Windless Mountain.

Veronica finished making fruit salad on the kitchen table and put them in the serving dish made of a crystal bowl. She put everything, including the utensils in the wooden tray and left the kitchen area. ​​

She went to the balcony and glanced at the spectacular scenery surrounding the Windless Mountain. She placed the fruit salad on the table and smiled at the pregnant deity sitting on the marble chair. "My fruit salad masterpiece is ready! I hope you like it, Elva!" she beamed.

Elva looked at the colorful salad. "They looked amazingly yummy!" she gushes.

"Of course, the fruit salad is a mixture of banana, apple, strawberry, and ripe mango. I mixed it with honey and cow's milk that I bought from the market yesterday," Veronica said proudly.

"Delicious!" Elva licked her lips, getting hungry all of a sudden.

Veronica scooped the fruit salad into the serving bowl using the serving spoon and served it to the deity. "Try it!" she spoke and began putting salad into her bowl as well. She lowered herself on the chair and began eating the salad.

The women enjoyed eating the creamy salad while enjoying the beautiful scenery in front of them.

Half an hour later, the two women finished eating the fruit salad.

Veronica glanced at the deity. "Can we talk about Graven?" she asked for her permission first.

Elva looked at Veronica. "What about him?" she asked while caressing her tummy.

"He and Terros will come here one of these days to ask your help again," Veronica said.

Elva raised a brow. Then she remembered that Veronica mentioned to her that the curse King trapped half of Graven's men underneath the castle. After the black liquid was successfully solved with a cure, another problem arises! She released a deep sigh and looked at Veronica. "This King is getting cumbersome, right?" she said.

"Yeah, he is! He is making Graven's life extremely difficult! He was torturing the poor guy mentally and emotionally!" Veronica said furiously.

"What exactly the kind of help they want from me?" Elva muses. She can't lend them her power. Only her can command her power.

But she might be able to assist them when it comes to devising a strategy on how to deceive the King and overpower him when Graven is inside the basement.

To make the rescue a big success, it all depends on perfect timing and perfect execution.

Veronica shrugged. "I have no idea what kind of help they will need from you. All I know is that Graven can't bring weapons in the King's territory! They will be useless! Every time he meets the King for the antidote, he is already powerless and weaponless!" she said.

Elva looked at her. "Based on your story, the King's power only works around in that area and around the castle, am I right?"

"Yeah, that's what I know based on Grandpa's narration," Veronica replied.

"The King can't leave the castle because he will die? Why would he die?" Elva asked for clarification.

"It's because of the curse. The King was cursed to remain in that area below the castle for a thousand years. His arch-enemy did that to him. And now, after a thousand years, his spirit has finally awakened and slowly gaining strength. If he can successfully suck Laura's blood one day, then he will be fully resurrected and can cause great damage to the human world!" answered Veronica.

A frown appeared on Elva's forehead. "Who is the King's enemy who put the cursed on him? I wonder who that enemy is?" she asked curiously.

Veronica shook her head. "I have no idea. I wasn't even aware that there is a cursed King that existed in this world and imprisoned beneath that crumbling castle for a thousand years," she said.

Elva was silent for a moment. "Well, there are many events that transpired in this world a thousand years ago..." she said, feeling nostalgic.

"For me, this King is an enigma!" Veronica spoke.

"He is!" Elva agreed.

Veronica released a deep sigh. She recalled that every time Graven is problematic, Grandpa Terros feels the same as well. Whatever problem that Graven is facing or experiencing in his life, Grandpa suffers as well.

Elva looked at her and raised a brow. "Why are you sighing heavily?" she asked.

Veronica was shaking her head. "I felt pity for Graven. It must be torture to be in his shoes," she replied gloomily.

"Indeed! His situation is tough," Elva agreed for once.

"That's why you need to help him! Pity the guy who is the father of your unborn child!" Veronica emphasized the last sentence to convince her.

"Don't worry... I will try to think of a perfect strategy on how to beat the King in his own game," Elva spoke, wearing a serious expression on her face.

Veronica was feeling hopeful. At least the deity is willing to help the men the second time around! With Elva's thousand-year-old mind, she can easily find a solution to Graven's problem.

