In the jungle, the mighty jungle

The lion sleeps tonight

***

CHAPTER 16:

THE LAKE

Spending the entire day with Ursa in her atelier taught me three important things. The first was about time. Here, weeks didn't follow the usual seven-day pattern. They were completely irregular, sometimes with a three-day weekend after just two days of classes, other times with ten consecutive days of lessons. While this irregular calendar could probably be predicted by observing the movements of the three moons above us—and Lark could likely explain it better—Ursa didn't have much knowledge or interest in it.

The second thing I learned was that weekends here meant going to the lake. On holiday nights, souls would gather at the lake to have fun, dancing, singing, eating, and drinking until morning. It wasn't a grand celebration like the carnival, but the Dorm still liked to surprise them with different activities.

The third and final thing I discovered was about myself: I didn't like fashion as much as Ursa did. I managed to breeze through the first hour of selecting fabrics with polite smiles and nods. By the second hour, when we decided on the model, my smile had disappeared. For the next three hours, as Ursa sewed my dress and tried it on me piece by piece, I tried every possible way to escape the torture. My efforts were in vain. After six hours, I was still in the atelier, standing in front of a mirror while Ursa sewed the sleeve of my blouse.

"Ursa," I said finally. I didn't care how rude I sounded because I was exhausted.

As if she understood I was about to escape with needles all over me, Ursa said, "Okay, okay!" and backed away, tying a knot. "There, we're done. Once we attach the ribbon to the chest..."

"No!" I interrupted, pulling away from her. "There's no need for a ribbon!"

Ursa opened her mouth to protest, but seeing the nuclear bombs exploding in my eyes, she didn't push it.

"Let me take a look at you."

She stood me in front of the mirror again and moved behind me. Now that she wasn't blocking my view, I could clearly see the design she had made. It was a strange experience; I had never had a garment tailored specifically for me before. There was no doubt it made me feel special. Moreover, I... didn't look too bad. In fact...

"Wow, Olive, you look beautiful!" Ursa exclaimed with admiration. It was normal for her to be biased towards her own design, but the hearts in her eyes were sincere.

My smile spread uncontrollably across my face. I was wearing pink, high-waisted, mini shorts and a bustier made of the same fabric. It wasn't an outfit I would have worn while alive, but here in this strange realm, it didn't look odd on me at all. It was simple yet elegant, sporty yet chic, and easy to move in. I had grown to like my new attire, or rather, the new version of myself within it.

For a moment, I wished Davon could see me like this. It could have been a nice compensation for the disastrous ball day. Then again, maybe it wasn't such a great idea. Davon didn't like bright colors or patterns. He would have found the shorts too short and the bustier too revealing. But Davon wasn't here. Maybe, for the first time, I didn't need to worry about what he thought. Realizing how oddly comforting that was, I felt embarrassed and quickly pushed the thought out of my mind.

"Thanks, Ursa," I said, turning around.

Before I could express my gratitude, Ursa enveloped me in a tight hug. This unexpected gesture of affection felt as good as the outfit itself. I must have been dazed because when Ursa went to the wardrobe and returned with a pair of flats, I put them on without a word. Then, I followed her to her room without protest. I let her do my makeup and comb my hair. As she began to prepare herself, I settled on her bed and helped with my comments. When she wanted to style her hair into two buns on top of her head, I stepped in to assist.

After a while, Helene joined us, followed by Diego and finally Lark. Helene, with her floor-length, thin-strapped white dress and straight hair, resembled a ghost, but a dazzling one. Lark, in her dark purple baggy pants and loose tunic, complemented her perfectly. Diego had clearly received a heads-up about Ursa's dress choice, as their outfits were made from the same fabric. Perhaps Ursa had even made him a pair of shorts while sewing her dress.

As Ursa tried to convince Lark to wear a headband, I found myself giggling as I watched them. I wasn't sure when I had become part of this quirky group or when I had started laughing with them without overthinking it. But realizing that the anger, loneliness, and anxiety that had once consumed me had been replaced by other emotions was a relief.

"Ah, whatever..." Ursa finally gave up. "If we wait for you to find the right way, we'll never get to the lake."

