Being a kid in this Confederation means that you'll one day learn of something called silent taboos, or Huì is what the people in this continent calls them. Unwritten rules that you will learn as you grow, even if you're a foreigner or an Owlian.

As I grew up, I was always bombarded with a lot of this taboos by my new neighbours and families who are surprisingly pretty friendly. They always said that it will help you co-exist with the spirits roaming around you. Some are probably reasonable like always leave your plate clean and leave no grain of Añ left, some are unreasonable like don't put your broom and mop in your bathroom or don't sleep with your feet facing the window or door.

And as to put me and May to sleep, aunt Palka or Sis Rubeca will always tell us a scary story. I don't know what gives them the idea that scary stories will put kids to sleep. But, if it works, I guess you can't argue with the results, can you?

One of them was called:

[The Green Lady]

It is said that long ago in ancient Iberos. Back when even Emperor Rucina was even born, there was a certain family who lived in the what soon be called Lake Baozàng. A family of shapeshifting spirits said to possess the evilest curses and magic in the entire world. And they would use their powers to trick, abuse and cause misery to those they meet and acquire an immeasurable amount of treasures by doing so.

And the most notorious of them all was a certain family member whose name has been forgotten in the annals of history. But, is always found to be a lady dressed in green in whatever source you find. She is cruel and evil since her birth and she was even dubbed as the demon's witch and was even feared by her own family who was naturally evil, to begin with. Her crimes and deeds know no bounds and she takes pleasure and pride in doing so.

Many passes away in her nefarious plans and many more suffered by her notorious actions. Until one day, she met a mysterious old lady by her house. The old lady was weak and meagre, tiny with her hunched back and shaking posture.

By the sight, the lady in green was delighted by the view and played tricks to make her suffer more. Like mysteriously making her cane disappear and topple her over to the ground.

Yet this old lady just seems to smile and ask the lady:

"Why?"

The green lady responded saying:

"That it was natural."

The old lady, hearing and realizing her deed and crimes was heartbroken and decimated. The old lady curses her that her descendants shall be nought but females and they shall be cursed to do nothing but evil as she has done.

And as a form of pity and final punishment, the old lady gave her chance that if a male shall be born, he will soon rake the entire world by storm and his lineage shall break the curse. And to do that she must find one true love that will love her and accept her as she is. And if she does not, those who die in your family shall be absorbed by a purple vortex and send to the Spirit's Queen's realm.

By her words, the lady in green desperately searches for her "True Love". But, In the end, she didn't find one. And all her descendants turn out to be female as her life comes to an end and was sent to be punished forever in the Spirit Queen's realm. Soon, they become the source of evil in the world. It is said that if there is something bad going on, then it is mostly their fault. And you should stay away or you will be placed by bad luck. And not only that, they tend to take away innocent young children whose mind are easily corrupt and bring their back into their home to turn them into their one "True Love".

That story scared me a lot when I was a kid, but now... It just doesn't make sense anymore. But what rekindles my memory of such is what I saw infront of me now.

Seeing the gaping purple vortex shrinking, and the voice of the forest lady shrieking, my hands keep shaking as if I was grappled in fear of what is transpiring.

Sis Rubeca stands there silently infront of me like a true guardian that protects without inching back. With her glowing bare hands, she closes the vortex as she chants the words:

{Those who trespass life and death, may they live in peace and tranquillity in their next life before blessed by the spirit king then mould to flesh}

Runes of mysterious incantation start to appear and float around Sis Rubeca as she chants even more. The winds blow on the lush purple forest as the leaves soar around the area and up to the orange sky. The beating bushes bristle loudly with the echoing of the loud shriek and terror as the forest lady tried to breakthrough. But, the portal quickly closes up and the spirit's arm was cut off outside and turn to dust.

Sis Rubeca looks back at me with her tired face saying:

"Sova listen closely."

"W-what?"

"Never trust a spirit that you can see. They are here because of their greed and selfishness and they would do anything to fulfil that. Even dragging innocent souls with them if they have to."

