The wooden bars that enclosed the Kleffasse shattered into pieces and the gray clouds that covered the sky dissipated, revealing the soft, warm rays of the sun.

Luana withdrew her sword from the trunk of the tree as the latter returned to its original as a dagger that Luana put back in her pocket.

The princess took the Kleffasse in her hands and looked at it in happiness and wonder.

she whispered, a smile on her lips.

She turned around to look at Lucas who was advancing slowly towards her, smiling slightly.

she said, showing him the plant.

he replied.

she asked worriedly.

Luana put the plant in the small pocket that was attached to her waist and took out a small vial that she gave to Lucas.

asked the young knight, puzzled.

The captain swallowed a few drops of the potions and his wounds instantly regenerated.

he remarked.

she added worriedly.

he replied, smiling affectionately at her.

Luana blushed slightly at his words.

The two young people looked at each other without saying anything. It was Leo's growl that brought them out of their thoughts.

Lucas asked.

The animal pointed his muzzle at the white wolf who was lying on the ground, blood dripping from its left leg.

exclaimed the princess.

She rushed over to them and knelt in front of the animal. She reached out her hand to stroke its head gently. But the latter growled aggressively as it tried to back away.

she whispered.

Leo walked over to the animal and whimpered slightly to calm it down.

After a few seconds, the white wolf relaxed and let the princess approach him. The latter took the vial of the healing potion and poured a few drops on the wounded leg of the wolf. The animal whimpered in pain.

Lucas approached them and knelt down beside them. He took his blue cloak and tore a piece of it which he wrapped around the animal's leg.

he said.

The animal looked at them with eyes full of affection. It brought its muzzle to Luana's hand and sniffed it softly.

Lucas retorted.

Luana asked, confused.

he replied, smiling.

Luana said, stroking the animal's head while smiling.

The princess and her bodyguard got up from the ground and looked around.

said Lucas.

the princess replied, exasperated.

The white wolf slowly stood up and walked towards them, growling to get their attention.

Lucas asked, confused.

The animal walked towards the trees that surrounded the valley and turned to them to urge them to follow her.

Luana asked.

Lucas replied.

The small group followed the wolf with white fur and golden eyes.

══════ ∘◦❁◦∘ ══════

After two hours of walking, they found themselves in a vaste green space with long trees, flowering bushes and a long river with a huge waterfall.

Luana exclaimed in wonder.

Lucas retorted.

The wolf moved towards the waterfall, walking over a plate of huge, flat rocks. It pointed its muzzle at the waterfall.

Luana asked, confused.

Lucas replied.

The young knight walked over to the animal and gazed at the waterfall.

he asked the animal.

The wolf nodded affirmatively.

The young captain reached out for the water and touched it. He was surprised to see that his hand didn't get wet.

he whispered.

He turned around to Luana and Leo.

he announced with a smile.

Luana exclaimed with joy.

The small group moved towards the waterfall to cross it. Suddenly, the white wolf pulled Luana's cloak gently with its teeth to make her stop in her tracks.

The princess turned around to the animal, a confused expression on her face. She looked into its eyes and stroked its head and jaw.

The wolf looked at her with sadness in its eyes as it whimpered.

Lucas explained.

Luana looked at the animal sadly.

she said.

The wolf whimpered again in sadness and lowered its head.

asked the princess, smiling affectionately.

The wolf looked up and wagged its tail in happiness. Then, it turned around to the forest and gazed at it intently.

the princess added.

The female wolf seemed to hesitate. So, Leo approached her to talk to her.

After a few barks and a few whimpers, the two wolves turned around to Lucas and Luana, wagging their tails happily together.

said Lucas, chuckling.

Luana added.

Luana walked over to the wolf and stroked her head affectionately, smiling.

she asked.

The white furred animal barked and wagged its tail happily in agreement which made Luana chuckle.

she said, smiling.

After that, the small group walked slowly towards the waterfall. Leo and Lea entered first, followed by Luana and Lucas.

══════ ∘◦❁◦∘ ══════

A few seconds later, they found themselves in the Witstone field again. The sun that was shining warmly in the sky, a few moments ago, was about to set.

