Gaiza and Aliana plummeted through the sky. The Eastern part of Jancito loomed closer and claiza g tightly to Aliana with her heart rag while they desded at a breakneck pace. Her blue hair whipped around in the wind.

  Aliana, with her frosty blue and silver robes billowing in the wind remained calm and collected.

  They crashed onto the Eastern city's outskirts. Gaiza released her hold on Aliana. She quickly scrambled to her feet, trying to put some distaween them with a blush on her face.

  "Princess Aliana, I-I hope you're alright!" Gaiza stammered

  Aliana rose gracefully. "I'm perfectly fine, Gaiza," she replied. "I already told you long time that you drop the formalities, you know."

  Gaiza flushed even more, avoiding Aliana's gaze. "Y-Yes, but…I just prefer to call you Princess," she mumbled

  Elena, who had nded nearby, observed the iion with a humorous smile.

  "Looks like you two had quite the journey down here," Elena remarked with her short red hair catg the sunlight. "Don't be too hard on Gaiza, Aliana. She has to get used to not calling you that."

  Aliana sighed softly. "I know, Elena. I appreciate her dedication, but she should lighten up. I am no longer Princess Aliana, at least not for that Academy anymore..." She then turned her attention to their surroundings. She khis city well; it was her home before she was trapped on the Mystical forest isnd. Memories of her grand princess house fshed briefly in her mind.

  "We've nded iern Jancito. This is my home, or rather, it was before I was trapped on that accursed isnd."

  Aliahe way through the city. Memories of her past life started flooded back. She recalled the grandeur of the kingdom, the unusual pink house that stood out among the fancy buildings, the marketpce with dessert vendors, and the imposing Castle of the King guarded by royal guards.

  She led them to the Fountain. People chatted and shared stories, buying sweet treats from outdoor salespeople. , they passed by a massive hotel that had always been a promi ndmark iy. Its opulent design aravagant decorations had made it a symbol of luxury iern Jancito. Finally, they arrived at the Eastern Swod School, where students practiced their swordsmanship in open courtyards. The Tour area, designated in a specific district, articurly crowded.

  Aliana surveyed the city she onew so well with nostalgia. "We'll o blend in and gather information," she said."I have a feeling we'll find something important here."

  Aliana, Gaiza, and Elena moved through the streets of Eastern Jancito. The buildings that surrouhem each told a story of the city's rich history.

  They passed by the unusual pink house. It had always been a topic of curiosity among the locals. Aliana's memory fshed back to the time when she had admired the house's uniqueness, even in the midst of her rigorous training.

  , they strolled along the dessert-filled marketpce, where vendors offered a colorful array of sweets. The sts of freshly baked pastries and sugary delights wafted through the air, triggering memories of her childhood visits to these stalls. She could almost taste the sweet fes she had savored as a young girl.

  Their path led them past the grand hotel, a magnifit structure adorned with intricate carvings and gold ats. Aliana recalled attending a high-society event here, where she had been the ter of attention, a ancer of unparalleled beauty and power.

  Aliana's memories began to turn darker. She remembered a fierce battle she had fought against an oppo at the Eastern Sword School with swirling vortexes of energy around their hands. The csh of their powers had been intense, leaving Aliana with a vivid recolle of her injuries.

  Aliana touched her eye with a shiver, feeling the phantom pain of the past. It was here, in this very city, that she had been sshed in the eye during that fotten battle. Yet, to her surprise, there was no scar or bruise to be found. Her eye ristine, as if the injury had never happened.

  Gaiza and Elena noticed Aliana's disfort and etched on her face. Gaiza asked, "Princess Aliana, are you alright?"

  Aliaated for a moment, then offered a tight smile. "I'm fine, Gaiza. It's nothing."

  Elena, who had grown closer to Aliana after their shared experiences, could sehat there was more to the story. She exged a knowing gh Gaiza but didn't press the issue.

  The group tiheir exploration of Eastern Jancito. The sound of rumbling stomachs broke the silence. Elena and Gaiza exged sheepish gheir hunger being impossible to ignore.

  Aliana turned her attention to her panions. "We 't search for information oy stomachs," she decred.

  Gaiza, however, objected. "Princess Aliana, we o find information as soon as possible to reuh the others. We have no time to rest...”

  Elena nodded in agreement.

  Aliana sighed, reizing the validity of their point. "Very well," she ceded, but heard their stomaches rumbling in disagreement with their ideas. “You know, you two should let me treat you today," Aliana decred with a warm smile.

  Gaiza and Elena exged surprised gnces. Gaiza hesitated, "Princess Aliana, reciate the gesture, but we couldn't possibly..."

  Aliana shook her head gently, her smile unwavering. “sider it a small token of my gratitude.”

  Aliana's memory provided her with a recolle of a quaiaurant not far from their current location. She recalled its name and location vividly. With a graceful gesture, she led Gaiza and Elena through the winding streets of the city until they arrived at the restaurant.

  "It's called 'Frostbite Bistro,'" Aliana expined with a small smile. "I used to e here in the past. They have the most exquisite dishes, and I think you'll both enjoy it."

  With Aliana's guidahey ehe restaurant. Aliana, Gaiza, and Elena were seated at a cozy er table ihe "Frostbite Bistro." The restaurant had an ambiance of warmth and sophistication, with soft, icy-blue lighting and elegant decor.

