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.50Please respect copyright.PENANAd6d9R1TbzG
50Please respect copyright.PENANAFBMUdGlEMw
50Please respect copyright.PENANA7gNPrklRvu
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.50Please respect copyright.PENANAQGzfzs4FER
50Please respect copyright.PENANA56xjbTqoQB
50Please respect copyright.PENANA0yjsybp8Kg
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.50Please respect copyright.PENANAXpA8Ht5nhV
50Please respect copyright.PENANAqPJpT2R5dV
50Please respect copyright.PENANAhN7uanw1RT
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.50Please respect copyright.PENANA39wWYQL7q2
50Please respect copyright.PENANADsoSmrupmX
50Please respect copyright.PENANAEfFINcLREd
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.50Please respect copyright.PENANA6ZFAqNFEvb
50Please respect copyright.PENANAzYJr4BCIq6
50Please respect copyright.PENANAMirJXRboCL
“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.50Please respect copyright.PENANAgo5ehzAWLx
50Please respect copyright.PENANAPz5LDWKpVB
50Please respect copyright.PENANAG2awuykHxR
“Hi Bertha,” I said back. “What are you doing here?”50Please respect copyright.PENANASEtuaHNj8X
50Please respect copyright.PENANAlsC9TeOiTL
50Please respect copyright.PENANAvh09PqKv5p
“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.”50Please respect copyright.PENANAw4LGFgrkvI
50Please respect copyright.PENANAYETSkgSJEM
50Please respect copyright.PENANA9Y7UHcZZro
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.50Please respect copyright.PENANAUStyj4o4JP
50Please respect copyright.PENANAnJbZZcqndi
50Please respect copyright.PENANAuxBbrUJ35f
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.50Please respect copyright.PENANATVLFfRRmIa
50Please respect copyright.PENANAakvVxofLz6
50Please respect copyright.PENANAIOUemuhklf
“Sorry about that.” I apologized. “What do you want to talk about?”50Please respect copyright.PENANAScXPj5JagU
50Please respect copyright.PENANAn1ryoyiLIk
50Please respect copyright.PENANA0y5YxeFpZI
“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.”50Please respect copyright.PENANANQSdZX1Kvf
50Please respect copyright.PENANAAPSmnMbeGP
50Please respect copyright.PENANAqjhWMdx6Ua
I raise my eyebrows. How could she remember that?50Please respect copyright.PENANAeqJtkSMVNZ
50Please respect copyright.PENANAqEOkrKuFiq
50Please respect copyright.PENANAqzFrQHtWRo
“Yes, you did. Do you usually remember things when you go into an episode?” I asked.50Please respect copyright.PENANAaVvYvv3v1k
50Please respect copyright.PENANAV659XwgNHa
50Please respect copyright.PENANAb3CMQOG3aG
“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.”50Please respect copyright.PENANAnl1hOjasDO
50Please respect copyright.PENANAUq1ESgTo99
50Please respect copyright.PENANAbIaPaL79p9
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.50Please respect copyright.PENANAxK8MQFh7P7
50Please respect copyright.PENANAtCoDCiyisX
50Please respect copyright.PENANAzFyuPp0hNL
“Is this what you want to talk about?” I folded my arms.50Please respect copyright.PENANADOfU8rLgbj
50Please respect copyright.PENANALTTngwGmKx
50Please respect copyright.PENANAlfUrPGZyDp
“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.”50Please respect copyright.PENANAXmKbW83iYB
50Please respect copyright.PENANA8X1ZtEbdRQ
50Please respect copyright.PENANAuumLbeh2OQ
I kept my mouth tightly shut, waiting for her to say it.50Please respect copyright.PENANA9Ylh5eAHI4
50Please respect copyright.PENANACUwyMAWQ6Y
50Please respect copyright.PENANAFeWCghMe8Z
“I recently discovered that I’m a supernatural, and I think you are too,” Bertha said aloud.50Please respect copyright.PENANAT0GtQdpxWj