"Let me clarify this thing first..." Elva said.

"What is it?"

"Graven and his men can't attack the castle because they're afraid that the King will kill their comrades imprisoned beneath the ground. Was that right?" Elva asked.

"Yup! That's right!" answered Veronica.

Elva rubbed her palm with her fingers. "So, every time Graven and his men were brought into the castle they're all unconscious? And the moment they opened their eyes, they're already inside the basement and were stripped of their powers. Do their powers return after they left the castle? Is that how it always happens?" she inquired.

Veronica nodded her head. "Yeah, that's correct!"

"Okay. Let me analyze the whole situation from every angle..." Elva said. She massaged her temple and plunged herself into deep thoughts.

"Okay," Veronica nodded her head and kept her mouth shut.

The women were silent for a few minutes. Their minds were preoccupied as they analyzed Graven's problem from all angles.

Veronica stood up and arranged the dirty dishes into the wooden tray and brought it back to the kitchen. She washed them on the kitchen sink before returning to the balcony.

When she returned there, the deity was still in a silent mode. She settled herself comfortably on the chair and watched the sea of clouds gathered at the top of the mountains.

She saw a flock of birds flying towards the southern part of the mountains.

A few minutes later.

Elva glanced at Veronica. "I finally created a perfect method on how to help Graven and his men!" she said triumphantly.

Veronica's face brightened up. "Really? Shall I go now to inform the men that you have created a brilliant idea on how to help Graven and his men?" she said excitedly.

"No. There's no need to go there at Terros's place and inform them right away. If they need my help, then they have to come here and ask for it. If they won't come and seek my assistance, then they don't deserve my help. I want Graven to personally come here!" Elva declared. A gleam appeared in her eyes.

Veronica saw the shimmer flashing in the deity's eyes before it vanished. Is the deity planning on something?

Elva looked at her companion and smiled in amusement. "Why are you looking at me that way, dear?"

Veronica smiled. "Are you serious with your intention in helping Graven and his men?"

"Yes, of course! I'm dead serious about helping them, but this time, I'll ask Graven for something in return if my plan is successful!" Elva replied.

Veronica's eyes widened in shock. She already had an idea of what Elva wants from Graven. Her mind conjured obscene images in her mind. "Huh? A-are you planning to... to seduce Graven again?" she asked in disbelief.

Elva erupted in peals of laughter. "Silly girl! Now that you mentioned that thing, I might consider it! Do you think Graven would agree if I will ask that 'thing' from him as payment for my help?" she said with a grin.

Veronica shook her head. "I have no idea!" she replied by rolling her eyes.

Elva laughed, her body shaking in amusement.

"So, if Graven won't agree to your condition, you won't help him?" Veronica asked again.

"Secret! I'll evaluate the situation when he arrives here." Elva rose to her feet. "I feel sleepy. I'm going to my room to sleep," she said and left the balcony.

Veronica watched the deity disappeared inside the house. She was shaking her head in astonishment. She thought the goddess had already forgotten her feelings for Graven. It looks like she's still harboring affection for the father of her child.

What's going to happen when Grandpa Terros and Graven will finally arrive here to ask for Elva's help? Will the goddess demand payment for her help and assistance? And what will be Graven's decision?

But somehow, it's not right that the deity would impose a reward or payment for her help when Elva already got pregnant with Graven's child. She already got what she wanted! She should not ask for more!

But Elva is different, sometimes the deity thinks differently, and it's hard to read what's on her mind.

"This is getting interesting!" Veronica murmured to herself. That's the only thing she can say as of the moment.

Veronica resumes enjoying the magnificent view at the top of the mountain. She was curious about how the deity can help Graven achieve his goal of rescuing his men from the King's clutches? They both know that the King can make anyone lose their power once that person entered his domain. Besides that, a person can't carry weapons inside the King's territory because they will be taken away by his minions.

Suddenly, she remembered the missing spirit of Graven's twin brother.

Dang! She forgot to mention Luke's situation to the deity!

Later, after the goddess wakes up, she will inform her about Luke's missing spirit so that it can also be included in the rescue plan.

She rose to her feet and entered the house, going to her room to have a rest.