When they reached the palace grounds Their grandmother was already in the front garden waiting for them. "Thank Emris you two are fine. We have to meet the king, NOW!" Luna and Helene sensed that something very sinister had happened. Because if their grandmother herself came to greet them, then all hell had broken loose for sure.

They quietly went in with their grandmother who was now dashing towards the king's private study. "What's going on Luna?" Luna heard her cousin's question through the link. "Well, we are about to find out hells.'' In no time they were in front of the king's study.

Luna and Helene's parents and also the king were present in the study. "Mage Luna, Mage Helene is Lilian with you by any chance?" the king had a nervous shrill to his voice. "No, your grace, me and Helene were on duty." Luna was confused as to why the king was asking about the princess from her and Helene. Yes, the princess and the two cousins were very close to each other. But the princess was prohibited from going out of the palace grounds due to the increase of the beasts. "Your grace, we would never take the princess out of the palace no matter how many times she begs us to do so," Helene said while looking at Luna and the king. "THEN HOW COME SHE IS MISSING?" This was the first time Luna and Helene saw the king this angry. And the fact that the princess was missing on the day her courting ceremony was announced the two cousins only had one hunch but they did not dare to utter it out loud. "Did she perhaps runway with the yellow hood guy?" Helene asked from Luna. "thought the same thing but that is highly unlikely to happen. She would never leave without saying goodbye hells"; "yeah you are right." There was nothing the two mages could say. So they stayed silent until something happened. " your majesty! Your majesty! My apologies for interrupting your meeting! But the trading tunnel is blocked out. There is no way in, no way out." The fear in the soldier's voice just made the room's air more thicker. "WHAT?" was the only thing the king said as he went to check the tunnels himself, others following closer behind.

The tunnels were created many centuries ago by Emris and Draven after the outbreak of the demons. It was created by powerful spells protecting it from any harm caused by the demons. The kingdom of Otos and the kingdom of Viltarin were linked through the tunnels for mostly trading and traveling through the two kingdoms. The huge tunnel leads three passageways one for the Otos harbor, one for Viltarin and one near the no man's land. The no man's land tunnel was closed by the king decades ago and the harbor is under maintenance so only a few authorized people could enter it. The tunnel leading to Viltarin was fully ruined and the tunnel leading to the harbor was also ruined as if to cover up the correct passageway. This could only mean one thing. Everyone who was in the study knew it. Princess Lilian of Otos have been kidnapped. " Everyone except the mages LEAVE!" no one dared to question the king as everyone left the sight. "I am one of the most powerful kings to ever exist in this century. And I could not protect my own daughter...'' The calmness of the voice was lethal that a mere word uttered by anyone would make the king behead them. "Luna, Helene checks if it is the so-called shadow prince who took Lilian." "yes your grace" and just like that they started investigating. After a through search for signs of the shadow prince, they both went to the king. "Your grace, it was certainly not the shadow prince. If he was the one he would have made sure to leave a black rose." Luna said while Helene took her place by her side. "My king, I think I can clarify our doubts about the Viltarin kingdom. I found this near the princess's quarters" handing the king an emblem of a raven. She saw the growing fury inside the king's pale blue eyes. "How could they betray us! And to the extent of taking my own daughter?!!"

" I'm not going to tolerate this at all. But nor can I put my people in danger. I gave them hope something look up for... I can't take it away this fast....." The king was pacing around the tunnel thinking what he can do to get the princess back to safety." Mage Luna ,mage Helene I want you two to go on a secret mission... I need you two to go to Viltarin and get my daughter back." As the king uttered those words silent gasps went through the mothers of the young mages. Since the tunnel has been ruined by the captures, the only way to Viltarin was simply through the no man's land, where there are no barriers just monsters roaming around freely and worst of it all, where the malevolent 7 rumored to lay. The two mages only knew within the king's border and even though the parents knew they were immaculate warriors they possibly couldn't let their children go to the Draven's den just like that." But my king, do the children have to go? We will go to Viltarin and bring the prin_"; "there is nothing to talk about the matter Theodora. I want Luna and Helene to do this. And do not even try to question your king any further." Ignoring the pleading look in his friend's eyes the king went back to the palace without even glancing back at his loyal subjects.

"I'm the one who is responsible for the princess's protection! Why did Luna and Helene have to go on this mission?" It was Theodora who broke the silence, she was no longer talking as a knight but as a worried mother who was looking after her child. " Mom, you don't have to worry. We are not babies anymore. I have slayed more demons than any healer ever has, you know that. All of those bloodied suits created by the finest fabric and metal are my medals." Helene said while trying to hug her mother. " Helene, be serious?! Do you know how awful that god damn place is?!" Theodora couldn't even think of losing her daughter to one of the demons. " And Luna, my dear, how can you do this! Neither of you are going on this mission." Looking at her aunt's behavior Luna didn't know what to tell. So she looked at her mother pleading to say something as her mother was quiet the whole time. The two Archerwood brothers were thinking silently whether to let their little girls go on this mission or whether they are going to convince the king one way or another. " Theodora let the children decide this. They are adults now. Just like Helene said they are not babies anymore." Solar Luna's mother said while reaching out to her friend for a comforting hug. As a defender protecting the devil's barrier she knew how worse things can get. But she never trained her daughter to be weak. She even adored Helene as her own and would always make sure they both have the greatest combat skills a mage could possess. Looking at how Luna and Helene grew up together she knew they would succeed this mission just like every other battle they had. " She is right, Theodora. And my brother and I both agree on this one. We should let them leave." Aries Archerwood said while nodding at his brother atlas Archerwood. Even though this was a heavy decision to take, both the fathers knew that they had to let their precious princesses leave one day or another." Okay! Okay! Promise me one thing Helene and also you Luna! If you don't come back within three weeks I'm coming to look for you! Got it!" Said Theodora while wiping her betrayed tears away and looking fiercely at the two girls." Yes we will all come to look for you." The grandma who was silent throughout this whole conversation spoke up. " I know you two will be there for each other. Protect each other at all costs. Helene, do not throw tantrums and give your cousin a hard time and Luna keep her in check every time." Luna couldn't help but chuckle at her grandma's playful remark. " Grandma seriously!" Helene stomped her foot on the ground like a toddler who lost her candy." Aren't you the precious little baby! Googoogaga'' said Luna while pinching Helene's cheeks." Don't you dare disrespect me cousin. You know what me and Belle can do right?" Helene Said while trying desperately to get off Luna's grip. " What did you say honey? Googoo Gaga!!" ; " Okay we have to go back now or else the king will behead us all at this point '' Atlas said while leading the two girls out of the tunnel.

It's already the next morning and it was time for both of the sisters to leave the palace grounds. The first thing they have to find is a way to reach Viltarin. But before that they have to say their final goodbyes to their parents. " Well folks it was good meeting you. For the past 200 years you have been nothing but amazing to me. Love you all so much. If a demon kills me..." a sound of smack echoed throughout the palace halls. " You want to get killed by me ,my dearest daughter!" Theodora grabbed Helene's ear and she was screaming for help from her cousin." Well hells you brought it upon you by yourself.." Luna said while hugging her parents one last time before letting go. "Let that poor girl go Theo!" Theodora let her daughter go just as grandmother instructed. But hugged her daughter tightly and said" Be careful honey." " I will mom. I will.". The Archerwood brothers gave their daughters a warm hug before letting them go. " We will be careful. You know we have each other no matter what." Luna said while holding Helene's hand." Aww it's the first time you held my hand after all these years." Helene said while wiping her fake tears away." Oh shut up!". They took their first step to their adventure out of the kings border, where in their heart they knew they truly belonged.

" So we have to find someone who knows their way inside the devils border." Said Luna. "Well there's only one place where we can get answers for every question," said Helene.

And that's how they found themselves In front of the elders council. "Your emblem my mage" said the hunter guarding the door. They both showed their respective emblems. Luna's emblem was an archer whilst Helene's was a shield. It granted them permission to go places where humans or hunters weren't allowed such as the elders council and the library of Emris. To lose this emblem was considered an black mark in the mage society.

First they walked into the Throne of the grand master. And there laid Arnieum, the most powerful being for centuries. Her white hair was elegantly put up, intertwined with her gold hair jewels. Seeing such power up close was overwhelming to the girls. Even though they knew Arnieum was around their grandmother's age, she never seemed to age. Her skin was fair as porcelain, not a wrinkle to be seen, her eyebrows were arched and she always had the same mellow toned expression on her face. Everyone assumed that her youth was a gift, given by Emris herself "What brings you children to the holy ground of Emris" she asked, her voice echoed through the walls whilst Luna and Helene knelt before her. "We seek safe passage through no man's land grand master, for the princess of Otos has disappeared," said Luna, still afraid to look up. "So I've heard well my children for a mage it takes 2 months of travel through the no man's land by foot... but something tells me that the both of you have Emirs' guidance on your side.. so fear not the answer will come to you now begone...." Said Arnieum. She always spoke in riddles, the girls usually found it to be hilarious but for this once.... They were pissed.

Helene swung the door outside the elders council causing quite the commotion. It was quite unlikely for a healer to act out rash as her, the headmistress would say the "result of not being pure" For Helene's mother was a mere knight, at the time her and Helene's father's betrothal caused quite the commotion but as her father would always say "Love knew no boundaries" .

"The answer will come to us?! Like when? After she marries that old hag! I bet he's planning on marrying her during their stupid Draven's festival" Helene growled as the mere thought of the princess being locked away angered her." Hells what do you mean Draven's festival is coming up ?! Doesn't that mean hunting season is ending.. they must have told the guards that they were resting after the great hunt those dirty bastards" said Luna as her hands being to heat up almost releasing Emris fire. " Well Teylina Swifferton did say she will be playing at the Draven festival... so I'm guessing it's quite the event.. if he announces it Infront the kingdom Lilly will be doomed forever" Helene was now panicking and walking in circle around the gates whispering nonsense to herself. " And what does Emris have planned for us it's not like there is someone who can magically get us through no mans land in weeks" said Helene still circling around to her cousin.

Just then a familiar voice came from behind " oh my is that the gorgeous Archerwood sisters I see" Tobias crept into their view. He was ever so glamorous. His clothes were well tailored and fitted. It showed off his figure quite nicely. Alas not even the finest tailored clothes in all of Akeshia, could distract you from the smugness of the arrogant bastard's face.

"And what do we owe this pleasure Tobias Igor " said Luna trying to hide the anger in her eyes. "Oh I was just strolling around the neighborhood and I heard a fatal crash just came to see and low and behold the beauty of Otos ahead of me, couldn't pass up saying hi" . Just as he spoke Luna glared at Helene whilst she rolled her eyes. "I must say desperation does not suit you, mind telling me what's your bother " he said whilst peaking at Luna, who was still fuming. "Sorry this problem cannot be solved by money Igor unless you know a way to Viltarin in less than two weeks" said Helene subtly pushing Tobias away. " Why I do know a way.. but first you may say your reasons and depending on the answer I shall give you my intellect" he said whilst admiring his rings. " Wait you do-" before Helene could finish Luna cut her off and said " We are thinking of. ...of joining the Draven's great hunt.. you see Helene and I were planning to go but since the tunnels are no longer available we need to wait till the next full moon. And who knows when that will happen " remember no one but us knows of her disappearance she told Helene who was still confused. "Oh didn't know you ladies loved such a .... Violent sport .... Oh well I might as well tell you. There is this merchant in the street of Arianrhood, his name is Damien Knight, an old bugger they say....but he can get you to Viltarin quite quickly. You can find him in the Knight manner oh and for the princess's ba- " he was cut short as the girls ran towards the finding there mystery man as Luna shouted " thanks Toby gotta catch some monsters"

"Toby..a lovely name... just for me." Tobius smirked at himself whilst looking at his love interest running away with her deadly white headed cousin.