At the top of the mountain, in Immortal Vearah's place. Esmeralda finally awakened in the healing room.

She stayed in the healing room for more than three days to attain complete healing. She was surrounded by the tree, Kate, and her mentor, Vearah, the immortal.

"Granny! I'm glad you finally wake up! I'm so happy right now!" Kate beamed.

"How are you feeling, Esme?" Aspen asked her. He was feeling glad that her situation was already stable. She was recovering well inside the healing room.

"I'm feeling fine," Esmeralda replied.

Kate hugged Esmeralda for a few seconds to show her happiness. "Welcome back to the world, Granny! I miss you so much!" she said, misty-eyed.

Esmeralda rubbed Kate's back. "It's okay, child. I'm not dead yet," she said.

Kate smiled and let go of her granny.

Esmeralda looked at her ever beautiful mentor who never aged even a tiny bit. "Teacher, you always looked beautiful! How come you didn't age a bit?" she asked jokingly.

Vearah smiled. "You know my secret, dear," she answered. "How are you feeling now?"

"Much better than before!" Esmeralda replied cheerfully. She remembered that she was having a hard time breathing outside the castle after their escape. The only thing that comes up in her mind was to ask her mentor's help to save her life. When they finally arrived at the top of the mountain and heard her mentor's familiar voice, she passed out.

After that, she feels like she was in a deep sleep. All her systems shut down. It was a comfortable sleep, as her body was completely calibrated and healed, she can feel every cell in her body being repaired. It was a nice feeling to be in one with her body during the whole healing process.

Vearah addressed Aspen and Kate. "Guys, can you give us a moment, please? I just want to talk with Esmeralda alone for a few minutes. We will discuss some important issues..." she said.

"Sure, no problem. We will stay in the fruit garden," Aspen replied and motioned Kate to follow him outside.

Kate glanced at Esmeralda first before she followed Aspen.

Aspen pushed the door and they exited the room leaving the two women to discuss their business in private.

~

Vearah asked her student, "What happen during your escape from the castle?"

Esmeralda sighed and began narrating everything that took place inside the cattle. "Kate's elder sister Ivy was the one who sacrifices her blood and life just to save her younger sister. I discovered that the sisters have unique blood properties that can create a crack on the deadly blazing barrier guarding the castle.

Kate has no idea about the blood sacrifice because she was blindfolded when the tree performed the sacrifice. The tree and I come up with a plan, and that is to drain Ivy's blood and splattered it at the blazing barrier. On the night of the escape, after the blood was hurled into the barrier, it opened up for a few minutes, just enough for us to make our exit, then it closed again after we successfully exited the castle.

Unfortunately, I was struck with a breathing problem. I don't know what causes my illness. Maybe because the castle doesn't want me to get out? I was confused. I feel like I was dying back then. All I can think of is you, so, I instructed the tree to open up the portal leading to your home," she concluded her narration.

...

Vearah breathed deeply. "I'm glad you didn't lose the portal relic that I had given you a long time ago. Because if you haven't reached my residence on time, you have already died," she said.

Esmeralda shook her head. "I wouldn't lose something so precious to me. The relic portal is the only thing that can take me to your residence in the speed of light, teacher!"

Vearah was emotional. "Good. I'm glad you keep it with you even though you stop listening to me a long time ago. When you stop listening to my advice and entered the castle against my permission. I thought I already lose you during that time. You are my favorite student. I was frustrated that I wasn't able to convince you that entering the castle is like suicide, but you ignored my advice!"

"I'm sorry about that, teacher. Please forgive me, that is just my rebellious youth. But I know better now. I know that I made a big mistake before and I'm willing to rectify it," Esmeralda said.

Vearah's eyes widened. "Huh? What do you mean?"

"I want to be your student again. I want to continue our teacher and student relationship. I wanted to live here in your mountains and study your teachings. I want to be immortal!" Esmeralda spoke excitedly. She now reached the crossroad of her life. She has the freedom to correct her previous mistake. Why waste the chance? She can relive her youth again and be like an immortal like her teacher and get rid of her wrinkled skin and her aging body.

