"What do you mean by that headpiece having mana?" Fenry asked as he tilted his head
"Well... as what I have heard from my father..." Xinhua began as he looked at the headpiece
"Creating a protection artifact is really a tough job. Many nobles commissions high class mages to create this artifact... cause it requires incredible amounts of mana..." Xinhua explained
"Then that is solved then! We can just give up the artifact to that entity and make a demand to return us all home" Hunji exclaimed
"Yeah, let's go and give it up" Jeon nods as he smiled
"Wait wait wait!" Dahlia stops the two
"What's wrong? Why your stopping us?" Hunji asked
"Yeah... we finally found a way to go back" Jeon remarked
"I mean... sure we found something to offer... but will it reach the satisfaction of the entity?" Dahlia questioned
"I agree... considering how our worlds are completely different than theirs..." Fenry pointed out
"Oh! So that is the problem then... guess we just have to see how much this thing has" Hunji sighed deeply
"Yeah and since Xinhua seems to know so much about artifacts like this one, he can probably tell how much mana it wields" Jeon looked over at Xinhua expectantly
Xinhua froze up as he scratched his neck slightly
"I don't know how to do that... since I am not a mage... or anything" Xinhua mumbled out
"Hah... right... what was I expecting from a little kid anyways... sorry kiddo..." Jeon apologized as he pats Xinhua
Dahlia looks at her artifact, "Wish I could just burrow his mana..." Dahlia thought internally but knew she can't risk it
Fenry noticed Dahlia being dazed out
He cleared his throat, "Ahem... we can still test the mana amount..." he began
Everyone perked up at hearing him
"Really? How" Hunji tilted his head
"It's actually kind of difficult... cause we have to take the risk in going outside of this castle" Fenry pointed out
Xinhua gulped as he looked around at others
Dahlia gripped the edge of her dress as she narrows her eyes
Hunji ruffled up his hair as he looked the other way
Jeon looked down only
Fenry taking in their reactions continued on, "I know not many of you are fond of this idea... and I can't blame you cause..."
"There is a risk in being captured by those ghouls... I will leave the choice to you all" Fenry's tone lowered slightly
Silence
.
.
.
Dahlia looked around at everyone
Hunji and Jeon just nodded at her
She soon turned to Fenry
"How can we test the amount?" she asked suddenly
Fenry's eyes widened slightly before his lips curved upwards slightly
"Well... we can have the amounts examined by..."
{{ Meanwhile in the human realm }}
.
- Back at the Guillebeaux household -
"Duchess... you haven't eaten anything... please eat this sandwich... or you might get sick..." Jasmine requested to Guillebeaux duchess as many maids stood behind her
"How... can I eat anything... when my daughter is missing..." The duchess replied, her voice horse
Her emerald eyes looks puffy
Her silver white hair was down. some strands were tangled up
"But... you must still eat! Think of lady Dahlia! Would she be happy seeing you starve yourself?" Jasmine tried reasoning with her
"I don't wanna eat anything! And that is final!" The duchess replied firmly, leaving no room for arguments
Jasmine was about to still gonna try to change her mind
But the headmaid put her hand on Jasmine's shoulder, "There is no point... let's just leave her to it..." she said
Jasmine was hesitant but soon left with the maids, from the duchess's room
While they were walking down the hallway, they all met Jhony
"Ah! Young master!" Jasmine exclaimed
Jhony only nodded, "Has... my mother eaten anything yet...?" he asked
Jasmine couldn't say anything as she just looked down at the plate of sandwiches
The many maids behind her just looked at one another
Seeing that Jasmine couldn't reply, the headmaid decided to reply in her stead. "Not really... it has been four days since the duchess even touched her food..."
Jhony just let out a long sigh, "I see... you all may leave..." he said
Jasmine and the maids nodded, before they go pass Jhony
Leaving him with his thoughts alone
Jhony only stood in place for a long while, staring down at the floor. Before he started walking
He gone outside of the estate as guards suddenly stopped him
"Young master... you cannot leave... or step outside of this estate..." One of the guards said
"And why is that?" Jhony asked, his tone cold
"It's the Duke's orders..." The guard replied
Jhony only scoffed in response, "Step away... I don't care what my father says or ordered... I am leaving to find my sister" he said with finality
"We apologize, but we cannot disobey the Duke's orders" The guard stood in front of Jhony, blocking his way
Jhony gritted his teeth as he clenched his hands to fists
"I will not be repeating myself... step... away... now" he warned
The guard remained in place, not moving
The other guards soon came up as they also blocked his path
"Young master, please return to your room" The other guard said to him
Jhony narrowed his emerald eyes as it glowed sharply
The air started to cackle with energy as the guards still remained, unfazed and unmoving
"Move. Now." Jhony growled lowly as his aura swirls around him
"No" The first guard replied, his tone firm
With hearing that, Jhony just huffed
His aura dissipating in thin air as he turned, walking away. "Fine, be it that way"
The guards began to relax slightly
But it was cut short as they suddenly heard a noise
They looked and froze up, instantly
Jhony was coming towards them as he was riding a horse with full speed
"Wait- hold on-" The guards tried stopping him but failed as Jhony forcefully goes pass them, causing some to fall on ground
Some guards (That didn't fall) started running behind him
But after a few moments, they got tired and stopped
They watched as Jhony goes very far away from them all
.
