With a decent source of information in hand, Ben could not only know the date, but also where in this world he was. He wondered if Paradox sent him to a medieval era of a different world, or if the villagers didn't have as much access to technologies.
Anyway, Ben had what he needed to figure it out.
"April 17, 2020" was the date the newspaper was published. Ben couldn't identify the language the newspaper was written in, which made him think he was in some European country, but he could put a few words together.
As Ben flipped through the paper, he saw what must have been the tourist section, where he also saw images of Bran Castle, Peles Castle, Corvin Castle, and a name Ben would recognize anywhere: Transylvania. Ben kept trying to decipher some words until he discovered that he was in a European country called Romania.
"Cool… I'm in the land of vampires, which is in Romania. Maybe I should use Jetray and observe these castles from above." Ben excitedly thought about how it would be to use his Aerophibian form to fly over these places that were in the newspaper images, which looked like great landscapes to him. However, Ben wanted to know more about the world Paradox had sent him to, and if he knew a clever way to do it, he would.
Ben continued flipping through the newspaper until he heard a female voice coming from someone in front of him.
-Hello. Ben looked up from the newspaper he was holding to see who it was, and it was the same girls he had seen before going to talk to the Duke. The bench Ben was sitting on had room for three people to sit comfortably. Ben could get a closer look at the two girls who were indeed beautiful.
-Uh, hi. Ben greeted them, shyly as he let the paper slowly lower.
- I'm Gretta. The black haired girl introduced herself, smiling friendly.
- And I'm Bianca. It was the blonde's turn to introduce herself, with the same smile as her friend.
- My name is Benjamin Tennyson, but you can call me Ben. The revelation of his name made the girls smile even more, as if that was already the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
- Would you mind sharing this bench with us, Ben? Bianca humbly asked, already referring to Ben as he likes to be called.
- No. Feel free. Ben replied, so that the two girls sat next to Ben on that bench, one on the right and one on the left. It wouldn't be a bad idea to develop more relations between the villagers, since the arrival of an unaccompanied outsider boy was still a topic among the people there and it was natural that someone would want to approach him in order to start a conversation.
- So, Ben? Where are you from? Gretta began to ask curiously.
- I'm American, and I come from a city called New York. Ben answered Gretta's question kindly.
- And how did you get here alone? It must have been really hard. Bianca asked, in a tone of curiosity and mild concern.
"Well… here we go again." Ben said in his mind, not quite willing to have to tell the same lie again. Ben told Gretta and Bianca the same story he had told Elena and Luiza, with all the same details, the trip with friends, the fight and Ben leaving the supposed group in an attempt to return home alone.
-Damn, that's why my mom doesn't let me drink that stuff. It makes people act like idiots. Gretta commented on what had supposedly happened to Ben, causing him to end up in that village, not very happy to hear that story. - That's when they're not idiots enough. And they still claimed to be your friend, right, Ben? Bianca asked, kind of feeling sorry for Ben. That story was being quite convincing, although Ben doesn't like to lie, even if he has to. -Yes. It's like that old saying: birds of a feather flock together. Ben quoted a saying that was common and said among the elders, including those in the village.
- My mom keeps telling me that. Gretta said, her face getting a little closer to Ben's, a soft smile on her face.
- Your mother is wise. Ben said, a crooked smile on his face.
- You also seem to have lived a lot… besides a great taste in clothes. Bianca said, as she ran her eyes over the boy in a rather sensual way.
- And beautiful green eyes. Gretta delivered the compliment that was on the tip of her tongue to Ben.
- Uh, wow, thanks. You are also very nice. Ben said, already letting his shyness show with a goofy smile on his face. A signal that was picked up by the girls in mere seconds.
- What do you mean by "nice", Ben? Gretta asked, bringing her face close to Ben's in order to play with him.
- Come on Ben, tell us. Bianca followed the same cue as her friend, making the boy's face blush a little, and as usual, they noticed and found Ben's reaction amusing, drawing a few giggles from them.
- Okay, let's stop this. Bianca said, looking at her friend.
- Take it easy, Ben. We're just getting to know each other. Gretta still had a friendly smile on when she said that. Ben's cheeks flushed when he heard that.
- Yeah, I know. Ben said. A brief silence until one of them decided to break it.
- Well, I think we better go. My "wise mother" must already be looking for me. Gretta said, looking at Ben and referring to the compliment he gave her mother.
- You are right. Bianca said, as she and her friend got up to say goodbye to Ben.
- Can we see each other again, Ben? Bianca asked.
- Yes definitely. See you around. Ben said, confirming Bianca's answer with a crooked smile.
- Yes. And… my neighbor is a watchmaker, he would love to see one of these. Gretta made her remark about Azmuth's legacy that Ben had on his left wrist.
- Maybe I'll go to his workshop. Ben said, still smiling as he watched the girls walk away and turn down the narrow street to the left of the statue.
- Bye, Ben! Gretta said goodbye smiling and waving her hand.
- See you, stranger! Bianca did the same, before they both started laughing. Once away, the two girls started talking about the strange watch.
-Have you seen a model like that before? Gretta asked.
- No. But it suits him a lot. Bianca replied, saying something they were both sure of.
….
"That's what I call a good first impression." Ben told himself in his mind as he set his paper aside. Ben remembered when Elena said that prayers and thanks to Mother Miranda and her Lords were done in a small church, which Ben was looking at.
