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.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNUJhOGKmp6
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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.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjwmAdkyTBP
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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.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm9IOC1zcQ8
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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.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmziiiy0780
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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.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIBxdt4W4fQ
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“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.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCMNtBToCsf
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“Hi Bertha,” I said back. “What are you doing here?”283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnvlsVaz1FL
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“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.”283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQEdCt0O2gY
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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.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN2NGsMqVxo
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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.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKoJa3LdOxI
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“Sorry about that.” I apologized. “What do you want to talk about?”283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo37rfWI293
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“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.”283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfMLRGw7j8u
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I raise my eyebrows. How could she remember that?283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfowCnVhYmw
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“Yes, you did. Do you usually remember things when you go into an episode?” I asked.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeUXU5eNKTl
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“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.”283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP6o2o6uOZV
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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.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8VQitfjDcf
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“Is this what you want to talk about?” I folded my arms.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtoVPe8TgJk
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“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.”283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhyocB3f2No
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I kept my mouth tightly shut, waiting for her to say it.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSj4QfN7K3D
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“I recently discovered that I’m a supernatural, and I think you are too,” Bertha said aloud.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnFCUHMGpA0
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My face must have given it all away because Bertha now looked embarrassed for saying her secret, especially to me.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1eiP2g3lFp
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“What makes you think that I am also a supernatural being?" I asked.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXkWnKHks5v
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“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.”283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHkGNZT7esc
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“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.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsOc96mEnkU
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“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.”283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXV398mGZz9
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“That explains why your aura seems funny. It’s human, but there’s something different about it.”283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9tx5QojUA9
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“Oh, is that what the energy I feel from everyone is called?” Bertha’s eyes widened with awe.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJjcto6t5jO
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I nodded my head. “It seems you have developed the sense of reading aura quiet naturally,” I said.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoq23t2gNA3
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“Oh, no, the spirit has been teaching me about the supernatural world,” Bertha said proudly.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC3QMbJsoAx
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“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?”283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfwhGW5wc5x
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“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.”283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9p8bDRUJVI
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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.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQvdN38XF4H
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“Did your spirit tell you to come talk to me over this?” I asked.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkN6atmGy9L
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“Yes. It tells me that I should seek your help over something,” Bertha replied.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyk3I4sTcuB
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“Which is what?”283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ze9XFWipi
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“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.”283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtlfPTfGhtd
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I scoffed. “I don’t really know much about the supernatural world,” I said. “But, yes, I have been receiving lessons.”283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBrzvw8zCMk
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“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.”283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeewAXSxJrJ
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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.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnYeWftdgZo
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I didn’t have much time, and Stella is probably waiting for me on the other end.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf0wIg3e2hi
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“Okay, I’ll take you with me,” I said. “But you should promise not to tell anyone about this.”283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN4L71wBB7Z
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“I have never told anyone about me or you,” Bertha said. “If anyone knew, they would call us Satanists, right?”283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTDmU2n0uZb
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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.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBFzocpptLw
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“Is this the gate to the other side?” she asked. “I never knew it would be like this.”283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqbcSK6gwaI
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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.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRtabxi23vH
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“You can see the gate?” I asked.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY0u3tcdp7w
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“Yes, I can,” said Bertha.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdWeeEXfzWS
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I fully turned my body to face her. “What does the gate look like?”283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE8yL3Cpark
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She looked nervously at me before turning to look at the wall behind me. “Uh,” she hesitated.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkK9urq89Oi
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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.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRSbdKJG1sD
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“Whoa, Diana, that was close,” said Bertha.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZYcX7lY7eH
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“I’m guessing that that’s your animal spirit?” I asked, looking straight at it.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡamAgLvofFa
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“Nice to meet you again, Diana,” Bertha’s spirit said. “At least we're meeting under better circumstances.”283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjoXBpjOLfe
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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.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyScSiAal1c
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“You’re right, this is way better than our last encounter,” I said to the spirit. “Tell me what’s really going on here.”283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs9Bh9J8qxA
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Bertha turned to look at her spirit. “First of all, I would like to thank you, Diana,” the spirit spoke.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡscRV3lD0si
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“Thank me for what?” I asked with my eyebrow raised.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxIKOJ3Vos4
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“Well, if it wasn’t for my encounter with you last time, I would never have come to my senses.”283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVwHx4QunsR
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“I don’t understand what you mean.”283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY84SkEBtfq
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“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.”283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhvaNJIv4yR
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“What do I still have to do with it? All we did was fight and somehow put the both of you to sleep.”283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4KeQf0CPNH
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“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.”283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOkMRvsifol
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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?283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡarAn1ayweo
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“As much as I would love to take credit, I’m still not convinced that I had anything to do with it,” I said.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeqWoSDXKcy
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“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.”283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2PZnL5G1NA
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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.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWPvzUCuttb
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“That aside,” I said, “tell me why you want to come with me to Butterfly Island.”283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjbD9M05TPK
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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?283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyIkV3Hc0oS
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“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.”283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlh7TBN3uEG
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“But you’re a spirit, and you seem to be more knowledgeable about it than me,” I said.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeMjEklO3wt
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“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.”283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPlPqtAuYXa
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“You’re her spirit. Don’t you know her primary element?”283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGsy9YPCtCr
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“I do, because it's my element.”283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg9K79fAwXh
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“Most importantly, she has to know how to use the spirit’s aura to her advantage,” said a voice behind me.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfSshZRmBaY
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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.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiZIfNjRhBS
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Bertha was clearly stunned to see the two women standing before us, as she clearly didn’t hide her excitement; she almost squealed.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXwyflXyobz
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“Are you from Butterfly Island?” Bertha asked.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsmbHfNZVGZ
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Stella gave her a kind smile. “Yes, we are,” she answered. “My name is Stella.”283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2cZIhFqTCH
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“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.”283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpLng3sWyDV
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“You know about her?” I asked.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4zYc1gGn2A
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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.”283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYtYmxxfqji
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“Could that be the reason why her spirit is sane?”283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5JUxqCi9Vx
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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.”283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdG3cp9k8fi
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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.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmu7eonjLTy
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“So that means you accept me as your pupil?” Bertha asked.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN07DgavOad
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“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.”283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyZCsNa98dh
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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.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwtWLi4nYEj
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“We better go; we’re behind schedule,” said Mei as she turned to look at the butterfly-drawn gateway on the wall.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiDr4sM06T1
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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.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ8jzpJLQKh
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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.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJdAl3wYmwx
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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.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyTYTEEVKaS
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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.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBmOxwktGUT
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“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.”283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHUMYcBBIgv
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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.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCzI8eLJrRs
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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.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8DoyrzumSv
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“I’m guessing that my lessons on the fire element start today?” I asked.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0vUuHX2f1Q
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“Yep,” said Mei. There was a brief silence between us. “Is that the only question you’re going to ask?”283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgBr5BkEtZ8
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I scoffed. It looks like Mei has already read my mind. I didn’t sulk much over it.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx2O39gNFsL
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“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?”283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWqseIRdWiI
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Mei smiled at me, but not the sweet kind. “That will be decided when Her Highness thinks it’s safe for you to.”283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Haaufsvfo
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“Who will attack me then? Not Lord Vandell, I hope.”283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4XyfTVOqd9
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Mei screwed her face in disgust. “I’ve never liked that man; he always gets on my nerves. Let’s go.”283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwjUgGXaPa0
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Mei walked down the dais, but this time she went down through the east side. I quickly followed her.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs6Q9HMlFO4
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“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?”283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxtR4mWQQYn
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“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.”283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnf8aOFxaLY
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“So how do they come about?”283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHDOzZ2LWdQ
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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.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoc5jSqSyUw
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“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.”283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRJvoEAT6je
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“Bertha’s is an animal spirit. It looks like a lion if you ask me.”283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM3uWRfYwW1
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“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.”283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkaoGtEEMUf
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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.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqsspz3zxaV
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"Wait, you were there when I tried to defend myself?” I asked.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡImCoWoub85
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“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.”283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGSFUOYkdwB
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I didn’t say anything, as I knew I still had a lot to learn. That was nothing.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZl9w95QwBA
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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.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡITdAALrYHM
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“I have another question, if you don’t mind,” I said to Mei as we got closer to the tree.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9B2l26rvmq
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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.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxrcI7pueZ1
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“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?”283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmruFixlmTd
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“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.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRkN6foMRzS
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“Can that outburst with the weather have something to do with which natural element they possess?”283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcWlJlM1LvG
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Mei didn’t hide how impressed she was. “In a way, yes. Can you guess what element her spirit has?”283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZk8e53pSug
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“Nature. I remember there being a strong wind, and wind does fall under nature.”283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA6DZ98ZDZI
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“You’re learning a lot; that’s good.”283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn268S8ngZl
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“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.”283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgnLPEELaQr
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“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.”283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUohmj3ayMq
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“Wait, she could die?”283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡabPo4AOMxt
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“Well, she won’t die thanks to what you did when you fought her and her spirit.”283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWCDTZLTtbe
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I scratched the side of my head. “Can you explain that for me, please?”283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaALvJdPYm4
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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.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEL1jFCoqxs
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“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.”283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH1hgdOoJxW
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“So, if they do fuse, like you’ve put it, Bertha will be able to use the spirit’s aura?”283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQnYqIssOQI
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“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.”283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt8ZjrivOP0
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“I guess so. So I helped Bertha get through controlling the spirit, didn’t I?”283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr7Mo129z98
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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.”283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ78jVi4mdD5
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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?283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnglaYDp52E
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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.”283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEclCUeKuai
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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?283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2psUmDkYp2
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“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.”283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLSvlkBof1p
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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.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxsJzAQDzJi
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“How did a tree from hell show up on this island?” I asked.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbu7X8RNHpt
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“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.”283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI4x7BAAuyy
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“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?283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgNhwUl518B
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“Don’t worry,” said Mei. “Everyone gets that feeling all the time. It is a passageway to hell after all.”283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdNuOfdWoHd
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“Huh?” Then why is she taking me down there?283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeRYHuTnG2S
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“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.”283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3T3UMQ7iiR
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“I can only imagine how they all felt when they came here for the first time.” I bet some even ran for their lives.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFq4q5oqgxd
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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.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhWCRkZVBE6
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“Not really,” I said, swallowing afterwards.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡouQyNOr4uQ
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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.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOL3w1UjZRq
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“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.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCGhrj3LeQ1
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“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?”283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR3UjmcSPqJ
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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.
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