Tense Confrontation.

Barbara burst into the burning building, stopping abruptly as the chaotic scene unfolded before her. Flames devoured the interior, consuming furniture and decor, leaving only ashes in their wake. Instinctively, her wolf form recoiled with a sharp bark as the heat intensified, pushing her back. She sidestepped to a safer, unburnt area.

“Barbara!” a voice shrieked from the entrance.

Barbara’s gaze snapped up, locking onto Mina. “Mina!” she exclaimed, recognition dawning.

Mina rushed towards her, expertly weaving through the encroaching flames. “We need your help!” she urged, her voice strained with urgency.

“Why are you still here?!” Barbara cried, clutching Mina’s hands in a panicked grip.

“Let’s go outside!” she demanded, pulling on Mina’s arm.

But Mina resisted, reluctantly pulling her hands away. “What are you doing?!” Barbara uttered, shocked by Mina’s refusal.

“There are still people inside. You have to come with me,” Mina pleaded.

“No, we have to go!” Barbara insisted. “We can’t risk our lives to save them.”

Mina’s eyes lingered on Barbara for a silent moment before she turned and ran back into the inferno.

“Mina!” Barbara screamed, her calls swallowed by the roar of the fire as Mina disappeared from sight.

Lucas was thrown against the trees again by the woman. She stood composed, despite noticeable injuries to her shoulders and face—Lucas's handiwork. He scrambled to his feet, a low growl rumbling in his chest, his gaze firm. The woman lunged, intending to strike, then suddenly veered off, circling him, patiently waiting for her moment as she observed his wolf form. Lucas tracked her every movement, his eyes locked on her, guarding himself instinctively.

A minute stretched, taut with anticipation. Then, she took a swift step. Lucas met her, closing the distance just as fast. But as he lunged, she vanished. He stopped mid-stride, surprised, his head snapping around, searching behind him, to his sides, anywhere.

Lucas paused, his mind racing, trying to grasp the impossible. "If she's not here, then is she…"

Before he could finish the thought, a searing pain erupted from his back and chest as the woman's merciless sword found its mark.

.Blood burst forth. Lucas collapsed, eyes wide with shock, a silent fall to the ground. The woman lowered her sword and approached his heavily injured body, observing him with a cold, neutral expression.

"I guess I owe you this one thing," she murmured softly. "You possess great strength." She looked at her own injuries, then slowly up at the sky. "Just not enough to defeat me." She paused, considering. "The name's… Nevermind."

She turned and began to walk away, leaving Lucas's broken form behind in the silent woods. As she walked, a faint rustle of footsteps caught her ear. She paused, turning back with a mix of curiosity and suspicion. Nothing. Lucas still lay flat, unmoving, no sign of life.

The woman stared, unconvinced, but after a moment, she shook it off, looking forward again and resuming her silent walk. After a few more steps, she heard it again. This time, she stopped, a quick, sharp glance of conviction.

"Who's out there?" she demanded, but only silence answered.

She remained calm, unwilling to spook herself without confirmation. Slowly, she turned around.

Jasper and Amara arrived at the palace. Amara leaped from his back, shrieking in shock at the inferno engulfing the building. She stumbled back, wide-eyed, from the furious flames.

"Bloody bastard!" Amara muttered, her voice loud enough to be heard over the crackling fire.

Outside, wolfguards frantically hurled buckets of water and used their water abilities, but their efforts did little to quell the raging blaze. Jasper looked up, a flicker of terror in his eyes, then rushed headlong towards the palace path.

"Hey, wait up for me!" Amara called out, the green baby she carried starting to cry amidst the sudden commotion.

"Shut up, will you!" Amara shushed the baby, then sprinted after Jasper, heading into the burning palace.

Jasper suddenly stopped, halfway to the entrance. A familiar figure stood before the palace door, staring down at him with a blank expression. Jasper's own face contorted in surprise. The wolfguards initially didn't notice the newcomer, but one male guard locked eyes with the figure and froze in his tracks.

"Hey, why'd you stop?" a female wolfguard asked.

The male guard didn't respond, his gaze fixed on the palace doors in utter shock.

