HAVEN (Part 2)

One month later. 

In a new community just outside of the salt district, a small collection of houses, surrounded by gardens and trees, a small group of 5 girls were sitting on the grass talking happily. 

"Did you hear, Ethan is leaving for training soon." One of them said excitedly. 

"Training? Where?" Another one responded, eager to move to the next topic. 

"No one knows, some say that he's a retired serial killer who was never caught because he's so good." 

"But Miss Alice wouldn't know anyone like that-" 

"Why wouldn't she-If the rest of the rumors are true then this probably is." one girl spoke, attracting all the attention.

"What rumors?" One of the girls said, worried. 

"She blows up buildings to make space for green spaces, threatens people into 'making better choices' then takes the money from her sponsorships and pays for her mansions." 

The girls gasped in disbelief. "T-that can't be true, she would never do that." a girl said timidly, holding a teddy bear. 

The other girls ignored her, talking about all the bad things she did, as she got up and rushed away, moving to a clearing of trees, where Vida was resting, out of breath from the grueling training that she went through to prepare for school. 

"V-vida" she said, about to cry. 

Vida noticed this and rushed up to hug her "What happened, sweetie?" She asked. 

"People are saying bad things about m-miss A-alice." she said, tears falling. 

"Oh no, dear. You don't need to cry," Alice said, sitting on top of a collapsed Ethan."Ignore the boy and come here and Ethan, Hurry up and continue, only 20 more sets left." 

 He groaned as he lifted himself into a push-up, then collapsed as the little girl joined Alice on top of him. 

"People will always say bad things about you, what you need to do is to prove them wrong ok." 

The girl nodded her head. "I want to train too" 

Alice laughed "Of course, I can even try to get you your veil right now." 

"WHAT," Vida shouted from where she was. "Is that even possible?" 

"Yes," looking at Ethan with suspicion "but for some people." 

Luckily, Ethan didn't see, but Vida gave her a questioning look.

She shook her head. "Should I do it right now Nina?" 

She nodded excitedly. 

"Go home and change into some comfortable clothes-" she started as the girl had already run off excitedly. 

"Is it possible to give someone a veil," Ethan asked, finally escaping her grasp

"I can only quicken the process," Alice said, ignoring his escape. 

His silence told her everything she needed to know. But she knew not giving him a veil was the right choice. She just didn't know why. Yet.

 "Let me get everything ready." She said leaving as Vida scrolled through her phone, turning it off as Alice came closer. "Is everything alright," she asked worriedly. 

Forcing a smile at her, Vida replied "Yeah, why wouldn't it be." 

Smiling back, she decided to leave her to figure out what was angering her and left to prepare herself as Vida called Ethan closer and showed him the article about Alice. 

ALICE THE MUTT: SUSPECTED ECO-TERORISM EXPLOSION FROM THE "SILVER SEED" WITH 80 CONFIRMED DEATHS FOUND TO BE LINKED TO THE 'PRODIGIE'S' VEIL ENERGY.

"This is bad," Vida said, trying not to smash her phone. 

"Yeah, that's hardly an appealing article title," he said, avoiding her death glare. 

"How could they do this to her," she said, her voice dropping sadly. 

"That's bad." 

After a silent look of disgust, she said "You look unconcerned about this," 

"Should I be concerned-" he was cut off by the feeling of drowning, it lasted for a short time, but it was long enough that he fell, gasping for air. 

"What are you doing," Alice asked, returning to the clearing. 

Looking at him with disgust, she said "Veil defense training." 

Sighing, she said, "Vida, you should learn to be forgiving to others, especially your brother-" 

"This guy can barely be considered human, much less my brother-" 

"Enough, Vida." she said, turning to him "Ethan, are you ok," she asked softly. 

Ignoring her, he got up and left. 

"Vida, " she said, getting into a stance "combat training." 

Oh no. "Alice, I can explain-"

"Now" 

After the ruthless beating she handed to Vida, she sat in a meditative pose and waited for Nina to arrive. 

"Alice!!" Nina said, rushing to sit beside her in some comfort clothes. 

"Alright, so let's begin, sit how I'm sitting in front of me then," she put headphones on Nina, "relax." 

As the music played, Alice rested her hand on Vida's back and suddenly, they were standing in darkness. Alice was holding a lantern and its light illuminated the grass beneath them. Butterflies were glowing purple, frozen in space, Nina looked at them, mesmerized. 

"Touch them and see what happens," Alice said. 

"What will happen?" Nina asked, turning to her whilst reaching for one. 

"I don't know." 

"WHAT." She shouted, retracting her hand. 

Alice laughed, "It's your veil, it can't hurt you, but I don't know what will happen, " she said, taking a deep breath after all that laughing. " go on, do it." 

Nina glared at her, then turned to the butterfly, just watching it. 

