Adrianna asked Ed, "Grandfather, will you ever come back?"

"No child… This is my where I belong. I won't go anywhere else." Ed paused and let go of Adrianna. "I am too old and don't want any more adventures in my life. This place is peaceful and I would like to spend the rest of my life here in this wilderness…"

​​

Ed looked at Adrianna's sad face and smiled. "However, you can visit your grandfather whenever you like."

Ed looked at Dmitri and his yearning to meet his son and grandsons returned. As he looked at Dmitri, he found himself to be so helpless that he couldn't fathom it. He knew that Adrianna was in good hands, but the price he had to pay to keep her safe was not justified. Even though Kuro and his sons had never liked him, they were still his progeny. He loved them all regardless… Ed looked away with a sigh.

Adrianna saw the pained look on her grandfather's face and knew exactly what he was thinking about. Her heart ached for him. She raised her hand to caress his cheek and said, "Grandfather, I wouldn't be standing here if it weren't for you. Without you, my survival would be absolutely out of the question. If it hadn't been for you, I wouldn't have the opportunity to receive human education, nor would I have been able to interact with the outside world.

"All my experiences in life are attributed to you. I would have lived a life filled with complexities and would have never been able to live a normal life if you hadn't taken me under your wing. You have taken so many risks for me that I can't even imagine and perhaps will never be able to repay. Had you not encouraged me, I wouldn't have come so far. You taught me how to control my magic, life, and the anxieties that came with it.

"Although your decision to stay here forever is something I won't challenge, please reconsider it…"

Ed smiled at her granddaughter. He noticed how mature she had become over the last few months. He hugged her again and said, "Don't worry child, I will be fine here. You know I was always a loner, so this environment suits me well. I am well protected here and Howard comes here from time to time, so I have enough company. Plus, Mun is here all the time to keep me company as well."

His refusal broke her heart and she was crestfallen inside, but she didn't let it show on her face. Dmitri could feel her every emotion and his despair increased.

"Now, you go ahead child. It is getting late and I don't want you to fall into the hands of danger all over again just because you came to meet me." Ed urged for them to leave as dusk was falling and the sun was half below the horizon. Its rays were falling upon the white snow, reflecting a soft orange color. The winds had settled and the mountains were white for as far as they could see.

Adrianna nodded.

She turned to Fleur and asked, "Fleur, can you create a portal here? If you can, we would be able to avoid the stairs and the jungle."

Before Fleur could create a portal, Ed stopped her. "You cannot create a portal here. This place is visited by many important people from various realms. If everyone could create a portal, then almost anyone, including rogues, could easily walk through and cause destruction. The fact is that many don't even know that it exists. You have to travel either by foot or on your brooms to reach here." Ed remembered how he had to run for two days to reach here through the charmed forest.

"There exists only one building behind this inn and that is the meeting chambers of the council. You cannot go unless invited."

The three of them listened to Ed with awe. Fleur blinked several times before asking, "Father has come here?"

Ed started laughing. "Of course! He is my friend! He comes here to spend quality time with me and we go on a hunting spree in addition to spending time talking."

Fleur smiled at Ed.

"Children, you should get back now. It is getting darker by the minute," said Ed as he insisted on them going back.

"Goodbye Grandfather," said Adrianna as she hugged him for the last time.

"Goodbye child. By the way, there's a surprise waiting for you when you reach the royal palace."

Hearing that there was a surprise, Adrianna perked up. "What is it Grandfather?" she asked excitedly.

"You don't ask what a surprise is about! It won't be a surprise that way!" Ed flicked her forehead.

"Ah!" she rubbed her forehead, inviting a throaty laughter from all.

Ed looked at Dmitri again and nodded, as though approving what Dmitri had done. Dmitri gave a faint smile and headed for the stairs, followed by Adrianna and Fleur.

Just before Dmitri covered the staircase with the rock, Ed called out to Adrianna. "Adri, in a few days, there will be a full moon.