The story starts with Demon Queen Jane, who was in confusion because her messenger, who had been living in the ghouls' kingdom, got kicked out as a sign of cutting ties between the two nations.

The messenger lowered his head and said, "I apologize, my queen, for disturbing you with this news, but the order for my exit was from the royal ranks officially."

Jane sighed, rubbing her forehead. "No need to apologize. Go meet with your family; they’re probably worried sick about you."

The messenger bowed and went on his way. Monroe looked at his sister and remarked, "They've ended the relationship with us. There's nothing to be sad about."

Jane responded, "I wanted to... but forget it."

Monroe continued, "But what puzzles me is why? There has to be some benefit in cutting ties with us. Maybe the humans wanted something from the ghouls, and getting us out of the picture made it easier. Or perhaps it's the dark elves? What do you think, sister?"

Jane stayed silent for a moment, then answered, "Don't know, and I don't care. Our kingdom needs strong allies who can benefit us and help us in our time of need. I admit that this news is a step back in my plans, but no problem. I have more plans and time to think, adjust, and start again."

Monroe nodded and said, "I hope for the best."

In the Renolva kingdom, exactly one day away from Daekrahm City.

Yory was travelling in his cart until Boris stopped. Yory looked at Boris, who kept staring at the bushes with his usual angry expression.

Yory then lifted a sword and said, "Good thing I bought this sword."

He got down from the cart and started looking at where Boris's eyes were fixed. Yory said, "I can smell you from here, and by you, I mean all of you."

Suddenly, eight ghouls walked out of the forest. Yory said, "Ambushing people here, huh? Clever. No one would expect ghouls to be so close to the city."

One of the ghouls sniffed the air and said, "Demon? What's a demon doing here? Aren't you a bit far from your little kingdom?"

The ghouls surrounded Yory in a circle. Sometimes, one ghoul would walk past him to intimidate him, and occasionally, a female ghoul would sniff him and start laughing, a sign that Yory didn't meet her standards of a man.

Yory didn't move. He stayed silent and calm until he looked at the ghoul he had been talking to earlier and said, "You don't look like bandits to me. You're soldiers, and well-trained too. But putting that aside, you know that hurting a demon will complicate the relationship between our kingdoms?"

The ghoul smiled and said, "Haven't you heard the news? Our king ended the relationship with your queen, so there won't be any complications."

Yory fixed him with a cold, angry stare as he raised his sword. "So, are you prepared for a new 'complicated matter'—like a war between our kingdoms?"

The ghoul smiled and said, "Who said we want war? You're just traumatized or imagining things. Tell me, did a ghoul chase you in your dreams to make you this frightened?"

Yory kept silent, and the ghouls started laughing for a moment before leaving Yory, except for a female ghoul who walked past him and blew him a kiss.

The ghouls entered the forest, and the one who had been talking to Yory the whole time said with a grin, "Something big is going to happen. I suggest you leave before you return to your kingdom in a wooden box."

Yory returned the sword to the cart and looked at Boris, saying, "Even though I made it clear I'd never get involved in my kingdom's matters again, I have to find out what's happening with the ghouls and report back to Jane. It's my duty as a part of the demon kingdom."

Boris, with his red eyes, looked at Yory and made a big, loud sound. Yory responded, "I understand. I'll find a safe place for the cart and free you to guard it while I go gather information from the ghouls."

Boris nodded, and Yory began moving with the cart into the deep woods.

Meanwhile, Falkor was waiting with Joe and his soldiers until a scout returned, panting. He said, "Sir, I found their camp, and it's huge. There are a lot of ghouls and trapped nuns."

Falkor nodded and said to his soldiers, "You know what to do..."

He stopped mid-sentence, hearing movement in the bushes. He quickly signalled his soldiers to spread out.

Moving towards the bushes, Falkor raised his sword and prepared to attack when a young nun stood up and aimed a bow at his face. Falkor raised his arms and said, "Suify?"

Suify smiled and embraced Falkor. He hugged her tightly and asked, "Are you alright? Did they hurt you, my child?"

Suify's face held a touch of sadness. "They took Mother Elora. The rest of us attacked a camp and freed our sisters, but there are more who got kidnapped."

Falkor nodded and asked, "What about Ch...?"

He fell silent when he saw Christana looking at him, her smile warm. "Falkor, I feared I would never see you again."

Falkor rushed towards Christana, and they embraced tightly. She said, "I'm sorry, I'm covered in a lot of blood and dirt."

Falkor gently patted her head. "No, I'm just happy that you're alive."

Then Falkor noticed Eyva, and he hugged her too, for she was, like the other nuns, a part of his family.

