After my incident with Katarou, things were back to normal with the High Order making sure to put countermeasures around the school. As usual, I had to continue with practice and balance it with schoolwork. Now that the end-of-term exams were coming up, I had to concentrate a lot on my schoolwork, which was going to be a problem. I was to start my lessons in using the fire element with Mei soon, and with the exams coming up, I couldn’t spend so much time on the Butterfly Island, even when it did feel like I had been gone for at least thirty minutes.320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9yaTYnMurd
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxkdenXwYyr
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU7O0ZgHgsr
With only two days left before the exams, I was walking my way to the garage after quickly running away from the sports field where everyone else was on Friday afternoon. With super speed, I dashed away from the field when no one was looking. It was our last day of sports activities. We were having a netball tournament between dorms. Since I wasn’t participating, staying there was pointless. Besides, I had to go for practice on the island, so it’s the perfect time to leave.320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUZrON8vAGo
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjptk3Hg5wS
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9yzKHqZZni
The school was quiet except for the distant screaming and shouting from the ground behind me. After bypassing the library, I stopped in my tracks. Something didn’t feel right. Someone was following me.320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9TcdbYMlfu
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW4CgiOvWOU
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD8VItXaT4X
I turned around, but there was no one there. However, I turned to the corner of the library building that I had just passed. There was someone standing behind the building. I could tell from their aura. With a lot of training, I had improved at tracking the aura around me. Was it a fellow student? Their aura pointed out that whoever it is is human, but I couldn’t help but feel there was something strange about it.320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQYvlW9QmFB
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX3RXliceVY
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXdwY8oZa7S
Before I could start to slowly approach, someone quickly stepped out into the open from their hiding spot. I didn’t get the time to gasp in surprise, as I didn’t think whoever it was would be the person standing in front of me. In her white school sports uniform stood Bertha.320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXPpc8xmMV3
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr683oK7DHY
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7jOrwOhjDO
“H-Hi, Diana,” Bertha stuttered to greet me. She shyly waved her hand. As much as she was well known in school for her wild episodes, she’s naturally shy. Moreover, she was much shorter than I was.320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOLNJTJtI7R
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOu40BXUbIT
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX41q4Q6PAw
“Hi Bertha,” I said back. “What are you doing here?”320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHYXf3am1gQ
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFaz60ort8C
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxyJtNFYm8s
“Well, I-” she said, dropping her eyes to the ground and playing with the dirt with her pink sneakers. “There’s something I’ve wanted to talk to you about.”320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ6yUooXAaj
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQDKBdqw0Z
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8jSND70GyX
Strange. Why would she want to talk to me? It has been over a month since her incident at the clinic, where I had to battle with what I concluded to be the other side of her. Following her discharge from the clinic, she had plenty of time to talk to me if she wanted to talk about what happened, but she never did. Usually, we would bypass or greet each other whenever we met. What would she want to talk to me about now? What was bothering me was how she managed to follow me from the ground when I ran away from there like a bat out of hell.320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpwyEoW3vVE
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvNLrlgWgkq
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6WT0hkZ8wv
The way I responded made her a little nervous, as she moved her feet a lot quicker this time. I should have been more polite.320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl8Kr89Bnnf
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmFErDPv3rG
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmTkhyAoeJJ
“Sorry about that.” I apologized. “What do you want to talk about?”320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxGc7rU0w2J
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZQeQZLf71h
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP5QgdaPXN8
“Well, this is going to sound embarrassing and weird,” she said as she now looked at me. “But for a very long time, like everyone else in school knows, I go into these weird episodes that I don’t even remember what happens when I have them. But when I was about to go into those episodes that time during assembly, I came to you asking for your help and not to take me back to the clinic.”320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Pdp2CQosR
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJF4hHPp9fg
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo41qseJwi1
I raise my eyebrows. How could she remember that?320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKFm1IIwzQT
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYwvJ4HhhmU
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH6Jh6C2XZ4
“Yes, you did. Do you usually remember things when you go into an episode?” I asked.320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqgIStAXbyJ
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd46pFh1jIt
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWPpso8QoSr
“Not always,” Bertha said with a smile. “What’s worse is that I remember attacking you at the clinic. I have to admit, it’s so unlike me. I felt like I wasn’t myself back then.”320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVWjMZVsQox
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ2WPJrpcY5
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBBD8Dtpust
I’m starting to think that I shouldn’t tell her; she looked like a whole different being when that happened. However, for her to remember all that is making me curious.320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmwcQOfMCro
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWiimITRgSX
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTSZnN6we85
“Is this what you want to talk about?” I folded my arms.320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfxlLb7xdDl
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr1aRS60X7m
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmgxiLMQQgq
“Um, the reason why I’m telling you this now is because I’ve discovered something about myself that I wasn’t fully aware of. And I think you know about it.”320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy2pIPvu98V
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJi6WEN1i9p
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtWps6l7dg0
I kept my mouth tightly shut, waiting for her to say it.320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNEawByyfeO
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXW4bmRYInV
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0JuWFURReI
“I recently discovered that I’m a supernatural, and I think you are too,” Bertha said aloud.320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJjrPCVeO8a
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7hZMGmnfRr
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfv8EvqdM6L
My face must have given it all away because Bertha now looked embarrassed for saying her secret, especially to me.320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuaJvdaIKcp
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt1cCgeiqZf
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwUkrJq5S1U
“What makes you think that I am also a supernatural being?" I asked.320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJAI9Cau3Cs
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW4oXQqUkpt
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡli19XJ98fX
“Well, I don’t know.” Bertha quickly looked away before looking back at me. “Ever since we fought at the clinic, I started to feel different. If you’ve noticed, I haven’t had any weird episodes lately. It’s because I finally got into contact with what was driving me mad in the first place.”320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCwjW1XocRK
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlEGQp5z6nT
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4WYecWBKRv
“Wait, you got into contact with whatever possessed you?” I asked, trying to make sense out of what she said. So what people said about her being possessed was true. Well, everyone here believes in such things anyway without thinking twice about it.320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlMLaW9ulri
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnA4rHrNc7x
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ53YcskOOLo
“Uh, yes,” said Bertha. “Apparently, my body holds an animal spirit that loses control when I least expect it, so that technically makes me a supernatural, kind of.”320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJj5ye3HmPn
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWDQsNVPt1W
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfgwjVrRbkY
“That explains why your aura seems funny. It’s human, but there’s something different about it.”320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZZXsoHKvQq
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQFj0mtqMIc
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs9iWVk3M8P
“Oh, is that what the energy I feel from everyone is called?” Bertha’s eyes widened with awe.320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7GZApdPFnA
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdnWNaI5mib
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡafS4w2c0gd
I nodded my head. “It seems you have developed the sense of reading aura quiet naturally,” I said.320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡICUitYntzk
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡei7y1mlWyC
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn1TuiJAde0
“Oh, no, the spirit has been teaching me about the supernatural world,” Bertha said proudly.320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9dBt8J8Poq
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR52AB37gwP
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSVXAkJoxVe
“Okay. You said you’ve been able to communicate with your spirit. Does it mean after you and I fought, the spirit sort of calmed down?”320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3xwnSBTBD2
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5s8rsOTbqy
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR2dzCOc1Pf
“Surprisingly, yes.” Bertha’s eyes lit up when she said it. “I don’t know what you did, but whatever it was, it worked. The two of us are able to communicate, and my spirit knows that there’s something special about you.”320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdJXnZqCbyG
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCEMmea1deW
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ0Qk1QmluQ
This is something. I can’t tell her that her spirit wasn’t wrong; that’s if she knew all about the supernatural and their control over the six natural elements.320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdm5Lm6si6C
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNB19cr583Q
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc8luk0f9Fc
“Did your spirit tell you to come talk to me over this?” I asked.320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNhSPSQjiGs
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1MllMjCTGp
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuPqFKVDBru
“Yes. It tells me that I should seek your help over something,” Bertha replied.320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaS1FMPw2Wa
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2TiffuYUNU
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLG1uBtCYLE
“Which is what?”320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2uUsninyMT
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoysiRDyuIc
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVXzwoEc5VM
“I want to learn more about the supernatural world and the spirit knows that you’ve been receiving some kind of training to improve your supernatural abilities. You can’t lie to me. There’s a certain change in your energy that I feel all the time when I see you. It seems to be getting stronger.”320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCn2J4PHRsg
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoULOHRhrOJ
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDDmbUG5le2
I scoffed. “I don’t really know much about the supernatural world,” I said. “But, yes, I have been receiving lessons.”320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzgtTRSBryo
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡllpZ7nUjBF
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE3avvHBGZ7
“From some other dimension, right? My spirit tells me that there’s another world similar to ours. It advised me that I should follow you there because I also want to be taught the way of the supernatural.”320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWBt9SUB6QJ
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcuYW411pVR
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmMatncgPTt
Will going with Bertha to Butterfly Island be necessary? It’s like she’s willing to learn, and that’s why she followed me. By the look of things, it’s like she’s been watching me this whole time, and with the help of her spirit animal, she guessed my movements to and from the other world.320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCRgp4DC5XD
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl2o5q0lZT2
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2hl3v1jAfN
I didn’t have much time, and Stella is probably waiting for me on the other end.320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ21vK3OXyQV
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiQ1yCM68RZ
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrvrZx086XO
“Okay, I’ll take you with me,” I said. “But you should promise not to tell anyone about this.”320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqbqJw8xZ1r
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbE824wUBJs
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAY5BMzekvq
“I have never told anyone about me or you,” Bertha said. “If anyone knew, they would call us Satanists, right?”320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxKz1nRQRNy
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBgppw48k7Z
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI92USstZ5H
I didn’t answer her, as I quickly turned around and led the way to the back of the garage. As I stood before the butterfly drawing on the wall of the garage, Bertha gasped. I turned to look at her as she looked with awe at the wall.320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIjC9rtwy81
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJGXSMCkYjd
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXj7Od50L7P
“Is this the gate to the other side?” she asked. “I never knew it would be like this.”320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTEC8DgBReg
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0iAXna0RsZ
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBTOU22n6kX
I raised an eyebrow. No one is supposed to see this gate except for me. Those with supernatural abilities weren’t an exception. Now that I remember well, I’m the only one who can pass through. I might be overthinking things here, but it’s impossible for Bertha to ignore the drawing of the Butterfly Sect on the wall if she happened to pass by here. She would’ve mentioned that she had seen it before. The path behind the garage might not be a common path for any students to find themselves on, but no student can deny that they have used it before.320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqFBJG8rRMF
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ46hIGAlLCZ
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV3XuKwJVTf
“You can see the gate?” I asked.320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmca2ASxNFa
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhJtueq05KJ
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaOhRu4QGq3
“Yes, I can,” said Bertha.320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡadoiONyijr
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe4fepSnfuO
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvYGhrIvsRY
I fully turned my body to face her. “What does the gate look like?”320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhQSukpcgqc
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2vqRUKJLGx
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgHVEYPQ6GR
She looked nervously at me before turning to look at the wall behind me. “Uh,” she hesitated.320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRcRVHTu6al
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvRtce9wFiy
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXcDk1opVgO
The next thing I knew, I had an icicle pointed straight at her. She quickly backed away at amazing speed. I knew from then on that this wasn’t her. The next time I’m looking at her clearly, there’s a ghost-like figure floating next to her. It had the face of a wild lion with tiny horns on its head, and the rest of its body wasn’t fully formed. I sensed its strong aura wrap around Bertha, almost like a shield.320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBp989TaGfy
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmbNvG1WZVL
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS4GRwrBDfB
“Whoa, Diana, that was close,” said Bertha.320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡibKXi5Bggp
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsQif2HcWNS
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgRQ74l6XeV
“I’m guessing that that’s your animal spirit?” I asked, looking straight at it.320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIJQ599TOMI
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoKHkfW3ViC
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcEmzHM3PuU
“Nice to meet you again, Diana,” Bertha’s spirit said. “At least we're meeting under better circumstances.”320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyuueWke3Y6
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqN1odNiOkM
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmuK9Vi0LyI
I looked at the spirit and realized this wasn’t going to turn out like last time at the clinic. The icicle in my hand soon vanished, and Bertha couldn’t help but look in awe.320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoCtvBF1c0u
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPoLcjYh7fW
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjkQ25seV4H
“You’re right, this is way better than our last encounter,” I said to the spirit. “Tell me what’s really going on here.”320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQsKNr6L4gi
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ysOK6Upnk
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡna0bFjJbB6
Bertha turned to look at her spirit. “First of all, I would like to thank you, Diana,” the spirit spoke.320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4M8hX5qflG
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCekNfgMv6R
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIehOuQ6Lgg
“Thank me for what?” I asked with my eyebrow raised.320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH0Co9ORHFf
