Everyone wakes up startled and asks Undying what happened:

  -Undying: "Norik was kidnapped by an assassin from Eflessia. I found traces of the kidnapping outside and sleeping agents in all the dishes except Norik's. Damn it!"

  -Akana: "And how didn't you fall asleep?"

  -Undying: "Assassins are trained from the beginning to resist sedatives and poisons. We don't have much time; if the kidnapping logic is the same, the kidnapper will go to Eflessia to communicate with the contractor, who will then go to the guild to pay the remaining fee for the contract and the kidnapped person."

  -Keith: "I understand your urgency, but how do I know I can trust you? I've only known you for a day."

  -Marin: "KEITH!!" she shouted in a reproachful tone.

  -Akana: "I understand your mistrust, Keith. In the beginning, I was like that with her too. However, our companionship has proven to me that she is trustworthy. Besides, as a soldier of Hagam, I must know the prince's whereabouts and save him!"

  -Rendell: "I trust her too. In the centuries I've lived, I've heard many lies from various elves in Ydillia, but never from someone in this army!"

  -Koldarin: "I will go wherever you go~"

  -Marin: "I can't let someone who helped the village suffer like this, so I will go as well. Keith may not trust you, but I have the feeling that I can."

  At that moment, Undying feels comforted, something she hadn't experienced in many years. She thanks everyone and guides them to Eflessia, trying to hold back her tears of joy so that no one sees them. Along the way, Rendell notices Keith's presence and asks him:

  -Rendell: "What are you doing here? Didn't you say you didn't trust Undying?"

  -Keith: "I can't leave Marin unaccompanied."

  -Rendell: "But she's not unaccompanied; there are several people here."

  -Keith: "Ugh! I thought you'd understand, elf! Wouldn't you be worried if the person you made a promise to ventured into danger?!"

  -Rendell: "No, because she was very independent and strong, two qualities I greatly admired about her. From what I see, you like Marin, don't you? That's why you came along."

  -Keith: "Ugh, I take back what I said; you understood me way too well."

  Rendell laughs at Keith. A little further ahead, Marin carries a relatively large gray backpack:

  -Undying: "If it's too heavy, you can pass it to me so as not to delay the trip to Eflessia."

  -Marin: "Thank you, Undying. Keith may be rude, but please forgive him and be patient with him."

  -Undying: "I see no problem with that. As I told Norik: there are many things worse than offenses. Besides, why are you carrying all this?"

  -Marin: "In the backpack, there are various supplies, candles, and a small statue of the Origin to pray for everyone's protection."

  -Undying: "I never prayed or know any teachings about her. In Orpin, it was the first time I entered a church."

  -Marin: "Poor soul, after we rescue Prince Norik, I can show you some teachings."

  -Undying: "Well, I don't know if someone with dirty hands like me can learn that."

  -Marin: "Nonsense, the teachings of the Origin are for everyone."

  As soon as Marin finishes speaking, arguments are heard. The group walks for a few minutes and sees two men arguing. One is an elderly bald man with brown skin, a six-centimeter beard, honey-colored eyes, wearing a black shirt, dark brown pants, and short boots of the same color as the pants. The other is a young man with medium-length light blonde hair tied in a small ponytail, fair skin, purple eyes, wearing a leather vest over a red shirt, black pants, dark gray boots, and carrying a small white quiver with many arrows on his back:

  -"Garret, don't go! It's suicide!" exclaims the elderly man.

  -Garret: "Otto, if none of us go, who will recover your amulet?!" replies the young man.

  -Marin: "Excuse me, sorry for interrupting, but what's happening?"

  -Otto: "Young lady, please: he wants to go to Eflessia alone to retrieve something that was stolen from me, but it's very dangerous."

  -Garret: "No use trying to convince me; this object is very important to him. I'll go regardless of what you think."

  -Otto: "Important enough to risk your own life?!"

  -Marin: "Calm down, since you won't change your mind, why don't you come with us? We're going there too. We have to rescue someone, and there are people proficient in battles in our group, including an assassin."