50Please respect copyright.PENANAhOVb1jlKW1
50Please respect copyright.PENANAztA0rMXdyK
My face must have given it all away because Bertha now looked embarrassed for saying her secret, especially to me.50Please respect copyright.PENANAnYaNcAesR0
50Please respect copyright.PENANAWpJ9Z6VNJe
50Please respect copyright.PENANAIU3OZQ3HJa
“What makes you think that I am also a supernatural being?" I asked.50Please respect copyright.PENANA3k83zIg5Cy
50Please respect copyright.PENANAOAAOwFxU0G
50Please respect copyright.PENANAt01ZNVJWi5
“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.”50Please respect copyright.PENANA2Bx8lS320N
50Please respect copyright.PENANAMYtHcQL4hQ
50Please respect copyright.PENANAVVZxAvqlbn
“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.50Please respect copyright.PENANAvowR55WNeH
50Please respect copyright.PENANAz2leMLz5Ii
50Please respect copyright.PENANAs2FoN0apDD
“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.”50Please respect copyright.PENANAOjfXHf4C94
50Please respect copyright.PENANAF8Gb2H9wVf
50Please respect copyright.PENANAfQme50cgXF
“That explains why your aura seems funny. It’s human, but there’s something different about it.”50Please respect copyright.PENANA971Z9TuXCa
50Please respect copyright.PENANAMnfYxVP2Um
50Please respect copyright.PENANAUTYRBaDwlY
“Oh, is that what the energy I feel from everyone is called?” Bertha’s eyes widened with awe.50Please respect copyright.PENANAjim0OiVgIL
50Please respect copyright.PENANAM0cgQ9HMzo
50Please respect copyright.PENANAaMso2zkGcE
I nodded my head. “It seems you have developed the sense of reading aura quiet naturally,” I said.50Please respect copyright.PENANAMZgpvRkrfS
50Please respect copyright.PENANA8mOVFFNHd5
50Please respect copyright.PENANA3PftOckucZ
“Oh, no, the spirit has been teaching me about the supernatural world,” Bertha said proudly.50Please respect copyright.PENANAhAxF3ybTIt
50Please respect copyright.PENANApE8hDoA9wC
50Please respect copyright.PENANA6etRVDsXbh
“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?”50Please respect copyright.PENANAX9Vg4BdISc
50Please respect copyright.PENANAlVw8D6VS48
50Please respect copyright.PENANA35FBdCFTXx
“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.”50Please respect copyright.PENANArF4POsY2a0
50Please respect copyright.PENANAK4hiwodBPP
50Please respect copyright.PENANAWaVTo2TI0D
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.50Please respect copyright.PENANAPw1vyjbM7M
50Please respect copyright.PENANAnDj6ECg77F
50Please respect copyright.PENANACd2UDhuFjq
“Did your spirit tell you to come talk to me over this?” I asked.50Please respect copyright.PENANAzPf1T8O5sa
50Please respect copyright.PENANAiYesJ3nowe
50Please respect copyright.PENANAArRfgQ02Am
“Yes. It tells me that I should seek your help over something,” Bertha replied.50Please respect copyright.PENANAISPhunoXFj
50Please respect copyright.PENANAYNaoJ09Fb7
50Please respect copyright.PENANAWdvq43C0LX
“Which is what?”50Please respect copyright.PENANAYGc9t0NICp
50Please respect copyright.PENANAIdDuqlUtUx
50Please respect copyright.PENANAeREDQ4B9Oq
“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.”50Please respect copyright.PENANASxc7tSRh5E
50Please respect copyright.PENANAFoCOKbPHq9
50Please respect copyright.PENANAxRSVKQEsfC
I scoffed. “I don’t really know much about the supernatural world,” I said. “But, yes, I have been receiving lessons.”50Please respect copyright.PENANAg1mwNQevAQ
50Please respect copyright.PENANAevcWzp28HE
50Please respect copyright.PENANAgHwfFDj2L8
“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.”50Please respect copyright.PENANADM0p6DFJgK
50Please respect copyright.PENANAtmQ5vRpoZA
50Please respect copyright.PENANAWhDnLiH8kl
