As the first light of dawn stretched over the mountains, the crisp morning air wrapped around Arden and the others like a lingering farewell. The towering trees swayed gently, their branches whispering secrets to the wind, as if bidding them goodbye. A sense of finality hung in the air—this was no longer just a place of training and refuge. It was the past. The world beyond awaited them, vast and unpredictable.

  A silent understanding passed between them. They had crossed a threshold, and there was no turning back. The path ahead demanded strength, and they had no choice but to forge it with their own hands.

  Lolo Lando, ever the enigmatic hermit, flicked his finger. A sudden gust of wind carried the faint sound of something shifting. In the space of a heartbeat, golden light shimmered, and a portal materialized before them—its swirling energy casting elongated shadows on the ground.

  He motioned toward it casually. "This leads directly to the Valverde Estate. No need to take the long way back."

  Dominic blinked; disbelief etched across his face. "Wait—you had a portal all this time and just let us hike for hours?!"

  Lolo Lando smirked, stroking his beard. "You are one to talk, Magician. Wasn't this trick your invention in the first place? In your prime, you could manipulate the very fabric of existence, deceive even the most powerful Arcana with your illusions, and walk between realms as if they were mere stepping stones. Not to mention opening the void—and inadvertently sealing the others during the war. And yet, here you are, complaining about a short hike."

  Arden chuckled, shaking his head as they stepped through the portal. The sensation of movement without motion engulfed them for mere seconds before they emerged inside the Valverde Estate’s grand hall.

  Lucia, Manuel, and Thesa, seated in the living room adjacent to the grand hall, were engaged in light conversation, the sounds of morning activity filling the estate. The scent of freshly brewed coffee and warm pandesal lingered in the air as servants bustled about their routines.

  Meanwhile, Bliss had taken it upon herself to help, much to the amusement of the household staff. She rolled up her sleeves and attempted to fold napkins with precision, though her technique left much to be desired. "You're too elegant for housework, Miss Bliss" one of the maids chuckled, shaking her head.

  "Nonsense! I am perfectly capable of setting a table," Bliss insisted, holding up a rather lopsided napkin-fold with exaggerated confidence. The head maid sighed good-naturedly and gently corrected her work, while the other servants shared quiet laughs.

  As she playfully helped set the plates, a resonating hum suddenly filled the air. The soft chatter in the estate came to an abrupt halt as all eyes snapped toward the grand hall. In an instant, a golden portal materialized out of nowhere, its shimmering light casting flickering reflections across the polished floors.

  Gasps erupted from the servants, a few instinctively stepping back in shock, one even dropping a tray with a clatter. One of the younger maids nearly hid behind a chair, whispering a quick prayer under her breath. Their stunned expressions only deepened as Arden stepped out of the portal, hands casually tucked into his pockets, as if appearing through magical rifts was just another part of his morning routine.

  "Good morning, Ma’am, Sir, hi Thesa," Arden greeted, entirely unfazed.

  The General followed suit, smirking. "Oh, Lucia, Manuel, Thesa—hey boy, what is the power level of your Lolo?" he asked Arden with playful curiosity.

  Leigh, however, had other priorities. She spun toward Dominic, arms crossed, exasperation in her voice. "This portal trick—why didn’t you remember this earlier?! It could’ve saved us so much trouble in our previous missions!"

  "Hi, Mama, Papa, Ateh Thesa," she added in the same breath, giving her parents and Zeth's wife a quick greeting before resuming her nagging.

  Bliss, seeing her brother emerge from the portal, rushed toward Dominic, eyes wide with amazement. "Kuya Dominic! How did you do that?!"

  "Hi, Bliss," Leigh and Dominic said in unison.

  Dominic groaned, dodging Leigh's relentless questioning. "Look, I don’t remember every single thing I used to do as The Magician, okay?"

  As the others stepped through, each lost in their own thoughts, Lucia, Manuel, and Thesa exchanged glances—at this point, they weren’t sure if they should be amazed, confused, or just accept that their lives had officially become something out of a fantasy novel.

  Bliss’s eyes lit up the moment she saw her father step through the portal. Without hesitation, she rushed forward, practically launching herself into his arms. "Mama, Papa's back!" she exclaimed, her voice brimming with excitement.

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  Thesa turned at her daughter’s voice, relief washing over her features as she saw Zeth standing there. Thesa, watching the warm reunion, smiled. "How was your journey?"

  Zeth gave a small, reassuring nod, his usual stoic expression softening. "It was fine."

  The General settled into a leather chair, stretching his legs out with a contented sigh as a servant instinctively moved to bring him a cup of coffee. He exuded an air of authority, but here, in his own home, he allowed himself a rare moment of ease. As the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the room, he took a slow sip before smirking at the group.

  "What a day. I half-expected you both to take another day before coming here. Good thing you’re here—first, recall the bodyguards who's waiting for us in Balamban. Second, we’ve got an urgent matter to discuss." His tone, though casual, left no room for delay.

  Leigh sighed, throwing a glance at Arden. "Lolo Lando finally decided to make our lives easier."

