Mizuki pulled out the spear calling Akiara's name but she didn't respond. Tears trickled down falling on her face. Suki-san, Cordelia and Estelle looked sad crying silently.

"Heal..... what's the use of having the holy powers when I can't even heal the person I love...." Mizuki cried. She shouted, "I SAID HEAL!!" golden flames burst out from Mizuki from which a light exploded like firework letting the world know that the true hero has finally arrived.

Rulers from other nations and dark emperors saw the golden dust falling down. Failed crops and drought areas were flourished with harvest, pasture lands and water gushing out from dried up rivers and filled the wells. As for the dark emperors side, all the monsters were wiped away from the explosion caused. Rayce tried touching the dust but it sparked causing his palm to get a deep cut. He closed the balcony door and glanced at the remaining dark emperors.

Rayce stated looking serious, "It seems that this hero is much powerful than Arnon. We need to prepare for his arrival as quickly as possible." They nodded.

___________

"What is this?" Suki-san asked looking at the sky. Then she noticed her wounds were healed.

"It is the sign that the true hero has arrived." Cordelia replied while staring at the sky.

They walked towards Mizuki and Akiara. Akiara's wounds were healed. Estelle crouched down and checked her pulse on her wrist. Her heartbeat was at normal pace.

"How is it?" Mizuki asks softly.

"Her heartbeat is normal. No complications." Estelle replied.

"Then why is she not waking up?" Mizuki asked as tears were spilling on Akiara's face.

"I don't know but.... there's a possibility that she is in coma." Estelle replied.

"Coma!?" They exclaimed looking astonished except Mizuki.

"Judging by the severe wound inflicted on her, she is in a state of deep unconsciousness. But worry not, I'm sure that she will wake up after few weeks of resting."

"In that case let's go back. We also need to rest." Cordelia walked towards them.

"Let me help you." Suki-san picked Akiara up in her arms while Estelle helped Mizuki to stand up.

They walked back to their ship. Arrow heard noises on the deck. He rushed to the deck. His heart dropped when he saw Akiara's unconscious state. He asked, "What happened to big sis?"

Estelle patted his shoulder, "Don't worry.... your big sis is sleeping."

They headed inside the cabin. Akiara's clothes were changed and placed her on the bed. Mizuki covered the blanket on her. Then she laid on the bed beside her. Her chin resting on her palm staring at her with sad loving gaze. She tucked her black locks behind her ear. She kissed her forehead and laid down. She closed her eyes sleeping beside her.

Three months passed by, they were travelling through sea. But as they headed to north-western part of the world, it keeps getting colder than before. Winter in the middle of summer, how ironic. Resources have grown scarce since they can't cultivate in snowy fields. Food and supplies prices have risen up where they can only rely their income on hunting and adventuring. Their ship anchored in a coastal empire to replenish their supplies.

____________

Akiara opened her eyes. She sat and analyzed the surroundings. It was blue sky with white fluffy clouds. Still water reflected her reflection. It was quite bright without sun and started walking wondering where she is.

"Hello?" her voice echoed in the void. "How will I even leave this place?"

"So you finally woke up huh?" A voice asked. She turned around to see who it was. Arnon was standing with the same stoic expression.

"Hero Arnon?" She looked quite confused.

"Yes that's me."

"Where am I? And.... what am I doing here?"

"It's a realm where you can enter only in a state of deep sleep."

"So basically you are telling me I'm in a state of sleeping? Not dead?"

"Yes. You did not die from getting stabbed. You are lucky it did not stab your heart or you would have died actually."

"I see. Then how do I go back then?"

"Before I send you back, you need to know that Dark lord is going to arrive soon. You need to stop the human sacrifice at any cost."

"Well there was riddle saying he will arrive when the moon will be blood red and pitch black. What does it mean?"

"I will only tell you to observe the night and moon. You will find the answer."

"Why do you always keep everything in a riddle way?"

He walked away as the surroundings started to become foggy, "You talk too much. Go back."

"Wait!?" but she was too late to ask him. The fog was covered and she lost sight of him.

