RHEIN'S POINT OF VIEW
"Whoa…" Forelody's eyes nearly bulged from their sockets in shock.
I could only nod in agreement. Doubts began creeping in—can I really fix damage this extensive? Especially when I'm not even sure if I can control my magic properly yet.
My attention was drawn again to the darkened ground. There was something strange about it, something I couldn't quite place.
"Do you have any idea who might have done this?" I asked Chippo. The feeling in my gut about what had happened here wouldn't let me rest.
"None," he replied. "We don't have conflicts with other animals or mnarillazas. But…" He stroked his chin, eyes narrowing in thought. "I have a suspicion that someone deliberately sabotaged us. We just don't know who."
So they didn't know either.
"Rhein, do you suspect a deoremnarillaza might be behind this?" Forelody whispered.
I didn't answer. Instead, I let out a slow breath, jumped down from the tree, and only then noticed the dozens of chipmunks staring at us.
"Chief, is she the one who's going to help us?"
"She's the one?"
"Will she really be able to save our homes?"
"Quiet!" Chippo barked, leaping from my hands. His followers immediately fell silent. "Miss Rhein is here to help us," he declared before turning to me and giving me the go-ahead.
Forelody leaned closer. "Rhein, can you do it?"
Though uncertain, I gave her a reassuring smile. Kneeling, I pressed my right palm to the soil. Closing my eyes, I reached out with my senses, feeling every root and branch, from the thickest trunk to the tiniest twig. My magic coursed through them like flowing water.
The chipmunks' joyful cries made me open my eyes.
"Our homes are back!"
"We don't have to move anymore!"
"Long live, Miss Rhein!"
"Yes! Long live!"
"Long live, Miss Rhein! Long live, Miss Rhein! Long live, Miss Rhein!"
Forelody and I exchanged smiles as we admired the chipmunks' tree-homes, now lush and thriving compared to the withered state they'd been in earlier.
This… this is what nature is meant to feel like.
"Miss Rhein," Chippo said, "thank you. As a token of our gratitude, I'll agree to the condition you mentioned earlier."
I knelt before him with a grin that made him visibly nervous.
"A-and what condition is that?" he asked.
"Oh, nothing much." Before he could start shaking, I pinched his chubby cheeks. "You're just too cute! I can't help it!"
His followers burst into laughter, and soon, Forelody and I were laughing too.
After helping the chipmunks, we continued our journey on foot.
By dusk, we found shelter in a small cave—thankfully free of snakes and bats—so I was confident it was safe.
I slapped my forehead when I realized there was no food in my bag. I remembered Grandfather Lembo saying it had everything I'd need.
Isn't food considered essential?
Forelody chuckled, so I turned to look at her. She was already munching on an apple from the basket of fruits the chipmunks had given us. My stomach growled, and I quickly took one for myself.
"What's so funny?" I asked between bites.
"Grandfather Lembo didn't pack food because he knew we'd find plenty to eat in the forest. Just think of this as a survival game."
She had a point. "Fair enough."
I glanced toward the darkness outside, then back at the fire in front of us. I tossed in a piece of wood to make the flames burn brighter before looking out again.
I wondered… was this what Sister Rona went through too?
DYLAN'S POINT OF VIEW
After eating, they went to sleep. They made a blanket their bed, and her bag served as a pillow.
I continued my quiet watch over Rhein, just as her older sister had instructed.
I bit into an apple I had picked earlier, unable to stop a small smile from forming as I watched her.
"Dylan, you're smiling again. Come on, tell me if you've lost your mind," my pracien teased.
"I'm just admiring her. She's still a beginner, but she's already so skilled at controlling her mnarill," I replied.
It gave me a sly smirk but eventually dropped the teasing. "Alright."
I jumped down from the tree and entered the cave. Seeing that she seemed a bit cold, I added more wood to the fire. Sitting across from where she lay, I found myself smiling again as I looked at her. She was sleeping so soundly.
"Happy birthday, Princess… and welcome to Mnarra."
RHEIN'S POINT OF VIEW
I woke from a deep sleep when I felt a soft brush against the side of my neck. After a few moments, that gentle touch pulled away from my skin.
Still half-asleep, I slowly opened my eyes. I caught the faint outline of a man's figure. Shock jolted me fully awake, and I immediately sat up—only to find no one there but me.
I let out a long breath and closed my eyes again.
Maybe… I was just dreaming.
Wait, what?! I immediately stood up and glanced around the area. Carefully, I stepped outside, making sure not to wake Forelody. I scanned the surroundings in silence.
"Rhein, are we going now?" Forelody yawned as I came back inside. "It's still early, you know."
I guess her yawn was contagious, because I ended up yawning too. I glanced at the cave's entrance—there was already a faint light. "The earlier, the better," I replied with a smile.
I scooped her up and slipped her into the front pocket of my hoodie. It was roomy enough for the air to flow in, so she wouldn't feel hot inside.
"Rhein?" She sounded as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over her. She poked her head out of the pocket, looking up at me in confusion. "Why'd you put me in here?"
"You're still sleepy. Just rest there for now."
After packing up our things, I gave the cave one last look, as if saying goodbye. My brows furrowed when I noticed the firewood from last night was still smoking. This world really is strange—even wood takes forever for the fire to die out.
I gently tucked my pracien's head back inside. She'd already drifted off again, snoring softly.
Feeling content, I stepped out and stretched. I leapt onto a tree branch and let the morning chill brush against my skin. In the distance, I saw the sun slowly rising in the east.
"Good morning, Mnarra."