After half a day of walking, Yory was deep in the forest, searching for any sign of the ghouls' camp. He muttered to himself, "Their smell is weak, not like I'm a ghoul with a strong sense of smell, but I can manage."

After a long walk, he spotted a ghoul holding a nun and pushing her to move. Yory started following at a safe distance, murmuring, "I'm lucky these nuns use that expensive perfume; it helps mask my scent from the ghoul."

As they neared the borders, Yory saw the ghoul leading the nun into a camp full of his kind. Yory swiftly climbed a large tree with abundant branches and leaves, concealing himself from the ghouls' view.

Yory thought to himself as he watched the camp, "So these ghouls disguised themselves as bandits to hide their identity. Pretty clever, but why? What's their ultimate goal in all of this? I need to capture a ghoul, but I can't reveal myself. How am I going to do it?"

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After much contemplation, Yory sensed some movement and quickly climbed higher, ensuring he remained hidden.

The movement was a scout looking around in every direction, then he started sneaking toward the place where Yory had stopped following the ghoul and spotted the camp.

The scout observed the camp for a moment before returning to where he came from.

After half an hour, Falkor arrived with nuns and half of the soldiers he had left, as the ambush on that camp had resulted in a few losses in his group.

Joe walked with him, accompanied by Christana and Eyva. When they arrived, Falkor spoke in a low voice so as not to attract the ghouls' attention, "My friends, my family, my comrades, we can't waste more time because our loved ones could be lost. Let's end this here."

Suddenly, Yory spoke up, "Can I join you?"

All the soldiers raised their bows, while the nuns held their hands ready to use magic, pointing them towards Yory in a swift response to his voice.

When Falkor realized it was Yory, he instructed, "Lower your weapons. He is... peaceful."

The nuns and soldiers relaxed. Christana exclaimed upon seeing Yory, "You?"

Eyva followed suit, "What are you doing here?"

Then Joe, confused, asked, "Did something happen to you on the road?"

Yory raised his hands in the air and said, "One question at a time."

He then descended from the tree and explained, "A third party wanted some answers regarding the ghouls' behaviour and asked me for a favour to help him out. That's why I'm here."

Falkor looked at Yory and asked, "So, are you in?"

Yory nodded and replied, "Yes, but after capturing the leader, we both will interrogate him, together."

Falkor extended his hand to shake Yory's and said, "I accept any help for my family."

Yory shook Falkor's hand and added, "Let's do it, but first let me cover my senses and face so those damned ghouls won't detect or recognize me."

Then Christana inquired, "Why?"

Yory sighed, "To avoid starting a conflict with the already strained relationship with them."

After that, all the soldiers took their positions. Falkor then raised his hand and shouted, "NOW!"

The soldiers unleashed a volley of arrows at the camp, hitting many ghouls who fell before they could even comprehend what had just happened.

Falkor and Christana began fighting the ghouls one after another. Joe engaged in combat on the west side of the camp with Eyva and the soldiers. Yory wore a tall scarf covering his face, leaving only his eyes exposed. He fought alongside three nuns against the ghouls in another part of the camp.

Christana successfully defeated another female ghoul, but her focus remained on finding Mother Elora. She encouraged herself, "Stay strong, Christana, to save your dear mother."

In the other half, Eyva froze a ghoul and beheaded him with one swift blow before turning to another ghoul charging toward her. Eyva said, "Where are you, Mother Elora? I have a loving mother, but you were the nicest person I ever met. Please be safe."

Meanwhile, Falkor stabbed a female ghoul in the stomach, killing her. He shouted, "ELORA!!!!!!! WHERE ARE YOU!?"

The battle intensified, with ghouls fighting fiercely, driven by anger and old grudges. The humans fought back with equal hatred, the wounds of the war between Daekrahm City and the ghouls still fresh.

Suddenly, Falkor lost his balance and fell to the ground. A young ghoul seized the opportunity and charged toward Falkor, who couldn't defend himself.

Just in time, Christana drove her blade into the young ghoul's chest. He stared at her with anger, tears streaming down his face. The sight of his tears caught her off guard, giving him a chance to stab her in the shoulder.

Christana screamed in pain, blood flowing, and Falkor bellowed, "NO!!!!!!!"

Swiftly, he lifted his sword, cleanly severing the young ghoul's head from his body. Then he rushed to Christana's side, helping her up. She began to heal her wound and said to Falkor, "I lost my focus, but I'm alright. Never expose your back to the enemy, Father!"

Falkor nodded, assisting Christana to her feet. With the help of the remaining soldiers, they continued to battle.

Meanwhile, Eyva dispatched another ghoul and entered the small prison. Yory stood guard outside and instructed the nuns, "Enter! I'll keep them busy while you free your sisters!"