Confused by her sudden remarks, sis walks closer as I hear her steps crunching the grass beneath her feet along the now-quiet forest saying:

"Show all your kindness to those who live and peace to those who died, remember that."

She gives me a hand and when I realize one of her eyes are not green but a deep blue colour that somehow shines...

(It looks beautiful...)

I thought to myself and accept her helping hand when her eyes suddenly become blood red and its pupil becomes a slit. The whole forest burns and abruptly changes for the worst.

Her hair turns jet black and starts to float, her aura becomes so full of bloodlust it churns my stomach to the core. The place I'm now standing is the panels on the Reliquary once more. Surrounded by the eternal darkness dimly lit by the glowing yellow stars beyond. Seeing I'm now holding a spear, I quickly strike her head as per orders but my spear stopped before it could hit her and was held down as she towers me, biting down at the tip of my spear while looking down at me as she pushes me down on my knees.

"Die ye, Coward."

She grips my hand tight breaking my right arm that is holding the spear and suddenly throws me off the platform. Seeing her figure going further and further as monstrous birds circle around the sky and swallowing me in total darkness.

*********************************************************

"Nooooo!"

As the soft yellow light starts to shine to my eyes, making me raise my hand to cover them. I lower it down as I slowly take in the warm light, seeing it pass the gaps the curtain leaves in the window, the lanterns give a soft orange glow on the table below, an open envelope just below the window.

"Huff huff huff..."

I take some heavy breath, realizing that I'm now sitting. I hold my right arm which is still hurt and decided to slowly lay down again on the very comfy bed as I pull the blanket up saying:

"What kind of nightmare is that!?"

Feeling quite terrified by the nightmare, I curled up inside the bed as I tried to enjoy this rare chance.

"A nightmare just at the start of the day..."

*tick* *tock* *tick* *tock*

I hug the bolster as I close my eyes again. The room was almost silent, hearing the sound of the wheel on the wall as I tried to sleep again.

Then I realize that continuing to sleep will do me no good now. So I decided to do what is right, discarding my blanket and stand up. Feeling wobbly, I continue to put the bolster down and tidy up the bed with me one arm and walk to the table. I sit down on the fancy and comfy chair as I take the open envelope and read it once more as its contents came into my view:

[Sawyer, I'll be honest and say, I didn't believe you actually live through that fall. When you fall that day, I felt like something in my heart just got torn apart and it hurts, it hurts so much.

Sis told me that you're alive, that you are still living and now on his way home, but I can't help but feel that she's just telling me lies to make me feel better and now it hurts even more just to remember you.

But by writing this letter somehow soothes my heart as I truly hope with the deepest wishes and hopes that maybe, just maybe, through some magic, miracle or whatever the sort that you will survive that fall.

I will chase for the dream I sought for, I will pass the test, I will become one even greater than an engine seer and I will make a new home for both of us there. So if you truly are alive...

Please, find me in the Grand Lunor Ancient Academy.

As a last note, if you can't handle going alone then find Sis Yuwei for help. And if that didn't work then, find Nicole. I don't know why he never tells us where he lives but I know that he's from the Floreo family. Search Nicole for help.

Signed, Maybelline Gremons.]

"May, to think she even use our real name and to go so far as to ask Nicole out of all people for help is...

Too suspicious. Still, Nicole never tells May and mom about his family? Sure he only visits me the most, but I'm pretty sure he told me a lot about his family on his preaching. I guess this is how desperate she is to actually ask him for help..."

I look back at the place I'm resting now. Luxurious and opulent king-size bed,

(Which is tidy except the blanket which is already folded but still messy since it's hard to fold it with one arm!)

Exotic and wonderful traditional decors, artistic floors and wall decoration, paintings of ancient something, all related to the phoenix of course.

Looking at all the fanciest of the room, I suddenly felt out of place again.

(Don't worry, you deserve this... I think?)

My armour is now in the middle of a repair and so is my weapon... No, my weapon is still with me. I slide open the shelves below the desk and see my zig-zag bent black rod.

