Shokei and her party have returned back to where the cursed statue is located. Everyone can see that the petrified statue is still rock solid.
"We're back to where we started." Shokei said.
"And all that is left for us is to free the princess." Rei said.
"By the way Mizuki, you did not lose that potion we found at the dungeon, didn't you?" Shokei asked her.
"I always keep my things together." Mizuki replied. She takes out the specialized potion. "I have it right here."
"Let's hope this works." Toyama said.
Mizuki opens the bottle of the potion and added drops on top of the petrified statue. The party can see that the liquid is dissolving the statue. Seeing this, Mizuki applied more drops as the liquid cuts through the cursed stone. The statue that was around Hyacinth is fading and the party can see that the princess is able to breathe again after being freed from the curse.
"Huff, huff." Hyacinth breathes and feels herself alive. "Oh, thank the heavens! I'm free from that dreaded curse!"
"Princess..." Toyama calls out to her.
"Hmm? Wh-what's going on here?" Hyacinth asked in confusion.
"Princess Hyancinth." Toyama calls out to her. "It's me."
"Oh, there you are..." Hyacinth said and notices Shokei and her party. "Umm who are these people that you are with here?"
"I met them here a while back." Toyama tells her. "While you were trapped in that cursed petrification, I joined these travelers as we explored the Sacred Sanctuary together."
"Really?" Hyacinth asked, looking at the party. "I'm curious to know what just happened and where did that wicked dy go off to?"
"You don't have to worry about her anymore princess." Shokei tells her. "Your father is very worried about you as we speak."
"Huh?" Hyacinth looks at her and asked. "And who might you be?"
"The name's Shokei." The blonde-haired introduced herself. "And these are my allies that have traveled far from Ursaror to find you."
"Hmm...I see." Hyacinth said, seeing Shokei's party members.
"My Princess...are you ok?" Toyama asked.
"I'm good as it is." Hyacinth replied. "I do not know these individuals well for as I have never met them before."
"We will expin ter." Shokei tells her. "Right now, we need to leave this pce to get you back to your Kingdom."
"Yes." Toyama said. "We should do that then."
The party, along with the rescued Princess, leaves the Necropolis and they are heading back to Ursaror.
Later, the party has returned back to Ursaror. They are all back in the King's throne room.
"I am honored that you brave souls have managed to return my true daughter, Princess Hyacinth, back from the Necropolis." King Marmaduke said. "I don't know how you did it, but I'm sure that it must have taken you long enough to find her."
"You're welcome." Shokei nodded.
"Father, I must apologize that it was my fault that I left the castle without your permission." Hyacinth tells him.
"Apology accepted." The King said to his daughter and asked. "But why is it that you had to leave my castle to venture off to a dangerous pce?"
"And for one, I thought she was kidnapped." Rei tells Shokei in a whisper.
"I was out on a journey to look for an important treasure that was hidden in the Necropolis." Princess Hyacinth tells him. "Then I was ambushed and was petrified by a strange woman."
"Goodness...but that expins why you went missing." The King said and asked. "But for curiosity, how did you managed to get back here in one piece until the moment I found out that an imposter has taken over your pce?"
"I can expin..."
Toyama steps out from the group. This brought King Marmaduke's attention as he sees him standing there. He looks at him and he was familiarized by his face.
"Toyama..." The King calls out to him.
"Yes, your grace?" Toyama asked.
"Were you involved into helping out these travelers?" The King asked him.
"Yes...I did." Toyama tells him. "But I should let you know; I did follow the Princess to the Necropolis. I did my best to protect her from the danger that we encountered..."
"Enough." The King said to him with a sight nod.
"Despite my efforts," Hyacinth said to her father in disappointment. "I was unable to find that treasure that I had hoped to look for."
"You should be fortunate that these travelers have helped you out with your side of your situation." The King said to his daughter. "I would not imagine losing you as you risk your own life out there in the sands."
