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Elisha remained silent for a moment, contemplating the truth hidden within the mountains."I want to know why you are here," she finally said. "These monsters will never leave this place; they are bound to it. You must discover the reason." Barto understood Cassian's reluctance to abandon them. The mountains of Vaizel were perilous, but staying was equally dangerous. "We haven't encountered any monsters yet, perhaps it would be wise to retreat," Kiara proposed, her tone cautious. "We've faced worse situations than this," Barto replied, trying to instill confidence."We'll be fine." "In these circumstances, we have a wizard and an army at our disposal," Cassian added, glancing at Rania, the princess's assistant. "I'm just a mage," Rania interjected, her voice steady. "I can only perform certain spells if I leave the tower of magicians. When I was younger, I could create a protective barrier, but it wouldn't be perfect." Elisha's expression turned serious. "You don't want to know what lies hidden in these mountains, do you?That's why you're afraid." After a few moments of silence, Elisha asked, "What did you come to find in these royal mountains, Cassian? If you answer me honestly, I might decide to stay, since it's clear you didn't come here just to prove that monsters exist." "If I wanted your help, I would be sincere," Cassian replied, his voice low. "I want to see it once more," he continued, revealing the true reason for his journey into the Vaizel mountains. "I'm not here solely because of the monsters. I'm searching for the gates of Hades.I believe they are hidden within these mountains, and the monsters are here to guard them. This is where our war will either begin or end." "Can we go today?" Elisha asked, her eyes wide with concern. "Are you telling me the whole truth this time?" she pressed. "Yes, that is the truth. That is the real reason I came to these mountains," Cassian confirmed. Elisha turned to Rania. "We will stay; it's our duty to protect ourselves." "As you wish, Princess," Rania replied. "Let's move quickly; the monsters are closing in," Barto urged.They pressed deeper into the forest, where the relentless attacks continued. Eventually, they stumbled upon a cave, a potential refuge from the ceaseless onslaught. Rania secured the entrance by conjuring a barrier, while Barto extended a protective spell into the ground. "I'm fine, Barto. I haven't used that much magic," she reassured him. "Even so, you should rest," he insisted. Kiara took Barto's hand, her grip firm. "You need to rest too; you've been protecting me this whole time." Fay settled against the cave wall, closing her eyes.noveldramaCassian started a fire in the center, searching for a place to sit. "You should rest, Princess, only if we can," Elisha said, sitting on the floor next to Cassian. Barto shot her a warning look, silently conveying his concern. "I'm watching you," he seemed to say, his gaze sharp. Cassian hesitated, wanting to sit beside Elisha but not wanting to appear disrespectful. "The gates of Hades you seek," he began, "if they open, my kingdom will be in great danger. Is that true?" "Yes, but I will do everything possible to protect your kingdom," Cassian assured him."That's why we need to form an alliance to confront these horrors." "Monstrous creatures emerge from those gates. Wouldn't it be better to destroy them?" Fay questioned. "No," Cassian replied firmly. "If we destroy them, they will simply appear elsewhere. If we're here when the gates open, we'll be prepared, and we'll have a chance to win." "I suppose that makes sense, but it's not ideal," Fay conceded. "No, but if the gates are indeed in these mountains, we will have the advantage," Cassian stated."We will not be caught off guard." Elisha wrapped her arms around herself, looking at Barto and Kiara, who were holding hands tightly. She couldn't help but wish she were with them, feeling a sense of belonging that was almost tangible. The thought of being destroyed by the monsters haunted her; her life felt precarious. Elisha glanced at the sword and dagger Enzo had left her, remembering the words written in the letter. She sighed deeply, whispering a wish she feared she might never voice again."I would like to see you once more." The night stretched on until dawn, and as Rania's barrier faded, they continued into the forest, despite the overwhelming odds against them. Monsters lurked everywhere, ready to attack. As they hid behind some rocks, Rania created another barrier to shield them. "Continuing forward will be difficult; the monsters seem to multiply," Barto warned. "Of course, we know where we're headed," Kiara replied, her determination unwavering. "I think I'm going in the right direction," she said, her finger pointing ahead."I can sense something dark and evil." "Is it not just the monsters?" Cassian asked, his brow furrowed. "No, it feels different-more sinister," Kiara insisted. "Are we near the gates?" Cassian inquired, glancing around warily. "Though there are many monsters nearby, we must press on," Fay added, her voice filled with resolve. "I'm exhausted," Barto admitted. "What are we doing? How do we escape these mountains?" Cassian asked, "What do you mean, Fay?" "Everyone is sick and tired. We can't stay here much longer," she replied, her concern evident."Could we use teleportation parchment?" Cassian suggested. "I don't think that's a good idea. We don't have a fixed destination, only a desert," Elisha cautioned. "It doesn't matter; it's better to be in the desert than to die at the hands of monsters. They seem to handle themselves well when they're safe," Cassian argued. "I suppose you're right. It would be less dangerous than retracing our steps," Fay conceded.