Graven landed at Terros's place.

He saw Grandpa holding a mug, sitting under the shade of the tree, looking at the horizon above. He went to his side. "Grandpa, what are you thinking? You look preoccupied today," he asked and lowered himself on the wooden bench. ​​

Terros looked at him and smiled. "Do you want some coffee, son?" he asked.

Graven shook his head. "Thanks, but I don't like drinking coffee today," he replied. "How are you? Anything new here?" he asked and roamed his eyes around the area.

"Nothing new, son. But I'm worried about something..." Terros replied.

"What is it, Grandpa?" Graven asked.

"I'm worried about your twin brother," Terros replied.

Graven's brows knitted together. "Why? Did you see him lately? What happened to my brother?" he asked worriedly.

Terros didn't reply right away.

"Grandpa, did something happened to my brother that you are trying to hide from me?" Graven pressed on. He had a bad feeling about his brother based on the worried expression on the old man's face.

Terros released a deep sigh. "I'll tell you what happened with your twin brother. It all started when the black liquid strikes again inside your body. When we bring you to the crumbling castle, Luke also comes with us. I told him to stay away from the castle because it's a dangerous place to be. I'm worrying that the cursed King might capture him..." he paused for a moment catching his breath.

"Please continue, Grandpa," Graven said.

"While I'm busy bringing you and the rest of the men inside the crumbling castle to receive the antidote from the King. Your brother separated his spirit and left his body outside. The was the last thing I saw him. I was busy with you, guys. I failed to stop your brother," Terros said sadly with a hint of guilt in his voice.

Graven's face paled. "Y...you mean to say that my brother entered the castle on his own? And until now, he is missing?" he asked.

Terros sighed heavily. "You got it right, son. Your brother's spirit is missing, but no worries, his body is intact and safe with me," he replied.

Graven brows furrowed in confusion. "W-what do you mean, Grandpa? He's body is here? Where?" he asked as he roamed his eyes around the area. He saw nothing!

Terros stood up. "Come with me to the house, son! I'll show you your brother's body," he said and walked towards the wooden staircase.

Graven followed the old man to the house.

They entered the house, and there inside Terro's room is a bubble hanging in the ceiling, and inside is Luke's body in a sitting position. His eyes were closed, but his chest is moving up and down, which means he's breathing normally.

Graven went closer to the bubble and watched his brother's statue-like posture helplessly. "Since when these all happened, Grandpa?" he asked.

"Since the day that we bought you and your men to the crumbling castle. I kept it a secret for a while because I don't want you to worry. And I was hoping that your twin's spirit will return to his body right away. On that day, while I'm busy transporting you and your men to the castle, your men told me that they saw Luke's spirit entering the door of the crumbling castle. That was the last time they saw him. So, I decided to put your bother's body inside the bubble to protect him. I'm sorry, son, I failed to protect your brother," Terros apologized sincerely.

Graven sighed heavily. "Don't apologize to me, Grandpa. It's not your fault! My brother is hard-headed and doesn't listen to anyone. There's nothing you can do to prevent him from entering the castle. Now that it comes to this, I'm already expecting the worst for my brother," he said dejectedly.

Shaking his head, he walked to the chair and lowered himself, then stared at the bubble for a long time.

Terros breathed deeply. "I'm worried that his body might rot anytime. So far, the color of his skin is still normal-looking. I'm not sure what's going to happen with his body tomorrow or in the next few days. Your brother's spirit needs to return to his body soon!" he said in a panicky voice.

Graven looked at the old man. "Grandpa, I have a bad feeling about this. I'm sure now that my brother is currently trapped inside the castle and can't get out because the King has captured him already!"

Terros released a deep sigh and agreed with Graven's statement. "That is also my assumption, son! What are we going to do to rescue him?" he asked.

Graven sighed and looked at the window. "I need to plan wisely because not only my brother was captured by the King, half of my men are also there!" he said gravely.

"Don't worry, son. I will also find a way how to help you in rescuing your brother and the rest of your men from the clutches of the King," Terros said.

"Thanks in advance for your help, Grandpa," Graven murmured as his brain was already brainstorming. Busy thinking of numerous ways to rescue the ones that were trapped in the castle.

