Our heroes arrive at Magic Land. They are amazed by its beauty: the distinctive building designs, the magic, and more. But Connor still has doubts.
Connor: "Does this kingdom really have the power to liberate Kurtan?"
Frank: "No. They have the power to take over the whole world."
Connor: "You're exaggerating."
Frank laughs and says: "The mages here can control fire, earth, air, water, and more. The technology you have is nothing compared to their magic. You're just lucky that Ruler Zivar taught them to use their magic only for good."
After this conversation our heroes continue walking. While they walk... they meet Arika.
Arika looks at Frank and becomes angry.
Frank: "Oh shit."
Arika uses her magic and imprisons Frank and the others inside a huge bubble.
Arika: "Frank! How dare you return here after what you did. You will receive your punishment today and none of your followers will protect you."
Kai: "Punishment? Followers? What are you talking about?"
Frank thinks to himself: (Damn, I thought I got rid of this girl.)
Arika casts a spell that controls the earth and creates rock monsters that attack Frank and the others.
Frank uses his pistols and fires at a monster but it is unaffected. Then Frank pulls out his shotgun and uses it on the monster and destroys it.
Another monster tries to attack Kai, but Kai dodges the attack using his teleportation. Then he tries to scratch the monster with his short light sword.
The third monster grabs Onn tightly and immobilizes him.
The fourth monster tries to hurt Samantha, but when Connor sees this scene and how his sister is in danger, he becomes angry and draws his super sword, firing a beam at the rock monster and saving Samantha's life. Then he fires another beam at the other rock monsters and rescues both Kai and Onn.
Arika is shocked by the power of the sword.
After that a group of mages, including a mage named Lancer, intervenes and says:
"What is happening?! What is the cause of this chaos!?"
Arika: "It's him. This is the man I told you about. The one who stole the magic orb from the museum and shot me."
Connor: "Hey, what? Frank, did you really do that?"
Frank: "I I i...."
Connor: "I knew there was something bad about you."
Arika: "Hey, you didn't know?"
Connor: "No, I didn't know. My sister and I and two of my friends were following Frank to guide us to your kingdom. We didn't know he stole and attacked you."
Arika: "Oh... I... damn."
Arika transforms into a bird and flies away.
The mages arrest Frank and put him in prison.
Lancer goes to Connor and his companions. He studies Connor's appearance and is shocked and embarrassed for some reason. He tries to compose himself and speaks to Connor normally. He says to them:
"U...mm... ahem ahem. I'm sorry for the misunderstanding that happened. Arika almost died because of Frank and I treated her. She has hated him since that day and believed you were working with him."
Connor: "It's okay. The important thing is that no one died."
Lancer: "Right... now excuse me, I will take my leave."
Lancer leaves.
Kai: "Why was he awkward when he spoke to you?"
Connor: "I don't know. I'm not interested. The important thing is that we're all fine. Now I'll go talk to Ruler Zivar."
Samantha: "Brother. The mages in this kingdom seem very strong. If they agree to help us we will finally be able to free our homeland and defeat Alvarez. For that reason you must be careful when you speak with the ruler and try to be as humble as possible."
Connor: "I will do my best."
Connor goes to the royal palace. He takes a deep breath, prepares the right words, then enters and meets Ruler Zivar.
Connor: "Your Majesty. My name is Connor Morson, son of Clayton Morson. Our kingdom was invaded by an old enemy of ours, Alvarez. This person... oh wait no. He is not a person. Not human. He is a pile of evil. A deranged man who enjoys hurting and killing people. He tried to kill me in front of my father just to make him suffer. Now he rules my kingdom and has imposed harsh laws—anyone who opposes him dies. I heard that you teach the mages in your realm to use their magic for good. Therefore I humbly ask you to end the suffering of the people of Kurtan and help me overcome the evil of Alvarez."
Zivar: "Can you tell me more about this person called Alvarez? More detailed information about him."
Connor talks more about Alvarez and mentions his followers, and when he mentions the mage who works with Alvarez here, Zivar gets PTSD from what happened in Magic Land because of Klais.
Zivar: "Wait, wait — Klais works with Alvarez?"
Connor: "Klais? Who is Klais?"
Zivar: "Klais. A mage who uses black and dark magic."
