I went back to the palace and saw that almost everyone that attended the party went home. The girls were already sleeping in their seats while Komraad was waiting for me patiently.

“Hey, Komraad. I'm back,” I said with a dissatisfied look on my face.

“You look gloomy, the hell happened?” He asked.

“I don't wanna talk about it, let's just go home,” I answered.

We woke the girls up and told them we'll be going home. None of them asked me anything because they noticed I wasn't in the mood and they respected it.

As soon as we were back in the orphanage, everyone went to sleep except me. I couldn't sleep because I was thinking about what happened back in the palace with the princess. The thought kept me awake all night.

Morning came and everybody was still sleeping except me, Amalia, and Miguel. I was on the balcony drinking some coffee when Amalia approached me.

“I see you're still in your human form,” Amalia said after sitting next to me.

“Yeah, I wasn't drained last night because I didn't use any magic that's why I didn't revert back,” I replied.

“I see, would you mind telling me why you look so tired and sad?”

“Oh, you noticed. It's nothing special, really. It's just that I never felt this powerless before. Every time I'm in a pinch or in trouble, I always find a way out, but this time I was not able to do anything,” I answered.

“Helplessness? I know that feeling. I had something like that before. I wasn't also able to do something about it and instead of trying harder, I gave up in the end. But you Ina, I can see in your eyes that you haven't given up yet.”

“She’s right, there’s no way I’m giving up that easily.”

“Do you really think I can still do something about it?” I asked as hope started coming back to me again.

“Of course, you don't have to tell me what it is for me to understand. I know that whatever it is, I’m sure you'll overcome it. I mean you've already made it this far, I know you can go even farther.”

Hearing those words gave me the final push to decide what I really must do.

“You're right. Thank you, Amalia.”

“Always happy to help a friend,” she replied with a genuine and honest feeling.

Talking things out with Amalia is just what I needed. After our conversation, my head became clear again. I want to go back to the princess and find out why she refused my offer. I know they're hiding something important about this kingdom and I ought to figure it out.

I told Komraad and the girls that I'm going back to the palace to talk with the princess again. Instead of asking questions, they immediately agreed to help me out.

“I'm sorry if I always impose my thoughts on all of you. If you guys are tired of me just tell me okay?” I just needed the assurance that they're not forcing themselves to do whatever it is that I ask them to.

“Ms. Ina, We'll never get tired of you. You save us once and that's enough for us to trust and follow you,” Rein answered genuinely.

“Whatever decision you take, we'll always support you Ms. Ina because we're all in this together,” Fae said while hugging me.

“I just wanna have fun, and this looks fun,” Komraad added. Astrid agreed with him.

I'm so happy to have people who are always there to back me up.

After talking things out with everybody. We went back to the palace again but this time, We didn't tell anyone our plan.

We arrived at the palace and sneaked behind to avoid being seen by the knights. My ability to feel someone's strong emotions nearby helped me pinpoint where the princess's room is. It's at the topmost part of the palace and the only way up there without anyone noticing is by flying. Thankfully, I can fly and Astrid's sword can extend and lift everybody up.

When we arrived above the palace, we were lucky enough to spot a window where everyone could fit in. Rein destroyed the glass without making a sound by melting it with her spell called acid bubble.

We went inside the palace and landed quietly. In front of us is a huge door leading to Princess Raya's room. I asked Komraad and the girls to guard the door and be on the lookout while I enter and talk to the princess. Thankfully, the door wasn't locked so I opened it immediately, and as soon as it opened, the princess was already in front of me waiting.

She knew we were coming because of her powers but instead of welcoming us, she immediately told us to leave.

“Why are you all here? I told you to never come back! Why didn't you listen to me?” She said with a worried look on her face.

“I know you already rejected my offer of adventuring with us, but I'm still not giving up on you,” I replied with full determination.

“I just know that deep inside, you're suppressing your real self from doing what it is that you like. I just can't stand it anymore, I just really wanna hear your true feelings,” I added.

“No, it's not like that, you don't understand! This was never about me. I rejected your offer not because I didn't want to come, I did it because I wanted to keep all of you safe and away from danger!”

“Safe from what? Are you gonna keep pushing me away without telling me anything? What are you so scared of? Not only you but also Amalia and Keith. None of you are telling me anything!”

She was about to tell me the truth when she suddenly started shivering in fear.

An ominous aura enveloped the room. It was so familiar that the moment I felt it, I finally realized the truth about why everyone is so scared. She didn't have to tell me anything anymore, I already knew what they were dealing with.

“N-no... they already know. Everyone, please run!” Raya shouted.

“What's the rush princess? They just arrived here, didn't they?” A mysterious person that appeared in the shadows said.

My instinct told me to be on defense. Komraad and the girls noticed the ominous aura it was emitting so they went inside to see.

“Ms. Ina, are you okay?” The girls asked.

“I'm okay but please be on guard, I smell trouble right now.”

“Hey cat, I know this feeling, and this one is worse than last time,” Komraad said while guarding the girls.

