Weirdos IV: The Emerald Heart

Chapter 1: Twilight

Dawn is just breaking. As the faint light of the rising sun started pushing away the darkness over the horizon, the entire surroundings also started waking up to the new day. Even the wind, as if waking up from its peaceful overnight slumber, blew gently and ruffled the leaves of the swaying trees around us. The entire place was ridiculously cold, and I can't keep myself from shivering every time the wind blows.

We just arrived at the Woodland Mansion, the exact same house that Professor Evanesca showed to RB and me before the start of the school year. Exhausted, injured, sleepy, and hungry, almost everyone collapsed on the lawn after nearly an entire night of travelling.

I took a quick look on the people around me as I stood up. I then realized that only a very few people were uninjured, and I'm lucky enough to be among them. Fortunately, none of the injured people needed immediate help. Faye's already asleep after draining nearly all her strength just to heal Crimson's wounds.

A ball of bluish-black smoke landed on the lawn last before morphing into Ezekiel. "Is everyone here?" he asked before making a quick count of the people around him. After ensuring that no one accidentally fell on our flight, Ezekiel floated towards the edge of the clearing before muttering some strange words while waving his arms in front of him. Disturbances in the air resembling heat waves rippled on the clearing's edge and over the mansion.

As Professor Elena escorted the people into the house, I limped towards Ezekiel who's still busy casting spells at the edge of the mansion's clearing.

"I'm casting every single Protective Charm that I know to protect us from Serafina and the villains," Ezekiel said as I approached him. "They will make the house—and us—invisible from everyone. The outsiders will see nothing but a patch of dangerous-looking land in this area. They won't be able to hear us, too. For as long as we stay inside this clearing, we'll be safe."

I didn't reply.

"Go inside the house. Rest," Ezekiel said, glancing at me.

As he continued to cast his enchantments around the house, I also noticed that the noises of the forest have been muffled a bit—as if some sort of soundproofing has been erected around the mansion. When he's already done casting his spells, I noticed that the area beyond the edge of the clearing has become blurred and hazy.

"That should do it," Ezekiel said with a sigh before turning to me. "If you're just going to stand there blankly like a complete idiot, I would advise you to go inside, rest, and warm yourself up. You need to be thankful that you weren't seriously hurt. You'll just insult our injured fellows if you catch a cold, nitwit."

"How much did you know?" I asked in a low voice.

Ezekiel closed his eyes momentarily as if to gather some strength. "Just like what Serafina said, my sister is a woman of secrets. There are things that only she knows and understands. The headmistress even kept secrets from us, her own siblings. Just like you, we're also shocked by the things that Serafina said last night."

"How much did you know?" I asked again, more slowly this time.

He paused before taking a deep breath.

"I've always known that RB is the current bearer of the Prime Destruction and that Serafina was petrified as a statue right outside the Emerald Building. Before the start of the school year, my sister asked for help from me in maintaining the safety of the students and Emerald. Also, I didn't actually go back here to take a break from my work at the Agents International. The agency sent me here to monitor the villain activities in this country."

"I also knew that RB is Serafina's son. However, I didn't know that it was my sister who petrified Serafina. Just like you, I was just a child two decades ago when my sister defeated her. My knowledge about their connection is limited to what my sister has told me," Ezekiel added.