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmYNof9nl16
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9lLgxbTWiH
“Well, if it wasn’t for my encounter with you last time, I would never have come to my senses.”320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJiurvXrW0x
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9c9tizLgQ0
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8uIr77ZXPM
“I don’t understand what you mean.”320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI90XpDl2kI
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL6E8d8wUMM
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRDKMFF6Hus
“For a long time, as Bertha’s spirit, I have always been out of control. Most people thought Bertha had some kind of illness, when in fact the silliest things get me angry. It got worse when Bertha came here, and that is why I made Bertha seek you out that day.”320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnHgKvavUF6
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyw4h9NLzvI
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡflcHm8mn22
“What do I still have to do with it? All we did was fight and somehow put the both of you to sleep.”320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsLy5wgnETq
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh89ZVRJSvW
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTpsV9cX6mC
“Exactly. I can’t explain this myself, but ever since that day, I’ve never gone on a rampage. I believe it has something to do with the amazing gift that you have.”320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcl1seE3sJE
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWqHdul7exk
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Q39KCOtgz
Bertha turned to look at me. There has to be another explanation for this. True, there hasn’t been any news of Bertha going into some weird episode lately, but the spirit couldn’t have calmed down because of me, could it?320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3MLdlFj1yd
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk0BAwC4X9N
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWSC2nAsGgR
“As much as I would love to take credit, I’m still not convinced that I had anything to do with it,” I said.320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUqbDgZwvI0
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbfICpNiMO5
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXzIrfIjaW0
“But coming over to you for help couldn’t have been a coincidence, could it?” Bertha asked. “The spirit knew you could help me, and you did.”320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMiHoMU7mbE
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTycuRKN6OA
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpQYy74aKzS
I look at Bertha before turning my eyes to the spirit. There were so many questions I would like to ask, but they weren’t for Bertha to hear. I still feel something is missing here. Somehow, the spirit knew the answers to all that.320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4K0dbuwqDk
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2aZMTZzQxq
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfWTal1Ptdv
“That aside,” I said, “tell me why you want to come with me to Butterfly Island.”320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8htGqwHk9v
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwFQYvjvexs
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGuakIgl431
The spirit’s brown eyes, like those of a lion, stared right back at me. It’s weird how those eyes that were once angry at me are now calm and collected. The eyes seemed to be full of something mysterious. Was it something harmless or something far worse?320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUOO1vkOK0M
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWe5fxjDkIt
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYWkQARrlqL
“I’ll tell you the truth, Diana,” said the spirit. “The main reason I want to go there is because dark times are coming. And I fear for Bertha, who knows nothing about the supernatural.”320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrdQVDDKH1y
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡErII9CSPcd
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvhRZV2KBZL
“But you’re a spirit, and you seem to be more knowledgeable about it than me,” I said.320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMDXw7Btv91
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpG9pSJsCm2
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2v1U1kD2lF
“True, I could teach her, but there are some things she could learn better under a sect than me just telling her stories. You saw how you knew something was wrong when Bertha mentioned the gateway, and you were able to defend yourself. You’ve developed very good instincts, which are key in the supernatural world. Then there’s the use of elements, which I can’t teach her.”320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvfvsBOaAeN
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKm5PQlmjA4
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtwj44DOfHY
“You’re her spirit. Don’t you know her primary element?”320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxpj8zP2fsm
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5m9LMxYfOx
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzRaa88szdn
“I do, because it's my element.”320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5BjWBYeggp
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡttPwp2c3xv
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNWRFG7GxYT
“Most importantly, she has to know how to use the spirit’s aura to her advantage,” said a voice behind me.320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPLaOGYXZNq
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7nItJ5wUFb
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg3QoTuBVUy
I turned around to see Mei in her long red robe standing right outside the gateway. Stella also happened to be standing next to her.320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ55IjZEKsP9
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnMlfHZ21Mn
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTe1BOBrsrL
Bertha was clearly stunned to see the two women standing before us, as she clearly didn’t hide her excitement; she almost squealed.320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSjFHi5ocTK
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3epbKpfFBn
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS22jhjqVZd
“Are you from Butterfly Island?” Bertha asked.320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ42vbwAcMJ
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡALCEM4Br8M