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“Yeah, It's a demon.” The aura it emits is more sinister than the demon that appeared in Fae's village and this one appears to be possessing someone.

We were on guard because this demon is intelligent and can talk. I don't know if we can defeat it but my priority right now is to get everyone to safety.

Princess Raya approached the demon and started talking to it. Thankfully, the demon isn't hurting her in any way.

“B-brother Zion, please let these people go, they just got lost inside,” she lied out of desperation to save us.

The princess called the demon his brother. It means the person the demon is possessing is the prince.

Prince Zion smiled menacingly and replied to the princess.

“Oh little sister, this is not yours to decide. Saro, take her away,” he commanded.

“As you wish.”

Two demons appeared. One stayed with the prince's side while the one he commanded snatched the princess away and teleported somewhere else.

“Princess!” I shouted.

“Where did you take her?!?” I asked the prince angrily.

“You don't have to know, because none of you will leave this place alive,” he answered with nothing but evil intentions.

I had goosebumps after he answered my question. The very first thought that came to my mind was protecting the girls.

“Girls, Komraad and I will buy you time so that you can run away, please prioritize your safety over anything else.”

“But... Ms. Ina,” Fae said worriedly.

“No buts! This is an order! I'll get angry if you don't follow what I say!”

“I don't wanna act like this in front of them but I have no choice. This is a fight we can't win.”

Before the girls could even get away, the demons already started attacking. The demon that stayed attacked Komraad and separated him from us while the prince attacked us with a spell made out of pure darkness.

I was gonna counter it with my magic but I was too slow. I was about to use my body as a shield but thankfully, Rein was able to block it by casting a water shield.

“Ms. Ina, after everything we've been through, you still underestimate us. You don't have to protect us because we can fight too,” Rein said with full confidence and determination.

“She's right Ms. Ina, We won't leave you here alone, we'll fight alongside you,” Astrid added.

“Aah... What am I thinking? These girls have strong hearts.” I thought while laughing at my own silliness.

I slapped my cheeks and smiled at them.

“Thank you girls, and sorry for acting like a bad adult. Let's defeat this demon together.”

“Let's do it, Ms. Ina! The girls said in unison.”

“My, my... things just got interesting,” Prince Zion muttered to himself.

While we were fighting the prince, Komraad was fighting the demon who separated him from us.

“Don't you have to go and help those girls? They look so weak and fragile,” the demon said to Komraad while smiling menacingly.

“I don't have to, those girls can handle their own,” Komraad replied with a big smile. He fully trusts all of us.

“How funny, even in the face of adversity, you're still arrogant and clueless. None of you know what you've gotten yourself into. I can't wait to dye all of you in the color of despair,” the demon said while having a villainous laugh.

“Enough chit-chat!” Komraad shouted as he attacked the demon up front. The demon fought back while savoring every moment of their battle.

The girls and I on the other hand were working together to attack the prince.

Astrid and I attacked the prince simultaneously and Rein was covering us on the backline while protecting Fae at the same time. The prince was able to block our every attack. Even with our combined strength, we still can't put a single scratch on him.

We distanced ourselves from the prince to rethink our strategy.

“Astrid, boost me towards him with your sword, I have a plan,” I whispered.

“Got it, Ms. Ina.”

I rode Astrid's sword while channeling an energy beam, the same attack I always used when I was in my cat form. Astrid extended her sword alongside me. It was so fast that it caught the prince off guard. I released an energy beam from my mouth right in front of the prince's face and it hit him point blank.

“We did it! That beam was enough to disintegrate a giant snake, there's no way he'll get out of it scratch free,” I assumed.

After the smoke created by my attack faded away, we saw the prince still standing without a single scratch. It only burned a part of the clothes he was wearing.

“N-no, it can't be, " I panicked.

“That was entertaining, but now it's my turn.”

The prince created a huge sphere of pure darkness and directed it toward Rein and Fae. He was playing dirty. He knew that I'd prioritize them over anything else that's why instead of attacking me, he attacked them.

The attack was so powerful that I knew Rein's shield won't be able to block it off.

“Rein, Fae, dodge it! You can't block that attack!” I shouted.

It was too late. They didn't have enough time to dodge it so I rushed towards them to block the attack with my body. I already accepted that I wouldn’t be able to make it out in one piece but a miracle happened. Instead of being disintegrated by the attack, my body absorbed it, just like how I did when I saved the kids from being devoured by the cursed weapons.

Everyone was surprised, including me. I thought I was gonna die.

“I-Im okay!” I said out loud. I don't know why demon magic doesn't have any effect on me but it gave me hope that we can actually overcome this trial.

“Are you girls okay?” I asked Fae and Rein after absorbing the damage.

“Yes Ms. Ina, thanks to you,” they both answered.

“How intriguing,” the prince muttered to himself.

He kept on barraging us with his attacks but I just kept absorbing all of it. He's probably testing if there's a limit to how much I can take.