  -Garret: "Sounds like a good idea to me."

  Otto slaps his hand against his forehead in disapproval:

  -Otto: "*sighs* At least let me go along with you. I'm old but still know how to fight."

  -Garret: "It's true: he was once known as 'Upright' in Eflessia."

  -Undying: "'Upright? I've never heard of that."

  -Otto: "Well, I haven't been called that for about four millennia. As you can see from my ears, I am an earth dragon."

  The group welcomes the two and continues toward Eflessia. Forty-two minutes later, they arrive at a deserted and abandoned place, where they only see people near a two-story red mansion. They hide behind one of the abandoned houses:

  -Akana: "Is that mansion the guild?"

  -Undying: "Yes, it's best to divide ourselves into groups of two. One will distract them outside so the other can sneak into the guild. The second team will have to be very stealthy inside the building, so they focus their attention outside."

  -Koldarin: "I think I can act as a distraction since I can transform and grab the assassins' attention."

  -Akana: "That could work; however, there's still the risk of them having those devices."

  -Koldarin: "You probably didn't notice back in the savanna, but those objects didn't work on me because... well, it's better to explain later since we're in a hurry."

  -Marin: "I can stay with Koldarin to heal her eventual wounds."

  -Keith: "I'll stay with them to protect the rear."

  Keith pretends not to see Rendell's big grin:

  -Undying l: "Since it's decided, let's go."

  Koldarin walks in front of the guild:

  -Koldarin: "Hello everyone~"

  - "What? Are you lost, lady?"

  She transforms into her draconian form, scaring the assassins. One of them shouted for reinforcements inside the guild. Taking advantage of the distraction, the others infiltrated through the back of the mansion. Undying quickly explained the layout of the place and the possible blind spots that could be used by them and the assassins. Otto looked around for a moment:

  -Otto: (It seems they haven't changed much since I left.)

  They head to the room where the kidnapped are kept, hiding in blind spots along the way and silently eliminating the assassins they see. Everyone except Garret is surprised by Otto's knife skills:

  -Rendell: "For someone who hasn't worked for millennia, you're still in good shape."

  -Otto: "It depends, young one. Before, I could make a straight, clean cut. Now, it's more crooked and I still leave traces of blood."

  Everyone looks shocked at Otto's calm remark, except for Undying and Garret. They arrive at the room and upon entering, only find one assassin holding a green crystal in his hand:

  -"What?! Intruders?!"

  Garret grabs his bow and arrow and quickly shoots several arrows where the assassin is. The latter manages to dodge some, but is hit in the belly and leg, causing him to fall to the ground:

  -"Agh!"

  He approaches the injured assassin and takes the object he is holding:

  -Garret: "This doesn't belong to you. Now, a little payback."

  The young man shoots another arrow, this time at the assassin's head. Meanwhile, Akana questions Undying:

  -Akana: "Undying, if Prince Norik is not here, where else could he be?"

  -Undying: "If he is not in this room, then it means they hired the guild leader to kidnap him... Norik must be in Lester's room. That changes the plan."

  -Akana: "What will we do then?!" she said desperately.

  Garret approaches them, handing the crystal to Otto:

  -Garret: "What happened?"

  -Undying: "The person we're looking for is upstairs. In this case, I would have to enter from the outside and go straight to where he is. There will probably be an assassin next to him, but I can handle him."

  -Otto: "If you're talking about entering from the outside, then will you climb the window?"

  -Rendell: "And if the assassin next to him is Lester, will you still be able to protect him?"

  -Undying: "About the first question: yes, I will tell everyone the layout of the upper floor and how to get to his room. As soon as you hear the sound of glass breaking, you enter the room. About the second: Lester never stays next to someone he considers merchandise. Besides, he barks more than he bites. Are you ready?"

  -Akana: "I've seen you protect him before, so I trust you to protect him again, as he will probably be unarmed."

  -Undying: "Thank you, Akana."

  -Garret: "Maybe this will help: the assassin I just killed was carrying a sword that seemed too refined for him."

  -Akana: "That's his sword!"

