5 Spirited (*dragged*) Away

In the Xoxo Iris, Anais, although seemingly close to everyone, at the same time wasn't.

Even though she had a refined and angelic appearance even more so than the protagonist.

In my opinion, there were actually many beautiful girls in the game which made me question why the main love interests fell for the protagonist, not that the protagonist is ugly.

She is pretty but average compared to all the other girls attending Hawthorne, her personality isn't much to write home about compared to all the other girls either.

Maybe that's why she wasn't really targeted in the game.

The creatures behind the disappearance of the female Hawthorne students were mostly interested in the unusually beautiful ones...If that's the case, I wonder if Anais really does end up dying in the end. . .

I sound pretty conceited, don't I? I think the creators of the game didn't like pretty girls. They only assisted in unconsciously spreading the Pick Me! Girl phenomenon.

But Anais' beauty radiates the vibe of an adorable sleepy-eyed beauty.

Ugh, I'm getting goosebumps thinking of myself like this. I'm still me. Why do I keep talking as if I'm not?

During the voyage, such thoughts kept weighing on me.

Maybe so. . . still, even if I end up dying, if I'm able to help the protagonist find out the secret and save the school. I suppose...I suppose I'll be fine with dying. I thought this but the second I did I couldn't help hugging myself.

We arrived at Hawthorne Island a bit later than scheduled thanks to the attack. Rolling my luggage down the plank to the shore, I suddenly regretted not having Esme or my brother around to help me carry my things. I took them for granted I did. So heavy!

Halfway down the ramp, the descent of my luggage suddenly accelerated.

I dug in my heels as I resisted against the force but the luggage turned on its own.

I sped down the docks and into the forest, I would've crashed into a tree had I not put up a barrier at the last minute, the luggage suddenly stopped on its own propelling me forward. I slammed into my own barrier so hard that for a while I laid there in a daze on the ground, my vision white and gradually returning.

I didn't come to until all the hairs on my body rose. It suddenly became cold. . .

I glanced to the side and saw her in my peripheral. She was looking at the giant tree I had nearly crashed into.

It's been a while since I saw her this close, during the voyage, I'd sometimes glimpse her roaming the deck outside and had even heard of some students who were admitted to the infirmary after fainting from the ghost sightings but she never bothered approaching me again directly. It was hard to tell what she could be thinking.

Even so, I felt calm. I had always been this way, wary of people, the easiest way for me to get used to a person was seeing more of a person but not interacting with them. I'm sure... Amelie did that on purpose. After all, she knows me well.

I sat up and glanced at the tree alongside her.

This tree. . . something felt off about it.

If I recall correctly this is the infamous dryad tree that was sealed by a priestess long ago.

The fairy that once lived in this tree, evolved and became a succubus, it would seduce men and suck out their life force until there was nothing left.

She'd used the corpses as fertilizer and with their semen gave birth to more offspring. Thus this tree was named The Tree of the First Succubi.

The remaining demons were hunted by holy knights and priests but there were still more dangerous creatures on this island. What had made that innocent fairy turn into such a terrifying creature?

It's possibly linked to the corruption of this whole island.

Was Amelie trying to tell me that it all started here? Or was she just showing me this so I could research it?

I looked at her. Only to freeze when I realize that she was also looking at me.

Her face was scarred as if a barbed wire had been dragged against it, some of it even seemed to be poking out from underneath her skin.

There void in her socket-less eyes glued me to the spot.

My mind went blank. Tears welled up in my eyes. I forgot to breathe. Amelie, just what on earth happened to you here?

"ANAIS!"

I jolted from the sound. It was like the voice of someone calling out to me down a tunnel. I quickly came to my senses. Blinking, I looked around me. Amelie was gone. What was that voice then? I turned around.

I wasn't expecting Donald to come running after me with such a panicked look.

"Oh. . . it's you?"

"Are you alright?" Donald looked seriously spooked as he kneeled down next to me who sat with a dazed expression on the forest floor.

Of course, he'd be scared. I was digging in my heels and trying my very best to stop the descent of my luggage, I'm sure to those who saw it, it would become obvious that something had been pulling me.

Still, I hadn't expected Donald to run after me like this. I'm not the protagonist.

"Oh, I'm fine. But. . . why did you come here?" I asked him.

"Huh?!" His pale face morphed into one of pink then white then pink again as finally his confusion and shock combined and registered into anger.

"WHY?! I was worried! That's why! Anyone would be!"

I just smiled at him. Anyone would be yet he's the only one who came?