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.50Please respect copyright.PENANAxQVbw5lcyZ
50Please respect copyright.PENANAWCzYOIjuV3
50Please respect copyright.PENANAFvRKgEUaxv
I didn’t have much time, and Stella is probably waiting for me on the other end.50Please respect copyright.PENANAueRQ2YEZ6d
50Please respect copyright.PENANAHysfOFGjmG
50Please respect copyright.PENANAeWK10yA29s
“Okay, I’ll take you with me,” I said. “But you should promise not to tell anyone about this.”50Please respect copyright.PENANAspVlR6foqh
50Please respect copyright.PENANAL6ZHT1pTg3
50Please respect copyright.PENANAV6u2g8M7w9
“I have never told anyone about me or you,” Bertha said. “If anyone knew, they would call us Satanists, right?”50Please respect copyright.PENANAvztNBcZTVn
50Please respect copyright.PENANAgkaK341mck
50Please respect copyright.PENANAWSj0agKSNH
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.50Please respect copyright.PENANASONHR9DnJV
50Please respect copyright.PENANAvggV1hxx42
50Please respect copyright.PENANAdQr7xa1vrs
“Is this the gate to the other side?” she asked. “I never knew it would be like this.”50Please respect copyright.PENANAM06iuSt6ZQ
50Please respect copyright.PENANA5knyM0wl7e
50Please respect copyright.PENANAbqpaZqbAXn
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.50Please respect copyright.PENANA8hdD36nSTo
50Please respect copyright.PENANA4xj5JC2Wl2
50Please respect copyright.PENANAjRiQYpqyIm
“You can see the gate?” I asked.50Please respect copyright.PENANAkcIyoSy9N9
50Please respect copyright.PENANA4nDowh40uL
50Please respect copyright.PENANAlvURlXitTZ
“Yes, I can,” said Bertha.50Please respect copyright.PENANA1hSa4aeule
50Please respect copyright.PENANANAYGYECVo4
50Please respect copyright.PENANA1JRJXPLbB3
I fully turned my body to face her. “What does the gate look like?”50Please respect copyright.PENANA6Losofx4yt
50Please respect copyright.PENANAWUfFLd3oGh
50Please respect copyright.PENANAosQwAPLnYb
She looked nervously at me before turning to look at the wall behind me. “Uh,” she hesitated.50Please respect copyright.PENANAzbKGN2hQ9M
50Please respect copyright.PENANAGuGAnOhK7N
50Please respect copyright.PENANAojjNGP9OMI
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.50Please respect copyright.PENANA9HA8otNqFo
50Please respect copyright.PENANA2pUb6s34y1
50Please respect copyright.PENANAJc0EPVkh2D
“Whoa, Diana, that was close,” said Bertha.50Please respect copyright.PENANAtyCIaTPW2m
50Please respect copyright.PENANAl8SHzSA3tO
50Please respect copyright.PENANA5ZLeLzUMwY
“I’m guessing that that’s your animal spirit?” I asked, looking straight at it.50Please respect copyright.PENANAE2zDyHdEaj
50Please respect copyright.PENANAYAfvxI6qkC
50Please respect copyright.PENANAMXwgFAqDyY
“Nice to meet you again, Diana,” Bertha’s spirit said. “At least we're meeting under better circumstances.”50Please respect copyright.PENANAqdy6pIORdf
50Please respect copyright.PENANAE64roVWxXn
50Please respect copyright.PENANAFmdslea7vB
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.50Please respect copyright.PENANATzqCzEstpd
50Please respect copyright.PENANAU3FlZWu5oT
50Please respect copyright.PENANASBpLGBCQD4
“You’re right, this is way better than our last encounter,” I said to the spirit. “Tell me what’s really going on here.”50Please respect copyright.PENANAgkQaukc1Xa
50Please respect copyright.PENANABpUnYBJsVn
50Please respect copyright.PENANAPSblAS9D2d
Bertha turned to look at her spirit. “First of all, I would like to thank you, Diana,” the spirit spoke.50Please respect copyright.PENANA57JShXWGPd
50Please respect copyright.PENANADIZUcxQrMF
50Please respect copyright.PENANAXibh17QFRk