"I'm sorry." Hyacinth apologized. "It won't happen again."
"No worries..." The King said to her. Then he sees Shokei. "Now then. Since you have saved the Princess...again that is, I made the decision to reward you, Shokei, in your efforts into finding my daughter."
"Really?" Shokei asked him.
"Of course!" The King said. "You could not possible have done it alone, did you?"
"Not at all your grace." Shokei replied.
"Right." The King nodded.
The King looks at his guard that was standing by him. He gestures his head and allows him to go right up to him. The guard did as he is carrying a case, shaped as a rectangur. He hands Shokei the case in her hands.
"For me?" Shokei said, staring at the case she holds.
"I wonder what's inside?" Rei asked.
"It could be money!" Marie said with a guess. "Yeah, that's it! My best bet is all that money!"
"And here I say that greed is a horrible curse." Mizuki said, shaking her head.
"Go ahead young d." The King tells Shokei. "Open it if you please."
"I'm curious what is inside..."
Shokei opens the case. The party looks to see what was inside the case. Inside appears to be a sword that is false-edged and has an imitation amber grip with a solid metal hilt parts that are made out of antique silver. The sword looks simir at a time when Shokei was fighting Fozoworu for the first time. The only difference is that the sword appears original.
"Wow..." Shokei said as she takes the sword in her hands and looks at the lengthy bde. "I...never seen this kind of sword."
"This is the Avaquar." The King tells her. "This is an ancient sword that has been used by a legendary warrior centuries ago."
"Interesting." Shokei said, holding the sword in hand.
"Legend has it that the Avaquar is known for its greatest power." The King tells her. "Truth or not, this is what I can think of. I still consider this a gift from me to you for your efforts."
"Thank you." Shokei said, putting the sword away as she keeps it.
"I would like to thank all of you for everything that I had to put you all the trouble into finding my daughter." The King said to everyone. "Without you all, there would be no hope on finding her at all."
"Anytime, your grace." Shokei said to him. "We love it over here, but we have an important journey we must depart on."
"Alrighty then!" The King said. "Farewell and godspeed."
Shokei and her party are leaving the castle after they all waived their goodbyes to Hyacinth, Toyama, and King Marmaduke. The party then leaves the Kingdom of Ursaror.
Traveling back on the sands, the party is making their trip back to Zeeletum. Shokei looks back on her map to see that the mark the spirit had pced shows the location of the next gem, in which it is found in the bushy trees that looks more of a swamp. Kichiro checks the map that Shokei is holding.
"I wonder why the next gem is located in a swamp?" Shokei asked.
"I think it's best to ask Nobutasu about this." Kichiro said. "He might expin everything."
"Speaking of that, I am curious how my nephew is doing." Mizuki said, recalling her nephew Erolin is suffering from a disease.
"Oh right! I remember now." Shokei said, remembering the sick nephew that she and her party saved since the start of their travels in Danevana.
"I just hope he's doing better since I left the medicine at the clinic." Mizuki said.
"Then we should visit him." Shokei said.
The party arrives back at Zeeletum. Shokei and her party returns back to the clinic. There, they see Ginko and Erolin in the room. Ginko turns to see Shokei and her party have returned from their travels.
"Ah! You're all back!" Ginko said, happy to see them.
"We're back." Shokei said.
"I was very concerned about you all. Especially you, Mizuki." Ginko said. "I hope that you all have pulled through with no interference I hope."
"That...well, it's a long story." Shokei tells her.
"How is Erolin doing?" Mizuki asked her.
"He's doing very good." Ginko tells her. "The doctor told me that he's going to be all right. He needs to keep away from the heat. Thanks to your medicine, his recovery took him a few days for him to feel better."
The party sees Erolin as he is in very good condition.
"I knew that my medicine would work." Mizuki said. "I had doubts that it would not proceed into making him feel better."
"I'm doing great." Erolin said to him. "I'm feeling much better now."