Connor: "I don't know the name of the mage working with Alvarez but he used a spell that allowed him to control people's wills."
Zivar: "Yes, that's Klais..."
Connor: "Okay, what's the problem?"
Zivar: "Klais is a very dangerous dark mage and caused a massacre in my kingdom. Many good mages died because of him. Forgive me, but I cannot help you."
Connor: "What? But what about the people suffering in my kingdom? You said you teach your mages to use their magic for good."
Zivar: "I sympathize with your cause. But I do not want to repeat the massacre that occurred before. Klais left my kingdom and has not returned for a long time. I do not intend to tangle with him again."
Connor becomes angry and says: "You are a coward and a hypocrite..."
Zivar: "Criticize me as you wish, but I remain firm in my decision."
Connor leaves the royal palace angry.
He goes to meet his sister and the others.
Samantha: "He refused, right?"
Connor: "Yes. But we haven't given up."
Samantha: "Brother, may I ask you a favor?"
Connor: "What is it?"
Samantha: "I want Onan and I to stroll around this kingdom for a while before we leave."
Connor: "Are you serious? We're not on a sightseeing trip. We have a mission to complete."
Samantha: "Yes I know my request might seem silly but honestly—we don't see beautiful places like this every day. I just want to spend a few hours here and then we can go."
Connor was annoyed by this request but agreed and told her not to be late.
Samantha: "You didn't come with us?"
Connor: "No. I'll stay here and wait for you."
Samantha: "Alright, as you wish."
Samantha then goes with Onn and they tour the kingdom.
As for Kai, he is eating at one of the restaurants.
Connor sits alone, very upset because Zivar refused to help him, and he thinks to himself:
(Any ruler I ask for help refuses my request. They're either cowards or selfish, but... what if I were in their place? I mean, I wouldn't want to risk my army's life in a conflict that has nothing to do with me, especially against the most advanced kingdom. Maybe they're not selfish. Maybe what they do is reasonable... and even if they agreed, I don't think they could actually liberate it. My plan was to use the army as human shields until I reach Klais and take the magic staff from him. What guarantees this will work? Onn was right. My plan was indeed bad.)
.....
(There are many rulers who wanted to help me but refused because they feared facing Kurtan's technology, as they don't possess power to compete with it. This makes me feel that what my father did was a mistake. He prevented sharing our technology with others out of fear they'd use it for evil or to harm us. He focused on the negative side and forgot that there are good peoples who would use it for good. If the rulers I visited had advanced technology they would have agreed to help, and I might have liberated my kingdom by now. Father, what have you done...)
Connor is lost in his thoughts but then notices a bird staring at him strangely. Suddenly the bird transforms and Arika appears.
Connor panics and says: "You scared me."
Arika: "Forgive me. I've been looking for you. I want to talk to you."
Arika sits with Connor and begins to speak with him.
Arika: "I wanted to apologize for attacking you and your friends. Since that moment I have felt ashamed. I am a high-ranking mage and I made a vow to use my magic to protect the innocent, but today I acted rashly and exposed your lives to danger. This violated the mages' laws here."
Connor: "It's okay. This is normal. I was also of the rank Knight of Light, a high rank, but even so I made mistakes and violated the laws of the Knights of Light more than once. Whatever your rank, you remain human, and humans err by nature. The important thing is that you learn from your mistakes."
Arika's spirit improves after these words. Then a conversation between the two begins.
Arika: "By the way, where did you get this sword? And how do you use its power?"
Connor then explains the story of finding the sword as mentioned in Chapter 14.
Arika: "Hmmm. I've read many stories and myths about a sword that possesses great power, enough to defeat an entire army, and only one person can lift it. The one who lifts it is destined to make decisions that affect the whole world."
Connor: "Are you saying I'm chosen one or something?"
Arika: "Maybe... The problem is that the legends say the sword grants its wielder mighty power capable of defeating an entire army. Your sword doesn't seem to have that power. I mean, yes, the beams you fire are strong, but it's not the power they describe in the stories."
Connor: "Maybe those legends aren't true or are inaccurate."
Now we leave Connor and Arika and go to Onn and Samantha.
