CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE: DISPLACEMENT

Bright moonlight poured over the forest canopy as three fast-moving figures darted between the trees. They ran swiftly on foot, weaving low beneath enemy sightlines. Of the trio, two moved with natural ease, Spirits by blood, blessed with strength and speed.

The third was only human.

And yet, she kept pace without breaking a sweat.

“I’m impressed. Truly,” said Leo, glancing back with a grin. “I’ve never seen a mere human match our speed. What’s your secret, little lady?”

Soft laughter bubbled up behind him.

“Underestimating humans, are we?” Rinda teased, pointing proudly to the sleek black devices strapped around her ankles. “These babies are my secret.”

Her grin widened. “Baron built them. Genius inventor, that one. Became world-famous after creating the first functional portal device at just fifteen. Everyone wanted a piece of his brilliance. In the end, he chose to vanish, living in isolation where barely anyone could find him.”

She surged ahead effortlessly, her speed keeping pace with the Spirits beside her. Then, noticing the quiet Prince lagging slightly behind, Rinda raised an eyebrow.

“Hey,” she called over her shoulder, “what’s eating you? You look like you just swallowed a bug.”

The Spirit Prince’s scowl deepened. Her words snapped him back to the present.

“None of your damn business, peasant!”

“Jeez. Chill, would you?” Rinda huffed. “If it weren’t for Lord Eden’s strict orders not to strangle you, I swear I’d have done it by now.”

Makai did not reply. His thoughts drifted elsewhere, back to the meeting in Eden not long ago.

***

“What is the meaning of this?!” Prince Makai slammed a fist on the table, fury radiating from his voice.

“It’s exactly as it appears,” Lord Eden replied calmly, sipping his tea.

“I’ve received multiple reports from trusted sources,” the Lord continued. “When you piece them together, it makes perfect sense. How did the Spirits manage to cross into our world without succumbing to berserker rage? They used portals.”

He raised one elegant finger. “Not just any portal. Transporting an entire army would require more than one. The knowledge to construct such a system is rare.”

“Then who built it? And where did they get the portal?” Makai demanded.

“That is what we intend to find out,” Eden said. “Which is why I have brought in the man who invented it.”

Knock. Knock.

“Come in.”

The door creaked open. A scruffy man in his mid-thirties stepped inside, blond hair sticking out in every direction, stubble shadowing his jaw. A worn white shirt clung to his frame beneath a lab coat, paired with simple black trousers. Thick glasses magnified his already wide eyes.

Rinda’s voice exploded across the chamber.

“What the hell? Baron?! What’s he doing here?”

“Oh?” Leo asked, amused. “You two know each other?”

“Know is an understatement,” Rinda snapped. “I nearly broke my neck trying to track this lunatic down. How did you drag him out of his cave?”

“That, my dear,” Lord Eden said with a faint smirk beneath his mask, “is the privilege of being a Lord.”

He clapped his hands together. “Now that everyone is here, let us begin. Baron, take any seat you like.”

Baron moved stiffly toward an empty chair, carefully avoiding Rinda’s death glare. He had been dodging her for weeks. When she barged into his cave, his literal self-dug home, he nearly fainted, convinced she was some madwoman bent on destruction.

Even after she presented Lord Eden’s warrant, Baron remained wary. Despite her size, Rinda had always been a terror to him.

Now seated opposite her, with her glare boring into his soul, Baron was sweating profusely and doing everything in his power not to meet her eyes.

“Baron,” Lord Eden said smoothly, “would you mind explaining the portal you once built?”

“Ah, yes. Of course,” Baron stammered. “Roughly twenty years ago, under direct request from Master Oracle Khuza, I created a man-made teleportation portal. It was designed for emergency deployment across all kingdoms, meant for floods, earthquakes, and evacuations. Its sole purpose was to save civilian lives.”

“Most people supported the idea,” he continued, “except one man, Lord Ranfel. He opposed it entirely. Claimed it was unsafe and feared complications during transport.”

“Fair,” Leo admitted with a nod. “Teleportation requires precision, especially at scale.”