"Hey!" the female guard shouted, then followed his gaze. Her eyes widened, her lashes fluttering in disbelief. "Is that…"

Jasper stood still, staring at the person in the distance. Amara stopped beside him, watching his emotions slowly build into a bitter fury as he stared at the figure.

"The palace hasn't changed much," the figure commanded, stepping down the stairs and onto the ground. His voice commanded immediate attention; all the wolfguards stopped throwing water, stopped using their powers, their eyes fixed on him.

"But now, it will be remembered as a piece of ancient history," the person added, his voice cold, a sly smile playing on his lips as he turned to look up at the castle.

"I never believed you were dead. I had a hunch that there'd be a day we'd see each other again, brother," Jasper commented coldly.

He turned, the sly smile still intact, his hands crossed over his chest, looking at Jasper. "Did you really? Well, then," he mocked.

"Where's my welcoming celebration?"

"I have high hopes for you, now that you've returned," Jasper replied.

Dmitri tilted his head, a cool smile and demeanor remaining, but he didn't speak.

"You! It was you, disgusting creature!" Amara burst forward, rushing towards him.

"Hi, we see each other again. I almost didn't see you," Dmitri mocked with a feigned surprised tone.

As Amara charged, she suddenly froze, mid-movement. She grunted, struggling to move, her body stiff, fighting to make her arms and feet respond.

"What the hell? What the fuck is going on?!" Amara yelled, frustrated. She looked at Dmitri, her expression furious. "What did you do?!" The green baby continued to cry, the chaotic situation escalating. Amara looked down at the baby in her arms.

"Amara, don't do anything hasty. Take the baby away first. Don't put that poor thing here."

A voice sparked Amara’s attention, echoing in her mind. A telepathic message, so sudden it stilled her thoughts, her very words. Slowly, her gaze drifted to Jasper, who was already looking at her, his neutral expression conveying a silent plea. Amara squinted, about to speak, but before she could.

“Man, leaving me out of the conversation,” Dmitri commented, a hint of playfulness in his voice. “That’s not polite.” As he spoke, he lowered his head and, in an instant flash, vanished into thin air, reappearing behind Amara. Dmitri was mid-air, aiming a powerful side kick at her back. Amara, stunned by his speed, was too slow to react. However, Jasper intercepted Dmitri mid-kick, his stern gaze freezing Dmitri's body instantly with his unique ability.

Dmitri’s eyes narrowed, feeling the sudden halt. He looked over at Jasper.

“Amara, go now!” Jasper ordered telepathically, his voice clear in her mind.

Amara grunted in annoyance. She wanted to fight, but she couldn’t. She looked down at the green baby in her arms, then reluctantly turned and fled the chaotic scene.

“Nice of you not to kill me this instant,” Dmitri commented, his disposition unbothered, his body still frozen.

Jasper remained silent, his long stare fixed on Dmitri as he gathered his thoughts, observing him for any potential attacks.

The woman remained silent, but her impatience began to fray her nerves. She stared at Lucas’s body, suspecting he might not be dead. He wasn't breathing, wasn't moving, and because of that, her attention quickly shifted to the surroundings.

“Come out, shitface!” she shouted, a rising panic in her voice, fueled by the maddening impatience of not finding the source of the sound.

“Tik-Tik-Tik-Tik.”

The woman froze, the sound now unmistakably loud. She couldn’t confirm who or where it was coming from

.

“Tik-Tik-Tik-Tik.” It continued its relentless rhythm.

Her face hardened, and she tightened her grip on her sword. She was ready, poised to strike anyone she saw without hesitation. Her gaze darted everywhere, her impatience replaced by a chilling calm.

“Tik-Tik-Tik-Tik.”

The woman ignored the persistent ticking, categorizing it as a threat. She simply waited for the being or whatever was making the sound to reveal itself.

“Have you wondered that death is not the last thing for someone to endure on the other side?”

The woman stopped, her eyes widening slightly. She spun around, instinctively looking at Lucas’s body. But he was still lifeless, unmoving, silent. She stared at him, then, with an angry step, she moved forward, raising her sword and positioning it to stab Lucas through his shoulders and back. She poised it without wasting a moment.

“Tik-Tik-Tik-Tik.”