.
.
{{ With Duke Guillebeaux }}
The Duke was looking around in the city with some of his soldiers on their own horses
"Sir... we can't seem to find the lady here... should we move to a different place to search?" One of his soldiers asked
The Duke only stayed silent as he kept looking around
"Sir?" The soldier called out
But the Duke didn't replied back
The soldier was about to call again until another soldier gestured him not to
The soldier only lets out a sigh as he also began looking around, again. Including the other soldiers
While looking around, his right hand man
Keoni Hibter Hukh
Suddenly rushes here with his horse
"Sir... something has happened!" Keoni began as he started panting
The Duke looked over with narrowed eyes, his purple eyes gleamed sharply
The air cackled with power
Dangerous aura was coming out from him
"Now now... what is more important to stop me from searching for my daughter, huh?" He asked, his tone cold
Keoni felt his hair on neck stand along with some soldiers that were behind him
Everyone had gone pale and sweat started to form on each of their foreheads, in just seeing the Duke like this
Keoni's grip on the horse's leash tightened slightly
He forcefully gulped down the lump that has formed in his throat
"The... young master... has left the estate... by forcefully going pass the guards... sir..." Keoni finally said it
The Duke froze up for a moment before a vein popped on his forehead, "What did you just say...? He escaped even tho I left you there to guard?"
Keoni started sweating more, he wiped his forehead with the back of his hand
"I apologize sir..." He looked down
The Duke let out a sharp exhale, "Find my son... before he disappears like my daughter did..." he ordered
"R-Right away sir-" "But..." Keoni was suddenly cut off by the Duke
"If I don't see you finding my son in an hour... I will have your head hanging outside my estate's gate, is that clear?" He warned
Keoni hiccupped as he only nods before rushing off with his horse
The Duke watched him leave as he soon looked at the soldiers, that had stopped searching as they were just watching the spectacle happening between the Duke and his right hand man
"What are you all doing. suddenly stopping the search like that?" The Duke asked as his eyes narrows more
The soldiers flinched and immediately resuming their search
The Duke took a deep breath, before letting it all out
He looked down on the ground as his eyes softened slightly, his grip on his horse's leash tightened
"Dahlia... please be safe... wherever you are..." The Duke said internally as he closed his eyes tightly
"Your father will come to get you..." He mumbled softly
{{ Back at the Yang Realm }}
"Ok... everything is ready..." Dahlia fixed her bag
"Remember to be back here before our counting ends! Don't be out for too long!" Xinhua said as he was trembling with tears on his eyes
Dahlia pats him on head, "We will be back... don't worry..." she smiled reassuringly
Xinhua only nods as he wipes his tears
"Dahlia, we should get going" Hunji said
"Right..." Dahlia looks over as she nods
She goes towards where Fenry, Hunji and Jeon were standing
Holding each other's hands as Jeon extended his hand towards Dahlia
Dahlia soon holds his hand
- { Flashback } -
"You see this castle?" Fenry pointed out from the window of the castle they are at
To another castle
"Yeah... so we have to go there... find a book with restraints... and just simply rub the mana energy we have?" Jeon asked as he puts his hand under his chin
"Yep! And we have to remember something. Once you rub the mana on the restraints, it will change color" Fenry soon walks towards where Dahlia's headpiece is
He picks up the headpiece, "There are three colors to determine their level. First is yellow, which is the lowest"
"And the other two?" Dahlia asked
"Second is purple, mid level" Fenry answered as he examines the headpiece
"And the last?" Hunji asked as he was leaning against the window with crossed arms
"Lastly is red, which is considered to be the strongest" He put back the headpiece down
"But isn't there what those ghouls call... three kings being there?" Hunji tilted his head
"That is true... but..." Fenry soon pointed in the sky where the red moon is
"If this moon turns completely white... every creatures here will be put to deep asleep" He explained
"And how you know this?" Dahlia asked
Fenry turned to her
"The one who brought me... I overheard him talking about it..." He replied as his tone wavered slightly
The others just looked at Fenry
Then back at the red moon
.
.
.
