Alden's eyes widened. He could feel the surging energy down the left path. He muttered to himself, "That energy is getting even bigger... Could it be?"

  Lina, walking beside him, g Alden with a hint of . "Do you think it's really what you suspect?" she asked.

  Alden nodded solemnly. "It's the only expnation for this level of magical energy. We o hurry."

  Roselle, who had been walking with her sisters, overheard their versation and looked worried. "What could be causing such powerful magic?" she wondered aloud.

  Risebelle responded. "We won't know until we get there. Let's be prepared for anything."

  Runebelle quietly pohe situation.

  The group finally arrived at the se and witnessed Jay holding the Star Jewel, Alden stammered in shock. "I 't believe it... It really is the Star Jewel."

  Jay, with a hint of irritation, responded, "Well, it seems the party just keeps getting bigger, and I was getting used to having only Roy around."

  Roy, stepping forward with his guardian, spoke fidently, "Don't worry, Jay. I hahem. My guardian and I won't let them interfere with your pns."

  The group, including Becky, Sybil, and Dj noticed Roy and his powerful celestial guardian.

  Roselle, her curiosity piqued, questioned, "What is that?"

  Risebelle, drawing from her knowledge of their past enters, respoo Roselle's question with skepticism. "Could it be summoning magic? We faced a summoner on Mystical Isnd."

  Runebelle analyzed the situation before speaking, "It's powerful, maybe as strong as Roy himself. Whether it's summoning magic or not, it's to... We faced something simir with the headmaster ba the isnd, and it took all of us to stand a ce."

  Dj cooly interrupted their versation. "Sorry to interrupt, little chicks," which prompted the sisters to finally notice him. "I take care of Roy, but Jay with the Star Jewel is a different story. She's not going to let that go. That item is more powerful than many of you may know."

  Alden, the voice of reason, suggested, "Our best move is to retreat for now."

  Lina was already on it. “Hurry up, guys!” Lina said, but she was was barely heard, leading to a moment where everyone in turn to look at her.

  Roy prepared once again to unleash his ultimate attack. "I'll dispose of all of these newers now, Jay. Stand behind me."

  Jay obediently moved behind Roy. Soon afterwards, celestial rays began to shoot forth. Panic filled the air as everyone found themselves in the o avoid the attack, including Alden, Lina, Roselle, Risebelle, and Runebelle.

  However, amid the chaos, Becky found herself uo move. Her body felt like it had turo stone, and she stood frozen in pce. Sybil shouted desperately, "Becky, we o go! Move!"

  Becky's mind raced. She tried to uand why she couldn't move. She thought to herself, 'e on, Becky, what's wrong with you damn it? Move your ass!'

  Dj, sensing the danger, swooped in and lifted Becky off her feet, carryio safety. In the midst of it all, he calmly reassured her, "Don't worry, I've got you."

  The celestial energy exploded and rocked the room. It’s force threateo engulf everyohin its destructive radius. With a collective effort, the group mao make a hasty retreat just in the nick of time. Dj carried Becky, ensuring her safety as they fled from the impending danger.

  Lina, being the first to reach the crossroads, gnced back at the others. "Hurry!" she called out, waving for them to catch up.

  One by ohe group streamed out of the room, their hearts pounding from the narrow escape. They Regrouped at the Crossroads.

  Dj gently set Becky down, her blush still evident as she maintained her posure.

  Dj asked Becky, "You alright there?"

  Beodded with embarassment. "Yeah, I'm fihanks…Dj.”

  "That was defihe Star Jewel she had,” Alden said.

  "Yeah, that's Jay for you. She's a bit... uable. One moment she's all sweet, the she's a total nightmare. I've given up trying to figure her out," Dj said with a shrug.

  Lina took a sigh then spoke to the group. "In any case, let's get back to our main objective. We deal with Jay and Roy ter."

  Now focused on the group's main objective, Dj turo them with a questioning look. "So, what's the pn, folks? The name’s Dj, by the way if you didn’t hear."

  "I'm Becky," Becky said with a smile, still slightly flustered.

  Lina's eyes widened. A look nition crossed her face, and then she excimed, "Dj! Finally! We've been searg for you everywhere. Bob is going to be so pleased when we bring in your bounty."

  Dj's id-back demeanor instantly shifted. "Uh-oh," he muttered under his breath.

  Becky shouted, "Wait!" But Dj was already in motion, dashing away from the group.

  While sprinting away from them, he tossed a card over his shoulder in Becky's dire. She caught it in surprise, and it bore a mysterious insignia. Dj's retreat was swift, with Lina hot on his trail.

  Risebelle lowered her eyes and folded her arms, " someoell me what happeo the dy who was 'supposed' to lead us to someone who could help us find Kintovar?"

  Sybil nervously responded. "W-well, Risebelle, it turns out there's actually a bounty out for Dj…. And um…Whoever turns him in is going to be rich."

  Risebelle growled in frustration, "Those greedy humans! They'd do anything for money!"

  Roselle stepped forward, pg a gentle hand on Risebelle's shoulder. "Calm down, Risebelle. Don’t be so angry with them…”

  Alden, oher hand, simply facepalmed and shook his head. He muttered to himself, "Looks like we're in for more waiting."

  Runebelle pointed in the Dire Li down. “Lina will be back soohan you think. Look, there she is."

  They all turo see Lina approag with tears streaming down her fa an almost ical fashion.

