Rawna and the man continued their fierce exchange of blows, but then, the man’s movements shifted. With a fluid grace, he closed the distance between them in an instant. His blade was at Rawna’s throat before she could react. The cold steel pressed against her skin, though Rawna did not seem surprised for some reason.

  He sheathed his sword with a swift motion and a smile played at the corners of his lips. “Your stance needs work. You’re wielding a goddess item now, not a regular spear.”

  Rawna’s eyes flashed with irritation. “Shut up.”

  Rawna’s gaze returned to the list of names on the wall. Her eyes lingered on Prince Vuldo’s name. “Prince Vuldo,” she began. “I didn’t expect you to become a prince.”

  Prince Vuldo chuckled. "It took me quite some time to earn that honor. How about we set aside business for a moment and enjoy a nice cup of tea together? It's been a while since we had a chance to talk without all the formalities."

  Rawna considered his offer for a moment before nodding in agreement. "Very well. A cup of tea sounds good."

  The Prince led the way to a small sitting area, where a servant quickly appeared to prepare the tea. They sat down, and after the tea was prepared, Rawna remained composed, not taking a sip. Vuldo noticed her restraint, and after a few sips, he sighed, setting his cup down.

  "It's good to see you again, Rawna, but I know exactly why you are here. I was informed that you were supposed to bring 'Second' Kintovar and the others here to see our imprisoned Kintovar, but you came alone. What's on your mind?"

  Rawna nodded. "You're right. I'll bring them in the morning, but that's not my only reason for being here."

  Prince Vuldo leaned back, his crimson eyes locked onto her, waiting for her to continue.

  Rawna leaned forward."I know where the Shield of Creation is, and I know the West is behind the chaos that is happening recently. Mystical creatures breaching the barrier, that's no accident. The East and the West have been at each other's throats on this matter every time there is a siting of a creature. I have reason to believe that you and your Council in the West are inciting this war against the East."

  Prince Vuldo gave her chuckle. "Rawna, you've got it all wrong. We have nothing to do with the breach in the barrier or the chaos it's causing."

  But Rawna's skepticism remained unwavering. "I've seen your army. I've seen what your men have been doing behind the scenes. You're not innocent in all of this."

  Prince Vuldo sighed. "I can't deny that there are elements in the West that may have taken extreme actions, but I assure you, the Council does not support these acts.

  Rawna's gaze bore into Prince Vuldo's eyes. "The West profits from these wars more than any other city in Jancito. The instability it brings allows you to manipulate the economy, controlling the prices of vital resources, and ultimately, expanding your wealth and power. It may not be an official policy of the Council, but it's clear that you have vested interests in maintaining this turmoil."

  Prince Vuldo brought his hands together. “We can't deny that there are those who benefit from the conflicts, but even so, we have to what we have to do in order to best maintain order."

  Rawna remained skeptical, "Maintaining order or maintaining control? The South has suffered enough, and I won't allow it to continue. I'll get to the bottom of this, and the West won't be spared from destruction if it's deemed guilty."

  Prince Vuldo's face hardened. He leaned forward to meet Rawna's intense gaze. "Rawna, I've known you for a long time, and I respect your dedication to your own city, but I assure you, we are not the ones behind the breach in the barrier. In fact, we're working diligently to contain it and protect our territory."

  Their conversation was interrupted by a servant who approached the table. "Is everything to your satisfaction, Your Highness?"

  Prince Vuldo nodded, and the servant quickly retreated, leaving the two in a tense silence.

  Prince Vuldo's words struck a chord with Rawna, and her face softened.

  "Rawna, I know you've been through a lot, especially with your...mother," Vuldo began cautiously.

  The moment he mentioned her mother, Rawna's gaze turned as lethal as a razor-sharp blade. It was a kind of look that could slice through steel, but nonetheless, he continued, "Ever since then, it's like you've closed your heart to everyone, even to me right now you are holding back. You're different, and I worry about where this path might lead you."

  Rawna's eyes fell to the table. After a moment, She glanced at Vuldo and said, "You're right, Vuldo. I've changed, and it's not just because of the spear. My mother's actions, the amount of darkness I've seen in this world... It's made me question everything."

  Vuldo nodded. "I can only imagine how difficult it must be, Rawna. But I want you to remember something, no matter what path you choose to walk, you don’t have to take it by yourself. You have friends, allies, and people who care about you. You also have the power to make a difference, not just as a wielder of the Spear of Destruction, but as a force for justice and truth."

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  Rawna wanted to confide in Vuldo about her true plans, but uncertainty gnawed at her. Could she trust him with such a revelation? What would he do if he knew?

  Taking a deep breath, Rawna began, "Vuldo, I want to... I want to tell you something important..."

  Prince Vuldo’s eyes remained locked onto hers. “Rawna, you can tell me anything. Whatever it is, I’m here to listen.”

  Rawna looked up at Vuldo, conflicted. "Vuldo, I... I want to….”

  She paused and thought, ‘No, you idiot! If you say that, you might make an enemy out of him.’

  Rawna shook her head, clearing her mind. “I want to find out the truth,” she continued with her voice becoming steadier. “But I need your help to do it. The West can’t keep using these situations for their own gain. We need to unite with the South.”

  Vuldo’s eyes softened. “I agree, Rawna. The constant strife only weakens us all. If we work together, we can uncover the truth and bring the peace back between our lands.”