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSJtGpCyrXz
Stella gave her a kind smile. “Yes, we are,” she answered. “My name is Stella.”320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvOY9FOyvvL
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyJNDDfUFfM
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQAYjx6ECEK
“And I’m Mei,” said Mei. “We are the High Order of the Butterfly Island.” I saw her eyes divert from Bertha to the spirit beside her. “You’re the girl with the spirit.”320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTazwvB47nZ
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuTaKb1oOVN
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYXbvHiSLuC
“You know about her?” I asked.320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT4Evycregf
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2aRF69WRH8
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb5TCKzEwed
Mei now threw an intense look at me. “Yes, we knew. After we learned about your whereabouts, we were curious about the supernatural beings closest to you. If I’m not mistaken, at the clinic, your special powers were fully manifested.”320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmPFw1JrUAg
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcA1x0IhMER
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV4cREicGn4
“Could that be the reason why her spirit is sane?”320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp0LcNKWQwP
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvsulEAdtSq
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsnB356FDTd
Mei smiled. “You’re smart, so I don’t have to answer that.” Well, that wasn’t a clear enough answer. She turned to look at Bertha. “It’s good you thought of following Diana. Your spirit is right. You’ll need special training because, like I said earlier, a person like you can be able to work hand in hand with your spirit.”320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAsZxL2GMEr
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk9zRUPjQtf
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBOhceyV7fZ
Well, this is shocking. Mei seems to be in a good mood today. She’s super nice talking to Bertha, but I know that once I’m alone with her, she will definitely go back to normal.320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK32A2Cf0wN
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdGYPP4D9Rj
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDVlSSfpMzK
“So that means you accept me as your pupil?” Bertha asked.320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK6dPqWzUpm
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtKsIoj6p9o
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJyb9rLCQ3O
“Yes,” Stella answered. “We can’t turn down a supernatural willing to learn. You’ll be with me once we get to the island, and I’ll get you enrolled so that you can start.”320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrQWrn8Vk2V
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡafbxi7ZWx5
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq8p2AQAQSb
I turned my head to look at Bertha, and she looked excitedly at her spirit, which apparently looked like it was smiling at her. To be honest, I’ve never seen a smiling beast before. Seeing it smile looked weird, yet I could tell it was genuine.320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYVBlkskmn1
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWetxXkL4EX
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ZboVUobT8
“We better go; we’re behind schedule,” said Mei as she turned to look at the butterfly-drawn gateway on the wall.320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCiXIybWIDS
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsbcNNm9Qhp
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCxWkcrzz8b
Bertha came to stand beside me, along with her spirit. It’s strange that I now have to go to Butterfly Island with her, of all people. However, it’s nice to know that I’m not alone in this.320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZKR3YcCAB2
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwHxc7RGjpO
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF4JrQvXjWz
Mei drew out her hand, pointing towards the butterfly drawing, and chanted the ancient language. For a short moment, it glowed, and that is when Bertha gasped, as if in surprise. She could see the butterfly gateway. Mei informed her that going forward, we would be the only ones permitted to pass through to the Butterfly Island.320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY9wX4370Jv
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7H8uYuN1nh
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLmzWquLbHP
Mei and Stella soon walked in, with Bertha and I following right behind them. Including the spirit, which I couldn’t see anymore. I held Bertha’s hand when we entered the portal. It feels a little funny when passing through it, and as excited as she already was, I didn’t want her jumping around.320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNM7S4X2yzA
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiyCFBXTYHX
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLVyiyo0dGT
After we walked out to the other side, we found ourselves, as usual, in the flower garden. Bertha couldn’t help but look around in awe at first at the beautiful flowers all around. The colorful, glittering butterflies soon caught her attention. She almost started chasing them when I held her shoulder and shook my head. The first time I was here, I was also excited. However, Bertha was taking it a little too far.320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo1XxgDqHBd
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmTlHVtBPti
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIAWanaiMxT
“Welcome to Butterfly Island, Bertha,” said Stella with a bright smile on her face as we still stood on the stone dais. “I’ll show you around, and while we are at it, I’ll tell you how things are done around here.”320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1RvArhqeR7
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeOS42oK1N4
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj4YVyLpKva
I never got that much of a welcome when I first came here. Moreover, I still haven’t been taken around Butterfly Island. Lucky for Bertha. I won’t lie, I really envy her.320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9oFaELpQtq
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1G1c0NzuoO
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUCN53vvSgL
Stella took Bertha with her down the aisle and away from the flower garden. Bertha waved at me goodbye as she and Bertha disappeared behind the green hedges. I turned to look at Mei, whom I found had her eyes on me.320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMZt7iUViyF