"Do you already have a solution in your mind, son?" Terros asked.

Graven shook his head. "Nothing so far, Grandpa. But I'm entertaining an idea..." he said.

"What is it?"

"I have to return to the castle and face the King once and for all!' Graven said.

Terros shook his head. "No, son, don't do that! You had successfully get rid of the black liquid in your body. The King will get furious if he will find out that he no longer has any hold on you!" he reminded him.

"Grandpa, if I don't return there, sooner or later, he will kill my men and my brother!" Graven said.

Terros was speechless for a moment, then he spoke. "If you return there, there is no guarantee you can rescue your brother and your men successfully. There is a very high chance that he will put another deadly poison in your body, a much deadlier poison compared to the black liquid! And the cycle will repeat itself! It will be a never-ending cycle of torture!" he explained in a horrified voice.

Graven took a deep breath. "You're right, Grandpa. As long I won't surrender my wife to him, this problem won't end."

"No, you're wrong, son! The moment you will surrender Laura to the King, the massive problem will begin. When the time comes when he can finally get out of the confinement of the castle successfully is the day he will become unstoppable! And we will be facing bigger problems by then because he has this insatiable desire to rule this land that we're living in right now. It will be a much deadlier battle by then because more innocent people's lives are at stake once that tyrant King gets freed from his curse!" he reminded him.

"Don't worry, Grandpa. I will never surrender my wife to him! Over my dead body!" Graven concluded.

"I know you won't, son. Let's go outside and think of another solution to your dilemma," Terros said.

"After you, Grandpa," Graven replied.

The men exited the house and settled back on the wooden bench.

A thick silence fell upon them that lasted for half an hour as the darkness starts encompassing the surrounding area.

The evening is coming.

The men looked at each other.

"Have you already thought of a way, son?" Terros asked.

Graven shook his head sadly. "I'm only good at facing my enemy head-on in combat. But it's difficult when the life of my men and my brother lies in the hands of my cunning enemy. It's hard to attack the enemy that is holding my men and my brother hostage! I feel hopeless and terrified! I have that fear that if I made even the tiniest mistake, the King will kill them all!" he lamented shamefully.

"I know your frustration and hopelessness, son. I understand your difficult situation, don't worry, I'll try my best to find a way to help you. But just in case we can't find a way to solve your problem, then we have no other way but to seek the goddess Elva's help. Maybe she can provide something that will aid us in rescuing your men. We won't give up finding ways to rescue them even if we have to swallow our pride and ask the deity's help for the second time around," Terros suggested.

Graven remembered the deity. "Okay, Grandpa. If nothing else works, then we will go to the Windless Mountain to see the deity and seek her help once again," he finally agreed.

"Alright, I will wait for you, son. We will go there at once! The more we delay it, the more your brother's life and your men will be in danger!" Terros reminded him.

"I know, Grandpa!" Graven said, then he stood up, ready to leave.

"You don't want to eat dinner with me?" Terros asked.

"Not at this moment. I have promised my wife that I will eat dinner with her tonight in the manor. I must go home. I will return here tomorrow, probably in the afternoon or evening after I'm done with my rounds in South Pond," Graven replied.

"Okay, take care, son," Terros said.

"Bye, Grandpa! See you tomorrow," Graven said and vanished from the place in the blink of an eye.

Terros released a deep sigh. He turned around and went back to the bamboo house to fix himself a meal for dinner in the kitchen. He turned on all the lamps inside the house, including the ones on the balcony.

In the kitchen, he cooked himself a porridge sprinkled with herbs, spices, dried chicken meat, and a little bit of salt.

A few minutes later, he finished cooking. He poured the porridge into the serving bowl, sat on the table, and began eating his meal alone. While munching on his food, his mind went busy finding ways on how he can help Graven with his problem.

There's got to be another way!

After he finished eating, he washed the dirty bowl on the sink, closed the door, and retired to his room.

He opened the drawer of the closet and took out the black booklet that was left by his deceased master. The booklet contains powerful spells that are not only effective but also deadly because they can only be activated if there's some personal sacrifice involved.

The reason why he never uses and pays attention to this booklet, until now!

Time to find out if the booklet can help him and Graven with their goal of rescuing the men trapped in the castle.