As Noelle followed after Felix, she couldn’t help but think this world seemed similar to hers…if she omitted the pink sky that reminded her of an endless sea of soft, pink cotton candy or the fact that spirits inhabited the place.

Then, another thought crossed her mind: She was scared of this place because she didn’t know what to expect, since neither the Brimwick nor the Celestica family had ever stepped foot into this place. Yet, at the same time, she couldn’t stop herself from being intrigued by the world. Maybe it was the fact that she wasn’t an ordinary person, and she also happened to be the Gatekeeper. She would be lying to herself if she said she wasn't a bit curious about the spirit world.

Noelle couldn’t resist the urge to glance down at more of the vibrant patches of flowers that continued to decorate the sides of the stone path they were walking along. She didn't have the slightest clue where they were going.

“You’ve been quiet for some time, Miss Gatekeeper. Are you all good?” Felix asked with an innocent smile. Glancing over his shoulder, he looked back at her, his eyes holding a mischievous glint.

“You have some nerve asking me that after you forced me to be here in a place where I’m forbidden even to be!” Noelle said in an annoyed tone, pressing her lips together to form a frown and show her displeasure towards him.

After hearing her response, he couldn’t help but let out a slight “Pft” sound before laughing, which caused her to immediately cross her arms while an irritated expression consumed her features.

“So, you find this whole thing funny?! I’m only playing nice with you for right now,” Noelle said before she walked faster so she could walk beside Felix.

The corners of Felix’s lips tugged upward to form a grin, while his expression turned completely playful as he reached up to wipe a few of his tears from the corner of his eyes from laughing at her.

“I’m sorry; it's just because you’re more adorable than you realize,” he teased. “You claim you’re mad and that you can deal with me at any time, yet here we are now. Plus, you’re guilty of wanting to look around, are you not?”

At that moment, Noelle felt her right eyebrow twitch in annoyance, while her frown deepened.

“You really just love testing my patience, don’t you?” she replied, glaring at him slightly. “Also, me wanting to look around has nothing to do with anything since, as the Gatekeeper, I feel like it's my duty to look around.” Felix stopped in his footsteps, causing a look of confusion to appear on Noelle’s features before he turned around and walked towards her.

Without wasting a second, he leaned his face close to hers.

“Soo~ that’s the excuse you’re going with? You could’ve been more clever about it. Besides. I don’t mind you handling me, Miss Gatekeeper,” he said with a flirty tone that immediately caused a slight blush to dust her cheeks.

“Just…whatever! Just hurry up and show me around, already-” Noelle started, but then her eyes widened when she heard laughter and talking in the distance.

In front of her, multiple string lights hung high above medium-sized buildings, illuminating the spirits below, who looked like people. The various colored stands underneath the lights were stacked with food or merchandise like stuffed animals.

Noelle blinked her eyes multiple times as if what she saw before her wasn’t real, but regardless of how many times she blinked, the sight before her didn’t disappear.

She had never expected to see a small town here in the spirit world, and just the sight of it made her think that she had never left the human world.

“Is this a festival, like in the human world?” Noelle mumbled quietly, looking over at Felix with a hint of curiosity in her eyes.

“Yeah, I guess you can say it’s similar to the festivals that you likely have seen in your world. But, it would be better if you saw it closer,” Felix said, taking hold of her hand and tugging her forward without giving her a chance to object.

Noelle didn’t pull away. Her mind was too clouded with thoughts of how the warmth of Felix’s hand was slowly warming up her cold one.

As Felix guided her through the small crowds of people, Noelle glanced from side to side, observing the spirits passing by them. If she didn’t know any better, she would likely mistake them for people.

Still, someone from the Brimwick or Celestica family could never make that sort of mistake, since they always had to be on their highest alert when it came to spirits.

Some of the spirits they passed were wearing animal festival masks, while others were not. All the spirits so far seemed to be in their own little world, talking among themselves and having a good time. But the sound of a soft feminine voice drew her out of her thoughts.

“Oh, Felix, it's good to see you. I hope you’re enjoying the festival. Also, who’s this with you? It’s not like you to accompany other spirits,” the woman said with a smile as she spoke sweetly. She had beautiful, long green hair that complemented her amber eyes.

“Oh, this cutie is Noelle, and she wanted to see the festival this time around. Also, don’t be silly. I try to hang out with others when I’m not busy,” Felix said with a smile. He and the woman were laughing among themselves while Noelle was trying not to blush at the fact that he had called her a cutie.

But there was something that Noelle couldn’t ignore at that moment. Why didn’t Felix correct the woman when she thought that Noelle was a spirit, and why did the woman mention that it wasn’t like Felix to accompany other spirits?

But once again, she was pulled back from her drifting thoughts when Felix held a fancy chocolate in front of her face.

“It’s a festival special. You should try it. I bet you would like it,” Felix said, acting innocent again as if he had not just flirted with her a few seconds ago.

“Actually, I’ll eat that in a moment, but I want you to show me around a bit more,” Noelle said, making up something so the woman wouldn’t overhear their conversation. Then, Noelle took hold of Felix’s arm and dragged him off to an area of the festival where there weren’t many spirits around.

“Why did you lie to that woman about me being a spirit when I’m clearly not?” Noelle asked suspiciously, looking over at Felix and crossing her arms.

“Well, it’s not all that strange if you think about it, Miss Gatekeeper,” Felix said as he flashed a charming smile at Noelle, his eyes sparkling with a mischievous glint. “You’re forbidden to be here, right? So, wouldn’t telling spirits you’re a human cause a scene and just draw attention to you when you’re supposed to be looking around the spirit world as the Gatekeeper?”

Noelle let out a small sigh before pinching the bridge of her nose in annoyance, because he was right. “Regardless if it would make a scene, don’t think for a second that I’ve dropped my guard around you. I’ve still got my eyes on you,” she said, glaring.

“Uh huh. But if you ask me, I think I prefer it if your eyes are on me,” Felix said, his tone suddenly turned from playful to flirty.

Despite Noelle’s best efforts, she could feel her cheeks heat up at how smooth of a flirt he was. Noelle hated the fact that she always gave Felix the reaction he wanted, but she had never dealt with someone directly flirting with her like this before.

“You’re a real piece of work, you know. Also, I have another question for you. Why did that lady mention that you don’t accompany other spirits?” Noelle asked seriously, focusing on his face to see his reaction.

“I think you're worrying too much, Miss Gatekeeper. I'm just a busy kitten who barely has much time to hang out with others, is all,” Felix said with a wink and a soft shrug of his shoulders.

If Noelle was being honest, she didn’t know if Felix was telling her the truth or not. But why would a good spirit like him lie to her? If he could pass through the gate, then why was she getting so worried?

“Well, I guess I’ll take your word for it, but since you’re showing me around the place, there is one thing that I want to see. What are those giant bubbles in the distance?” Noelle asked as she looked into the distance to see abnormally giant bubbles floating into the air from a forest nearby.

“The bubbles are coming from a pond, and come to think of it, I haven’t seen the place in a while, myself. So, let’s get going,” Felix said, his tone completely charming, before he extended his gloved hand for her to take.

“You’re flirting with me again, aren’t you?” Noelle said. She let out a small sigh before reaching out to take his hand.

But just before she was about to take his hand, she paused. Her eyes widened, and she sucked in a breath.

A large, cold shiver crawled up her spine, and the icy chill shook her to her very core. It was nothing compared to the icy chill she would get when a spirit passed through her to pass through the gate.

Like a spider having caught its prey in a web, she could slowly feel fear rapidly eating away at her. But if she was the prey, then who was the spider?