CHAPTER 3
After six years, Lemna still remained the same. There had been no difference in the way they lived as they were still ruled by the same king. Alexandria and Lance were no more kids, Lance had become eighteen years of age while Alexandria was sixteen years of age. Lance’s wish to live in another town still persisted. His wish was granted one day when he was informed by his father that his grandmother wanted to see her grandchildren. It had become ten years since they last saw their grandmother. Lance and Alexandria were very happy, however his wish had not yet fully come true because they were to spend a little time with their grandmother after which they were to return back home. Alexandria and Lance were very eager to visit their grandmother, soon, they paid a visit to her where she lived in another town called Galmine which is one of the neighbouring towns of Lemna. When they got to Galmine, their grandmother was very happy to see them and she gave them a warm welcome. They were also very happy to see their grandmother after a very long time. They helped their grandmother at the farm and after spending sometime there, Lance was able to study the town and he observed that Galmine is a better place to live in, because everyone lived peacefully and played freely with each other. Lance wished he could continue to live in Galmine but it was impossible for him. Within a short period Lance had a friend (Kian) and this was the first friend he would have. While he was still in Lemna, he had no friend because no one was really friendly. Kian is a genial guy and he loves playing with Lance and Alexandria. Lance and Alexandria did not wish to return back to Lemna because life in Galmine was fun for them. They wished they could tell their parents to relocate to Galmine but that was totally impossible. After spending about two months with their grandmother they knew that it was time for them to return back to Lemna, considering the fact that their parents had told them not to spend a long time with their grandmother because their help was needed at home. Alexandria and Lance informed their grandmother that they will soon return back to Lemna but she begged them to wait longer because she wished they could live with her for long. Alexandria explained to her that it was not possible because their parents needed their help at home but Lance promised her that they will stay one more week.
Kian used to talk a lot about a particular area popularly known as Relaxation Centre where most people in Galmine and people from different towns used to relax. Alexandria and Lance wished to visit this particular place and during the period of one week they asked Kian to take them to the Relaxation Centre and Kian agreed to their request. Early one morning Alexandria and Lance informed their grandmother that they were going to the Relaxation Centre with Kian and she allowed them. They quickly finished their work at the farm, returned home in the afternoon and followed Kian to the Relaxation Centre. It is far from Galmine but they enjoyed the journey because they played all the way. They passed through a forest and finally got to the Relaxation Centre. The Relaxation Centre is a beautiful garden of orange trees and flowers and they met some people there. Alexandria and Lance were very happy, it was so magnificent. They spent all day there, playing and eating oranges, Alexandria plucked a lot of flowers which she intended to give to her grandmother. Getting close to the evening many people started to arrive, Alexandria and Lance wished to spend a whole week there but Kian told them that they must leave before it got dark, this is because of its distance from Galmine. Lance requested from Kian that they should spend more time there and Kian concurred. Later majority of the people began to leave. They thought the people had gone home and they too decided to leave but on their way they got to know that these people had gone to a small stream located near the Relaxation centre. Alexandria and Lance swiftly joined those who were swimming and Lance borrowed a fishing hook from someone to fish. He was so happy that he could get the chance to fish again which was his favourite hobby when he was still very young. This was really fun for Alexandria and Lance, after spending sometime at the stream, Kian reminded them that it was time for them to go home and they begged Kian for more time but Kian insisted that they should go home. “Go home, when we are done we will meet you on the way” Lance said to Kian. “Can you find your way back home? Because this your first time of coming to this place.” Kian asked Lance. Lance assured him that he and Alexandria can easily find their way back to Galmine, promising that they will soon finish and meet him on the way, so Kian left them.
Kian continued his journey home, he expected them to have been coming and he looked back many times but couldn’t see them. He thought that Lance ought to fulfil his promise that he and Alexandria will soon join him on the way. It was getting darker and Kian had not seen them but he choose not to return back to check them because Lance had assured him that he can find his way back to Galmine. Alexandria and Lance continued to enjoy swimming and fishing till night when everybody had almost gone home. It was then that they decided to go home while Kian had almost reached home. The way back to Galmine was not so clear to both of them again because it was already in the night. Considering the fact that this was their first time of coming to the Relaxation Centre, they knew that Kian will have gone so far and there is no one to show them the way back to Galmine. Lance and Alexandria had thought before that it would be easy for them to find their way back to Galmine without the help of Kian. They had to pass through a forest, there are three paths in this forest and only one of this path leads outside. They had forgotten the path among these three paths that leads out and they took any path and continued moving in this path. They walked through the forest hoping that they will get outside and find their way to Galmine. Later they reached a large tree and they stayed under the tree, “we must make sure we get to Galmine this night otherwise, our grandmother and Kian will be very upset if we can’t get home” Alexandria complained to Lance. “Do not worry, it will be easier for us to find our way back to Galmine tomorrow morning, let us stay here and begin our journey tomorrow morning” Lance told his sister. Alexandria agreed with her brother because it will be dangerous for them to walk through the night. They gathered some firewood together and made fire with stones. They stayed here hoping that the next morning they will be able to find their way back home and later they both slept under the tree. Here in Galmine their grandmother was very worried and sad, Kian narrated to her that Alexandria and Lance refused to go home with him and they promised him that they will come and meet him on the way but they didn’t turn up even after he got home. “If I had known I would have made sure they followed me home” Kian said sadly. Their grandmother was highly disturbed, Kian calmed her down and said“ Do not worry ma, I am sure that they will soon return this night because Alexandria and Lance assured me that they can easily find their way back to Galmine” Grandmother remained worried and she asked Kian to take her to the Relaxation Centre. Kian continue to calm her down, assuring her that they will soon arrive, after an hour they had not yet seen them. Grandmother couldn’t bear it again “You must take me to the Relaxation Centre” she said to Kian. Kian did as she requested. Thinking that on their way to the Relaxation Centre they will soon meet Alexandria and Lance. As they were going and they didn’t meet Lance and Alexandria on the way, Kian said to Grandmother “Relaxation Centre is very far from Galmine, it will be difficult for us to search for them in the night, we should return back home and if they don’t return till tomorrow morning we will go the Relaxation centre to search for them.” “No, I cannot return back home, you must take me to the Relaxation Centre tonight, I do not want anything bad to happen to my grandchildren” Grandmother replied. “Do not worry ma I am sure that they will return home safe, even if they sleep at the Relaxation Centre, it is a safe place and we will go and search for them tomorrow’s morning” said Kian. Grandmother agreed with Kian and they returned home.