"A-are you sure? Did I hear you correctly?" Vearah can't believe what she heard from her student. These are exactly the words she wanted to hear from her favorite student a long time ago. She never expected that she will be able to hear it this time!

"Yes! I know what I wanted for myself this time!" Esmeralda smiled confidently.

Vearah pouted. "Hmph! You were my first student, and you got me disappointed. That is why I never take any student anymore because you left a bad taste in my mouth. I'm just scared that you will go rebellious gain after you gain your youthful looks and give me problems in the future," she expressed her fears and worries.

Esmeralda smiled. "I'm so sorry for all the pain and disappointment that I had caused you in the past, teacher," she said sincerely. "This time, I promise you, I will never give you any headache! I'm tired of living inside that boring castle. There is no freedom! While here, in your place, I can see the beauty and splendor of the mountain and enjoy the company of nature every day. For me, your place is paradise, and I want to stay forever with you. What more can I ask for?" she said with unconcealed enthusiasm.

Vearah's eyes twinkled in delight after hearing her student's willingness to be her student again. She's been wanting to have someone to spend eternity with her in her abode and what better person to be her companion for eternity...than her favorite student?

Then she remembered something. "And what about the castle? It's your responsibility, isn't it?" she asked her.

Esmeralda's brows knitted together. Dang! The forsaken castle! What's she's going to do with it?

"What are your plans for the castle, my dear student?" Vearah asked again.

Esmeralda was pondering about the castle for a moment. "C-can I just blast it, teacher? You know...burned the castle down so that it will no longer exist, and no humans will be sacrifice again?"

Vearah was considering her student's suggestion. "Wait...you seemed to forget that your life was tied to that castle. The reason that the castle was still standing until now because you are still alive. If your life suddenly ends, then the castle will burn and crumble. If we will demolish the castle, your life will also perish unless there's something we can do to prevent it. Everything requires a thorough analysis and meticulous thinking. I'm not in the mood to delve on that matter yet," she told her.

Esmeralda sighed. Damn! The biggest mistake of her youth was entering the castle! She doesn't want to be tied up with the past anymore. "Is there any other way to end the castle without sacrificing my life? I never wanted to go back there!" she said vehemently.

Vearah was silent for a moment. "Hmm, sad to say, that is one thing you can't change about your past, my dear. You are lucky that you were able to get out of the castle alive, or else you will end your life there together with the multitude of monsters that you had chosen to live with instead of me!" she scolded her student bitterly. Until now, she was still disappointed with Esmeralda, who messes up with her youth because of love and revenge.

Esmeralda felt sad. "Teacher, I can't undo my past mistake. But I swear, this time, I will listen to all your teachings, and I will not be a stubborn student anymore. Please forgive me for ignoring your advice before!" she begged for her forgiveness and understanding.

...

Vearah pouted for a while but her mind was already submerged in deep thoughts.

The human world and the Nephilim Kingdom and other nearby kingdoms were enjoying peace for a long time. There were no rampant killings, no monsters, no vampires, roaming around the world to harass and slaughter people. It's all due to the castle's notorious history. Before the elders sacrificed their lives, they announced to all kingdoms that the castle will gather the souls of the usurper and any troublemaker and imprisoned them in the castle.

Evil creatures got frightened and change their ways or just waiting for the opportunity that the castle will be demolished and launch an attack on other people or neighboring kingdoms.

The castle has a reputation for mysteriously swallowing the life and soul of any creatures who manage to kill beings from other peace-loving clans.

There was a rumor going on for a long time that the castle has a secret dungeon where the spirits and souls of the evil creatures are being kept to be punished eternally. That is why no one dared to commit a mass slaughter in the years to come.

The world was submerged in peace, and bad people with bad intentions learn to live in a peaceful environment coexisting with other peace-loving beings.

The castle might be harsh in punishing the evil creatures, but it was able to do good by bringing long-lasting peace to the world for a long time.