"I'm going to go to the stream to get drinking water," Mende said.

"Okay. Don't linger there for too long!" Ebony replied. Today, she plans to add an extension to the cultivated area near the entrance of the cave.

The soil is excellent for growing vegetables and herbal medicine around the cave.

Mende picked up the jar and walked towards the entrance of the cave.

She's been waiting for this day to come for a long time.

Today, she's going back to the abandoned manor and find her missing grandmother!

She exited the cave and walked in the direction of the stream.

A moment later.

Ebony emerged from the entrance of the cave holding the machete in her right hand, she began to work.

Meanwhile...

Mende finally reached the stream. She put the jar under the shade of the tree and scanned the area around her. She will wait for a few minutes, just in case her sister followed her!

A few minutes later, Ebony was nowhere in sight.

Good!

Time to leave!

She initiated the teleportation process in her mind and vanished from the place in the blink of an eye.

She reappeared a moment later in front of the abandoned manor located in the middle of the forest. The whole place still looks the same.

She walked towards the main door.

With just a gentle push on her hand, the door opened right away. She entered the place and walked towards the living room. All she can hear around her is deafening silence. Does it mean that the place was abandoned already?

Suddenly, she heard the sounds of a door closing. It's located at the end of the hallway. She was about to head there, but a male voice suddenly spoke behind her.

"Oh, we have another visitor!" he said.

Mende spun around and was shocked to see an old man standing a few meters behind her. "W-who are you?" she asked.

"I am the owner of this place. And who are you? What are you doing here coming to my property without knocking on the door first!? How bold you are!" the old man reprimanded the intruder.

"I'm here to save my grandmother! Where did you imprison my grandmother! Bring me to here at once! Or else I will burn this whole place to the ground!" Mende threatened him.

The old man erupted into peals of laughter. "Little girl... you're so bold! For some reason, you amused me. What you got? Are you more powerful and capable than me? You are so bold to come here and order me around! I can easily crush you in my hands like an ant!" he warned her.

Mende took a deep breath and chanted a spell. He blew air towards the old man.

The old man stopped laughing and stood rooted on the spot. What the hell is going on! He can't move his body. "What did you do to me!?" he asked the girl in surprise and disbelief.

Mende smiled smugly and went to the old man's side. She forcibly opened his mouth and dropped a brown pellet inside. "You talk too much and you underestimate me!" she said, grinning triumphantly.

She walked towards the couch and made herself comfortable. It only takes a few seconds and the old man will finally lose his power. That is the time she can order him around.

Five minutes later.

Mende stood up and walked to the side of the old man. "I drop a brown pellet in your mouth. It is powerful enough to suppress your power. Don't worry, I have the antidote with me though," she explained cheekily and unfreeze him.

The old man was finally able to move his body parts, he jumped at the intruder but Mende was quick enough to move away from him before he can touch her skin.

The old man opened his palm about to unleash his deadly weapon, but nothing comes out! He can no longer wield his power! How did it happen? He looked at the girl. How come this girl holds so much power? She doesn't even look like someone powerful to him.

"I told you earlier, only by ingesting the antidote you can finally regain your power back! But I won't give you the antidote unless you bring me to my grandmother first!" Mende shouted. She was enraged that the old man is not taking her seriously.

Suddenly, a fragrant smell drifted into the air. Like the scent of a rose coming from the garden.

Mende ignored the smell.

The old man spoke. "Okay, I'll bring you to where we imprisoned your grandmother. But you must promise me that after you see your grandmother you will give me the antidote!" he said.

"Okay, I will give you the antidote if my grandmother and I can finally leave this place safely! If not then, you will never get your power back! I warned you, don't play tricks on me!" Mende warned him.

"Alright, I will take you to your grandmother. Follow me!" the old man said and walked towards the direction of the garden.

Mende followed the old man, she put a safe distance between them so that she won't be startled just in case the old man will jump at her again.

They exited the manor and walked outside, passing the blooming garden. They walked towards the end of the garden.

Mende saw a hut, hundred meters away from the garden. "Old man, where are you taking me? You better make sure that you're leading me to my grandmother or else I will kill you! I'm not joking! I'm serious!" she told him menacingly.

The old man stopped walking and looked at her, he pointed his hand at the hut. "Can you see that hut? We imprisoned your grandmother there!" he said.

"Continue walking!" Mende ordered. While walking she constantly scanned the area looking for the old man's companion. She was looking for Rigor. Where is he? He might suddenly attack her at any given moment.

The old man was walking slowly as if he was taking his time.

"Old man, where is Rigor? Why I can't see him around the house?" she asked.

The old man stopped walking and looked at her. "My son is looking for Evelyn, traveling from town to town to find his missing wife. He is going crazy after losing the girl!" he said shaking his head.

"But they're not married yet!" Mende said.

"Marriage is only for humans. In our clan, as long two creatures are in love with each other, they're already considered a couple," the old man explained.

Mende sighed. "Continue walking!" she ordered.

The old man resumed walking going to the hut at a slow pace.

Mende was infuriated with the old man's sluggish walking. By the time they reach the hut, it would be nighttime already. She released a deep sigh. "Why are you walking so slowly!?"

The old man looked at her. "Child, have you have no respect for older people? You stripped me of my power and now you asked me why I'm walking slowly? I'm already old and my bones are not as strong compared before. Without my power, I'm just a useless old man! So don't asked me why I'm walking slowly! Remember, you turned me into this!" he glared at her.

Mende sighed and rolled her eyes. "Continue walking!" she ordered.

The old man resumed walking, a bit faster this time.

A few minutes later, they finally arrived at the hut.

The old man pushed the door open and stepped inside, followed by Mende.

The moment they're inside. Mende waved his hand at the old man, freezing him on the spot, from his neck down to his toes.

"You don't have to feeze me again!" the old man protested.

Mende ignored the disgruntled look on the old man's face. "Where is my grandmother!?" she snapped at him.

"Inside the room," the old man replied.

There's only one room in the hut.

Mende walked towards it and opened the door, dreading what she's going to see inside.