"Teacher! What are you thinking?" asked Esmeralda.

Vearah awakened from her musing by the sound of her student. She looked at her. "I'm just thinking that...even do you suffered from your mistake...but the castle has its great uses. It prevented anyone especially the evil creatures from attacking other peace-loving clans because they were afraid of the reputation of the castle. They feared that the castle will kill them and take away their souls and continue tormenting them inside the castle dungeon..." she explained.

"Really? There was such a place existed in the castle? How come I'm not aware of it? I'm the guardian of that forsaken castle. I thought the elders told me everything about that castle," Esmeralda said in bewilderment.

Vearah snorted. "The elders don't have to tell you everything because if they do...you would have been able to get out of the castle a long time ago," she reminded her. Do you know that one of the elders told me that the maker of the complex formation informed him that anyone can escape the castle as long they have the same blood type as him? But I did not expect that the girls have the same blood type that of the Chief."

"Whatever, I just don't want to go back to the castle anymore!" Esmeralda huffed.

Vearah rolled her eyes. "Eh? Where was the hero that sacrifices her life a long time ago?"

"I'm tired of being a hero. I just want to live for myself this time," Esmeralda said. "Teacher, am I wrong for wanting to live my life anew this time around?" she asked.

Vearah smiled. "Not really, everyone has their own choices in life. Now that you finally escaped that cursed castle then I won't advise you to go back in there. Alright, I will take you back as my student. I hope this time, you won't give me a headache anymore," she said.

Esmeralda's face illuminated with happiness. "Thank you so much, teacher! I won't disappoint you this time!" she said.

"So...tell me...what are your plans for your friends?" Vearah asked.

Esmeralda shifted her attention to the door. "I will send Kate back to her family. Then it's up to the tree if he wants to stay here with me or explore the world outside, I won't hold him back," she said.

"Alright, since you already made up your decision, then I won't interfere in their affairs. Just finished resting for today, then tomorrow you can finally leave the room and talk to them about their future..." Vearah said.

"No. I want to talk to them right now," Esmeralda insisted.

"Alright, I'll get them," Vearah said and went to the door.

~

Meanwhile, at the fruit garden.

Kate was munching on the grapes, while Aspen was peeling the oranges in his hands.

Even though they were enjoying the abundance of fruits in the garden, but their thoughts were centered on Esmeralda.

Kate was done eating the grapes in her hands, she was about to pick up the red apple on her right side but that was also the time Vearah appeared in the garden.

"My valuable guest, sorry to disturb you guys, but Esmeralda wants to talk with you," she said.

"Okay, I will just finish my oranges, Vearah," Aspen replied. He looked at Kate. "Why don't you go in first? I'll follow after I'm done with my oranges," he said.

"OK, I'll talk to Granny first," Kate responded and followed the immortal inside the house.

She found Esmeralda sitting on the bed. "Granny, the grapefruits are so sweet! I will pick up grapes later and put them in the platter for you," she said pleasantly.

Esmeralda smiled. "Thank you child for thinking about me. You sit down first," she ordered.

Kate sat on the edge of the bed facing her. "Granny, what is it?"

Esmeralda touched her hand affectionately. "I will request my friend the tree to send you back to your village," she said.

"Granny, I already have given your friend the tree a new name. From now on, you may call him Aspen, he agreed to the name. So call him on that name from now on, okay?" Kate grinned.

Esmeralda smiled. "Alright, I will order Aspen to send you home to your village so that you can see your sister Ella and your Aunt Margie," she said.

Kate's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Wow! Thank you so much, Granny! When can I go home?" she asked eagerly.

"Tomorrow morning..." Esmeralda said.

"WOW! I can finally go home!" Kate shouted with glee. Then after a while, her face turned sad.

"Oh, why you look sad now when a few minutes ago you look happy? What's wrong, child?" Esmeralda inquired.

"Granny...I want to return here...can I visit you again? Please..." Kate asked, giving Esmeralda puppy dog eyes.

"Yes, you can. I will ask my teacher how you can return here," Esmeralda said.

Kate's lips broke into a dazzling smile. "Thank you, Granny!"

"Alright, go now and tell Aspen to come here, I want to talk to him," Esmeralda ordered.

"OK," Kate went out of the room.

A few minutes later. Aspen entered the room.

"Esme, how are you feeling now?" he asked, liking the healthy color on her face.

"I'm fine. I no longer have any difficulty with my breathing. The healing room does wonder about my health. I'm so grateful for you guys for bringing me here," she said.