“Exactly. That is why the portal required a stabilising core. A rare gem known as the Ulliya Gemstone,” Baron said. “Few even know it exists. It is stronger than diamond, resistant to extreme heat, and capable of sustaining prolonged magical output.”

He frowned deeply. “If only…”

“If only what?” Makai snapped.

“If only the portal still existed,” Eden replied grimly. “It was stolen years ago.”

“What?!” everyone but Baron exclaimed.

“Don’t tell me,” Rinda growled, eyes narrowing. “That bastard Ranfel stole it.”

“That would be premature,” Eden replied. “We never found evidence tying him directly to the theft. The man despised the portal and treated Baron with contempt, but when we raided his estate, it was spotless.”

He sighed. “Ranfel threatened war if we entered his lands again without proof. The investigation went cold.”

Baron groaned. “I don’t understand why he would steal it. He hated it. Without the Ulliya Gemstone, the portal is useless.”

“Unless,” Makai murmured.

“Yes, Your Highness?” Baron asked.

“Unless he never intended to use it,” Makai said. “What if he is holding it as leverage? Blackmail.”

Leo raised a brow. “An interesting theory.”

“But who would he blackmail?” Rinda asked. “Everyone hates him.”

“Perhaps not as much as King Lewis XIII,” Eden said quietly.

Leo chuckled. “Haven’t heard that name in ages. How’s the old goat?”

“He’s still himself,” Eden replied, “but since the Spirit invasion near Eden, he’s grown… nervous.”

“Suspicious,” Makai muttered.

“Very suspicious,” Rinda echoed.

“That’s why,” Eden said, steepling his fingers, “I’m assigning you three a mission. Actually, two. First, investigate Luyas. Then head south to Aquarius. The second can wait. But the first may reveal more than you expect. And perhaps even save your kingdom.”

***

Leo slowed his pace just slightly, allowing the human girl trailing behind to keep up. Even with the boosting devices strapped to her ankles, he knew that no human could truly match the speed of Spirits, at least not without help.

“I still can’t believe Lord Eden and the Master Oracle agreed to send you of all people with us on this mission,” Rinda said, her tone hovering between disbelief and irritation.

“No offence to Lord Eden,” she added, “but if even the Master Oracle approved this, then something bigger must be going on. Otherwise, why pair me with two Spirits? Especially when we’re fighting Spirits?”

Leo gave her a sidelong glance but let her continue.

“‘All of us want to uncover the truth, but we must not look away with blind eyes. When it comes to Spirit World affairs, it’s not solely our burden to bear. And since we share the same goal and destination, why not work together?’ That’s what Lord Eden said when proposing the idea,” she continued. “It makes sense from your perspective. History’s written by your side. So to you, we’re the enemy.”

She paused, thoughtful. “But what really puzzles me is why the Lord sent us to the Forbidden Forest instead of directly to the castle. I’ve been wondering about that since we left Eden. Something tells me… we’re meant to find something here.”

She turned her head. “How are you holding up, Prince?”

Makai did not answer. He simply surged forward, overtaking them both.

Leo chuckled warmly. “Now, now. That’s not very nice.”

***

After what felt like an eternity of running, the trio arrived at the edge of the Forbidden Forest. Rinda rushed ahead, dropped to one knee, and began sweeping her hands across the dirt, searching with practised precision.

The two Spirits watched, puzzled.

Before they could ask, she spoke. “There’s a hideout I’ve been using for the last two months during my lookout mission on Luyas. It’s hidden behind these massive rocks. See the poisonous vines? They’re real, but they’re also a decoy.”

Her fingers brushed something smooth and familiar. She dug in, uncovering a camouflaged handle buried in the earth. With a swift press of the red button embedded at the top, a hidden door emerged, lifting just enough to reveal a narrow stairway descending underground.

“What in the world…?” Makai blinked in disbelief.

“I told you Baron was a genius,” Rinda said smugly. “Now you’re about to see just how brilliant he really is.”

She descended into the tunnel, the others following. The iron door sealed itself behind them and vanished entirely.

