The Imperial Army prepared for a week to be fully ready for the great war. Imperial knights were training to master new fighting techniques as well as learning new magic incantations that could help them.

As for the women, they took lessons in making quick remedies as well as treating simple and serious wounds. It was Doctor Ondynol and his wife who took charge of these.

Once everything was prepared, the army left the palace, leaving behind some servants, a group of Imperial Knights, Duchess Lobelia, Countess Taliny and Madam Sofia with Susan to protect and guard the palace in their absence.

The trip took them exactly three days before arriving at a few kilometers from the place where Captain Arminel had told them about.

"We'll set up the tents here. Make sure to put the food supplies in one side and the medicines in another," Arthur ordered.

With these words, everyone began to work. The Imperial Knights had the task of setting up the tents and collecting the wood to make the fire. They were helped by the stone-like knights who had much more strength. While in the other hand, the women pulled away the food supplies to prepare dinner for everyone.

Once everything was prepared, the knights gathered around the fire while waiting for the dinner that the young girls prepared for them with care while discussing together.

"We haven't gathered like this since the expedition to hunt down the mage Abras, three years ago," Eric remarked.

"That's so true, yeah… I remember we sat together like this every night," Lucas replied, nodding his head.

"As for us, we haven't gathered like this since the great war against Vuglonith," Angus retorted, a nostalgic smile on his face.

"This atmosphere we're in is almost the same as the great war against the Demon King," Arthur added.

"Yeah, that's true... Except that now, we have sons and daughters who have come with us to join in the fight," Edgar said with a small smile.

Hearing those words, Arthur glanced at his daughter who was busy serving dinner with Azusa.

"Yeah... They grew way too fast for my liking..." Arthur muttered with a sad smile.

"Mmm... I think this is another way of saying that Luana has reached marriageable age too quickly and Arthur is sad about marrying her to Lucas," Angus teased.

The emperor burst out laughing accompanied by the other Imperial Knights until they had tears in their eyes.

"No... Not at all... Lucas is a very good man... I know that Luana will be extremely happy by his side and that he will take very good care of her..." he answered, very confident.

The young captain's cheeks flushed with shyness before lowering his eyes to the ground.

"It flatters me so much that you think that way of me, Your Majesty..."

"It's going to be father-in-law instead of Your Majesty soon," Matthew teased even more.

"Do you know, Your Majesty? Lucas is an extremely cold person when he is with other people. Especially during practices with the Imperial Knights. But when Luana is around, he becomes like a huge teddy bear. Very soft, very nice and above all, very shy," added Eric with a mischievous smile.

"Thank you so much for the nice description, Eric," the young captain replied sarcastically.

"You're welcome, My Friend! That's what friends are made for, after all!"

On those, everyone dined together in joy and good humor while telling stories and memories, as well as jokes.

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The next morning, the Imperial Knights left their camp while leaving behind the women and a few Imperial Knights except for Luana, Emery, and Hastia.

The young princess, just like Lucas and the other knights, wore a silver metallic armor to protect herself. She had pulled her hair back into a high ponytail. The dagger she hung at her waist had turned into a long sword again, ready for the battlefield.

They approached the enemy's camp dangerously before finding themselves in front of a gigantic black tower in the middle of the deserted plain.

"Is this where the Grand Master is?" Luana wondered.

"Yes, Your Highness. According to my sources, he is hiding at the top of the tower," Arminel replied.

"This place is very deserted... And way too quiet in my opinion..." Matthew remarked.

With these words, a black smoke spread in front of them before abominable cries of creatures echoed on the plain. Different demons appeared before attacking the knights by surprise.

"Be careful!" Lucas exclaimed.

"Attack!" Arthur added.

With these words, the Imperial Knights drew their swords from their holsters and began to fight the creatures that attacked them relentlessly, side by side with the army of stone-like knights.

Emery and Hastia fought alongside Elion and Eric as a huge dragon made its way towards them with a predatory gaze. The two women did not notice him as the latter took the opportunity to raise his claws to try and finish with them. Elion looked at them from a little distance with wide eyes before running hastily towards them.

"Emery! Hastia! Watch out!" he shouted.

Turning around, the young women found themselves face to face with his claws which were slowly coming towards them. They were suddenly propelled away by someone who had pushed them hard.

They fell heavily to the ground before getting up to look at the person who had saved them. Hastia and Emery widened their eyes in shock.

"S-Soren..." they whispered at the same time.

The latter stood in front of the dragon, glaring at him with several daggers in her hand.

"I won't let anyone hurt my sister... Do you hear me?! Anyone!" she screamed before rushing towards him.

"Be careful, Soren!" Emery exclaimed in concern.

On the other side of the plain, stood Lucas with Luana, Roshua, Arthur and Arminel. They were fighting a griffin-like demon together.

"With this pace, we won't get anywhere," Arminel remarked as he launched a magic whip attack towards the creature, badly wounding it in the stomach area.