“Thank me for what?” I asked with my eyebrow raised.50Please respect copyright.PENANAMsJfdy7JGS
50Please respect copyright.PENANAWNpwUu5729
50Please respect copyright.PENANAfSfO76LiaR
“Well, if it wasn’t for my encounter with you last time, I would never have come to my senses.”50Please respect copyright.PENANA8ZTVmlflwQ
50Please respect copyright.PENANAMlYWiFaG5S
50Please respect copyright.PENANAPojml2y7HD
“I don’t understand what you mean.”50Please respect copyright.PENANArgAPohVLnn
50Please respect copyright.PENANArYXddeqiqk
50Please respect copyright.PENANAh05NGdfXoy
“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.”50Please respect copyright.PENANAYSzSZHcwag
50Please respect copyright.PENANAwl32lSUKfP
50Please respect copyright.PENANABt5pN2xMhy
“What do I still have to do with it? All we did was fight and somehow put the both of you to sleep.”50Please respect copyright.PENANAiDWPweCTz6
50Please respect copyright.PENANAomgYX0V0Rk
50Please respect copyright.PENANAk3RitEyXHj
“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.”50Please respect copyright.PENANAjR2IwJusFL
50Please respect copyright.PENANA4eqvNGB10M
50Please respect copyright.PENANAiGVELD6abm
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?50Please respect copyright.PENANAEFswuPu1ea
50Please respect copyright.PENANAzmVAMR7d8I
50Please respect copyright.PENANAGhbiiXTDmR
“As much as I would love to take credit, I’m still not convinced that I had anything to do with it,” I said.50Please respect copyright.PENANAZ6oTGIsQZt
50Please respect copyright.PENANAztEyXpJrhO
50Please respect copyright.PENANAYGvGxrllPw
“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.”50Please respect copyright.PENANAEytp8zBtJZ
50Please respect copyright.PENANAUnP8jvtQgO
50Please respect copyright.PENANAHI2hLQSdxl
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.50Please respect copyright.PENANAA5hnNBzEvS
50Please respect copyright.PENANAwdCN9LlAQ5
50Please respect copyright.PENANABYxKgjmATT
“That aside,” I said, “tell me why you want to come with me to Butterfly Island.”50Please respect copyright.PENANA337j8wPXGc
50Please respect copyright.PENANAk0FDqVGlpt
50Please respect copyright.PENANAt8PwpoATKA
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?50Please respect copyright.PENANApXc3ImU0bx
50Please respect copyright.PENANAJJB9syYGUT
50Please respect copyright.PENANA9M6Qqdfkwb
“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.”50Please respect copyright.PENANAvjYH8ISCMK
50Please respect copyright.PENANADhVcNY2EQq
50Please respect copyright.PENANAIohkQYB1dI
“But you’re a spirit, and you seem to be more knowledgeable about it than me,” I said.50Please respect copyright.PENANAUjvkTy2QCB
50Please respect copyright.PENANA4ScWlbNG2D
50Please respect copyright.PENANA2f8Vd9wfSL
“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.”50Please respect copyright.PENANAE4BMOsLg5d
50Please respect copyright.PENANAaU27cEqgPR
50Please respect copyright.PENANAqSiS0lhp18
“You’re her spirit. Don’t you know her primary element?”50Please respect copyright.PENANARNhiiXNTSC
50Please respect copyright.PENANAQ1NHPG45Rh
50Please respect copyright.PENANALn4lBWJ469
“I do, because it's my element.”50Please respect copyright.PENANAYdKR6Vi5jM
50Please respect copyright.PENANAEbcstP88N8
50Please respect copyright.PENANAqoNW98wbgZ
“Most importantly, she has to know how to use the spirit’s aura to her advantage,” said a voice behind me.50Please respect copyright.PENANAohVcxvolNr
50Please respect copyright.PENANAQR6Yg7bEHQ
50Please respect copyright.PENANANrncpvaF7q
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.50Please respect copyright.PENANAqNEoKnnHzK
50Please respect copyright.PENANAN0mPDBRkiu
50Please respect copyright.PENANAIINpnqCPMe