That sound again. The woman stopped, her action halted by the persistent ticking. This time, it solidified her suspicion: Lucas might be alive. She couldn’t explain it.

“Hey, if you wanna pass on to the afterlife, don’t talk!” the woman shouted, kicking Lucas’s body repeatedly, venting her frustration. His lifeless form rolled forward with each kick. His face was pale and lifeless, devoid of any warmth.

“Tik-Tik-Tik-Tik.”

It continued again, annoying her to no end. She whipped her head around, searching for anyone or anything, desperate for answers.

“Where the fuck are you?” the woman muttered.

“Tik-Tik-Tik-Tik,” it repeated, again and again.

“I can’t take this anymore!” the woman screamed, spiraling into a berserk rage. She began to strike everything she saw: bushes, trees, flowers. Anything within her reach, she slashed and cut, acting recklessly as she screamed, trying to find an answer through sheer destruction.

After a minute, she stopped, exhausted from the excessive energy she’d expended. Her surroundings became barren, stripped of leaves, roots, and flowers, cleared to such an extent that pathways in different directions were now visible.

She tried to catch her breath, her head lowered.

“Tik-Tik-Tik-Tik.”

It continued, as usual. This infuriated the woman even more. She looked at Lucas’s lifeless body and made a decision.

“Tik-Tik-Tik-Tik.”

The woman approached Lucas, clutching her sword tightly, then stabbed it into his body, again and again, until she was satisfied. A sadistic, gleeful smile formed on her face as she continued to repeatedly stab Lucas’s lifeless body, chuckling terrifyingly in a soft tone.

“Have you wondered that death is not the last thing for someone to endure on the other side?” The same phrase from earlier repeated, making the woman stop what she was doing. She looked behind her, but no one was there. Angrily, she continued to stab Lucas.

As she stabbed, and as her last laugh escaped her lips, her head was, at that very moment, sliced clean off. Her head landed on the ground, her body slowly collapsing after it. The sword dropped from her grasp. Blood poured from the woman’s decapitated body, which, in a blink of an eye, fell lifelessly to the ground near Lucas’s unmoving form.

“Jasper!” Princess Delphine’s voice cut through the air, and with her, Eddie and several wolfguards rushed into the tense situation.

Jasper and Dmitri’s gazes snapped to her in unison. Delphine stared at Dmitri with a mixture of concern, disgust, and raw upset.

“You truly have gone mad,” Princess Delphine commented, her voice laced with disappointment.

Dmitri merely smirked, looking away for a moment before his gaze settled back on Jasper. “If we’re going to be judged, I concede that you’re the ruthless one,” he remarked, tilting his head.

Jasper met his stare, his wolf gaze remaining sharp and unyielding.

“If you’re planning to kill Jasper, I’ll kill you myself. Not just me, but everyone here,” Delphine threatened, her voice firm.

“See?” Dmitri added, a knowing glint in his eye.

“Your Majesty, hold on. We came here for help,” Eddie called out, stepping forward.

“Oh, hi, Eddie,” Dmitri noted, his voice suddenly cheerful. “Your hair looks nice.”

Eddie remained silent, pointedly refusing to look at Dmitri.

Suddenly, Jasper lunged, head-kicking Dmitri’s frozen body with a swift, powerful strike. Dmitri’s form was sent hurtling into the distance from the impact, causing the very ground to tremble momentarily. Everyone reacted, a slight jolt passing through them as they stared at Jasper and Dmitri, who now lay sprawled some distance away.

Meanwhile, Mina, Wilbert (carrying a pale but warm Catherine), and Barbara emerged from the palace. They hadn't used the main exit, instead opting for the back doors—their only chance of escape.

“Did you feel it?” Barbara commented, feeling the tremor beneath her feet.

“His Majesty,” Wilbert murmured, recognizing the sheer power behind the distant impact.

Wilbert, Barbara, and Mina exchanged silent glances, then focused on the back door, their path to safety.

“Wait, who is she again?” Barbara asked, looking at Catherine’s still form.

Mina remained silent, looking at Barbara for a moment before turning away. “Let’s head out first,” Mina interjected, diffusing the quiet tension.

Jasper’s gaze remained stern, a low growl rumbling in his chest as he waited for Dmitri’s next move.

