The sun rays coming from the wide open window gave light to her ocean blue eyes making them appear dazzling. Like a glittering sea during the day. Sparkling as the deep sea reflected the light from the sun. That's how Kendra's eyes look to me right now. Like an enchanting sea under the sun.
I can't help but be pulled as I stared in a trance into those eyes.
Kendra cleared her throat as she tucked her platinum blonde hair behind her reddened ears. "I should call back everyone inside, they're still worried waiting for you to wake up, so…"
I blink as I snap out from the trance. "Right…" I said.
Kendra then stood up from sitting on the chair as she slowly retracted her hand from holding mine. Then I watch her walk outside, closing the door gently leaving me alone in the room.
I prop myself up on my elbows as I sat up. I noticed that I'm wearing a white gown. I don't smell stinky anymore, so it seems that someone had changed my dirty tattered uniform to a white gown, and also, I look clean. While the choker on my neck is still there.
'Good,' I thought to myself feeling relieved. It would be embarrassing if Kendra saw me covered with mud and blood, smelling like shit.
Speaking of Kendra, why is she here?
The door creaked open, getting my attention. Alexandra entered. Penelope followed after her then Kendra entered last.
My eyes search around for a red rabbit.
"Lass, how are you feeling?" Alexandra asked.
I glanced at the red haired woman and said, "I'm fine, thank you for taking care of me."
Penelope and Alexandra glanced at Kendra. While Kendra averted her eyes.
"Little liar, you're thanking the wrong person," Penelope said.
My brows furrowed.
Alexandra cleared her throat and said, "it's not me who took care of you. You were out of control at that time, making it hard for anyone to approach you…"
"Then how did I get in here?" I said, puzzled.
"I called Penny, and she brought you forcefully to the infirmary of the academy by using dark attribute skills," Alexandra replied.
I glance at Penelope. "Thank you dean master," I said.
"It's nothing, I merely brought you back, but the one who took care of you is this student beside me," Penelope said, her red bloody eyes looking at Kendra. "Her name is Kendra Salamanca, a light attribute user, she's the one who cured your chaotic dark mana from running amok, and she's also the one who took care of you, so be sure to thank her properly."
"Oh," I replied as I glanced at Kendra.
Kendra looked at me then averted gaze.
"I, uh, thank you," I said, smiling awkwardly as I felt my body heat up from embarrassment.
However, Kendra seems to ignore me as she turns to look at Penelope and Alexandra instead.
"Seeing that everything is under control, I think it's time for me to go now," Kendra said to Penelope.
Penelope nodded. "Alright, I'll escort you out, Miss Salamanca," she said.
Kendra nodded, then she turned to Alexandra. "Professor Alexandra Cassidy," she said, nodding her head respectfully at the red haired woman.
Alexandra nodded back politely. "Thank you for taking care of my assistant, if you need any help with magic, feel free to come to my laboratory, it's located on the underground floor of the Magic and Research Department," Alexandra said. "Rare attribute users like you are always welcome to visit my laboratory office."
"I will keep that in mind, then I'll go on my way now," Kendra said then left without giving me a glance.
Penelope glanced at Alexandra before she followed after Kendra.
I sighed as Kendra left. She didn't even glance at me. Perhaps making her take care of me left a bad impression on her. That's not good; I can't let the protagonist think badly of me; for the sake of my smooth sailing ending.
"Ahem."
Hearing Alexandra clearing her throat; I turn my head to look at the red haired woman.
"Now that the two of us are alone," Alexandra said, sitting on the chair beside the bed. "I need to tell you something…"
I nodded, waiting for the red haired woman to continue.
Alexandra sighed then said, "after you fainted, your dark attribute mana run amok, and…"
My brows furrowed. "And…?"
"It's your companion…" Alexandra replied in a sigh.
"Did something happen to Pula?" I said as my brows pulled up together in concern.
"Well…" the red haired woman sighed again.
My heart pounded inside my chest feeling anxious.
"Did I, did I hurt…Pula?" I said in a faint voice, gulping in anxiety.