She said to put it in the room myself since nobody wants to touch it with what it's made of. She told me that this is Sis Rubeca's room back when we just arrive in this Confederation and had no place to call home... I guess I can call this home for now.

"Come to think of it, if I remember correctly... I use to sleep with aunt and May back when we're still here. Aunt Palka was so big that we had to take an extra bed again. But, which room was it again?"

I look at the letter I'm holding thinking:

(And it seems Sis Yuwei visits my apartment first before Aunts. Since she thought I was dead, she decided to move my items to her palace for safekeeping while stopping the breach... Not that I have many, but still. I luckily made it in time. And after finally securing the palace and drive back the invasion, she gave me this letter and told me to check it either yesterday or today since she found it in my table and the locked box is now still with her. Seems like she's been keeping it in her secret stash of magic bags).

Still, it's been so long since I rest here. I look at the wheel with numbers on the wall. It's two arms sticks to it like a nose, the small one at five and the long one at between nine and eight.

Two days ago I think, was quite a mess for my time, like we finish at dawn and I suddenly collapsed. Then when I suddenly wake up at morning I think, then I sleep again, waking up at midnight when I saw them moving me, they told me to sleep again cause I need more rest. Now, I guess my sleeping pattern is back to normal or just messed up.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

"Did two days pass or one day pass? Is today still today since I sleep like one or two days?"

Since I don't really know what the wheel means, I better prepare for the day, and I look at the room and realize there are no washrooms...

"I think I understand May's frustration now," I whisper to myself and check myself for now.

I'm starting to feel my right arm since I can move it a little now. Just my fingers and some tiny nudging though. My right arm is bandaged with a cast and hanged with something I don't know from my shoulders, my body is finally free of bandage wraps, and it's still very hard to move with only my left hand which I'm not really used to. Even when using qi to hasten the healing process, it's probably gonna take a while.

(Let's just go out and find someone for now)

As I try to open the huge double door with one arm and went outside, the hallways are still clean and neat, sparkling even. Maybe it's thanks to the orange flames the lanterns and wheels above makes, accompanied by how squeaky clean everything is.

There are two branching ways, left or right? I hold my chin saying:

"I don't even know where to go... Since I sleep in a different room yesterday when I wake up-"

A maid walks past me from the left and as she stares at me, I could instantly realize her stomach is huge indicating she is pregnant while her mesmerizing eyes widened as she looks at me screaming:

"Eeep!"

And quickly run back to where she came.

"H-hold up! I need to ask something."

And I decided to head left following her while running, I look at the endless array of doors, and decoration chasing after her. With no one else around, our footsteps are loud and resounding through the hallway. When I accidentally look down, I realize her feet are actually inverted back as she runs with her heels first and it's like she is running backwards.

(What is happening to her?)

I decided to use dash and catch up to grab her collar, my fingers slip past her neck and I suddenly see a wall, quickly I turn so that it won't hit my broken right arm and manage to land hitting my left arm instead.

"Oooow! Ow oow ow ow. It hurts all over again... Haaaaaah."

I sigh in and tried standing back up by leaning on the walls for help, seeing around there is only one way left which is right.

"Whatever is that!? I'll just continue then."

I hold the wall as to support me and keep walking alone, the corridor changes, from an endless array of doors to none at all. Replace by walls of paintings and sculptures. This is awfully similar to that place in the guild but more traditional.

When finally the lantern and light stop shining and I reach some sort of door at the end of the road. I decided to open it and realize that it's a place that looks like the huge room Yuwei fight two days ago or one... Whatever it is.

I'm now on the second floor, I hold the wooden fence as I look down, my handshakes and I grip the fence tighter saying:

"You conquer it, Sova, You've conquered it."

The room was completely empty with no one there. Holding the fence as I descend down the stairs until I finally reach the first floor and breath a huge sigh of relieve, feeling happy for some reason.

Now there are another three branching ways. I clench my fist shouting:

"Is anybody there!" In frustration, yet no one replied.

I slouch as in defeat saying:

"I'm really lost aren't I?"

