REONE
Everyone continued staring at the man in front of them in stunned silence.
Slowly, he reached up and removed his snow hat.
The face beneath it made the world tilt.
He looked like Varek.
Not exactly — but close enough that it felt like seeing a ghost.
The same bone structure.
The same eyes.
The same presence.
A ripple of shock passed through the group.
He walked toward Mia, then gestured toward Reone.
"Is he the one?" he asked.
Mia nodded.
Reone just stared at him, his mind racing — a sick thought crossing his mind that this could be another trick. Another illusion. Another game by Damon or the Sisterhood.
Then the man spoke again — and the suspicion shattered.
"I'm not Varek," he said quietly. "I'm his twin brother. Varal."
"Varal…" Reone whispered.
The man nodded once.
"I heard you and my brother were close," he said. "Maybe he mentioned me?"
For a moment, Reone couldn't speak. Then something clicked in his memory.
"Actually… he did," he said slowly.
"Once. Said you were stationed in another kingdom, far away. That's why you weren't around. But he said you were close despite that."
"Our bond surpassed distance," Varal replied softly.
"We were twins, after all."
Reone noticed his use of past tense in regard to Varek instantly.
"Were?" he said quietly.
"So you know about his… his…"
He swallowed.
"…his last act of bravery."
This time, he couldn't bring himself to say the word dead.
Varal's expression changed — the stoic mask breaking as grief surfaced in his eyes.
"I received the communication two days ago," he said sadly.
"I'm sorry," Reone croaked.
"Varek… he was a good man."
Varal inclined his head.
"I'm sorry too," he said — not just for himself, but for Reone as well, sensing the depth of the bond between them.
A heavy silence settled over the group.
Mickey broke it carefully.
"Excuse me, Mr. Varal," he said, clearing his throat.
"Mia mentioned you're the leader of the Temple of Echoes Watch. Could you explain what that is exactly?"
Varal straightened.
"Of course," he said.
"The Temple of Echoes Watch is a brotherhood formed to prevent anyone from accessing the Temple — due to how dangerous it is."
"Really?" Nova said, immediately interested.
"Aye," another man said from behind Varal.
"We swore an oath to protect it. And we'll keep that oath until the day we die."
They turned to the speaker — a tall, intense man with sharp eyes.
"This is Anarom," Varal said. "One of my men."
Diamond studied all of them quietly.
Some looked old.
Fragile.
Worn down by time and cold.
It made her sceptical about their ability to guard the Temple.
"So let me get this straight," Diamond said aloud.
"You're the ones responsible for the Temple of Echoes?"
"Yes," Anarom replied. "Why?"
"No reason," Diamond said flatly.
To her relief, Sire redirected the attention.
"If you're meant to guard the Temple of Echoes," he asked,
"why are you all the way out here?"
"The land around the Temple is dead," Anarom answered.
"No plants. No animals. Nothing survives near it. So we travel far to hunt and gather."
"That's a hard life," Primi said quietly, able to relate.
"Someone has to do it," Varal replied.
Mickey nodded thoughtfully.
"That makes sense. Areas saturated with dark energy are known to corrupt surrounding ecosystems."
"Exactly," Varal said.
"Here we find glacial deer, frost hares, ice beasts, crystal fruit, snow herbs."
Mickey shook his head in amazement.
"And you walk that distance at your age? How? It should be impossible."
The men smiled.
Mia smiled too.
"What?" Mickey asked.
"They don't walk, Mickey," Mia said.
"That's what I've been trying to tell you guys."
"Then how—" Lyrian began.
"Anarom is a wizard," Varal explained.
"He creates portals. It allows us to travel between the Temple and here without much exertion."
"Portals?" Anika said, eyes lighting up.
"That's amazing."
"I was thinking that they could take us to the Temple," Mia said to everyone.
At this unexpected idea, spirits soared among the team. They look at each other in excitement.
Looking at them, Varal hated having to shut them down.
"I'm afraid that's not possible, my friends," he said, making Mia and the others stop smiling and turn to him.
"For safety reasons, the Temple is off-limits to everyone, including you," Varal explained.
Faces fell at his words.
"Wait... what!" Mia exclaimed. "You're not going to help us?"
"Aye, girl," Anarom said. "It's like Varal said. The Temple's too dangerous."
"We can handle danger," Mia assured them fiercely.
"Maybe you can, maybe you can't. I'm not risking it, and I'm definitely not breaking Volarian law."
At the mention of Volaria, Mia smiled, moving closer to them.
"You're wrong to think I'm just a girl, Anarom. I am the Princess of Volaria and the new Queen of Echian. Seren is my sister and the future Queen of Volaria," she told him simply. "We are Volarian law. And as your rulers, we command you to take us to the Temple of Echoes."