Dmitri then leaped into the slightly overcast sky, muttering words as he fixed a serious gaze on Jasper. Large, scorching orange-red fireballs erupted from Dmitri’s back, encircling his head and shoulders. The wind suddenly grew heavy, blowing with a fierce speed that made the air itself hum. The clouds above turned a dull, ominous grey.

Delphine, Jasper, and everyone else watched in anticipation, a mixture of concern and anxiety gripping the majority.

Amara ran into the woods, stopping abruptly as she felt the air grow heavy and the wind whip around her with thick, intense speed.

“What the hell…” Amara muttered, looking up at the sky. She paused, sensing something, her expression turning serious as she looked down at the green baby in her arms. The baby was no longer crying, its gaze neutral as Amara cradled it. Amara held the baby closer, her protective instincts surging, remaining silent.

“Something’s wrong,” Amara said.

“I don’t like this feeling. I had this when…” Amara trailed off, her thoughts suddenly cut short by a flash of memory—the night her kind was massacred. She lowered her head, trying to dodge the haunting image,

repressing the emotions bubbling within her.

“That bastard,” Amara muttered, her voice laced with cold resentment.

“I’m going to get you and take your head off,” Amara whispered, fighting back tears of anger. Consumed by rage, she didn’t realize she was holding the baby tighter. The green baby let out soft, uncomfortable cries as it felt Amara’s unwitting vice-like grip.

“Yoohoo~.” A cheerful voice cut through Amara’s dark thoughts.

Amara spun her head toward the voice, letting out a loud hiss.

Lucas, who had been walking, stopped in his tracks, his eyes widening.

Amara’s hiss died in her throat. She tilted her head, her face still etched with anger as she tried to place him.

Lucas looked her up and down, then chuckled softly as he recognized her. His gaze then shifted to the green baby Amara was holding.

“Adopted?” Lucas asked playfully.

“I know now,” Amara said, her thoughts clicking into place. “You’re his brother.”

“Oh yeah? What’s my name then?” Lucas challenged, a mischievous glint in his eye.

Amara observed him, noticing the extensive blood on his face and clothes, which were nearly ripped and messy. His arms and face were covered in blood, yet there were no visible wounds, cuts, or scars. She was confused by his appearance—blood everywhere, but no apparent injury.

“What did you eat?” Amara asked, a hint of disgust in her voice.

“What?” Lucas replied, bewildered.

“A glutton maniac,” Amara muttered quietly.

“Huh?!” Lucas exclaimed, a disbelief smile spreading across his face.

Amara ignored him, turning and walking past him, gently cradling the green baby.

“Hey, where are you going?” Lucas called out, trying to follow her.

“Don’t follow me,” Amara said coldly, stopping in her tracks.

“Go to your direction, someone might need you there,” Amara advised blankly, then continued walking without another word.

Lucas stopped, remembering something important, but felt a pang of regret that he hadn't spoken with her more.

“What’s her name again? I know I saw her a thousand years ago.” Lucas thought, scratching his head.

.Lucas looked down at his arms, then gave himself a quick once-over. His clothes were shredded, and his face and body were splattered with blood—a lot of it. He touched his cheek, feeling the sticky warmth.

“I better clean up,” Lucas muttered, realizing the extent of the mess. It was going to take more than just a quick wipe-down.

Dmitri slowly extended a finger towards Jasper, and as he did, a colossal, scorching ball of blazing fire materialized, growing so vast it completely overshadowed Dmitri.

"Your Majesty!"

"Jasper!"

Delphine and Eddie, along with some wolfguards, shouted warnings, realizing the attack was aimed directly at him.

Before Jasper could even move, the fireball shot towards him.

"Water style shooter!" Jasper roared, opening his mouth wide and unleashing powerful streams of water to counter Dmitri's massive fireball. The collision caused a violent chemical reaction, the fire evaporating into thin air. Dmitri, undeterred, continued to unleash more fiery projectiles at Jasper, who met each one with his own torrents of water.

"We have to do something!" Delphine demanded, turning to the wolfguards and Eddie.

"But, Your Royal Highness…" Eddie interjected, hesitant.

