It was already a break of dawn when Jegun appeared in the mountain. The sisters were already awake.

The sisters offered grandpa Jegun a tea.

"Grandpa, what's happening out there? Any news? Why Granny Esmeralda hasn't come back yet?" Kate asked worriedly. The old man's haggard look tells her something's going on.

Jegun sighed. He isn't in the mood to explain to the girls what happened today. It would be traumatic for them to hear that both the people they cared about, Esmeralda and Ivy, perished today at the same time with the collapse of the castle.

He wants to know first what happened to Esmeralda before he will break the terrible news to the girls. "Kate, can you make me a cup of tea please?" he requested. "And maybe some breakfast because I'm so hungry? We fought a lot of monsters and dark shadows today and I'm so tired, hungry, and very dirty," he said, wanting to buy more time. He just wants to dodge the girls' questions. He has more pressing matters to give his full attention to. He will deal with the girls later.

"Okay, Grandpa. I'll go to the kitchen to fix some breakfast," Ella volunteered and went back to the kitchen.

Kate didn't leave the old man's side. She can sense that grandpa was avoiding her questions. She was getting nervous. The fact that Granny didn't return yet, scared her even more. Granny Esmeralda always goes home early! She kept staring at the old man's face.

Jegun sighed. He wished that Kate will go away and go to the kitchen to help her sister prepare breakfast, but it seemed she's eager to stay by his side, standing in front of him, wanting answers to all her questions. "Fine...can you go to Esmeralda's room and bring the crystal ball to me, and also include a piece of her clothe as well?" he said.

Kate's face turned pale. Oh, no! Why would grandpa need the magic crystal ball and granny clothe? Unless... Esmeralda is missing! Her heart starts beating faster in her rib cage. "Grandpa, is Granny missing?" she asked anxiously.

Jegun breathed deeply. "Yeah, that's more like it," he answered in a low voice.

Kate's eyes watered instantly. "Oh my God! Where could she be at this time?"

"Child, go now to Esmeralda's room and bring me the crystal ball so that we will know what happened to her," he ordered.

"Okay, I'll go there now," she replied and walked towards granny's room in a hurry.

A minute later.

Aspen arrived on the mountain and rushed inside the house. He found grandpa sitting on the chair in the living room. "Grandpa, how it's going?" he asked.

Jegun patted the seat beside him. "Take a seat and calm down. We will know everything soon," he said. "I ordered Kate to get the magic crystal ball and a piece of cloth from Esmeralda's room and bring it here," he replied.

Ella arrived in the living room bringing the tray of a teapot with cups and some rice cakes. "Enjoy the tea, guys," she said cheerfully.

Jegun smiled. "Thank you, child," he said and poured tea in the cup. After sipping the hot tea, he picked up the rice cake and took a bite. "Hmm, delicious! I'm hungry indeed!" he spoke.

Aspen poured his tea and eat the rice cake as well.

Ella smiled, she left going back to the kitchen to prepare breakfast.

A few minutes later.

Kate finally returned to the living room carrying the magical crystal ball and Esmeralda's clothe. She placed them on the center table. "Here they are, Grandpa!" she said and lowered herself on the chair beside Aspen.

Jegun picked up Esmeralda's clothe and rubbed them vigorously on the surface of the crystal ball. "Crystal ball, show us the remaining hour of Esmeralda here on earth!" he commanded.

The trio stared at the crystal ball with their expectant faces.

A few minutes went by...nothing happens.

They looked at each other in confusion.

"Why it's not working?" asked Kate.

Jegun scratched his head, he thinks he already knows why the crystal ball isn't working. "Sorry, guys, I don't know the incantation that Esmeralda uses to make the crystal ball work," he confessed.

Kate rose to her feet. "I will try to find that book that Granny Esmeralda always read, maybe the incantation can be found there," she suggested.

Jegun smiled. "That's a good suggestion, child. Go on, we'll just wait here and take our rest. Let us know if you need any help," he said.

"Okay, Grandpa!" Kate said and left the living room going to granny's room to find the book of incantation.

Jegun glanced at Aspen. "Lad, do you think we can find Esmeralda and Ivy's remains?" he asked, while his mouth released a gloomy sigh.

Aspen sighed. "I'm not sure, Grandpa. With the way the castle crumbled and burning, it's hard to remain optimistic. But no matter what the outcome, at least we will know what happened to Esmeralda before she passed away. We may never be able to bring back her life, at least we know what she went through before the castle collapsed," he said.

