"I don't think you can handle all these soldiers," Golden said through the mental link he shared with Paltio and his friends. "The best thing is to get out of here, boy. Leave it. There will be another chance to save them."
More soldiers were closing in on the group, surrounding them slowly.
"Calm down, Paltio. We can't win," Mok said seriously, observing the situation with concern. "Even I won't be able to fight all of them and protect you at the same time."
At that moment, a burly man, clearly the leader of the dungeon, stepped forward with a firm stride.
"Who are you, and why are you outside the dungeon?" he asked in an authoritative voice.
One of the guards quickly responded:
"Sir, we found them snooping around this area."
The leader nodded, crossing his arms.
"I see… Then throw them back into their cells."
"Yes, sir!" the guards replied in unison, advancing toward the group.
Just when it seemed there was no escape, Pax appeared in front of them, positioning himself between the guards and the group.
"Is this where you've been? Why did it take so long? We need to find the piece for Tejod," Pax said impatiently, his black armor gleaming under the light of the sphere Tertrol had placed in the sky.
The dungeon leader looked at him distrustfully.
"Are you with these people, avocado?"
"That's right," Pax responded firmly, standing tall before them. "I'm with them to search for the pieces of Avocios' Scepter for Lord Tejod. Didn't your leader, Tertrol, give you clear instructions?"
The leader frowned, visibly irritated.
"No, I haven't been informed of that. To me, these are prisoners, and they belong inside this facility."
Pax raised a hand, clenching it into a tight fist.
"Wait. Are you going to disobey and ignore a soldier of the Red Shadows? And even more, the right-hand man of Tejod?"
Some of the guards began to murmur among themselves.
"I think I know him… It's Pax," one of them whispered. "He's not someone to mess with."
However, the leader didn't back down.
"You don't scare me, Pax, or whatever your name is. You have no jurisdiction here. Only a high-ranking Blue Shadow officer can tell me what to do."
Pax took a step forward, his gaze burning with anger.
"You damn Blue Shadow fool, just wait until my boss Tejod hears about you. He'll tear you in two, but not before making you suffer."
He was about to confront the leader when Mok, thinking quickly, pulled out the conch Opal had given them and blew into it.
Suddenly, a holographic bubble emerged, revealing Opal's calm face.
"Yes, what do you need, Mok?"
"Forgive the interruption, Lord Opal, but we're having an issue with these soldiers who don't know who we are," Mok explained quickly.
Opal frowned slightly.
"Lord Milok, why are you treating our guests this way?"
The dungeon leader tried to defend himself:
"But, Lord Opal, these individuals were wandering around the dungeon area, and I was simply following the protocol established by Master Tertrol."
Opal sighed, his expression shifting from calmness to an unsettling seriousness.
"Lord Milok, I commend your devotion to Lord Tertrol, but your insolence in doubting what I've just said is unacceptable. Let me make this clear: we communicated across the entire realm that everyone is to assist these people in finding the piece of the scepter for our master Tejod. And if you and your people are unaware, you will be punished."
The leader swallowed hard, visibly nervous.
"Forgive me, sir, and please don't tell Lord Tertrol."
"For this time, I'll let it slide. Apologize to Prince Paltio," Opal instructed, his face still stern.
Milok, still stubborn, tried to protest:
"But, sir…"
Opal raised an eyebrow, his gaze turning icy and menacing, like a humanoid weasel stalking its prey. His relaxed posture from moments ago had given way to a calculated rigidity that left no room for argument.
"Apologize," he ordered sharply, his tone so cold it seemed to cut through the air itself. It was clear he would tolerate no further defiance.
Ron leaned toward Alita, whispering low enough for only her to hear, though his eyes remained fixed on Opal:
"I wouldn't want to see what that guy is capable of…"
Alita nodded quickly, her expression a mix of nervousness and restrained admiration.
"Yes, how terrifying… It seems like he could obliterate us with just a glare."
The atmosphere grew tense as Milok, intimidated by Opal's imposing presence, finally lowered his head in submission.
"Wow, that was intense," Ron commented, wiping the sweat from his forehead.
"Yes, but thanks to Opal, we got out of this. Who would've thought the enemy would save us from their own people?" Alita added, sighing in relief.
Paltio, however, remained tense. He knew the real danger was only just beginning.
"Forgive me, Prince Paltio," Milok said, bowing slightly. "It wasn't my intention to throw you into the dungeon; I was merely following orders."
Every word from his mouth was forced, laced with hardness, though inside he burned with frustration and contained rage.
Opal, with his usual serenity, intervened:
"Well then, now that the situation is resolved, I am taking my leave. And I expect no further incidents."