Bertha was clearly stunned to see the two women standing before us, as she clearly didn’t hide her excitement; she almost squealed.50Please respect copyright.PENANA98g3Tm1DvT
50Please respect copyright.PENANAPlOcP73a8M
50Please respect copyright.PENANAqSqcQCqbVu
“Are you from Butterfly Island?” Bertha asked.50Please respect copyright.PENANAG2AcuisHPi
50Please respect copyright.PENANAy5KI98ymbY
50Please respect copyright.PENANAt7m0OxRbu4
Stella gave her a kind smile. “Yes, we are,” she answered. “My name is Stella.”50Please respect copyright.PENANAbeokKYK20g
50Please respect copyright.PENANA234AnEUpz7
50Please respect copyright.PENANAGSEyL175U3
“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.”50Please respect copyright.PENANAgxJdMl2inu
50Please respect copyright.PENANAT1C0b9vLeg
50Please respect copyright.PENANABYHaK57zWy
“You know about her?” I asked.50Please respect copyright.PENANAfB8rsYoq9W
50Please respect copyright.PENANAm7of9eXWTq
50Please respect copyright.PENANAP8y3RG2DcZ
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.”50Please respect copyright.PENANAIH0aEXYJ3R
50Please respect copyright.PENANAt9qqyrIqbF
50Please respect copyright.PENANAw9o5ZEhtRB
“Could that be the reason why her spirit is sane?”50Please respect copyright.PENANA2Dvj2FW2Po
50Please respect copyright.PENANAypK15r78Kx
50Please respect copyright.PENANARsie2EiGdf
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.”50Please respect copyright.PENANApgn8jQrz5p
50Please respect copyright.PENANAxNtk0RAR0f
50Please respect copyright.PENANAkvSgLJtXhv
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.50Please respect copyright.PENANANKScP2FgQx
50Please respect copyright.PENANAM2JidlHgFD
50Please respect copyright.PENANAitGSFZQI91
“So that means you accept me as your pupil?” Bertha asked.50Please respect copyright.PENANAsr141vH4Rg
50Please respect copyright.PENANAbNCjI1zpVc
50Please respect copyright.PENANA7zU3E6d6Bk
“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.”50Please respect copyright.PENANAXfrVnMbUkm
50Please respect copyright.PENANAdZlWwlAFBH
50Please respect copyright.PENANAcI8exfKibJ
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.50Please respect copyright.PENANAzYHHejg1cv
50Please respect copyright.PENANAQ4AQnHrRC6
50Please respect copyright.PENANABhJRNjvreA
“We better go; we’re behind schedule,” said Mei as she turned to look at the butterfly-drawn gateway on the wall.50Please respect copyright.PENANA1XXLUgHKaI
50Please respect copyright.PENANADM3bIQtzFR
50Please respect copyright.PENANA3kkEa32W3R
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.50Please respect copyright.PENANAo3neVxKuPm
50Please respect copyright.PENANATfRXylkWif
50Please respect copyright.PENANAZ21H6z8a8J
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.50Please respect copyright.PENANAFUWZeScVSS
50Please respect copyright.PENANAxUOS6rR9vM
50Please respect copyright.PENANA38Br2SCNoX
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.50Please respect copyright.PENANATZoA8yPKoF
50Please respect copyright.PENANA22RPszanwh
50Please respect copyright.PENANA7mlskCn05h
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.50Please respect copyright.PENANAO85CTFpv0h
50Please respect copyright.PENANA2SIu2AIuKV
50Please respect copyright.PENANAN4K2l9JUrc
“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.”50Please respect copyright.PENANAshI6W9qRKq
50Please respect copyright.PENANAxg3Eq8N37i
50Please respect copyright.PENANAGSUyPqDMUN
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.50Please respect copyright.PENANAaEycplqkEa
50Please respect copyright.PENANAZVuxy0ioeh
50Please respect copyright.PENANAmhRM4hJLkP
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.50Please respect copyright.PENANAZ6WvynjBWg