"We can't let Jasper do all the work. We have powers; let's use them!" Delphine insisted, her voice firm.

The male and female wolfguards readily agreed, while Eddie remained silent, his gaze fixed on the escalating battle.

"What's the plan, Your Royal Highness?" a male wolfguard asked.

Delphine looked at him, then back at Jasper and Dmitri. "Shoot water at him, keep him distracted. I'll make my move at the perfect time."

"On it, Your Royal Highness!" the wolfguards chorused in unison.

Delphine began to move towards Jasper, keeping to the side as she eyed Dmitri. As the wolfguards prepared themselves, their commotion caught Dmitri's attention. He looked at them curiously.

"What are you planning to do, fools?" Dmitri muttered quietly, already adjusting his strategy. He formed a triangle with his hands and closed his eyes.

"For every breath that is present, I give order, as sovereign, to the land, evoke the—"

Jasper's eyes narrowed as he instantly grasped Dmitri's intention. He looked frantically at everyone. "Run!"

"Why? What is he doing?" Delphine shouted, momentarily stunned by Jasper's urgency.

"He's casting the Spell of Destruction! Go!" Jasper's voice rose to a near-shout.

"I'll handle this!" he declared, closing his eyes, about to begin his own counter-spell.

"—Evoke the deeper level of every pit of destruction from within, pour this very land from the order of the sovereign!"

Wilbert, still carrying Catherine, along with Barbara and Mina, ran towards where everyone else was, only to backpedal as they saw people scattering in fear and anxiety, running away from the palace.

"What is going on?" Mina muttered, witnessing the chaotic dispersal.

Barbara looked up at the figure in the sky, her eyes widening, unable to speak or process what she was seeing.

"It's him," Wilbert murmured, recognizing Dmitri.

Mina and Barbara stared at Dmitri in the sky, disbelief etched on their faces.

"Is he… turning into…" Barbara began, trailing off, unable to complete her thought.

After casting the spell, Dmitri opened his eyes with a sly smirk. His eyes glowed red, ancient markings like tattoos carved into his skin, and two crimson horns emerged from his head. His fingernails grew long and sharp, transforming into claws. He gazed in awe at his new appearance, examining his hands and body. A large, spiky tail lashed out from his back.

Everyone watched in shock and surprise as Dmitri transformed into a grotesque, powerful being; some were utterly speechless. Catherine slowly stirred in Wilbert's arms, her eyelids fluttering open.

She moaned, a tired expression on her face, her body heavy and fatigued.

After Dmitri's transformation, he seemed confused as to why his spell hadn't taken effect as quickly as he anticipated. Jasper was equally puzzled, but chose to act immediately while the spell remained dormant. Delphine, on the other hand, leaped high, one of her innate abilities, almost flying, closing the distance to Dmitri in an instant.

Dmitri looked at her, amused. "Neat. I thought you had nothing but a royal title and privileges, I suppose," Dmitri mocked.

"Your spell didn't work. Enough of this child's play," Delphine retorted, launching herself at him with a heavy side kick. Dmitri blocked it with his arm, completely unbothered.

Delphine immediately changed her attack, swinging another kick at his feet. Dmitri dodged it, stepping back, then formed his hand into a fist, which erupted in a large blue flame. She aimed it squarely at his face. Dmitri caught her fist, unaffected by the flames, as Delphine struggled to push it through to his face. The two grappled, one aiming to destroy, the other defending and counter-attacking.

“Ugh…” Catherine moaned, stirring back to consciousness.

Wilbert immediately looked down at her, hearing her voice. Mina’s attention also snapped to her, though Barbara, initially focused on the fierce battle, was a moment slower to react.

“You’re awake, Catherine,” Mina commented, relief evident in her tone.

Barbara shifted her gaze to Catherine in Wilbert’s arms, a confused expression on her face.

“Why… Why are we…” Catherine stammered, struggling to grasp her surroundings.

“Thank goodness you’re alive,” Wilbert expressed, genuine relief washing over him.

Barbara looked awkwardly at Mina, unsure what to say. Mina nudged Barbara subtly, urging her to speak.

“How are you, dear?” Barbara asked, a slight awkwardness in her voice as she looked at Catherine.

