Akihiko, in his wolf form, sat in front of me on the floor. "No...Yes! Why are you in your wolf form? Tiana has already used her power on us, now you'll be stuck in that form forever."

"Easier to protect you." He got on my bed and rested his snout on my lap. "I cannot let you face this alone, we are in this together."

"But I cannot drag you in my mess." I gently stroked his head.

"It's not your own mess to handle, alone. This is my mess as well now." I stopped stroking his head as my mind wandered. I cannot simply walk in and challenge Tiana, I need to have a plan.

Akihiko got up and jumped off the bed. "Before making any plans, you need to eat. Your mother has cooked your favourite pancakes for you. Come." I sighed, I should have known that Akihiko would know what is going on in my head.

"You could always read my mind it you lived there." He grinned back at me.

"I have scouted the area, the thunderstorm last night has caused quite a damage. Despite being cloudy this morning, it might not rain." We walked into the living room part of the cabin, the fireplace was lit.

I nodded. "Sealing her in a room or chair won't work. We need to get that crown in order to weaken her." 

"Knocking the crown off of her won't work." Akihiko climbed on the chair opposite of me and sat, making it easier to converse.

I gave him a look. "You think?"

"Stealing it from her while she sleeps won't work either." My brother walked in. "I already tried it, and she ordered to send me to the dungeons. The servants were kind enough to sneak me out from the back, along with Tiana's parents."

"We need to outsmart her, but how? If she finds out about my amulet, then she'll definitely snatch it from me." Shaking my head to their questions about the amulet, I sipped my coffee. "The only option that I see is to confront her. All other options seem to be out of hand."

"I cannot let you confront her. She already was powerful with her crown, and now that your magic is taken away, she's more powerful than ever."

"Well, do you see any other method?" I met Akihiko's eyes, my eyes furious. "Sealing her in room or chair won't work. Stealing the crown away while she's sleeping also won't work. Is there any other option?" My voice raised slightly.

"I am sure there must be another solution to this than you walking straight into the mouth of death." Akihiko's ears pulled back as he started to growl slightly.

"Well, what other option? We are running out of time, 2 hours have already passed by." I stood up from my chair.

"We still have 166 more hours left, stop rushing into the decisions."

"I cannot let my people suffer for those 166 hours, they are suffering under her reign already, I cannot be selfish."

"Well, maybe if you went ahead and challenged her, then there won't be any worrying about." Akihiko jumped off the chair and headed out of the cabin as I sat on my chair with a sigh, covering my face behind my hands.

"Do you want me to go talk to Akihiko?" My brother asked, to which I simply shook my head. Standing up, I headed to my room and locked the door, determined to prepare myself for the confrontation.