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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSg3dpmZqIu
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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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiAPWkF0wm3
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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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1cjwrLerSk
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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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGvxU7HuOcA
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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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDVk7RzNo7k
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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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4yoy6tJ1EI
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“Hi Bertha,” I said back. “What are you doing here?”230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8hLRTad9KX
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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.”230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBpuMTFpL1K
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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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0SoA9H35iN
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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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbmz6BZLBd9
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“Sorry about that.” I apologized. “What do you want to talk about?”230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6HWy6j6JT6
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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.”230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRPzVDNvdlI
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I raise my eyebrows. How could she remember that?230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC0eJM6r89Q
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“Yes, you did. Do you usually remember things when you go into an episode?” I asked.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCqtnxi6bjR
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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.”230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYNKA0XlRTd
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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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrnLzDT5GS7
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“Is this what you want to talk about?” I folded my arms.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgNeSRLBG2o
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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.”230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdbV3as4Dk4
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I kept my mouth tightly shut, waiting for her to say it.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2isT3zwutZ
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“I recently discovered that I’m a supernatural, and I think you are too,” Bertha said aloud.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmBU1QEluM5
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My face must have given it all away because Bertha now looked embarrassed for saying her secret, especially to me.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4lh4jftVfu
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“What makes you think that I am also a supernatural being?" I asked.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9yvFT3d5LO
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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.”230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMk6y2wkd70
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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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ68xFk0q1FT
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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.”230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbb5naOsqGY
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“That explains why your aura seems funny. It’s human, but there’s something different about it.”230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNBV56RFJG6
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“Oh, is that what the energy I feel from everyone is called?” Bertha’s eyes widened with awe.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3t2ssRNXYp
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I nodded my head. “It seems you have developed the sense of reading aura quiet naturally,” I said.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFmvNBV5GPS
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“Oh, no, the spirit has been teaching me about the supernatural world,” Bertha said proudly.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfIkUIbImML
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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?”230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb3ZS1qiaVN
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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.”230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD025jdmyCl
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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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY9LfpxmVs9
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“Did your spirit tell you to come talk to me over this?” I asked.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMfCgTTVvlS
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“Yes. It tells me that I should seek your help over something,” Bertha replied.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡddFi6cMcQK
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“Which is what?”230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo8UJM4ONWs
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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.”230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0f5j5uMPSu
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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.”230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVIYxyRnnXM
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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.”230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS6fuIIXWyW
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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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt3qeBI3u4Z
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I didn’t have much time, and Stella is probably waiting for me on the other end.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6RJNTzmrca
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“Okay, I’ll take you with me,” I said. “But you should promise not to tell anyone about this.”230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHqNdx3WqVw
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“I have never told anyone about me or you,” Bertha said. “If anyone knew, they would call us Satanists, right?”230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr3ayec9BjS
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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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxDM9RbvESi
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“Is this the gate to the other side?” she asked. “I never knew it would be like this.”230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrqQ0sTOz0f
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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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLTS8ihsvyY
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“You can see the gate?” I asked.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1BAnZUlUIF
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“Yes, I can,” said Bertha.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy4xHFXQV1I
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I fully turned my body to face her. “What does the gate look like?”230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz1pzYkTUB9
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She looked nervously at me before turning to look at the wall behind me. “Uh,” she hesitated.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Dka7duAYD
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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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw31E9j3hJ5
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“Whoa, Diana, that was close,” said Bertha.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc1cjzVQIwU
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“I’m guessing that that’s your animal spirit?” I asked, looking straight at it.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6RKIedprXI
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“Nice to meet you again, Diana,” Bertha’s spirit said. “At least we're meeting under better circumstances.”230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBqYjNdAPXl
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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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1qCFijkRYJ
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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.”230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs02Vv6Tp0F
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Bertha turned to look at her spirit. “First of all, I would like to thank you, Diana,” the spirit spoke.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrX3XIxty9V
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“Thank me for what?” I asked with my eyebrow raised.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡApA2SxaAZQ
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“Well, if it wasn’t for my encounter with you last time, I would never have come to my senses.”230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ33YpBAMEad
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“I don’t understand what you mean.”230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnVgZCHxkOE
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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.”230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQGXXxMYR36
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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.”230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZep4aD7Li5
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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.”230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL189BsMHUR
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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?230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyNrES3LZVF
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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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2X7P5mjhbR
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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.”230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPXHOJ4XGUd
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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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsKfOpIckvF
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“That aside,” I said, “tell me why you want to come with me to Butterfly Island.”230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoZgE4BsjOp
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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?230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu0Udwnqt7R
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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.”230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ82kqAFsoDp
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“But you’re a spirit, and you seem to be more knowledgeable about it than me,” I said.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsDbvqZ2EMT
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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.”230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyRPvAhMiqx
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“You’re her spirit. Don’t you know her primary element?”230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6IcuIF1bUz
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“I do, because it's my element.”230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeJnwry1GdQ
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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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0NlgC3oyD0
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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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU7K9xEtnf3