"It was an accident," Alexandra replied, giving my shoulder a light squeeze.
I held my breath as I looked at nothing in a trance.
This is my fault.
Suddenly, I heard that dark noise again, and slowly, it grew louder and louder to my ears.
"Lass…?"
I jolted as I snapped out of the trance. I breathed heavily like I'm out of breath.
I glance at Alexandra who looks at me worriedly.
"Are you alright? Do you feel unwell again?" Alexandra asked as her brows furrowed together.
"I'm fine, well, a little I guess…" I said as I searched around the room for a little red rabbit. "Where is Pula?"
"Pula is with the Adarna bird, healing in the next room, oh right, the Adarna bird said to come speak to her as soon as you wake up, she said she has something to tell you," Alexandra said.
"Then let's go there, I need to see if Pula is alright," I said, standing up.
Alexandra then supported me, and then we walked to the next room. When Alexandra creaked the door open, I saw a woman and the familiar red rabbit on the bed.
Alexandra and I then entered the room. The woman's bright grey eyes stared at me then she smiled. "Weak mortal, how is your mana?"
The woman had rainbow hair and tan skin, wearing the same white gown as mine.
My brows furrowed at her then I glanced at the red haired woman questioningly.
"Who is this woman?" I whispered to Alexandra.
"The Adarna bird," Alexandra whispered back.
My eyes widened as I stared at Alexandra in shock. "No way…" I gasp in disbelief, still whispering. "How is that possible…?"
"I know right?" Alexandra nodded understandably then sighed. "I'm shock as well when I first saw her transforming into a human…"
"I can hear the two of you discussing about me," the rainbow haired woman said, getting our attention.
Alexandra cleared her throat and said, "I better wait outside."
Then Alexandra left, closing the door.
I grab the back of my neck awkwardly. "I came here to visit Pula, and professor told me that you wanted to talk to me," I started.
"So you named the little one Pula, that's a unique name," said the woman or the Adarna bird.
'Kendra said the same thing,' I thought to myself, recalling Kendra.
I looked at Pula and saw that there's bandage around its body. I knitted my brows as I sighed, feeling guilty deep inside.
"Have a seat, mortal," the rainbow haired woman said, gesturing to the chair beside the bed.
"Thanks," I replied, sitting down on the chair next to her bed.
I look at Pula sleeping beside the Adarna woman or bird. I don't know what to think of her. Is she a bird or a human?
"The little one is fine, she only needs a proper rest and she'll return to normal again," the Adarna woman said to me.
So Pula is a female rabbit, I didn't know since I didn't check. Well, the important thing is that Pula is safe.
"I see," I replied, sighing in relief.
I then turned my eyes to the Adarna woman. "So…I heard that you wanted to speak with me?"
The rainbow haired girl nodded.
"I asked that professor of yours," the Adarna started, smiling as she continued, "I asked her what rewards she wanted from me, but she told me to grant it to you instead, since she wouldn't have helped if you hadn't run to my rescue, so I asked you weak mortal, what rewards do you seek from me?" The Adarna inquired, staring at me expectantly.
"Oh," I replied as I nodded.
"Tell me. Is it treasure and gold? Or power and fame?"
"Nothing," I said. To begin with, I didn't come to her rescue for those things. I was just trying to be a decent human being. They're not out of kindness; I did that for the sake of my inner peace. Get that?
It's for myself. After all, I'm selfish.
But the Adarna woman or bird or whatever seems to be puzzled at my answer. Her brows knitted as she asked. "What do you mean nothing?"
I shrugged at the Adarna and said, "I didn't do anything anyway, so you can forget about it, and you save my life by that sa–saliv*gags*...anyway, I don't need any rewards from you, okay? Just forget it, treat everything like nothing happened, okay?"
"You answered just as the same as your professor, and yet I feel infuriated with you, I wonder why…" The Adarna woman muttered, knitting her brows together glaring at me.
I gave her a wry smile. "Hehe."