Catherine’s gaze shifted to Barbara, and she offered a friendly smile, nodding in acknowledgment. “I’m good, thanks.”

“The name’s Barbara,” she introduced herself.

No sooner had their introductions passed than Catherine’s body erupted in a brilliant, bright yellow light. Wilbert, Barbara, and Mina gasped, recoiling in shock and letting out slight screams. This sudden commotion drew the attention of everyone nearby. All eyes turned to Catherine and her group, watching in awe and surprise, backing away from the intense glow. Jasper, too, noticed, his head snapping towards the source of the blinding light.

Dmitri was distracted for a crucial second, his gaze drawn to the radiant burst. Delphine seized the opportunity, slamming her blue flame-infused fist into Dmitri. He grunted in pain, pushed back by the force. However, even as he was thrown, a new, ruthless thought solidified in his mind.

“So it’s you,” Dmitri snarled, irritation lacing his voice.

He retaliated, punching Delphine squarely in the face to push her away. Without hesitation, Dmitri charged, speeding back down towards Catherine.

Jasper noticed this, his eyes widening, and he began to run, faster and faster than before.

Catherine remained speechless, overwhelmed by the light emanating from her body. Her eyes met Dmitri’s, who was charging towards her with a cold, determined look. Catherine, Mina, Wilbert, and Barbara all recognized the threat and slowly backed away.

Dmitri’s speed was unimaginable. Just as he was moments from reaching Catherine, Jasper lunged, pushing Dmitri away with a powerful headbutt that sent him careening.

“Transportation Portal: Activate!” Jasper roared, reaching Catherine just in time and pressing his head close to hers. With that spell, both vanished in the blink of an eye.

“I ordered these silver chains to bind one’s soul and body,” he muttered.

Mina, Wilbert, and Barbara looked past Dmitri, their eyes widening as they noticed a familiar figure approaching. Suddenly, Dmitri screamed in pain, collapsing to his knees with a guttural grunt.

“Don’t let your guard down so easily~,” a familiar voice mocked playfully. “You went to all the trouble to dress up, but it seems this one is rather poetic.” He chuckled.

Dmitri turned, his expression blank but simmering with irritation, utterly unable to speak. The chain spell had rendered him too weak to even stand.

“Guards, get in here. He’ll behave,” Lucas commanded.

The male and female wolfguards entered as ordered. Lucas stared at Dmitri, then surveyed the surroundings—the aftermath of the fierce battle. He sighed deeply, a chuckle of annoyance escaping him as a memory resurfaced.

“We must take extensive measures to ensure the building project is completed safely, Your Majesty,” a confidant spoke formally, his voice echoing Lucas’s memory.

“Very well. I expect this project to be done before the upcoming grand ball,” a masculine voice, authoritative and familiar, agreed.

“We have noted that,” a master builder commissioner affirmed.

“After the war, the aftermath left not only the palace devastated but the waterfalls as well. The very line of water,” the confidant reported.

“Because of that, there’s one thing that needs to be done. We are now speaking for your permission,” the master builder commissioner formally reported.

A door swung open from the palace’s private meeting room. Lucas barged in, fully aware a meeting was in progress.

“Father. Can I speak to you in private?” Lucas requested.

“Lucas, what are you doing here? Didn’t I ask you to go hunt with your brothers?” the King said formally, his brow furrowed.

“Yeah, I know that,” Lucas bluffed, stepping further into the room. “This is important,” he emphasized, his voice firm.

“Lucas, I don’t have time for this. Go out now, and we’ll talk later,” the King ordered, looking away dismissively.

Lucas inhaled impatiently, rolling his eyes, remaining stubborn and defiant. “Fine, then I’ll tell you this now,” Lucas declared loudly.

“Lucas—”

“It’s about Dmitri,” Lucas stated coldly, cutting his father off.

The King stopped speaking, his gaze snapping back to Lucas, his expression surprised. The other people in the room remained quiet, the conversation now awkward and tense.

“If you’ll excuse us, sir,” the confidant said, rising from his chair. “I’ll leave you two be.” He signaled the master builder, and the two gentlemen walked to the door, leaving father and son alone.