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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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeyuCl1hwEf
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“Are you from Butterfly Island?” Bertha asked.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHyBoxbpfgc
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Stella gave her a kind smile. “Yes, we are,” she answered. “My name is Stella.”230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡigNQyhOyF1
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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.”230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE4ehpcok57
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“You know about her?” I asked.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWw5CfOUU8D
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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.”230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl6n9ixll4V
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“Could that be the reason why her spirit is sane?”230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWhuN2P5UAW
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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.”230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlM0iqJgGFp
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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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5D1meJuReb
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“So that means you accept me as your pupil?” Bertha asked.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5j44wFkEK4
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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.”230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKFJevOH1CP
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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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfpePOd7vZb
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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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0bLCEYhzVa
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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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOcGiKHqjqf
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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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEJgx4MWDFh
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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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlflOIEEPAD
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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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU4eIjng5B2
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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.”230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj3cEOFlMmT
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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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7fZZ4o78Cw
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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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKvBo1H5zvZ
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“I’m guessing that my lessons on the fire element start today?” I asked.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKopBAwA5op
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“Yep,” said Mei. There was a brief silence between us. “Is that the only question you’re going to ask?”230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXQ4w8LO2n7
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I scoffed. It looks like Mei has already read my mind. I didn’t sulk much over it.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpaZRdvjnh0
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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?”230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxofCzCU6tR
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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.”230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBeuW6sK6b7
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“Who will attack me then? Not Lord Vandell, I hope.”230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnhYRrfjdEo
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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.”230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ52SIlhcYvG
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Mei walked down the dais, but this time she went down through the east side. I quickly followed her.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWMeHbRR4A9
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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?”230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUzsnNdtK9g
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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.”230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0QQ0BWR5Xx
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“So how do they come about?”230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdvLcnAta32
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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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5pYHWr9D2M
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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.”230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxC4cuG7qfG
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“Bertha’s is an animal spirit. It looks like a lion if you ask me.”230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqVydZNI8Cs
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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.”230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaxrZgFEN2d
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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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfxLYohfyPj
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"Wait, you were there when I tried to defend myself?” I asked.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgVEeQ6DOQi
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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.”230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8TB0u5K9ro
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I didn’t say anything, as I knew I still had a lot to learn. That was nothing.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT08aosNhOH
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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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuHRfpq1C4v
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“I have another question, if you don’t mind,” I said to Mei as we got closer to the tree.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJVq4SLJTaq
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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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4I8fNEaxm1
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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?”230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgjTJJ4xKJy
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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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ43z8fbjz38
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“Can that outburst with the weather have something to do with which natural element they possess?”230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjICgOOG7or
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Mei didn’t hide how impressed she was. “In a way, yes. Can you guess what element her spirit has?”230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxIlowX6QBB
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“Nature. I remember there being a strong wind, and wind does fall under nature.”230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlh2rJ6SMvi
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“You’re learning a lot; that’s good.”230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡChCmrwe7GE
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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.”230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZOxhScMfkX
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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.”230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBAojd7s6ox
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“Wait, she could die?”230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYpgsgMgOMr
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“Well, she won’t die thanks to what you did when you fought her and her spirit.”230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSTgav7K3pY
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I scratched the side of my head. “Can you explain that for me, please?”230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgvCHYkmv91
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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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ2OqLy0JMZ
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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.”230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAD6z0WQXYd
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“So, if they do fuse, like you’ve put it, Bertha will be able to use the spirit’s aura?”230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDx84V6H4MQ
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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.”230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW0DRPzNRTc
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“I guess so. So I helped Bertha get through controlling the spirit, didn’t I?”230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7KVJCQlhHR
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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.”230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXYOMr9wvn1
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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?230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNDLxQrI0iR
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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.”230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2fNu40hufZ
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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?230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDhE2m7MVPE
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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.”230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHoTtxEG5zG
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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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1w16se4GQI
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“How did a tree from hell show up on this island?” I asked.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXKM488nArr
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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.”230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwtwDoB3rvM
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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?230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9YGzcUfq0z
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“Don’t worry,” said Mei. “Everyone gets that feeling all the time. It is a passageway to hell after all.”230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwGxabqE0DF
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“Huh?” Then why is she taking me down there?230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOPWE9C8CKk
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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.”230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSN0xj25ZmL
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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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnzZpcdejhy
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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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLs8UCQn4f2
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“Not really,” I said, swallowing afterwards.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJS1sjHkKIC
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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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6TBs43vDrc
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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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLTOaDWM4lW
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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?”230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTDtve8CZwg
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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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