The Land of Keimusho [ COMPLETED ]

Chapter Thirty Eight: Emerald's Little Secret

Third Person's POV

When the elites finished their lunch and went their separate ways, Denise headed to a charming flower shop adorned with vibrant blooms. She carefully selected two bouquets, captivated by their elegant colors and fragrances. Meanwhile, Jen ventured into an incense shop, a haven of aromatic scents that filled the air. She carefully examined the various options before settling on a beautifully crafted bundle of incense sticks.

In another corner of the bustling street, Dian found herself drawn to a lively fruit stall bursting with an array of luscious produce. She handpicked a selection of ripe fruits, envisioning their juicy sweetness. Loremae, seeking purity and rejuvenation, made her way to a nearby spring, where she filled a container with clear, purified water, its clarity reflecting the serenity of the natural surroundings.

Lucille, in her quest for illumination and warmth, entered a quaint shop that offered a variety of candles and grains. She carefully chose candles that radiated a soft, flickering glow and a bag of rice that symbolized sustenance and abundance. Meanwhile, Junave sought spiritual connection and tranquility, and thus found herself acquiring a small booklet of sacred chants, its words resonating with ancient wisdom and divine energy.

As fate would have it, the friends were astonished when they unexpectedly crossed paths and gathered at the local shrine of Quinto. Confusion filled the air as they exchanged glances, each holding their respective offerings.

"I thought you all had other destinations," Lucille voiced her bewilderment, her tone filled with curiosity.

"Yeah, and it's in here," Loremae, her eyes fixed on the shrine, spoke with a serious tone.

"We went separate ways, but it seems we all ended up here," Diane chuckled, her laughter blending harmoniously with the sounds of the surrounding nature.

Jen laughed heartily, holding the bundle of incense close to her chest. "I guess the universe conspired to bring us together in this sacred place," she exclaimed with joy.

Denise shook her head, a hint of disappointment in her voice. "We should have planned to come together," she expressed, her words tinged with a touch of regret.

"I had nowhere else to go, so I found myself drawn to this sacred place," Lucille explained, her voice carrying a sense of reverence and contemplation.

Junave raised her hand, clutching the booklet of sacred chants, and added, "I, too, had no other destination. So, I followed the calling of this sacred place," she affirmed, a sense of peace resonating in her voice.

In that unexpected convergence, their separate endeavors led them to a shared moment of connection and spiritual unity. Within the shrine, they offered heartfelt prayers and made individual offerings, fully immersing themselves in the sacred atmosphere. With bowed heads and clasped hands, they sought solace, guidance, and deep spiritual connection. The flickering candles, the fragrance of incense, and the profound silence enveloped them, creating a space for reflection and reverence.

Afterwards, they made their way to a small charms stall tucked away in a far corner of the shrine. Excitement filled the air as each of them carefully selected mysterious lucky charms, drawn in by their enigmatic allure. As they perused the charms, they unexpectedly encountered Storm and Cassandra, who had also found themselves in the same corner of the shrine.

"Oh, didn't know you knew how to pray, Cass," Denise teased Cassandra playfully, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

Cassandra simply rolled her eyes in response, diverting her attention to the mysterious lucky charm she had chosen, a hint of curiosity in her expression.

"Guys, why don't we pick out charms for Eveline as well?" Loremae suggested, a warm smile on her face. The girls giggled excitedly at the idea, eager to extend their camaraderie and lucky charms to their absent friend.

Meanwhile, in the corner, Storm's expression grew bored as he leaned against a towering tree, his arms crossed, and his gaze fixed on the ground. While the girls enthusiastically read their chosen charms, Storm pushed himself away from the tree and approached Cassandra.

"I have to go somewhere," he told her, his voice carrying a sense of urgency.

Cassandra, feeling a mix of irritation and disappointment, grasped his left arm, halting his departure. "You're leaving me? With these elites?" she asked, her tone tinged with disdain, as if she found the company of the elites distasteful. "Please take me with you," she implored him while giving him a sharp, disapproving look.

"But I need to go there alone," he responded, his voice serious and unreadable.

Cassandra's face tightened into a serious expression, her frustration and irritation evident. "Alone?" she exclaimed, unable to believe his decision.

Storm remained silent, his gaze fixed on her, his expression blank.

"Are you sure about that?" Cassandra added, her frustration growing as she crossed her arms.

"Why? What's wrong with you now?!" Storm's voice carried a hint of impatience, though his expression remained inscrutable.

"Are you really saying those words to me? Are you serious?!" Cassandra hissed, unable to comprehend his actions. Storm's expression softened, and he gently held her arms.

"Alright, alright," he surrendered, tapping her head lightly in an attempt to calm her down. "Where do you want to go this time?" he asked, shifting the conversation to another topic.

"I can't believe you, Storm! You're definitely not the Storm I used to know," she told him, her voice laced with a mix of disappointment and lingering frustration, as she walked away, her demeanor filled with annoyance. Storm followed her, reaching out to hold her arm and prevent her from walking further.

"Alright, I'm sorry," he apologized, his expression softer and his eyes filled with a seeking for forgiveness.

