[OP: ]
Rein walked in the gate with an excited expression with her pretty face that was attractive even with Celes's perfect disguise.
Her brown hair was mostly normal and her black eyes were deep and attractive on their own but as she was in her modest clothes, no one aside from Eon and the group was actually interested in this girl that they couldn't feel much strength from.
She wasn't on the rankings and none of them had seen her on the island to recognize her so as she entered the gate and the door closed behind her, they all just waited for the other famous people's turn.
They weren't interested in which house this unknown girl becomes part of but they all were going to be surprised at the end of their little event.
So, Rein entered the place and the gates closed behind her.
-Oooooooooooooooooong.
In the dark place, a green light covered her and she looked around the dark place, surprised at the abnormally high concentration of natural energy she felt from all around her.
She was surprised but then in the middle of this small dark room, a green light materialized and surprised Rein even more.
[[ Hoh? How peculiar… ]]
The green light pulsed and she heard the voice coming out of it instead of directly in her mind this time.
[[ You see the truth don't you young girl? ]]
The ball of light that had materialized before her, came closer and started circling her like some blob of spirit that had taken an interest in her.
However this green light was no normal spirit but the materialized consciousness of the ancient tree, something that few strong are able to perceive and even fewer are able to actually 'see'.
And in her eyes, the small light before her was far more than just a tiny blob of green light. If we had to give it a shape, it would be something like a giant superior spirit which though didn't have a specific face, was definitely a perfectly overwhelming humanoid figure.
This was the small part of its consciousness that the ancient tree was using to greet the children but Rein was probably the first one to see him as not only the green blob of light but as that colossal faceless figure that was looking at her with excitement and many questions.
[[ You have good eyes and this unique energy that you used to hide that pretty appearance of your eyes seems just as interesting as you. ]]
The light blob passed before her eyes and her eyes, her original gorgeous pink eyes became visible for a moment, then went back to normal black when the blob of light went back before her.
[[ It doesn't look like this unique 'disguise' is your power though. And a similar energy as this disguise is also coming from that unique ring of yours.
Hmmm… looks like you are one of the two that little Merlin keeps talking about.
You certainly are an interesting witch. Someone with many wounds, someone with darkness, and at the same time, someone who had found her light not too long ago.
So, this light of yours is here too, right? I'm getting excited to see that little boy even more now. ]]
Rein was stunned at first but as this consciousness or the being before her continued talking, it felt like she had known him for a very long. As if she was talking to a close friend that she had met after a long time.
She was surprised at first but she regained her composure quickly and a smile was spread out on her pretty face bathed in his natural green light.
"Yes, he is just outside waiting anxiously for what house I will get and it was going to be dark soon so I thought we would finish things early but…" she looked around for a moment and then looked back up at the giant being before her eyes.
"This is a special place where time flows differently. Almost five times slower, right?
That means we have a good long time so let's talk misters tree~!"
The light pulsed as if surprised and then she heard a burst of calming laughter that made even her heart calm.
[[ Hahaha. So you are an irregular too? An anomalous witch that perceives time with her own inner clock that is linear in all circumstances? Haha, truly amazing people have come to this place this year. ]]
The light shook and the giant creature gripped around his belly like he had heard something really fun right now.
Then he nodded at her and she did the same with a unique look on her face as she looked at the creature and started a conversation with some off-topic questions and answers.
The ancient tree had a fun time with her but however much he wanted to let this talk go on, they didn't have time today.
Rein knew this too and she wanted to be here for longer, feel this creature and this strange natural power that made her feel at home, and be with this voice that was a fun conversation partner itself.
But she knew she had to go now, so she got to the point and looked straight up at the colossal being sitting before her.
"Nel. What house were you going to assign me at first?" She asked with genuine curiosity and the consciousness before her just answered truthfully.
[[ You already know that little Elle, so why even ask?
That pure darkness you possess would attract even the higher elementals, maybe even the powerful creatures closely related to the darkness itself.
I believe you already know the actual past of the [Dark society] but the house itself has stayed true to the principles that it was made upon.