  "Dj got away!" Lina wailed. "I was so close! I even touched him, but he dashed off in a burst of blue fmes. I couldn’t hang on! How does he do that!?"

  Becky sighed, shaking her head with a small smile. "Looks like Dj is as slippery as they e. Heh..."

  Alden took a deep breath and refocused the group. "Alright, let's not get distracted. We still have our main objective

  The group made their journey now up the intended path North. Their earlier enter with Dj and Jay remained fresh in their minds, but they khey had to focus on their main objective. Lina took the lead once again and guided them through the area. She expined, "The person we're looking for should be up there, assuming she hasn't left the underground since we arrived early. We'll keep moving forward; she might still be around."

  The underground enviro remained eerie, with strange creatures lurking in the shadows, but the group pressed on.

  Roselle's got curious while walking alongside Alden."Alden," she inquired with a hint of uainty, "do you have any idea what that Star Jewel does?"

  Alden momentarily g Lina for firmation, then turned back to Roselle to provide an expnation. "The Star Jewel is an incredibly powerful and mysterious artifact," he began, choosing his words carefully. "It has the unique ability to make the desires of one person ma right before their eyes. These desires could range from something simple to something quite extreme."

  Roselle's eyes widened in amazement.

  Lina joined in, "I've had the ce to examihe Star Jewel once before. It's an item of immense power, but it es with its ow of challeo keep it active, you have to tinuously ma your desires. If you ever stop, it bees dormant, and you won't know when it will bee active again."

  Roselle aking in the plexity of this extraordinary artifact.

  Risebelle's memory of the Queen's mention of the Star Jewel sparked a sense of firmation within her. She was beginning to ect the dots ahe importance of obtaining this powerful artifact.

  ‘The Star Jewel,’ she mused on the inside.’I remember the Queen talking about it. If what they've said is true, then it's the key to unlog my full power, to being Project Zab. I may not be able to access that form on my ow, but with the Star Jewel, I might be able to activate it at will… maybe…’

  Risebelle’s desires burned brightly within her mind. ‘And once I have that kind of power, I stop this 'Dark Whirlwind' myself. I 't stand the thought of it using Roselle’s face, pretending to be her. It’s infuriating! I'll put ao it, and I won't let aand in my way.’

  The group ehe enting domain which had a sign oside that read "Silver's Domain." They were greeted by a se of magical beauty. Adorable bunnies, glowing with an otherworldly charm, hopped around alongside various ical creatures.

  Alden’s protective instincts was triggered by the sight of magical creatures. He was ready to take a. He prepared to summon his holy cross, but Lina quickly intervened.

  "Calm down, Alden," Lina urged. "These creatures are not wild or destructive. They are the pets of Silver, the person we're looking for."

  Alden was relieved but still curious. "You didn't mention Silver before. Who is she, and what is this pce?"

  Lina expined with a hint of admiration, "Silver is the caretaker of this domain. It's a sanctuary fical creatures and even humans who don't have a pce elsewhere. She has a way with these creatures, and she's known for her kindness and love for them."

  While the group tio explore Silver's Domain, the enting creatures around them seemed to respond to their presence. Some were curious and unafraid while others went into hiding.

  After a while of looking around, Roselle spotted a pink-colored bunny among the enting creatures. Hearts practically floated in her eyes. She excimed, "Oh my gosh, it's so cute!" She immediately started towards the bunny.

  The pink bunny, however, was terrified and quickly hopped behind some bushes. "Wait, I'm not here to hurt you!" Roselle called out, but the bunny only retreated further into the underbrush.

  Determined, Roselle moved to chase after it, but Risebelle swiftly grabbed her jacket, pulling her back. "We've been distracted enough today," she said firmly.

  Roselle pouted for a while. She then snapped out of it and turo Runebelle with a smile. "Did you see that bunny? Wasn't it the cutest thing ever?"

  Runebelle, maintaining her somber demeanor, nodded slightly. "Yes, it was cute…”

  Roselle pyfully grabbed Runebelle's fad said, "Turn that frown upside down!" She gently moved Runebelle's lips to create a smile, and then, satisfied with her work, released her sister.

  Runebelle's gloomy face transformed into a small, hesitant smile, much to Roselle's delight.

  Becky and Sybil, who had been silent observers were captivated by the magical world around them. Becky whispered to Sybil, " Yo Syb, this pce is like something out of a fairy tale."

  Sybil nodded in agreement. "It's beautiful, but it also feels surreal."

  Lihe way, guiding the group deeper into Silver's Domain. The pace-like structure they had seen from a distance was now within reach.

  The group stood before the enting pace, a true embodiment of a fairy tale brought to life. The castle's walls were adorned with intricate designs that seemed to shift and ge like living art. Vibrant vines, each adorned with radiant, glowing flowers, twisted their the pace walls, creating a stunning mosaic of colors. It was as though the very walls of the pace were alive, responding to the presence of visitors.

  Their vision was filled with the sight of magical creatures of all shapes and sizes. Majestiis grazed in the pace gardens. Winged fairies flitted about, leaving trails of sparkling dust in their wake. Graceful phoenixes soared overhead. There were also petals of magical flowers that brushed against their fiips, releasing a fragrant aroma that filled the air. The grouh their feet felt like a plush carpet.

  The group took in the mesmerizing sight of the magical pace before them. Their collective rea was summed up in a single word:

  "Woah."