Meanwhile, Onan and Samantha stroll through Magic Land, watch magical shows, and enjoy their time until they reach a large tree in the kingdom. The tree is big and beautiful and bears unique, delicious fruits. This type of tree grows only in Magic Land. Onn climbs the tree and brings two fruits for him and Samantha.
Samantha eats the fruit and says: "This fruit is tastier than anything I ate in Kurtan."
Onan: "That's because it's completely natural. No preservatives. No oil—nothing that can spoil it."
Samantha: "True. Living in Kurtan made me oblivious to how beautiful nature is."
Onan: "You're right. But there's something more beautiful. Do you know what it is?"
Samantha gets excited to hear the answer and says: "What is it?"
Onan: "That bird standing on the tree."
Then Samantha playfully hits Onan on the belly.
Onan: "Ouch."
Samantha: "Ha ha you're so funny."
After Samantha hit him on the belly, Onn sat quietly under the tree and leaned his back against its trunk. He kept looking up where the branches swayed in the breeze, and Samantha sat beside him. She looked at his features, which suddenly became more serious. A short moment of silence passed, during which only the sounds of birds were heard, then he turned to her with a slight smile, as if trying to hide his hesitation.
Onan: "Okay, I'm going to ask you a question that might be strange and mystical at the same time. But I really want to ask it. After we free Kurtan, can I marry you?....."
Samantha: "Well let's see hmmmmmmmm. You're a vagabond and short. You have no job or work. You don't even have a ring. And yet you have the audacity to ask a girl like me this question... The answer is yes. I accept :)"
Then the two embrace each other.
We return to Connor and Arika. These two talked together and even shared their stories and events they've been through.
Connor: "Can you tell me more about the mage Klais? Zivar was really afraid of him."
Arika: "Klais was the best mage in our kingdom. He was a hero and everyone respected him until one day he deviated to the dark path and fought against the other mages, causing the death of many people including my mother and my little sister..."
Connor: "Oh, I'm really sorry."
Arika: "Don't mention it. Because of that battle many people in Magic Land began to hate magic and fear that other mages would become evil like Klais."
Connor: "Is this dark magic so dangerous? Can't it be controlled and used for good? I'm asking because I had intended somehow to steal Klais's staff and use the mind-control spell to turn Alvarez's army against him."
Arika: "It's extremely dangerous and can never be controlled. As soon as you use it you will find yourself transformed into a monster—your morals will be corrupted. Even if your plan succeeds, it will come back to harm you and you may become someone worse than Alvarez himself."
Connor: "Okay... then I must think of another plan. By the way, would you like to help me on my journey?"
Arika: "I would like to, but... Zivar issued a law forbidding any mage from helping you. He fears that if any mage of Magic Land had contact with Klais, Klais would attack the whole of Magic Land."
Connor: "Your ruler is really a coward."
Arika: "Maybe. But you must understand his decisions. Klais left a deep wound on Magic Land."
We leave Connor and Arika and return to Onn and Samantha.
Here Samantha asks Onan a very important question.
Samantha: "Onan... during this journey, have you ever thought even for a moment about giving up?"
Onan: "No. And you?"
Samantha: "Yes... every time we get rejected by a ruler my desire to give up increases. I'm tired of this journey. Tired of the travel and the dangers we face. I just want to live a safe life... with you."
Onn: "What about the people living under Alvarez's oppression? Should we just abandon them?"
Samantha: "We spent months searching for a way to help and free them and failed. I think now we should stop thinking about other people's lives and start thinking about our own lives."
Onn: "I don't know. This decision seems bad and selfish."
Samantha: "Onan, dear, think about it. You suffered a lot in your life. You lost your family. You were forced to do a job you don't like just to earn money. Your house was blown up. You were imprisoned. And... I don't know your whole story with your uncle but clearly it's not a happy one. Doesn't someone like you deserve rest and happiness after all you've been through? Rest and happiness in this beautiful kingdom... with me?"
Onan is convinced by Samantha's words and agrees.
Then Samantha decides to go and convince her brother of the same idea.
Connor was sitting with Arika and sees Samantha coming toward him.
Connor: "Oh, my sister has come. Well, that was an enjoyable conversation. Now I must go."
Arika: "Goodbye."
Connor and Samantha meet and here the dangerous conversation occurs.
Connor: "Okay, now that you've finished your tour of Magic Land we must go."
