Chapter 100: Escaping the Mist
After the group finished eating.
The whole group followed Lilith, stepping each step up the stairs leading up to the carpet.
Kazuka: "Is it upstairs?"
Takeshi shook his head.
"Probably."
They stepped up and walked to a vast open space. As if it could contain a small army here.
Everywhere were glowing stones, shining bright to the point of blinding.
At the center of the room:
It was a large structure. There was a wide, low (50 cm) and large stone block; on top were many strange, difficult-to-understand characters. Surrounding it were tall white pillars supporting an enormous stone roof.
Lilith turned back and reached out her hand to introduce:
"This is the teleportation gate."
Airi also realized it was quite similar to her clan's.
Ayaka stepped forward and handed the stone to Lilith.
Lilith received it and turned to step up the three stone steps, then she went to the center.
At the center, there was a small gap glowing with green light; just looking was enough to see it fit this blue stone.
She bent down and placed the stone into the small gap, then she turned and walked slowly out.
When the stone was placed in. Green light from the stone shone strongly. The strange characters and drawings were glowing and spreading toward all four sides. Then they spread entirely; those green lights spread up the pillars making them glow.
Then a green cyclone appeared and swirled strongly at the center. Then suddenly it was like something broke it from the inside, creating a strong wind blowing straight toward the group and Lilith. The wind force was strong making everyone's hair be swept back to reveal their foreheads.
When the cyclone dissipated, a green membrane surrounded the entire stone floor; they were transparent and white light spots kept flashing repeatedly.
As if this were a scene of a starry sky with powerful green hues. They looked extremely eye-catching and beautiful.
Takeshi also surprisingly exclaimed:
"Looks beautiful, huh?"
Lilith turned back, still keeping the smile on her lips.
"So the activation is finished; you may leave whenever you wish."
Kazuka propped hands on both sides.
"Please trouble you to let us stay here to keep our strength."
Lilith bowed her head.
"If you wish."
Returning to a certain time, inside the library.
Vilkel transmitted two energy cords into the heads of Lilith and Pu. They were watching the events in the trial.
Lilith was very focused watching.
Pu turned back and pointed at Vilkel's face, voice full of dissatisfaction:
"Hey, I said to make it easy. Why did you make it so hard, huh?"
Vilkel smirked.
"What's wrong with it? It's only fun that way. Actually, it's easy this way."
Pu was quite angry, face turning red and shouting loudly:
"It was already that hard and you still made them pay a price. When they get out, give it all back to me; one person lost almost all childhood memories, another lost their spirit. What do you intend to turn them into if they finish the trial, huh?"
Seeing Pu quite angry, Vilkel quickly waved his hands.
"Calm down... calm down. Fine, I will give it back, why are you so hot-tempered, kid?"
Pu moved closer and pointed even closer.
"And make them remember the scenes in the trial only vaguely."
Vilkel tried to please Pu.
"Fine... fine. I will do it, no need to worry, just watch."
Pu crossed arms over chest and puffed cheeks. A cold "Hmph".
At this time in the distance, two certain people were shouting and arguing loudly.
One with a tall body, refined face. Golden hair and clothes like a playboy noble. The body was white smoke connected to a book.
One dressed normally to the point of simplicity. Seemed also quite young.
Both sides argued continuously.
"What the hell do you know? My trial is the interesting one."
"Mine is the interesting one."
"My mirror maze is the interesting one; what the hell is that damn room of yours? For children to play?"
"You're the child!"
Both sides had veins popping on their faces, pressing close and cursing without stopping.
"What the monkey do you know?"
"What the dog do you know?"
"You're the dog!"
"You damn bastard are the dog!"
"I gifted that kid unlimited copies in his mind so he doesn't need to ask anyone, they will give opinions, it's much better."
"Yours is fake, I gifted one more person as a companion together; that's truly useful, okay!"
…
Airi and Ayaka were sparring with each other.
With the new bow that Elyssia gifted. Ayaka could continuously fire a series of arrows at once like a small rain of arrows.
Airi wanted to approach but it was difficult; she slashed through a series of arrows and had to run around Ayaka to find a counterattack opportunity.
The other four sat above and observed the battle.
Aoto kept having a strange feeling in his head; he sat silently as if sensing.
Kazuka was intently observing the battle without taking eyes off.
Suddenly something crawled out from his forehead and pressed close to his face making Kazuka startled and jump backward, then shout loudly:
"Aaaaa!"
Takeshi, Aoto, Elyssia immediately turned over.
Floating in mid-air was a little girl. It was the little girl inside Kazuka's trial. But the strange thing was the little girl was not even the size of a fist.