And decided to go ahead with a weakened spirit. Opening the gate by myself. I keep going ahead when I suddenly saw the beautiful golden sky, finally reaching an empty open room with lots of windows.

No, the whole room is made out of glass panels making me able to see the golden sky from outside, like a house made of glass. A withered garden as far as my eyes can see comes to my view as I look ahead of me, it's the same as the one near the entrance gate. But unlike the one there, this garden has two fountains without any sprouting water while growing mould, no burn marks nor the sort, no bush statues, only the tall hills that surround it all as the scenery, with no flower and walls made of bushes, and finally sticking out in this dying scene is the magnificent purple tree in the centre surrounded by withering plants. The purple tree blooms with apricot orange and lime green flowers.

Before I knew it I was already walking to the tree, hearing the birds singing, the sound of roosters shouting, passing through the roads with missing grass, passing chicks and something. The tree becomes bigger as I walk closer and when I look around the tree, the plants near the tree is actually living and thriving.

"Haaah! Thei!" a familiar female voice resound from the tree.

As I pass the tall bush near it and see beyond the natural fence, there I see a girl in her teens, wearing only her black spats and white tank top which is semi-transparent from her sweat as it reveals much of her golden tan skin with tan lines that reveal her jade-white skin along with her toned figure. Her long slightly wavy purple hair is mixed of lime green and apricot orange that is wet from the sweat. Her hair is tied up like horsetail with a bun held with one amethyst pin connecting them all.

She swings her wooden spear in all direction as she connects multiple techniques and angle with vigour under the shade as I could see she moves with precise strikes, trying to move faster than her own shadow.

For some reason, I feel kinda feel hot inside...

(But-but, I finally found someone!)

I enter inside the area, running toward her screaming:

"Sis Fei, please help-"

Before I could finish, she suddenly attacks me with her spear, thrusting it at my face. I quickly bend my head to the right. When she quickly connect another attack by swinging it to my face. I quickly make a side roll and continue with a handstand with one hand and tried to spin and make a roundhouse kick, trying to copy Sis Yuwei back then... Of course, it failed before I could even go halfway.

(Ow, ow, ow, it hurts! Why did I do that!?)

Before I fell, she quickly grabs my feet with her left hand and raises me up before slamming me to the ground.

"Ow!"

She throws her spear aside and drags me down to the grass. The pain shocks my whole body.

"Aaah, Ow!"

Yet she quickly gets on top of me when I could feel her sweat dripping on me. Pushing her right arm at my neck and preparing another punch before she stops.

"Sova...?"

She looks at me with eyes of confusion before she gets off me and gives me a hand saying:

"I'm so sorry! Please stay away from me when I'm training," with a worried face.

I grab her sweaty hand and she quickly pulls me up saying:

"What's wrong? You're up pretty early and are you okay? Did I hurt you anywhere? Your bones are not broken or anything now right!?"

"No, it's not that..."

"Hmm?"

I kneel down and before long I quickly hug her in the stomach saying:

"Never mind that, please help me!"

"Waaah! Sova, don't just suddenly hug me like that!"

I ignore her reply and hug her tighter and continue saying:

"I can't find the toilet, the place is so big, a maid ran away from me and since I quite forgot the layout, I keep getting lost and now you're the only one I can talk to right now. It's driving me crazy! Now, I realize why May is so angry when there is no restroom inside your bedroom. And this pain is a hassle too!"

She holds my shoulder and pets me saying:

"Okay, okay, you can let me go now. Try sitting under the tree and take some breather, Sova. Don't move too much, you're an Owlian. Even if you can use qi to heal faster that doesn't mean you should move too much."

I let go of her saying:

"Okay... I'm sorry" and look at the tree.

Under it is a towel, and three large metal bottles. As the petals fall to my nose, I brush it off and sit under the tree. I feel the soft calming wind blow, hearing the birds chirping and looking at the golden sky under here...

"It's just like back then," I whisper to myself.

"Of course it is!"

Sis Fei replies at me enthusiastically before sitting beside me. She grabs her towel and wipes herself before taking one of the metal bottles and drinks it. She places the towel on her shoulders turning it into some kind of a short cape and hands me a bottle asking:

"You thirsty?"

