No Longer Around

"We have arrived." Stanley's voice snapped Kian back to reality. To his surprise, Kian notices that Noelle and that girl in his memory have a resemblance; both of them are his savior. Kian gets out of the car and looks around the area. The building has the same architecture as it was but since there is maintenance thus it is slightly modern. Plus it is more colorful compared to what it looks like in his memory.

"Sir Fred! I am Stanley and this is Kian. We talked over the phone about this place.`` Stanley introduced himself to the man wearing a white coat. The man is quite slim and slightly over forty.

"Ah. Yes! Nice to meet both of you. This place has been gazette and constantly being maintained as a symbol of heritage.", he explained with excitement. Kian guessed that this guy might be a tour guide or someone that loves inviting people to listen to his story.

Fred brought them touring around the town. The town gives him a sense of nostalgia however it is more crowded than before. Since the town is a tourist site thus every year there will be an influx of tourists from all over the world. Kian is left dumbfounded because what seems like a normal place back then able to attract people to visit. Sometimes he is baffled that some people want to live like they were in that era.

Remembering how bad it was back then, Kian would never want to go back there anymore. Modern life is much better as it is more hygienic. Medical facilities are more available and no one is going to let your blood drain out just because they assume you are having a bad blood case. World is getting better each day as humans always want to improve their lives.

"Do you think the graveyard from the medieval era is still available now?". Kian's question made Fred raise his eyebrow in disbelief. "Who in their right mind asks about graveyards instead of other interesting things such as culture or food.", Fred thought to himself.

"I have a friend who has been a curator. He is very passionate about the Middle Ages. We can meet him in the university.", Fred answers after he rubs his temple.

"Thank you. You can contact us once the appointment has been arranged." Stanley smiles with satisfaction. At least they manage to get more lead now.

"This concludes our tour. I hope it has been helpful." Fred excuses himself after the tour. Kian politely asks Stanley to go rest at the lodge while he walks around. However, Stanley insists that they will walk around the town together. Kian is trying his best to trace back his memories by walking along the streets.

Kian found himself standing by the Tauber Bridge. He knows this is his village but he wants it to be confirmed once they met the professor. He wants to see the old map of the area and what has been written about the town that people might not know.

"Ring~ Ring~" Stanley picks up his phone and after a few minutes of chatting. The professor would like to meet them tomorrow morning. Stanley advises Kian to go back and rest at the lodge because it will be better to take on more information when you are fully rested. At least that is Stanley's principles. He notices that Kian's face is getting paler as they continue their journey in the town. "He must be taking too much information at the moment.", Stanley thought to himself while texting the driver to fetch them.

After fully resting in the lodge, they head down to enjoy a simple dinner. Kian's mind seems like it is not within his body. He wonders where his parents grave is now. Furthermore, he wants to know if he still has relatives left in this world. Maybe he could meet his family from his aunt's side. Once he leaves the town, he does not know what has happened to them.

Kian also wants to find out what happened to the girl that saves him. Did she die just like the dream or bits of memories that he saw back in Malaysia? Kian hopes that she did not die and he might be able to see her great grandchildren. At least he can serve them to pay for what she has done for him.

That night he is unable to fall asleep as his mind is occupied with what he might find tomorrow. After three hours of moving around in the bed, he fell asleep soundly while dreaming of Noelle's warm embrace.

"Kian~ Kian~"

Stanley knocks on the door while calling for Kian since he has not left his bedroom for breakfast. Kian opens the door while wiping his sleepy face.

"Oh. Morning Stanley. I am sorry that I overslept because I could not get a wink last night. Let me get ready in a jiffy.", guilt shows on his face as he walks back into his bedroom.

Once they had breakfast, they immediately head to the university within the town itself. Professor Joseph greeted them at the university entrance and brought them to his office.

"You guys were lucky because normally I would not be around much because I will be giving lectures in different countries every month.". His look and personality reminded Kian of Santa Claus shown in the movies that he watched with Noelle in the plane.

"Finally someone apart from me showed enthusiasm on the hidden stories of this town.". Professor Joseph was elated and he moved all this stuff on the huge table in the middle of his room. He lay down the map of the town that was drawn accurately according to the time. They manage to excavate this from the hidden passage underneath the town.

Probably there is a secret organization from the time which uses the town and its secret passage to manage their criminal activities.

"Here is the original town square before it changed to where it is now. Now it is in ruins which was recently discovered as the heart of the town moved to flatter land.", he exclaimed enthusiastically.

"The graveyard that was behind the chapel was moved to a different location. The bodies were exhumed and were put together in the special site behind the new church in the center of the town." he continues to explain further.

"Is there any record of who lived in the town?". Kian, unable to control his emotion as he might get to reunite with his bloodline soon.

Professor Joseph heads deeper into his office and enters the small storage room. Cough and sneezes can be heard from the outside. After thirty minutes of the chaotic search, Professor Joseph's face can be seen covered with dust when he comes out from the small room.

"The town hall at the time did keep a record of the citizens living in the town. However, most of the manuscripts were destroyed from elements.", he put one box on the table before heading to the sink to wash his hands and face.

"Now. Now. What is that you are looking for?" The professor put on a sceptical look while questioning Kian.

"I just found out that my family originated from this area. I am really interested to know about my lineage. Thus I would like to know if any of my relatives are still alive around here.", Kian replies earnestly.

"Good answer young man. What is your family name?". Professor asked while he flipped around the documents.

"It is Schwarzkopf.", Kian replies. One thing that he could not forget ever since reaching Germany is that the name has been playing like a broken record in his dream.

Professor Joseph takes out the document one by one as he is looking for the family bearing the name. He was unable to do it as fast as he could with new documents as these ones are very fragile and could easily be torn off by slight pressure.

"Ah! Found it! Hurm~ It seems like your family that lives here did not survive past the Middle Ages.". As those words left Professor Joseph's mouth, Kian could feel his heart stop. Even though he used to hate his aunt's family, this time he was looking forward to meeting them. Now the dream has shattered to pieces.

"Schwarzkopf's family was found hanged in front of the town square one morning around 1300 CE. Apparently the family was in debt with the biggest criminal organization at the time and they were made an example to the other townsfolk so that they will pay their debt in time." Professor Joseph continues to read from the documents. One monk expressed sympathy towards the dead and buried them behind the church.

"I am sorry young man. However, your family line has vanished from this town as all of them were killed that day. You can go to the burial site and pay them a visit." Professor Joseph pat Kian's back before reading further into the documents in it.