“Please trust me.”

Triggs was indecisive, but there was a feeling inside his guts that was telling him to trust the woman.

He slowly lifted his shirt with his shaky hand, exposing his bandaged wound.

Carefully and gently, Lae placed both her palms on top of the wound.

“SANITATEM INCREMENTO,” she whispered.

Lae’s hands started glowing.

Triggs felt a prickling sensation in his wound, but it gradually faded as seconds passed by.

“All done,” Lae said.

Triggs removed the bandage and to his surprise, the wound was completely healed and mended. Only the scar was left on his skin.

Awestruck, Triggs mumbled, “Ho - How did you do that?”

“I used an Incantation to heal your wound.”

“Incantation? You mean those words you chanted before you used your magic?”

“Uhm… I guess that’s the easiest way to explain it. Hehe,” Lae replied.

“Lae can use these Blessed Words because she is one of the Favored. If you are Favored, you can also use Incantations like that,” Calla explained. “Zaine and I are also Favored.”

“Blessed Words? Favored? You made it more confusing for me,” Triggs said.

Calla leaned closer to Triggs. She innocently put Triggs’ arm in her embrace as if they were already close friends.

“That’s why you need to go with us. Maybe Lola Vega can explain it better to you,” she said while clinging to Triggs’ arm.

“So… Are you coming with us now?” Lae asked.

Triggs went into silence for a while as he finalized his decision. Not long after,

“Okay! But in one condition…”

Zaine was irked by the idea, but Calla seemed interested.

“Sure! What is it?” Calla asked.

“I shouldn’t return very late. I have classes early in the morning tomorrow.”

“Sure,” Lae answered confidently. “We’ll let you use a Portal so you can return home quickly and safely.”

“Well…. Ok…”

“Yeheeey! He’s going now!” Calla happily exclaimed. Her hair swayed in the air like ripples of water as she did a little happy dance.

“By the way, where are we going exactly?”

“To our home - a peaceful place secluded from this realm. I’m sure you’ll love it too!” Calla answered.

“Uhm… okay.”

“Are you ready?” Lae asked.

“I think so.”

Without further ado, Lae opened another Portal.

“OPERBA!”

Zaine went in first.

“I’ll be beside you. Let’s go in together,” Lae stated.

Triggs nodded his head.

“I’ll be right behind you. Hehe,” Calla said.

“Here we go!”

The 3 entered the portal.

…

…

…

As soon as Triggs stepped out of the Portal, dazzling leaves and a soft gentle breeze welcomed him.

He set foot on the lush floor as the blades of the meadow swayed around his ankles.

Standing in front of him is the large stem of a huge tree.

Fascinated, Triggs stepped forward to touch the cinnamon-colored sparkling bark of the tree.

“Wow. This thing is huge,” Triggs mumbled in awe.

Lae also placed her palm on the tree. She bragged, “Fascinating, right? I’m the one who took care of her.”

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Triggs looked high up to see the wide canopy of the tree. The thick umbrella of leaves and branches covered the entire place.

The green leaves were so packed together that it made Triggs wonder how sunlight could pass through.

Dangling in the canopy were diamond-shaped fruits.

“What kind of fruit are those?” Triggs asked.

“Those are called Hanziel Fruits,” Lae answered.

“You can only find those here,” Calla added. “This is the single most tree that can bear those. Amazing, right?”

“Really?”

“Uh-hm! You can’t grow that anywhere else, only here in our garden - and it’s because of Lae.”

“That’s nice.”

Lae picked up a Hanziel Fruit lying on the ground. She wiped it using the hem of her shirt then gave it to Triggs.

“Here. Try it.”

Triggs grabbed the fruit from Lae’s palm. He took a bite of the gem-like fruit.

“It’s sweet and crunchy,” Triggs mumbled as he munched down the fruit. He felt a rush of energy when he swallowed.

“A single bite of that fruit can give a short burst of energy. It is also believed that it can replenish your mind and soul,” Lae said.

Triggs was fascinated. His nervousness was overshadowed by the excitement he was experiencing as he explored the place.

For him, it felt like he was transported straight to a fantasyland.

Triggs looked around. He just noticed that they were just in a garden in the middle of a circular enclosed plaza.

Encircling the plaza was a long balcony that served as the corridor of what seemed to be the rooms of the residents. Both ends of the corridor led to staircases that served as the access points to the said floor.

In total, Triggs could observe 7 room doors lined up along the balcony.