"I'm gd to hear that." Mizuki said. "It's great to see that you're more alive and awake."
Erolin nodded.
"Hmm, speaking of that, it looks like everyone is all tired from a long journey." Ginko said. "I would make you all a good meal that you will enjoy from me."
"Really?" Shokei asked. This brought some party members their attention.
"Absolutely." Ginko nodded. "Besides, all of you have worked hard together in your travels, right?"
"Yeah." Shokei said. "We all did."
Ginko chuckled for a bit. "Anyways, we should get going now. Erolin, you get changed and we'll wait for you outside so you can come home with us."
Erolin nodded.
The party leaves the patient room. Everyone waits for Erolin to get changed into his regur clothes. After he put his clothes on, the party leaves the clinic and are heading back to Ginko's house.
Later that evening, Shokei and her party are resting up from their long journey as they are enjoying the meal that Ginko has made for them.
"I must say Mizuki, your retive is a great cook." Sadako tells her.
"The best thing about the meal is that it's not too spicy at all." Marie said, chewing down on her food. "It's mild enough as I like it."
"Thanks." Mizuki said, taking a sip of water. "Ginko makes her meals in a comfort style. She does not make her meals too warm or too spicy. She cooks the food with a sense of passion."
"Mmm..." Shokei takes another bite of the meal.
The party is enjoying the meal provided for them. Everyone except Lei, who is consuming more water to hammer down the spicy effects that is toying around in her mouth.
"Must you drink so much water?" Rei asked her.
"Sorry...I'm not accustomed to hot meals." Lei tells her.
"That expins a lot." Rei said.
Beatrice and Saeko ughed with a giggle.
"Awww, it's not funny!" Lei whined. "I'm serious!"
"Look, just eat the food before we think you get weirder." Rei tells her.
Lei sighed as she tries her best to eat her meal.
After the meal, the party is settled in their guest room as they are about to call it for the night.
"I'm curious." Shokei said. "I wonder if the ship that brought us here is done in repairs?"
"Maybe." Kichiro said. "Its been days since we arrived here. If we head back to Martyrdom, we should speak to Nobuatsu for advice on finding the next gem."
"Yes." Shokei said. "But we really need our sleep. We have a long trek ahead of us for the seas."
The party got themselves tucked up and they went to bed. As the party rests up, Shokei slept peacefully in her sleep. Suddenly, she was faced with another strange dream.
Shokei visions herself in her dream as she is running off inside a dark area. She keeps running further down the passageway until she stops at an open area. Standing there, Shokei looks around to see that she is surrounded in darkness.
"Show yourself, Hauntmystic!" Shokei shouted.
"My, my...is this the brave young warrior coming to rescue this damsel in distress?" The Necromutant asked.
Shokei looks straight ahead to see Hauntmystic emerging out of the darkness.
"Welcome Emissary...you have arrived. I thought that you were not going to make it, but it seems that you made your way here alive and well..." Hauntmystic said to her.
"Enough talk! Where's the Princess?!" Shokei asked her, interrupting her speech.
The Necromutant hears her asking this question. She smiles and then reveals Princess Antoinette out from the shadows.
"Take the girl." Hauntmystic said.
"Shokei..." Antoinette said to Shokei.
"Antoinette..." Shokei said back to her. She stands there, staring at her directly in the eyes.
Hauntmystic smiles evilly. She looks on the ground and there emerged a spear from the ground. She raises her eyebrows to have the spear being fired directly into the back of Princess Antoinette.
"Ugh!Sho...kei..." Antoinette said in a dying tone.
"Huh?! N-Noooooooooooo!!"
Shokei screamed as she saw the princess dies on the floor. She rushes over to come to her aid.
"Antoinette...Antoinette...no...don't die..." Shokei calls out to the princess.
Antoinette lies motionless, completely dead, as the spear has taken her toll.
"UGH!!"
