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There are only three wilting trees left in all of Kingsland and maybe the last of their kind on earth.

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I MOVED UP the small hill, appreciating the fresh air.

After the morning I had, I just had to get out of that stuffy little room for my peace of mind. I stood at the top, staring down at the grounds of the King's Courts, pulling a lock away from my line of view that had been floating across my face with the breeze.

I sighed taking a deep breath in,

This was more like it.

I had no time for myself these past few days, everything seemed to have happened all at once in one big blur.

I could have visited Claire and Lira but those two were like matchsticks, they worked well together but there was always something going on in that room and I knew heading there was the complete opposite of having the peace I so desired,  even though it was far better than staying in my room with Daya and Ellie, who had decided to invite the girls back to our room and try to find the culprit.

Ah, Yes, I was better off here, and alone.

I glanced behind me, turning to the tree that Lira, Claire, and I had been under a few days ago.

This was the second time I had visited this tree without them and I was starting to think maybe this was my special spot.

I mean it played the part quite well, mirroring my exact emotions looking as droopy and drained out as I was. 

I sighed my hands trailing up the bark of the tree, it was good to know that even Nature had some bad days.

Sitting on the grass that also seemed a little dry and yellow at the tips as compared to the rest of the grass that littered the King's Courts, I lay down closing my eyes.

It seemed the whole world was at peace at that moment, except for the distant sound of a bird cawing I assumed not too far away from me.

Sundays seemed quite peaceful which surprised me because I arrived on a Sunday but last Sunday had been a whole lot busier than this one was.

Back at home Sundays were perfect. Sunday services, Sunday dinner where we would go out to eat at one of our favorite restaurants.

This Sunday, I would have been the one to decide where would eat but at this point, everyone knew where I would select because I selected it every turn.

These few days I've spent in Kingsland seemed like I had been here for at least half a lifetime because the outside world seemed to disappear with each passing day.

There was no further word from Gravis so I had no idea how Mom was doing and at this point, I missed her warm embraces and steady assurances that everything would be alright.

I needed to hear someone say I would soon get used to everything around me and finally adapt to my new life. I needed that assurance because I was already three things I never thought I would ever be called,

A stalker

A Thief

And a girl who died twice in two weeks.

It felt strange knowing that-

"The Wilting tree is the rarest species of trees, only known to be native to Kingsland and so only known by a few of its inhabitants," someone announced.

My eyelids fluttered open in confusion for a moment, sitting up only to see one of the Original five twins standing a foot away from me with his signature staff.

He smiled as he approached me, glancing at the tree behind me, "its leaves have been known to hold many medicinal properties but its best quality is the shelter it provides against the sun," he added with a grin.

I slowly chuckled at this as his gaze trailed up the tree.

I had no idea if this was Rangi or Lwangi but it was surprisingly calm to be around them as compared to Lucas or Harvest.

Yes, undeniably,  I was a little bit shy, but something about them seemed to scream home to me.

Maybe because they looked like me, that the patterns that lined their colorful shirts reminded me of Ekusi wrappers, or was it their thick accents that my father had too as did my mother though the twins were much more noticeable.

His gaze trailed back down to me with a gentle grin, "I was not expecting some company today," he began, " were you brother?" he asked just as a strong gust of wind blew by me, the second twin suddenly standing before me.

He looked down at me with equal warmth though his eyes were noticeably more mischievous, "Not at all, though I don't mind the company of a sister," he eased, his pearl whites showing.

I didn't know exactly what to say but beamed at the term they used. Sister. I had never been called that but I loved it.

My eyes trailed between them and I found a need to explain myself, remembering that they could understand sign language, which was a relief because I had left my notebook,

'I'm sorry, I didn't know this spot was taken, just came here for some fresh air" I signed curtly looking back up at the pair.

"Nature does not belong to anyone, it is free for all to enjoy," one of the twins began, "however, every other Sunday it is my brother and I's job to make the wilting tree..does not wilt," he replied with a curt smile, his brother chuckling along as if it was a dry joke.

My eyebrows creased at this watching the two with the uttermost curiosity and confusion. When they noticed I didn't understand what they meant they asked me,

"You do know what a Wilting tree is right?" one of them asked.

I shook my head glancing between them.

One brother's eyes narrowed on me before a look of realization crossed his face.

"Ah, I believe you just finished your Origins Class," he began. I nodded confirming this before he turned to his brother, "Lwangi, she is yet to learn about the nature that surrounds Kingsland."

