RONA'S POINT OF VIEW
I could not stop clenching my hands. I bowed to hide my anger. "W-why? Are not you... s-scared for your own child?"
"She did not do anything bad to your sister, Rona," said the queen.
I looked back at them. If earlier I was angry, now I am confused. "What do you mean? Rhein was hurt! Did not she cause her headache?"
"You are mistaken," replied the king, "It is only natural that such things should happen to her. The trial will continue. It cannot be stopped until I order."
I felt annoyed again because of what he said. "There is nothing natural about that. It is not natural for her to suddenly have a headache without a reason—" I stopped when I realized something. "—do you mean..."
They both nodded. The king approached me and tapped my right shoulder. "That is right. Your sister's headache was caused by the deore mnarillaza approaching her. You know the seal reacts to the deore mnarill, right?"
The queen held my hands. "Do not worry too much about your sister. We won't let her perish," she said. She smiled and hugged me.
I just smiled too. Rhein, just wait a bit, we will be done.
No matter how hard I tried, they still refused to stop the test. I have no choice but to continue.
After I got out of the portal, I saw that the guardian was waiting. I am sure he knows what I am thinking because I let my mind be open.
"Grandfather Lembo, it is up to you now."
He smiled and bowed slightly. "Your wish will be granted, Princess. You can count on me."
RHEIN'S POINT OF VIEW
I did not know how I ended up inside my room. I just woke up lying on top of my bed.
The sunlight coming through the window was already orange when I looked in its direction. It was afternoon.
"My guess is correct. Your friends can be relied upon to trap you."
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahh!" After hearing those words, I cried out because of my headache again. Compared to what happened yesterday, I felt more severe pain now. "Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaahh!" I just kept screaming until I sat down. I could feel my tears running down my cheeks as well. "Aaaaaaaaahh!"
Even though I was so close but I could not see who it was, I knew she was just staring at me and watching me. I do not understand. Why is she hurting me? What have I done wrong to her? Is it because I found out that my friends saw her? But, why me? I never saw her face to face but, why is she hurting me instead of my friends?
When what she whispered earlier came to my mind again, that was when I patched everything up. She is the mastermind of the wonders that have happened to me since yesterday. And from the very beginning, I was the one she intended to target. She only used my friends to let me know about her.
In fact, I was not sure if what came to my mind was true. I knew nothing about how I thought of it. Am I abnormal? Am I crazy? I cannot blame myself if indeed I am because I am confused now since yesterday.
Despite the difficulty, I struggled to bear the pain and stood up. At least a little, I opened my eyes to look at her. That was enough to see her. Just like what my friends said, she was wearing a black cloak. I could not see her face because she bowed her head.
"Do you know who you are? Do you really know who you really are?" she asked as she stepped closer. "Do you believe that everything you believe is true?"
"W-why..."