"I'm happy with my own way, thanks," said Lark.

"Everyone should follow their own way to happiness," Helene chimed in, squeezing her girlfriend's hand.

I followed them out into the corridor and... Holy cow! If the mansion was crowded on any regular school day, now it was chaos. Almost all the doors were open. Souls were going in and out of rooms, swapping clothes, jewelry, hairpins, lipstick, hats. Even though it was just an ordinary weekend, there was no doubt that everyone cared more about how they looked than usual.

Ursa was strolling through the corridor, accepting compliments with delight as others commented on her dress. Whether it was because of the outfit she tailored for me or not, today, I was also receiving my share of admiration. Once again, heads were turning toward me. And it wasn't like the day I argued with Mars... It felt more like... as if I had intrigued them, as if they were starting to see me differently...

"Where are we going?" I asked as we headed downstairs towards the exit. Actually, I meant to ask if we were stopping by the cafeteria for a bite. Besides the two boxes of strawberry milk Ursa had provided, I hadn't eaten anything all day after spending hours in the atelier.

Disappointingly, "We're heading straight to the lake," said scout leader Ursa.

Fortunately, Diego understood my problem and explained, "There's plenty of food at the lake. That's why nobody goes down for dinner on weekends."

It was good to hear that. With the relief of knowing I wouldn't faint from hunger; I turned my attention to the souls slowly making their way to the lake with us. Under the increasingly darkening sky, the garden was full of colors. Well... as colorful as the Dorm allowed... Light pinks, deep pinks, lilacs, purples, magentas... It was vibrant. Laughing girls, joking boys, cuddling couples, shy new lovers, groups of friends...

Thinking that I was also in one of those friend groups, going to a dressed-up party, was both a perfect and terrifying feeling. I knew I should focus on my studies, on returning to the living world, on getting out of here, but... how could I when everything around me looked and smelled so beautiful?

As we reached the entrance to the forest, we were greeted by lanterns, causing my eyes to widen with excitement. The last time I was here, the lights weren't on, but now it looked like stars were scattered among the branches. Their enchanting glow provided a welcome distraction from the eerie statue gesturing towards the Void and the chilling sensation it invoked. Following the music, we journeyed alongside fellow souls.

Due to the unfortunate incident during my orientation, this was my first time at the lake. I noticed the gradual disappearance of the pink trees, replaced by mushrooms of diverse sizes. Unlike any I'd encountered before, these mushrooms boasted a bubblegum pink hue, almost reaching my waist, and emitting a subtle glow. As we approached the open space, another scent intertwined with the crisp evening air, its familiarity dawning on me only upon arrival.

The girl who passed by me, blowing smoke in my face, transported me back to the library, to the night I first saw Mars. It was his scent. Or rather, the scent of what he was smoking... And evidently, that sweet weed wasn't just Mars's favorite but also the favorite of most souls in the Dorm. It horrified me to see young people scattered around the lake openly getting high like this. But I would deal with that issue later, because right now my brain was using all its capacity to be amazed by the scene.

First of all, the lake was much larger than I had imagined. It was so big that it had shores like a sea and disappeared into the horizon. What was even more interesting was that its surface was covered with thousands of pink-purple light orbs, as if someone had left thousands of candles on it. Stone steps were arranged like stairs leading to the rocky platform in the middle of the lake. Judging by the musical instruments on the rock, they were using it as a stage.

"Let's go get something to eat before it gets crowded," Ursa said, linking her arm with mine. "I'm starving."

"You can't starve, you're already dead," Helene remarked.

Judging by the movement of her lips, I think she was trying to make a joke. Sadly, it didn't land. Swiftly shifting away from the awkwardness, Ursa whisked me over to the food stalls. The rest of the group followed suit. There was a row of booths, each offering a variety of food and drinks. They were decorated brightly like a fairground. Even though they were painted purple instead of the usual red, they gave me Christmas market vibes. My stomach couldn't help but rumble at the enticing aromas. Perhaps Helene was mistaken; it seemed even souls could starve.

