Dahlia was walking towards the exit while carrying everyone with her powers
Pain tore through her body from overusing her powers
Her vision blurred as she struggled to stay upright
"Urgh... I... have to keep on going..." Dahlia gritted her teeth as she winced from her broken jaw
She suddenly stumbled and fell to the ground
"Argh... I... have to go... get up... Dahlia..." She said to herself as she tried to stand up
But her legs wouldn't work properly
"Stupid... body..." She groaned as she clenched her fists
Before she soon forcefully stands up, even though her legs trembled
Suddenly a soothing wind passes through her, making her hair flutter softly
{ { Why not rest here a little, my dear? } }
That same familiar whisper was heard from behind
Her body stilled as she looks over
She didn't see anything
"... I should quickly leave..." She mumbled to herself as she turned to face forward
Everything suddenly darkened
There was nothing...
No children that were carried by her
No portal
No exit
Just her and the darkness
She couldn't move as her eyes were wide open
Sweat formed on her forehead
"Where... am I?... Why... can't I move?" She thought internally
She tried to move, but none of the part of her body moved
She was still in place
Her mind was starting to get blank
She blinked repeatedly, to keep herself conscious
"I have to stay awake..." She repeated internally desperately
But suddenly, a light catches her eyes
She squinted her eyes, trying to see properly
"What... is that...?" She thought internally
Dahlia stares at the light
The light grew larger and larger in size
Before not long, it covered the whole place she is at, she was blinded by it
She closed her eyes tightly
Dahlia felt the force that was holding her body in place, was released. She can now move properly
As the blinding light faded
She can finally look, as she opened her eyes
Her eyes widened at what she saw
What she was seeing literally took her breath away
The place she is at was... beautiful
Light pink colored sky
Landscapes that were floating in the air
White flowers were everywhere as wind brushes against it making it sway
Trees everywhere as she stood at the opening
The scenery soothed her mind as she smiled before she took a step
She froze, "Huh... my... body doesn't hurts...?" she thought internally as she looked at herself
No cracks... no injuries she acquired earlier...
She didn't feel her headache
In fact, her mind was fresh
That is not all that she noticed. She wasn't wearing the clothes she was wearing earlier...
Instead she was wearing a white beautiful dress
Her long pink hair was down as it seemed to be brushed just now
"What is happening...?... And... what is this place?" She mumbled to herself
{ { { Silence } } }
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.
.
{ { "You're at the "Yin Realm"} }
That same whisper was heard again
Dahlia froze before she looked around, "That voice again... where is it coming...? Who does it belong to?!"
The whisperer seemed to chuckle seeing her reaction
{ { "Wary aren't you, my dear?" } } It teased her, slightly
"It's an obvious reaction that I will be wary... what do you expect?" Dahlia shot back
{ { "Haha, your not wrong. But I assure that I mean no harm to you" } } It began
{ { "In fact, I am your helper" } } It declared
Dahlia stilled before narrowing her eyes, "Helper?"
{ { "Yes, your helper. Remember how you found a book in one the ghoul's houses? That was me that placed the book there" } } it pointed out
Dahlia just stares at the blank space with a deadpanned look
The whisperer seemed to only sigh from it
{ { "Believe me or not. That was me. I was the one who guided you to the library, pointed out the book. All of it" } } It said
Dahlia only nods begrudgingly
{ { "See? I am your helper" } } It seemed to sound proud
"Fine, you helped me" Dahlia admitted as she nods again
{ { "Glad you admitted!" } } The whisperer exclaimed, as it seemed to sound happy
"But..." Dahlia began
The whisperer only seemed to hum in response
"Why did you help me?" She asked finally
{ { "What do you mean?" } } It asked
"What I mean is... why help me when you simply have no reason to. You won't gain anything from it-" { { "Oh no, I will gain something from helping you" } } It suddenly replied, cutting Dahlia off in the middle
Dahlia only seemed to tilt her head, "Gain what exactly?" she asked
{ { "Your trust and being your friend" } } It replied, as it seemed gleeful of it
Dahlia blinked, "Excuse me...? My trust...? Friend?"
