​A week had crawled by since the confrontation with Malachite.

​Zorn and his friends were at a standstill. 

They waited for any sign, any whisper of Cinco’s fate, but the world remained stubbornly silent.

​The King had granted them temporary lodging within the palace, a room so large the white marble floors seemed to swallow their footsteps. 

Tall ceilings and sophisticated carvings on the four-post canopy beds spoke of luxury, but none of them felt like guests. 

They felt like prisoners of their own anticipation.

​Khor leaned against the oriel windowsill, arms crossed, gazing intensely at the kingdom below. 

Donal sat at a vanity, his chin resting on interlaced fingers, staring at nothing.

​The only warmth in the room came from the golden rays of the sun slicing through the glass.

​Zorn finally broke the silence. 

“Don? I think we need to help him. We have to help Cinco.”

​“I agree,” Donal replied, though he didn't look up.

​“We still don't know where the trial is,” Khor cut in, his voice curt. “A Numerical’s death, especially a Star Ranger, isn't subtle. If he were gone, the world would know. We wait.”

​Donal’s brows knitted together. 

Come on, Cinco. I hope you kept us in mind when you made that risky decision of surrendering.

​Zorn sighed and reached into his pockets. 

He pulled out the two pistols Cinco had dropped during his surrender to the E.F.C. 

One was a matte black; the other was a striking mix of white and gold. 

Even in the dim light of the room, the lighter gun held a faint, rhythmic shimmer.

​Donal glanced over, his eyes widening as he caught the sparkle. 

“What is that?”

​Khor looked over his shoulder, his interest piqued.

​“Cinco’s guns,” Zorn said, looking down at them. “He dropped them a week ago.”

​Donal stood up and walked toward the bed. 

“The Mystic Gun... it’s still glowing,” he murmured, carefully taking the weapon from Zorn.

​“I didn't want to alarm anyone last night,” Zorn admitted, his voice dropping. 

“But that gun lit up as bright as the sun for a few seconds. It was terrifying. They were just sitting there on the nightstand, and then… boom.” 

He pointed to the left side of the bed. 

“The black one does nothing, though. It’s just iron.”

​“The black one belongs to the physical world,” Donal said, his voice rising with anticipation. “But the white and gold one is pure divinity. It’s not meant to be on par with a common tool. You said it lit up?”

​“Yeah. Why? Is that bad?”

​Khor rolled his eyes. 

“Yeah, Zorn, it's gonna fight you.”

​“Okay! I get it! It’s not bad!” Zorn snapped.

​“His necklace,” Donal whispered to himself, a realization dawning on his face. 

He raised the weapon, a wide smile spreading across his lips. 

“We don't have to wait anymore. Our guide is here. This gun just proved it’s still connected to Cinco’s light!”

​Zorn jumped from the bed, his heart hammering. “You think he left them on purpose? Like a breadcrumb trail?”

​“It looks like it,” Khor whispered, his stoic mask finally slipping into shock.

​Donal laughed softly. 

“He’s so clever.”

​Zorn looked at the gun with a new sense of awe. 

Star Rangers really do live up to the title. I want to be that dependable someday.

​He took the Mystic Gun back from Donal, feeling the faint warmth of it against his palm.

​“Let’s go tell Abad we’re heading out,” Donal said, turning toward the heavy double doors of the chamber. 

“The gun lighting up was our cue.”

​Khor slid off the windowsill to follow. 

“We’ll need transportation. We can't exactly walk to the trial.”

​Zorn stopped. He looked at the ornate white-and-gold pistol. 

“Maybe I’m being too imaginative... but if this gun is connected to Cinco, wouldn't his horse be, too?”

​Donal and Khor froze, turning back to him with identical looks of curiosity.

​“What if we can summon his light horse with this?” Zorn asked, holding the gun aloft.

​The other two looked at each other and shrugged.

​“It’s worth a shot,” Khor said.

​“But you’re going to be the one to do it,” Donal added with a smirk.

​Zorn’s eyes went wide. 

“What?! Why me?! I don't even know how this thing works!”

​“You were the last person Cinco used his magic on,” Khor informed him coolly. 

“Twice. Once to refine you, and again to use your star for his necklace. That horse will acknowledge your soul long before it acknowledges ours.”

​Zorn looked down at his hands. A cold sweat broke out on his neck as he stared at the divine weapon.

​When I said I wanted to be dependable, I didn't mean by summoning a DIVINE MARE FROM THE HEAVENS!