In Xoxo Iris, it was the same. This island had a strange way of isolating individuals from their groups and tampering with the memories of others, only those that were close to them would notice their absence.

But even then it was as if the missing person had been swallowed whole by the island.

That's why it was vital the protagonist seduced guys so that they would notice her, and come looking for her. Chasing off the ghosts in the process.

Using my luggage as a crutch to stand I say,

"Let's head back now, I don't want to get lost in this forest."

Frowning at me, Donald ripped my luggage away from me. His other hand firmly grabbed mine. The strength in his palm startled me.

If this were the game perhaps this would be a good moment for an illustration, but close as we once were we don't have such a relationship.

Hmm, it's like I'm experiencing the prequel of the game. Donald probably sees Anais as a younger sister character, huh?

This means my affinity with him due to us being childhood friends was high by default huh?

Come to think of it in the latter half of the game Donald could no longer be seduced(the affinity wouldn't rise any higher) and in his place, a new love interest is introduced.

I was super disappointed about that, but now, not so much. As we walked I stared at his side profile, gratitude swelled up inside me. I had no idea he cared so much about her. About me...

"This island is known for its troublesome fairies, maybe one of them wanted to play a prank on you," Donald said as we walked back to the docks. Everyone had already left though, when Donald learned of this he seemed pissed but to me, it was no surprise.

We got directions of which town to head to. We were taken aback to find Aaron and Eurus waiting around at the bus stop.

"Oh, you guys. . ." I think I might cry.

Aaron was sitting on the bench next to Eurus with folded arms while impatiently jiggling his left leg. Upon spotting us he stood at once and hurried over.

"I was going to leave earlier but I felt too unsettled to leave. It's good you're safe." The disturbance embedded in his eyes faded out to relief. "Here's your luggage Donnie."

"Donnie?" Donald cringed as he took back his luggage. I had only ever been the one to call him that when we were kids, but not even I still call him that.

"This island is just as strange as I had heard." That was all Eurus had to say.

Since Donald had his own luggage to carry I wanted to carry mine.

But none of them would let me, while we walked towards the school, the three took turns rolling my luggage(they had wheels) for me.

I couldn't understand this.

How did they remember? Why did they stay?

Perhaps Aaron and Eurus saw me as a respectable colleague? But Eurus hated girls, didn't he?

"The spirits of this island must've taken a liking to you. You should be careful." Eurus told me upon arriving at the gates of Hawthorne, he reluctantly handed my luggage back to me. "Someone once told me that the ones the spirits like often go missing."

So Eurus knew something like this? How unexpected. If he knew that much about the island why did he come to this school?

I always assumed that students chose to attend out of ignorance.

"Seriously?" Aaron and Donald's surprised expressions erased my newfound thoughts. I take that back, it must not be common knowledge.

Still, my question still stands. How did he know?

"The ones the spirits like? How can I make them not like me?"

Watching me for a while Eurus shook his head.

He didn't seem like he was going to respond but when I finally looked away he muttered.

"...Your essence is too pure."

"Pure?" I echo, my brows furrowing.

"The spirits of this island are corrupted, but they like pure things. It reminds them of their origin. And in turn, they'll seek it out with the desire to corrupt it."

"How do you know all this stuff Eurus?" Aaron asked the question I wanted to.

"That. . . Someone who once lived here told me."

"And you still came here?"

"I'm not pure so...also this land protects men. So I'm fine."

So he knew! So he knew all along huh. . .

With the protagonist it would probably take a whole season before he shared this information, no matter how many times she got herself in danger he'd always give her vague warnings so why was he sharing it all with Anais?

Words can not describe how shocked and confused I am.

Perhaps fighting for their lives together against the nautilus made him respect her?

Technically that was a life or death experience, and though he hated women, she'd seem different as she was the only female mage who stepped up to fight. . . Yes, that must be it.

Donald opened his mouth to speak but Aaron said.

"Don't worry, so long as I'm here I'll never let you out of my sight! Anais, I got your back!" Aaron told me. His white knight instincts seemed triggered it would seem.

I just shook my head.

"If this island truly protects men, then you should be keeping an eye out for all the girls and not just me."

"Ack!" This completely slipped his mind. He held his chin in deep thought. "That's true..." he muttered.

Even if I were to go missing, you'd probably all forget me so it's fine. Of course, I couldn't say that.

"I'll look after myself. But thanks for all your help." I looked at all three of them with a small smile before mustering a deep curtsy. "Thank you so much for today. The male and female dorms are on opposite sides of the campus, right? I'll be leaving now."