Once inside, Rinda keyed in a passcode on a wall panel. With a soft beep, a set of sliding doors opened to reveal a well-lit interior. She strode in confidently, her boots echoing against the floor as she flicked on the overhead switch.

A soft click, and the room burst to life with light.

Both Spirits winced, shielding their eyes. When their vision adjusted, their jaws dropped.

Even Makai, usually aloof, could not help but gape.

The space looked like a cross between a mad scientist’s lab and a rogue inventor’s dream den. A massive monitor dominated one wall, flanked by two smaller screens mounted above a broad steel-blue worktable cluttered with tools, open tubes of chemicals, and stacks of crumpled blueprints.

Chalkboards and whiteboards lined another wall, covered in strange symbols, diagrams, and frenzied handwriting. Bookshelves leaned against the far side, several of their contents spilled across the floor. In one corner, a red couch sat unmade, a blanket tossed over its back haphazardly.

It was cramped, chaotic, and utterly brilliant.

“Pardon the mess,” Rinda said. “I didn’t expect guests. Planned to clean it after the mission. Baron would have a heart attack if he saw it like this. He’s a neat freak, despite everything.”

“Little lady,” Leo asked, still gazing in awe, “this Baron… does he have an actual name?”

Rinda chuckled. “Funny thing. No one knows. He just goes by ‘Baron.’ Sounds fancy, huh?”

She crossed the room and picked up a small portable gadget from the desk. “He built this whole underground bunker while doing experiments around here a few years ago.”

Leo gave a low whistle. “Colour me impressed.”

“Of course,” Rinda added, tapping rapidly on the device, “he’s also got the social skills of a rock. Doesn’t talk to anyone unless it’s business. Barely leaves his cave. People call him a freak behind his back, but most of them don’t realise half their daily tech exists because of his blood, sweat, and borderline madness.”

She paused, then crouched and retrieved two scrolls that appeared from a hidden floor compartment. She laid them out on the ground.

The first was a large, intricate diagram of a man-made portal, complete with annotations, sketches, and energy flow patterns.

Leo knelt beside her. “How’d you meet him anyway?”

“Work,” she replied. “The Elders in Islez sent me to collect one of his new inventions for the village. Found him by chance. But when he moved away without notice, that’s when I wanted to snap my own neck trying to find him again.”

Leo laughed. “He must’ve had his reasons.”

Makai, silent as ever, began scanning the portal diagram. His eyes narrowed, lips moving slightly as he whispered under his breath, repeating his guardian’s teachings.

Meanwhile, Rinda unrolled the second scroll, a detailed map of Luyas.

“Alrighty,” she declared. “Got what I needed. Let’s head out. We can talk more on the way.”

***

When they stepped outside and headed further north, a distant rumble echoed through the trees, the unmistakable clash of steel and screams from a battlefield not far off.

The trio picked up their pace, sprinting deeper into the Forbidden Forest and weaving through twisted roots and fog-laced branches. Leo gave a light cough, steadying his breath.

“Your friend is certainly talented, I’ll give him that,” he said, glancing sideways at Rinda. “But I have to ask, where exactly are we headed, little lady?”

Rinda slowed down and turned slightly, falling into a more conversational stride.

“Three months ago, when the Spirits attacked Andania, something felt… off,” she began. “Like, how did they even get here? And why now, out of the blue? It just didn’t sit right with me.”

She glanced over her shoulder. “Apparently, I wasn’t the only one who noticed. When the reports reached the Master Oracle and Lord Eden, they also questioned how Spirits crossed over without going berserk from crossing the Red Line. Even if they forced their way in, there were too many of them. That kind of invasion should have torn the veil open.”

“So…” Leo prompted gently, “you’re saying it had to be an inside job?”

“Exactly. Lord Eden reached out to the Elders in Islez and asked if anyone could investigate. Since most of the villagers were busy helping Andania recover, and I’d just gotten back from a simple mission, the Elders picked me.”

She folded her arms. “And what I discovered later? You wouldn’t believe it.”

Leo smiled. “Try us.”