"Maybe I should check it out." Ben thought, already getting up and heading towards the little church, to see if he could find out anything more about Miranda and the Lords. ….
Ben was on the porch where the main door of the little church is, looking and thinking about what he was doing.
"And let's go". Ben made up his mind and walked through the door he thought was locked, and was soon greeted by a long red carpet that stretched from the door to a kind of pulpit.
There were wooden chairs and pews to the right and left, and as Ben walked to the lectern, the scent of flavoring incense attacked his nostrils. Lit red and yellow candles seemed to be lighting the place when someone went to say their prayers, and something else captured Ben's attention. There were portraits of five different people, the third was the one that stood out the most and Ben already knew who the portrait was: Mother Miranda.
Beside the large portrait of the village leader, there were two others in black and white on the left and right. Ben already knew whose black and white portraits they were, and he just needed to match them to the information provided by the Duke.
The first black and white portrait was of a deformed person who wore a cape that covered his head and back, and Ben remembered Duke talking about a man who lived in a water reservoir and that his appearance was somewhat unusual.
"Moreau. When Duke said 'unusual appearance', that's not what I was expecting. But fuck it, I've seen a lot uglier guys." Ben thought, as he remembered the nefarious figure of the Ectonurite Zs'Skayr, who made his list of the ugliest guys in the universe.
The second portrait was of a pale-skinned woman wearing a large black hat. Ben linked it to information about the countess who lived in the castle.
"This is Lady Dimitrescu, she is as beautiful as she should be rich." Ben couldn't deny that the woman in the photo had a flawless face, and he still remembered Duke's comment about her waist.
The third portrait was of a woman dressed in black with a burqa, and carrying a strange doll in her lap, and once again, Ben linked this to Duke's information about the woman who produces clothes and dolls.
"Donna Beneviento. She's kind of… sinister. And what did Duque mean by 'so realistic she looks alive?' ". Ben's last question referred to the porcelain doll that the woman in the photo carried in her lap, which made him have a vague memory of Annabelle.
The fourth and final portrait was of a man wearing a short-brimmed leather hat, which cast shadows over his eyes. A photographic aspect that conveyed the idea that this guy was dangerous.
"Heisenberg. Something tells me he's not a saint." Ben studied the man in that portrait, wondering what was so eccentric about the guy's ingenuity.
Ben remembered when Elena said that the Lords were the ones who received Miranda's greatest blessing and that's why she consecrated them as her children, giving them the titles they bore.
-It's a very different family. Ben blurted out loudly, thinking he was alone. Until he heard a familiar voice that startled him.
-And sacred, I might add. The Elder had walked in without Ben noticing her, making him curse in his mind.
- This is our holy place, boy. You shouldn't enter here without authorization. The Elder obviously disapproved of Ben's attitude, with a serious tone and her voice.
- I'm sorry ma'am, I was just leaving. It's just that I've heard about all of them and… Ben, still uncomfortable with their presence, was referring to the people in the portraits as he apologized, but was interrupted by the hunchbacked lady.
- Oh yes, magnificent Mother Miranda and her four blessed children. I understand why you're curious... as well as I know how much you want to meet them. You wouldn't be here if it weren't for that, would you? The Elder asked something quite pertinent, and it was in Ben's best interest to get to know the Lords and their leader, but not right now. That smile on the Elder's face wasn't very inviting, and Ben had to find a way out of the situation.
-Uh, it's an honor, but I think now is not the best time to… you know. Ben said, raising his hands a little in a defensive expression, while keeping a forced smile on his face to mask his discomfort.
- It's never too late to be blessed, boy. There's always a place for one more under the protection of her holy wings, just as she and her children would be very happy to welcome you into their... Family. This last word made Ben remember when Duke said that Lady Dimitrescu and Heisenberg had conflicts with each other for hierarchical positions in this "family", or for inter-bloodline issues. This could be considered a normal family issue if not for this very strange reason.
-I suppose you are wanting to say your prayers. I'm going out so I don't disturb you. Ben said, stepping back as he looked at Elder, who was standing in front of the candlelit lectern, still looking at Ben with those eerily white eyes and a sinister smile on her face. That staff adorned with skulls only worsened Ben's visual perspective when he saw it all.
The outline of the green hourglass on his Omnitrix even glowed as brightly as the candles, creating an environment where two sides seemed to be in conflict, the yellow and red of the lit candles from that lectern against a green one that surrounded the pews, chairs and the main door from the little church, where Ben was close.
The Elder began to turn towards the pulpit, while saying a kind of prayer.
-The midnight moon rises on black wings, we make the sacrifice and await the light. In life and in death, we proclaim your glory... Mother Miranda.
That was all the incentive Ben needed to sneak out of there while the Ancient was looking at the big portrait, but he still heard every word said of that ominous prayer.
….
Ben was already close to the statue of Maiden, when he decided to pick up the newspaper he had left on top of the wooden bench, still thinking about everything he saw. The portraits, the prayer, and the most disturbing: the Elder's invitation in Mother Miranda's name for Ben to meet her and the Lords in person, so that he would be somehow…blessed.
"Oh man, this is starting to get even more bizarre. And I wouldn't use human skulls to decorate my cane if I were a walking prune." Ben told himself in his mind, as that disturbing scene ran through his thoughts.
"Maybe I should take a walk around tonight. I still have the rest of the day." Ben still wanted to know why Elena doesn't seem to be a big fan of hunters, and why he was in Transylvania or "land of monsters" seemed more and more to be a mere coincidence.
….