"Anyway, I still must return the favor one way or another, furthermore, my saliva brought harm to your body, it's the reason why your dark mana run amok, so I must find another way to reward you," the Adarna woman said, crossing her arms in her chest as she pondered.
I sighed. "Like I said, you don't need to—"
"Aha!" The Adarna woman interrupted. "How about this…I know that your soul is not originally from this world," the woman said suddenly, which caught me off guard.
My heart pounded hard in my chest. "How did you know?"
"It's not important how I came to know, the important thing is to warn you," the Adarna woman said solemnly.
My brows creased, feeling anxious. "About what…?"
"About that green haired alpha girl," said the Adarna woman.
Lilith Salvador?
"And what about her?" I inquired.
"She's also like you, a soul wanderer," the Adarna stated.
"Soul wanderer…?" I said, puzzled.
"Yes, souls who wander through time and space to another world or dimension," the Adarna woman answered.
My eyes widened as I stood up, leaning my head forward. "Do you know a way how I can return to earth?!" I gasped.
"Calm down mortal," the Adarna woman said.
I took a deep breath as I nodded, then I slowly sat back down. My heart pounded excitedly in my chest.
"Unfortunately, I don't know how you would be able to return to your own world," the Adarna woman said.
"Oh…" I replied, looking down dejectedly.
"But, if you want to know how to return to your world, then go and seek the heavenly beings."
Huh? She wants me to talk to a god like it's normal?
"How do I do that?" I said, creasing my brows together. "That's basically impossible, you know…"
"It's not impossible mortal, If you want to seek and talk to the gods and goddesses, you must first enter enlightenment," the Adarna woman said.
"Enlightenment…?" I mumbled, perplexed.
"Yes," the Adarna woman replied.
"How…?"
"Unfortunately, I can't divulge the secrets of the heavenly beings, if I do, they would strike their lightning sword at me," the Adarna woman replied. "You must seek a human for this question."
"I see, then do you know anyone who could help me?" I inquired with hopeful eyes, desperate for answers.
"Hmm, in some tribes, they call the enlightened ones as Babaylan, and I believe there's something similar like that in this kingdom, if I recall, the people in this kingdom call their enlightened ones as saint or pope," the Adarna woman explained.
"I see," I nodded. "Thank you for telling me this crucial information Adarna, this is a huge help for me to return home, I hope I could return the favour someday," I said.
"No need, this is my reward for saving my life against that wretched mongrel," the Adarna woman said. "Anyway, be careful with that green haired girl alpha, I could feel a sinister aura surrounding her."
"I will, but I think she's after you not me," I said, confused.
"No, she will also come to you, it may not be now, but soon she will," the Adarna woman said solemnly.
"And why would she do that?" I asked, baffled.
The Adarna woman shook her head. "I can't tell you, I took an oath to never divulge the secrets of the heavenly beings, if I do, they would strike me with their lightning sword," she repeated.
I sighed in resignation and nodded understandably. "I understand…"
"Then I have now returned the favour, and now that I'm healed, I need to go now, I still have other matters to attend to," the Adarna woman said, standing up from the bed. "After all, I'm a sacred beast."
"Are you leaving?" I said, looking at the rainbow haired woman as I remained seated.
"Yes," the Adarna said, walking to the window.
"I see, be careful Adarna," I said, smiling at her.
"Thank you," Adarna said, pushing open the window, then she looked over her shoulder, staring at me as she said, "what is your name mortal?"
"Uh…Nasrin Urduja," I answered.
"No, your original name before you wandered into this world," Adarna said.
"Oh," I mouthed.
I smiled. "My name is…" I paused as I remembered my beautiful memories on earth. Then I glance at Pula at the bed.
"Is what?" Adarna urged.
"My name from now on is…Nasrin," I said, looking at the sleeping red rabbit. "As long as I'm here, I'm Nasrin."
"I see," Adarna said, nodding her head. "I'll keep that name in mind, mortal."
After that, Adarna transforms into a bird dropping her clothes on the floor, then she flies outside, flapping her rainbow wings to the sky.