They arrived in Kyrasis at the end of the day. They stopped by a small forrest near the castle to change their outfit into more 'royal worthy' ones. Adam put on the outfit Will gave him, Lee had the same dress she was wearing in their castle, like Maya. Lou had another red dress that was more simple than the one she had back then but was still good enough for the royal court. She was helping her lover to get into their dress and she could tell how they hated to wear it. It was definitly too feminine for the non-binary pal. Lou thought it was the perfect moment to give them the leather jacket she was stil lcaring around in her backpack. She told the others to go on their ways, they will catch up in a minute. They all noticed how distressed Vi were so they agreed and left them alone. Lou then turned to face Vi and shuffled in her bag ''Do you know what would fit well with that dress?''

''...No..?''

She wrapped the jacket around their shoulders and took a few steps back, holding something behind her back.

''Much better!'' Lou cheered. ''Now one last thing...''

And she flipped the botton of their dress on top of their head. Vi groaned and pushed the dress back down ''It is not the time to full around, Lou!''

''I know, but I can see how that dress is making you feel. Now let me do something to make you feel better. Remember, I promised I would find a way. Please trust me.''

''Okay.''

''Now don't move, I don't want to hurt you.''

''Hurt... me?''

Lou flipped the dress again and ripped off the crinoline that was making the dress so puffy. She also ripped a strip at the bottom of the dress so they wouldn't step on the dress while walking.

''And you know, nobody would know if you have a pants underneath it. I mean I have a short under mine.''

Vi smiled and went to put her pants back on. They did feel much better now. Not completly, but it really helped. They looked at their lover that was playing with a weird looking knife in her hand.

''What is it?''

''My second gift to you. It's a karambit knife. I thought you would need a weapon in case you lose your powers again. It looks like a dragon claw, I thought you would like it.''

''I do! Thanks!''

They hugged and kissed each other before heading to catch up witht heir friends.

Once they reached the castle, Maya's family was already waiting for her at the gate. Looks like they got the message from Will's mother. Maya jumped out of the still moving cart and jumped into her parents arms. They seemed to really have missed their daughter. There was also a younger princess beside them, but she didn't seem really happy to see her big sister back. That was the first thing that the older member of the group thought was odd. When Maya went to give her a hug, she reluctantly hugged back ''I'm so happy to see you again sis! You grew up so much! Look at you!''

''Yeah... Lots of things happen in three years.''

And the youngest princess stormed back inside without giving a look back at her sister. Maya was a little hurt, but she thought it was the begining of the teenage years after all... Nothing more than that.

The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

The King greeted her daughter's protectors and invited them to stay for a couple days. He explained that since everything was over now, they could move on to the next things to come.

''I have really good news that are on their ways here. You can all stay until it arrives!''

And that was the second thing they found was off, how the king said that 'everything was over'. They couldn't exactly say it was over. Maya still needed to train her new abilities. Also the fact that the queen couldn't even look at her daughter in the eyes... What was happening here? Lee tried to understand and said ''Well not everything is exactly over since Maya has...''

''Oh we can talk as much as you want after the news arrived, now you must be tired and hungry. Let's get you something to eat, shall we?''

After dinner, They all went in Lee and Adam's room, leaving Maya in her room to spend some times with her servant that she missed a lot too. They all agreed that something was strange with the Royal families, including Will's. They were trying to figure out what was happening when the door cracked open and Maya pocked her head through the opening ''What are you talking about?''

''Nothing!'' They all blured out at the same time nervously.

''Are you really leaving me out of something again?''

''Of course not, sweety...'' Lee started, but Lou put a hand on her shoulder, stopping her mid-sentence.

''We didn't want you to worry. You seem really happy to be back home but... Something is off...''

''I know'' Maya answered while closing the door behind her ''did you see how my sister looked almost mad that I was back? And how my mother couldn't even look me in the eyes... I know I've been gone for a long time, but I don't recognise them anymore!''

They talked a lot about the worries they had, but they eventually reached the decision that they had to wait until that news come. They could figure out a plan on the spot later on. The thing they all agreed on is, if ever something goes really bad, they have to find a way to all meet out in their old castle.

They all went back to their respectives rooms. This time, Lou and Vi got seperated ones. Maya told them that she doubted her parents would understand or even accept the fact that a non-heterosexual couple could even exist. They thought it would be easier to split up while they were in the castle. Before going to sleep, Lou sneaked in Vi's room to give her a small crash course on how to use a karambit knife. She didn't want them to cut theirselves while trying to use it.

Lee was looking through the suitcase Dewglory gave her. There was lots of recipes and found one to make a sleeping powder. It was areally simple one to make and she had all the ingredients. She asked Adam if she should make some of this powder, in case something goes bad. He thought for a second, he didn't really like magical stuff, but Lee seemed really excited about it, so he agreed.

Maya was turning and turning in her bed. She was feeling exhausted, but she couldn't fall asleep. She was thinking about all the events that happened in the past few weeks. When she met Will in the Wilderness... How she found out that it was her father's plan to lock her away, to protect her... How she got all those abilities from the strange sorcerer, Felix... How said powers come from a evil magician that wanted to kill everyone and everything... And now her own family that acted strangely around her... She put her face in her pillow andlet out a groan. It was muffled by the pillow, but it was still a little loud. She turned yet once more and tried to fall asleep, which she only did late in the night.

In the morning of the second day, the 'news' finally arrived. They would finally get some answers, since Maya's parents avoided them the whole day yesterday. They all looked out the window in Maya's room into the courtyard of the castle. They were all shocked to see Will and his parents going through the gate. They all look at each other, confused. Something was definitly off here!

Will was sitting in is cart, arms crossed on his chest. He looked at his parents straight in the eyes and asked for the millionth time ''Where are we? I just came back home and you told me we had to leave... again! Can someone tell me what is going on!?''

His parents kept silent, he turned his head toward his servant. One thing the prince knew was that Jacob was really bad at keeping secrets ''Jacob, please, what is happening?''

''You will know soon enough Prince Goldhill.''

Jacob then looked back down at his papers that he was holding in his hands. This was really frustrating. He never went that far in the north of Egium's kingdom. He genuinely didn't know where he was. And he also didn't like how his parents didn't want to talk to him. Something was definitly off here!