As soon as she walked into his classroom, he had to know her; know her story. She looked so much like the picture it couldn’t be a coincidence. There had to be a connection, he was sure of it. No matter how crazy it sounded to anybody else. Even if it sounded crazy to her. Somehow he had to find a way to convince her to look into this with him. He knew he’d start with the picture – if showing that to her didn’t convince her this was something, then he didn’t know what would. Yet, he had to play it carefully. The picture could easily freak her out and send her to the point of avoiding him at all costs. But she had to be the key to this mystery. The mystery he had for so long wanted to solve. The question was, how did he go about finding out her name to even start the conversation in the first place?
“The Lost Kingdom of Arancia. Anyone heard of it?” He called out across the room once everyone was settled, not surprised at the shaking of heads and murmurs of no from his students. This wasn't strictly the topic for the day, but he was out on a limb here. The change in lesson was essential. "Well, that’s not a surprise as not much is known about it. The kingdom was not around for long before it sank well over a thousand years ago. At least that’s how the story goes.” He moved out from behind his desk and placed a piece of paper on the overhead projector to show on the screen gehind him. “Very recently this drawing was recovered near the Arancian Sea, named so, as it is thought it the be the very body of water in which the kingdom sank. Nobody knows where the picture came from or who the girl is, but it points us in the direction that potentially this kingdom really did exist. As we all know, all myths and legends are derived from real people and places to some extent even if a few details change along the way.”
“Woah! That girl looks just like you.” Hayley whispered to Ayesha sat next to her. “You literally could be relatives.”
Ayesha snorted. “Doubt it.”
As Professor. Thompson carried on talking, she actually took the time to take the picture in. Something about it seemed familiar. But how could that be? She definitely was not around a thousand years ago. The year would have been 1024 – Ayesha was sure she would remember something like that. Unless past lives really do exist. Either that or this lost kingdom really does exist and she used to live there. Each theory was as crazy as the next. Although she was studying for a folklore degree, it didn’t mean she truly believed every story they heard. Yet, she couldn’t deny that Professor. Thompson had piqued her interest already and she was going to have to speak to him at the end of the lecture.
As everyone headed out two hours later, Ayesha walked down the steps to his desk. She wasn’t entirely sure how to start this conversation but she had to somehow
“Professor?” She stepped back when he looked up. “I just wanted to ask you about that picture.”
He said nothing at first and placed it in front of her. “Uncanny, isn’t it?” He straightened up and folded his arms. “Any chance you want to help me unpick the mystery of it. For extra credit of course.” He smiled slightly and Ayesha felt herself relax. “I mean, you must have some connection to this. Maybe a relative?”
“Well, either that or it's actually a picture of me.” She laughed lightly, but stopped when he didn’t join in. “Surely, you can’t think that really could be me?”
“To be honest I don’t know anything for sure. Right now I think nothing is impossible. I mean this was only recently discovered. And by recent I mean in the last few years. This can’t be a coincidence.”
“So how come you have it? Why isn’t it in a museum somewhere?”
“Because there is not enough evidence to prove this place ever existed but I have always wanted to delve deeper into all the stories about it. When this was discovered, the university asked if we could keep hold of it. Then three years later you walk into my classroom and I finally have the perfect opportunity to try and solve the puzzle. So, I’ll ask again, is there any chance you’ll join me in doing so?”
Ayesha looked at him skeptically. “What do I have to do exactly?”
Professor. Thompson smiled as if she had already agreed to it. “For starters, we’d need to explore the sea the kingdom supposedly sunk in. If there’s any way we are going to find evidence, it’ll be there. So, how do you feel about taking a boat out into the Arancian Sea with me?”
For a moment he thought she was going to agree, but then she shook her head and laughed nervously. “This is nuts. This is utterly and completely bonkers.”
“Is that a yes?” He looked back at her hopefully. “Just one trip out. If we don’t find anything then we return home and I won’t ask for your help again.” He took a step closer to her. “But you can’t deny what is right in front of you. Whether that is a drawing of you or someone else, you are connected to this in some way. Maybe if you come with me to the place the kingdom disappeared, we will be able to find out how.”
Ayesha knew she should say no. Mainly because it all sounded ridiculous. “This is completely mental. I mean it’s all a myth. Surely, you know that.”
“As I said in my lecture, all myths and legends are based on something real.”
“Actually that’s not what you said. Not exactly.” Ayesha mused.
Professor. Thompson smiled. “So you were listening? Anyway, the point stands. Every story ever told had to have a starting point, so why can’t this be one of those stories?”
Ayesha remained silent because she had no suitable response. He had a point – all myths must have been based on something real at some point time. And she couldn’t deny she was a sucker for a fantasy, supernatural story. What if this place was real once? What if she really was descended from someone who lived there? This could be her legacy; her entire family history hidden at the bottom of the sea. How could she not try?
“Okay.” She nodded. “I’m in. When do we set sail?”
***
“I cannot believe you are actually going to go through with this.” Hayley told Ayesha as she tried to pack for her trip.
Given she was about to spend an undetermined amount of days on a boat with her professor, she had no idea what to take with her. What would be classed as essential items? She had already accepted there was no point in taking any spare clothes with her except for some essential extras, like a waterproof coat and maybe a thick jumper. Aside from that, what should she take? She would hardly need her phone, but it seemed weird not to take it anyway so she had thrown it in her backpack. She grabbed snacks already in their own packaging that would last a few days and chucked them in too. Despite it seeming a little unnecessary she grabbed her sunglasses from her bedside table and placed them inside her bag. She felt like she was missing something and spotted her brush on her bed. She picked it up and grabbed some hair ties as well. Given she was going to be out at sea, it was unlikely she would be washing her hair for a while so she would be sporting the ponytail until she got back.
