“You have been absent for almost a week and now you are asking me a leave until next week again.”

Right now, I stand in front of the headmaster of the school bowing my head down and asking for a week’s leave so that I can prepare the items necessary to prevent the execution.

“What is this leave for? Is it for personal reasons?”

Ulric asks me.

“No, this is for my student.”

I reply to Ulric.

Ulric smirks, “How very interesting.”

He then takes a sip of a cup of tea.

“Is this related to Kaileen Fracia?”

Ulric asks me.

“Yes!”

I reply honestly.

“What about your other students? You do realize that their exams are coming in 2 months of time, right? You have prepared a few students for those exams but what about the remaining? Who will teach them? ”

Ulric asks me.

“I have already assigned everyone what’s necessary for their training, so, don’t worry about that. I will not even take payment from you for this month. So, please let me take this leave.”

I say.

“You are not convincing me.”

Ulric smirks.

Tsch! Nothing is working...I guess there is still one thing to do. Pears told me one thing about Ulric Darlion, his biggest weakness. That weakness brings a smirk to my face.

“HOW ABOUT SOME CUTE DOGGO MAGS?!!!”

I bring out a magazine of a cute dog.

“You can take the leave and even have your pay for the month, right now, right away.”

WHAT THE FUCK?! HE DIDN’T EVEN THINK TWICE!

XXXXXX

I walk out of the Headmaster’s quarters and look at my class standing in front of me. I smile and they understand that I have been given the leave that we desperately needed to make the thing necessary thing to stop the execution.

“Horrell! Sasha! I will need your help. So once the class is over, come over to my place, we will begin preparations. Jack, give a letter from me to Carly.”

I say as I hand the letter to Jack.

“Understood!”

“Izumi and Elena, you two go to Carliva and ask Mayor Green for an item called Luminous.”

I say.

They both nod their heads.

“Luke, I have a dangerous job for you...If you are ready-“

“Just say what you want me to do, Sir Dan!”

Luke looked quite determined as he spoke.

I smile, “Come closer.”

I say as I whisper my instructions in Luke’s ears.

“You are shitting me...”

Luke looks bamboozled.

“Take Sven with you, he will be a good back up.”

I say.

“Eh?! Me?!”

Sven looks confused.

“As for everyone else, do your tasks just like I asked you to on the first day. I am sure everyone will be able to do that in the remaining 5 days.”

I say.

Everyone nods.

“What about Princess Kaileen? I mean...She doesn’t know any of this...”

Brenna says.

I remember something, “That’s right. She was sent into isolation until the execution, wasn’t she?”

I sigh, “She just has to hold onto that hope she has. Don’t let despair get to her.” I say.

“What does that mean?”

Izumi asks.

“Nothing, I am just babbling.”

I say and look outside the window.

“Alright, let’s get to work. We don’t have time. We only have 5 days!”

I say.

Everyone nods.

“EVERYONE LET’S SAVE THAT LITTLE PRINCESS!”

I smile.

There is a smile on everyone’s face except Luke. I understand where that comes from. I mean the thing I told him, it must have been hard to swallow but that was just the truth.

XXXXXX

“5 days.”

Dan, Horrell and Sasha prepare a bottle of potion with some help from King Nakai.

“4 days.”

Jack and Carly are looking around the execution ground.

“3 days.”

Luke and Sven look for something in Verdania Forest.

“2 days.”

All the students are training.

“1 day.”

Izumi and Elena come back with the item Luminous, a pearl that shines brighter than the sun itself.

“2 hours left.”

The Princess waits for her despair.

“Sir Dan! What are you waiting for?!”

Horrell asks Dan. Dan seems to be preparing something in a huge pot.

“Go! Go with the potion! Use that potion on the flames! I still have one last thing to do.”

Dan says.

“Let’s go, Horrell. We need to get there before it’s too late.”

Sasha says to Horrell.

Horrell nods.

XXXXXX

Both Sasha and Horrell are running towards the execution site.

“What are you so worried about Horrell?”

Sasha questions Horrell.

“Sir Dan...I have a bad feeling. I feel like, Sir Dan is in danger. Every time I have had this hunch, it has always been true. Even now, I can’t shake this bad feeling.”

Horrell says.

“Is that so? We will just have to rescue the Princess and then Sir Dan. So cheer up!”

Sasha says with a smile.

“Sasha...”

Horrell looks confused by Sasha’s words.

“What?!”

Sasha looks away.

“I thought you hate Sir Dan.”

Horrell says.

“I don’t hate him but I just didn’t like me being a supporter. It doesn’t feel right. After all, I do come from the family of great mages.”

Sasha says.

“I see. That’s good to know.”

Horrell smiles.

“You know you are quite obvious though. You love him and anyone can see it right on your face.”

Sasha says.

Horrell’s face turns red.

“Anyways, you are a chill person. I was afraid of you first but these last 5 days that we spent together. They were fun.”

Sasha says with a smile.

Horrell gives a big smile, “Same here!”

XXXXXX

“My preparations are done, my lord. You shall soon be revived and the world will see true despair.”

In the shadows, Tarand bows to a statue with an evil smile.

In far distance, Dan felt that chill.

XXXXXX