  -Undying: "Alright, I'll take it to him."

  -Rendell: "Otto and Garret, will you join us? It seems you've recovered what you wanted."

  -Otto: "Well, I'd like to repay your help, and I believe Garret feels the same?"

  -Garret: "Yes, let's go."

  Master's Room, 10:08

  In a luxurious room with three black leather sofas and a large table in the middle, there are five assassins, Norik tied with ropes on his hands and feet, and a tall man with long wavy purple hair, black eyes, pale skin, wearing a long red silk robe with golden embroidery, pants the same color as the robe, and black shoes, sitting on one of the sofas farthest from Norik and drinking wine:

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  - "I suggest you don't squirm so much. After all, the client doesn't like damaged goods."

  -Norik: "I AM NOT A MERCAHNDISE!"

  An assassin rushes into the room and runs to the man holding the wine glass:

  - "Master Lester, intruders!"

  -Lester: "I know, three people outside, one of them a dragon. If we capture her, we could make good money to buy something beyond sedatives and maybe more manpower."

  - "No, sir, there are..."

  Before he finishes, the sound of a window breaking and a body falling to the floor is heard. Lester and the assassins turn toward the noise and see Undying freeing Norik and the room being invaded. Lester laughs nervously:

  -Lester: "Hahahaha! Well, well, if it isn't Undying! Have you come to finish the job? After all, Eflessia is in this misery because of you!" he said angrily, throwing the glass he was drinking onto the floor.

  Undying points her knife at Lester after handing the sword to the prince:

  -Undying: "Finished talking? Then I'll end this quickly."

  Two assassins attacks Akana, Rendell, Otto, and Garret, while the others goes after Norik and Undying. Akana quickly notices that one of them is carrying the device that prevents her transformation and blocks the attack with her spear. Garret shoots two arrows behind her that hit the assassin's legs, causing him to fall to the ground. Akana takes advantage of the moment and delivers the final blow. The other assassin tries to attack Rendell, but he trips him. Otto kicks the enemy's head hard enough to stain the floor with blood. He looks disapprovingly at the body on the ground:

  -Otto: "Apparently, my concern was in vain. The guild may not have changed, but the quality of the assassins has dropped significantly."

  During this fight, Norik struggles with one of the assassins. The latter strikes several times quickly, with some grazing his torso:

  - "Stay still, I'm just trying to earn my daily bread."

  -Norik: "And I see you're not very good at it."

  The assassin becomes enraged and jumps at the prince, but he rolls slightly on the ground, causing the assassin's knife to get stuck in the table. Norik takes advantage of the moment and stabs him in the back. Undying fights with the remaining assassins, easily killing those who tries to protect Lester, with him shouting at her:

  -Lester: "You always get in my way! When I finally find information about the prince's whereabouts with some thieves, you show up and ruin everything! Just like when you killed all the assassins here!"

  -Undying: (Ugh, it must have been those thieves we saw near the mist forest...) "You say that, but it was your own arrogance that dragged the guild to its current state!"

  She kicks the last assassin protecting him hard in the groin and struck him on the head. She approaches Lester, who is shouting at her while trembling:

  -Lester: "STAY AWAY FROM ME! I AM THE MASTER WHO ROSE FROM FILTH TO HERE AND I WON'T..."

  Undying slit his throat before he finished the sentence:

  -Undying: "Rose from filth? As if you ever left it. You only got this position because of your cunning and bribes, not your skill."

  She spits on Lester's corpse and walked over to where Norik is. Everyone heard a dragon's roar and checked outside, with Koldarin returning to her human form, Keith and Marin standing surrounded by charred bodies. The three walks toward the guild.

  -Rendell: "It's a relief they didn't face any issues."

  -Akana: "Your Highness, are you alright?"

  Garret and Otto looked surprised at how Akana addressed Norik:

  -Norik: "I'm fine, except for the scare I got when I woke up."

  -Undying: "I warned you not to let your guard down."

  -Norik: "Yes, and you were absolutely right. That man looked at me as if I were an easy source of money... Thank goodness you arrived in time."