___________

Meanwhile, Mizuki and the group were facing against a snow imp, a subordinate of Dalziel, dark emperor. They were shivering in cold as the snow fall changed to blizzard. While other snow imps were taking away all the humans in chains to sacrifice room.

"That's it. I had enough of you all. Just die!!" the snow imp created a giant icicle. His hands gestured towards them.

They tried to raise their swords but couldn't as their hands went numb from frostbite. Suddenly the icicle got cut into thousand pieces and fell like small pebbles. They looked who saved them. Long jet black hair and the cloak fluttering in the air. She was holding the holy sword. She turned around, "Sorry guys I'm late." Akiara smiled widely with her eyes closed.

"Akiara!!" They shouted.

"You guys stay there I'll finish it off." She pointed her sword towards the imp and dashed towards him.

The imp dodged her sword movements. He jumped back and stood there staring at them.

"Where are the humans being taken to?" Akiara asked.

"I cannot answer you." the imp replied. He grinned, "Anyways I bought enough time. I'm going." He took out a ball and threw it down breaking the ball. A smoke came out from the broken ball. He vanished from the sight.

"Damn it! We lost him." Akiara mumbled.

Suddenly everyone hugged her like they were going to crush her bones. "Ca-can't breathe." they let go off her, "Sorry." She gave a toothy smile. Mizuki kissed her in front of everyone making Akiara blush like red tomato. Cordelia covered Arrow's eyes.

"What are they doing?" Arrow asked.

"You don't need to know." Cordelia replied.

Estelle cleared her throat while Suki-san looked away. Mizuki realized what she was doing. She immediately let go. She sees Akiara's face red as tomato. She covered her face in embarrassment.

"I caught you guys kissing." Estelle teased.

"We will continue this in our room." Mizuki dragged Akiara from there.

"Oooohh. Tell me the details after you finish!" Estelle shouted teasing Akiara.

"SHUT UP!!" Akiara shouted back looking embarrassed.

They headed back to ship and the ship started to sail off. Everyone were assembled in captain's office. Akiara looked serious when she entered the office.

"Dark emperors are going to open the third gate to let dark lord enter the world." Akiara stated.

"So what do we do now?" Estelle asked.

"We need to stop the human sacrifice that's happening. Already millions of humans are abducted to use them as a sacrificial material. We need to find the hideout and evacuate the place." Akiara replied.

"But there must be someone who knows how to use teleportation spell." Cordelia shared her opinion.

"But the mage was killed. He couldn't possibly use the spell." Akiara replied.

"Maybe there is someone else who can use teleportation magic. Like the teleportation explosive was used by the imp." Cordelia said with a smirk.

"Maybe you are right." Akiara thought for a while thinking what to do. She got an idea. She looked at Arrow, "Arrow, you can use cloaking magic right?"

"Yes I do. What to do with it?" Arrow asked.

"Looks like you need to travel around the world again." Akiara smirked.

Arrow thought for while trying to figure out she meant. He realized, "Oh." he nodded, "I understand. I will start right away."

They walked back to deck. Arrow hugged Akiara. "Please take care and don't take any risk which you cannot handle." He whispered.

"I understand. Take care." Akiara whispered back. They let go, "And don't do anything stupid."

Then he took few steps back. He transformed into dragon and flew away. They waved him goodbye. They headed back inside. Akiara was setting her bed. Mizuki hugged her from behind.

"Mizu?" Akiara turned around to face her. She nuzzled her face on her chest. She smiled as her fingers running through her jet black hair. Then she kissed her forehead.

"I missed you."

"I missed you too." She gently pushed her away and cupped her cheeks to give a gentle passionate kiss. Then they hugged again.

"So what happened when I was sleeping?" Akiara asked.

"So many things happened. Summer turned into winter, stealing, hunger and many more. But most important thing is that I was worried that you would never wake up."

"I woke up right?"

"Don't ever do that again."

"Don't forget I was sent to protect you even if it costs my life. But I promise I will come back alive for you." she showed her pinkie finger. Mizuki smiled as she intertwined her pinkie finger with hers, "Silly." she giggled as they hugged again.