She reached out with her finger and tapped it, quickly pulling her hand back. 

Then she waited. 

After about a minute, it moved, flapping its wings and leaving behind a trail of stardust. Nina smiled, walking towards it and reaching her hand out to touch it. Then she saw another that captured her attention, then another. Then another. Soon all of the butterflies were flying around her and, with the joy of a child, she was giggling and chasing them. Alice was so engrossed in watching Nina that she hadn't realized that, they weren't in darkness anymore. They were in an area full of trees. Japanese maples with red leaves surrounded them and Nina looked around. 

"So what now?" Nina looked up at Alice. She pointed at a boulder. 

"Let's go higher and see what you can do here." 

They finally reached the top after a bit of struggle. 

"I'm never listening to you again," Nina said, panting and sitting on top of the boulder. "What are we even looking for." 

Alice pointed, not close to tired "Them." 

Animals came out of the clearing, Lions and Tigers and Panthers. creatures from every corner of the earth, they looked almost ethereal. Definitely not like any animals she had seen. 

Then they all parted, and she saw a small rustle in the grass, a white snake-like creature slithered through and climbed the boulder where they were at. 

"Hello," it walked up to them. Not a snake, but a dragon. 

"I am Takimono, the one who waits. We have awaited the day you find us with great excitement." 

Nina sat up and looked at it in curiosity. "What are you?" 

It went closer. "I am a dragon, Madam Nina." 

It had white scales with gold accents. Its whiskers were threads of gold that moved even without the wind blowing, It had striking eyes that pierced through her with such intensity. She reached out to rub his head. 

"I'm one of the three dragons here. But we all felt like you should meet those two when you're older." He said, trying not to show his enjoyment. 

She smiled."It's alright, I'm fine with just you, Taki." 

Alice tried not to faint Taki?!. 

A dragon, Why, How. The things she could do. I want a dragon. she thought, shocked. 

Takimono looked at Alice. "I assume you are her caretaker." 

She tried to compose herself. "I am." 

"Let's talk a bit." He Moved Nina to meet the other animals and led Alice a bit away. 

"As you thought, the potential for what she could do is immense. And that could be dangerous." 

"You're right." she said, "as a kid, things might become problematic." 

"And so, since you're a prodigy with veil energy, I need you to inhibit what she can do right now, as a kid her emotions are volatile, we can't risk that." 

She nodded, calling Nina over. "NINA, It's time to leave." 

She stopped sadly. "I want to stay a bit longer." she pouted. 

"You can come anytime, just say the word, and you'll be right here," Taki said. 

She brightened up."Alright, let's go, Alice, I want to tell Vida about this." she held Alice's hand and pulled them out of the vision without Alice realizing. 

Alice jumped in shock "H-how did you." 

Nina had already run off to Vida, still nursing her injuries. 

"Vida, Vida!" she started happily "We saw butterflies then, we went to a forest..." 

From across the clearing Ethan looked on, starting to feel less guilty. He walked deeper into the forest and the same hooded figure was leaning on a tree, playing with a foldable knife. "Oh, you're here." They said, noting his presence. "Anything new." 

"You can start in the next few days. No kid will be here since school starts by then and Alice will just be sleeping." 

The person looked at his lack of hesitation. "What happened." 

He stayed silent "Nothing." he walked away. The figure would be gone before he said goodbye anyway. 

He went back to his room, looking calm. he climbed up the stairs with no expression. He opened the door and closed it as softly as he normally did. The moment it closed, he lunged at his laptop on his desk and threw it to the ground, stepping on it repeatedly. Any breakable item he could carry with his feeble body got broken, and he went on a rampage, silently destroying all he could. 

"FUCK THAT BITCH." He took the group picture in a frame they had taken a year ago and threw it at the door. 

It never reached there. Vida had snuck into his room and was watching his outburst, when he threw the picture, she grabbed it mid-air and smashed it across his face, making him stumble into his seat.

She walked up to him, "Give me one good reason to not kill you right now." She leaned down and looked at him "Just one." 

Not caring he shouted "I WAS THE ONE THAT BITCH WAS SUPPOSED TO-" 

She socked him in the face. Hard. 

"After everything she has done for you, and you're mad because mommy didn't give you superpowers" she mocked. 

He pushed her. She didn't budge, but she moved back to protect his pride. 

"DO YOU THINK THIS IS A JOKE-" 

She punched him again, making him fall "You will speak like you have sense. Understood" 

He got up and wiped his face "In a few days. That's all I need. A few days." 

She looked at him in disgust. "What happened to you." then left the room. 

Outside, Nina was standing there, looking like she wanted to cry. 

"What's wrong kid," Vida knelt to hold her. 

She pointed a shaky finger to the door "H-he did something bad. I just know it." 

Vida turned to look at the room- "Come, let's tell Alice." Then carried her and moved her to Alice's room.