{ { "Yep, I wanna be your friend! That is why I helped you from the very beginning!" } } It replied back
"What is wrong with this... thing? Wanting to be my friend?..." Dahlia internally questioned herself
She looks down, closing her eyes briefly for a moment "It seems it has other intentions in being my friend... but... what can it be-" { { "Your thinking if I have any ulterior motive or not, are you?" } } It pointed out suddenly, snapping Dahlia out from the middle of her thoughts
Her eyes widened slightly before looking up slowly
{ { "It is understandable that you find me weird. But like I said before, I mean no harm. And just wanna be your friend" } } It assured her
"Well, I still don't trust-" { { "I guess I will earn your trust if I fixed a meeting with your guardian, no?" } } It said suddenly, again cutting Dahlia off in the middle
Dahlia's eyes widened
"Wait- how come you know that I have a guardian?!" She asked as her voice raised in tone
The whisperer laughed softly, { { "Let's say, I have my ways" } } It said
"Urgh... it is getting more and more suspicious... sure it helped me... but... it is still suspicious... especially" Dahlia thought as she clenched her hands to fists
"It knows I have a guardian... no one was supposed to know this... how come this thing know it?" She furrowed her brows
"You said you can fix a meeting with my guardian? Then fix it now" She demanded
{ { "Hm? A meeting? Now?" } } It asked, but by the tone. It seemed pleased
{ { "Very well then, head straight. I will lead you to your "guardian"" } } It emphasized the word "guardian", Dahlia noticed instantly but didn't said anything
Dahlia let out a small sigh before heading straight
"I wonder what will happen now... But... I am more worried where everyone are? Are they all back home? Safely returned" She thought internally as she was worried about the all the children including Fenry, Hunji, Jeon and Xinhua
{ { "Head right and don't get lost in thoughts again" } } It said as it teased Dahlia again
Dahlia only huffed before she turned right, walking deeper into the forest
While she was walking
The scenery from where she was admiring
Suddenly flickered slightly, before going back in to place again
As if nothing happened
Dahlia followed where the whispering leads her on
She encountered many strange things
Purple butterflies fluttered around, that seemed beautiful... yet unsettling
Water that seemed to glow light purple in color even at daytime, when slight contacts are made
Some plants she noticed seemed strangely reddish, mixed with some bluish in color
The grass that seemed to shiver slightly when Dahlia walked on them, they slightly tickle her skin
But what she encountered was something far more stranger
There was a big mirror in the middle of the forest
She looked at her reflection, but her reflection wasn't seen
She was about to touch the glass, to wipe it to see herself
{ { "Don't touch it, it's dangerous" } } it suddenly said
Dahlia's hand froze
She tilted her head before she look at the sky, "Why is that?" she asked
The whisperer seemed to let out a sigh
{ { "That mirror is just dangerous" } } It repeated
"And how is it dangerous? Won't you tell me?" Dahlia huffed only
{ { "It's just dangerous, now let's go. Take a left turn here" } } It said firmly
Dahlia looks at the sky for sometime before looking back at the mirror, "There is something this thing is hiding. I am certain..." she thought internally
She let's out a sigh, "But I have to see to it, on what happens next..."
She soon takes a left turn, walking away from the mirror
"And... something tells me that this mirror is important..." She looks back at the mirror again
"I will remember this path... just in case" She looked forward as she decided
{ { "Just a little longer and we will be there" } } It said
Dahlia only hummed as she walked
When she kept on walking, she memorized it in her memory
Straight... left... again left... Straight... turn right... then left
Dahlia finally saw the exit of the forest
{ { "Straight ahead just, that is your destination" } } It said
"I wonder what is waiting in there..." Dahlia thought internally
When she stepped ahead
There was another beautiful scenery
Dahlia blinked slowly as her eyes were wide open, taking in the mesmerizing scene
It was a beautiful garden
Flowers everywhere
There also was a small lake
Purple butterflies resting on the flowers, clearly taking honey from it
A fancy shade
But... the person standing there, facing his back is what took her breath away
Wearing white robe
Long dark hair, that seemed to reflect the night sky. Fluttering beautifully
It was standing tall
But Dahlia couldn't see his face
{ { "That is your guardian" } } It announced
Dahlia's eyes soften slightly
{ { "Unfortunately, your guardian can't see you. Since your not physically here" } } It said to her lowly
Dahlia stiffened, "Wait... what you mean by that? Physically not here?" she asked before looking up the sky again
{ { "Oh? You didn't know,? I took your spirit temporarily to this realm. But your physical form is still in that portal" } } It explained
"What- why take me here!!!" Dahlia's eyes narrows more as she grips the edges of her dress tightly
{ { "To make you meet your guardian" } } It replied simply. Like it was the most obvious thing
Dahlia was taken a back, she opened her mouth to say something
{ { "I know you desired on meeting your guardian. But he always refused, don't you think it's just... unfair?" } } It beat her to it, as it pointed out her desire
Dahlia gulped only before looking back at the man who is still standing there
Her gaze soon lowered to the ground, "That thing is right though... I always desired to meet my guardian... but... he always refused... saying he will meet when..."