“First,” she said, lifting a finger, “there’s a secret tunnel beneath the castle. It links directly to an abandoned well in this forest. No one knows how long it’s been there. The tunnel’s deep, narrow, and pitch-black. I would have been stuck if it weren’t for Baron’s gadgets. They’re insane, by the way. Absolute life-savers.”

“And?” Makai asked, tension sharpening his tone. “What did you find?”

“At the end of the tunnel, there was a guarded hallway. And not just any guards. Lord Ranfel’s men. Tight security, like they were protecting something sacred.”

She took a breath. “I got a glimpse before nearly blowing my cover. It was Baron’s portal. The missing portal.”

“WHAT?!” Makai spat, stopping in his tracks.

“Please, Your Highness,” Leo soothed, raising a hand. He turned to Rinda. “Are you absolutely certain? The portal Baron created twenty years ago? Not a replica, not another model?”

Rinda scoffed, clearly offended. “I know what I saw, old man. That portal’s design is one of a kind. There are no other portals in existence. It was his. No doubt about it.”

“My apologies, little lady. I only asked to be sure,” Leo said gently, though his gaze turned thoughtful.

Rinda huffed, tapping her foot impatiently.

“If you knew where it was, why didn’t you report it earlier?” Makai demanded.

“Oh sure,” she retorted, rolling her eyes, “because I’d definitely announce, ‘Hey, I found the missing portal!’ in front of a bunch of strangers. And two Spirits, no less. You weren’t exactly confirmed allies back then. What if you were spies? What do you think would have happened to us?”

Makai narrowed his eyes but said nothing.

Leo stepped forward, diffusing the tension. “Well, now that we’ve agreed to work together, you’ll have our full support.” He glanced at the prince. “Isn’t that right, Your Highness?”

“Feh.” Makai turned away, crossing his arms. “Enough talk. Let’s get this done, so we can return to our real mission.”

***

Dusk had turned the skies a deep, heavy grey, casting its mournful shade over the ravaged lands of Luyas.

The battlefield was a graveyard of the fallen, soldiers and Spirits alike strewn across blood-soaked ground. In the command zone, Lord Eden was buried deep in war briefings within a small, heavily guarded tent. The air outside was tense with strategy and steel.

Beyond the secure perimeter, nestled within the outer edge of the Forbidden Forest, three shadows halted near thick undergrowth, crouching silently beneath a canopy of leaves. They had stopped a few miles earlier to scout.

Spirits were everywhere, roaming in full war gear, their family crests emblazoned on shields, blades glinting under the dimming light. At the entrance to the deeper forest stood a full battalion. Rows of Spirit soldiers guarded the fractured gate like sentinels, weapons at the ready. Behind them, hundreds more waited for the command to strike.

Perched high on a tree branch, Rinda adjusted her binoculars and let out a hushed sigh.

“No good,” she muttered. “There are way more soldiers here than yesterday. No way we’re sneaking through now.”

Leo narrowed his eyes. “Is there another way in?”

“There was,” Rinda replied. “Last time I came through here, this route was unguarded. That’s how I slipped in. But now? We’d be wasting time and lives fighting our way through. Lord Eden said we only have two hours before the barrier activates.”

“Perhaps,” said a voice behind them, “I can be of help.”

The trio whirled around instantly. Two figures in sleek black uniforms stood atop a branch, half-masked and utterly unreadable.

“Who the hell are you?” Rinda hissed, reaching for her weapon.

“Who we are isn’t important,” said the shorter figure. “But if you wish to pass, I can clear the path.”

Leo’s voice dropped to a whisper as he leaned toward Makai. “Prince. These are the Queen’s agents. One of Tal’s Orders. Be on guard.”

“We’re busy here. Buzz off,” Rinda snapped.

The shorter masked man tilted his head in amusement. Without a word, he raised his hand and snapped his fingers.

The trio instinctively held their breath.

Silence.

Then screams.

Rinda peeked through the leaves and gasped.

The entire front line of Spirit soldiers was now surrounded by thousands of razor-thin, floating needles, glinting like silver death in the fading light.

Pink eyes flicked back toward the masked figure. He snapped again.