“Why not? You said it yourself, that girl looked like me. Or I looked like her. Either way this could mean something. I’d be stupid not to have a little look around. What’s the worst that could happen?”
“You could die at sea. We’ve only just met our Professor and you are gallivanting off with him. How do you know you can trust him? Are you just going because he’s hot?”
Ayesha couldn’t help but laugh. “Wow! You think so little of me that I am only going because of his looks. Thanks Hayley.” She shook her head and searched her side of the room for anything else she might need. She considered the idea of clean underwear and socks but the idea of changing in front of her professor was not an image she wanted in her head let alone live out for real so she opted for the same clothes policy until she gets back.
A knock on their door startled but excited her. “He’s here.” She zipped up her bag and swung it onto her back. “See you soon.” She didn’t wait for a goodbye before heading out the door.
As they settled in the boat Ayesha looked at Professor. Thompson. “I assume you know how to sail this thing, Professor?”
Although it was only a small row boat with oars, she couldn’t see herself being very good at captaining the ship. She didn’t dare ask what they would do about sleeping.
“Well, let’s find out.” Professor. Thompson stowed his own bag between his feet and put the oars on place. “And please call me Eddie.”
“Okay, E-Eddie.” His name felt weird on her tongue and silence fell as he got the boat moving.
She remained quiet enjoying the view on either side of the river, hoping that he knew how to get to the Arancian sea from where they were. He must, otherwise he wouldn’t be rowing the boat. She took in a few deep breaths and tried to calm herself.
“You okay? Not seasick or anything?”
“I’m fine.” Ayesha swallowed. “Just nervous. This is not exactly an ordinary thing to do.”
“No it isn’t. But it could be the best adventure we’ve ever had.” Eddie steered the boat up the end of the river and into the wide open sea.
Ayesha had no idea how many hours had passed as they finally ended up literally in the middle of the sea. “So, this is the Arancian sea?” She looked around as Eddie nodded. There was nothing but water for miles – not surprisingly – but Ayesha suddenly felt very far from home. “Any idea where abouts along the sea the kingdom's meant to have sunk?”
“Given there is very little information out there about it, no.” He placed the oars down and let them float for a few minutes, given his arms a well needed rest. “It could be anywhere along here. Maybe we’ve already passed it or maybe we are nowhere near it. I can’t tell. We’ll need to look out for signs, I guess. Whatever those signs may be.”
Ayesha went to reply, thinking how fantastic it was that he had so little information on their mystery, when a crack sounded in the sky above. She fished out her coat and put it on, wishing she now also had waterproof trousers and boots too.
“Looks like it’s gonna rain.” Eddie looked into the sky just as the first drop fell from the sky.
Soon after they were being pelted with masses of rain, thunder crackled above them and the wind pushed their boat further on. Eddie tried to regain control but it was no use. Their boat had a mind of its own now and as lightening lit up the ever darkening sky, Ayesha couldn’t help but scream.
“Hey, it’s going to be okay."
She shook her head. “Hayley was right, I’m gonna die at sea.” She tried to huddle into a ball and pulled her hood over her head as she was smacked with rain over and over, drenching her through.
“You’re not going to die.” Eddie followed suit as the wind blew harder and pushed them further out again. “We might however end up lost somewhere.” He laid down in the boat and convinced her to do the same, keeping her covered as they quickly drifted away.
When Ayesha finally opened her eyes, she was surprised to see the sky was clear and the sun was out. She slowly sat up and it took her some time to realise she was now alone.
“Eddie?” She called out searching frantically but there was no sign of him.
A knocking on the boat made her jump and as she turned there he was. “Don't do that to me!” She placed a hand on her beating heart. “What the hell were you doing anyway?”
“Sorry, I thought I saw something in the water over there,” he paused to point and she followed his eye, “but I didn’t.”
Ayesha kept her gaze that way, swearing she could see a glint of something heading towards them. She reached out her hand and it was as if it suddenly slid towards her. “There is something, look.” She pointed but the look on his face suggested he couldn’t see a thing.
“Here.” She picked up a golden goblet with strange markings and handed it to him.
“Okay, that’s weird. Before you touched it I couldn’t see it. Now I can.” Eddie placed the goblet in the boat and looked at her. “See anything else?”
Ayesha looked on, eyes narrowed as if to see better when a red light caught her eye, “Yes. There’s a light, just beyond those rocks. We need to follow it.”
Eddie, excited beyond measure, got them going, with Ayesha directing the way as best she could. As they got closer to the light she knew they would find something. She just didn't realise what. Or how she knew that.
When they got to her rocks, she noticed the light was actually coming from a small, narrow cave. “We’ll have to get out of the boat.”
“What?”
“We can’t sail through there. We’ll have to swim. I can’t explain it but that’s where we need to be.”
Eddie didn’t dare argue and they dropped into the sea, Ayesha leading the way through the cave. It was smaller than expected and they soon reached a dead end except for what looked like an underwater path.
“Do you trust me?” Ayesha looked at Eddie.
“Right now, I think I have to.”
“Take my hand.” He did, albeit hesitantly and she pulled them both under the water. She swam along the path, Eddie still holding onto her, until they reached a set of tall metal gates.
Eddie’s face was one of pure delight at the sight before them and was surprised to find he could now breathe normally. “You think…
“I think we found it.” Ayesha said proudly. “The Lost Kingdom of Arancia.”
Rebecca Louise