The King shrugged, remaining silent for a moment, then swallowed hard as the atmosphere grew tense and dull.

“I know we should respect the dead, but…” Lucas began. “But I think Jasper is right.”

The King stood up, a narrowed, angry expression on his face. “What he sees is nothing but a nonsensical story. He’s far too emotional; it’s unneeded. His brother just died. But what I can’t accept is the fact that he’s making such a big thing out of it.” The King’s voice was upset.

“Father, listen…” Lucas argued, trying to remain calm.

“If he truly knows his brother as he claims to, he should know that as the future heir to the throne, the next King, he should understand that this should be left behind.” The King argued coldly. “Your brother died because of the war.” The King ended the conversation, his finality sharp.

Lucas stared at his father, then chuckled and shook his head in annoyance. After a moment of silence, he spoke again. “Fine, old man. Let’s leave it like that,” Lucas began. “And who knows, I might believe you one day.” With that, he turned and stormed off.

“This is not the end,” Dmitri said, breaking Lucas’s thoughts as he was being detained by the wolfguards who surrounded him. One of them cuffed him with a special metal restraint wrapped around his waist and hands, as the wolfguards forcibly made him stand.

“I’m not done with the show. Now that I know I can use that pretty little thing on the loose,” Dmitri said cunningly, a smirk playing on his lips as he looked at Lucas.

Dmitri was forcibly dragged away to a place where he could be locked up, the guards moving slowly but surely.

“I kind of like your goody-two-shoes persona more. It’s one of the things I admired about you,” Lucas joked playfully, trying to ease the tension.

Dmitri didn’t speak, staring at Lucas coldly as he was heavily and forcibly dragged further away from everyone. Many wolfguards walked alongside him, both for control and protection. Dmitri’s transformation slowly faded as he was taken away. He stopped looking back, annoyed by his outcome.

“Your Royal Highness!” Mina and Barbara called out, stepping forward.

“Barb and Mina,” Lucas acknowledged with a nod.

“His Majesty, he’s gone along with the woman,” Barbara reported worriedly.

“Gone? You mean he ran away like a teenage lone wolf?” Lucas muttered, confused, raising a brow.

“No, he used the transportation portal spell and now he’s transported to a different world, or worse,” Barbara shared what she had witnessed.

Lucas paused, looking away for a moment, enveloped in silence.

“I think we should go find them, sir,” Mina suggested.

“I also have a theory that they didn’t go too far,” Wilbert added, joining the conversation.

Lucas remained silent, listening intently.

“We can use it right now. The young woman… I believe she’s still not well,” Wilbert eagerly suggested.

“Wait, I’m confused. Who is she really, besides her name? Is she a relative of anyone here?” Barbara asked.

“No, she’s not,” Lucas answered. “Catherine is his wife.”

Barbara, Mina, and Wilbert slowly exchanged surprised, yet strange, glances as soon as Lucas said that.

“Now that my brother isn’t here, then…” Lucas said, a proud smirk forming on his face as he looked around, pondering something.

“This is the fun I need.”

Catherine and Jasper tumbled, landing in a heap on an unfamiliar sideways street, near what appeared to be a dumpster area, a literal dump point. They had been thrown from the top of the portal they’d just traversed, the impact so severe that both immediately passed out.

An hour later, Catherine awoke, sitting bolt upright. Her eyes fluttered open, adjusting to her surroundings. A sprawling, grimy street stretched before her, lined with dumpsters. She sniffed in disgust, the stench of urban refuse assaulting her senses. As she looked around, a creeping sense of familiarity settled over her.

“Where am I?” Catherine muttered, confused.

She scanned the scene—the streets, the passing vehicles, a faint resemblance to the Philippines. Standing up to confirm her suspicions, she walked forward, spotting a few people who unmistakably looked and sounded like Filipinos. A sudden realization dawned on her.

“Catherine.”

A voice spoke, startling her slightly. She turned to find Jasper back in his human form. He wore a dirty white shirt, loose black pants, and flat sandals. She looked at him, puzzled.

“How? Where… How did you find clothes?” Catherine asked, finally articulating her confusion.

“It doesn’t matter. I have done my duty now,” Jasper said, his voice calm. “You said you wanted to go home.”