He was hoping that after the magic crystal ball showed them what happened to Esmeralda, he can finally fit the puzzle together and understand what she was trying to tell him. He was getting excited and nervous at the same time. Maybe, there's still a chance to save Esmeralda after all! But he won't hope too much, or else, he will truly get disappointed.

Fifteen minutes later.

Kate returned with an old book, she handed the book to him. "Grandpa, try this one!" she said.

Jegun accepted the book and began flipping on the pages, reading its contents. "This looks like the one I'm looking for! Let me find the incantation fitted for the magical crystal ball," he said and buried his nose in the book.

Aspen looked at Kate. "Do you still have some rice cakes in the kitchen? Can I have some, please? I'm hungry fighting monsters all night long," he said with puppy dogs eyes.

"Sure, I'll get some in the kitchen," Kate replied and went to the kitchen to get more rice cakes.

Aspen glanced at the old man. "Grandpa, did you already informed the girls about the castle?" he asked.

Jegun sighed and raises his head. "No, not yet. Let's see first what happened to Esmeralda. Much better if the girls will see with their own eyes what happened to Esmeralda, this way we don't have to explain to them anymore," he responded. "Then afterward... we will tell them about the burning castle..." he added.

"Okay, continue reading, Grandpa. I won't disturb you anymore, I'm dying to see what happened to Esmeralda. I can only rest in peace after knowing what happened to her," Aspen said.

Jegun resumed reading the book.

A few minutes later.

"Lad, my eyes are hurting! Why the letters are written too small?" Jegun complained. "I have a hard time reading it! Try it, maybe you can read it better than I do," he said and handed the book to him.

Aspen accepted the book and began reading the incantation. "I got it, Grandpa. Let me memorize it so that we can activate the crystal ball," he said.

Ten minutes later.

"I finally memorized it, Grandpa!" Aspen said excitedly.

"Very well! Do it now!" Jegun urgently said.

"Alright!" Aspen said and picked up Esmeralda's clothe. He began rubbing it on the surface of the crystal ball while his mouth was busy reciting the incantation in silent mode.

After finishing reciting the incantation, he looked at the crystal ball. "Crystal ball, show me the last hour of my dear friend Esmeralda!" he commanded.

The crystal ball shows no reaction in the next few minutes...

Just in time for Kate and Ella arriving at the living room to watch the crystal ball.

Then the one thing they waited for finally happened...the crystal ball produced a shimmering light signaling that it was about to tell a story.

The sisters, together with Jegun and Aspen watched the crystal ball with curiosity flashing in their eyes.

The crystal ball began showing the details of Esmeralda's activity...

They saw Esmeralda floating above the castle, then she entered the castle undetected by the old servant. She appeared in the spot where the blazing barrier was opened, then they saw the sleeping Ivy lying in the makeshift bed, guarded by the two vampires wearing a black hooded cape.

They also saw the two vampire brothers. Next, they saw Esmeralda landing in the floating piece of land and entered the house. Then she began reading a book and holding a pouch. A few minutes later, she reappeared in the spot where she saw the vampire brothers and saw that the vampires were leaving the area, they seemed to have finished releasing the monsters and dark shadow armies.

The vampires floated in the air, Esmeralda comes after them and throws five crystals in the air, then the vampires were frozen in time suspended in the air. Esmeralda went to Ivy and the two women disappeared from the area. They reappeared inside the house.

Esmeralda took the crystals from the pouch and form a coffin shape on the floor, then burning candles appeared in her palm, she began meditating, her mouth moving rapidly as if reciting a spell.

Suddenly, the crystal transformed into a crystal coffin. Esmeralda put Ivy's sleeping form inside the coffin and closed the cover. Then she placed another crystal on the floor and repeated the same process. A few minutes later, another crystal coffin was formed beside the coffin where Ivy was lying peacefully.

Esmeralda went inside the coffin and produced the dagger in her palm.

What Esmeralda did next... took everyone's breath away...she bravely stabbed her heart with the dagger and lay down in the coffin, she even managed to seal the cover before dying, her blood made a puddle in the coffin.

The crystal ball shows nothing anymore, it already finished its task.

...

Deafening silence blanketed around them.

Words were caught in their throats. It was horrible to watch Esmeralda stabbing herself with the dagger. Tears glistened in their eyes. They were dumbfounded, unable to say anything to each other due to shock.

Few minutes already passed after the crystal ball ended its narration, they still can't get over the shock and profound sadness they felt in their hearts.