Connor walks but Samantha grabs him and stops him.
Samantha: "Connor, wait a moment. I want to talk to you about something very important."
Connor: "What?"
Samantha: "Connor... I... how do I say this... I intend to give up and abandon this mission."
Connor: "Sister, this is not the time to joke."
Samantha: "I'm serious."
Connor: "There's nothing I can take seriously in your words. Do you really want to let Alvarez win and remain ruler of our kingdom?"
Samantha: "He will remain victorious even if we don't surrender. We spent months searching for a way to liberate Kurtan and found nothing. No one wishes to help us."
Connor: "Kai joined us and I found this super sword. I'm sure if we continue searching we'll find other useful things."
Samantha: "I'm still not confident in this sword. Brother please. You must accept that you cannot achieve all your goals. Sometimes you need to give up some goals and surrender. Don't let your obsession with liberating Kurtan ruin your life."
Connor: "Obsession? Obsession??? That's called honor and a sense of responsibility. Something you, as a future ruler of Kurtan, should understand."
Samantha: "And what should I do? Keep searching and searching and waste my life looking for a way to free Kurtan?"
Connor: "Yes. I will continue searching for a way to free Kurtan."
Samantha: "And what will you do when you find nothing?"
Connor: "Then I will go to Kurtan and face Alvarez's army alone and die as a martyr."
Samantha: "That's madness. I'm now engaged to Onan and I will not let my life be ruined because of an impossible mission."
Connor: "Fine. As you wish. I'll continue the journey alone. You stay here with your fiancé."
This argument took place loudly and was full of anger and disappointment.
Connor leaves and abandons his sister with her fiancé. He is very, very angry.
Angry because Zivar did not agree to help him.
Angry about his sister's betrayal.
He is currently a ticking bomb.
While walking Connor collides with a citizen of Magic Land.
Citizen: "Are you blind or what? Watch where you're going."
Connor ignores him.
The citizen grabs Connor's shoulder and says: "Hey! Pay attention to me."
Connor loudly says: "Leave me alone!"
Then Connor draws his sword and cuts the citizen in half.
All the inhabitants of Magic Land are shocked at what they see.
Connor now realizes he committed a grave mistake.
Connor: "Oh no no no no. I didn't mean to, I..."
A group of mages then attacks Connor.
Connor: "Stay away from me."
The mages use their magic and produce trunks from the ground to tie Connor and restrain him.
Connor's super sword falls to the ground. It remains there because no one but Connor can lift it.
Connor is thrown into prison in Magic Land on charges of murder, and there he is jailed in a cell near Frank's cell.
Frank laughs at what happened to Connor because Connor used to criticize him and in the end ended up in the same place.
Connor is now at the worst moment of his life. And here... his sister comes to the prison.
Samantha stands in front of Connor's cell and says:
"I was able to convince them to let me speak with you. Since you became a Knight of Light your personality changed. You began to kill criminals even when they surrendered. I was afraid this would turn you into a monster and you might kill an innocent person one day. Do you know how awful it feels that one of your family members is a bad person? To be shackled by him and brought shame upon you? But I had hope that you had not become a monster. My hope increased when you decided to spare Vikings #1 and #2. I told myself my brother is a good person, learned his lesson, and did not become a monster. The fear disappeared. But today... that fear returned and became reality. Today you killed an innocent person. If our father were alive what do you think he would think when he knows you killed an innocent person? Anyway. I'm here to tell you that you are no longer my brother anymore and I do not recognize you."
Connor: "A beautiful speech. Your last question intrigued me. What would our father think if he knew I killed an innocent person? It makes me think what he would do when he knows that the daughter he chose to rule Kurtan decided to leave her homeland and let her people suffer under the rule of evil."
Samantha is affected by Connor's reply and feels a bit of remorse and guilt, but she remains firm in her decision. She leaves the prison.
After several hours Kai enters the prison with two mages and is thrown into prison with Connor.
Connor: "Kai? What are you doing here?"
Kai: "I tried to get you out and they arrested me because of that."
Connor: "Get me out ? You know I killed an innocent person, right?"
Kai: "Yes I know. But I can't just abandon you. Not after everything we've been through."
Connor: "Wow. I really wish someone else I know thought like you."