The holographic bubble disappeared, leaving the group in silence.
"So, Milok… I'll remember that name," Pax murmured, sheathing his sword with deliberate movement.
"Let's go, Master. You can't do anything for these people… yet. There will be a right moment to free them, but for now, we must bow our heads and move forward," Mok said.
Those words, though meant to comfort him, also reminded Paltio of the harsh reality of their situation. With no other choice, the young prince trudged toward the carriage and climbed in heavily.
"Poor people… They need me. I hate standing by with my arms crossed," Paltio said, frustrated, as he sat down with clenched fists.
Alita and Ron exchanged a glance before turning to Pax.
"You saved us, Pax," Alita said with a mischievous smile. "So you do care about us."
Pax snorted, visibly irritated. A thin wisp of smoke began to rise from his helmet.
"Bah! I saw you got out quickly and were taking too long so close to the objective. Besides, I only came to save the prince. You all don't matter to me."
"Sure, sure, you like us and secretly care—looks like you've got a soft spot after all," Alita teased, laughing.
Pax grew even more irritated, crossing his arms sharply.
"You owe me one."
"We don't owe you anything," Ron retorted firmly. "It was Mok who saved us by calling Opal."
"Fine, then it's even. Just this once," Pax said, smirking ironically under his helmet. "But when something happens, you'll pay me back with interest."
Ron raised an eyebrow at him.
"Oh really? And if it's the other way around, you'll owe us."
They climbed into the carriage and moved forward, finally heading to the site where the ruined mill stood. Once there, Paltio broke the silence with a frustrated tone:
"Well, Golden, what now?"
The boy was clearly upset about not being able to do anything to save those people, unlike what he had done for those in the "chamber."
Golden responded calmly through the mental link:
"I know how you feel, boy, but it's not as simple as you think. You only have one life, and your parents and your people are at the mercy of the shadows. One wrong move, and everything you love will be destroyed. This whole journey would be in vain."
Paltio thought for a moment. Finally, he sighed and nodded.
"You're right. Sometimes I'm too impatient and act on instinct when trying to save someone in trouble."
Mok, ever attentive, patted him gently on the shoulder.
"We know, Master Paltio."
"So, what should I do to free all these people? It's not fair, everything that's happening…" Paltio nearly broke down on the spot, his trembling voice reflecting his anguish.
Ron and Alita quickly approached, hugging him to comfort him.
"We'll make it happen, friend," they said in unison.
Golden intervened, guiding the group toward their next action:
"Place your hand on the ground, boy."
Paltio obeyed without hesitation. As soon as he touched the ground, he felt something strange pulsing beneath his fingers.
"Do you feel it?" Golden asked.
"Yes," Paltio replied, eyes wide open. "Then this is it."
They began digging through the rubble of the mill, uncovering something unusual that didn't match the remains of the structure. It was a metallic object, shiny and covered in dust, that seemed to pulse with its own energy.
Curious as always, Ron tried to touch it, but the object repelled him with an electric shock. He jerked back, shaking his hand.
"Ouch! What was that? My whole body hurts!" he exclaimed, surprised.
Golden explained calmly:
"That thing, boy, is the piece of the scepter. Only a direct descendant of Avocios can carry it, and only if they are king. But in Paltio's case, his father placed a special spell so that only he could touch it."
Paltio slowly approached the object, extending his hand. When his fingers brushed against it, a warm light emerged, enveloping the piece and seemingly recognizing him as its rightful bearer—or so he thought.
"Quick, Paltio, get it out of there!" Ron exclaimed urgently, still rubbing the hand where he'd felt the shock. His voice betrayed palpable pain, though he tried to lighten the moment with a joke. "I hope it doesn't make your hair stand on end… like mine."
Paltio looked at him, momentarily confused, until Alita chimed in with a mischievous smile:
"Ha, yes, but yours already looks like that by design… Just not signed like now."
Ron feigned indignation, but before he could retort, Alita turned to Pax with playful mischief:
"Maybe you should try touching it, Pax."
Pax, who had been observing from a safe distance, snorted disdainfully.
"No, thanks. I'm not stupid," he replied dryly, turning away to avoid further jokes.
Paltio, nervous and trembling, dropped a piece of rubble he had been holding in one of his hands. With caution, he approached the object, fearing the same outcome as Ron. However, when his fingers touched the piece, it began to emit a soft resonant sound, accompanied by a warm glow that matched the golden tone of his skin.
The group watched silently as the object's energy seemed to recognize Paltio as its rightful bearer.
"Well done, Master. You've found the piece," Mok said with satisfaction, watching as Paltio lifted the object with both hands, his eyes reflecting awe and determination.