  Vuldo, with a calm demeanor, continued, "As a matter of fact, I am currently working on a peace treaty between the Eastern and Western Jancito. It's a step towards ensuring that our territories no longer plunge into war every time mystical creatures breach the magical forest. I believe this should serve as proof of our intentions."

  Rawna listened intently. "That sounds like a good idea, but what about the south?”

  Vuldo stammered. "Well, I didn't really... I mean, until..."

  Rawna raised an eyebrow. Soon, a smirk appeared on her face. "Until I showed up, you had no plans of uniting the South and West, did you?" She poked at his head, making Vuldo grin nervously.

  "Alright, you got me," he admitted, scratching the back of his head. "But now that you're here, let's make it happen. The South deserves peace too. I will aim for a comprehensive peace, one that involves all the regions of Jancito for one beautiful warrior."

  Rawna found something charming about the way he said that. A small blush appeared on her serious face. Vuldo noticed this, and said, "Is that a blush I see, Rawna?"

  She quickly shook her head. "You're seeing things, Vuldo. Don't get ahead of yourself. Me? Blush over you? Pft…"

  Vuldo smiled. “I look forward to seeing you again, Rawna.”

  Rawna got up and turned to leave. "I'll bring the Second Kintovar tomorrow. I’ll be expecting some answers."

  Vuldo rested his hands under his chin. "Very well. Until then, Rawna, and perhaps next time, we can go on a date in a more fitting location."

  Rawna's cheeks flushed a deep shade of red, but she tried hard to maintain a serious tone. "Don't hold your breath, Prince."

  With those parting words, Rawna made her way out of the Dark Castle.

  Meanwhile at Henry’s house.

  Osana gently cradled Timmy in her arms in her room. She spoke softly. "Timmy, did you have any fun today, even with everything that happened?"

  Timmy, looking up at his older sister with a smile, nodded. "Yeah, Osana, I did. You know what? Roselle is so cool! She can do these amazing things with her powers, and her lightning powers go like ‘shhk’!!"

  Risebelle had taken refuge in Molly's room. Haras joined her, sensing her unease in this unfamiliar space. She wrapped her arms around Risebelle and held her close.

  Molly, sitting on her bed, watched them for a moment before breaking the silence. "This is nice and all, but why do they gotta sleep in here? It's not like I have three beds."

  Risebelle shot Molly a death glare that could have melted steel.

  Molly raised her hands in surrender. "Alright, alright, I'll shut up now."

  In Timmy's room, Roselle cuddled with Runebelle, who had reverted to her usual gloomy face. Roselle's gentle and caring nature prompted her to ask, "Runebelle, what do you think about all of this?"

  Runebelle looked down at her hands. "I don't know, Roselle. I know the sadness that can be brought by losing a family member. I’m glad… that didn’t happen today…”

  Roselle listened to Runebelle's words with concern. "Runebelle… did something really bad happen to you in your past life?"

  Runebelle's gloomy eyes met Roselle's, and she sighed softly. "It goes much deeper than just losing someone. The overwhelming sadness and pain I've experienced in my past life is likely what led to me being created the way I am. But, Roselle, there are things I … I just can’t tell you yet.... It's…for your own good you don’t know them..."

  Runebelle's cryptic response left Roselle with many questions. She reached out and gently squeezed Runebelle's hand. "I don't know what happened in your past, Runebelle, and I won't push you to tell me. But you've mentioned Sadie before, and I've always wondered about her. It seems like whatever happened in your past, it's deeply connected to mine, to us, in some way. I'm here for you, Runebelle, no matter what."

  Runebelle's gloomy face softened slightly. She leaned in and gently rested her head against Roselle's shoulder.

  Roselle spoke softly, "I think I get it now. I get your sadness. Your sister, your mother, and probably even your father. You lost them all, didn't you?"

  Runebelle didn't respond to Roselle's words, but her eyes filled with water. Roselle held her close and spoke in a way that was tender. "I told you before that I would be with you until the days when you can smile normally. And I meant it."

  With that, the two of them nestled into bed with arms wrapped around each other. They drifted off to sleep.

  The next day, Runebelle slowly stirred awake in Timmy's room. She was locked in Roselle's arms, which brought a sense of warmth and comfort; however, when she turned to face Roselle, her normal gloom deepened. She reached out to check Roselle's systems, but this time, a message greeted her –

  [System Message]

  "Status: offline."

  Runebelle's heart sank. She whispered, "Roselle…"

  In the living room, Kintovar stirred from the couch where she had worked tirelessly through the night. Despite the fatigue that clung to her, she had managed to finally repair Roselle's massive cannon. She rubbed her eyes and yawned.

  Henry and Oakley slowly awoke from their rooms and made their way to the living room. They were greeted by the massive cannon Kintovar just repaired.

  Kintovar took a step forward with a hint of pride. "That massive cannon belongs to Roselle. It's her primary weapon when she needs to defend herself or others."

  Henry had been puzzled by the presence of the cannon, but now he wore a contemplative look. He turned to Kintovar and said, "So, my suspicions were right. These girls, they're your creations, aren't they?"

  Kintovar nodded. "Yes, Henry. Roselle, Risebelle, and Runebelle are indeed creations. I've poured my heart and soul into them, and they're more extraordinary than you might realize."

  Runebelle suddenly entered the living room. She stepped infront of Kintovar and flailed her arms out. "Kintovar, Roselle isn't waking up…Her systems are offline…"

  Kintovar's eyes widened in alarm. “A…are you serious?”

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