[Rain pouring heavily]

The girls arrived at the front door of the orphanage.

*Knock* *Knock*

Amalia opened the door and saw the girls on their knees crying. Their clothes were muddy and drenched in rain.

“Oh no, what happened to you girls? I've been looking all over for you. You didn't tell me where you went so I was worried.”

Amalia had a lot of questions but all of it was answered with silence. Amalia was concerned and worried because the girls were acting differently but as soon as she saw what Fae was holding, she finally realized the truth.

“Oh no.” Amalia was down on her knees crying as she saw my lifeless body. Miguel also arrived and was devastated by what he saw.

“Where's Komraad?” Miguel asked.

“He stayed to fight the demons so we can escape, " Astrid answered.

No further questions were asked. Amalia and Miguel told the girls to get inside so they could tend to their wounds.

Amalia was gonna take my body from Fae so she can finally put me to rest but she's not letting me go.

“Her body is getting cold, you have to let her go, " Amalia said to Fae.

*Sob* *Sob*

“No... I don't want to,” Fae hugged me tightly. Her eyes were already swollen from crying so much and she looked so tired that she could lose consciousness at any moment.

Rein and Astrid approached her to try and convince her too. They gently hugged her and talked to her for hours until she finally let go of my body.

As soon as the rain stopped, everyone gathered at the back of the house to bury my body. The hole was already prepared by Miguel.

They finally laid my body to rest and after that, the girls went to their respective rooms to rest.

After the burial was done, someone knocked at the door. Amalia opened it and saw Komraad bleeding and having a lot of wounds. Amalia tended to him.

“Where's the girls?” Komraad asked while being treated by Amalia.

“They're resting in their room.”

“I see, how about Ina's body?” He asked with a sad tone in his voice.

It was the first time Komraad called me by my name.

“We just finished burying her body.” Amalia paused for a while after answering Komraad and asked him a question.

“I didn't ask the kids what happened because they were in a state of shock, but would you care to explain how all of this happened?”

“We went to the palace because Ina wanted to talk with the princess again for the last time but demons suddenly appeared so we had no choice but to fight. Ina died by the hand of the prince who was possessed by a demon, the rest of us barely escaped and survived.”

Amalia was frozen in shock. She was speechless because of what she heard. She already knew what was happening inside the palace and she felt guilty hiding the truth from us.

“I-I'm sorry, this is our fault. If only we told you from the very start, this wouldn't have happened.”

“You're sorry won't bring her back so stop apologizing. I know Ina, even if you told us the truth, she won't just stand and do nothing. Enough dwelling on the past. I want you to tell me everything you know about this kingdom so, no more secrets, okay?” Komraad demanded.

Amalia finally found the courage, to tell the truth. She sat properly and started explaining everything to Komraad.

“Five years ago, this kingdom used to be a paradise for humans. Everyone was equal. No discrimination between the rich and the poor. The queen made sure that it will stay forever that way.”

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“Miguel and I used to be the Royal Knights. We always stayed by the queen's side to accompany and protect her. One day, someone flew inside the palace through the balcony, it was a man from the Featherlight race. He was covered in blood and wounds. Without any second thought, the queen helped and treated him even though he was a complete stranger.”

“After the man was healed completely, he stayed in the palace and swore loyalty to the queen as a thank-you for treating him with kindness. It took a while but the two of them fell in love with each other and started a family, thus the prince was born, followed by the princess. Around that time, Miguel and I also started a family and we had a baby, that was Keith. We thought that our happy life would stay forever, but it didn't last long.”

“When the prince was 15, he caught a sickness. We thought it was just a normal fever but no matter what medicine we used, he just wouldn’t get any better. The prince was in so much pain and agony that the king and queen couldn't take watching their son in such a state anymore. It wasn't a sickness, the prince was cursed by a demon. The queen was so desperate that she did everything she could just to save her son but nothing worked out. She was about to give up when someone whispered in her ear and offered to help her son. With the state she was in, she immediately accepted the offer. Little did she know that the one who cursed her son and the one who offered her help were the same.”

“The prince was cured but his personality vastly changed. It's like he's a completely different person. As soon as the prince was cured, the king and queen immediately died. No one knows why but we were definitely sure it was connected to the prince so we investigated it. We lost our king and queen so the kingdom had no choice but to give the throne to the prince at a very young age.”

“After the coronation, we found out that he was possessed by a demon and that he killed the queen and king himself by absorbing their life essence. Miguel and I tried to find a way to free the prince but we failed. The demon possessing the prince found out what we were doing. We tried to fight back but we were powerless against him. Instead of killing us, he vanished us from the palace and stripped us of our ranks.”

“I don't know why he didn't take our lives, he even let my son and the princess live until now even though they already knew the truth. My guess is that it's necessary for whatever the demon is planning on doing for the future.”