Luana remarked.

Lucas retorted.

Luana, chuckled.

Lucas got on Leo's back while Luana climbed onto Lea's.

the young captain ordered.

══════ ∘◦❁◦∘ ══════

At the palace, everyone gathered in the emperor's office. The night sky was so dark that no stars could be seen.

Azusa was sitting on one of the chairs, a look of shock on her face while tears were streaming down her red cheeks. Mina was beside her, trying to calm her down.

Angus, who was sitting at the desk, whispered.

An expression of agony appeared on the duke's face. He started shaking hard.

Eric, Matthew and Count Taliny kept their heads down, a melancholy expression on their faces.

Matthew asked.

Eric asked.

the doctor answered with a sorrowful expression.

An icy silence settled in the room.

Angus whispered in agony.

Count Taliny whispered, putting his hand on the duke's shoulder.

Suddenly, the office door was slammed open as one of the guards rushed into the room.

he called breathlessly.

Angus asked disinterestedly, massaging his throbbing temple.

he announced, a big smile on his lips.

Angus hurriedly rose up from his chair, in shock.

the guard replied.

Angus ran towards the door, followed by the others.

Once arrived at the entrance of the palace, they saw the princess and her bodyguard. The latter was helping her get off of Lea.

Azusa ran towards them and threw herself on her best friend's arms, in tears.

she exclaimed.

Luana whispered, smiling slightly and hugging her back.

The two young girls separated after a while.

she asked, worried while checking her.

she reassured.

Angus walked over to them, a sad smile on his face.

he whispered.

Luana called.

The young girl hugged the duke very tightly in her arms.

As they parted, the duke looked at Lucas and gave him a small smile.

replied the young captain, bowing.

Angus nodded at him gratefully.

asked the princess.

She had silence as an answer. Everyone avoided her gaze which made her eyes widen in shock.

asked Mina's father.

Luana asked with concern and impatience.

Angus replied.

she said, hesitantly.

══════ ∘◦❁◦∘ ══════

Everyone gathered again in the emperor's room.

Luana was sitting in a chair next to the emperor's bed where her father was lying down, his skin as white as a dead man.

she greeted, a sad little smile on her lips.

The man's breathing was very slow, almost nonexistent. His eyes was shut and his skin was cold.

The doctor took the vial that contained the potion he had just brewed with the help of the Kleffass a few minutes ago, and made the emperor drink it.

Luana stood still, waiting for a reaction from her father with a hopeful glint on her eyes.

After a few seconds, Arthur's breathing suddenly stopped and his chest stopped moving completely which alarmed the princess.

Luana whispered, shaking him lightly.

Angus, who was standing next to the doctor, let out a painful little sob as he lost his balance. He sat down on an armchair that was behind him to keep himself from falling on the ground.

the princess called out again.

She got no answer.

she whispered, her voice breaking with a painful sob.

Tears started to roll down her pink cheeks.

she whispered, crying loudly.

Azusa was in the same situation as her friend, not being able to control her tears anymore. She was taken in the arms of a sobbing Mina.

Lucas approached the princess from behind and put his hand on her shoulder to comfort her.

he whispered, an expression of agony on his face.

Luana rested her head on her father's bed and continued to sob hard.

Everyone around her had their heads down, a painful expression on their faces, trying to hold back their tears as much as possible.

she whispered, shaking hard.

Suddenly, she felt a warm, affectionate hand on her head. It was stroking her hair.

a weak voice whispered.

The girl looked up sharply. She was greeted by a pair of gorgeous, lovely emerald green eyes and a warm smile.

she whispered, not believing her eyes.

he asked, whispering and smiling sadly.

Luana replied, tears of joy running down her cheeks.

he whispered with tears in his eyes.

Arthur opened his arms wide to welcome his daughter who hugged him tightly, sobbing.

she whispered.

The others cried with joy as they saw the scene unfold in front of them.

Angus let out a huge sigh of relief as he let the tears that he was holding back flow.

The young captain felt that the heavy weight that was on his heart was being removed as he smiled happily at Luana and her father.

Arthur whispered, stroking his daughter's hair lovingly.