The driver smiled and wrapped his arms around the old man's shoulder. "Stop offering your room, young lady. Don't worry about Grandpa, I'll take care of him."

Ella's brows furrowed. "What do you mean?"

"I'll take a room accommodation tonight, good for two-person and since I'm feeling kind and generous today, I'll bring Grandpa with me in my room so that he can rest well," the driver said.

Ella smiled brightly. "Aw, you're so kind! Thank you so much for everything that you did for Grandpa and me. We are grateful for your generosity and kindness from the bottom of our heart!" she said.

"Alright, go inside now. An errand lady will bring you to your room. Don't venture outside during the night, this is a dangerous place for strangers, especially ladies like you, okay?" warned the driver.

"OK, thanks for the reminders," Ella replied and sauntered towards the entrance of the establishment and disappeared inside.

The driver and the old man looked at each other.

"How about we enjoy the tavern for tonight, eh? Let's have a few rounds of drinks because it might be our last. We don't know for sure what is waiting for us inside the castle tomorrow. We might never be able to get out alive," Ramza said.

The old man nodded his head in agreement. He took out a whistle from his pocket and blew it. The two winged creatures standing behind the tree beside the barn emerged from their hiding place, their silver wings disappeared behind their backs.

The old man faced the newcomers. "Guys, let's drink some ale tonight," he said.

The men entered the tavern for a drink and to eat dinner as well.

~

Back in the castle, at the floating piece of land.

While the sisters were eating dinner. Esmeralda was busy putting all her valuables inside a worn leather sling bag. She doesn't have many earthly goods, except for her tools for witchcraft and wizardly which she occasionally used.

Her gaze sweeps the room....nothing else to take anymore with her because the rest were just junk with no value and ready to be discarded anytime.

Done with her task, she sat on the edge of the wooden bed. She was digesting everything slowly. After residing inside the castle for centuries, she can finally get out! She never expected that this day will come, she thought she will die inside this castle along with its inhabitants.

Her plan to escape the castle was just like a distant dream, she never expected that tomorrow night it's finally going to happen, she feels excited!

Her smile was broad.

She deserved her freedom more than anybody else!

Since she has nothing to do anymore inside her room, she might as well talk to the tree! She stood up and exited her room, then she went outside heading to the tree.

She looked up at the tree. "Let me in!" she said.

The tree opened his trunk and Esmeralda entered and disappeared.

Inside the trunk.

She saw her friend in his human form looking at the objects he gathered in the bed.

The tree looked at her. "Esme come here, look at these-!" he beckoned her.

Esmeralda went to the bed. "W-what are these things...?" she asked frowning.

"These are the tools we're going to bring with us to the area of sacrifice," he said.

Esmeralda touched the six weird-looking roots designed like rubber tubes. "What are these weird looking things for?"

"That one is the mechanism I invented myself. These tube-like objects are like vacuums sucking the blood out of Ivy's body," he explained. He went to the basin beside the bed. "And this one here is the basin made of wood, this is where the blood will be deposited..."

Esmeralda touched the three pieces of brown garments that look like miners overall, hmm, it's more like an overall raincoat, it has a rough texture to it. "And what are these? What is their purpose?" she asked curiously.

The tree looked at the garments. "We will wear those overalls before we pass through the gap, to make sure that we won't get burnt just in case our body parts touch the barrier accidentally. These overalls are made of the skin of the magical tree that I found in the forest, it has a thick texture, it can repel heat for a few minutes. Just enough time for us to get out..." he elaborated further.

Esmeralda gave her friend a thumb up. "Excellent gears!" she commented.

"Of course, I made all the necessary preparations just to ensure our 100% success in getting out of this castle alive!" he enthused. He looked at her. "Anything else?"

Esmeralda breathed deeply. "Let's just hope nothing bad will happen tomorrow," she said earnestly.

"What could happen then?"

"I dunno," she shrugged her shoulders.

The tree looked at her face closely. "Do you feel something is going to happen tomorrow?" he asked.

Esmeralda was shaking her head. "I dunno. I just feel like it's too easy... It's too good to be true, right? Just like a wonderful dream. I never thought that I will still be alive to be able to witness this day," she said in a dream-like state.

The tree patted Esme's shoulder. "Don't worry much about it! I'll guarantee you, tomorrow, we will get out of here alive!" he said with an iron will determination shining in his eyes.

Esmeralda feels something is about to happen tomorrow...she was getting worried all of a sudden. She went to the table and sat on the chair.