The men stared at her in shock and surprise. They did not consider that she or anyone of them could be Volarian royalty.
Anarom regarded her suspiciously, not believing her in the slightest.
"I don't buy it," he muttered.
Varal looked doubtful as well.
"But it's true," Reone insisted. "Every word."
"Yeah, right," another man scoffed. "Royals in the northern mountains. And if that's true, then I'm the King of Echian."
Diamond sighed, not even bothering to tell them that she was the Crown Princess of Solaria. It was obvious they didn't know who royals were in this backwater place, she thought.
"You have to believe us," Mia said.
Varal exhaled slowly.
"Do you at least have any identification?"
Mia stared at him.
"No," she said flatly.
"Of course not. I'm not going to bring my crown to the middle of nowhere on a mission to save the world."
Varal shook his head.
"Then I'm afraid I can't help you."
Mia stared at him.
"No," she said flatly. "Of course not. I'm not going to bring my crown on a mission to save the world, in the middle of nowhere."
Varal shook his head.
"Then I'm afraid I can't help you."
Mia groaned in frustration. Reone decided to stepped forward before Mia unintentionally sabotaged any chance of Varal agreeing to take them.
"I don't think you understand, Varal," Reone said. "Four extremely dangerous people are heading for the Temple right now. And we're the only ones who can stop them."
"Impossible," Varal said. "There has never been so much as an attempt at a breach in the Temple during my time."
"That's about to change," Lyrian said quietly.
Varal frowned at her words. Reone pressed on.
"There's a powerful artifact inside the Temple. They're after it. If they get it, trust me when I say they'll spread chaos throughout Ruminia with it and won't stop until we all agree to kneel before them," he paused, his own words momentarily scaring him. "Please, please, let us come with you."
Varal and Anarom exchanged uneasy looks.
Finally, Varal looked at them. "Here's what's going to happen—my men and I will check out this so-called threat. But you kids aren't coming."
"What?" Lyrian said.
"Kids?" Diamond echoed at the same time,her voice full of indignation.
"You heard me," Anarom said.
"But—"
"This is final,Reone," Varal said, cutting him off.
Mia gritted her teeth, anger boiling in her veins at his words. "That is it!" she exclaimed.
"Mia?"Seren said in a warning way.
Ignoring her,Mia turned to Varal. "You understand this,Sir: either you take us to the Temple, or… I'll burn this whole forest down with my powers."
"Mia!" Reone exclaimed, shocked at her words. The rest of the team froze.As for Varal and his soldiers looked alarmed and—most of all—livid.
"That is our source of food you're threatening," Varal said to her in a stern voice.
"I know," Mia said coldly.
"Mia, what are you doing?" Seren says.
Lyrian decides to step in before Mia could escalate things.
"She doesn't mean it," she told Varal and the others.
"Right, Mia?"
"I mean every single word," Mia said through gritted teeth, her eyes glowing. "Believe it."
Before anyone could say anything else, Seren's face hardened, her eyes glowing blue. "That's it,Mia.You're done,"she says.
She then outstretches her arm toward the icy ground beneath Mia. In the next moment, Mia's whole body,except for her face,is frozen in ice. Everyone stared, shocked at her Seren's actions who was breathing hard.
"Uh, Seren?" Lyrian said.
Seren didn't answer as Mia let out a surprised yell as she was suddenly covered in ice, her movements restricted. "Damn!" When she realized she couldn't break free, frustration became evident on her face and she leveled an accusing look at Seren. "What. the. hell, Seren!"
"I'm sorry, Mia, but Lyrian was right about you," Seren said firmly. "You're out of control. And as your sister, it's my duty to get you back under control."
"What the heck are you guys on about? I'm trying to get us back to the Temple," Mia snapped.
Seren sighs.
"If you still don't get it, it's because you don't want to get it," she said.
Mia growled and decides to appeal to the others. "Guys, say something," she demanded.
Lyrian opened her mouth, wanting to come to Mia's defense, but she found she had nothing to say in that regard. Reading Reone's expression, she surmised that he was on the same page. If their silence was any indication, the others seemed to be in agreement with them.
"I'm sorry, Mia, but this is probably for the best," Lyrian said softly.
Mia looked betrayed at that, glaring at Lyrian and the rest of them.
"Let. me. go!"
"They made a wise decision keeping you like that," Varal said.
Reone and the others turned to him. If he looked pissed before, now he was just enraged. Reone knew getting his help now would be nearly impossible.
"Please excuse Mia,Varal.She is going through a lot."
"Doesn't matter. She threatened our livelihood,"he says,turning away.
"Take us with you, Varal,"Reone pleads.
