Katie looked down at her feet. She moved her right foot one step forward then glanced around cautiously.
Nothing.
There was nothing happen made her encourage herself to walk again.
After making sure the environment around them had not changed, Katie sped up her steps and ran towards her Umbra. She immediately hugged her Umbra's neck with small sobs.
"Shh... don't cry. We don't want to get soaked in the rain later." Umbra cajoled while giving the girl's back a light pat.
It was sounded ridiculuos in her ear. It's not like the rain would fall only because she cried. But judging the event happened around her, Katie believed his words.
Katie immediately released her hug. Her eyes were filled with tears, but her expression was so cute that she kept trying to refrain herself from crying.
Katie rubbed her eyes while wiping away the tear that had formed in her eyes. Then she take a deep breath while closing her eyes. After that, Katie looked again straight into the eyes of her Umbra.
"What am I? I'm not human?"
"You are human. It's just, you're not an ordinary human. The entire kingdom and the Vangarians call you 'the Red Queen'."
"Red Queen? But I'm not a queen. Besides, why should it be red?"
"Red hair, red eyes. Maybe that's the reason they call you the red."
"Then what's with being the red queen?"
"In this world, there is only one human who has a hair color as red as an apple and amber eyes. More precisely, the color of blood when the 'Red Queen' is in great emotion. The weather, animals, and plants around you will react according to your feelings. It won't be a problem if you're happy as nature will shine beautifully. But when you're scared, sad, the worst when you're angry, well, you can see your surroundings right now. Everything is a mess."
"So, you mean, I have power?"
"Some people call it gift, but some call it a curse. Being a Red Queen can't always control her emotions. Maybe she can hide it, and no one will know if you're angry. But, as long as the anger is still there, the weather will work according to your mood, and you can't control it."
"That's why they called the babies born as 'Red Queen,' cursed babies. They have to be killed right then. Unfortunately, once the baby dies, another baby will be born with the same amber eye color. This makes people are afraid. They are so scared that their babies will be the next cursed baby. Therefore... "
"Therefore?" Katie urged because Umbra had suddenly stopped the talking.
"They decided to let the Red King live... like a slave. The royal family made the 'Red King' as a weapon. They trained him and tortured him mentally to obey the royalty to rule the world."
"..."
"People who sincerely love you cannot bear you to live like that. Therefore you are rushed to America, where no one will find you. I try hard to please you so that you can live like a normal child, always happy and also... I really hope you never realize this 'curse'. I never thought your new school environment would stress you out. I'm sorry." the Umbra stroked Katie's cheek gently, which Katie enjoyed.
"Then what about my friends? Why did you hurt them?"
"I had to do it."
"Why?"
"Try to compare your feelings for them before and after their accident."
"I hate them. But when I found out, they were sick, I..." Katie paused to understand why the Umbra had to hurt her friends.
"You feel sorry for them. You're not angry anymore, right?" Umbra continued Katie's sentence as Katie nodded meekly in agreement.
"I have to think of a way to calm your emotions, Kei. If your anger is left to pile up and get bigger, I can't even stop you from destroying this one city. News about the destruction of this city will spread, and your presence will be known. I know you have a good heart thanks to Morse's upbringing, you grew up to be a child with a sensitive heart. So, I used it. If there were any good in you, I'm sure you would forgive them immediately if they were hurt. And now you know everything. I can no longer hide it from you. If I insist on covering it up, I'm afraid... you choose to run away and experience the same thing again."
"You want me to stay here? At that school?"
Umbra nodded his head confidently. "You have to face it. Escaping is not the way out. This time I want you to learn to control your emotions. You may not realize it, but I could see a very significant in weather change. Therefore I will make a deal with you."
"A deal?"
What kind of deal Umbra proposed?