Once again we were heading back toward the village of my ancestors by diving deeper into the forest. We didn't speak much along the way, we took careful and silent steps so that they wouldn't follow us. The rustling of leaves and the occasional breaking of a branch were the only sounds that accompanied us.

After checking our surroundings thoroughly, we entered the tunnel in turn and continued to move forward with quick steps. The torches burning around us illuminated our way, casting flickering shadows on the walls. We just had to walk.

I was comfortable because I had changed my shoes, but since I did not have the opportunity to change my clothes, what I was wearing in this heat, in this tunnel, felt like death to me.

The prince spoke to me as if he did not like my silence;

"About what I said back there," he began hesitantly. "I apologize if I went too far. I was just trying to get us out of there."

I was not angry at what he said, because the prince's intention was precisely to get us out.

"No," I replied, "I panicked in there. Thank you for saving us. But the question is, who was that girl?"

"Probably one of the paladins, as we thought," he said thoughtfully. "Her dress was quite elegant and her sword was quite distinctive."

"As a prince," I remarked, "you can't give her orders, can you? After all, paladins are directly under the king."

"Alas," he sighed. "My judgment is useless in this kingdom. It is still unclear who gave this order, and it sounds absurd that my uncle, the third king among kings, would make such a decision."

"You're right," I agreed, knowing that I had to be even more careful with the outside world.

When we emerged from the tunnel, the village of my ancestor was right in front of us. Breathing in the fresh air again never felt so fresh and peaceful. The sun was shining down on us, warming our skin and filling us with a sense of hope.

As I returned to the place where my ancestor lived, I felt a sense of peace wash over me. Compared to other places, this village was quite safe for us until the tournament. When we entered the village, I was afraid that people would not recognize us, but I was welcomed as soon as I was seen.

It was inevitable that they would look at us with curiosity. After all, we had caused great destruction in the town the previous day. But no one asked us any questions about the outside world until my grandfather and the two chiefs with him came to the village square where we were.

When my grandfather saw me, he approached me with a curious and worried tone.

"My daughter," he said. "What's going on outside? What have you done?"

Apparently, the news had already spread throughout the kingdom. I had no intention of hiding anything from my grandfather and was about to tell him directly what had happened.

"Grandfather," I said. "Everything happened all of a sudden. Suddenly, the soldiers started attacking us on the king's orders."

My grandfather was surprised and looked for an answer to what I had said.

"King Sujin," he said. "Why would he do such a thing?"

"We don't know," I replied. "But we're on the run all over the kingdom."

A chief from behind approached my grandfather with slow steps and joined the conversation.

"This must be the work of the Furo," he said. "I know King Sujin. He is not like that. But he may have fallen under magical control or worse."

The chief on the other side of my grandfather joined the conversation and shared his thoughts with us.

"Why did you come here," he asked. "Especially at a time like this?"

"We came here because we want your help," I replied. "We need you to join us in battle, to help us defeat them."

In my words, the atmosphere became very quiet. It was as if the ideas I had expressed were too strong for the others to handle. Without thinking, one of the chiefs shouted loudly.

"This will never happen again!" he exclaimed. "We don't help anyone anymore!"

At the chief's words, my grandfather turned his head to him and said sternly.

"I want to talk to my grandson alone."

No one added anything to my grandfather's words. The prince and I followed my grandfather to a quiet place where there were only the three of us. My grandfather was about to start talking again when he realized that no one was around. But before he could speak, I interrupted him.

"Grandfather," I insisted. "Most of the people here are in danger, including you. If you don't help us in the war, they will attack you very soon. I am certain of it."

"I can't do that," he replied sadly. "Not anymore."

"Why don't you tell me?" I asked.

"If I accepted what you said," he explained. "The chief system requires two votes against three. I don't think the others would support it."

"Grandfather," I pleaded, "this is urgent."

Grandfather spoke to us with anguish and sadness in his voice.

"Ahhh," he sighed. "My dear daughter. Before you were born, we lost so many people in the war. Our people cannot afford any more war. What kind of chief would I be if I asked them to do it?"

Grandad was right. His job as chief was to protect our people. I didn't want to put him in a difficult situation by pushing him any further, but there was still one thing I wanted from him.

"Can we stay here at least until the tournament?" I asked.

"We can manage that," he replied.

I said one last thing to my grandfather before he left us.

"Do you still mean what you told me before you left here?"

"What do you want?" he asked.

"I want to unlock the powers of our bloodline," I said. "I want you to teach me."

My grandfather half turned his head towards me.

"I've noticed how much you resemble your mother," he said. "But I didn't realize you were like your father too. As a grandfather, I will gladly help you to do what you want, but you will struggle, and in the end, you will be as strong as you want to be. Just as our lineage has done.