"The right time comes..." her lower lip trembled slightly as she thought internally
{ { "I can make you stay here with your guardian, you can be with him here... in this realm... just go towards him. That is all you need to do, my dear" } } It said
"How is it possible? You said my physical form is there in the portal with everyone" Dahlia mumbled out
{ { "That is true. But, I can take your physical form here so he can see you. So that you can stay here" } } It replied back enthusiastically
"... Then what about everyone that are still in the portal?" Dahlia interjected before she looked up
{ { "I will personally escort them all to safety, as we are friends. Right? Since I kept my word" } } It chuckled softly
"Escorting them back... can I trust it...?" Dahlia thought before she looks back at the man
Her heart started to beat faster, "Well... I guess I can trust it... since after all... it brought me to where my guardian is..." Dahlia thought
She let out a long exhale
"I can finally meet him..." She thought as she smiled softly
Her hands trembled slightly from nervousness
She lifted her foot to step forward, to go to the man
.
.
.
{ { "Hm? What's wrong? Why you stopped?" } } It asked as it saw how Dahlia didn't step forward, she was frozen in place
Her breathing quickened
Her eyes were wide as she quickly backed away
"... No... I can't meet him... Not like this..." She mumbled
{ { "And why is that? Didn't you wanted to meet him?" } } It asked as it sounded confused
"Yes... I did desired to meet him..." She admitted but closed her eyes for a few moments
"But... he would be mad if I as... so suddenly... see him... with someone else's help... it would be against his decisions..." She pressed her hand on where her heart is
"My guardian will be mad at me... and who knows what he will do out of anger... what if he ignored me... or worse... wouldn't trust in me anymore?" She opened her eyes
{ { "I am sure nothing will happen, your guardian will understand" } } It reassured her
"But-" { { "Don't worry, he won't get mad. In fact he will be happy in finally meeting you. So, come on and meet him" } } It cut her off again as it urged her
Dahlia kept her eyes on the man
"Will it be ok-... no... it would be disrespecting him..." She shook her head slightly
"He protected me many times... gave me many things... stayed with me when I was down..." A shaky sigh escaped from her lips
"He has done so much for me... yet... I can't... dare to break the one and only boundary he has set up..." She stepped back
"I rather not disrespect the boundary he set up... so..." She began firmly
Dahlia smiled slightly
"I will wait... for him to decide himself... if we can meet or not..." She began
"And... I have to return everyone back home... so return me back-" { { "You stupid little mortal..." } } It growled out suddenly
Dahlia flinched back as it's voice changed from soothing to ominously deep voice, that boomed everywhere
Her whole body trembled as her ears rang
Blood started to come out from her eyes, ears and nose
The scenery she was in... it changed completely
The sky had turned completely dark purple
Of that of... Yang Realm
This wasn't the Yin Realm the whisperer mentioned
Red moon was seen as it now seemed larger, it's red light hit everywhere dimly
The purple butterflies flies away from the flowers it previously on
They scatter around on everywhere
As if... the butterflies were in...
Rage
The beautiful flowers was in fact... nails, that was placed intentionally for someone to step on it
And the man...
It was no man... but rather
A skeleton
Dahlia stumbled back, "That... was a close call..." she thought
She shielded herself as the many butterflies hit on her
She backed away more
{ { "I had planned this so thoroughly... yet... why did it fail... why choose that stupid guardian of yours, huh? He is someone useless... he can't protect you... can't fulfill your desires... what good is he?" } } It hissed
{ { "But, here with me. I will give you the world you never knew off... protect you... fulfill your desires... so stay here with me" } } It soon changed it's tone to the usual soothing one
"... I... have to run... but... to where...?" She thought internally
The skeleton seemed to have moved
It turned to Dahlia
Dahlia flinched from the sudden movement of it
Dahlia froze as cold sweat formed on her forehead
Chills went down her spine
Her heart seemed to almost come out from her chest, from how fast it's beating
{ { "Stay here with me, forget that useless guardian" } } The whisperer said as a red glow burned within the skeleton's empty eye sockets
It started to walk towards Dahlia slowly
Her eyes were wide as the skeleton seemed to reflect on her eyes, from how it was going more nearer to her. She closed her eyes tightly
Bracing for worse
"What should I do..." She thought internally as she bite her lower lip, tears escaped her eyes
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.
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"Find the mirror" a voice spoke out inside her head
Her eyes snapped open from hearing it