The tree followed her and settled himself on the chair facing her, he studied her face. "Alright, let's discuss the fears you have in mind. Tell me... what is troubling you?" he asked gently.

They began their long discussion.

~

Back in the house.

The sisters were talking to each other, this will be their last night together. They stared at each other while lying in the mattress.

Tears shimmered in their eyes due to their impending parting.

Tomorrow morning, Granny will bring Ivy back to the vampires' den.

Kate wiped the tears from her eyes. "Can we see each other again, sis?"

Ivy smiled. "I hope so," she said sadly. "But as you know by now life is full of surprises. Maybe a miracle will happen out of the blue, so yeah, let's hope for the best and prepare for the worst," she replied.

"You should seduce that vampire Maxwell so that he will allow you to visit me once in a while," Kate joked.

Ivy's face twitched and ignored her joke. "Be a good girl, okay. If one day you will be able to get out of this castle alive without me, give my love to Ella and Aunt Margie, okay? Tell them I love them so much and I hope we still have a chance to see each other again in this lifetime," she said sadly.

"Don't worry, I'll tell them, even if it's impossible to happen," Kate agreed just to humor her sister.

Minutes went by, the sisters already lose interest in chatting since they've been talking to each other all day long.

They were now lost in their thoughts.

A few hours later.

The sisters finally drifted into slumber.

Esmeralda entered the house in silent mode. She paused at the door of her room and observed the girls' faces for a while. One is going to die and one is going to escape the castle.

She was shaking her face sadly. If only there is another way...too bad...there's no other way!

She breathed deeply and entered her room. She needs to rest early to face the challenge tomorrow.

~

The following day.

The sisters woke up early.

They have only a few hours left to bond. But the sadness is more prominent now that the time is fast approaching...

After the bird delivered the food for Ivy, the sisters took their time eating their breakfast.

By the time Esmeralda exited her room, the sisters were done eating breakfast.

The girls looked at Esmeralda with sadness in their eyes, they can no longer extend the time.

"Girls, I'll give you a few minutes to say goodbye to each other," Esmeralda said and looked at Ivy. "I'll wait for you outside," she said and exited the door.

The siblings hugged each other for a few minutes, there are no more words left to say to each other. They both know, after this, there is a possibility that they might no longer see each other again.

Their emotional parting was filled with tears.

"Goodbye, sis. Take care of yourself and live your life to the fullest," Ivy said.

Kaye can only muster a nod. "Bye sis!" she said her body trembling in grief.

Ivy walked slowly towards the door and exited the house, Kate followed her outside.

A few minutes later.

The silver box appeared in the front yard.

Esmeralda and Ivy went inside.

Ivy was waving her hands frantically at her sister as the silver box was taking off from the ground, going airborne. A few minutes later, it disappeared behind the clouds.

Kate went to the tree and began crying there.

One of the branches of the tree rubbed Kate's back.

"It's okay...cry all you want. You can cry in my shoulder. This time I won't drive you away," said the tree, his voice gentle and considerate.

Kate cried harder, her body was wracked with heart-wrenching sobs.

A few minutes later, she left the company of the tree and went inside the house. She sat on the corner and continue crying, feeling utterly lonely and sad.

Meanwhile, outside the house.

Esmeralda and Ivy appeared inside the trunk of the tree.

"Go to the bed and lie down, child," Esmeralda instructed her.

Ivy obeyed without saying anything.

Esmeralda went to the table and picked up the ceramic bowl filled with the purple color fruits that looks like grapes. She went to the bed and put the bowl within Ivy's reach. "Here...eat this.." she said.

Ivy examined the purple color fruits that look like grapes. "What is this, Granny?" she asked.

"These fruits will make you fall asleep deeply. When it's already time for the sacrifice, you will no longer feel any pain even a tiny bit," Esmeralda explained.

"Okay," Ivy said and began eating the fruit one by one. "Hmm, it tastes nice!" she commented.

By the time Ivy was about to pop the last piece into her mouth, she was already falling into a deep sleep.

Esmeralda took the last fruit from Ivy's finger and put it back in the bowl.

The tree appeared behind Esmeralda in his human form. "She had fallen asleep already?" he asked.

"Yes," she answered. "What kind of fruits are these?" she inquired pointing at the bowl.

"Its main purpose is to make her fall asleep," the tree responded.

"Okay," she said and sat on the table.

The tree sat in front of Esmeralda. "Now, let's discuss the last minute detail..." he said.

A few minutes later, they were submerged in a deep discussion regarding their last-minute preparation.