  -Rendell: "I noticed you've improved in combat, Prince Norik: when you provoked the assassin and Your Highness dodged, making his knife get stuck in that table."

  -Norik: "Well, not that much. Until I can hold my own in combat like l, I still have a lot to learn. Now that I remember: who are these two?"

  -Otto: "I apologize for not introducing ourselves earlier. I am Otto, and this is Garret. We met on the way to Eflessia."

  -Garret: "Yes, now I see why they wanted to rescue you, as you're their leader. If Your Highness doesn't mind, I would like to travel with your army. One of my goals is to become the best archer in Kradlos. Just observing how they fight, I can see they are experienced warriors. I swear by my honor you won't regret it."

  Otto looks surprised at Garret's proposal:

  -Norik: "Alright, welcome!"

  -Otto: "Wait, I'm coming along too."

  -Garret: "I'm not a child anymore for you to keep watching over me, Otto."

  -Otto: "Are you still mad about that?"

  -Garret: "Do I need to write it on my forehead for you to know?"

  -Norik: "Er... sorry to interrupt..., but for now, I'm looking for any possible help, especially from a good fighter like him. (I think it's better to change the subject to ease the mood.) Otto, you're also a dragon? How will you hide your ears without hair?"

  -Otto: "I appreciate your concern, but elders like me aren't as targeted by slavers due to age. Besides, the last one who tried something with me ended up as vulture food."

  -Keith: "HEY! If you're alive, at least let us know!"

  Marin, Keith, and Koldarin enter the room:

  -Koldarin: "Oh, Undying! You took so long that I was worried!"

  -Undying: "Norik, I believe the contractor will arrive at the guild soon. We don't know who they are, so it's better we leave," she said, ignoring Koldarin.

  -Norik: "I see several valuable items here; can't we take some to sell?"

  -Undying: "If we do, it has to be quick."

  -Marin: "If you don't mind, I will say a brief prayer for those who have passed."

  Everyone searches the master's room and gathers items while Marin prays. In less than half an hour, they leave Eflessia. An hour and eighteen minutes later, a small army carrying a banner with Grinus's symbol arrives. One of the soldiers goes to a short man with pale skin, a gaunt and grim face, light brown, straight, long hair, eyes of the same color, and wearing a long black robe that hides his feet:

  - "Prince Rodney, the soldiers investigated the interior of the guild but only found traces of conflict and bodies."

  -Rodney: "Hmph, I hire assassins, and this is what I get. At least I managed to gather important information: that Hagam's prince is still alive. Now, I need to find out where he is... Well, since there's nothing else for us to do here, we shall return to Grinus."

  The soldier gives the order, and the army marches back. Meanwhile, 984 yards from Eflessia, the group walks toward the nearest town:

  -Norik: "How long until we reach the next town?"

  -Undying: "Since it's already afternoon, we'll have to sleep under the open sky tonight until we return to Orpin."

  -Norik: "Alright."

  Norik felt someone tap his right shoulder, turned around, and saw Koldarin with a big smile:

  -Koldarin: "Hello~ Your Highness! I didn't say before, but this is the first time I've met a light dragon personally! Could you transform so I can clear up some questions?"

  -Norik: "T-T-this is also my first time meeting a dark dragon. However, what kind of questions?"

  -Koldarin: "Oh yes! I'm a scholar and study various things in Kradlos! For example, those devices are actually other dragon essences modified by humans to, instead of inducing draconic power, prevent its manifestation. So far, they've only succeeded with more common dragons like fire and earth dragons."

  -Norik: "Wow, that explains how you managed to keep your draconian form in the savanna! I really wish I could help you, but unfortunately, I've lost my essence."

  -Koldarin: "Aww, that's unfortunate. However, I appreciate that Your Highness isn't as prejudiced as your guard. If you like, I can tell you more about my studies, but let's leave it for another moment~ I want to know what day-to-day life in Hagam is like."

  Elsewhere, Otto and Garret argued, with the latter enraged:

  -Otto: "Garret, why are you so angry about me looking for your f—"

  -Garret: "SHUT UP! IF I HEAR THAT CRAP AGAIN, I'LL GLUE YOUR MOUTH!"

