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.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK16FAExPvG
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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.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡneQpm4BOM4
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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.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqYE5lP6Dus
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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.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvRFdCvoSzS
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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.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvMBYcOU95k
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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.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLdW4nPGmau
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“Hi Bertha,” I said back. “What are you doing here?”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHL6A6lXTKZ
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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.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUWKz9PElmO
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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.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMdNPBy8Jub
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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.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPyJYvnLbdU
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“Sorry about that.” I apologized. “What do you want to talk about?”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn08OROwdMu
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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.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvNQSaTLVTG
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I raise my eyebrows. How could she remember that?351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnhQDAjyZzn
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“Yes, you did. Do you usually remember things when you go into an episode?” I asked.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡas2WUIZJMT
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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.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡilGuNJoi7u
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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.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4B0SybToUb
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“Is this what you want to talk about?” I folded my arms.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3rI1M1T3vF
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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.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc6GskppuVp
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I kept my mouth tightly shut, waiting for her to say it.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ38Sb9WUgCG
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“I recently discovered that I’m a supernatural, and I think you are too,” Bertha said aloud.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmPir8J2lWt
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My face must have given it all away because Bertha now looked embarrassed for saying her secret, especially to me.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC10vCVt8jp
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“What makes you think that I am also a supernatural being?" I asked.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj8DP1XPgj7
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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.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZvvFdUuSpj
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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.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1mTOnZFYN2
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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.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq92Xg9LETv
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“That explains why your aura seems funny. It’s human, but there’s something different about it.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPK4WECpMwI
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“Oh, is that what the energy I feel from everyone is called?” Bertha’s eyes widened with awe.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ6BdxdtSZP
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I nodded my head. “It seems you have developed the sense of reading aura quiet naturally,” I said.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5CfCrzxTFw
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“Oh, no, the spirit has been teaching me about the supernatural world,” Bertha said proudly.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjjLv8v0urY
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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?”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkwOEcAPFUY
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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.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlSy52Gbz5f
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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.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI8iC5PT2Gj
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“Did your spirit tell you to come talk to me over this?” I asked.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKIVujno0Hw
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“Yes. It tells me that I should seek your help over something,” Bertha replied.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWkpvteWP0J
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“Which is what?”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHVRX2Wq2ww
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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.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYc6FNHfcfA
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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.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUEVt9vx3YW
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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.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU3QslN8ID3
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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.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxmPuKxZAHY
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I didn’t have much time, and Stella is probably waiting for me on the other end.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhImopfveKy
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“Okay, I’ll take you with me,” I said. “But you should promise not to tell anyone about this.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1RIemQDeQO
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“I have never told anyone about me or you,” Bertha said. “If anyone knew, they would call us Satanists, right?”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRTiCotnRQq
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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.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfv2VOZGB9n
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“Is this the gate to the other side?” she asked. “I never knew it would be like this.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4XD7SDFYRZ
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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.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhreeR7Hcnq
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“You can see the gate?” I asked.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdcSnbHd34K
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“Yes, I can,” said Bertha.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡehulGfdy2t
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I fully turned my body to face her. “What does the gate look like?”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzEu0SPRTo3
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She looked nervously at me before turning to look at the wall behind me. “Uh,” she hesitated.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvzv63F4q4e
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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.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWeNmlAmedl
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“Whoa, Diana, that was close,” said Bertha.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5OGsqV9XJl
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“I’m guessing that that’s your animal spirit?” I asked, looking straight at it.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ65iUrUJI4Z
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“Nice to meet you again, Diana,” Bertha’s spirit said. “At least we're meeting under better circumstances.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKxIXjbhHPq
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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.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ02mTokfJ9H
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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.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡImpMnT4jTO
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Bertha turned to look at her spirit. “First of all, I would like to thank you, Diana,” the spirit spoke.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbWEoBUFRRm
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“Thank me for what?” I asked with my eyebrow raised.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYdQinX8wzE
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“Well, if it wasn’t for my encounter with you last time, I would never have come to my senses.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG1lJZuLIUb
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“I don’t understand what you mean.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8jQHw6ggAe
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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.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKwh8G6DEPl
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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.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVkIbipV8bc
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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.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0zNtpTEMpZ
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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?351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIefqA2aqNi
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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.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiBHqCL0NxP
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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.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQh3ym3k9Py
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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.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ47rqCSM8k1
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“That aside,” I said, “tell me why you want to come with me to Butterfly Island.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcCZbvQSTBb
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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?351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOIB1HDYrou
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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.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMNbC4RNnk9
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“But you’re a spirit, and you seem to be more knowledgeable about it than me,” I said.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGgjIbN5jZq
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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.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJOqmFuAYub
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“You’re her spirit. Don’t you know her primary element?”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdya4Snri3M
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“I do, because it's my element.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZvd08X9Mq9
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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.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6HVmnTqjvN
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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.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL4SuUiPmoR
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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.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEV2QEfvcfv