50Please respect copyright.PENANAdMIhk4h9GD
50Please respect copyright.PENANA3DAT5aS2oG
“I’m guessing that my lessons on the fire element start today?” I asked.50Please respect copyright.PENANAEozFR7Ms10
50Please respect copyright.PENANA2gRRbKlkZW
50Please respect copyright.PENANAvbGQNPEqWh
“Yep,” said Mei. There was a brief silence between us. “Is that the only question you’re going to ask?”50Please respect copyright.PENANAvdj1nO37Fv
50Please respect copyright.PENANAKWcnbdGuBF
50Please respect copyright.PENANA3fClOTDN4q
I scoffed. It looks like Mei has already read my mind. I didn’t sulk much over it.50Please respect copyright.PENANA0zRObuVf0G
50Please respect copyright.PENANAr9JS3u9gUC
50Please respect copyright.PENANAYnkWfQQ5yY
“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?”50Please respect copyright.PENANA1g6hffFUpa
50Please respect copyright.PENANA64XbY5cKKr
50Please respect copyright.PENANA8lAm0XgiP7
Mei smiled at me, but not the sweet kind. “That will be decided when Her Highness thinks it’s safe for you to.”50Please respect copyright.PENANA5QYKisXNtv
50Please respect copyright.PENANAqA1z5xbN9X
50Please respect copyright.PENANAxJRScPbDYP
“Who will attack me then? Not Lord Vandell, I hope.”50Please respect copyright.PENANAOOVyUMYVM6
50Please respect copyright.PENANAPKNLdfJSdx
50Please respect copyright.PENANAUbYa5rA9ZM
Mei screwed her face in disgust. “I’ve never liked that man; he always gets on my nerves. Let’s go.”50Please respect copyright.PENANA27e6FUdJI0
50Please respect copyright.PENANA4wRAHaC15n
50Please respect copyright.PENANAmzVcpKoJEH
Mei walked down the dais, but this time she went down through the east side. I quickly followed her.50Please respect copyright.PENANA7ZR2Hseeo5
50Please respect copyright.PENANA0FdpQ6aP6T
50Please respect copyright.PENANAbYvce8KcDJ
“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?”50Please respect copyright.PENANA36i1QXmVkC
50Please respect copyright.PENANAywYNwplNGO
50Please respect copyright.PENANALYSOBfihve
“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.”50Please respect copyright.PENANAY5AOS1J9Ny
50Please respect copyright.PENANAhimiY46GtZ
50Please respect copyright.PENANAxCmeCVPYa5
“So how do they come about?”50Please respect copyright.PENANAIT86PG7HZt
50Please respect copyright.PENANAsBsakfuQpv
50Please respect copyright.PENANA8hePZlWFpu
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.50Please respect copyright.PENANAkWFf73KIrA
50Please respect copyright.PENANAJazloe3qNC
50Please respect copyright.PENANAqMUNJGvAyY
“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.”50Please respect copyright.PENANAaRDb7vzDjO
50Please respect copyright.PENANA1ZLNPf4v79
50Please respect copyright.PENANA5pp7NbXDmS
“Bertha’s is an animal spirit. It looks like a lion if you ask me.”50Please respect copyright.PENANAg5TK746vrh
50Please respect copyright.PENANAjJpWPsgvvH
50Please respect copyright.PENANAwRe6wvmTM0
“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.”50Please respect copyright.PENANAjDt22S4Zk7
50Please respect copyright.PENANA6TS6THsf08
50Please respect copyright.PENANAMJABzWa127
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.50Please respect copyright.PENANAdlsaDEw3oL
50Please respect copyright.PENANAO8qfxwFMNr
50Please respect copyright.PENANAtVueS0PJSI
"Wait, you were there when I tried to defend myself?” I asked.50Please respect copyright.PENANAW74LHueWJo
50Please respect copyright.PENANAYKJitu7s7y
50Please respect copyright.PENANAPNa3pCcvkM
“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.”50Please respect copyright.PENANAFejHrbjlgE
50Please respect copyright.PENANAzf7QejDCdE
50Please respect copyright.PENANABl6VUuFyvQ
