The sound of Morgan’s solitary steps echoed through her home. They served as a reminder of how alone she was; how alone she felt. The lack of candles and the sunlight was similar to the way she felt; dark and oppressed.

She walked for a while and looked into each room she passed. Then, it suddenly hit her, and tears start forming in my eyes. [I don’t want to be alone. I want to be with them.] She thought as she turned and ran and ran until she reached the Hero’s Gate out of breath and found it inactive without a soul to be seen.

“I see, I was too late,” She said with a sad smile as tears streamed down.

*Pat pat pat thump!*

Morgan’s breath was taken out of her as she was struck from behind.

“Shiro!” She exclaimed after she twisted around to see who had hugged her. “What are you doing? Didn’t you-”

“I’m so glad.” She interrupted as she cried. “I want you to come too.”

“Wait, then?”

“You’re late, Goldie,” Martel said with a smile as he came out of hiding.

“What?” Morgan barely managed to get out due to her surprise.

“We were waiting for you,” Caelia replied. “Apparently he was convinced you were going to show up, so we were going to wait for a while.”

Morgan froze in embarrassment as she felt her face become hot.

“You don’t need to worry about any belongings,” Martel said with a smile. “Your clothes will look weird to my world anyway, and I’ve already prepared everything on that end. Plus, if you need anything else, I can always come back and get it.”

“Huh? Wait, you can come back?”

“Yeah.”

“How?”

“The same way we’re going.”

“The Hero Gate?”

“No, that wouldn’t work. It only reacts to someone from another world, and not any of you.”

“Then, how?”

“With this,” Martel said as he snapped his fingers and a doorway appeared out of nowhere.

“Now then, shall we go,” He said with a smile.

“Let’s go!” Shiro affirmed happily.

“I’m with you,” Cali replied with a hint of a smile.

“I’m… I’m with you.” Caelia said with a hint of embarrassment.

“Are you ready?” Martel asked Morgan as he extended his hand to her.

She took his hand and gave a small smile. “Yes.”

Then, the four of them made their way through the door.

At the same time that they disappeared, a large humanoid, who sat on a throne made of a tree, stirred. “Do not hinder his path; do not deny him leave; for it will be our loss; for he will weave the Fate of us all.”

Deep in the mountains, under the ruined small castle on Mt. Etna, through the numerous caves within, a dark laugh echoed and a black eye opened.