Chapter 9 The Main Castle

The doors to the main castle were huge, made of black marble. It was tightly locked, no one can be able to open it from the outside since there were no knobs. Stephanie looked at the door intently, thinking how on earth were they going to enter. She was about to open her mouth and ask, but Sora did some weird dance moves, but then it hit the door and placed a crack on the marble. He then tapped a few marble pieces from the crack, then there was a loud crackling sound. He then stood there, waiting for something. Sakura and Syaoran too were looking at what Sora was doing. Sora then took his enormous key and clicked it on the hole that suddenly appeared out of nowhere. At long last, the door opened.

"Only those who have very urgent business with the Priestess can talk to her, so we have to go and get an appointer, which will cost us a lot. It's a good thing I am permitted to enter the castle anytime I want, as long as it is a reasonable time. The castle door closes and opens for no one, not even the Priestess, at midnight. So.. welcome to the main castle, Sacaeans!" Sora said, as they entered the hall with awestruck faces.

It seems that all she did was to be amazed, so she then closed her mouth, which she unintentionally opened. The hall was decorated in black but it seemed like pearly white when struck by the sunlight. The curtains were in dark red, with gold ropes tied around it. There was a red carpet leading to the stairway which led to a thousand of doors.

They kept walking and she realized that they were walking on a transparent floor, which looked like black marble because of the ceiling which resembled a dark sky. She looked down and saw her reflection... it was water. They were walking on top of a glass which has water underneath it. She saw some small turtles swimming, lilies floating and some turtle food afloat on the water. It was an amazing sight to behold. Sakura and Syaoran seemed to notice it too. Sora, however, was walking like it was there since he was born. Well, she thinks it is, but it was her first time to see such a thing, so she smiled and thought of it as an exemption.

They all continued to take a long long walk and Sora halted when there was a man, tall, fair skin color, messy black hair, and was wearing a black suit with some badges and golden buttons. He welcomed them and directed them to the lobby, where there were a lot of people wearing different clothing, each has their own unique style.

"Oh, it seems that Alice Academy has a little field trip today." Sora said, looking sideways, with Sakura and Syaoran looking at the same way. Stephanie decided to look too.

There was a long line of students wearing black uniforms with white collars. Each of them had a unique hairstyle. One girl, who wore her blonde hair in pigtails, ran towards them and took the ball that seemed to be rolling to their area. Syaoran picked it up and reached it out to the girl.

"Thank you very much!" the girl said, with a smile on her face.
"You're very welcome." Syaoran replied, with a smile on his face too.
"Hey, Mikan!" Sora then said, with a big grin.
"Oh, hello, Sora." Mikan said, still smiling.
"Hey, I'll catch up with you later, my teacher's coming." Mikan said and ran to her line while waving to them. Sora waved back.

"She's my neighbor." Sora said in reply to the look on Sakura, Syaoran and Stephanie's faces. "Let's have a seat."

They all headed to the couch positioned in front of another door, with a label saying "To the Dining Hall". It seems that the guests are being fed there. Stephanie took a look around while on her seat. There were ribbons and curtains at the ceiling. Paintings also hang on the walls that are very high. A guy with long white hair approached them, he had a friendly face.

"What is your business here, Sora?" he said with a smile.
"Oh, Rikku! Good to see you here! Is it your breaktime?" Sora asked.
"Yup. I was about to head back up to the Priestess' room when I saw you. So who are the new friends?" he said, looking at the three of them.
"Oh yeah! This is Syaoran, Sakura and Stephanie. They all came from Sacae." he said and then he told everything about them, not letting them do it on their own. All they did was smile and agree whenever Sora asks them about something.

"Oh, I see. So you are here to talk to the Priestess because of that?" Rikuu said, with a sense of concern.
"Yup. Do you think you can get us up there?" Sora asked, with puppy dog eyes.
"Of course I can!" he replied.
"C'mon!"

They walked up the staircase, which seemed like forever. After entering another door, another staircase awaits them. They all climbed each step and then stopped in a room, it was painted in modest yellow with white columns. The room resembled a gown. It seems like a reception room to the Priestess' room.

"Everyone who needs to talk to the Priestess stays here if ever she is busy or has some business to attend to." Rikku explained.

They then headed forward and there stood a man with dark blue hair, wearing blue armor and a lance that is longer than his body.

"Where have you come from? It took DAYS for you to come here!" he said to Rikku, who just smiled and had an apologetic look on his face.
"Sorry, I kind of got some urgent business here." and Rikku pointed his nose at the four of them. Lancer looked at them and asked: "Business"
"Yeah, that's what I just said, Lancer." Rikku said.
"Yeah, yeah! My hunger is just getting on me. Go and take the next post!" Lancer said.
"Good luck to your business!" he added as he left the room.
"Well I think I will have to leave you from here on. Just enter this door and Mizuho will be there to attend to you." Rikku said and opened the door. They all thank Rikku for his help and Sora gave a smirk, which seemed to be mutual understanding to them both, and Rikku got a little but annoyed.

They all walked forward, it was a black hallway. It was darker than the past room. The way was lit with candles and then there stood a woman with red hair, tied up to a messy bonnet. She wore a red kimono, dangling and was already hitting the floor and a part of it was folded. Behind her, there were three armed men, each of them wore a black cloak.

"Hello, I am Muzuho, the Priestess' scribe. How may I help you?" said the woman at the center, with a friendly grin.