“After that, we left the palace and started an orphanage but Keith decided to stay and became the head knight, promising to himself that he'll save the prince, his best friend no matter what.”

“Five years later, the kingdom that used to be a paradise vastly changed because of the demon's involvement. walls were created to separate the rich and the poor and because of that, hate and discrimination increased. The prince never left the palace, he was just hiding in the dark plotting his every move but even up to this very day, we still don't know what he's planning.”

Amalia's story came to an end. Komraad listened till the very end. Komraad stood up from his seat and thanked Amalia for telling him everything.

“Thanks for telling me, that gives me more reason to come back for the princess.”

Amalia was shocked by Komraad's answer.

“Didn't you listen to my story? There's nothing you can do to save the princess. This kingdom is doomed to fall!”

“I know, but I'm still not giving up, or else Ina will get angry at me in the afterlife, isn't that right girls?”

Rein and Astrid appeared, they were eavesdropping on their conversation.

“You're right Mr. Komraad, we'll finish what we started. If it's Ms. Ina, then she won't stand and let a little girl cry alone, like how she did to us,” Rein said while smiling. Her heart still aches from the tragedy but she has to be strong for the other girls.

“This is the only way I can repay Ms. Ina, so let's do this!” Astrid added. Fae on the other hand is still in her room. She hasn't gone out or said a single word. My death really had a great impact on her.

Amalia couldn't believe what she was hearing. Even after her warning, they're still brimming with hope and that’s what lit Amalia's heart to put her faith once more. Miguel was also eavesdropping from the other side and was also inspired by Komraad and the girls.

After their conversation, someone knocked on the door, it was Keith. He looks so tired from running non-stop

*Huff* *Huff*

“M-mom, Dad, I have bad news. The demons have finally started their plan,” Keith said while catching his breath.

Everyone went outside the house and saw a huge hole in the sky. Miguel and Amalia finally realized what the demons were planning.

“Oh no, they're trying to open the portal to the demon realm.”

Everyone was overwhelmed with fear after witnessing the hole in the sky. They know that something bad is about to happen.

It took the demons five years to gather enough energy to power the portal but it was never enough, not until I came and made it possible. Absorbing my life essence was the final energy they needed to put their plan into motion.

After witnessing the hole in the sky, Keith gathered everyone so they can plan on how to stop the demons and prevent a huge casualty.

During the planning, Komraad also explained to Keith what happened back in the palace earlier and how I died.

Keith was pissed at himself for not being aware of the situation.

“I see... I'm sorry to hear that, I wish I could mourn Ms. Ina's passing but right now, I need to focus on saving the kingdom and I need all the help I can get so please, help me save the prince and the princess alongside this kingdom,” he begged them while bowing down his head.

“You don't have to ask us, we've been planning on helping from the start!” Komraad replied.

Keith was so happy to have found allies who'll fight alongside him.

“Now that's settled, let's get over the plan once more. Mom and Dad will stay on the front line with the knights. Your job is to protect the civilians. Rein and Astrid will find and rescue the princess. May will be guiding you where. Komraad and I will fight the demons and destroy the source of the portal at the same time.”

Keith brought out a relic in the shape of a badge.

“They're not the only ones who were preparing, " he said with brimming determination in his eyes.

“What is that?” Astrid asked.

“It's a relic that can separate the demon from the prince. I've been waiting my whole life, now I can finally use it to save Zion.”

After the recap, everyone prepared for the war. Keith went back to the palace to alert the knights. Amalia and Miguel wore their old armor back when they were still Royal Knights. Just to be safe, the orphaned kids hid in the basement of the house. Komraad, Astrid, and Rein also prepared themselves and ate to gain back some energy.

After hours of preparation, everyone was finally ready but before they departed, Rein talked to Fae first.

*Knock* *Knock*

“Hey Fae, I know you're in there. You don't have to reply but I want you to at least listen to me. I just want to tell you that we're going back to the palace to save the princess. I know you're still hurting, we all do, but I want you to know that even though Ms. Ina is gone, all of us are still here for you because even though we started as strangers, we are already a family by heart. Don't worry, we'll be back as fast as we can so please stay safe here okay?” Rein said to ease Fae's burden a little.

Rein left after saying those words. Fae did not reply with a single word.

The gang was already in the carriage and was ready to depart when Fae suddenly appeared carrying a huge backpack.

“W-wait everyone, I'm sorry for taking my time but please take me with you.”

Rein and Astrid were overjoyed to see Fae and hugged her tightly.

“Welcome back Fae,” Rein and Astrid said together.

“What's with that bag you're carrying?” Komraad asked Fae out of curiosity.

“It's medical equipment. You'll be needing someone to tend your wounds after your battles. It's the only help I can offer, after all,” Fae answered.

Komraad smiled at Fae and patted her on the head.

“That's more than we could ask for, thank you.”

Everyone is finally riding the carriage. They went towards the palace ready for the final battle to stop the demon's plan once and for all.