Eris, Noah, and Marianna were in a spacious cave that was below the sanctuary’s surface. The trio were there with Oma, Senuo, and Xianchi for training. On the training floor, there was a weapon rack next to the Safekeeps as they stood on the smooth cobblestone.

“The three of you may pick the weapon that you wish to use.” Senuo instructs.

The trio walk to the rack and look through the numerous weapons on display. Marianna picks up a staff, Noah picks up a sword, and Eris picks up a naginata. The three then look to Senuo, Oma, and Xianchi.

“Those are the weapons you three are comfortable with?” Senuo asks them.

The trio look at each other then turn to Senuo and nod.

“Is there a reason why you chose these weapons? Marianna?” Senuo asks.

“Um… well…” She starts. “The reason why I chose the staff is because I’m not used to close contact and I’m not a fighter. And I thought… I could be more effective with a staff.”

Senuo was intrigued by her answer.

“Hm. Then you will spar with me.” Senuo states then looks to Noah. “Why did you choose the sword, Noah?”

“Well… besides its looks, I’ve always wanted to use a sword.” He answers. “My mother used to teach me with wooden swords. She was good with a sword, and I want to relearn it again. I want to be as best as my mother was; maybe even better.”

Xianchi puts her hands on her hips with a smile on her face. “Well then, I shall be your opponent for that response.”

Senuo then looks at Eris. “Why did you choose the naginata, Eris?”

Eris looks at the naginata in thought. “I… I’m not sure, because I don’t know how to use it. Something told me to pick it. And it fits well in my hands and the weight is perfect for me to lift. I may not know how to use it, but I can learn, and I will. After what happened to me last night, I will not be a damsel in distress ever again.”

Oma’s arms are crossed and looks at Eris with a smirk. “You’ll be facing me, Gadison. I will teach you to face your fear head on.”

“Are you three ready?” Senuo asks.

The trio nodded.

“Then ready yourselves.”

The three ready themselves as Senuo raises his hand along with Oma and Xianchi.

“Kenkyona!” Senuo shouts summoning his staff.

“Kokoro!” Oma shouts summoning her rapier.

“Tanzo!” Xianchi shouts summoning her sword.

The three were in their stances along with Eris, Noah, and Marianna.

“Let’s get started.” Senuo states.

.   .   .

Back upstairs, Furia was asleep in her bedroom. She slowly wakes up when she hears one of the doors open in the throne room, making her sit up in her bed.

“They’re back!” She says aloud with a smile. “They’ve liberated Oreads!”

She then gets out of bed, puts on her slippers and silk robe, walks to her bedroom door to unlock it, and walks out to the hallway. She reaches the corner and sees only Landon and Yurich in the throne area.

“Landon! Yurich!” She greeted them with a smile.

“Your majesty.” They greet her as they bow their heads.

“I’m glad you two have come back safely. Oreads has been reclaimed, I take it?”

“Yes, your highness.” Landon replies.

Furia then sees that there is another person behind the two. “Is… that the person who took Oreads hostage?”

Landon and Yurich look at each other, then turn reluctantly back to a stern looking Furia. “Yes…” Landon answers.

“Let me see their face.”

With the men’s faces looking to the floor with unease, they move a tied-up Kai in front of them with his face obscured by his orange red hair and not looking at Furia. Not knowing who it is, Furia walks toward him, slowly feeling disbelief when she sees the hair and height of him. She holds his face making Kai look her in the eyes. Seeing his face makes Furia weep tears. “Brother…”

“…Sister.” Kai responds in a sad tone.

“Why… why did you… How could you?”

“I want to explain while everyone is here.”

“They might be in the training area. I’ll get them.” Yurich speaks.

Yurich walks off to find the others while Landon stays with Furia and Kai, keeping an eye on him.

.   .   .

In the training cave, after Noah and Marianna were finished training and were exhausted sparring with Senuo and Xianchi, and were on the sidelines watching Eris spar with Oma. Eris was blocking the hits Oma was inflicting.

“Come on! Do something, Gadison!” Oma shouts.

When Oma attempts to strike her again, Eris counters her attack, pulling Oma’s rapier out of her hand with the hilt of the naginata. Eris then kicks Oma away; making her fall on the floor. Eris aims the blade of the naginata to Oma’s chest.

“Do you yield?” Eris asks sternly.

Oma slightly nods. “Just know that this is the beginning. Next time, I won’t be merciful.” She advises.

“I understand.”

Eris moves the weapon away from Oma’s chest and helps her up. Oma dusts herself off and picks up her rapier, walking near Senuo and Xianchi. Eris walks back to Noah and Marianna. The trio were facing the Safekeeps.

“We will now give our verdicts.” Senuo speaks. “Xianchi, you may speak first.”