"Okay," Cassandra relented, unable to prolong the argument any further. "Let's go uphill to hang this bad luck charm that I picked out," she suggested, her voice calmer but still carrying traces of frustration due to the unfortunate charm she had chosen earlier.

They walked away together, Cassandra mumbling, "What bad luck! Getting this bad luck charm, you getting mad at me, and meeting those elites just getting on my nerves. I have to hang this bad luck charm to ward off the negativity that's coming my way."

Storm's expression shifted abruptly, becoming sharp, blank, and tinged with urgency. As they walked, Cassandra's eyes fell upon Kyle, and she called out to him, "Kyle!"

Kyle approached them, inquiring if Cassandra had finished praying. She replied affirmatively, mentioning that she and Storm were heading uphill to hang her charm. Cassandra extended an invitation to Kyle and Eveline, but Storm, sounding slightly irritated, took her arm.

"Tss, let's go," Storm uttered curtly. However, as they began moving away, Cassandra abruptly halted and complained, "Aw, let go, Storm! You're hurting me!" Storm appeared somewhat shocked, as he had not realized he was gripping her tightly.

"I'm sorry," he immediately apologized, his voice filled with remorse.

"What the heck is wrong with you, Storm? You're acting so unbelievably! Is this because of Eveline?!" Cassandra couldn't believe the words coming out of her mouth.

Storm stared blankly into her eyes, still processing that he had unintentionally hurt her for the first time.

"I'm sorry," he continued to ask for forgiveness, attempting to reach out for her arm. However, Cassandra swiftly withdrew her hand, avoiding his touch.

"You know what?! I've been observing the changes in your behavior lately, and do you think I can't tell? Yesterday, where were you at night? You weren't in your room, and you know what crossed my mind then? That you were with her, spending the night together. You were never like this before, and it's irritating because you're changing because of her. You're definitely becoming a different person. You've changed into a different person, and I just don't know when it all started. So, when did it, huh?" Cassandra confronted him, her voice filled with a mix of anger, confusion, and hurt.

Storm simply stared, his gaze locked onto her, unable to provide an immediate answer.

"What is happening with you, Storm? What is it?" Cassandra pressed, her frustration mounting, but Storm could only shake his head in response.

"I don't know," he answered honestly, a sense of helplessness in his voice.

"You better sever your ties with her, or else," Cassandra demanded, her tone laced with a warning.

"But I can't. We've already signed a contract," Storm admitted, revealing a truth that caught Cassandra off guard.

"What?!" she hissed angrily. "Without even telling me?! And wait, I thought you didn't like the idea of being a servant, but...but you were willing to become one because of that filthy girl?!" Cassandra's voice rose as her anger intensified.

"Don't...say bad things about her, please," Storm pleaded, his voice filled with a mixture of protectiveness and vulnerability, leaving Cassandra momentarily shocked.

"Now," Cassandra gasped, her breath catching, "now you're siding with her," she added, her disbelief evident in her tone.

"I'm not siding with anyone, I just..." Storm couldn't finish his sentence as confusion clouded his mind, making it difficult for him to put his thoughts into words.

"I don't care about anything else. You know what's going to happen if you choose her over me," Cassandra declared with finality, ending the discussion. She held his arms tightly and pulled him towards the uphill path, her grip conveying her determination.

Meanwhile, the group of elites had arrived in town, diligently searching for Eveline's whereabouts. Junave suddenly pointed in a specific direction, exclaiming, "She's over there!"

"Wait, is that Kyle she's with?" Jen squinted her eyes, as if trying to focus like a camera lens, attempting to zoom in on the distant figures.

"Oh no," Lucille gasped, covering her mouth, her gaze fixed strangely on Loremae.

"What?!" Loremae asked, her tone serious and demanding.

Lucille looked at her mischievously, giving her a teasing grin.

"What is it?" Loremae inquired again, growing impatient.

"I know your little secret," Lucille winked at her, instantly piquing the curiosity of the entire group of friends.

"What is it? What is it?" the girls chimed excitedly in unison, their eyes shimmering with anticipation.

"Should I tell them or not?" Lucille continued to taunt Loremae playfully.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Loremae replied, feigning boredom.

"Tell us, tell us, tell us!" the girls chanted in unison, their excitement evident.

"She likes Kyle," Lucille confidently admitted, causing the girls' excitement to quickly turn into disappointment.

"No way, Loremae definitely can't like someone other than animals," Jen expressed her disappointment and disbelief.

"Yeah, I'm pretty sure that's just your imagination, Lucille," Diane chimed in, supporting Jen's viewpoint.

"Let's go somewhere else. It seems like we'll just disrupt those two if we mingle with them now," Denise suggested, taking the lead in redirecting their attention elsewhere. They didn't want to spoil the enjoyable atmosphere for Kyle and Eveline, who were immersed in the games.

"But I'm telling the truth, though. Loremae likes him," Lucille persisted, refusing to let go of the subject.

"It's just your wild imagination," Junave said, even tapping Lucille's shoulder playfully, before leading the group away to find another spot.