In The Mountain Shai and Jow. Or Tai and Jow. Or the twins mountain. It was a place filled with grass and flowers between two huge mountains. The road was narrow.
Both girls followed Hero.
Sierra: "…Beautiful!..."
Hero: "It sure is a nice a place. I have never been here before. The only ways I was taking is from my city to the capital. And back forward."
Crystelle: "Were they really dragons? I thought they were long extinct."
Hero: "They were flying lizards." Whispered to Sierra. "Not dragons. I was afraid the princess won't ever get on a lizard."
Sierra: "You had something to do in the capital?" She didn't hear what he said.
Hero: "Well…" He is trying to hide something.
Crystelle: "They said there is a split in the way."
Hero: "They say it is easy to cross it so don't worry. They said just take the right path not the left path. With our high ability in combat, anything is possible. For some reason, nobody can cross the left side."
Crystelle: "Being hasty will never lead you to a good ending y'know."
Hero: "I know."
Sierra: "Without being risky sometimes you can't improve. However, being careful is essential too."
Hero: "So you have the ability to summon your swords."
Sierra: "Yes. By placing my hands on the air, I summon them by focusing on the jewel and the swords. And it comes. I can summon a staff too. See." And a staff came out
Crystelle: Her eyes are sparkling. "The staff is beautiful and well made."
Sierra: "They said it is made a long time ago by ancient technology."
They moved faster now. Running in the long nice well-made road in the Mt.Tai and Jow.
Sierra: "The place is wonderful."
Hero: "I guess we won't regret coming here anyway."
Crystelle: "Tsk…. So this is the split."
Sierra: "Do you think they lead to the same place?"
Crystelle: "Let us try this one!" and ran toward the one in the Left
Sierra: "W…Wait! They said only the right!"
There was a Barrier that pushed Crystelle strongly to the back.
Crystelle: "Augh!" and Hero picked her.
Sierra: "As I thought…" Sierra moved to the one in the right carefully and gently placed her hand and she felt a spark. "There is a barrier here." and she went to the left one again to check.
Sierra: "Do you see this drawing?" a drawing of a jewel on the wall. "This shall be my path. You two take the other one. They shall lead to the same end. If not, we will meet in the City."
Hero: "Got it. But be careful."
Sierra: "You too." And her two swords appeared and she ran toward her path.
Crystelle: "Are you sure we can leave her by herself."
Hero: "Do you have another choice? Besides, she's well trained. No need to worry about her. She can manage it."
Crystelle: "You are worried too Hero. I can see that in your eyes."
Hero: "I can't hide it anymore. I AM worried. Let us have faith in each other."
Crystelle: "Let's go."
Both of them started running too.
They split the road. Sierra took the Left path. Hero and Crystelle took the right path. Will see what's awaits them the end. Is going to lead them to the same end or shall split them for a while. It will appear after they cross the mountain path.
Sierra's side.
Sierra: "Huf huf. I ran so fast that I can't breathe anymore."
She stopped and drank water on a stone.
Sierra: "I remember Crystelle mentioning something. What was it again?"
Then she walked again.
Hero and crystelle's side
Hero: "I wonder what will be seen from above if we rode the dragons."
Crystelle: "It took you a lot to realize."
Hero: "Huh…?"
Crystelle: "The dragons were killed so suddenly. Isn't that a little bit strange to you?"
Hero: "…"
Crystelle: "Not a normal people can kill whole bunch of dragons in one night."
Hero: Ran as fast as he can. "I can't believe this has slipped from my mind."
Crystelle: "Do you think someone is waiting for her from the other side?"
Hero: "…" Was very mad. "They knew it. They knew about this passage. They knew she will be walking alone and they took the chance. I do not think Maximal is that bright to think of something clever like this. But those henchmen he have…" He remembered Albert.
Crystelle: "You mean someone is manipulating him?"
Hero: "We are not sure. But we will find out soon."
Sierra's Side
Sierra: "'Huf huf'. Great, now I'm further." And she walked
While she was walking, there was a huge rock at the side of the road.
Albert: "Found the lost kitty." He was on the stone.
When she passed the rock, someone attacked from up.
Sierra dodged the sword and sliced the rod that was in his hand.
Albert: "Heh! Nice."
Sierra: "What do you want?!"
Albert: "Came to pick you up of course."
Sierra: "…" "(Hero was correct.)" Speaking in her mind.
Albert: "So…What do you say? Come easily…or BY FORCE!" and dashed toward her with his sword. And the two are fighting now and having a duel.
Sierra: "Where is she?"
Albert: "Who?…your second pair? She's having fun with us don't worry. I don't think she want to come back again."
Sierra: "LIAR!" and she was about to slash his face. He threw poisoned needles on her but she dodged them.
Albert: "Don't worry, these will only make you sleep. No more. It will save me the trouble of struggling while handing you to the Lord." He stepped back and waited.