I take it saying:

"Sure, thanks," and drink it.

After I'm done, I place it beside her and I look at her. She is drinking another bottle, and it was empty before you know it. She takes the bottle she just shares with me and finishes it.

She places her hands on the back of her head as she leans on the tree, letting out a satisfied voice saying:

"Phwah~! Nothing better than some drinks after training~"

She looks at me with a smile saying:

"Still, where did you learn to move like that? With one arm too."

"I see Sis Yuwei do it a few days ago I think, and I got the urge to try it... As you can see it failed miserably."

"Heh, it's fine. I mean what about the other moves during your training?"

I place my hand on my chin as I try to remember saying:

"Well, those are most me getting beat up and dreaming about it I guess."

Sis Fei waves her hand saying:

"Hey, you're joking, right? There's no way you can do it after you dream it."

"But it's true. I learn it during that one year of training. Sis Rubeca drilled a lot into my head."

"Hmph, from her again?"

"Yea, just a year ago. And I've only returned recently. Since I was the only one lacking result and a pretty bad learner compare to May, she told me to train more when we become Hunters... Well, as you can see I'm not a Hunter, yet."

Sis Fei sits with her leg straight before stretching her body as she leans forward trying to touch her toes while smiling as she asks:

"So what's the usual scientific explanation she had for that?"

"Well, I forgot the term but I think it was something like when you had a math problem you need to finish, your head will try their best to solve it right?" I point my finger high as to indicate the idea.

Sis Fei closes her eyes and nods as she continues stretching saying:

"Mhm, continue."

"She told me some researchers told her that your brain or something will help you solve the problems in your dreams and help you out. Since she tests it herself to be true, she quickly told me to learn it since I don't hold the same talents May did.

Half the training for me was every time Sis Rubeca beat the brownies out of me, I was told to solve that after I wake up again. I guess that's how I gain the habit, with each trial I was able to block or dodge her attacks... But, recently I've been having dreams of my forgotten past and it kinda hurts remembering it. I guess I'm not ready to know about my parents yet," I pull my leg back and crouch as I look ahead.

Sis Fei sits straight and crosses her legs before she looks at me with a smile saying:

"Sova, won't you come closer I wanna whisper something secretive."

"Huh?" I look at her when she signals me to get closer. I ask, "Why?"

She puffs her cheeks saying:

"Just, come closer already."

I decided to move closer and lend her my ear. When suddenly she wraps her hands around my neck and pulls my me closer. My head was plunge between her breast as her drenched body now sticks on me like glue. Her smell course through my nose while I feel her chest press closely against my head, now I can feel softness and warmness of her body all over me.

I could hear her warm breath tingling in my ear as she whispers:

"This is revenge."

My face feels very hot and my body even hotter, I tried to push her away saying:

"For what!? Um, okay I yield. Please let me go. I feel really weird Sis!"

(This like when Rana tried to apply that salve at me. Oh no, this is one of their tricks again... But it feels so different now).

She tightens her grip as her hand grabs my head and body to pull me closer, she brings her lips to my ear whispering:

"Oh~ Shush you, I haven't even say anything yet, besides knowing May, I'm sure she greets you with hugs like this all the time no? What makes this so different?"

(ThiS iS sO mUCh diFfeRenT!!!)

She pushes me down as she topples me over. I could feel the warmth and softness, even more, when she continues saying:

"Sova, you know when May came here in the heavy rain with her face all ruined and her eyes red. I knew something was wrong."

She caresses my head and hugs me closer to her body as my nose is now on her nape. She continues saying:

"My mother passed away when she gave birth to me. Thanks to that, I saw Yuwei sometime secretly talks alone in her room and a weird occurrence of things moving on their own too near me. Even after father left, I never feel it either. Since he never took the liberty to spend time with me since I was like the worse version of her. It was always my sister, her, her, and her, time, and time again. So, I never knew the sorrow of losing something so precious to me...