The needles launched.

There were no second chances. In a blink, the soldiers fell one by one, drowned in their own blood. The clearing was painted in death.

Makai’s emerald eyes widened. The air stank of blood. His throat tightened.

For the first time in a long time, he felt suffocated.

“Who are you?” he growled, voice low and rough.

“Who I am doesn’t matter,” came the calm reply. “You wanted through. The path is open. What are you waiting for?”

“We never asked for your help!” Rinda spat. “We could have gotten through without slaughtering them!”

“No,” the masked man replied coldly. “This was faster. And you would have had to kill them anyway if you got caught. Better move. Time’s running out.”

“You… you arrogant freak!” A hand clamped firmly over Rinda’s mouth before she could explode further.

Leo sighed. “As much as I hate to say it, the man’s right. We’ve got a mission to finish.” He nodded toward the masked figure.

“Thank you. You’ve saved us time. That’s all I’ll say.”

Gripping Rinda’s shoulder, he guided her away from the scene. Makai followed silently, not sparing the masked intruders a single look.

***

The trio reached the abandoned well without further interference. It was exactly where Rinda had left it, overgrown with moss and sand, untouched.

“Good. They didn’t tamper with it.”

Rinda knelt beside the stone. As her fingers brushed its surface, a projected screen shimmered into view.

“What in the world is that?” Leo asked.

“It’s called a touch screen. It lets you interact with mid-air displays,” Rinda said casually as she entered the code. “One of Baron’s newest toys.”

The screen beeped. A soft hum followed, and the light vanished.

“Incredible,” Leo murmured. “His tech might even rival ours. I’d love to see more of it someday.”

“Well then, shall we?” Rinda smirked.

“Ladies first,” Leo offered with a bow.

Rinda jumped into the well and vanished. Makai followed without a word. Leo was the last to descend.

They landed safely in under a minute.

To the Spirits’ surprise, the underground passage was not shrouded in darkness but gently lit by glowing blue stones embedded in the walls.

“From here, it’s a straight path,” Rinda said, already walking ahead. “We’ll eventually reach a large iron door. No clue if it’s still guarded, so keep your eyes sharp, boys.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

They moved deeper into the underground corridor, each step measured and alert. Though there were no visible signs of Spirits or Luyas Knights, none of them dared lower their guard. Not here, in enemy territory.

After five minutes of cautious movement, they reached a large iron-clad door that stood surprisingly unguarded.

“Odd,” Leo remarked, eyeing the thick structure. “You’d think a portal this significant would be protected.”

“They did have an entire army posted outside,” Rinda said dryly. “And let’s not forget, our creepy little friend handled that for us. I suppose they thought no one could make it this far.”

“Ready?” she asked, glancing at the two Spirits.

They nodded in sync.

“On one, two, three!”

CREEEAK.

The heavy door groaned as they pushed it open with brute force.

Inside stood two humans, scientists judging by their white coats and identical square-framed glasses.

One was tall, pale, and mature-looking, with bowl-cut grey hair to match his tired eyes. The other was shorter, slightly tanned, and younger, his dark crew-cut hair stiff as though it had not been washed in days.

Both men froze.

Eyes wide. Faces pale. Terror written plain.

Rinda squinted. Her brows furrowed. “You two?!”

Leo blinked. “Little lady?”

Before anyone could stop her, Rinda slugged the older scientist square in the face. He crumpled to the floor, blood dripping from his nose. She turned, fist raised again, but this time Leo caught her arm mid-swing.

“Easy, little lady!”

Rinda struggled against his grip, but he held firm.

“I can’t believe this!” she snapped. “These two traitors were Baron’s assistants! After everything he did for them, this is how they repay him? No wonder everything made sense now!”

The scientist she had punched staggered to his knees, clutching a handkerchief to his bleeding nose.

“We would never betray Baron! Honest!” he stammered.

“So you’re the ones behind the missing portal,” Makai said coldly, drawing his blade. “You let the Spirits into our world. You assisted in initiating the war.”

“Your Highness,” Leo said calmly. “Let’s hear them out.”

