I turned around and saw Niel following me. He wasn't supposed to be in my dream! Why is he here now?

"Adal, where are you going?" Niel asked as he stood right next to me.

"Wait, this isn't a dream? Are you really here?" I asked in surprise as I poked his cheek repeatedly.

"Dream? What are you talking about? We all went to sleep but you suddenly stood up and started running." Niel said.

"I was following the lady that I saw in my dreams. Maybe we're almost there!" I stated.

"Are you sure? I'll go wake the others up! Wait here, okay?" Niel said.

"Okay!" I sat down behind a bush and waited for Niel and the others.

The sun starts to rise and I saw a glimpse of the sunlight penetrating through the thick woods.

I hadn't realise that I had been asleep without the dream and woke up reliving the dream.

It's confusing. I know.

Several minutes later, Niel came with the others. "Sorry we're late! We had to pack up our stuffs before coming here!" Jack apologised.

"It's okay! I think I know where the cottage is now! Follow me." I said leading the way.

We walked and walked until I felt like I kinda know this path. Like, a familiar path that I used to take. Not the path that was in my dreams. Somehow... I have the feeling that it's the right path.

"Adal, are you sure you know where you're going?" Tiffany asked worriedly.

"Yeah, I guess..." I kind of lied a bit there. I know where I'm going, but I'm not sure where it leads me to.

We walked for more than half an hour before I stopped abruptly. The others almost bumped into me.

"Adal!? Why did you stop!? Have we arrived!?" Tiffany who was walking way behind the others shouted at me.

My mouth was wide open, my body trembled as I fell down to my knees.

I didn't dare to answer...

In fact, I don't even know what to say about the horrible thing I saw several metres away from me...

-----

Flashback to seven years ago...

"Aunt Ana!!" the five of us shouted as we ran out of the cottage when we saw her walking back home.

"Woah, girls! Be careful with the groceries okay?" she said right before we hugged her.

Aunt Ana puts the grocery bags down on the ground and gave us a hug.

"Sorry, Aunt Ana! We missed you sooo much!" Elianor cried.

"I've only gone out for a couple of days! Are you girls okay?" she asked as she pats each of our heads.

"Yeah, we're fine! Except that we really missed your cookings since Tiffany's cooking was a little bad..." Susanna whispered.

"Hey! Try cooking your own food next time! I'm only 14!!" Tiffany shouted.

"I agree with Tiffany. It's not easy to cook for five people you know?" Aunt Ana stated.

"Oh, sorry if we have been burdening you with all the cooking you had to do..." Roselle apologised.

"No, no, I really like cooking for you girls! You're like my own daughters now, so I'll do anything for the five of you!" Aunt Ana smiled.

"Thank you, Aunt Ana!" I smiled and hugged her.

The others did the same thing and caused all six of us to fall down.

"Aunt Ana?" I called her as I sat down on the green grass.

"Yes, Adal?" she answered.

"Promise that you'll always stay with us!" I said.

"Yeah, don't ever leave us Aunt Ana!" Elianor said.

The others nodded and waited for Aunt Ana's answer.

"Of course, I would never leave you girls! I promise! Besides, I want to see the five of you grow up and become the royal knights you had always dreamed about! My five warriors..." Aunt Ana smiled.

Flashback ends...

-----

"Aunt Ana!!!" Elianor screamed as she ran towards the abandoned cottage.

The cottage appears to look like the one in my dreams. However, somehow... the building's structure is similar to Aunt Ana's cosy cottage.

I didn't believe it at first...

But when I saw the training stuffs we had used, the small table and chairs beside the cottage, the wooden door with 'Ana' carved onto it...

It's definitely Aunt Ana's cottage.

How could I not noticed it before?

But we had just left for several weeks. It couldn't have looked this old... And abandoned...

The white clean walls now turned into mossy green with some of the paint peeling off, the orange roof now has a large tree popping through it, the wooden door is now ripped apart into pieces and the windows are all wide open with the old, ripped curtains moving calmly as the wind blows.

"I-it can't possibly be our house! Adal, where are we!?" Susanna asked as she started to panic.

"I don't know!! I felt that I knew the path I was taking, but it turns out to be the path back home!" I cried.

"Guys, where's Aunt Ana!?" Elianor asked as she stood in front of the door.

"El, be careful! Aunt Ana might've went to town. We shouldn't worry.. Not yet.." Tiffany stated.

Just then, I saw a figure through the opened window moving around on the second floor.

"Guys, I think that.. someone's inside." I stuttered.

"Is it Aunt Ana?" Tiffany whispered.

"I... I don't think so." I answered hesitantly.

It has a different hairstyle compared to Aunt Ana... Aunt Ana has a short ponytail but the person I just saw has a long hair. I couldn't see the figure clearly, but I'm positive that it's not Aunt Ana.

The others took out their weapons slowly and walked closer towards Elianor.

"Adal, are you okay?" Niel asked as he holds my shoulder.

"Yeah, I'm fine, I guess..." I said as I stood up and took my bow out.

"Let's go..." Niel smiled and took out his swords.

"Adal, protect Niel. We can't loose him." Jack ordered as he walked past me.

We gathered in front of the door and waited for Jack's orders.

"I'll go in first. Elianor and Susanna, you guys search the first floor. Tiffany, Roselle and I will go for the second floor. Adal, you'll stay here with Niel. Look out for any suspicious stuffs okay?" Jack instructed.

All of us nodded and moved according to Jack's orders.

I stood in front of Niel and kept a keen eye on my surroundings. It feels like something might popped out from the woods.

"Adal, who is 'Aunt Ana'?" Niel asked.

"She's the lady whom had saved the five of us from the attack on our village. We had lived and trained with her ever since." I stated.

"Oh, she must be a really nice person." Niel said.

"She truly is..." I wearily smiled.

We stood there in silence for awhile. We had only heard faint footsteps of the others searching inside.

Suddenly, I heard a slight chuckle coming from the second floor. I looked at Niel and noticed that he didn't hear the sound.

I walked backwards, several steps away from the cottage and aimed my bow to the second floor's right window.

"What are you doing?" Niel asked, maintaining his position.

"I heard something from the second floor" I stated and kept my posture.

Just when I was about to release the arrow, Jack stood in front of the window and gave signals to me.

I aimed my bow and arrow away from the window. He waved his hands and shook his head, telling me to not shoot.

I walked back to Niel and continued on the lookout.

The chuckle I heard just now, was an unfamiliar one. It's not from the other girls. Someone else is in there with them. I noticed that Jack was relaxed and not defensive. They might have not yet encountered the person...

Whoever she is...