“Home?” Catherine repeated, looking around again. Then it clicked. She was indeed back. The place she knew, the place she had grown up in.

“Your Majesty…” As she turned, she saw Jasper already walking away.

Catherine hurried after him. “Wait!” she called out.

Jasper paused, turning to face her.

“Hey, wait!” Catherine called out.

Jasper stopped and turned his head to look back at her.

“Earlier… do you know what happened to my body?” Catherine asked, her voice uncertain.

“I can’t give you an answer myself. I was going to ask you the same,” Jasper replied formally.

“And who was that, anyway?!” she demanded, the memory of them vanishing into thin air still fresh in her mind.

Jasper fell silent, his eyes shifting away as he crossed his arms.

“…My younger brother.”

Catherine blinked, her eyes widening in shock. The words sank in slowly, leaving her speechless.

“I’ll be heading home now. If you need my assistance, I’ll make my presence known,” he said formally, his expression neutral and composed.

"Before you go back, I just wanted to say…” Catherine began, her voice hesitant.

The two stood in silence for a moment, eyes locked as if waiting for the other to speak.

“Thank you,” Catherine finally said after gathering her thoughts.

Jasper held her gaze for a moment, then shifted his attention forward again.

“You’re right,” she murmured, reaffirming her silent agreement.

A moment of silence hung between them.

“Goodbye, Catherine,” Jasper said, offering a wave. He turned and continued walking.

Catherine nodded, silently watching him go. She saw Jasper disappear into thin air as he walked away.

“I’m back home…” Catherine murmured to herself.

“Does this mean…” she added, then, after a few more realizations, her voice grew louder.

“Amy! Aunt Cassie!” she exclaimed, and began to walk, a new purpose in her stride.

“Your Royal Highness!” a female wolf guard reported, approaching Lucas.

Lucas turned, greeting her with a nod.

“The Captain has asked if you’re willing to have a conversation with him,” the wolfguard inquired.

Barbara, Mina, and Wilbert listened, their eyes on Lucas.

“Oh, I gotta go,” Barbara said, excusing herself.

“Where?” Mina asked, looking at her.

“I have to find Sergei. That idiot ran off on his own,” Barbara explained, then quickly walked away.

“A conversation? Hmm, usually I just let my brother handle that. But I suppose I have time,” Lucas mused aloud, considering the request.

“After that, he’ll be taken to the cell room, sir. We have also prepared some binding spells to keep him locked down,” the female wolfguard reported.

“Lucas!” a feminine voice called out.

Lucas’s gaze shifted as he heard the familiar voice.

“Delphine, what a move you made up there,” Lucas commented, a slight smirk playing on his lips.

“Where has Jasper gone?” Delphine demanded, approaching closer.

“They said that he went off with a woman,” Lucas shared, shrugging.

“Ran off? No, no, I saw that he disappeared alone,” Delphine argued, her brow furrowed.

Lucas’s gaze flickered back to the female wolf guard. “I’ll come in a few minutes,” Lucas agreed, dismissing her.

“Thank you, sir,” the female wolf guard said, nodding and curtsying before turning and walking away.

Delphine looked after the retreating guard, then back at Lucas, demanding answers.

“He disappeared protecting someone,” Lucas replied sharply, his casual demeanor gone.

“Who?” Delphine asked, still doubting.

“Catherine. His little wife,” Lucas said plainly, shrugging it off as if it were common knowledge.

“Sir!” Wilbert and Mina exclaimed in unison, their voices filled with surprise.

“We have to go now,” Mina said, looking at Wilbert.

“Alright, I’ll see you when everything is stable,” Lucas said casually, dismissing them.

Mina and Wilbert then walked past Delphine and Lucas, heading away from the scene.

“Piss off.” Delphine responded, a hint of irritation in her voice.

“Ouch?” Lucas wondered playfully. “If you want the truth, ask His Majesty when he’s back,” Lucas advised, then walked past her, leaving her to ponder his words.

Delphine turned around as she stared at Lucas’s back, irritation flickering in her eyes. But as she lowered her head, an uneasy feeling crept in, her mind replaying his words.

"Is that asshole drunk… or am I just overthinking this?" she muttered to herself.