372 Balance More Than One

It was linked to someone she knew. 

Seeing Vyrena touch the pendant reminded El of it, "Now that I think about it, Vyrena, that necklace had been around your neck when I first found you in the Jungle. That would mean it is highly likely you've had it even before you entered the Jungle."

The children looked at Vyrena in shock. 

"Really? That's so cool! Let me take a closer look!" Tizzie exclaimed with glee. 

"I want a closer look too! Maribelle added as she too went in for a closer look.

That isn't even the weirdest thing about it," El added, "It can't be taken off."

"No way!" Sorren exclaimed. He knew Vyrena had never taken it off, but he had no idea if was because of that reason. 

"You're messing with us, aren't you El," Boss narrowed his eyes in disbelief. 

El laughed, "I speak the truth, I swear on it."

Boss turned to look at Vyrena for confirmation. She nodded in agreement to El's statement. 

"I don't believe this one bit," Boss declared. 

"Well, you are most welcome to try if you like."

Boss walked over to Vyrena and made an attempt to remove the pendant from Vyrena's neck. He even asked for a dagger and tried to cut the necklace off. But nothing worked. 

"Wow! That is incredible!" Boss exclaimed. 

"Vyrena, have you tried removing it yourself?" Tizzie asked out of curiosity. 

Maribelle lit up, "Yeah! Maybe this is one of those magic necklaces that only the wearer or owner can remove it."

Vyrena gave it a shot. She even tires using the dagger Boss previously tried using. But still, it was not possible. No one could figure out how to remove it. 

"It must have been reinforced with special spells or something," Maribelle commented. 

Everyone else who had entered the Jungle, based on their knowledge, all came in with clothes on their backs, shoes and maybe the red bands around their wrists. None of them had ever carried anything else. 

All except for Vyrena. 

Just then, Sorren sensed that something or someone was approaching their campsite. He alerted everyone immediately. All of them quickly readied themselves for a possible attack. 

It was always better to be prepared. 

But with Vyrena's heightened senses, she quickly figured out who it was. It was Queen Willow and her spider beasts. They had arrived. Queen Willow was one of the first to emerge. Red Silk was by her side. 

"My apologies for the late arrival. We've had some trouble along the way," Queen Willow expressed her apologies to Vyrena. 

"That's alright. I hope everyone is alright as well?"

"Just a few scrapes and bruises, nothing major," Red Silk added. 

"Is it safe for me to assume that you're an ally and not an enemy I should be worried about?" Vyrena asked as she leaned on her side against one of the pillars. 

Queen Willow, who had her back facing Vyrena, turned back around to reply, "If you still believed me 100% after what you've witnessed. Some would say you're crazy."

"Others might say I am foolish."

"Indeed they would."

"I will not deny that I have doubts. But I would like to hear what you have to say, before passing judgement."

The Spider Queen smiled, "This is why you're different, Vyrena. You don't jump into conclusions and pick aside the first chance you get. You weigh the information you have, before making a decision."

Vyrena always believed that everything had two sides. There was the truth, and what people thought to be the truth. Sometimes they were the same, but most of the time they were different. 

"So, would you care to explain to me what is going on?"

"Where do I even begin?" Queen Willow sighed. 

She walked over to a marble bench and took a seat. Vyrena joined her on the bench. Queen Willow began to explain. Her memories had partially returned to her, but she could not remember anything before she ended up in the City. 

Arantaur had a name. His name was Ragno. He is an immortal and one of the people who owned the place they were in. 

"He owns this place?" Vyrena gasped in shock. 

Queen Willow nodded, "He isn't the only one who owns it either. There are others, although I am not sure who they are."

Queen Willow also confirmed another piece of information, she was indeed his daughter. As hard as it might be to believe, she was one of his many children who were supposed to do his bidding. 

Ragno had high hopes for Willow, which was why he brought her here. It was to train her abilities, hone her skills for a brighter future. But while she was in the City, training, she fell in love. 

"When father found out, he was so angry. He trapped me in here, hoping over time I would come to my senses. But I never did. During this time, being trapped here for an indefinite amount of time messed with my mind…"

Eventually, Willow could no longer handle any of it, so she erased part of her memories and erased the memories of her spider beasts. This included the person she loved. She kept her own sealed memories in a box and buried somewhere in the city. 

Then, she brought her spider beasts to the Jungle to live. Over time, things changed. Willow slowly forgot her past. Eventually, she no longer remembered a time before the Jungle. 

When they planned their escape from the Jungle and re-entered the City, parts of her memories came flooding back. 

"Based on what little I could remember, the more I saw, the more it came back to me. So, I went to search for the box. I found it and restored my memories."

"Can I ask a question?"

"Yes, of course. Ask away."

"Why did you want to meet with Ragno?"

Queen Willow looked up for a while, before letting out a sigh. She hoped she could change his mind, hoping he would see reason. But obviously, he did not. 

"I mean, why can't you work for him, and still be with your lover?"

"He wants me to be committed. Being emotional would hinder my abilities."