  A waiter, dressed in a crisp white uniform with a frosty blue tie, approached their table with a friendly smile. "Good evening, dies, my name is Leo," he greeted them. "Wele to Frostbite Bistro. My name is Leo, and I'll be taking care of you tonight. May I start you off with something to drink?"

  Aliana, always posed, ordered a gss of water with ice, while Gaiza and Elena requested herbal tea to soothe their rumbling stomachs. Leo jotted down their orders and soourned with their beverages.

  While setting down their drinks, Leo's eyes widened in reition as he g Aliana. "You know, you look quite familiar," he remarked with a puzzled expression. "Have we met before?"

  Aliana maintained her posed demeaner."Maybe," she replied calmly, “but I’ve been away from Eastern Jancito for quite some time."

  Leo nodded, seemingly accepting her response. He took their food orders, and soon enough, their dishes arrived—delicately pted and exquisitely presented.

  However, as he set down their meals, Leo gave her a curious look. "I 't shake the feeling that I've seen you somewhere," he said. "Your face, it's so distinctive. Are you sure you haven't been to this city retly?"

  "I did use to visit here in the past," Aliana admitted with a polite smile. “My name is Aliana."

  Leo's eyes widened in reition. "Ah, Aliana! Now I remember. Yes, you used to e here quite often."

  Aliana seized the opportunity to inquire further. "Leo, have you heard any iing rumors tely? Something that might be of io someone like me?"

  Leo leaned in slightly while speaking in a whisper. "Well," he began, "there have been whispers of one of the Five Goddess' artifacts rumored to be hidden somewhere iy. It's a pretty big deal."

  Aliana, Gaiza, and Elena exged surprised ghis was information they hadn't e across during their journey.

  Leo tinued, "But it's not all good news. Ever sihose rumors started cirg, strahings have been happening in the Forest that separates the East a parts of Jancito."

  Curiosity piqued, Aliana pressed for more details. "What kind of strahings?"

  Leo sighed, growing more serious. “Ever sihese rumors started cirg, something strange has been happening. You see, the forest that separates the East a parts of Jancito has been experieng rare occurrences. Mystical creatures that were supposed to be kept out due to the barrier surrounding the ey of Jancito have started showing up."

  Aliana's i iqued. "Mystical creatures? That's highly unusual. Do you have any idea why this is happening?"

  Leo nodded gravely. "It's hard to say for sure, but it's causing quite a bit of trouble. The Eastern Army has been dealing with these creatures, and it has led to some cshes with the West. You know how sensitive the retioweewo parts of the city be. We've been lucky so far, but tensions are rising."

  Aliana, Gaiza, and Elena absorbed this information now knowing what was going on withiowns. Leo returned with their food and he discreetly pced their ptes before them. His eyes once agai Aliana's, and he spoke in a low, cautious tone.

  "Miss Aliana," he began, "I'd like to give you a word of caution. It's important that you don't mention that I shared this information with you. But, there's something you might find iing, especially if you pn to visit the Eastern Sword School."

  Aliana's curiosity iqued. She nodded. Leo tinued, "Retly, there's been an unusual child at the Eastern Sword School. This kid started training with the Swods at the age of 7, and over the years, their magical abilities have growraordinarily. They've bee one of the stro individuals skilled in sword magic, despite being just 13 years old now."

  Aliana, Gaiza, and Elena exged gnces with narrowed eyes. A child with such exceptional prowess was a hy development, and it might hold valuable information for Aliana's pns.

  "Thank you for sharing this with me," Aliana replied softly. "Your discretion is appreciated."

  After finishing their meal, Aliana suddenly looked somewhat distressed. She cleared her throat, casting a gaze at Gaiza and Elena.

  "I, um, just realized something," Aliana began while seemingly having a flushed face. "We don't actually have any money. Ba the Mystical Isnd, we didn't hings like currency did we..."

  Gaiza and Elena exged shocked gnces. Gaiza stammered with widened eyes, "Wait, Princess Aliana, A-are you serious? Y-You don’t have any money?!”

  Aliana chuckled softly. "Yes, Gaiza, I'm afraid that's the case. We're in a whole different world now than we were when we were stranded on that isnd in the forest."

  Just as their waiter, Leo, was about to return with the bill, he paused for a moment, as if deep in thought. When he approached their table, he wore a warm smile.

  "Here's your bill," Leo said, holding it out, but theook it back. "You know what? Don't worry about it. This one's on the house."

  Aliana, Gaiza, and Elena blinked in surprise. "Thank you, Leo," Aliana said with a smile. "That's very generous of you."

  Leo wi them before taking the bill away.

  The group stepped out of the restaurant. Gaiza and Elena exged ed ghe issue of money and their need for aodations weighed heavily on their minds. Gaiza hesitated for a moment before finally speaking up.

  "Princess Aliana," Gaiza began with worry, "how are we going to pay for things or find a pce to stay if you don't have any money?"

  Aliana, however, wore a fident smile. She turo them and gave them a nod. "Don't worry, I have a solution. We go to my old house. It's not too far from here."

  With Aliana leading the way, they walked through the bustling streets of Eastern Jancito.

  But upon reag the location where her house should have stood, Aliana's speech faltered, aeps slowed to a stop. What they found before them was far from the magnifit home she had described. Instead, it idated, broken-down structure, a shadow of its flory.

  Aliana stammered in shock. She took in the sorry state of her once grand residence.