“Y-Your Highness?” the younger scientist choked. “Y-You’re Prince Makai from the Spirit Realm?!”

He dropped to his knees at once, trembling.

“Please, Your Royal Highness! We’d never meant to betray Baron. We were forced! The Spirit Queen sent someone named Tal. He’d kidnapped our families and threatened to kill them if we didn't cooperate. We had no choice in this matter. Please believe us!”

Leo gently placed a hand on his shoulder and guided him back to his feet. The man’s eyes were swollen from crying.

“We’re here under Lord Eden’s orders,” Leo said. “Our goal is to retrieve Baron’s portal and send the Spirit army back to our realm. We’ll do everything in our power to return your families and ensure no harm befall on them. You have to help us end this war.”

The two scientists exchanged glances, still visibly shaken. After a moment, they nodded.

“We’ll help,” said the younger one.

“Good,” Rinda huffed, arms crossed. “But don’t think you’re off the hook yet. I’ve got my eye on both of you.”

The taller man extended a hand. “I’m Jake. This is Henry. Follow me,” Jake said. “We’ll take you to the portal.”

***

“So tell me how you got involved with the Spirit Queen. And explain how the portal actually works.”

Henry cleaned his glasses and sighed. “It started a few months ago. The details are fuzzy. Jake and I were walking home from a bar after a long shift when we were ambushed. Knocked out cold.”

“When we woke up, we were in some freezing lab. Chained to metal slabs. They forced green fluid down our throats, some kind of serum.” Jake added.

“Nasty,” Rinda muttered, her face twisting in disgust.

Henry nodded stiffly. “Next thing we knew, we were in this room. Waiting for orders. No explanation. Just obedience.”

“They’d brainwashed you,” Makai said, in a statement. Leo cast a sympathetic glance their way.

“But how does the portal work?” Rinda asked.

Jake brightened slightly. His inner scientist surfacing. “It’s quite simple. With two Ulliya gemstones, you can open a portal to anywhere in this world instantaneously. But to open a portal to another dimension, the Spirit World, you need a gemstone from that world too.”

He gestured toward a nearby table where two gemstones rested. One was a vibrant, translucent blue. The other was darker, tinged with black and green.

“Hey,” Rinda said, pointing. “Those are Ulliya gemstones, right? Why are they different?”

Henry stepped forward. “Good eye. The lighter one is from our world. The darker one is from the Spirit Realm.”

“Place them both inside this loop here,” Jake explained as he lifted the gemstones and inserted them into a red ring at the heart of the massive portal device. “And there you have it. The portal activates.”

Clunk. Whirrrrr.

A low hum vibrated through the chamber.

The ground trembled.

“W-What’s happening?!” Rinda cried.

“The portal!” Henry shouted.

With a mechanical groan, the device began to rise. Gears turned as the platform lifted upward, fitting neatly into a circular shaft in the ceiling.

The red loop glowed. Power surged. Light cracked through the room like lightning made of glass.

The portal awakened.

***

Flashes of light tore through the evening sky, radiating from the towers of the castle. At the gates, another portal emerged, identical to the one from the underground lab.

For a brief, breathless moment, the Spirit World revealed itself.

Shimmering. Alien. Undeniably real.

The air changed the moment the portal fully stabilised. It did not roar, nor did it explode.

Instead, it pulled.

A subtle distortion rippled outward from the glowing ring, warping the light around it like heat rising from stone. Grass flattened in slow waves. Loose debris scraped toward the opening, dragged inch by inch across the blood-soaked ground.

The Spirits felt it first.

Several staggered mid-charge, boots skidding as if the earth itself had betrayed them. Their breaths hitched. Claws dug into the dirt. Muscles strained against an invisible tide that tugged at something deeper than flesh.

Their essence.

A low, collective growl rippled through their ranks as unease spread.

“Hold the line!” one Spirit commander roared.

Too late.

The pull intensified, not violent, but relentless. Like being caught in a river that did not surge, only endured. Those closest to the portal struggled to turn away, limbs trembling as their balance faltered, senses screaming under the sudden strain of forced transition.

