-Shadow empress Elene (2/2)

Elene and both her friends were as close as family members. She grew up along with Bert as they became friends when she was 11 years old and she had saved him, which is the reason why he was closer to her than Stella.

As for Stella it was not even a full three years that they met. Elene was 17 years old at that time. But she liked her as a little sister all the same. Both Stella and Bert had ended up being saved by her at a point in time which is why they were much closer to each other. Especially Bert, as she had saved him when he was still young. So he grew up indebted to her. Something she was trying to make him get pass and treat her like a family member to this day but he won't shake about it.

Bert was 21 years old, and to this day he still was a bit over respectful to Elene, and as the oldest of them he trained really hard to be able to protect the both of them, sadly he was still not as strong as Elene… while Stella was 17, and since the incident, she was much more cheerful than before.

Now they can be seen inside the house, with Bert in his room meditating, while Stella and Elene were in the sofa in the living room just lazing around. They did not hunt any pirate since they came to this island.

Elene had a special secret.

She was not a person from this world. Although she was born and grew up in this world, her soul came from a place called earth. She had died on that planet due to an unforeseen accident. And the next thing she knew, was waking up in this world in the body of a five years old girl. She did not have any family.

But on the island she woke up on, there was a middle aged couple and their daughter who took all orphans under their roof. She too ended up raised by them.

From the news that circled the island she was able to tell that she was in the one piece world. And in the new world at that. But in her last life this world was supposed to be a work of fiction. She and her fiancé had been avid readers of this manga. She liked it as much as he did.

But both of them died, and she ended up reborn in this world. knowing that saddened her a great deal...

It was not until she reached 10 years old, that she noticed how every night she wanted to sleep she would feel a special connection with someone from this world. At first she did not know what that was all about.

But soon, she began to understand this feeling. She was feeling her lover. Which meant he too was reborn in this world with her. Her only fear, even to this day, was him not having his memories of his past life.

She also remembered the night they died. and she knew that her reincarnation had to do with him as some sort of energy left his body and took her.

When she understood that other part of her connection was him, she was determined to help him as much as she can on his path. Even if he did not remember her.

So she began to train herself. Subsequently discovering a weird power she had and one that she knew had to that with the energy from her lover…

And with each year that came, she felt the connection with him strengthening, so much that she was able to feel his excitement and anticipation for setting off.

When she was 18 years old, she set off to the sea along with Bert and Stella, who she had met before.

But it was not until reaching twenty years old that she knew he had set off, from the connection.

It had perplexed her to this day. As it meant two things as far as she could tell. First he had waited until reaching twenty to set off. Which she thought was very unlikely. Second is that he was younger than her by two years. For some reason she believed it was the second option that is correct.

But it did not change how she felt about him at all.

She was now 20 years old, and for the last two years, she had been going around getting famous along with Bert and Stella. Bert usually covered himself with a cloak, so not many knew his real identity. He was nicknamed 'swift Bert'.

It was not until recently that she knew her lover is coming. Which is why she decided to wait for his news in this island before going to meet him.

But it had been two months now, and she was getting crazy from waiting. She did not know if he will recognize her, which is why she was anxious so much.

Meanwhile, Stella knew that Elene was overthinking things. Although she did not know what Elene had on her mind exactly, she knew that she just had to relax a bit.

"Elene, can you tell me who is this person we are waiting for?" Stella asked Elene. She asked the same question a million time before always getting the same answer… perhaps today it will be different.

"You will see him when he comes to the new world." Elene replied with a smile.

"Sigh…" Stella sighed. It appears it was still the same answer.

"Is he really important to you? You know we could be hunting evil guys, and racking in money. Perhaps we could finally get a new ship and get rid of that scrap wood thing we use." Stella said.

"You little girl, do you think we don't have enough money to buy or make a ship with all the hunting we did?" Elene said with funny smile on her face. After all they had brought dudes to the marines worth hundreds of million berries… but after a while of consideration she thought it will be fine to tell her about her lover. As he will soon be here.

"As for if he is important to me, you could say we are destined for each other in this world. Apart from him, I would love no other." Elene said. Making the sitting Stella stand up from shock.

One could not blame her. As Elene had never told them anything about this person before. It was the first time Stella heard something about him.

Elene took Stella's hands and pulled her making her sit again.

She then added.

"No need to be shocked this much okay, look Bert has brought us food. Ah, I can't wait to taste this amazing food…" Elene said .

And Stella too had stars in her eyes the moment the food was brought in by Bert.