With everyone having different food preferences, I found myself alone at the hamburger stand. Diego had gone for churros, Lark was lining up for fried chicken, Ursa had chosen pasta, and Helene had opted for sushi. Knowing that the booths would remain open all night and souls could eat as much as they pleased, I wasn't concerned about my choice. After all, how could something smelling so divine be anything but delightful? I stretched my neck to catch a glimpse of the hamburgers being served to the girls ahead.

"Don't worry, Dogo is great," said a voice in my ear, causing me to startle and bump into the person behind me. He caught hold of my arm, steadying me and preventing me from falling.

"Tarben?" I said, astonished.

When he was sure I wouldn't topple over, he let go of me, shoved his hands into his pockets, and smiled. "Hello, Olive."

I never knew when he snuck up behind me. I hadn't expected to run into him at the lake since I hadn't seen him since the first class. Today, Tarben was wearing a dark purple beanie, loose pants, and an even looser sweater. He might have looked ridiculous if he weren't so slender, but he pulled off the outfit well. His white-blond hair cascaded from under the beanie to his shoulders, and his silver earrings glinted in the light coming from the stands. I didn't realize I was studying him carefully until his eyebrow quirked with curiosity.

"Hi!" I said, a little panicked, a little embarrassed. "Sorry. I got a bit lost in the hamburgers. Didn't notice you."

What a stupid reply. Nevertheless, it amused Tarben. He nodded towards the booth. "I wouldn't have noticed myself with that thing looming there. You made quite a good choice for your first time."

This time, a chuckle escaped me. Whether it was Tarben's serene demeanor or the natural flow of conversation, talking with him felt effortless. I couldn't ignore the fact that he was once again by himself, his soulmate nowhere in sight. Despite recognizing that I shouldn't take pleasure in others' troubles, a sense of relief washed over me. It was comforting to know that I wasn't the sole cursed soul soul in this realm to be lonely.

"I like your style," he said, nodding towards my new clothes. "Way better than I'd expect from the Dorm."

I couldn't help but feel my cheeks flush with the unexpected compliment. Praise wasn't something I encountered often in my previous life. I lowered my gaze, almost as if trying to conceal my reaction.

"It wasn't thanks to the Dorm," I replied hesitantly. "It was Ursa's talent... She worked on it all day."

"I can see that," Tarben remarked. "Perhaps she'll create something for me someday."

"Maybe..." I murmured. If the conversation lingered any longer, I knew my entire face would turn crimson. Thankfully, Tarben's attention shifted back to the booth. "So," he continued, walking alongside me in line, "how was your first week?" As I instinctively wrinkled my nose, he chuckled. "Was it truly that dreadful?"

"Have you ever participated in a relay race on your own?" I asked, raising my eyebrows.

His laughter filled the air. "Oh yes, indeed, I've had to do that a few times. Well, more than a few, actually..." I stared at him in astonishment. That wasn't the reply I had anticipated. It wasn't the reaction I had hoped for. Yet, there was no trace of the anger I felt reflected in Tarben's demeanor. "I'd like to say you get accustomed to it over time, but there's really nothing to adjust to," he remarked with a chuckle. "Acknowledging that some races you simply won't win is the key."

I couldn't join in his laughter. "But what if that race is a matter of life and death?"

He shrugged. "I'm not telling you not to compete. Just don't focus on winning. Who said the prize is about finishing first?"

Huh?

Certainly, Tarben's wise words carried a very important life lesson. But I still had time to learn that lesson. Now, all my attention was suddenly on the arm wrapped around Tarben's neck. The owner of that arm left a loud kiss on his cheek, leaving behind a pink lipstick stain. With her blue hair, slanted eyes, and cool clothes, there was no mistaking her for anyone else.

Blue...

Mars's best friend, Blue...

And it appeared that she was also Tarben's girlfriend.

***

Oops! We've had an unexpected encounter!

With this final introduction, all the main characters are now connected to each other. Get ready for the next level. The upcoming chapters will bring disaster, nightmares, and a lot of action. Let's all start feeling sorry for our poor Olive, as she's the one who will suffer the most :)

Until then, take care of your souls, lovelies! EC.