The darkness you possess is so pure and vast that even someone like me who had lived for this long time thinks that kind of affinity had already long surpassed the level of just abnormal.
If you continue honing your elemental abilities then you might even achieve sovereignty over the element itself and liberate yourself from the bounds of this world. ]]
A bitter smile appeared on her face and she nodded at his words.
"He said something like that in the past too but hearing it from you makes it sound more serious than his casual words. Well, I don't like the [Dark society]. Can't I get the [True dragon]?
You know Carla, Zoe, Chrysis, and Alfred? My darling and we all want to compete against each other so if I go to the [True dragon], we will be able to do it pretty well.
It isn't like I don't want to join that house just because of the bad reputation of the house and the past but I just don't like it as a whole.
So?"
She looked up at it and the giant body before her held his chin with his one and wrapped the other one around his waist.
He seemed to be deep in thought and after a moment of silence, he nodded his giant head and put his hands down.
[[ It was fun talking with you little Elle and I can not wait to meet this Axion honey of yours.
He definitely seems like a more special one than the Zoe girl you speak of and you.
You made me excited about something so I will definitely consider what you want. And I also hope to see you again soon. Both of you together would be even better. ]]
And as soon as he said that, a door leading to the outside world opened up just behind her.
She looked at him with a suspicious look but there was no face to this guy so she didn't get any more information.
"Take care…" she gave him the last iffy glance and waved her hand at him as she walked out through the gate.
This consciousness before her also waved back as she went out and at the same time, the face on the tree trunk that had been quiet from the moment she went in also opened its mouth and announced the house that the girl that just got out of the gates would be a part of for the rest of her time in this place.
[[ Dark society! ]]
"?!"
She looked back before even thinking anything as soon as the voice that had been with her for that long time entered her mind again.
She was stunned as she looked back, her eyes wide open as if she had just seen the biggest betrayal of her lifetime, but the others around the tree had no great reaction to him at all.
She was a nobody from their point of view so they had no reaction to this reaction of hers however… it was different for the ones that knew her.
They weren't accustomed to seeing her like that in any situation so they could tell just how much of a surprise it would have been for her.
Eon especially knew it must have been something very unpleasant for her but she was assigned to a good house that was different from theirs so as she went back to him, he happily welcomed her and even more happily accepted an angry punch in his gut from her.
Well, he didn't mind her and continued calming her down as she relentlessly cursed the ancient tree with words so profound and full of wisdom that even the students sitting around them walked away with 'calm' expressions.
The power behind her mere words was so great and the syllables used to convey those feelings so fearfully deep that even the ancient tree had an anxious expression as it continued its work of assigning houses to the students.
Carla and the others didn't worry much about her as they knew Eon was with her and Eon had also calmed her down after a while, convincing her that the things that happened had already passed and she couldn't do anything to change at least this specific thing.
She understood it too and accepted her fate of being in the [Dark society] that was strangely filled with not as dark people as some of the bastards she had come across in her life.
She couldn't change her house now so that was it for her turn and Eon was guiltily enjoying her rare genuine sadness.
She knew what this bastard fiancé of hers was thinking and he would receive his punishment when things were done so she left him for now and soon, it was his turn to meet the great ancient tree, Quesnel.
"Lucifer." The Vice headmaster called out and Eon walked towards the crowd, used his movement skill, appeared before the doors, and observed the doors for a solid second before entering with an excited smirk on his face.
His dear darling was betrayed by this oldie, he was the reason she was sad and he was able to enjoy something fun even though it was only for a while, but even if it was with good intentions, he was going to punish him for that bad behavior right now.
Well, he knew he couldn't so much as make a permanent scratch on this tree with his current strength but he had something that will be more than enough to get what he wanted and more and, at the same time, tease the tree and punish him for his wrongdoing.
He knew it was going to be interesting so... that unique experience of his started as soon as he entered the gates that were embedded with a piece of knowledge that even he couldn't help but admire.
The sourc𝗲 of this content is free(w)ebnov(𝒆)l