Back at Abergdon ...
Yamin stepped into the chamber, where Jasmine stood overlooking a rolled map on the table. The air was still, and the silence was only broken by the soft flicker of torches.
"The goods haven't arrived yet," Yamin said quietly. "I just got word—they left the post, but they haven't gotten here."
Jasmine turned, her expression tightening just a bit. "Then send some men to retrieve them. We need those supplies right away."
Yamin moved closer, stopping in front of her. She stood still for a moment, her eyes fixed on Jasmine's face.
Jasmine narrowed her eyes playfully. "Did you come here just to stare at my beautiful face?" she teased, smiling gently. "What's the matter? You've got something to say—don't bottle it up."
She reached forward and held Yamin's hands, her tone softening. There was something about the way she did it—sisterly warmth that could melt any doubt.
Yamin hesitated, then said, "I… I wanted to lead the retrieval team myself. Galley wants to come too. We'd like to help recover the goods."
Jasmine laughed lightly. "I swear, sometimes I can read your mind before you even speak," she said.
Yamin raised a brow. "So… is that a yes?"
"You're grown now," Jasmine replied, nodding. "You don't need my permission for small things like this. Just ask if you think I should step in. But I'm glad you told me. Still, I'll say this—"
She smirked. "You'll always need permission from your big sister… just a little."
They both shared a small laugh, the tension melting between them.
Later, outside the hall…
Galley was already waiting. Her eyes lit up as she spotted Yamin returning.
"Well? How did it go? Did she agree?" Galley asked quickly, practically bouncing on her feet.
Yamin stayed quiet, giving her a stern, unreadable look.
Galley blinked. "Wait… what happened? Girl, talk to me!"
Yamin slowly broke into a smile. "Yes. She said yes."
"Yes!" Galley squealed, throwing her elbows forward in victory like she just scored the winning goal. "That's what I'm talking about!"
She grinned. "So, when do we set out?"
Yamin tilted her head, fingers tapping the side of her forehead playfully. "Let me guess… maybe tomorrow, or the day after that. Depends on how fast they want the goods delivered."
"Let's just hope it's soon," Galley added, her voice light.
With laughter and excitement buzzing between them, the two girls walked off together, already talking plans for the journey ahead.
Z-12 never gave up.
Even when others rested, he kept searching. The questions in his mind wouldn't stop, and peace wouldn't come until he found the truth. He had taken this burden upon himself—not because anyone asked him to, but because something inside him refused to let go.
He sat alone in his lab, flipping through dusty old books and faded scrolls. His hands moved with urgency, but his mind stayed sharp. Then an idea struck him.
The mark.
That same mark the king had mentioned when they captured Gabby and accused her of betrayal—claiming she had tried to assassinate him. What if that mark held the answer? Z-12 leaned back in his chair, the thought swirling in his mind like a puzzle missing just one final piece.
With the daily stress of the soldiers off his shoulders for now, he could finally focus. He read more calmly, searching page after page with a quiet determination. He just wanted clarity. He wanted things to make sense. The weight in his chest needed lifting, and research was the only weapon he had to fight the storm inside his head.
"Who else can help me now?" he muttered to himself.
Then a thought came: the counselor.
If there was anyone who might hold more secrets about the royal past… it would be him. He may know more than anyone else alive. Without wasting time, Z-12 packed a few notes and headed out in search of the man.
Meanwhile, deep inside the Cave of Storms…
Tony was recovering well. The Neet Candies were working—little by little, his strength was returning. The bruises faded, the sharp pain in his ribs dulled, and his spirit felt stronger than it had in days.
Elsie and Skyler were back to their usual banter, swapping stories and ideas, teasing each other, and laughing softly in the quiet hours. The room they shared buzzed with the energy of friendship, books open and pages half-read, ideas bouncing between them like sparks.
Gabby, always the watchful one, had noticed Tony improving quickly. There was no more fear in her eyes when she looked at him—just relief. She'd been up for hours watching over him, but now that he seemed stable, her body finally gave in. She laid down on her bed, her eyes growing heavy, and drifted off into sleep.
The cave didn't have sunrise or sunset. There was no telling if it was day or night. Time flowed strangely underground. Lamps and lanterns lit up the place constantly, giving just enough glow to make it feel like a world of its own.
Tony couldn't sleep.
Instead, he quietly slipped out of his room and walked through the dim stone corridor until he reached Gabby's side of the chamber. He paused at the entrance, watching her as she slept peacefully, the gentle rhythm of her breath matching the soft flicker of the lamp nearby.
He walked in, slowly, careful not to wake her. Sitting down at the edge of her bed near where her legs pointed, he stared at her for a long while.
He thought of Juju—the old man's words playing again in his mind. "The path is twisted, but your heart will know when it's right."
Something felt different now. Not just in him… but around him. The air, the silence, the energy—it had changed.
Yet despite everything, Tony held on to hope.
Whatever lay ahead, he knew one thing for sure:
He would come out stronger. He would come out victorious.
And here he was…
In Gabby's room.
Watching her.
Feeling something shift quietly inside him.
What happens next?
Only the night—and perhaps the heart—would decide.