One hour later.
The rain continues falling in torrents creating puddles in the ground.
Amed stared at the ground helplessly.
Darkness already starts to envelop the land. Soon, darkness will swallow the entire forest and the freezing temperature began.
Amed released a troubled sigh and looked at his fragile companion. "Grandma, the rain will never stop. We can't return to the cave tonight," he said sadly.
Mende nods her head. "I know..." she replied.
Thick silenced engulfed them.
Mende has two plans in mind. The first plan is to put Amed to sleep and teleport them to the cave, much faster that way. But he will ask her how come they arrived at the cave without him remembering anything?
The second plan is to inform Amed that she can transport the two of them to the cave in just a few seconds, but on one condition, he must keep it a secret from the others.
Mende cleared her throat and looked at Amed. She wore a serious expression on her face. She opened her mouth and spoke, "Amed..."
"Yes, Grandma?" Amed glanced at his companion.
"Do you want to die here tonight or do you want to return to the cave safely?" she asked.
"I want to return to the cave safely, Grandma!" he answered quickly. "But how?" he asked in wonderment.
"There is a way to go back to the cave safely. Can you keep a secret between us?" she asked.
"Yes, I'm willing to do anything just to go home safely tonight!" Amed said desperately.
"Good. Listen carefully... I have the ability to teleport to distant places in just few seconds. I will use that special ability right now so that we can arrived to the cave safely. The only thing I ask from you is refrain from telling any members of your family about my secret. Keep my secret to yourself only. Can you do that for me, Amed?" she said.
"Yes!" Amed nodded his head. "Grandma, I promise to you that I will never tell anyone your secret. Please take us back to the cave! I don't want to die here in the middle of the forest!" he said desperately.
"Okay. Hold the basket well and then shut your eyes tightly. No matter what happen, don't open your eyes, or else if you do, you will go blind. Only open your eyes when I told you to do so. You understand me?" she asked.
"Yes. I got it!" Amed said.
Mende took a deep breath. "Alright... shut your eyes now," she ordered him.
Amed shut his eyes. "Done!"
"Good! Let's teleport now!" she said and grasped Amed's arm tightly.
Mende initiated the teleportation process in her mind.
A few seconds later.
They finally landed on the ground a few meters away from the entrance of the cave.
There's thick darkness surrounding the area. She saw the bonfire shining brightly inside the mouth of the cave. Amed's family must be worried to death about their condition, waiting for their safe arrival.
"We finally arrived! You can open your eyes now," she said.
Amed opened his eyes slowly, the first thing he saw is the bonfire shining brightly inside the mouth of the cave. "Oh, my God! This is a miracle!" he exclaimed in happiness.
Mende smiled. "Remember your promise, Amed. I trust you!" she reminded him.
"Your secret is safe with me, Grandma. You can count on that!" he said sincerely.
"Good!" Mende spoke, satisfied with his oath. "Let's go!"
They ran towards the mouth of the cave.
Ahmed's brother and the women exclaimed in happiness after seeing them arrived safely at the cave.
"Thanks God, you're safe!" Amed's wife hugged her husband tightly, tears of happiness rolled down her face.
"Shh... don't cry. We're here now, safe and sound!" Amed said and planted a kiss on his wife's forehead.
They retreated into the chamber.
Mende and Amed donned dry clothes and sipped hot coffee to warm their stomach.
After sipping hot coffee and eating hot dinner, Mende and her companions sleep peacefully throughout the night.
...
The following day.
After Mende woke up, one of the women served her breakfast. She ate her meal with gusto.
Done eating, she went outside and inspected the garden.
She was delighted because Amed and his older brother were busy repairing the garden. They harvested the rest of the vegetables that were partially damaged that can still be used for cooking.
The boys are playing nearby, a few meters away from the garden.
She looked heavenward. The sun is already up in the sky, shining brightly.
She hoped that no more rainfall today. It's okay if the rain will come again some other day, just not today so that the vegetables can recover.
Ahmed looked at her. "Grandma, I see some trees fallen nearby. My brother and I plan to cut the branches to make two beds," he said.
"Okay, go ahead!" Mende replied.
The two brothers resumed their task.
"Grandma, we will start scouting for a good place to erect our house near here. Would you like to accept us as your closest neighbors?" the older brother asked.