Behind them, the Three League Army advanced.

Not as a wave. But as a funnel.

Shield-bearers moved first, locking together in narrowing arcs that closed off escape routes. Spears followed, angled low and wide, not to kill but to deny space. Archers fired in measured volleys, not into the mass, but along the flanks, driving any Spirit who broke formation back into the press.

There was no room to retreat. No space to regroup.

Each step forward compressed the Spirit lines, forcing them closer to the distortion that clawed at their equilibrium. Panic spread, not from pain, but from loss of control. Some Spirits cried out as their bodies rebelled against the unnatural pull, veins faintly alight beneath their skin as restrainers strained to stabilise the sudden displacement.

Crossing willingly was one thing.

Being forced was another.

One Spirit dropped to his knees, clutching his head as vertigo seized him. He tried to crawl sideways, only for a shield to slam down before him, barring escape. Another lashed out blindly, only to be struck from behind and driven forward, breath torn from her lungs.

The portal answered.

As the first Spirit was dragged across the threshold, the air cracked sharply. His cry stretched, distorted, then cut off as his body vanished into the light. The portal’s surface rippled, flaring briefly as it absorbed him.

Those watching hesitated.

They knew that sensation. The portal did not kill. But it did not forgive either.

Crossing under force shattered orientation, scattered units, and tore command apart in an instant. On the other side awaited disarray, pain, and the long struggle to regain control.

The choice became brutally simple.

Advance into chaos, or be crushed where they stood.

The army did not slow down.

Step by step, shield by shield, the Spirits were driven backward, swallowed in bursts of light and distortion. Each crossing sent a tremor through the field, the portal pulsing brighter as it emptied the battlefield of its invaders.

Until the light dimmed and the Spirit armies were gone.

***

Deep underground, Rinda shielded her eyes from the blinding light. Jake and Henry ducked instinctively, covering their faces.

Only Leo and Makai remained steady, eyes locked on the vortex before them.

Makai stood frozen, unmoving, his gaze hollow. It had been so long since he had left the Spirit World.

Chasing shadows. His only family.

Makai had once believed finding her would bring clarity, perhaps even healing. But she had turned her back on him, so utterly and so completely.

Why?

Why did you say those things to me? When I needed you the most… when I had no one left… when everything else was falling apart.

A flash of memory struck like lightning.

Rain poured. He stood in the storm, soaked and trembling.

A younger Mika turned away. Walked off into the night without looking back.

Makai’s fists clenched. His jaw tightened.

“Mission accomplished,” Leo’s voice cut through the silence, snapping Makai out of his thoughts.

He nodded curtly.

“The two of you should come with us,” Leo added, addressing the scientists. “Lord Eden will want to hear this himself. Don’t worry. After hearing your story, I’m confident he’ll prioritise your families’ safety.”

***

With the mission a success, the group, now five strong, emerged from the laboratory and made their way to Lord Eden’s command tent. Despite the chaos of war and the mountain of decisions weighing on him,

Lord Eden spared time to personally meet the scientists. He listened closely as Jake and Henry recounted their ordeal, supported by Rinda, Leo, and even Prince Makai. Once finished, Lord Eden ordered his guards to escort the scientists to a nearby tent for medical checks and warm food.

“Thank you,” Henry said, his eyes bright with relief. “Thank you, Sir Leo. Miss Rinda. And especially you, Your Royal Highness. If not for you, we’d still be trapped down there. I promise we’ll help however we can after we’ve rested.”

Then, without hesitation, Henry grinned and slapped Makai hard on the back.

“Chin up, Prince! You’ve got three of Fulaina’s best scientists on your side now! Once we get some sleep, we’ll build you gadgets so good they’d make Baron jealous!”

Jake rolled his eyes and gently pulled Henry aside.

“To be honest,” Jake began, his voice quieter, “I never imagined I’d be standing here, speaking with Spirits, let alone someone from the royal family. But today, I changed my perspective.”

He turned to Makai. “For centuries, humans have feared Spirits. Not because of what they are, but because of what we don’t understand. Yes, there are dangerous ones. But there are also good ones. Just like you two.”