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“Are you from Butterfly Island?” Bertha asked.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7FtGCW3xIx
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Stella gave her a kind smile. “Yes, we are,” she answered. “My name is Stella.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiW2k8YnZR8
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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.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡymDLXpKilS
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“You know about her?” I asked.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXXoaWdDWmG
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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.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlJ94oJOiZI
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“Could that be the reason why her spirit is sane?”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhORdKDAVeg
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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.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmB85vwPsNQ
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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.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj61h6awSF4
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“So that means you accept me as your pupil?” Bertha asked.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa7ELHu0lgn
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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.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBAL6k8VO7K
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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.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8YfCGLCGLZ
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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.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcxp7kts378
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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.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlRZv8y6K9f
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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.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhDelJeuiSk
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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.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk0hfWuDV9r
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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.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMKhdtzuGlt
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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.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAcvWFkW4t5
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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.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHtH2ybgTzr
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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.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfgUE48m9mX
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“I’m guessing that my lessons on the fire element start today?” I asked.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlPIfyCmKT6
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“Yep,” said Mei. There was a brief silence between us. “Is that the only question you’re going to ask?”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZoC0NbV6SH
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I scoffed. It looks like Mei has already read my mind. I didn’t sulk much over it.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUCfHs0Lbxa
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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?”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTKnGLAuxmf
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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.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvhe99qOHrb
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“Who will attack me then? Not Lord Vandell, I hope.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡixQ1HPwMt2
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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.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFJiFvsy9SI
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Mei walked down the dais, but this time she went down through the east side. I quickly followed her.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQkenBaMoh7
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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?”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPvOSrP2sii
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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.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡthrqy0z13Y
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“So how do they come about?”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKvK4xWvzs0
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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.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkK6S4x7UcJ
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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.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiXajFCCxoU
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“Bertha’s is an animal spirit. It looks like a lion if you ask me.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡykhpIruOBL
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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.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq1cgz7yukS
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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.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9sssRwblu2
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"Wait, you were there when I tried to defend myself?” I asked.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0G5MzbVr01
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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.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4WMjg4f8PW
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I didn’t say anything, as I knew I still had a lot to learn. That was nothing.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7aWaQqFrDt
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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.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwbEqIsmGLo
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“I have another question, if you don’t mind,” I said to Mei as we got closer to the tree.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYTwZZL82Qu
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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.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQWtzHRDEG
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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?”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtzgWsRrnXw
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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.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLRwTeuZ9NW
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“Can that outburst with the weather have something to do with which natural element they possess?”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7hxri9dx9g
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Mei didn’t hide how impressed she was. “In a way, yes. Can you guess what element her spirit has?”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQM7dDN3P3r
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“Nature. I remember there being a strong wind, and wind does fall under nature.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWzkZPYmBJH
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“You’re learning a lot; that’s good.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo5BxlEIMW0
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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.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡipNhhaGSfs
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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.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6JBJdhpVSK
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“Wait, she could die?”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8mLoZEg4oS
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“Well, she won’t die thanks to what you did when you fought her and her spirit.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsP1RRlmeZ6
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I scratched the side of my head. “Can you explain that for me, please?”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeFmbr5MIaj
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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.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS388THEePD
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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.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz3MqRBpuqD
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“So, if they do fuse, like you’ve put it, Bertha will be able to use the spirit’s aura?”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNnJq51raL0
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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.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfoIBiCua1S
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“I guess so. So I helped Bertha get through controlling the spirit, didn’t I?”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG5lFidgISG
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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.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7i1O3Iy524
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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?351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRccmJflPh4
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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.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiTeL3p6W6A
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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?351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzY9HL63B7j
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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.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq6bW0RyA5U
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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.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnDn0BJdkCi
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“How did a tree from hell show up on this island?” I asked.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYkPjju8oge
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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.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmUSJ5u1Xza
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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?351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA917PlyyfU
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“Don’t worry,” said Mei. “Everyone gets that feeling all the time. It is a passageway to hell after all.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwszOV9r5lT
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“Huh?” Then why is she taking me down there?351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcHuK8qktDl
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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.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq27rWpZB1E
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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.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9N8zfPigZ4
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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.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPmA2mR7j5i
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“Not really,” I said, swallowing afterwards.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Qz8jDxzsc
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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.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuzipmy5AKS
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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.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAl3oURorsp
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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?”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtQq1W5v3FB
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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.8964 copyright protection347ＰＥＮＡＮＡMH5Db1s1MA 維尼

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