Mende smiled. "Sure, no problem," she replied. She was planning to hand over the cave to the two brothers so that they can continue living in a much safer environment temporarily. She will relocate to that abandoned hut that she found hidden in a secluded place. She wants to turn it into her hidden fortress.
She will visit her sister today due to that matter.
She called the men's attention. "Guys, listen..." she said.
"What is it, Grandma?" the men asked in unison.
"I'm going to town to visit my sister today. I will spend the night there and return here the next morning. Take care of the plants and the cave while I'm away," she said.
"Aye, Grandma!" the men replied.
"Leave everything to us," the older guy said.
"When are you going to leave, Grandma? Do you want me to accompany you?" Amed asked.
Mende shook her head. "No thanks. I think it will not rain today, besides I'll be staying in my sister's place tonight," she explained.
The men nodded their heads in understanding.
Mende left the garden and went back inside the cave to get ready.
She bid goodbye to the women, the children, and the men and went on her way to the forest. When she already covered a safe distance from the cave, she hides behind the large trunk of the tree and initiated the teleportation process in her mind.
A few seconds later, she vanished from the area and appeared in the manor inside her sister's bedroom.
She lay her body down on the comfy bed and waited for her sister to come to the room.
Mende didn't wait any longer.
Ebony entered the room and locked the door behind her. "Sis, how long have you been here?" she asked.
"I arrived a few minutes ago," Mende replied. "I have something to tell you..."
"What is it?" Ebony asked curiously and lowered herself on the bed.
Mende cleared her throat. "It's raining hard the other day in the mountain. I saw two boys stealing vegetables from our garden. I was shocked why there are children in the forest. When I followed the boys, I saw two men, two women holding two babies in their arms taking shelter from the rain under the shade of the banana leaves. I took pity on them because they will freeze in the cold temperature during the night, so I went there and invite them to stay in the cave until the rain stop pouring..."
"Continue..." Ebony said.
"They told me that they used to live near the river but the flood washed out their homes and they walked in the forest to find a place where they can erect a new house that's why I invited them to the cave. I was afraid that if I don't invite them they will freeze to death outside specially the babies..." Mende explained.
"Excellent decision, sis! If I'm on your situation, I'll do the same," Ebony said.
"I decided to allow them to stay in the cave for a long time," Mende finally told her sister her plan.
"Why? You finally decided to stay with me here?" Ebony asked excitedly.
"No. Did you still remember that abandoned hut hidden in a secluded place that I showed you once?" Mende asked.
Ebony's brows furrowed. "Yeah...why?"
pαпdα`noνɐ1`сoМ "I plan to stay there from now on," Mende replied.
Ebony was shaking her head. "But why would you stay in that hut and not here in the manor with me? I don't understand..."
"Because I want to awaken my hidden talent when it comes to fortune telling and divination. In short I want to perform divination on people for a living," Mende explained.
"You mean... like palm reading business? The one we saw in the market?" Ebony said.
"Yeah, that one. Grandmother once told us that I had the hidden talent for it. I want to tap onto it and practice it to perfection," Mende said. "So, can I borrow the black book now?" she requested.
"No!" Ebony still refused to give her the black book.
Mende sighed. "Don't worry, I wont practice black magic. I just want to know the spell that needs to be chanted everyday for one whole year and the cultivation technique to unlock my divination skill," she said.
Ebony shook her head vigorously.
"Okay fine. I won't borrow the black book, just write the spell on the piece of paper and all the required preparations related to it," Mende said, trying to convince her sister to trust her.
"But there is one thing you need to understand, if you awakened your hidden talent you have to sacrifice something... and you will go blind for six months prior to the unlocking of your divination skill. That is the one reason why you're not interested on it before, because of the heavy sacrifices needed, right?" Ebony reminded her.
"I know. But as you can see, I'm already an old woman, nothing to lose anymore. It's just six months darkness and after that my vision is restored again. I can finally perform divination in people, it will be worth it!" Mende said excitedly.
"I'll think about it," Ebony said.
"Then on the day that I'll go blind, I will stay here in your room so that you can take care of me," Mende said cheekily.
Ebony rolled her eyes.
"Pleaseeeeeeeee?" Mende begged.
"I said, I'll think about it," Ebony repeated.
Mende was happy and optimistic. Her sister no longer says no to her request. There's a big chance Ebony will yield to her constant convincing.
That night, Mende sleeps on the manor in her sister's room.
The next day she teleported to her new fortress in the forest before going back to the cave.
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