“Okay.” She starts. “Noah, you are reckless in how you use your sword. It looked like you weren’t focused, and you were trying to attack me blindly. Next time, I will teach you how to focus.”

“Alright.” Noah replies.

Senuo looks at Marianna. “Marianna, I see that you second guess yourself when you try to attack me. It feels like you’re an open book and hesitant. Your defense is decent, so we will work on both.”

“Okay.” Marianna responds.

Senuo looked at Oma. “Oma?”

“Eris,” She speaks. “You are well versed in defending yourself when I’m attacking you. But you blocked too much, and that will tire you easily. You didn’t even think to attack me until I told you to. And when you do attack, they’re good counters. But please don’t attack when I say so. If you see an opening, take it.”

“I understand.” Eris replies.

“Is there anything else you three would like to say?” Senuo asks.

The trio shake their heads.

“Okay then. Training is finished.” Senuo states. “We will resume this two days from now.”

Yurich walks downstairs to the training cave catching everyone’s attention.

“Welcome back, Yurich.” Senuo greets. “How did everything go in Oreads?”

“Everything went wonderfully over there, but we all need to talk upstairs now.” Yurich replied.

“About what?” Oma asked.

“Situations. I have to show you all something when we get upstairs. Also, Eris, Noah, and Marianna can come upstairs about this, Oma.” Yurich said looking at Oma.

Oma glared at him after his remark. Yurich smiled at her and left upstairs from the training area. The six followed shortly thereafter.

.   .   .   .   .

At the castle in Nora, Elienta, Yenish held Kabu and Hanchia down by their necks via telekinesis.

“I can’t believe you two made Oreads slip out of your hands! The majority of your platoon are killed and you two got yourselves incapacitated to the point of retreat!

Yenish angrily pushes their heads down with her powers forming green aura and making them groan in agony.

“What do you two ungrateful husks of chaff have to say for yourselves?! Kabu?!”

Kabu struggles to look up at Yenish. “Your majesty… I was inside the temple, and I was ready to kill Landon, but that damn bastard, Kai, struck me with his companion. I was… outnumbered and injured, I had to leave. I came out and saw Hanchia unconscious.”

Yenish looks at Hanchia. “Do you have an explanation for your defeat, wretch?!”

“I had a… minor setback, Yenish!” She explains. “We didn’t know Yurich was going to join Landon when we got there. He really got under my skin…”

“Hm… Just like how you get under my skin?! I swear… when it comes to you, I want to execute you on the spot because of your faulty potion! Your defeat in Oreads and reading from Kabu, your damn incompetence is also the reason for me to do so. But don’t worry, I have a potent solution that can be able to help you.”

She releases Kabu and raises Hanchia in midair. The green aura from Yenish began to glow and surround Hanchia.

“Omakotaku. Embrace.” Yenish command.

The green aura goes inside of Hanchia’s body, making her groan in agony as it consumes her. After it absorbs inside of her body, Yenish drops Hanchia, making her fall to the floor.

“Consider yourself lucky I let you live, Hanchia.” She reminds. “Next time, it will be your head.”

Yenish then looks to Kabu. “Kabu, I commend you for getting close to the goal, but you fell short of reaching it. Never let that happen again.”

“Yes, ma’am. I won’t.” Kabu replies.

Hanchia recovers and slowly stands up and looks at Yenish who is slowly calming down.

“I want you two to return to your temples.” Yenish orders. “You will have to defend them now since Kai gave Oreads to them. This will not deter us from taking back control of Oreads. My rule will stand for all of Elem until I choose an heir who will carry on my work. You two remember that.”

“Yes, your majesty.” They reply.

“Good. Now you two get the hell out of my sight.”

Kabu disappears via teleportation while Hanchia makes a water portal on the floor and jumps in it with the water disappearing afterwards. Still angered, Yenish goes upstairs to the castle’s second floor to her spacious laboratory and takes a vial from a nearby shelf. In the middle of the lab was a giant bowl with fire burning beneath it. Yenish pours the liquid inside the bowl then goes to her desk and picks up a dagger. She holds out her arm over the bowl and slashes it making her blood drop in the bowl. As Yenish’s aura forms around her wound healing it, she drops the dagger and raises her arms.

“Omakotaku. Give life!”

The content inside the bowl begins to swirl and boil. Moments later, an unconscious naked male arises from the bowl with tattoos on his body and black hair with white streaks. The male looking in his late teens floats over to Yenish into her arms. He slowly opens his eyes as he wakes up and sees Yenish. Yenish has a smile form on her face as the young man observes her face.

“Hello… Kyoki.” Yenish softly greets him.

“Ky…oki?” He slowly responds.

“That’s your name. Kyoki.”

“Ky…oki…”

“And I am your mother.”

“Mo…ther?”