  Everyone looks surprised. Garret clears his throat and continues ahead as if nothing had happened:

  -Otto: "It's alright, folks. I believe he's in a rebellious phase; you can ignore it." Even as Otto says this, a tense atmosphere surrounds Garret. Further back, Marin seemed concerned about what had just happened:

  -Marin: "Do you think things will be alright between the two of them?"

  -Keith: "Otto said not to worry, right? So it's better to let it go."

  -Marin: "*sighs* Honestly, I don't know what to do about your attitude. Did you happen to apologize to Undying for what you said to her in the church?"

  -Keith: "Well... no. But Marin, understand: when you travel through Kradlos like I did, you become distrustful."

  -Marin: "...And you think I don't know that, especially after the way we met?! When I fled the church in Grinus because of corruption, and days after I left the country, I was robbed and raped? The next day, slavers tried to capture me, and you saved me. To this day, I'm grateful to you and to the Origin for that, but please, don't say I'm naive. There's a big difference between naivety and my faith in people."

  Marin leaves Keith behind and runs to where Koldarin and Norik were:

  -Norik: "What happened, Marin?"

  -Koldarin: "You seem sad; would you like a hug?"

  -Marin: "I'm a little... I appreciate the hug."

  Seeing the situation, Rendell approaches Keith:

  -Rendell: "What happened? Did you say something foolish?"

  -Keith: "I said something even worse..." he said while clenching his fists, closing his eyes to keep from crying, and lowering his head.

  -Rendell: "When you're calmer, reflect on what you said, and then try talking normally. If anything, I can try to arrange a situation for you two."

  -Keith: "...That's sensible... Thank you."

  At the front of the group, Undying and Akana were conversing:

  -Akana: "I'm glad everything worked out in Eflessia. Your knowledge of the guild helped a lot in rescuing Prince Norik."

  -Undying: "It was nothing; the fact that you managed to get there shows that at least you trust me."

  -Akana: "Well, after... huh? Hey, you're not so bad-looking after all. It took a while, but you finally decided to look at me, didn't you?" she said with a smile.

  Undying felt slightly embarrassed:

  -Undying: "Well... this journey has made me rethink a few things..."

  -Akana: "I feel the same! However, I see no problem with that. I think making new friends is great!"

  - Undying: (Friends...?)

  And so they continued their journey until the sun set. They made a campfire and small shelters to sleep, using branches and leaves. During the night, it is decided that Keith would stand guard. Before everyone went to sleep, he quickly speak with Undying, however:

  -Norik: (I was going to ask Undying to train with me, but what could Keith be talking to her about?)

  As Keith leaves, she turned toward where Norik was hiding:

  - Undying: "You can come out now, snooper."

  -Norik: "Er... sorry, but what were you talking about?"

  -Undying: "He just apologized for not trusting me before we set off for Eflessia. But it's nothing."

  -Norik: "Ah, I see now why you're not bothered by insults, especially after those lies the kidnapper told."

  -Undying: "Those weren't lies, Norik: I practically killed all the assassins in Eflessia, which is why I call myself 'Undying.' When I joined the guild, I was known as 'Outsider' because no one knew the place where I was born. Over time, I became better than most of the assassins there, and with a change in leadership, contractors began wanting to work only with me. This enraged everyone, so an ambush was set against me, but they didn't expect me to survive. This led to my expulsion from the guild and the emptying of Eflessia."

  Norik takes Undying's right hand:

  -Norik: "The more I hear about what happened in your life, the sadder I feel. Undying, when this war is over, come live in Hagam: I'll do everything to ensure you have a comfortable life, even though you're human."

  -Undying: "Well, it seems like a good offer," she said with a slight smile.

  -Norik: (S-She smiled...? Undying has such a beautiful smile... Could I make her happy enough to see it again...?)

  -Undying: "Er... Norik? Let go of my hand, and you'd better sleep. It'll get dark soon."

