I had to agree with him. The capital and the castle looked the same as they did when we first set out on our quest to find the Mirror of Ra. I recognized the inn and the church.
"If you fell from the sky," said Muriel, "how did we get to Reidock?"
"We'd better take a look around first," I said.
And so we entered into the city. This time, there was no guard standing at the entrance asking for a pass.
The city still looked the same as it did before, with streets paved with stones and stone or brick buildings. We walked around town to hear the latest news from travelers.
I learned that the king and queen had been asleep for more than a year.
"How can that be?" asked Hassan. "Last time we were here, the king was awake. In fact, I remember hearing that the king never slept."
I did not have to tell Hassan that something strange was going on, or that it was connected with the fact that we came from a world above us.
"Hey there," I heard someone yell.
I looked and saw this man wearing this horned helmet.
"What is it?" I asked.
"Nothing," he said. "I thought you were the prince."
"Who me?" I asked, flattered by the statement. "Oh, no. You must be mistaken."
"Yeah, I was," he replied. "No way the Prince of Reidock would dress like that."
"So you look like the Prince of Reidock," says Muriel.
"I wonder why no one at the castle noticed that the last time we were here," said Hassan.
We continued walking around town, hearing about the king and queen being ill, the war with the demon king Mudo, and my resemblance to the Prince of Reidock, who has not been heard from in a few weeks. We also heard about a resort town called Amoru, which was to the west, and we heard of a locked tower out in the northwest.
We went to the town's armor shop; I looked and noticed that there were royal clothes in the inventory. I had an idea. Getting the gold coins from my bag, I purchased a set of royal clothes.
"You really do look like a prince," said Muriel, upon seeing me after I dressed up in the royal clothes.
"You gonna go into the castle," asked Hassan.
"Well, yeah," I replied, decked out in these royal clothes. "I've got to find out more why this Reidock resembles the Reidock of our world. I have a hunch, but I'd like to find out more."
We walked to the castle entrance. "Wait for me here," I said. "It's best if I go in alone."
"Sure thing, your Highness," said Hassan.
I walked to the front gate and saw thw guard.
"Your Highness," he said. "You've come back. Have you finished with your quest."
"I wish to enter the castle," I said.
"Certainly, my lord. Welcome home, Prince."
And so the guard opened the gate and I went inside Reidock Castle.
The castle looked the same as it did the last time I was here. It had the same layout,m same interior architecture, and even the same style in carpeting. The guards and the castle staff all gave me a bow when they saw me. Some of them gave me a welcome back.
"The general will be here soon, my lord," said one of the guards. "I am sure you will have a lot to discuss with him."
I decided to go straight to the throne room. The stairs to the throne room were blocked by a guard.
"I can not let you pass, your Highness," said the guard. "It was Prime Minister Geban's orders."
"Where is he?" I asked. "I must speak with him."
"I do not know, my lord. But... General Tom."
I looked and saw General Soldi standing right at the door leading to the balcony.
"What are you doing?" asked the general.
"Sir, Minister Geban said that there will be no access to the throne room."
"Our prince has returned," said Soldi. "Surely you do not think that your orders are to keep the prince out."
"Certainly not, General Tom. My apologies, your Highness."
"That's okay, soldier," I said.
I looked at Tom. He definitely looked identical to Soldi.
The throne room looked the same as it did before when I was first briefed on the mission to retrieve the Mirror of Ra.
"Your Highness," said General Tom. "Have you found the cure for your parents?"
"No, I haven't," I replied. "I am looking for the Mirror of Ra, but I have not found any promising leads."
"It has been a year since your parents were cursed by that demon king Mudo. And there have been many complaints about Minister Geban."
"General, where are my parents?"
"In the bedroom, my lord. Perhaps you wish to visit them?"
I went inside the bedroom next to the throne room. A middle-aged couple was asleep. The man definitely did not resemble the king of Reidock in the other world.
I could hear the queen mumbling. "The mirror," she said. "If only you had the mirror."
"What is going on here?" asked this voice.
We went out to the throne room.
"Minister Geban," said Tom. "Sir, our prince has returned home."
I saw this bald man wearing a suit, accompanied by guards. "You definitely look like our prince," he said. "But we heard from the armor storekeeper that a poor-looking boy bought some royal clothes."
"Sir, you do not mean that this boy here's an impostor?" asked Tom.
"I know you have a younger sister," said Geban. "Only the prince would know. Tell me her name."
"Tania," I said.
"You are an impostor!" yelled Geban. I looked at Tom, and the expression on his face indicated that he believed Geban.
"Sir, I take full responsibility," said Tom.
"Take this impostor away!" yelled Geban.
So the guards thrust me out of the castle faster than a bulimic barfs out a meal.
"What happened?" asked Muriel. "What did you find out?"
"I found out quite a bit," I said. "There's nothing for us here; let us continue."
"That resort town seems promising," said Hassan. "How about we go there?"
And so we hopped into the wagon and left Reidock.