I didn’t say anything, as I knew I still had a lot to learn. That was nothing.50Please respect copyright.PENANAJQsKXqNQS5
50Please respect copyright.PENANAfYvdVOJnQK
50Please respect copyright.PENANAL9r8qBn49F
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.50Please respect copyright.PENANA9EraBqlhwL
50Please respect copyright.PENANA3W8r0As038
50Please respect copyright.PENANArtPm6213qU
“I have another question, if you don’t mind,” I said to Mei as we got closer to the tree.50Please respect copyright.PENANAAz3jOeTZK6
50Please respect copyright.PENANAqvSST6K1HD
50Please respect copyright.PENANAunxQPs24qz
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.50Please respect copyright.PENANAygGtwaZb3d
50Please respect copyright.PENANAcz5qrzPzIN
50Please respect copyright.PENANAiCpld1oP5E
“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?”50Please respect copyright.PENANA1Zuidj2vul
50Please respect copyright.PENANAdgGefvxbHH
50Please respect copyright.PENANAE2V6x3S63t
“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.50Please respect copyright.PENANAhBHXMRCdm2
50Please respect copyright.PENANAA4ZYjr5UXI
50Please respect copyright.PENANAayqxg6kEST
“Can that outburst with the weather have something to do with which natural element they possess?”50Please respect copyright.PENANA66HAZ3G8qZ
50Please respect copyright.PENANATHiiXsWjyd
50Please respect copyright.PENANAzT1Updla5n
Mei didn’t hide how impressed she was. “In a way, yes. Can you guess what element her spirit has?”50Please respect copyright.PENANAfXQbTQDWPS
50Please respect copyright.PENANAmWFnEcxeep
50Please respect copyright.PENANAqWCHdG8YWP
“Nature. I remember there being a strong wind, and wind does fall under nature.”50Please respect copyright.PENANAAWBlHGAsLp
50Please respect copyright.PENANAt2WSFj174S
50Please respect copyright.PENANAwUBC6ltKP1
“You’re learning a lot; that’s good.”50Please respect copyright.PENANAsT2OVxf7U3
50Please respect copyright.PENANAoWBaTNRZob
50Please respect copyright.PENANAPtRKFGFDok
“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.”50Please respect copyright.PENANANoruv8ck90
50Please respect copyright.PENANAl5riwfxZM0
50Please respect copyright.PENANAEeLR64iv8R
“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.”50Please respect copyright.PENANAdmcKk22E3S
50Please respect copyright.PENANAC2Pb9TJRCr
50Please respect copyright.PENANAed22BzVvpE
“Wait, she could die?”50Please respect copyright.PENANAiAWwVB1zlK
50Please respect copyright.PENANAJZCwZrF08D
50Please respect copyright.PENANAgoEMbQTSiP
“Well, she won’t die thanks to what you did when you fought her and her spirit.”50Please respect copyright.PENANAM9vylvSc3i
50Please respect copyright.PENANAjzD8JnAV85
50Please respect copyright.PENANAOUTeVj9Hze
I scratched the side of my head. “Can you explain that for me, please?”50Please respect copyright.PENANAd1D0jIRBwA
50Please respect copyright.PENANAIu1wvT8e64
50Please respect copyright.PENANAyHC8D4aBsL
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.50Please respect copyright.PENANAqXjNvBxozH
50Please respect copyright.PENANA7RN1alh1zR
50Please respect copyright.PENANAsPJWOXEydq
“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.”50Please respect copyright.PENANAOLfHB0s3iI
50Please respect copyright.PENANAvTLJhNPdKD
50Please respect copyright.PENANAOLemRkr8Xr
“So, if they do fuse, like you’ve put it, Bertha will be able to use the spirit’s aura?”50Please respect copyright.PENANAmV8SZjo396
50Please respect copyright.PENANANLgCGBt2hK
50Please respect copyright.PENANAnaGfw1ktfE
“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.”50Please respect copyright.PENANATggLC5TTST
50Please respect copyright.PENANACOfE9UYFmm
50Please respect copyright.PENANAZDt41V7DQ1