Lwangi, who I took note to master, settling on how he had a slightly sharper jawline than his brother, turned to me, "Ah I see, " he replied, " but she is a red, so she will eventually learn," he replied with a satisfied look as his eyes trailed to my wrist.

Rangi nodded whilst I sat there listening, "but there is a little we can teach," he added offering me a hand up.

I took it getting to my feet and standing in between them as Lwangi spoke, "The wilting tree gets its name because of how fast it wilts- if not provided with adequate magical energy it will wilt and die as many have over the years after the death of the Islands guardians. There are only three wilting trees left in all of Kingsland and maybe the last of their kind on earth," he began his tone more sorrowful, and I watched as his brother examined the state of the tree, walking around its trunk.

I had thought that the tree was mirroring my mood but it turned out to be actually dying. My smile dissolved after this line of thought.

"As it wilts it struggles to survive, taking away the energy of every other living thing around it in an attempt to survive," Rangi continued after examining the tree trunk. He knelt to the brown grass around the tree, "this one is wilting faster every passing year, I'm afraid we will have to renew it every week," he called off to his brother who nodded beside me with a sigh, "the tree in the west had barely wilted," he continued getting to his feet as he looked at his brother, "I believe it is because it is surrounded by nature."

Lwangi nodded again, glancing at me, "The tree in the west grows in the woods." He stated.

I nodded at this, looking at the tree which was only surrounded by the freshly trimmed grass of the King's Courts.

"C'mon brother, let us feed her before she fades away-" Rangi huffed standing to his full length.

Lwangi walked past me to his brother who moved away standing at the opposite side of the tree. I watched in utter curiosity as they stuck their staffs into the ground by the tree.

I felt a vibration that wrung in the ground beneath me, the curved vines of the staff glowing a deep green, momentarily seeing the tips of the grass around the trees shake lightly until it seemed the vibration traveled up the tree, its leaves also shaking and little by little I saw the grass regain its color and the tree seemed to rejuvenate, branches slightly stretching, the tree becoming as beautiful as it had been when Claire, Lira, and I, sat under it.

I paused, watching everything come together beautifully until it looked like the tree had been given a second chance at life.

Rangi tapped his staff in the ground twice and Lwangi following not long after this time tapping three times and then it was over.

I moved curiously towards the tree and Lwangi and Rangi gave way for me as I touched the bark of the tree. I didn't have to do anything further to know that the tree was now much better.

I turned around glancing in-between both of them, then at the silver bands around their wrists.

"Silvers?" I signed.

They chuckled amongst themselves at this but I was serious about that question. They claimed to be Silvers and yet they could rejuvenate a whole tree.

I thought that would be for Oranges or Reds.

"There a lot of things you are yet to discover about Kingsland- as well as the people who inhabit it," Rangi replied.

"The wind has finally changed brother," Lwangi commented his eyes trailing the air, "it blows in the east- we can shift with the wind for the last tree," he commented to his brother.

Rangi nodded as Lwangi turned to me, "It has been a pleasure, I hope we get to see more of you-

"T-A-L-A-N-D-A" I spelled out for him with a chuckle.

"Ah, Talanda-" he nodded, "I will not forget a second time-" he added with a wide grin, "we must take our leave now," he commented and I nodded taking a step back.

He smiled tapping his cane in the ground and it seemed like he was wrapped in a sheet of air before disappearing in front of my eyes.

My eyes widened at this, failing to believe what I had seen. I had heard of Converts that could teleport but seeing it with my own eyes felt so unreal.

I turned to Rangi who hadn't yet disappeared and his eyes melted into mine.

" You shouldn't be scared of change," he suddenly said a mystical dazzle in his eyes, "nothing can hurt you here, especially whilst he is looking after you," he stated plainly with a smile, gaze following something.

My eyebrows furrowed before following his gaze up the tree.

A black raven was seated there perching on a tree. It cawed loudly as if knowing it had been spotted but didn't move.

My eyebrows creased turning back to Rangi-

but he was already gone.

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Love the twins!

Heads up guys! We have 20 more chapters to go before a bulk update ofup to chapter 100. After that,

I'll only be a posting 2 chapters a week on Wattpad. 10 chapters and 1 bonus chapter [Chapter 111] will be available on Patreon for advanced access.

There will be 10 new chapters of UNSPOKEN uploaded each month on Patreon (more info will be available once I put a tier up for it!).

Thanks for reading.
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