(As Alexia and Prince Stephen leaves, Ken turns to Kol.)
Ken: So will we still be journing out with Stephen, Kol?
Sheno: Our hunt after them can't be halted because of his Highness absence.
Kol: No. I trust Stephen. We will wait until he can rejoin our fight. Right now, he and his family have to sort out things with the Kingdom. For now, we'll wait. So return home. We'll all meet again.
(As Kol says this he and Sheno walks back into the Uesugi Sector.)
Sheno: I hope this is the right decision, Kol. We could be there tonight and have them.
Kol: I understand you, Sheno. I grew up with Stephen. He will follow through on his word. Until then, keep me posted of sense any change in that location.
Sheno: Of course I will, Kol. Get some rest tonight.
Kol: You do the same, Sheno.
(Back at the gate)
Ken: Well I guess that's that huh.
Anna: I believe so. Now I know I wasn't present for the battle that took place here, but I think it's smart to wait until we can have the strongest in the kingdom on our side in battle.
Ken: It's true that Stephen is the best of us all here. Man... I would've never expected a fight of the scale to ever occur here in the core of our Kingdom. Even with the the aid and efforts the Atarians, there's still aspects of the Kingdom that remains fractured. Uh pardon me, Lady Anna. Now isn't the time to be rambling on haha. Could I perhaps escort you home? With the Winter Solstice close, the day enter the night much sooner.
Anna: It's okay Ken, thank you. I hope that you have a good rest of your night.
Ken: Very well. Thank you, Lady Anna. I guess we'll see each other soon.
Anna: Rest well, Ken.
(Meanwhile, back in the Royal Palace, the Queen and Stephen are surprisingly greeted by Prince Luke Raika.)
Kate: Now that Stephen is here, you may begin, Prince Luke.
Luke: Firstly, I wish to thank you for having an audience with me at this time. For what I bring to you is urgent.
Stephen: What is it about?
Luke: It's about Nanbu and that veil that surrounds whatever remains from the void. You see, in my kingdom we predicate ourselves on our attunement with the spiritual nature of Mara. As you know, your Highness, our Mara potency is the highest amongst each of the four Kingdoms. However, ever since that event there has been areas reporting that the Mara within the land itself is beginning to corrode. We've sent scouts that to analyze the Mara structure and they've come to the conclusion that it's stemming from the same source of corrosion in Nanbu.
Kate: And just how we could be of aid, Prince Luke?
Luke: One important I feel that your talents could greatly benefit our goals is if you were to examine a concentrated fraction of the tainted Mara that I have here in this stone.
(Prince Luke takes out a bag containing the stone he mentioned and hands to Alexia.)
Kate: Both me and my assistant Alexia will in look into it for you and match our findings with your scouts. Is there anything else I can do for you?
Luke: I've come to ask for the aid of both Prince Stephen and Dante.
Stephen: Wait what? Dante?
Luke: I feel that he is most vital to this whole thing. And being that he survived it, I'm sure he too, knows at some point he's gonna have to deal with whatever that may lie between the veil in the void. I'm here to say that the time may be approaching sooner rather than later, your Highness.
Kate: Hmmm....I believe you are right Prince Luke, in your thinking. Dante is indeed tied to this due to the Cult of Amatsu. That veil you mentioned is housing Chaotic Mara. I am a bit familiar with it with my sealment of it that resides deep within Dante from that same event.
Luke: He was afflicted? And you sealed it away?
Kate: Not on my own of course. I was using borrowed Divine Mara to do so.
Luke: Ahh I understand. Is there any way that you could summon him? This is a very important matter to look into.
Kate: Dante has earned his freedom, so I cannot just summon him. Although, I will contact him for you.
Luke: That would be enough, your Highness. I shall expect word whenever you make contact and we shall move forward with this infection. Thank you for your time, both of you.
(Prince Luke bows as he leaves.)
Kate: What do you take of what you've just heard, Stephen?
Stephen: That this is just as serious if not more than the battle we just concluded if he's asking for Dante's help in this. How will you get in touch with him?
Kate: I have a way to get in reach with him. For now, get some rest. I also think it's time that your training and understanding of Mara shall begin again soon. There is much still that you have yet to learn, Stephen.
Stephen: What do you have in mind for me?
Kate: Tomorrow, Stephen.
Stephen: Of course, mother. I'll see you then.
(As Stephen leaves, Kate heads to her private chambers where on the balcony sits a crow. She goes and opens the door while taking in the night sky next to the crow before heading off to bed.)