"What do you mean, 'it might be a possibility'?" Mok asked, raising an eyebrow skeptically.
"Don't you remember? Each of the guardians' assistants was assigned to my friends for training," Paltio explained urgently. "Once they were ready, those assistants would leave because they're linked to them."
"Ah, now that you mention it, I do recall that, Master," Mok said as he polished his monocle with a handkerchief, his expression thoughtful.
"Yes, as I said: it could be, or it might not," Golden replied cautiously. "Our companions form a mental bond with the person they're assigned to. This pact is unbreakable until one of two conditions is met: either their task is completed, or the individual dies. There's no other way to sever that connection."
"Quickly, Nakia, Chiki! Try to communicate with them," Paltio ordered, his voice brimming with renewed hope.
The bird and the dog closed their eyes, concentrating deeply. Several minutes passed in absolute silence, but eventually, both opened their eyes, their expressions frustrated.
"It could be due to two reasons," Nakia explained. "Either they're unconscious, or something is blocking our field."
"Maybe if we were closer to them, it would work better," Chiki added. "Our range has limits. The distance might be interfering."
"But where do we even start looking?" Paltio murmured, placing a hand on his chin while holding Rykaru with the other. Suddenly, an idea crossed his mind. "Paris! Maybe she knows something. She mentioned that it could have been the resistance who attacked the city, trying to spark a battle against the Purple Shadows."
He quickly wiped away his tears and splashed fresh water on his face. Determined, he sprang to his feet and began walking in search of the girls. He wanted to share the news—or at least what he believed was a good idea—and take the opportunity to apologize to Lukeandria for their earlier confrontation.
He followed the path where he thought they might be. In the distance, he spotted their figures and quickened his pace toward them. However, before he could speak, Lukeandria cut him off with a scoff.
"What do you want, fool? Are you here to blame me again?" she snapped, giving him a stern look.
"Calm down, Lukeandria," Paris interjected calmly, stepping between them. "Let's hear what Paltio has to say. After all, I'm older than both of you, and I know things aren't always as they seem."
"No, nothing like that," Paltio began, bowing his head in a gesture of remorse. "I apologize for my behavior earlier. It was wrong, and I'm truly sorry. I feel terrible about it—really, I regret it."
Lukeandria stared at him, incredulous. "You? Bowing your head? Who would've thought? Either you've gone crazy, or you're up to something," she said, though her tone carried a slightly less aggressive edge, as if intrigued by the prince's sudden change.
"Yes, maybe a bit of both," Paltio replied with renewed resolve, his voice firm yet kind.
"Fine, let me think about it," Lukeandria said, crossing her arms. However, Paris nudged her subtly to encourage her to accept.
"Alright, I forgive you. Spit it out already—say what you have to say," Lukeandria finally relented, though her tone remained somewhat brusque.
"Okay, you're right, Paris. You mentioned it could have been the resistance who attacked the realm. Could you take us to them? Maybe my friends are with them. It's possible, don't you think?" Paltio explained urgently. "Remember, when you told me what happened, no one saw their bodies. Plus, the soldiers didn't approach that area."
"Yes, that's true. It's possible they were saved by someone from my team and freed," Paris reflected, frowning as she analyzed the situation. "But it's a very slim chance—one in a million. I'm not sure if what you're saying is feasible or not."
"But it's still possible… There's still hope. We can go look for them," Paltio insisted, his voice filled with determination.
"Well, we could, kid," Paris began, but Lukeandria interrupted her.
"Wait!" Lukeandria exclaimed, raising a hand to halt the conversation. "You've spent these past three days being sad, angry, frustrated, hopeless, and drowning in negative emotions. Now you only have ten days left before your time runs out. The last realm is five days away because this route is longer. Let's say you manage to find the piece in one day—you'll barely have enough time to return to Tejod."
"Yes, I know, and I understand," Paltio murmured, lowering his head, embarrassed.
"The next time you act like an idiot, I'm going to give you so many knocks on the head that you'll turn purple from how golden you are, you foolish prince," Lukeandria said, giving Paltio a light tap on the arm.
"Yes, I think I deserved that for treating you that way. I'm really sorry—and for losing my composure like that," Paltio admitted, rubbing the spot where she'd hit him.
"Good, but you need to apologize to everyone, especially your butler," Lukeandria added, gesturing toward Mok.
Mok and Kilibur approached the group just then. Paltio took a deep breath and apologized to everyone for his negative attitude over the past few days. His words were sincere, and though some looked at him skeptically, his apologies seemed heartfelt.
Once everything was cleared up, Paris nodded. "I see you have a plan. It's a long shot, but we can take the risk. Remember, no one saw the bodies of your friends, and Toco-Toco didn't see anyone from the Purple Shadows take them. That gives us some hope."
"Alright, I think we'll need to split up from here," Paris announced decisively. "I'll take care of searching for your friends. I have this shell with the radio frequency of your vehicle, so we'll stay in contact while you, Paltio, go look for the last piece of the scepter."
"Alright," Paltio said with a firm nod, though his gaze still reflected a mix of concern and hope.
"I'll go with her," Kilibur announced, taking his place beside Paris. "Remember, they're looking for me, and it's likely the news has already spread across the realms."
"Right, we'll go with you too," Nakia added, as Chiki nodded determinedly. "After all, they're our students. If we get close enough, we can communicate with them, and besides, we need to train them for what's coming."
"Alright, it's time to move out," Paris said, adjusting the backpack on her shoulder.
"Take care, Kilibur," Golden murmured, his voice heavy with genuine concern.
"You too," Kilibur replied with a faint smile before turning to Paltio. "I hope you find your friends."
"Yeah… Let's hope for Avocios," Paris concluded, gazing toward the horizon as if mentally calculating the odds.
Kilibur quickly changed into a dark blue kimono adorned with golden star motifs that faintly shimmered under the dim light. Then, with an elegant gesture of his hand, he conjured illusory horses that softly neighed, ready to carry the group to where Paris's team awaited.
Before departing, Kilibur summoned his animal companion, similar to the ones Golden and the other guardians had. A small green ferret with brown eyes emerged from within his clothing, twitching its nose curiously. Kilibur gently picked it up and handed it to Lukeandria.
"This is Lume," Kilibur said, introducing the ferret with a smile. "He'll help you train."
"Very well, Master, just watch as I bring out this girl's potential and turn her into a promising warrior," Lume declared enthusiastically, his tone confident and slightly mocking.
"I'm already a warrior!" Lukeandria retorted, crossing her arms with a mix of indignation and pride.
"Yes, that's what you say," Lume replied, drawing out the words sarcastically, which drew laughter from some of those present.
With no more words exchanged, both groups said their goodbyes. Lukeandria, Mok, and Paltio set off on their journey toward the next realm, following the course Tejod had set from the beginning of their quest. The three together, as it should have been from the start.
The wind blew gently, carrying with it the fresh scent of grass and the nearby sea. Ten days remained before the marine dawn would arrive. Ten days to complete their mission and face whatever awaited them at the end of the road.