  -Norik: "A-Ah! Yes! No! I mean: can you train a bit with me today?!"

  -Undying: "Sure, it's good for me to also teach you other things in case you're kidnapped again."

  By the campfire, Keith is watching Marin cooking from afar and seems hesitant to talk to her when he felt a push. He turned his head back and sees Rendell, who signals for him to talk to Marin. Keith nods and walks toward her:

  -Keith: "M-Marin? I want to apologize for what I said earlier: I know about what you went through because you told me after I saved you. To be honest, I admire you because even after everything you went through, you're still able to trust people, something I lost when I left the orphanage in the church of Orpin. If you don't forgive me, I understand."

  She raised her head toward him:

  -Marin: "I-I forgive you, Keith. I know there's a part of you that wants to believe in the goodness you saw in your childhood."

  Keith kneels, and the two embrace, while Rendell claps from a distance:

  -Rendell: (Mission accomplished, I'll use this night to train a bit.)

  During the night, Rendell dances under the moonlight. When he finishes, he heard light clapping. Turning toward the sound, he sees Otto among the trees:

  -Otto: "Beautiful dance, young elf. Why don't you come rest and chat a bit with this old man?"

  Rendell approaches him as Otto grabbed a canteen and poured water into the metallic lid:

  -Rendell: "Thank you. Did you manage to speak with Garret after what happened?"

  -Otto: "Unfortunately not. He's still angry with me, but that'll pass. You dance very well. Have you traveled outside Ydillia before? Elves aren't usually dancers."

  -Rendell: "Sir Otto knows a lot, but this is my first time traveling outside Ydillia. I learned from a human I met in the forest when I was a small child. I wanted to see the fig trees bloom, and I saw her dancing beautifully among the blooming trees. I couldn't take my eyes off the dance for a second."

  -Otto: "Hahaha, I see. So you're traveling to better understand humans, right?"

  -Rendell: "Yes, I’ve seen many wrongs, but I can't give up. I made a promise."

  -Otto: "Oh? Was it with her?"

  -Rendell: "I could say more, but it's late. I suggest you talk and make peace with your son."

  -Otto: "Son? Garret is human; he isn't my son."

  -Rendell: "I don't think he'd agree with that. The way he looks at you says it all."

  Rendell walks back to where the others are, leaving a thoughtful Otto. Morning arrives, and they walk for a few more hours before reaching Orpin:

  -Undying: "It's better to stay together until we reach the caravan."

  -Garret: "Alright, I'm carrying the bag with the goods we collected."

  A few minutes later, they arrive at the caravan, where they are greeted by a dwarf with long dark brown hair, slightly tanned skin, green eyes, and wearing silver armor:

  - "Welcome! How can I help you?"

  -Norik: "We want to sell some things and buy as well."

  - "Great! Let me take a look here..."

  After purchasing what they needed, the dwarf says:

  - "Thank you for your purchase! At least we still have the caravans, because if we depended entirely on the guild, we'd be bankrupt..."

  -Norik: "It's truly a pity. Wasn't Grinus a client of D'vel?"

  - "It was, but it seems they managed to develop their own technology to manufacture very efficient weapons and armor."

  -Norik: (Wow, Grinus has developed that much? They could use this to protect instead of kill people. It's outrageous for them to do this... They will pay for it, even if...) he thought while clenching his right fist.

  -Rendell: "Prince Norik, there's somewhere I need to go!"

  -Norik: "Huh? Where to?"

  -Rendell: "To the church; I'll tell you on the way."

  During the walk to the church, Rendell explained that since leaving Ydillia, he has been exchanging letters with Queen Jósal and needs to check if there is any correspondence from her, reply about what happened and that he is alright. Upon arriving, he sees a letter from her and read:

  -Jósal: "Rendell, I hope you are well after going to Eflessia. If you're reading this letter, I ask you to return to Ydillia, as I believe you are ready for the ascension test. Regards, Jósal."

  Rendell lets the letter fall to the ground. Norik asks what happened:

  -Rendell: "I-I will ascend and with that... I could run for the council or even the throne of Ydillia!"