Hibernate

"H-how can she read this?" I was overwhelmed by the sudden revelation that Venedette told me.

So the girl on the sofa is not just a simple lazy girl after all!

"She's Fily, part of a well-preserved tribe of native Indios from the old country of Maharlika. They possess a great amount of knowledge that surpasses every other superhuman kind, making them the most knowledgeable superhuman beings on this planet." Venedette said as we walk away from the living room where Fily is still sleeping on a couch.

"She can read this alien language?"

I looked back at Fily and analyzed her appearance.

She has this splendid caramel skin tone that makes her unique from the rest of us in this manor who were mostly fair-skin toned boys and girls.

Her chocolate hair that was braided on both sides shined flawlessly beneath a uniquely designed red headband with small feather pins that matched the tight traditional clothing that hugged the shapes of her slightly thick body, probably the result of her sleeping too much.

She's even wearing big glasses that fit her big eyes perfectly, making her nose look small and her plump lips cuter with a smile.

"Part of their great knowledge is knowing how to read many different languages and speak using them."

"I see, but how exactly will this book help us? What does this say?" I pointed at the book that is placed in the center of the small table between us.

"Salamandite."

"Salamandite." I repeated after her.

Somehow, the word rolled smoothly on my tongue, it felt very familiar, as if I've heard it a million times already even though I can't remember when, and who said it.

"Apparently, it's a book about our gemstones. Fily told me that they are called 'Salamandite gems' according to this book."

"It's a book about our gemstones!?" I repeated.

This is a shocker! Maybe even Venedette too at some point was delighted by this news! Just how lucky she is to have found a book that contains the information that she's looking for and even a girl who can translate it!

Well even though Von was the one who really had found the book with the help of a dragonfly that flew into its death inside that chamber.

"Yes, but she couldn't read us everything just yet," Venedette answered my question as we walk away from the living room to the garden outside where she urged me to sit on the chairs of a small garden table.

"Why??"

"Our family has been taking care of their safety for a long time now, in exchange for the great amount of information that we can gather from them, some even serve the royal family as a consultant such as Fily's mother who is currently serving Halma as her trusty right hand."

"Similar to Lei's family." I blurted, quickly covering my mouth afterward for the sudden interruption which made Venedette laugh.

"Yes. But the problem is, Fily's family had been disappearing lately. Some dying for random reasons and others are like disappearing in thin air." Venedette's expression turned dark upon saying those words.

"Fily is a very important girl and I'm glad that Halma trusted me to take care of her... we can even get to use her powers for our new discoveries about the gemstone!" she said, going back to her usual smile.

"But I don't get it," I decided to say my thoughts out loud this time, "If they're so knowledgeable then why couldn't they just protect themselves?"

Venedette gave me a faint smile and said, "Their great talent prevents them from drawing normal ones. I mean, they can... but their body wouldn't be able to endure it. Just look at Fily, she needs to sleep 20 hours a day to replenish her stamina."

"That's... a lot of sleep."

"Yes, that is why we'll need to wait for her to finish hibernating before we learn the rest of the contents of this book. The more stamina she stores, the more time she can stay awake, and so I told her to sleep while I bring her to Yvandir Island. And although she wakes up from time to time- to eat and do other things, I think she'll finish hibernating in five days and we can talk to her by then."

And so, I agreed to wait for five days, and while waiting, Venedette decided to finally bring us, newcomers, to the castle.

***

It has been two days since Fily had come to the island and today is the day where we will leave the manor and move to the castle.

"First to the castle wins!" Von announced, hastily running before them, and was followed immediately by Lei.

I didn't pay attention to those two, instead, I followed Venedette who was telling me and Fily to get on a weird jet-black round vehicle.

"You need to ride this for an additional security check before being able to go back and forth from the castle with no worries." she patted me on the back and left Fily, the sleeping girl who is seated in front of me, with a blanket.

She then closed the door and the vehicle started moving.

I am scared of being clustered in a small space even if I'm with someone who I know wouldn't hurt me.

"Do you know what this thing is? Fily?"

I asked as a joke. And I really wasn't expecting any response from her but I was surprised when she actually answered me, still while sleeping.

"It's a Black Mongaute made in 4069, a multi-terrain vehicle that is mainly used for inspecting its passenger's tissues and cells from head to toe to store information. This information is then used as your key to be able to get in and out of a certain place's premises. For example, this vehicle is linked to the castle's protective bubble. You won't be able to go in and out of that bubble unless they have stored information about you in their database. This applies to all newcomers such as me and you who need to go inside the castle." she recited continuously.

Woah! That was a lot of information than what I expected her to say. Even before, during, and after her explanation, she's still sleeping! Wait, is she awake or is she sleep talking? Maybe I can ask her more questions while we wait for this process to end? Might as well take advantage of the situation when I'm stuck with this walking encyclopedia.

While I was thinking about what questions would be good to ask her, green lights suddenly came out from random parts of the vehicle inside.

"What is this green light that's scanning my body!!??"

"I told you, they're scanning all your tissues and cells from head to toe. Stop moving or they won't be able to scan you properly."

Beams of green and red lights were shooting from everywhere inside the car.

I really don't like this because of some guns that I encountered that have red and green dots with them. I feel like the lasers will shoot bullets at me so I couldn't stay still!

"How can you sleep in a situation like this!?"

This is maybe how her kind has been dying! She had no care whatsoever of her surroundings! She just sleeps! How easy would it be for the killer to kill them! This is so annoying!!'

"Just sit back, relax and close your eyes, okay? This vehicle doesn't have any weapons installed. It's simply just for scanning."

"How do you know that!?" and she didn't even reply until we arrived at the castle, so I was just stuck there terrified for my life even though I do trust her words. The fear just wouldn't go away!