With everything finally settled, the four were ready to begin their journeys back. With the sun in its setting state, they came back to where they began the search.

"Nice job, Sefira!" Wil spoke.

"I know, right? It... It took me several hours to find them," Sefira replied in a whisper with a sense of pride.

"Where are your recruits?" Wil asked the two women who came back empty-handed.

"I didn't find one," Cithara replied sheepishly, knowing that she only found it hard to communicate with other creatures.

"Oh, no! I forgot!" Marivielle answered as well, with her cheeks turning red in embarrassment.

Three recruited creatures lined up in front of them. Each has different characteristics, and each has different personalities.

"Uh... Cithara," Wil called, "can you be the one to explain to them why they are called here today?"

"M-Me?"

"I... I have to talk to my choice at the... at the corridor," Wil replied, trying to escape his impromptu speech.

"O-Okay," Cithara replied sheepishly.

"I'll... I'll go now," Wil spoke as he walked away from the others. "Remember that you're still my assistant!"

Cithara sighed, feeling the uncomfortable situation arising. "Everyone in this room," she started, "are gathered here so that the two other Avallons can be picked."

"But how can we show you if we are the chosen ones?" the tallest one among the three asked out of curiosity.

"We... We are still thinking about what we can do," Cithara replied timidly.

The three gave her a nod with a sense of dedication and confusion on their faces.

"Anyways." She interrupted the uneasy silence. "I can not assure you when we can choose. Even though you are already more than three, we still need to ensure that you will please the Elders."

"It's alright," the only boy from the group replied.

"But in the meantime, I would like to give you an invitation to the coronation that will be happening in Liberia," she added.

"Liberia? Does it exist?" One of the women that Sefira recruited in the squad asked in astonishment.

"It exists!" Cithara replied.

"How did you know?" the five-foot woman asked. "I bet you didn't even see the place."

"I do! I live there!" Cithara stated.

"Prove it!"

"Uhh... I'm," Cithara interrupted with a fake smile, "friends with the queen there."

"Right?" the Derillan asked sarcastically.

"Izatha, don't be rude," the tallest among the Derillans whispered.

"Yes! Yes, I do know her!" Cithara replied, still trying to hide her real identity.

"I told you already, that blabbermouth of yours can put you in trouble," the only boy Derillan whispered.

"I'm..." she spoke with the lady beside her, bumping her shoulder to catch her attention. "I mean, we're... we're so sorry for being rude," the lady called Izatha spoke.

"It's alright," Cithara replied. "Anyways, here are the invitations," she added as she handed the letters to all the creatures inside the room.

Meanwhile, in the corridor came Wil and the prisoner that he had chosen.

"Listen, I... I need you to cooperate with us," he explained.

"Why do I need to cooperate with you?" the prisoner asked.

"I can feel that you want some help. Maybe getting back to the Mortal Realm where you live?" Wil spoke.

"Well, I don't even want to go back home yet. I still need to find my crew," the mortal stated.

"So you have a crew, eh?"

"What? Are you going to capture them as well?" the prisoner asked.

"Of course not," Wil replied. "I want to help you find them."

"I don't need your help," the prisoner boasted.

"Well, Elron told me about something that you will surely want," said Wil. "What if I give you eighty golden crystal coins, and I can double it up if you became an Avallon like us."

"Alright!" the prisoner grinned, "Now you are speaking my language!"

"Now we got a deal!"

"Yes, we do!" replied the prisoner.

"But I only have one condition," said Wil, "you should play along and cooperate on what we are doing."

"Alright!" the young man responded.

Their gaze was suddenly caught by Cithara standing in front of them.

"He's the one you chose?" she asked.

"Yes, I am, luv," the prisoner replied.

"Here you go," Cithara spoke as she gave him and Wil the invitations.

"What's this?" Wil asked.

"That's an invitation that I got from Clevor. I just heard that the new Liberian Hara will be crowned tomorrow night, and she expects you, the newly picked Avallons, to come," Cithara explained.

"Sounds great!" the prisoner beamed. "A party sounds super stupendous to hear!"

"By the way, you can go inside the throne room now. I want to get to know all of you better," said Wil as he led the way back towards the hall.

As they entered the halls, they were greeted by a group of creatures that were merrily talking with each other. At the moment he entered the hall, Marivielle immediately recognized the prisoner's face. "Ni (You)-"

"Ah-ah-ah!" The prisoner interrupted her. His pointer finger swung side by side as a sign of her having no authority to hurt him.

"That is the one that I'm telling you, Cithara! That is the one who has half of my crystal necklace!" Marivielle exclaimed.

"Ah, so you are that mortal!" said Cithara.

"Yes, Luv, and I just want to say that I am immediately captured by your beauty, especially your beautiful blue eyes," the prisoner replied.

"Elron was right. You are indeed naughty," said Wil.

"I agree," Cithara added.

"Give me back my crystal-gem, Rei! Enough is enough!" Marivielle exclaimed.

"Hey! Have you forgotten about our little deal?" Rei whispered to the lady.

"I don't care anymore! The deal is off," replied the furious young mermaid. "Besides, the Avallons will help me find it!"

"I told you already, the other half of your crystal-gem was taken by one of the... I mean... taken by one of MY crew, and I'm not responsible for that," Rei answered naughtily. "I only have the half of that half."

"But where is the one-third of the crystal-gem?" Cithara asked in a tough voice.

"Ah! Strong lady! I like that!" Rei responded with a smirk forming on his lips.

"Answer the question, please," Cithara added with her arms crossed.

"Here you go! I don't need it anymore now that I already found the lady of my dreams," Rei spoke, shoving off a tiny piece of a blue-green-colored crystal-gem from his pocket.

"Oh, shut up," Marivielle groaned as she grabbed the small piece of crystal-gem from the pirate's hand.

"Now, what should we do now, my lady?" Rei asked Cithara.

"We... We should get ready for the coronation tomorrow," Wil replied, showing off who had the authority to plan.

"By the way, this are Izatha, Leo, and Hanari," Sefira spoke, "and you are?"

"I'm Rei," the young man replied, "and it is nice to meet you all!"

"Now come on!" said Marivielle. "Let's go to the city and buy the clothing we'll need for the coronation tomorrow!"

"Coming!" Rei replied excitedly.

"I'm talking to the others," Marivielle replied conceitedly, "not to you!"

"Before the tension rises, let us all go there altogether!" Wil interrupted as he accompanied his companions toward the exit.

Glossary

⚔️ Hara
- Liberian word: Queen

⚔️ Ni
- Aquarian word: You