Cleo gripped onto her throne tightly, the sand around her getting more violent. The four stood by each other as they looked at her, unsure what to do.

Akeru: Listen we-

A sand spear falls down centimeters away from the front of Akeru, scaring her as she jumps from it.

Cleo: I believe I was clear. Not. One. More. Damn. Word!

Itsuki: We can't just -

Cleo: SILENCE!!!

Cleo screamed, shaking the whole palace even more. She just kept screaming until she eventually squirmed in her throne, bashing the sides of it in rage like a child throwing a tantrum.

Cleo: I'll kill him! I'll smash his stupid head!! I'LL MAKE SURE TO WIPE HIM COMPLETELY FROM THIS PLANET AND THE AFTERLIFE!!!

Ci: Sister...

Cleo screamed as sand started to flow from her at rapid speeds, seething out of the throne room. The four quickly left and ran away as the palace was covered in sand, pouring from the palace into the city streets like magma. Finally, the four reached a safe spot as they saw citizens running from the sand.

Akeru: T-This is on a whole new level of anger!

Ci: I've never seen her this upset before!

Ravenbeard: Her heart be torn apart...

Itsuki: What do we do now? Should we try to find Archerd?

Ci: It will be hard to find him...if he never came here in person, he left no tracks to follow him.

Itsuki: It seems like that clone copies his appearance at the very least.

Ci: Yes, unless he gets a disguise. But based on his attitude, I find that very unlikely for him to do so.

Ravenbeard: What do we do about 'er?

Ci: I'm not sure what to do with my sister...nothing we say or do will get through to her. She is a lost cause.

Akeru: We have to do something! She will flood the entire city in the sand at this rate...and Archerd only has to find the Sand Shackle to summon the Ancient Beast of Sand!

Ravenbeard: Tis quite a predicament we are in, that be true...

Ci slowly walked to the palace again, leaving the three in confusion.

Akeru: Ci?

Ci: Go on ahead; I will catch up one way or another.

Itsuki: Go where?! We have no leads!

Ci: Go back to my sister, back to Aurora!

Akeru: Aurora? Why do you want us to go back to her?!

Ci: Just trust me!!!

Akeru and Itsuki look at each other and nod, running away from the city. Ravenbeard tried to keep up with them but was a few steps behind them due to his pegleg. Ci touched the sand and closed her eyes softly.

Ci: Sister...these children can potentially stop what she started all those years ago...please...calm down.

The three eventually stopped in the middle of the desert to catch their breath.

Ravenbeard: Ye scallywags! You can't leave me behind like that!

Akeru: Sorry...forgot...about the...pegleg...ugh.

Akeru fell backward, but Itsuki caught her.

Itsuki: Try not to use too much energy; you are small, so-

Akeru: I'm not that small!

Akeru got back on her feet and stormed ahead of the two. They kept walking, but it felt like they had made no progress getting back to Sanoptia.

Itsuki: If only we had Armando's caravan...

Ravenbeard: Aye...

Akeru: No kidding...

Armando: If only...

The three looked at each other and then behind themselves to see Armando walking with them with his caravan on autopilot behind them. Akeru hugged Armando tightly.

Akeru: Oh, I have never been so happy to see you in my life!

Itsuki: No kidding, thanks, clown!

Ravenbeard: Aye, ye be a good mate.

The three ran inside of the caravan as Armando chased them.

Armando: D-D-Did no one miss me at all, or just my caravan?!

The four regrouped inside as Armando was on the first floor with the caravan still on autopilot, listening to all the events that happened after they last departed.

Armando: You met the Ice Witch...and took down a Seat Commander!? Not only that, but little Akeru's amulet was a dud, and she was made by something unknown?!

Akeru: I'm not little! But yes, what's basically what happened. We need to head back to Aurora...more importantly, what happened with you since we left?

Armando: Oh, not much! Just selling my share of the treasure you brought me!

Itsuki: M-Must be nice; I think we used all of ours.

Armando: Already?!

Akeru: You didn't leave us much, y'know...

Armando was quiet as he quickly went to pilot the caravan, whistling.

Akeru: I take it back; I am not happy to see the clown anymore...

Itsuki: At least we got the caravan.

Ravenbeard: Aye...

Armando: You three are so mean!!

The four traveled back to the City of Sanoptia as Armando parked his caravan. The four went to the castle and knocked on the door. There was no answer, but the door was unlocked. Akeru opened the door slowly and saw blood splattered all over the halls.

Akeru: No...no, no, no,no! Aurora! Benjiro!?

Akeru ran in as Itsuki chased after her. The other two slowly walked in a looked around. Finally, Akeru made it to the throne room; it was completely empty and filled with blood. Akeru fell to her knees, her eyes pouring tears out.

Akeru: How did this happen...Why...?

Aurora: How did what happen, dear?

Akeru turned around and hugged Aurora tightly.

Akeru: What happened?! Are you hurt?! Where is Benjiro?!

Aurora giggled as she brushed her hair.

Aurora: Oh...this, uh...well...

Benjiro came up from behind them, covered in blood.

Benjiro: My bad...I took care of the sick livestock and brought them back here. I thought I got better sacks to put them in...but they leaked everywhere.

Akeru: Don't scare us like that! We thought the worst had happened to you two!

Aurora: We didn't know you would be back so soon! You will have to tell me all about your adventures. I'll have the staff cook dinner for us.

Itsuki: That sounds great! Oh, we brought some guests with us if that is alright.

Ravenbeard entered the room as Aurora gasped a little.

Aurora: Oh my word! Are you okay!?

Ravenbeard: Aye, no need to fear. Tis only a curse...

Itsuki: That's Ravenbeard; we found him in Polisha and- hey, where did Armando go?

Ravenbeard: About him...said he be forgetting something in that wagon of his.

Aurora: Oh, what a shame, oh well... I can't wait to learn more about you, Ravenbeard, and all of your adventures together!

The group would eventually go to the dining room, where a large feast was set out. Akeru and Itsuki told Benjiro and Aurora their whole adventure after leaving this country.

Aurora: Goodness me! What an extreme journey you two have had! To think you would meet three of my sisters...

Akeru: Hopefully, they will come here soon...this is where Ci told us to meet.

Aurora: I don't know why; most of my sisters despise me. Oh, and Ravenbeard...I am deeply sorry for what Cleo has put you through!

Ravenbeard: Aye, it be water under the bridge at this point.

Benjiro: It's comforting to hear that my student hasn't been bullshiting around.

Itsuki: Of course not; I have to beat you someday.

Benjiro: It will take a couple of decades even to get close to me-

Itsuki: Don't be so full of yourself; you are not that great!

Benjiro: Oh really? Shall we go outside right now, or shall I kick your ass later?

Benjiro and Itsuki start arguing as Aurora and Akeru laugh.

Aurora: We both missed you dearly, although Benjiro would never admit it.

Akeru: We missed you all too...and I'm sorry, the ring you got me it...-

Aurora: Oh, it was just a little gift, dear! I'm glad you are alive; I can always give you a new ring! Itsuki, though, better not lose my book!

Itsuki went white in the face, hearing that last part as he hunkered down in his seat. Benjiro looked at the dining room door to see it burst open as they all laughed. Ci was standing there, holding an unconscious Cleo in her arms. The group stopped laughing as they turned to the two Witches.

Ci: I hope we are not interrupting anything, dearest sister.

Aurora: Ci...Cleo...

Ci: Sister, we need to talk.