  Lucia, still processing everything, furrowed her brows. "Wait—who is Lolo Lando?"

  The General took a slow sip of his coffee, a smirk playing on his lips. "Oh, that would be Arden’s grandfather. We had quite the... eventful time in his little hut."

  Lucia’s brows furrowed as she glanced between the General and Arden. "Arden’s grandfather? And you were at his hut?"

  The General waved a hand dismissively. "Long story. What matters now is that we need to arrange a flight to Russia as soon as possible."

  Lucia blinked, caught off guard. "Russia? You're going to Russia?"

  The General leaned back in his chair, his smirk widening. "Turns out, our family is a little more... extraordinary than we thought." He let out a hearty chuckle, while Leigh sighed, rubbing her temple with a faint smile.

  Lucia, still trying to process everything, shook her head. "Can somebody please explain what’s going on here?"

  Leigh inhaled deeply, glancing at both her parents. "Alright, Mama, Papa... it’s a long story, but here’s the short version. We’ve been training, fighting, and uncovering the truth about who we really are." She gestured toward Arden, Dominic, and the others. "The Arcana are real. We are their living embodiments. And our world—our true world—is in danger."

  Lucia and Manuel exchanged stunned glances, their minds struggling to keep up with the weight of her words. Before they could respond, the General leaned forward, a grin tugging at his lips. "And to top it off," he added, "your daughter happens to be The Star, and your son—well, he’s The Judgment. That’s why Russia is our next stop. We need to get to him before the Dark Arcana do."

  Diwata, noticing the couple’s bewildered expressions, settled beside them with a patient smile. As one of the Major Arcana, The High Priestess, she had seen countless revelations unfold—but this one, perhaps, was the most personal. "I know this is overwhelming," she began gently, "but let me explain everything."

  Moments later, after a thorough discussion, the reality of their mission became clearer. Lucia gestured to the servants to ready the dining table for breakfast. "You guys go freshen up and let's have breakfast," she said, her tone leaving little room for debate. The command was simple, but the weight of what had just been discussed still lingered in the air. Even as they moved, their minds were still turning over the reality of their mission, the stakes higher than ever.

  Afterward, the group gathered around the long dining table, the scent of freshly cooked food wafting through the estate. Just as Arden reached for a piece of pandesal, Dominic swiped it from under his fingers with a triumphant grin. "Survival of the fittest, my friend."

  Arden narrowed his eyes. "You do realize I could just take it back, right?"

  Before Dominic could respond, Leigh gracefully slid a second piece onto Arden’s plate. "There, now you both have one. Can we eat like civilized people for once?"

  Buwan chuckled, stirring her tea. "Highly doubtful."

  The General, enjoying the lighthearted exchange, casually leaned back in his chair. "This is the last peaceful meal you’ll have for a while. Better eat up before Zeth starts making you regret your life choices." He glanced at Diwata, Akiko, and Marcos. "That goes for you three as well. No special treatment."

  Diwata sighed dramatically, taking a delicate sip of her tea. "Oh, I am well aware. Training under Zeth is akin to courting disaster."

  Akiko smirked, setting down her utensils. "A challenge worth taking."

  Buwan raised an eyebrow, taking a slow sip of her tea. "Says the one who enjoys suffering." She exhaled dramatically, before flashing a knowing grin. "But, I suppose it wouldn’t be as entertaining otherwise."

  Marcos, the General’s personal bodyguard, simply nodded, finishing his meal in disciplined silence, as if already bracing himself for the trials ahead.

  As the last plates were cleared and the morning meal came to an end, the air around them seemed to shift. The warmth of the dining hall, the lingering laughter from moments before—it all felt like a brief reprieve before the storm.

  The General set down his coffee cup and exhaled, his eyes sharp with anticipation. "Enough talk. It’s time."

  A hush fell over the group as Zeth stood, stretching his arms before cracking his knuckles. "We start now. No more delays. No more hesitations. If any of you think this is going to be just another training session, you’re dead wrong."

  Arden glanced at Dominic, who let out a nervous chuckle. "I feel like I’m about to regret my life choices."

  "Oh, you absolutely will," Zeth replied with a smirk, stepping toward the grand courtyard.

  Diwata rose gracefully, adjusting her sleeves. "Best not to keep the inevitable waiting."

  Leigh sighed, rolling her shoulders as she followed. "I suppose there's no getting out of this."

  "Nope," Buwan chimed in, standing up as well. "And from the look on Zeth’s face, he’s going to enjoy this far more than he should."

  Akiko and Marcos exchanged knowing glances before nodding. A silent understanding passed between them—there would be no holding back. Marcos flexed his fingers, rolling his shoulders as if already preparing for the intensity ahead, while Akiko’s lips curled into a smirk, her excitement barely restrained. "Let’s see if we survive this," she murmured under her breath.

  As they stepped outside, the sun had fully risen, casting long shadows across the estate grounds. The once-calm morning was over. What awaited them now was nothing short of brutal. The training had begun.