Suddenly, Shokei felt something went straight through her back as it felt sharp. An arrow has been targeted in the back of Shokei. She feels the arrow has pierced into her heat and then she stops breathing. She takes the fall as she joins Antoinette on the floor. Feeling very little energy left in her body, Shokei can get one st look at the Princess as her eyes are going dim.
"I'm sorry...Princess..."
With her st words, Shokei bckened out in the sea of darkness.
Shokei gasps as she wakes up from the dream. Her eyes became wide alert, and she recalls the vision of seeing Antoinette in her dreams. She remembers the dream in detail, feeling the presence of death in a deadly situation. In her own thoughts, she could not imagine the tragic moment of what would have happened to the princess and herself had she lost by the Necromutants. Looking up to the ceiling, Shokei lies there for a few minutes to reflect on her dream.
One day...if there was only one day, I could see your face Antoinette...just for that one day...
After thinking about the Princess for that minute, her eyes felt tired again to fall back to sleep.
The next day, Shokei and her party are about to leave Danevana. The party waits for the ship that they were on to return back to Danevana. As they wait, Mizuki goes over to see Shokei.
"Shokei." Mizuki calls out to her.
"Yes?" Shokei asked.
"Can I ask you something?" Mizuki asked her.
"What's that?" Shokei asked.
"I've been doing some thinking tely." Mizuki said. "When you held that Sand Gem in your hands, you passed out in front of us. Who was it that you encountered again from your trance?"
"You mean Beltine the spirit, right?" Shokei asked.
"Right...if that is her name." Mizuki said.
"I only visioned her in my own mind when I recalled touching that gem." Shokei said to her. "In fact, I was the one that could only see her through my mind and not to you."
"Really?" Mizuki asked. "Was she realistic when you saw the spirit?"
"Yes, I did." Shokei replied. "She spoke through me, but I was able to gain information out of her to where I needed to go next."
"I see." Mizuki said. "Speaking of that, I was thinking about joining you and your friends on this journey of yours."
"You want to come with us?" Shokei asked. "But what about Ginko and Erolin?"
"It's ok." Mizuki said. "I talked to Ginko this morning about my decision, and she was fine with it. As long as Ginko and Erolin are doing well, they should be fine to take care of themselves. For me, I want to become a big help for your party in case you need anything."
"Heh, I guess you're someone with words." Shokei said with a smile. "But since you are someone with heart, you can come with us!"
"Thanks!" Mizuki said with a bow. "I'll be helpful with you in every step of your journey."
"With your alchemy skills, I believe that we might need your assistance." Shokei said to her.
"No problem." Mizuki said.
Soon, the ship that the party used to get here is heading back to Egesul. The repairs from the slight wreckage have been completed. The ship nds on shore and the party waits for the owner behind the vessel to come off board. Shokei goes over to the captain.
"Hi!" Shokei asked him. "Is your ship heading back to Martyrdom?"
"Hello again!" The captain greets her and replies. "Yes, this ship will sail back to the continent."
"I was making sure that it was the same ship that we traveled on." Shokei said. "My companions and I need to travel back there."
"What's the rush?" The captain asked.
"No rush at all." Shokei replied. "Just wanted to be sure if the ship is returning to Martyrdom."
"Not at the moment." The captain tells her. "We're receiving supplies that is needed for Euna. Then, this ship will depart from Egesul first."
"All right." Shokei said.
"Just a reminder." The captain said. "When this ship returns back to Egesul, we may not leave from there to Euna. If you're heading for the other continent, I ask that we need your patience beforehand."
"Fair enough." Shokei nodded. "Is it ok we can board on this ship?"
"Why not? Sure, you can board on!" The captain replied.
"Great!" Shokei said and turns to her party. "Come on! We can all board on."
The party boards on the same ship that they all traveled on since the arrival. Then, after some time passes, the ship was set off to sail and it is not sailing out to the ocean to travel back to Egesul.