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡete0yZeCH7
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxuAOxStJ9K
“I’m guessing that my lessons on the fire element start today?” I asked.320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPgCqTfYB7e
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmX9LDGZGym
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSORfEy82Uq
“Yep,” said Mei. There was a brief silence between us. “Is that the only question you’re going to ask?”320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaCbl7mPd0V
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCELG1JrK90
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkRccu1bvcM
I scoffed. It looks like Mei has already read my mind. I didn’t sulk much over it.320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbsP1AmlSis
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXQX7L3yXSJ
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbPyrfhgqVY
“When am I ever going to take a tour around the island?” I asked. “Should I remind you that I still haven’t done so?”320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk0RqJOLdEI
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEcBnGc8q4A
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwJ2olbEezp
Mei smiled at me, but not the sweet kind. “That will be decided when Her Highness thinks it’s safe for you to.”320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ94rA6kwKw0
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcpBQWts7nk
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBMQNk5oBeT
“Who will attack me then? Not Lord Vandell, I hope.”320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKKHY9gm6cl
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfT4OIGcpPo
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9fJwaY45nt
Mei screwed her face in disgust. “I’ve never liked that man; he always gets on my nerves. Let’s go.”320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQSw4iLL6KO
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKUIP167csQ
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡraTnSpCwje
Mei walked down the dais, but this time she went down through the east side. I quickly followed her.320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoJBnp6K8C5
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡailiTb4Yv5
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Te5RyNzpO
“I also have another question to ask,” I said as we walked out of the flower garden behind some tall hedges. “Are there people born with spirits like Bertha?”320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgPfCFRxlBm
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWKzPoNQG6x
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqotHMtnohr
“No. People like her are just unfortunate to have them. Some can be good or bad, like in Bertha’s case. Until you showed up and tamed it.”320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIOv2gzJAn6
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJdtVYySglq
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVTwct1Y3UE
“So how do they come about?”320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3J8hZcwpTA
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtaRs20fvHJ
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ92g31AhZPQ
Mei took time to answer as we finally exited the pathway through the hedges. In front of us was an open field of green grass with a few trees that stood widely apart. The place looked completely deserted. I have never been on this side of the island before.320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8e8x6OgmpF
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgs2ywttmkT
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlBwEIN7v9g
“Spirits have been roaming between your world and mine for generations,” said Mei as we walked on the open field. “Some settle and disappear for good, while others whose souls are troubled wander around trying to look for peace of some sort. Others have the audacity to enter people and take control of them at any random time. If a spirit possesses a human, they sometimes act differently, as you already know. Some are good, some are bad.”320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK9pmjcpo0l
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCGWnnZboAY
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc5EBht5eHJ
“Bertha’s is an animal spirit. It looks like a lion if you ask me.”320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmHDW4Ju5yh
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFa2YuLxj14
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ35n9UlNJUq
“Animal spirits are sometimes difficult to handle. Human spirits are much better if they aren’t deranged. The spirit Bertha possesses is that of a mystical creature. That’s why she had that aura around her when you tried to attack her. Moreover, you must have noticed her strength when you first fought.”320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqbGoJubyuW
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXXSu8vwsSg
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZsIXy9wzhM
Thank goodness, it’s a mystical creature. Or else I was going to ask how and when lions ever had horns on their heads. Moreover, what Mei said about its attributes made sense.320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0fIpQwLy8l
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx6WltGX6lJ
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN5csaZpfuu
"Wait, you were there when I tried to defend myself?” I asked.320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Ciag1ZLv0
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfSagrIwrtR
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhFSPsgPrYc
“You were late, and we decided to check up on you,” said Mei as she threw a glance at me. “When we saw Bertha, we decided to watch what was going on. You handled yourself well for a rookie. You knew no one apart from you could see the gateway, and you had to do whatever was necessary to defend yourself.”320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ83sleBNpKr
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7jstCZ2i5h
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYFTi4riBse
I didn’t say anything, as I knew I still had a lot to learn. That was nothing.320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxQxfskkBfm
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZY8UfS1ZWe
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVlSQ0DyKtA
As we continued to walk, a large tree came into view from afar. That was where we were headed. It reminded me of the vision I had of the tree that was half-alive and half-dead. As we came closer, I realized how huge the tree was. It suited the height of a skyscraper, and its leaves and branches were high up from the ground. If anyone were to climb it, he or she should get a ladder—a very long one.320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEZBW8pMV9l
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh3eD7wbXBJ
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiQbAcLls6S
“I have another question, if you don’t mind,” I said to Mei as we got closer to the tree.320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFXZmcnA4c3
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZU2zseEAJL
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBYSdaYDkCz
Mei stopped walking, and I did too. I bet I took it a little too far with asking questions. She turned to look at me, and I could tell that she was irritated even when she tried to hide it with a little smile. She gave a nod of her head, telling me to go ahead.320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgKCrpkw22l
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6c59h70Dtk
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnTynaayLb0
“When I fought Bertha at the clinic," I started to say, "a lot of weird things happened. Before I fought her, I remember that there was a change in weather, which almost killed me. Could it be because of the spirit?”320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZxmPJr2e82
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡagCYcN3TsI
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpFQJBBQh8H
“Most likely. Spirits are known for their unnatural outbursts, and they sometimes can manipulate things around them without giving it much of a thought,” Mei answered.320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW2iG7mPrCv
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXv1i88DRAq
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8HNtT7Aooo
“Can that outburst with the weather have something to do with which natural element they possess?”320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9e3uyvHTrt
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9RRqYTzfXQ
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw9ty2OQztJ
Mei didn’t hide how impressed she was. “In a way, yes. Can you guess what element her spirit has?”320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFKUBTaPYxN
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHzeketHs9E
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFLwE2BA1tg
“Nature. I remember there being a strong wind, and wind does fall under nature.”320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTtCesNOmSU
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRlZ0ynofh4
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBWhenjj98x
“You’re learning a lot; that’s good.”320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Q1OVihG0q
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl0POdSkvUO
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWAWgSaeM1X
“Um, wait. Before we go on, does this mean Bertha is also a supernatural being? I mean, the first time she came up to me today, I couldn’t help but feel there was her human aura and another, which was the spirit’s in her body.”320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiW1ydMj1W9
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoQW7iwELXs
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP2Q9lvafLi
“She’s still very much human, alright. But if she’s going to survive with a spirit inside her, she will have no choice but to accept it and fuse with it when necessary.”320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡykRxMxTYRV
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO9LAOs7VdS
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi55TVrKMZG
“Wait, she could die?”320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgRnFDoBszY
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsE10zHClk1
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKNGWA4Xcln
“Well, she won’t die thanks to what you did when you fought her and her spirit.”320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW5KG8D9mMk
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡisogUOzlRH
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxh2xBOrqaz
I scratched the side of my head. “Can you explain that for me, please?”320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJt5IOOojrH
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkGZa6gOA0i
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMg8W1OyWEW
Mei sighed. She obviously didn’t volunteer to teach me this apart from teaching me how to use fire. “When a human gets possessed by a spirit, they don’t survive for very long, depending on how strong the spirit is. That's if the spirit is a supernatural being of some sort. When the spirit isn’t calm and goes on an angry rampage, they might end up killing their hosts. For Bertha to have survived for this long, it means her spirit goes on such rampages once in a while and doesn’t stay like that for too long. Still, if her spirit hadn't calmed down, she would've died at some point in her life.320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLFPcR7H3lb
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqg8TD2Hxmb
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpRMs8vpW9u
“That’s why it’s important for her to get along with her spirit, and the two should fuse, because at this point, neither can survive without the other.”320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ67aqyYIBpb
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2UeCPpZQmi
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3aVw9paWZK
“So, if they do fuse, like you’ve put it, Bertha will be able to use the spirit’s aura?”320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmVLTvMCPKQ
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUQBbGKh0ek
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoONe0DacoP
“Yes. She should learn how to control it when it is necessary. Since she’s the vessel, she will be doing most of the work. The spirit is just like fuel for a working vessel, if you get what I mean.”320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGjS5hSXadw
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvHr4r7PiOS
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw2hGL3XAqm
“I guess so. So I helped Bertha get through controlling the spirit, didn’t I?”320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJhdntcHwf9
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZvyRAqA5aI
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuRdOyBy4pJ
Mei gave me a smirk. “You’ve done most of the heavy lifting for her. Taking control of your spirit is usually the hardest thing to do. It looks like she has you to thank.”320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDrinuOH8vp
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVwfHdgCaqk
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3mAzpogij3
I nervously chuckled. It’s hard to take credit for something that you feel you didn’t do. I’m still not convinced of how I managed to control that spirit. Does it have something to do with my powers?320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDDneSgwuaq
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1JTvQwnolc
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgJ4dipQlg2
Mei caught me just in time before I asked the question. “Yes, it has something to do with your powers,” she said. “I can’t explain it to you now, but as time goes by, you’ll understand.”320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBacPTjxFiN
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡncOlzres6R
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ48n9rVtnB9
I didn’t say anything. Mei quickly turned around and approached the trunk of the tree. By the looks of things, this conversation is over. I stare up at the gigantic tree. What are we really doing here?320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKnwhQ7824T
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0NSEJGbdXJ
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq1710ALpo0
“This tree is called the Underground Tree,” Mei said without looking at me. “It’s unlike any tree you’ve ever seen. What makes it so is because this tree comes from hell.”320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2mcQkChhdd
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGFsnsaovOA
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb9Kneuklvd
I raised my eyebrows as I stared at it. I hadn’t noticed before how the bark of the tree was black instead of brown like most trees. Some barks of the tree only get like that if it has been close to a burning fire, but it wasn’t like that with this one. It’s like the tree bark grew like it is. The trunk of the tree looked smooth and polished, which was weird for a tree.320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE5gH9EKfw3
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkosyo2ftu3
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYVX1FdpRxx
“How did a tree from hell show up on this island?” I asked.320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuNf6ZdusDn
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPhyOIGJY9o
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtv2IjigeVJ
“Her Highness is better off telling you the story,” Mei said as she turned her head to look at me with a side eye. “A subordinate who worked alongside her father was up to no good and struck a deal with the devil. A lot happened trying to stop him, and that’s how this tree came about.”320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡln370fYJ5P
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBSZO8fXs3u
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdpIsEBO57w
“Her Highness’ father?” I wanted to ask more about him, but Mei didn’t give me the chance when she stretched out her hand and the trunk of the tree suddenly revealed a hollow, open door. It was dark in there, and a weird, terrifying feeling soon came over me. Is this what hell feels like?320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTiIg4l6Coq
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Y07Y3hX0R
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpuqiDLf40p
“Don’t worry,” said Mei. “Everyone gets that feeling all the time. It is a passageway to hell after all.”320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLULkyKKu19
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHQlY8S1Bgk
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQK3QNeTXVk
“Huh?” Then why is she taking me down there?320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnEffNf8hyF
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwXdtfNaqwa
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe4EuwfIh2t
“We aren’t going there directly. The space under there is conducive to practicing the fire element. All recruits who use the element come here for lessons.”320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEY7hUW1kB1
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRPPwsGBkS5
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4hea9eXd0Z
“I can only imagine how they all felt when they came here for the first time.” I bet some even ran for their lives.320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrcZYhsm6Hh
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX9jIiU70AJ
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqk6FChbW8q
Mei turned to look at me with a devilish smile. If the devil had sent her to get me, I wouldn’t be too surprised. “Are you ready to go?” she asked.320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZtAr6Qnc5b
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXGe6FUJB2R
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡagDhBtoUpZ
“Not really,” I said, swallowing afterwards.320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfmjEDV0xu4
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh2gstdpN1Z
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpjw7482I1G
Mei turned to the hollowed-out doorway of the tree trunk and went in first. I slowly followed her. I stepped into the darkness, and immediately the doorway closed up behind me. The place was completely dark, and I was just about to call out for Mei when suddenly a red flame appeared beside me, and soon a long line of fire torches across the wall lit up. Mei stood right in front of me, and we looked to be standing in a small round foyer over a flight of stairs.320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRHoJvEwBhJ
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA2R9rsUCXa
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZLpJTmUIYq
“Is it too late to go back?” I asked as I looked at where the stairs led around the bend. I had a feeling it went down in a spiral.320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt1CWgxRqlb
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoP50EWLSGM
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxFjiVm9pI1
“Oh, you’ll like it,” said Mei. “It’s really not that bad. Come on. If you hear whispers coming from anywhere, don’t answer or follow, okay?”320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0NeoLic6bX
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNGXO9zW5bf
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡehV7q4CyQ0
Whispers? Isn’t it just the devil doing that? I wouldn’t know for sure. As I continued looking around the foyer, Mei started her way down the stairs. I quickly started to follow, but that was after I thought I heard a tiny, mischievous snicker behind me.
Penana
search
Loginarrow_drop_down
Registerarrow_drop_down