Jake’s eyes softened. “You showed me kindness today. I may be an old fool, but if people could see what I saw… maybe they’d stop fearing. Maybe they’d start hoping.” He hesitated, then added gently, “Your father, King Ferid, was beloved in this world. I remember him. If you carry even a piece of his will, Prince, then you’re already worthy of being his heir.”

Makai’s voice was low. “But I’m not the one who inherits the throne. My sister is.”

Jake smiled kindly. “You don’t need a crown to lead, Your Highness. I see fire in your eyes. The kind that wants to end this war, not prolong it. The kind that builds futures.”

With that, he gave a respectful nod and followed the guards to the medical tent.

Makai stood slightly apart, arms folded. He listened, silent and unreadable. Then suddenly, he swayed.

A sharp pulse tore through his skull. He staggered.

Leo turned, alarm flashing in his eyes. “Prince?!”

The world tilted. Everything went black.

***

Heavy footsteps crushed the dried leaves scattered across the forest floor, drawing the attention of two figures cloaked in black who stood guard at the northern gate of the Forbidden Forest.

One of them, a woman, stepped forward and saluted the towering newcomer. A few paces behind her stood her Captain.

“Tal,” The Captain said, his voice touched with dry amusement. “You came alone. That’s rare. Where’s Sage?”

“On a mission,” Tal replied coolly. “More importantly, do you require something? I’m quite busy, as you can see.”

The Captain did not respond. He simply snapped his fingers.

In an instant, something dropped from the treetops. A body hung upside down, limbs tightly bound by living branches.

Sage.

His mask had been torn away, revealing youthful features. Pale skin. Jaw-length blond hair cut straight across his forehead. Gold-brown eyes stretched wide with fear.

“T-Tal!” he cried. “Please forgive me!”

The woman approached him, one hand resting on her hip, the other wagging a finger like a scolding mother.

“Now, now,” she said lightly. “Whose fault is it that you’re hanging here like this, hmm?”

She turned back toward Tal, her playful tone vanishing without warning. “Care to explain why I found your partner firing arrows at the Lord’s daughter? More specifically, at the Spirit Princess?”

Tal did not flinch. He turned his head toward Sage, who still dangled in silence.

“Sage. I take it you failed your mission,” Tal said evenly. “How very disappointing.”

The Captain’s voice cut in, cold and precise. “ I know exactly what you were planning. I have mentioned before; I do not approve of your actions.”

He took a step forward. “Let me remind you of something. I may have appointed you as the leader of this operation. I can revoke that title just as easily.” He raised his hand and snapped his fingers.

The branches released their hold. Sage crashed headfirst into the forest floor with a grunt, rolling weakly onto his side.

For a moment, Tal said nothing. Then he spoke, his voice low and bitter.

“So it’s fair when you kill the Spirits, but not when I try to start a war? That sounds hypocritical, doesn’t it?”

“I killed those Spirits to clear a path for the Prince. It was a necessity, not indulgence. War was never part of the plan,” the Captain replied sharply. “Have you forgotten why we are doing this?” His voice dropped, darker now.

“We swore to aid that wretched Spirit Queen for one reason only. Do not let your thirst for blood cloud our mission. We have retrieved what we came for. Now we step back and let the Queen deal with the fallout. Understood?”

A long pause followed.

Tal finally bowed deeply, one hand pressed to his chest.

“As you wish, Captain Zero,” he said.

“Lisa. Let’s go.”

Lisa nodded. She glanced at Sage, who was already pushing himself upright and brushing dirt from his clothes.

“Oh, Captain,” she sang lightly. “What should we do with him?”

“Leave him.”

“Okay. Hey, wait up,” she chirped, hurrying after the Captain as they vanished into the forest without a sound.

Tal watched them disappear. His face remained unreadable, though a faint crease settled between his brows.

Moments later, Sage staggered to his side.

“T-Tal… Forgive me,” he said quietly. “I failed you.”

“You’ll redeem yourself,” Tal replied calmly. His eyes never left the darkened path ahead. “We have work to do.”