“T-this can work, I can win," I said to myself full of confidence.

I attacked the prince with everything I've got without having to worry about his spells hurting me. I also barraged him with different attacks and techniques I learned with Rein. At first, it wasn't doing any dent in him but little by little, he's starting to take some damage.

“This is getting irritating,” he said.

I was confident I could defeat him. The only problem I have is that if I use too much energy, I might revert back to being a cat so before that happens, I'm going to end this with the most powerful attack I know.

The moment the prince got exhausted, I channeled all the energy in my body. I'm gonna cast the spell I used to defeat the demon back in Fae's village. I was about to launch it when I heard someone call for help. It was inside the prince. I think it was the voice of the real prince trapped inside. His consciousness is still trying to hold on. I was scared that if I attacked now, I wouldn't be able to find a way to save him from the demon possessing his body but I couldn't stop my attack now so I redirected it upwards.

Because of my decision, the demon found an opportunity to counterattack.

He used another powerful spell and pointed it towards the girls, it was so fast so I had no choice but to follow and block it with my body.

I was already exhausted after using a powerful spell but I was able to absorb his attack again. I was down on my feet, trying to catch my breath.

*Huff* *Huff*

“Are you girls alright?” I asked them while panting

“Ms. Ina, we're sorry you have to keep on protecting us,” Fae sincerely apologized.

“Don't be sorry, I'll always choose you girls over anything else, tee-hee.”

That was the last straw. I was so angry that the demon kept attacking the girls just because he couldn't defeat me. I was about to go back and fight him again, maybe restrain him after he's out of energy, and think of a way to separate the demon from the prince. I was about to stand up when I didn't notice that the prince was already nearby. He picked up a sword and before I knew it, I was already impaled. It happened so fast that nobody was able to do anything.

“M-Ms. Ina!!!” The girls shouted in despair.

“I see, so my theory was right. Physical objects do hurt you.”

“I was so exhausted that I didn't notice that I'm already bleeding. As soon as he removed the sword from my body, I reverted back to being a cat.”

It was so cold, but even though I was losing consciousness, I was still thinking about the girls.

With my dying breath, I told them to run away as fast as possible. Unfortunately, they were already down on their knees and couldn't move a single muscle, they couldn't process what happened and they couldn't bear to see me lying on the ground. The despair and sorrow is taking over their body leaving them frozen in place.

The prince picked me up and started saying something.

“You're not the only one who can absorb things.” He put his hand on my head and absorbed all my life essence leaving but an empty shell. He threw my body away like it was a dirty rug.

“M-Ms. Ina!” Fae shouted. She was crying so loud that it irritated the prince. He attacked Fae but thankfully, Astrid and Rein were there to defend her. They were in despair but were still rational. They knew that they had to protect each other no matter what.

Komraad saw what happened, he left his fight with the other demon and rushed in to help the girls.

Komraad attacked the prince as a diversion and picked my body up alongside the girls and distanced himself and everyone else from the prince. He handed my body to Fae and she embraced it tightly.

“Rein listen, I'll buy you some time and create a diversion, use your magic to run away with everyone,” Komraad instructed.

He looked like he was about to burst into anger but he's managing to stay calm for them.

“B-but Mr. Komraad, what about you?” Rein asked while crying.

“Listen to me Rein, you're the oldest here. Promise me you'll take these two to safety, got it? I'll follow you afterward, I promise.”

The prince recovered from Komraad's attack and instructed the other demon to kill them all.

“Rein, we have no time left, leave now!” Komraad ordered her while removing the bracelets he was wearing.

Rein created a spell that enveloped all of them in a bubble. She flew away as soon as Komraad gave the signal.

The demon whom the prince instructed rushed toward the girls to stop them from leaving.

“Oh no you don't!” The demon was about to attack but Komraad stopped him.

“I'm your opponent!” Komraad said with a serious look in his eyes.

As soon as the girls were out of sight. Komraad went all out on his attacks.

The demon was surprised because Komraad suddenly became stronger, faster, and more durable.

“W-what is happening, you're not like this before!” The demon was panicking because he couldn't match Komraad's strength anymore.

Every second they spent fighting, Komraad's power kept rising and the stronger he got, the lesser his intellect got. He slowly turned into a wild animal until his instinct was the only thing left.

Komraad went berserk and could have easily defeated the demon but the prince interrupted their fight.

He smashed Komraad on the ground and put his bracelet back on to contain his out-of-control powers.

“You're taking way too long just to deal with a mutt. Your weakness is giving me a headache,” the prince said to the demon.

“Forgive me, my lord,” the demon bowed down. He was angry and not satisfied with the outcome.

While they weren't looking, Komraad came back to his senses and escaped as fast as he could.

The demon was gonna chase Komraad when the prince stopped him.

“Forget about that mutt. I need you for something else.”

“What is it, my lord?”

“The energy I stole from that cat is superb. At long last, We can finally put our plan into action. Make preparations! We're opening the portal to the demon realm.”