Ariana's mind, preoccupied with birthday plans, led her feet astray. It was only after walking some distance in the evening light that she realized she had taken an unfamiliar path. She looked up, finding herself beneath a vast, natural cathedral;a dense canopy of overlapping branches that cast the trail into deep, green-tinged shadow. With no choice but to continue, she pressed forward. đ
About twenty minutes later, she emerged abruptly into the open. The setting sun warmed her skin. A few steps ahead, a tall mountain rose, its face split by a man-made staircase leading to the summit. At its base, a weathered sign declared its name: "Mysterious Monster Mountain."
The spot was surprisingly serene. A small stream gurgled nearby, weaving through flower-laden shrubs. Two stone benches and a round table offered a perfect place for quiet contemplation.
"Even after three years here, there are still places I don't know," she whispered, a sense of wonder replacing her disorientation.
Following a narrow trail beside the benches, she soon recognized the back of the chemistry lab. From there, she easily found her way to the main hall and onto the familiar route to her dormitory.
"I've only ever come from the front," she realized. "That's why I never saw it."
As dusk settled, a slow smile spread across her face. The secluded, magical spot was a gift in itself. "Hmm," she murmured, her earlier problem now a solved puzzle. "It's better to prepare the party tomorrow near that mountain." The perfect, secret location for Kian's surprise had found her. đŽ