Paltio, Mok, and Lukeandria—the latter once again disguised as Pax—entered Avocadalia. The Red Shadow guards granted them passage without question. As the grand golden door opened, a contingent of soldiers awaited them on the other side. The place remained as eerie as they remembered: statues of red jade, representing the citizens, stood everywhere, casting long shadows under the dim light that moved with them.
"Just wait… you'll see soon enough," Paltio murmured to himself, feigning disinterest as he casually tossed his bag aside, ensuring no one noticed. A confident smile spread across his face. "I don't know what I'll do yet, but I'll free them from this curse."
The carriage advanced slowly through the city streets until it reached the palace. At the entrance, Tejod awaited them, his expression calculating.
"Well, prince, what a fine carriage you've acquired," Tejod remarked sarcastically, eyeing the eccentric vehicle.
Paltio and his companions stepped down from the carriage.
"Do you have it?" Tejod asked, cutting straight to the point.
"Yes, here it is," Paltio replied, pulling the complete Scepter of Avocios from his back.
Tejod approached to inspect it, his eyes gleaming with curiosity. He was about to touch it when something within the scepter seemed to emit a subtle yet powerful energy. With a grimace, he decided against it.
"I've fulfilled my part," Paltio declared firmly. "Now it's your turn to fulfill yours."
Tejod let out a mocking laugh and fixed his gaze on Paltio. "Interesting... I see something has changed in you. You seem more determined now—and not as scared and whiny as the last time we met."
"That's how character is forged in someone: through a race against time," Tejod retorted, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
"You got what you wanted. Now give me back my parents and the citizens. Free them from this prison of red jade statues," Paltio demanded with resolve.
"You're getting cocky, princeling. Who do you think you are to make demands? Just because you found something valuable on your journey..." Tejod stared at him intently, his crimson eyes burning with destructive intensity. "I'll decide when to release them. Don't bother me, boy. In case you've forgotten, I still control your realm. And if I want, I can turn you and your butler into red jade statues to decorate this place."
He paused deliberately before continuing: "Once the Marine Dawn begins, and I drain the power from that magical device you brought, I'll release your parents. For now, wait. In five hours, things will get interesting."
Paltio clenched his fists, suppressing his anger. "I knew that damn badger wouldn't keep his promise," he thought furiously. But luckily, he had an ace up his sleeve.
"Enter my palace while we wait," Tejod said in a taunting tone, savoring the weight of his words.
"My palace," Paltio repeated mentally, though his face remained impassive. He knew the wicked badger was trying to provoke him, seeking to elicit an expression of hatred or frustration. To his misfortune, Paltio showed not a trace of emotion. His mask of serenity remained intact.
Paltio and Mok were led to a secluded room while Pax was summoned by Tejod to give his report.
"That damn badger... Who does he think he is, saying this is his palace?" Paltio muttered under his breath, pacing back and forth in contained frustration. "He only refrains from turning me into red jade because he knows that without me, he can't drain the energy from the scepter! He can't even touch it!"
"Calm down, sir," Mok replied calmly, placing a hand on Paltio's shoulder. "We need to wait for the signal. Besides, remember that we're in enemy territory. This place is no longer your home until we free it from the shadow's control."
"Yes, you're right, Mok," Paltio admitted, though his tone still carried an edge of irritation. "You're always so wise." He threw a punch at the wall, releasing some of his pent-up frustration. "I just hope the others manage to pull off what we've planned."
In another part of the palace, Pax stood before Tejod, who observed him with a mix of satisfaction and suspicion.
"Well, well... You've done well, Pax," Tejod said with a sly smile. "You accompanied that brat throughout his journey and brought me exactly what I asked for. For that, I'll promote you to general of one of my squadrons."
"How strange that you hesitated to kill the prince," Tejod added sarcastically, fixing his piercing gaze on Pax. "You almost failed to bring me the scepter," he remarked, referring to what had happened in Reedalia. He paused briefly, as if savoring the memory of that tense moment. "But in the end, you've delivered."
His tone was calculating, a blend of warning and acknowledgment. Though the words seemed like praise, there was a dangerous edge to them, as if Tejod were gauging how far he could trust Pax.
"My only loyalty is to serve you, my lord," Pax responded with feigned reverence, bowing his head. "Thank you for your decision; it honors me. I didn't kill the prince because, as I've already proven during the journey, without him, we cannot touch the scepter."
"Yes, I know," Tejod nodded, crossing his arms. "That's why I haven't turned him into red jade yet. And as for that butler... I haven't touched him either, because if I break the prince now, he won't be of any use. Though I have his parents under my control, so I doubt he'll dare disobey me."
"But, my lord, it would be best to keep the prince by your side until the Marine Dawn," Pax suggested cautiously. "We don't want anything to go wrong prematurely."
"Yes, you're right," Tejod conceded, though he raised an eyebrow suspiciously. "However, I sense something different about you. I hope you haven't gone soft on the boy and his butler after spending so much time with them."
"Of course not, my lord," Pax assured him quickly, maintaining an impassive expression. "As I've already told you, my loyalty lies solely with you and Master Urugas."
"Oh! That's good to hear," Tejod remarked with a cold smile. "Traitors and vermin abound around here, so I hope you don't give me any reason to doubt you."
"Never, my lord," Pax affirmed firmly.
"Well, if you say so..." Tejod replied dismissively. "Enough of this nonsense. It's time for you to join your respective squadron. This soldier will take you where you need to go." He gestured toward a silent soldier standing nearby. "We must prepare to head to the Sea of Mist. The real party will begin soon." A malevolent smile spread across his face as he spoke.
Pax left accompanied by the soldier, moving away from the palace throne. As he walked, his thoughts churned with contained tension: "Damn it... That Tejod, I'd kill him if I could, honestly. But I know he's far too powerful, even with my current strength. I can feel it in every fiber of my being. I just hope everything goes according to plan."
A thunderous sound echoed throughout the realm: a deep, powerful horn that seemed to summon all corners of the territory. Soldiers stationed at their posts began abandoning their positions and heading toward the central square. One after another, they arrived in a growing throng, their footsteps resonating like a collective echo of discipline and urgency.
In the center of the square, something extraordinary began to happen. A rift in space slowly opened, emanating a dark, palpable energy that chilled the blood of those who witnessed it. From the rift emerged one of the councilors, the most imposing of the seven. His presence was overwhelming, radiating an authority that required no words to command recognition.
"It's time. Send for Tejod," the councilor commanded in a deep voice that thundered through the tense silence of the square.
Upon hearing those words, one of the soldiers hurried back to the palace. He entered swiftly and bowed before his lord.
"My lord, the councilor, has arrived. He says it is time," the soldier reported in a rushed tone.
"Good. Prepare yourselves and bring the prince," Tejod replied without hesitation, his face impassive but alert.
"Yes, my lord. And what shall we do with the butler?" the soldier asked, seeking further instructions.
"Leave him here, but under maximum security," Tejod ordered coldly.
The soldier nodded and quickly withdrew to carry out the orders, leaving Tejod lost in thought as the shadow of the councilor continued to loom over the realm.
Meanwhile, in a forgotten corner of Avocadalia, something unsettling began to occur. The bag Paltio had carelessly tossed aside started to move. At first, it was a faint tremor, almost imperceptible, but soon it intensified. Suddenly, several glowing eyes emerged from the bag, blinking with an eerie light that contrasted sharply with the dimness of the place.