"Ah, don't say that. You know that I will die for you. I am your partner in crimes," he said grinning.

Esmeralda smiled. "So, Kate had given you a name. Aspen, right? Do you like it?"

Aspen nodded his head. "Yes, I like the name that she had given me," he answered.

"Good. I want you to bring Kate back to her village so that she can finally see her sister and her aunt. I promised Ivy before she died that we will deliver Kate safely to her village. Can you do it for me, Aspen?" she asked.

"Yes! I will do it. Don't worry about it, I will take care of Kate," he said.

"Thanks," Esmeralda said. "By the way, I want to ask you this...since I'm planning to stay here with my teacher, what are your plans for your life? I mean...would you explore the world outside or stay here by my side? It will become boring here since you only have two women as your companion and the sleepy mountain is not your cup of tea," she asked him, wondering what's on his mind nowadays.

"Hmm... let me think about your question for a few minutes," he said and looked beyond the window. In his mind, he was thinking that all his life he has spent it beside Esmeralda. Aha! Maybe exploring the world can give him a new twist on his dull life? Why not?

A few minutes later.

Esmeralda examined Aspen's face. "What? Why are you having a hard time answering my question?" she asked.

Aspen smiled. "I decided to explore the world, Esme. But I would like to come back here to visit you once in a while and I will tell you about my escapades in the world of humans," he said with a look of mischief gleaming in his eyes.

Esmeralda saw the glint in his eyes. "Aspen, I warned you, do not attempt creating trouble in the worlds of humans. Or else you will be back in the castle in no time!" she warned him.

Aspen smiled. "Ah...no need to worry about such thing... my dear Esme. I'm a good boy. Even if I will make some naughty things in the human world it won't be enough to warrant my second stay in the castle because I have no plans to come back in that forsaken place!" he said.

"Good! Go and explore the world. Meet new people. Then visit me once in a while and brag about your adventures. Just don't harm anyone, then everything will be fine," Esmeralda said.

Aspen nodded his head. "Alright, I shall remember everything you told me, my dear Esme."

"Go now and make preparations. You and Kate will travel back to the human world tomorrow morning," Esmeralda said.

"Okay," Aspen replied and rose to his feet, he walked towards the door and exited.

Esmeralda watched as her friend the tree disappeared behind the door.

A few minutes later, Vearah entered the door. "So... are you done talking to them?" she asked.

"Yes, I instructed Aspen to bring Kate back to her village tomorrow morning. My friend the tree decided to leave my side and explore the world. But both of them want to visit this place once in a while to see me again. Can we allow them to do that?" Esmeralda asked her mentor's permission.

Vearah pondered for a moment. "No problem. Since you trusted these people then I also trust them. I will give Aspen a leather belt which can open the portal leading to this mountain. And for Kate, I will also give her a necklace, it has the same function as Aspen's belt. They only have to instruct the belt and the necklace to open the portal and it will take them to my place. That's how easy it is..."

"Thank you so much, teacher!" Esmeralda said.

"No need to thank me. Since they are your trusted friends, I won't deny you the pleasure of seeing them once in a while," Vearah said. "You rest here for now. I will bring your meal later after lunch is done," she said and exited the room.

Esmeralda lie back in bed and closed her eyes to rest.

~

Outside the room.

Kate was waiting for the Immortal Vearah outside the door because she had some favor to ask.

"What is it, child?" asked Vearah.

"Granny, can I bring some fruits for my sisters and aunt?"

"Yes, you can," Vearah replied with a smile. "Anything else?"

"Hmm...I have one favor to ask..."

"What is it? Tell me... don't be shy..." Vearah urged her.

"Hmm... The golden fruit in the center table, is it real gold?" Kate asked.

"Yes, why-?"

"Nice! Can I have those five fallen golden fruit on the center table? Please?" Kate begged.

"Why do you need it for?" Vearah raised a brow.

"Am...we are very poor. When the rain pours, it also rains inside our house because the roof already has lots of holes in it. I will sell the golden fruit and used the money to pay our carpenter neighbor to repair our house then buy some wood to replace the old ones," she explained.

Vearah smiled. "Ah I see... no problem. You can take those fallen ones," she said.

"Thank you so much, Granny, for your kind heart and generosity," Kate gushes.

"Don't mention it," Vearah said and turned around heading to the kitchen.

"Granny where are you going?"

"To the kitchen, I will prepare our lunch," Vearah responded.

"I will help you, Granny!" Kate said cheerfully.

"Alright..." Vearah smiled.

The women went to the kitchen to prepare lunch.