“I guess so. So I helped Bertha get through controlling the spirit, didn’t I?”50Please respect copyright.PENANAfAPfRQ0HOh
50Please respect copyright.PENANAoLcNwfUzNm
50Please respect copyright.PENANAAhbqkKbY36
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.”50Please respect copyright.PENANAmllh8PF8jv
50Please respect copyright.PENANAFDlqSL2GL5
50Please respect copyright.PENANArRNDjU0C8m
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?50Please respect copyright.PENANAEqdmWYaJmC
50Please respect copyright.PENANARY2LXO37us
50Please respect copyright.PENANAOu6p7rEQi5
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.”50Please respect copyright.PENANA3unmmUiqtz
50Please respect copyright.PENANAMSOmxlnXqE
50Please respect copyright.PENANAeXFrua6HnO
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?50Please respect copyright.PENANAoOR9t52JWW
50Please respect copyright.PENANAiK7ka9TxlB
50Please respect copyright.PENANAZmFWgQw2BG
“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.”50Please respect copyright.PENANAOHBU5JoRbJ
50Please respect copyright.PENANAtkD0rdQSJU
50Please respect copyright.PENANA8scIDLx9IN
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.50Please respect copyright.PENANAXswnefLruW
50Please respect copyright.PENANARRRVsh8v5V
50Please respect copyright.PENANAi524Ai3Tvj
“How did a tree from hell show up on this island?” I asked.50Please respect copyright.PENANAVSc6ygFgPb
50Please respect copyright.PENANAXffUBm0Ofd
50Please respect copyright.PENANAIXGknkmTbf
“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.”50Please respect copyright.PENANAzvjPgy62T3
50Please respect copyright.PENANAMxZcoaCt4z
50Please respect copyright.PENANADmizn7wNyn
“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?50Please respect copyright.PENANATR6gLPPg2X
50Please respect copyright.PENANAnzIkibQJ5n
50Please respect copyright.PENANA3wvIV9JXeW
“Don’t worry,” said Mei. “Everyone gets that feeling all the time. It is a passageway to hell after all.”50Please respect copyright.PENANAplRLuUyLCS
50Please respect copyright.PENANADNDBjTp7nh
50Please respect copyright.PENANAp2dccCl8dB
“Huh?” Then why is she taking me down there?50Please respect copyright.PENANAIbxm4gZBmH
50Please respect copyright.PENANATW3F5nghmZ
50Please respect copyright.PENANAL96JtjD1xj
“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.”50Please respect copyright.PENANApwdMR5VjA4
50Please respect copyright.PENANAtrS6foYRT2
50Please respect copyright.PENANA0IHn3tjWi1
“I can only imagine how they all felt when they came here for the first time.” I bet some even ran for their lives.50Please respect copyright.PENANAXbqt5LRSkO
50Please respect copyright.PENANAMhftD3g0Xh
50Please respect copyright.PENANAah0kVCAcjs
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.50Please respect copyright.PENANACPli6WPina
50Please respect copyright.PENANAOzRpH49fJx
50Please respect copyright.PENANAYEBUmW8pAf
“Not really,” I said, swallowing afterwards.50Please respect copyright.PENANAeONIwoSJ8r
50Please respect copyright.PENANAMyhDtr40yx
50Please respect copyright.PENANAe94KsgSj49
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.50Please respect copyright.PENANA1epGcizmyT
50Please respect copyright.PENANAadYqvNamud
50Please respect copyright.PENANA4FnE1NPkNF
“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.50Please respect copyright.PENANA8EXAZ1a9MG
50Please respect copyright.PENANArdOZOvmHBo
50Please respect copyright.PENANAR9QNmo3GEk
“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?”50Please respect copyright.PENANAr5k1GZo8f9
50Please respect copyright.PENANAORp3Jod3WR
50Please respect copyright.PENANAmqC7ztGRlD
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.