Daphtus: Draggon Boy (Book 2)

Chapter 17 - Sneak Out Once More

Hana's POV:

At this point you may have known, I lost track of time. 

We reached the greenhouse after a while, and at that point, I could tell that Arthur was worried. All I knew was that it was very late at night, and my energy was drained throughout the whole day.

"You sure about this?" he asked as he sat down on the porch swing. I sat down cross-legged  in front of him. "Yes, unless you want to take your chances and believe that your spell broke through Ezra's power," I told him. 

"Actually-"

"If the world is destroyed, you won't be able to see me either. So suck it up and accept fate," I told him. 

Arthur didn't say anything after that.

I closed my eyes and concentrated, finding that little tingle in the air. Fortunately, finding the Flow had become a lot easier for me. In no time at all, I found the Flow and slipped into the Astro realm. 

***

"The spirits you are looking for are not here," said a stern voice. I tried to open my eyes, but it felt like I just took a long nap. The thumping in my head didn't help either. 

"Oh, get up, Hana. You don't have all day," said the person. Suddenly, I felt a jolt of electricity and gasped. "Finally. Come on. There's not much time," the girl had dark chocolate hair and matching eyes. I could only see the top half of her face since the lower half was covered by a black mask. She was in a black bodysuit and a gear belt was strapped along her waist. The only other color on her was the blue scarf around her neck and the set of blades that hung behind her. 

"Who are you?" I asked getting up and following her.

"I am mostly known as the Serious One, but you can call me Mel," she said not even looking behind her. 

"Why the Serious One?" I asked.

"I'm pretty sure you can guess why. Us paradox are similar anyways. No paradox is dumb or evil," she said. 

"Wait, I came here to meet Filia and Zoe. Where are they?" I asked.

Mel stopped and turned around. "Oh, Hana, wake up. Have you even looked around? This place is deserted!"

My eyes widened as I turned around to take in my surroundings. The white stream barely has any color in it, much less fishes. The green background I usually see is now more grey than usual. 

"What happened?" I asked.

Mel sighed. "I guess paradox are also curious and asks a lot of questions. This place has been poisoned. We can barely access the Astral Realm anymore," she said. 

"You managed to break through?" I asked. "So did you. I was told that I would not find what I need here, but instead, I have to help someone else in a more critical state. And because of the poison, we can only stay here for so long," Mel explained.

"How did you know my name?"

"The person who told me to help you said your name."

"So how are you going to help me? I need to check if my friends, Joanna and Heroid, are going to meet Joanna's instructor or Ezr-"

In an instant, Mel's scarf was wrapped around my mouth. "First of all, Hana, no deity is harmless. Second and most important, never say his name nonchalantly. Especially not here," Mel said and I nodded to let her know I understood. Her scarf unwrapped itself and flew in front of Mel. 

"We have to hurry up. Might have to run," she said.

"Oh, I just love doing that."

"Well, then I hope you can keep up," Mel said before leaping a great distance.