Until May arrives with the news. I felt like someone just torn out my heart forcefully and suddenly. It hurts-"

She grips me strongly as she digs her head in my neck screaming:

"It freakin hurt so much! So much so, that I would prefer getting hit by the stick a hundred times more by nanny back then, than feeling that ever again!"

She loosens her grip saying:

"I never knew what is so important to me until I lose it, I thought I might just give up in that darkness and let the swarm swallow me."

I hug her back and pet her in the back when she continues saying:

"But, you showed up and rescued me in the last moment. I thought I was dreaming in the afterlife. But I was not, you're there for me in my darkest days, you were there when I was alone and this time when you need me, I'll be there for you," she hugs me tighter as she says that.

"Sis Fei, I-" looking up at the now blue sky, I continue saying:

"I won't let it happen again. So please don't worry, I'll grow strong and stronger so that something like this won't happen again... And can you please let go, it hurts so badly and feels so weird (and good?)."

She finally lets go of me and I could see her red face and her eyes looking dried up... She rubs her eyes saying:

"Heh, you fool," and stands up.

Taking her wooden spear and two of her bottles, she throws her wet towel at my face. As I grab it before it hits me, she smiles saying:

"Don't tell this to anyone and hide your raised flag down there."

"Huh?"

I look down when I realize something is clearly trying to come out.

(Wait, isn't this the same occurrence back then? When I had that weird dream I can't remember for some reason. T-this is the reason aunt tells me to live alone.)

I hide it with my hand saying:

"W-wait sis, I-I d-don't, this is not what-"

"Oh shush, I guess my womanly charms have finally captivated you," she strikes a pose and winks at me saying:

"Come on, help me take that towel and bottle, we're going to have breakfast," she starts to walk and gesture me to follow with her wooden spear.

"R-really? W-what about this p-problem..."

"Just walk with me and I'm sure it will disappear."

"R-really? T-then please wait!"

I tried my best to calm it down. Yet, it won't at all! I take the bottle and towel and just decided to follow her while covering it.

She takes the towel and walks while putting the spear at her shoulder saying:

"So it won't calm down huh~ The way you walk as you try to cover it is hilarious."

"You realize this is all your fault right!?"

"So, you want me to take responsibility, is that it?"

"Huh, well... Uh," I tried to say yes but for some reason, I can't.

"My Sova, I never knew~"

"Jolly! Can we just talk something else? This is not making me comfortable at all!"

She slows down and walks beside me before wrapping her hand in my shoulders and digs my head to her chest again saying:

"Sorry, but you just look so cute to let the chance go~" she hugs me again and brings my head between her chests.

"Sis please let me go or I won't be able to calm it down."

She gives me another hug and lets me go saying:

"Okay, I guess this is what nanny calls a healthy boy.

"O-Okay, but can we please take a path with no people. It's embarrassing now."

"Your shy face is also so adorable!" she drops her spear and hugs me again.

"Hauu~" I tried pushing her away saying, "Please stop."

She suddenly lets me go but still holding my shoulders tight as she digs her finger in saying:

"Sova if you want to make me release you then stop making such adorable faces, (Well I guess you're born cute)."

She lets go of me and grabs her wooden spear. She points the tip at my face, barely touching my face screaming:

"And!!!"

"And?" I ask in confusion.

"W-what's with that moan!? Are you a woman or something- Wait, I guess you look cuter than me but that doesn't excuse you to moan like that! You're a man, toughen up!"

"Y-yes, Sis!"

"Sova, you may look like that but you're still a man! Don't moan like you're some pussy! Don't your family ever teach you to become more manly!? You're a guy for Libera's sake."

When I raise my hand when she suddenly slaps it and continues saying:

"Now, don't answer that."

"B-but I wanna ask something."

She looks at me with a surprised face and put her spear down saying:

"Oh sorry, what is it, Sova?"

"What's a pussy?"

She raises her spear again screaming:

"Don't ask that either! You get me!?"

"Eep! Y-yes, Sis!"

"Now, grab the stuff and march with me!"

"Y-yes!"

(Why did this happen to me! It's even worse than those battle days).