"What should we do, then?" asked Luana who was busy eliminating other smaller demons that were trying to attack her from behind.

"Luana, Lucas and Roshua! You are going to go to the entrance of the tower! Me and Hector are going to make a diversion for you!" Arthur ordered aloud.

"Okay!" they all replied in sync.

With those words, they did what Arthur had asked them to do. The young captain and his friends advanced at full speed towards the black tower, swinging their weapons in all directions and repeatedly striking the demons that pounced on them.

Arminel and Arthur stood in front of the group of demons to separate them as they created together a barrier to protect the princess and the two knights so that they could not reach them.

"Try to pass now if you can," Arthur said with a defiant look.

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Once inside the tower, the three friends were attacked by several other demons which they got rid of in the blink of an eye.

"We have to climb to the top of the tower, Lucas! The Grandmaster must surely be there!" Roshua exclaimed.

The young captain nodded affirmatively before taking the spiral stairs to go upstairs.

In the middle of the path, they found themselves in front of several demons who tried to attack them and block their way. Roshua stepped in front of them before turning around to look at his friends.

"Go and find the Grand Master. I'll take care of those. Hurry!" he said before turning again to attack the demons that were throwing themselves at him.

With both hands, he created a huge blood-red colored ball before throwing it at them, reducing them to ashes in an instant before attacking the rest with his sword.

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Once Soren was done with the dragon, she turned to her little sister before advancing towards her hastily and hugging her very tightly, letting a few tears flow.

"I thought you were dead," Emery whispered, sobbing.

"I'll explain everything to you, later, My Darling... For now, you have to protect yourself as much as possible-"

"Soren! Watch out!" Elion exclaimed.

The latter ran towards them before propelling a demon who was going to attack them by kicking him hard before cutting him into two pieces with his sword.

"Be careful, girls!" scolded Hastia, who came to stand beside them.

"Sorry... I was just so happy to see her again that I didn't see the demon coming..." Soren replied.

With these words, the old woman gave them a very big smile.

"It's good to see that you've come to your senses, Soren... You have to know that you made the right choice..."

"Thank you, Hastia," she replied, smiling back at her.

Looking up at the sky, Soren saw that one of the demons that had a human appearance was planning to throw a dagger in Emery's direction.

The young girl took her little sister by the shoulders quickly and turned her around to act as a shield for her. The dagger pierced her back as Soren fell on Emery on the ground.

The latter opened her eyes to find herself facing her sister who was looking at her intensely. Blood began to flow from her mouth as a few drops fell on Emery's cheek.

"S-Soren?" she whispered, very shocked.

She lightly pushed her sister before removing the dagger from her back, a frightened look on her face. She laid her on her back on the ground while caressing her cheek as tears began to stream down her face.

"S-Soren... M-My sister..." she whispered, crying silently.

"Don't cry, Little Sister... I don't deserve your tears... I'm... I'm so sorry... for everything I've done..." she whispered, completely breathless.

"Don't talk... Don't talk... I-I'm going to give you a remedy... Just wait a moment... Hold on..." she said hurriedly before searching for vials in her small bag with her trembling hands.

"It's not worth it, Emery... I won't last long, anyway..."

Elion and Hastia knelt beside the girl, a sad expression on their faces.

"I want you to know... That I love you... I love you so much, My Sister... Even though I won't be with you anymore... I know that you are in very good hands..."

"Please, Soren... Don't leave me..." she begged, sobbing very hard.

"Farewell... My sister..."

With these words, Soren closed her eyes forever while Emery cried her despair very loudly until her throat hurt.

Elion took her in his arms and hugged her tightly while stroking her head gently. The girl buried her face in his chest, screaming in agony.

"Soren! No!"

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After several minutes, Lucas and Luana finally found themselves on the top floor where there was a huge door at the end of the hallway. They walked towards it before opening it abruptly and entering the room.

They saw inside, the Grand Master who was seated on his throne without his mask on with his face lowered. He looked up at them before giving them a smirk.

"Hey there... Look who finally came to see me... The famous Princess Luana Aubretia and her famous bodyguard... You took a very long time to come... You made me wait for too long..."

Looking at him, Luana couldn't control the rage that was burning inside of her. She clenched her fists, looking at him coldly.

"You are the cause of my mother's death... You killed her without showing any mercy... And you still continue to sow chaos in the empire... How many more innocent lives do you plan on taking?!" she declared with hatred.

"Oh yeah, that's true... Poor Empress Isadora... But it was kind of fun to see you growing up without a mother... Just like me... I grew up without my father who yours took from me! If my father didn't help me escape before the great war, I would have been dead too!" he exclaimed angrily.

"Your father was just a criminal and a monster... And you, you're not that different from him..." Lucas insulted.

"Unlike my father, this time, I'm not going to leave you alive... So you have to get ready for what's coming to you..." he threatened, getting up from his throne.

He stood there staring at them without saying a single word before swooping down on them at full speed to attack them by surprise.

"Any last wishes?!"