting my focus back to the kitchen I'm standing in, I saw there is a very large stone hearth is sitting on one side with several large vessels sitting on it. Towards the closed backdoor are baskets of fresh vegetables and variety of fruits. There were selves with arranged vessels that are used for cooking.

Another surprise for the day, there is no smell of any food prepared here nor there is no hint of the kitchen being used. It's not about how tidy it is kept, the whole kitchen felt cold.

Sighing at how strange just everything is, I opened a large wooden chest that was sitting near me. The lid was so damn heavy that I had to use both my hands to push it back. Inside it, there are several canisters.

Picking one on the top, the lid comes out easily and inside it is white fluffy looking thing. One whiff of it, I know what it is. Cheese!

There are canisters for animal fat, few spices, almonds and other dry fruits which were once considered very valuable at one time in medieval period.

Another trunk of canisters is filled with several munching food like sugared fruits, fruit pies, edible raw cheese, pickled vegetables. Everything just looked so mouth watering.

There were heaps of food and fresh ingredients that just a mere glance at them made me hungry again.

Leaving the place, I walked to one of the libraries I found the other day. Columns of shelves, rows of hundreds of books all looking thick and old-ish.

I could smell the old scent on books and I really love the smell. With handy mobiles and ebook facilities, I used to miss the odor of books when I started to laptop.

Taking a huge whiff of books smell, I strolled through the lanes of shelves looking for something to read and again, to my surprise, the books are in a language I don't know.

It's not just the books are written simple in some other language, the script was something very basic and primal.

Putting the book back in its place, I climbed the small stool that was beside me to check the upper shelves to see if I can find something... readable.

I'm determined to know what and who is keeping me here. The history of this island and the castle might help me but no matter what, the books were all in some other unknown language.

How I wish I could understand this script.

Disappointed, I looked around for a while to find something understandable. A few minutes later, my eyes caught a book with a painting of the island I'm on.

Climbing on the stool, I reached my hand for the book. When it is still a head above my reach, I stood on my tiptoes and held my breath in an attempt reach the book.

Gritting my teeth, I tried again. By the end of three minutes of trying, my toes and feet started to ache.

"Let's try one last time." Saying that to myself, I stood on my tiptoes and reached out my hand again. I was already standing on the edge, one more inch forward; I can fall down and easily sprain myself.

I was almost touching the book when the stool shook and before I could use my reflexes, the stool slipped from beneath and I'm already in air taking the fall.

I closed my eyes shut expecting to hit hard floor. I almost prepared myself to be bedridden for a week, only, I was proved wrong when I fell on something soft.

Opening my eyes, I saw what was under me.

An assemble of pillows that were clearly not there a moment ago!

~*~*~*~*~*~

Hello Sweeties,

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