The nuns nodded and entered the prison. With the combined efforts of Joe, Falkor, Christana, and everyone else, they drove the ghouls out of the camp and towards the borders.

In the midst of the fight, Falkor shouted, "Christana! Help your sisters in the prison, we can hold them here!"

Christana nodded, and the soldiers made way for her to retreat. As she entered the prison, she was met with sorrow. Soldiers and some nuns lay dead alongside ghouls. She wept for her sisters, for the soldiers who left families and loved ones behind, and even for the ghouls who perished for unclear reasons. The young and the old had fallen today.

Entering the prison, time seemed to slow. Christana moved aside for a young nun, aided by two sisters, to pass. Another nun tended to a young sister with a broken arm and bruised face. A third nun had succumbed to the brutality of the interrogation.

When Christana saw a room full of nuns, her heart sank. Among them was Eyva, tears streaming down her face.

Entering the room, memories flooded back, overwhelming her. She saw Mother Elora, lifeless, her hands still bound, her face bearing horrific bruises. A sword pierced her battered chest.

Christana wept uncontrollably. Her mother, her guiding light, lay dead before her. The woman who had filled her life with warmth and love, who celebrated her every achievement, who had been so proud of her.

Eyva, tears streaming down her face, embraced Christana. Some nuns wept, while others began freezing the chains to free Mother Elora.

After the ghouls retreated to the borders, Falkor rushed back to the camp. He witnessed the nuns carrying Mother Elora's lifeless body out of the prison, with Christana walking beside them towards Falkor.

Falkor began to cry, and Christana hugged him, murmuring, "No, no, no, no........"

They wept together for their beloved Mother Elora, a kind and loving presence who had been like family to many. She had asked for nothing more than peace for everyone.

Afterwards, the soldiers captured several fleeing ghouls, including the leader. They also apprehended Necra, discovering he was the one responsible for Mother Elora's death, with the complicity of some interrogated nuns. As they brought him to the camp, he was covered in bruises and injuries, met with the collective hatred and resentment of the nuns.

The soldiers placed him on the ground, and Christana emerged from the prison while Falkor remained inside, facepalming and broken.

Christana picked up a wooden club that Necra had used to torture the nuns. With her eyes red from tears, she approached him.

Necra glared at her and defiantly declared, "Kill me, I will never talk."

Christana's voice trembled. "Why? Why did you do it? All those people, all those families..."

She couldn't finish her sentence, overwhelmed by a surge of emotions.

Necra erupted, shouting, "What about us!? You killed our people! Started wars! You're not innocent! None of you! And every human death is good, one less problem for my race!"

In response, Christana screamed, raising the club and tears streaming down her face, "WHAT DID MY MOTHER DO TO YOU!!!!!!!!?"

She struck Necra repeatedly with the club, causing him to fall to the ground, blood pooling around him.

The nuns stood in stunned silence. Falkor remained inside, facepalming. Christana continued to shout, "Mother Elora wished peace for everyone! SHE WISHED PEACE FOR EVERY......"

She beat Necra relentlessly, blood staining the ground, until his head was reduced to a battered mass beneath her blows. Christana tossed the club aside and walked towards the woods, heading for the city. Her gait was unsteady, likely due to her injuries and Mother Elora's death.

The nuns remained silent, some unable to contain their tears. Joe watched, and Yory, observing from a distance, remarked, "We aren't so different. We all have loved ones we're trying to protect, all trying to navigate this cruel world."

Joe nodded, and others, both soldiers and nuns, nodded in agreement.

In another realm, a field adorned with diverse flowers basked in the warm glow of the sun. Mother Elora slumbered on the ground, nestled amid the blossoms and the tender grass beneath.

Abruptly, she awoke.

Rising to her feet, her visage now as youthful as in her prime, Mother Elora began to wander the area, captivated by its exquisite surroundings.

She wandered until she spotted a woman seated beside a picturesque lake. Mother Elora hastened toward her.

When she reached the woman, the stranger turned to face her. Mother Elora beamed and offered a graceful bow.

The woman inquired, "Did you do good? Did you love people? Did you miss me?"

Tears welled in Mother Elora’s eyes, her smile radiant. After a moment, she answered, "Yes, I did as much good as I could."

The woman nodded, and Mother Elora's tears fell freely. She continued, "And yes, I loved all people without exception, though I held some dearer, like Falkor, Eyva, and Christana."

A smile graced the woman's lips, and Mother Elora began to weep again. Finally, she spoke in a steady voice, "And yes... I missed you so much... Mother!"

The tears streamed down the woman's face as she embraced Elora, who held her close by the tranquil lake. They were finally at peace.

FAREWELL, MOTHER ELORA, AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING.