Kintovar was led through the imposing halls of the Castle of the Wicked Witch of the South by a group of guards dressed in arabic-style attire. The torches on the walls flickered and casted shadows that danced across the stone walls.

  The guards led her through a pair of massive doors that creaked ominously. A long, blood-red carpet stretched out before her in the room behind the doors, leading to a magnifit throne perched on a raised dais.

  Arahas Osemahed, the Wicked Witch of the South sat ohrone. Her skin was wrinkled and aged. Her eyes were a pierg emerald green which held a dark presen it’s own in their gaze on Kintovar. She was draped in regal yet ominously bck robes.

  “Ah, Kintovar,” Arahas Osemahed ed, “you’ve e as I instructed. Hye hye. I trust you have followed my instrus to the letter, no ons or devices of any kind?” She stared ily at Kintovar, a predatory smile curvihin, cracked lips.

  Kintovar, about to respond, was swiftly interrupted by Arahas Osemahed. The wicked witch, with a dark chuckle, spoke, “o answer, Kintovar. Hye hye. I know for a fact that you’ve e unarmed. You wouldn’t want anything unfortuo happen to your dear friend, now, would you?”

  She then leaned forward, her pierg emerald eyes locked onto Kintovar’s, and tinued, “You may call me Oysa, Kintovar, for that is the name I allow my visitors to use. Hye hye. Now, let us begin.”

  Oysa produced a magical crystal ball, its surface swirling with mysterious energy. She spoke with a wicked grin, “With this crystal ball, I see into the future, Kintovar. I have glimpsed tragic events about to befall your precious Shadowcroft, and I thought it only fair to offer you a ce to avoid them.”

  Kintovar, her eyes filled with suspi, responded firmly, “Tragic events caused by your doing, I presume?”

  Oysa burst into a sinister ughter that filled the throne room. “Hye hye. Oh, Kintovar, you are more perceptive than most. Yes, the tragic events I speak of are my doing. But don’t worry, you don’t o be there when they occur.”

  Oysa tinued, her tone dripping with malice, “But I know what you’re truly ied in, Kintovar. It’s not the fate of Shadowcroft that s you. It’s the Goddess items, isn’t it?”

  Kintovar’s eyes widened in surprise. “How do you know about that?”

  Oysa leaned ba her throne, her wicked grin growing wider. “Hye hye. I’ve known about your arrival in Jancito City since you set foot here, Kintovar. I have been watg, and my crystal ball has shown me many things.”

  Kintaze met Oysa’s pierg eyes. ‘Crystal ball… I see…’ The realization dawned on her—Oysa had been orchestrating her pns from the very beginning.

  Kintovar swallowed hard and maintained her posure. “So, you’ve been watg me all this time,” she said aloud. “And you obviously know about the Goddess items. Why am I not surprised at your intellect?”

  Oysa’s wicked grin broadened. “Hye hye. Indeed, Kintovar. The Goddess items are of great io me. They hold the power to reshape the very fabric of this world.”

  “Very well, Oysa,” Kintovar said while trying to mask her ay with a facade of calm. “What do you want with me? What is your endgame with these Goddess items?”

  At Kintovar’s question, the massive doors to the throne room creaked open, and a young womaered. Her wild, violent hair and fierce demeanor were unmistakable—this was Rawna, the same person who had attacked Shadowcroft.

  Oysa introduced her with a sione, “Kintovar, this is my daughter, Rawna. I’m sure you’ve met her the other day. Hye hye.”

  Rawna, her gaze fixed on Kintovar, one of curiosity and defiance. She didn’t utter a word, but her presence alone was enough for Kintovar to guage the amount of power Oysa had at her disposal.

  Oysa produced a wicked smile. “Kintovar, don’t worry. This does not o end with your demise. I offer you a choice, a ce to save your friend. Hye hye. All you o do is cooperate with me.”

  Kintovar’s face held curiosity. “Cooperate with you? What do you want from me?”

  Oysa leaned forward with wiess in tone. “I want you to bee a stist for me, Kintovar. Join my cause and help develop the teology that will serve the ruler of South Jancito, who, of course, is me. Hye hye.”

  Kintovar couldn’t hide her disbelief. “Join you? Work for you? Why would I do such a thing?”

  Oysa took on a sinister edge in her speech. “You see, Kintovar, Shadowcroft has defied my rule, Hye hye. But the other day, their defiance has reached a boiling point, and there are sequences for such as. I have warhem that they would face hell for their disobedience.”

  Kintovar felt a bead of sweat trickle dowemple. She struggled to keep her posure.

  Oysa’s emerald eyes gleamed with dark satisfa. She leaned forward and spoke menagly. “You know, Kintovar, I’m well aware of your little charade within the Shadowcroft anization. The truth is, the Kintovar they remember is locked away in a jail cell, uo interfere with my pns. Hye hye. And now, I wonder—what is your true e to that Kintovar?”

  Kintovar’s heart pounded. “I… I don’t know. I don’t have the answers you’re seeking.”

  Oysa’s lips twisted into a cruel smile. “Ah, the uainty is quite delightful. But let’s move on, shall we? There’s another reason you should sider my offer.”

  Oysa leaned back with disdain. “Haras. You see, Kintovar, I have something rather unpleasant pnned for her, but if you join me, if you bee a stist and serve my cause, you might just be able to save her from the fate I have in store.”

  She tinued, “What this all es down to, Kintovar, is obedience. Obedieo me, the ruler of South Jancito. All you have to do is ply with my wishes and nothing will happen to you, your friends or your family. It’s a simple choice, really.”

  Kintovar’s mind raced. She thought to herself, ‘I ’t believe it has e to this. Joining forces with the Witch of the South, Oysa, goes against my own wishes, but it’s not just about me; it’s about Haras, my dear friend and b parthe thought of plying with Oysa’s demands is repugnant, but the safety of Haras is paramount. I find a way to outsmart her from within?’

  Oysa’s words wormed their way into her thoughts like a telepathic message.

  “Kintovar, I see the gears turning in that brilliant mind of yours. sider this: I hold a Goddess item, the Spear of Destru, and I have the knowledge and means to find others. If you cooperate with me, you won’t just save Haras; you’ll have the opportunity to acquire the Goddess item we enter. Together, we unlock their power and reshape the world. Think of the advas in teology, the discoveries you could make, and the greater good we could achieve.”

  Kintovar felt glimmer of temptation. She thought to herself once again, ‘Oysa knows exactly which cards to py, and the offer she makes is tempting. The allure of obtaining a Goddess item and the potential it holds for stific discovery is undeniable. But I’ve only just begun to build retionships at Shadowcroft. Dr. Winter and the stists there, they’ve weled me, and I’ve learo admire their dedication. I just abandon them like this? Bah…I haven’t knowoo long… it’s a shame though, really.’

  Kintovar finally spoke. “Oysa, you have all the advantages on your side, and I ’t deny the appeal of what you’re . However, before I agree to anything, I o see that Haras is unharmed. Once I’m assured of her safety, we discuss this further.”

  Oysa gave a nod, then called for someo Haras in. The doors of the throne room opened, and in walked Haras, now dressed in an Arabic-style b coat and holding an apple in her hands. Her high-pitched, energy filled the room.“Hey, Kintovar! You’re here!” Haras greeted with a grin. “Look, you won’t believe this, but I saw this apple here trying to survive in the desert, and it said, ‘I’m so thirsty, I ’t trate!’.”

  Kintrinned, but Oysa’s stern gaze silehe room. “Enough,” she anded, causing Haras to recoil. Oysa then smirked. “Kintovar, are you satisfied with the state of your friend?”

  Kintovar looked at Haras, who seemed unharmed and in good spirits. She then turned her attention back to Oysa. “Yes, for now, she appears to be well. Now, let’s discuss our arra further.”

  Kintovar stood her ground. “I agree to your terms, Oysa, but on one dition. I want the freedom to go after one of the Goddess items myself, along with my creations, Haras and Mystimona. We will adepely in acquiring it.”

  Oysa regarded Kintovar with a wicked smile. “You’re bargaining hard, Kintovar, but very well. You go after one Goddess item, but be aware that obtaining the other four will not be easy. Two of them are in the East, and one of those is presented as a prize in the Jancito Annual Tour.”

  Kintovar knew about the tour. Oysa tinued, “The tour is a unique event that attracts fighters from North, South, East, a Jancito. During the tour, all wars are prohibited, ensuring a temporary peace. However, the tour is held in the East, and you won’t make it and have time to spare unless you cut through the Westerory, which is the most dangerous pce to be, ruled by the Maizen Empire that trols the world’s gover.”

  Kintovar nodded, her resolve firm. “I’m aware of the challenges, Oysa. I’ll find a way to navigate through the West and reach the tour. We will adepely, and once we have a Goddess item, we will return to you.”

  With Haras released and their agreemeablished, Oysa moved forward. She began to t in a nguage unfamiliar to Kintovar, and a faint, otherworldly glow enveloped Kintovar momentarily. Kintovar felt a strange sensation, like an invisible link had beeablished.

  Oysa grinned wickedly. “I’ve pced a trag spell on you, Kintovar. This will ensure you follow through with reement. If you attempt to deviate or break the terms, the sequences will be…hye hye hye...”

  Oysa’s eyes flickered with dark amusement. “The st person who tried to defy me was a rather overfident fellow. He thought he could outsmart me, you see. Oh, the poor fool,” Oysa said with a chilling chuckle. “He was so certain of his cleverhat he ignored my warnings. I had to teach him a lesson.”

  Her smile turned darker as she tinued, “I made sure his end was… memorable. A fitting punishment, if you will. He was transformed into a grotesque creature, and has forever been trapped in the deepest, darkest pit of my domain.”

  Oysa’s gaze never. “Now that you uand, I trust you’ll adhere treement. The Goddess item is yours to pursue, but remember—your every move is being watched. Don’t disappoint me, Kintovar. Hye hye hye.”

  Kintovar replied, “I won’t fet, Oysa.”

  Oysa’s evil ughter filled the room. She waved her hand, signaling the guards to escort Kintovar out of the castle, back to the desert town.

  Haras held Kintovar close. Kintovar reciprocated the hug, but despite cherishing this moment, she looked uneasy.

  “Haras, I’ve missed you too,” Kintovar whispered. “But we ’t stay here any longer. We o find Roselle, Risebelle and Runebelle, and then leave South Jancito ASAP.”

  Haras relutly released her grip. “You’re right, Kintovar. Let’s find our sisters a out this pce.”

  On the way to Shadowcroft, Haras tried to hold Kintovar’s hand several times during their walk. Kintovar, however, seemed focused oh ahead and didn’t respond to these attempts. After a few tries, Haras gave up, though her disappoi was short-lived whehought of something else she could do. She soon wore a small, pyful smile.

  But when they reached the entrance of Shadowcroft’s building, their return took a discerting turn. They were met by a group of stists, all armed and pointing their guns at them.

  Dr. Wiepped forward with her DA-56 aimed directly at Kintovar. “Hold it right there,” she ordered.

  Kintovar looked at all of the stists with fusion. “Dr. Winter, what the hell is this? Why are you all armed and have your ons aimed at me?”