Kazuka was bewildered, then he realized and pointed calling loudly:
"The girl in the house?"
Takeshi curiously pointed at the little girl floating in mid-air looking at Kazuka intently.
"Huh? What is this?"
Elyssia tilted her head curiously.
Aoto frowned observing.
"Looks like an Elemental, but doesn't have a bit of Elemental energy and also has no wings."
Kazuka moved closer to see more clearly. The little girl suddenly began to fly around Kazuka and giggled.
Kazuka full of bewilderment.
"Hey, stop flying; what the hell is it finally?"
The little girl then stopped flying, face smiling as she answered:
"I am Lin; from now on I will follow you."
Kazuka was dazed, not understanding.
"Huh? Why follow me?"
Lin smilingly answered:
"Because I chose you."
Takeshi pointed toward Lin.
"Seems there's one more companion."
Kazuka scratched his head still confused.
-"Why choose me? Could it be I saved the girl and then the girl chose me?"
He pointed at Lin.
"Then what is your use?"
Lin shook her head.
"Call me Lin and I will answer."
Kazuka nodded dismissively.
"Fine, so Lin."
Lin propped hands on both hips and raised her face high answering:
"That, later when I help you then you will know."
Takeshi and Aoto burst out laughing. Elyssia was also speechless, not knowing what to say.
"HAHAHAHA..."
Lin angrily pointed toward Takeshi and Aoto.
"What are you laughing at? Later I will help; it's just now I crawled out to introduce and get acquainted, don't underestimate me."
Having spoken, Lin crawled straight into Kazuka's forehead making Kazuka a bit bewildered and touch his forehead.
Aoto and Takeshi slowly wiped away tears.
Aoto: "Seems more interesting now."
…
After an amount of time unknown how long. Kazuka's group decided it was time to leave.
They were standing near the teleportation gate and facing Lilith.
Kazuka as if representing the group stood at the front.
"We're going; staying here practicing was quite long and troubled you. Goodbye."
Lilith smiled, but actually she did not want the guests to leave so soon.
"Then, I am very happy that you came to this castle."
The whole group simultaneously said goodbye to Lilith.
"Goodbye..."
"If there's a chance we will come back."
"Thank you, huh."
Lilith bowed low and said goodbye to Kazuka's group as they turned away and stepped onto the teleportation gate.
Kazuka smiled brightly.
"We are very happy to be here with you. We're going, don't be sad."
Ayaka: "Stay and don't be sad, okay."
Airi: "Goodbye."
Takeshi waved his hand and a radiant smile lit up his entire face.
When the group stood into the teleportation gate, it flashed strongly with blue light.
Kazuka's group immediately disappeared. The teleportation gate returned to its original state, empty with nothing.
Pu now appeared in beast form from Lilith's hand and looked toward the teleportation gate, then looked at Lilith's face which appeared very sad.
"They're gone."
Lilith turned and walked back toward the castle, face still appearing very calm like every day.
"Hmm."
Pu: "Are you not sad, sister?"
Lilith: "Does my face look sad to you?"
Pu: "One look and I know it's sad."
Lilith sighed.
"Returning truly is boring."
Pu: "Then go out and play with me."
Lilith: "No, I still have to stand guard."
Pu: "Come on, how can this place be found? You've been here a long time; go out."
Lilith burst out laughing.
"Fine, let me go out and play with you."
....
The group was now teleported to a forest. There was no mist or cracked dry ground.
The deep blue sky stretched infinitely, a giant silk woven from emerald green and azure blue, without a bit of turbidity.
The sun was already high, reigning majestically right in the middle of the celestial dome, emitting bright, golden light.
Millions of sunlight rays like golden arrows pierced through the transparent air, illuminating everything.
On that blue sky backdrop, pure white clouds, fluffy like giant white chrysanthemums. They floated lazily, slowly, creating countless magical shapes: sometimes a dragon playing with clouds, sometimes a flock of sheep grazing on green meadows, and sometimes magnificent castles of fairies.
The sunlight shone in, making the edge of each cloud sparkle like gilded gold, creating a magnificent scene, heart-wrenchingly beautiful.
Below, the undulating forest appeared with a fresh, lush green color. Millions of green leaves, from tender young green to dark green, crowded each other to form a giant green carpet.
Beneath the soaring ancient trees, spots of sunlight wormed through, dancing on the carpet of dry leaves, creating an enchanting game of light and shadow.
The sound of birds chirping, the sound of streams gurgling blended together, creating a symphony of nature, both vivid and serene.
The air was filled with the scent of moist earth after a night rain, the smell of rotting wood, and the scent of wild flowers, bringing a sense of absolute peace and purity.