Sierra: " 'HUF'! 'HUF'!"Breathing so hard with anger.
Albert: "(She can be easily provoked. Just like her fiancé.)"
Sierra: She was angry, but suddenly smiled.
Albert: "Hm?"
Sierra was looking at him, and then looked behind him. She noticed a huge bug half man's size behind him.
Albert noticed and wondered what she is thinking.
Sierra said maybe he didn't kill the bug because he was only aiming at her.
Another bug appeared and Albert began to lose focus. He is sweating.
Sierra: "Huh…This might be my only way of escape."
Sierra picked stones and tried to throw the bushes.
Albert: "I'm here, not there." He noticed where she is throwing.
Sierra thought by doing this, she might distract him and run away.
Sierra: Smiled more "I win." She stepped back few steps.
Albert: "Ah...!" He was panicked
Bugs came out from the bushes and she stepped back
Albert: "!!!!!!!"
When she noticed that he became anxious, Sierra continued throwing bushes more and more and more and more. A lot of bugs were coming out.
Albert: "Stop it!!"
Sierra: "?"
Albert: "Stop it!! Please!!"
He is not resisting them with his sword.
Sierra took the chance and tried to flee and move forward to her companions.
Albert: "HELP! PRINCESS!" He was really afraid and he got a sting after that. "Augh…"
Sierra stopped moving… She is listening to his screams… then she looked back and ran to save him.
Albert tried to stand but from the sting of the bug he collapsed.
Sierra ran and scared the bugs away.
Sierra: "Not enough…Fire!!" They fled.
She is going to save him from the poison.
Sierra: "Here, this should help." She offered Antidote bottle to him. Poured some in his mouth.
Albert: "Hm...ahh…!!" He opened his eyes to see that he is sleeping on the princess's lap.
Sierra: "Heal!" She finished casting the spell.
Sierra: "How do you feel?" Her look was serious.
Albert grabbed her hand so strongly. "What if—. What if all this was an… acting. I'm here to kidnap you. You know that?!"
Sierra: "Unlike my sister, I'm well trained to know who is lying and who is not. And look at yourself. You are suffering and that's true. I can sense it."
Albert: He loosened the grab a bit and placed his hand on his eyes. "Heh… I lost." With a big smile in his face.
Sierra: "Heh...I win."
Hero and Crystelle's side
Hero: "We finally arrived at the end of the path."
Crystelle: "Shall we wait for her here?"
Hero ran toward Sierra's path to get her.
Crystelle: "Hero! Wait!
Hero: ("What is this feeling that makes me run on my own?")
In the middle of the way, Hero can see Sierra.
Hero: He was happy "Sierra!"
Then he noticed Albert and she is helping him to move.
Hero: "You!!!" He showed his sword and tried to attack Albert.
Sierra defended Albert by spreading her hands in front of him. "He's weak now."
Hero: "He is the one who kidnapped your sister and he came to kidnap you here. Wake up Sierra!"
Sierra: "I'm aware of that—"
Albert: "Kill me Hero…."
Sierra: "…" And looked toward Albert.
Albert: "At least… I will be free… from this guilt… and shame that I feel…"
Sierra: "What is it your story? Not a smart person like you would be serving the likes of maximal."
Albert: He started to smile and then giggles very loudly. "Hahahahahaha!"
Hero was staring at him. His eyes were getting wider. "You…!" Hero remembered him.
Albert: "Heh, took you so long though." Referring to Hero
Hero: "Traitor!" he was frustrated.
Sierra: "Ah…What's happening here…?"
Albert is approaching Sierra slowly and grabbed her from her shoulder.
Sierra: She is looking at his face and then "Al….Albert!!!"
Albert: "What's that…is my face that hard to be remembered? Jewel recognized me immediately."
Sierra: "'gasp' It's you…Why did you disappear so suddenly…? Didn't you know how hard was it going to be for Aniston?"
Albert: "Aren't you doing the same now princess? I bet he's worried to his boots."
Sierra Looked down.
A knife was about to scratch Albert's face but he dodged it. It was Crystelle.
Crystelle: "Get away from her!"
Albert Grabbed Sierra from her shoulders and said "Sierra…" And had a cunning smile. Then he looked to Crystelle "I owe the princess my life. From today onward, I will be of some use to you. You can use me in whatever you want. Until you set me free on your own."
Sierra: She looked at him gently "You're free."
Albert: Looked at her face "Huh…"
Sierra: "I said you're free from now on. You were free from the beginning. You were Aniston's best friend. He must be waiting for you now to come home as you used to be. "
Albert: "Heh, I wish that but…"
Sierra: "No buts. That's an order from the princess and you will obey me. Is it clear?" She really acted like nobility and became strict.
Albert bowed to her "Yes! Your highness!"