"When will it happen?" Jeon asked
"... After 5 days..." Fenry replied
"Ok... and how long does it lasts?" Dahlia looked back at Fenry
"If I heard correctly... around an hour..." Fenry sighed deeply
"An hour... but we don't have a watch to determine it..." Xinhua groaned
"In this case, we can just count down the time ourselves..." Dahlia commented
"But counting it will be difficult... like... for an example... we might be too focused to find the book to even keep on counting... being distracted... or there are many other reasons we can't really keep up the multitask.." Jeon pointed out
"Yeah... even I will forget it..." Xinhua chuckled slightly as he scratched his cheek
"Hmm... then how can we determine the time... there is no watch here" Hunji grew frustrated
Fenry pats Hunji's head, "Calm down or you will get your hair on fire" he teased
"Shut up, smiley face" Hunji groaned as he tried swatting Fenry's hand
But Fenry keeps on patting him
"Aww, don't be like that" Fenry laughed
"I am out ideas..." Xinhua yelled out as his voice echoed in the castle
Dahlia blinked as she hears it echo around
Her eyes glimmered slightly as she thought of something
She soon looks outside with narrowed eyes
"Oi! Lower your voice! Do you want the other ghouls to hear us?!" Jeon punched Xinhua's head lightly as he scolded him
Xinhua groaned he rubbed his head
"I couldn't help it!" He cried out
"Oi! I said be quiet!" Jeon again punched his head
"Hey hey now, calm down. He is just a kid" Fenry patted Xinhua's head as he tried calming Jeon down
"But he is loud! His voice literally echoed around here! So it's obvious, it reached the outside!" Jeon groaned as he looked away, crossing his arms over his chest
"Well, he does have a point here" Hunji commented as he noddedin agreement
"Not you too" Fenry facepalmed
"I GOT IT!!!" Dahlia exclaimed as her voice too echoed around
"BE QUIET!!!!" Both Hunji and Jeon whispered yelled at Dahlia
"Oop- sorry..." Dahlia covers her mouth, but she immediately shook her head
"Ahem... I think I got a idea to determine the time..." Dahlia began
Everyone perked up in hearing her
"Really?" Xinhua tilted his head
"Enlighten us then" Fenry gave her a smile
"Well... I actually got it from how Xinhua... basically said something loud... which echoed around the castle..." Dahlia began
Xinhua tensed up slightly at being mentioned
"Eugh... your saying as if I did it intentionally..." He mumbled as his shoulders slumped down
"What is your point?" Jeon narrowed his eyes
"My point is... it basically reached the outside, did it not?" Dahlia asked
"Of course it did! With that loud noise, even those who are deaf can hear it" Hunji huffed as he said sarcastically
"Your not getting my point... if we don't have a watch to determine how much time has passed for that moon to turn red again... and we can't really count down ourselves..." Dahlia chuckled slightly as she looks back at Xinhua and the other children who were just listening
"Why not let the children count down for us?" Dahlia pointed out
"Counting down for us?" Jeon asked as he goes closer to Dahlia
"Yeah, like how Xinhua's voice echoed around the castle. So, if others counts down loudly then maybe it will be able to reach outside. We can hear it out there and know how much time passed" Dahlia explained
"But, will it reach the castle?" Fenry asked
"It will, cause I calculated the distance from this castle to the other castle" Dahlia looks back again, outside the window
"The distance is far but we can still hear them faintly... so... we will leave one of us to guard outside of that castle, repeating the same exact time to let us know" Dahlia looks back up at Fenry
"That is a foolish idea..." Hunji commented
Dahlia froze up as she slowly looked back at Hunji with Jeon, Fenry, Xinhua and other children
.
.
.
"I know- forget what I said-" "But it is good... I guess..." Hunji cut Dahlia off in mid sentence
"So we are gonna work on the old fashioned way... fine by me..." Jeon commented
Fenry shook his head as he chuckled slightly
Dahlia blinked but couldn't help but smile slightly
"So... it's decided!" She announces
"Xinhua will count the seconds... after he reaches the number 60, everyone will count after it... saying the number and the next... after Xinhua is done with his own counting" Dahlia explained
"He will stay in the center... and every children will stay around Xinhua... forming a circle, so that everyone hears him ..."
"We will practice for 5 days... then... execute the plan"
- { End of flashback } -
"Ok everyone, stick to the plan" Fenry began
"Unless you really wanna die" He chuckled as many groaned hearing him
"Way to lift up our spirits..." Hunji said sarcastically
"Will you two just shut up and focus?!" Jeon huffed out
Dahlia smiled, "Let them be... after all who knows... it might be our last chance in..." she froze in mid sentence
She bites her lower lip as she looks down
Jeon glanced down at her
He narrowed his eyes before looking away, "Be positive... we will make it alive... if that plan is executed perfectly..." he said
Dahlia looked up at Jeon
Jeon avoided her eyes as he just looked ahead
"... Right... I should be positive..." Dahlia smiled as she looks ahead as well
The red moon in the dark purple sky, turns fully white slowly
As the moon turns white, the sky's purpulish color slowly shifts to dark green
But still terrifying to look at
"Ok! On the count of three" Fenry yelled out
Xinhua sits in the center with all the children who were around him, forming a circle
Many were sweating and holding their breaths
Even Fenry, Hunji, Jeon and Dahlia were like the others
"1"
"2"
"3"