If Varal heard him, he gave no indication.
Frustrated, Reone said, "You and your men are no match for them without us, old man."
Varal paused at Reone's words, visibly taken aback, but Reone immediately pressed his point.
"Yeah, that's right. They're young and powerful, and you and your men are… the opposite. Handling you guys would be no more than sport for them."
Lyrian facepalmed mentally, eyes wide at Reone's cheap shots. Did he really just say that?
Varal narrowed his eyes at Reone. "I see my brother's bluntness has rubbed off on you, Legion," he said coolly. Then he sighed, regret flickering across his face.
"But the answer is still no."
'Damn,'Reone thought, visibly clenching his jaw. Still, a small, grim satisfaction flickered inside him—this man reminded him a lot of Varek, maybe too much.
Then, an idea struck him.
"What if I told you," he said slowly, "that the people we're trying to stop are the same ones who killed your brother, Varek? Would you let us come then?"
Varal went still at Reone's words.
"Varal…" Anarom warned quietly.
"Is that really the case, Legion?" Varal asked, his voice low and tense.
"I swear on Varek's grave," Reone said seriously.
Varal's entire demeanor turned icy at Reone's words. Seeing this, Reone pressed even harder.
"Help me, Varal. Help us make these bastards pay for what they did to your brother, my mentor."
Silence.
Varal exhaled after a long moment. "You win," he said to Reone. "You can come."
"Varal—" Anarom started.
"I don't expect you to understand, Anarom," Varal said without looking at him. "This is just something I have to do. It feels right… somehow."
Anarom fell silent, averting his gaze, making no more protests.
Reone turned to Lyrian, and the two exchanged a quiet, victorious smile. Their joy spread through the group.
"So we're actually going to the Temple?" Anika asked, practically vibrating with excitement.
"That's what the man said," Primi replied, trying to hide his own smile.
"I told you guys not to give up," Lyrian said softly.
Reone smirked. "Yeah, but then you gave up too, so…"
Lyrian laughed quietly at his words.
"You guys haven't forgotten about me,have you?" a hard voice cut in. They all turned to Mia.
Lyrian pursed her lips guilty, realizing she'd had actually forgotten about that situation for a moment.
"What are you going to do about her?" Varal asked.
"I suggest you let me go , Varal," Mia said in a fake sweet voice. " Silence followed.
"I don't trust her to not burn forests,"Lyrian admittted slowly.
Mia rolled her eyes at Lyrian.
"Varal is letting us come with him now, and I was bluffing anyway," Mia ended with a smile. "You guys know that I'd never do that."
"Personally, I don't really know that,"Reone said to Mia's face.
"Guys, please," she said in a teary voice. Seren stepped forward, torn between her love for her sister and her instincts.Then, resolute again, she addressed the others. "Lyrian's right.We can't let her out. Who knows what she'll do next."
"Agreed. But how are we going to get to the Temple with her like this? Do we leave her here and head to the Temple?" Reone asked.
"I wouldn't do that. There are a few dangerous creatures here," Anarom advised.
"What about the land around the Temple of Echoes?" Nova asked hesitantly.
"Isn't it barren?" Lyrian asked.
"Yes,it is," Anarom answered.
"Then it's settled. We go with Mia through the portal in her current frozen state and leave her outside the Temple where she'll be safe."
"Trapped you mea," Mia added bitterly.
"That too," Lyrian said regretfully.
"How are you all going to move her when she's like this?" Anika asked.
"Using the levitation spell, like with the jet," Nova answered easily.
"Nova, Diamond, guys, you can't be doing this to me!" Mia protested angrily.
"We're sorry, Mia, but it's for your own good—and only until the mission is over. Right, guys?" Diamond said.
"Exactly," Seren said, looking into Mia's eyes.
Mia glared back coldly."If anyone is killing Damon, it's me."
"This is why you're staying in the ice,"Lyrian says.
Mia went silent, glaring again.
Varal cut in. "Since that's all figured out, we leave now."
"We're ready," Reone assured him.
"Wait, guys, what about our jet?" Mickey asked immediately.
"We'll come back for it after the mission. And then we'll fix it somehow," Nova said in an unsure voice, squeezing his shoulder.
Mickey reluctantly nodded, knowing there was no other alternative.
"Anarom," Varal said. "A portal, please."
Anarom nodded. "This may take a moment. I'm not as young as I used to be."
Diamond muttered under her breath, "You got that right."
Anarom raised his hand. Dark energy cracked the air. A circular portal tore open—violent, unstable, swirling.
Lyrian inhaled sharply, staring nervously at it.
"Who's first?" Anarom asked.
The silence that answered him made him doubt if this was the same group that had been pleading to come with them to the Temple.