“You live in those?” Triggs asked.

“Yup-yup!” Calla replied enthusiastically. “And that is my room!” she said as she pointed her finger at the 3rd door from the east staircase.

On the ground floor, on the side directly opposite the middlemost room of the balcony, Triggs observed a passageway. He leaned his head to take a glance; he saw that it was a hallway leading to another enclosed chamber.

Triggs also saw 2 figures approaching: a buffed man and a person with a child-like body wearing a hoodie.

“Yow, Man! You came!” the buffed man greeted Triggs. He raised his huge palm, asking for a high five. “Come on, don’t leave me hanging!”

Triggs warmingly accepted the buffed man’s request.

“Oh, by the way. I think I haven’t introduced myself properly a while ago. The name is Otto,” the buffed man introduced.

Meanwhile, the other person just stared at Triggs. With his judging eyes, he glared at Triggs from head to toe.

After a while, his expression changed instantly as he made a perky smile. He slapped Triggs’ back as he chuckled.

“Ey, Boi! My name is Monty. Welcome to our humble base!” the person uttered.

“Thanks!” Triggs replied with a smile on his face.

Triggs found fascination in Monty; Monty’s youthful appearance made him curious.

“Wow! It’s interesting to see someone like you here. Are you also a fighter like them? By the way, how old are you,” Triggs’ innocent questions.

However, the mood inside the place seemed to change drastically after Triggs asked the last question.

“Why do you want to know?” Monty asked - now, with a serious face.

Triggs replied with a stutter, “Uhh… I - I’m just curious.”

“Old enough for your grandma to call me ‘Daddy’!” Monty replied.

Triggs was caught off guard; he didn’t expect that answer. A huge question mark was carved on his face as he tried to recover from the roast.

Lae facepalmed. “At least be more welcoming to our guest, Monty,” she uttered with a sigh.

"I DID!!! UNTIL HE STARTED TO PISS ME OFF!” Monty blabbered like a child in tantrums.

“But seriously, Monty… You really look like a 12-year-old kid,” Calla teased.

“Oh, really!? Have you seen yourself in a mirror? You look like an exhausted mermaid with that hair of yours!”

“Whyyy? What’s wrong with my wavy hair?” Calla whined with a pout.

Triggs tried to defend Calla, “What’s wrong with that? I think it’s what makes her look charming.”

Calla was flattered, “Ooh thanks.” Then, she pouted at Monty, “Hmph!”

“Psh! What a simp,” Monty’s sidecomment.

Zaine was cringed by the conversation. So, he walked out of the place and went straight to one of the rooms on the balcony.

“Where is he going?” Triggs wondered.

“Who cares about that trying-hard cool-kid-wannabe? He’s just like a background character anyway,” Monty commented.

Calla answered Triggs, “I think he’ll just take a look at Claire - his sister.”

“Oh… I see.”

“Claire rarely leaves her room. But you’ll meet her someday!”

Triggs replied with an excited smile.

“So… Are you ready now?” Lae suddenly asked.

Triggs’ excitement began to falter, as he felt anxious.

“Hmm… I guess so?”

“Then come with me!”

Lae led towards the hallway.

Though still nervous, Triggs followed the lady in front of him. The others also followed.

They made it past the hallway, into the next circular plaza.

The theme of this place was different from the previous; it’s like a chamber with walls lined with glimmering crystals.

5 doors could be seen in this plaza. However, the doors in this place were different from those on the balcony; the doors here were much wider, and larger, and they looked like they were made up of sturdy brass materials.

The design of the door in the middle was distinct from the others; this door was carved with characters and symbols that were alien to Triggs.

Noticeably, it is larger than the other 4. Just by looking at it, Triggs could assume that the door leads to the main function room of the place.

In the middle of the plaza was a crystal structure that seemed to be a fountain. The fountain had 3 layers each pooling with sparkling water.

Triggs walked to see the fountain much closer. He was amazed by what he was witnessing; he had never seen such clean water in his entire life.

“You can actually drink from it, Man. The water is potable,” Otto said.

“Really!?”

Excitedly, Triggs took a scoop from the fountain using his hands and took a sip of the water. A huge smile formed on Triggs’ face. “It’s so refreshing!”

Like a proud child, Calla boasted, “Of course! I helped make that!”

“Wooow!”

“It’s the main water source here in our base,” Otto said.

“By the way… I forgot to ask. Where are we exactly?” Triggs questioned.