While Fae and her allies were contemplating how to neutralize the demon portal's energy source within Creed without ending his life, Rein and Queen Allura were busy defending Lazuli from the demon invasion.

 

With Queen Allura’s well-trained Seafolk Guards and her outstanding leadership, they were managing to fend off the demons with ease. Rein had also informed her of her experience with the demons and the need to close off the enormous portal above them by destroying its energy source. However, just like the others, they had no idea that the energy source was within the Demon Generals.

 

“What’s the status on our side?” Queen Allura asked one of her counselors amidst the fray.

 

“Your Highness, as of now, we’ve already lost twenty percent of our side, and fifteen percent of our troops are wounded. The demons aren’t that strong, but as it stands, they have a near infinite number, and only time will tell until we lose entirely,” the counselor answered grimly.

 

“I see… then focus on strengthening our defenses and prioritize tending to the wounded guards. My apprentice and I will focus on finding and destroying the energy source,” Queen Allura instructed.

 

“As you wish, Your Highness,” the counselor responded respectfully.

 

After their exchange, Queen Allura and Rein proceeded to search for the portal's power source while assisting the guards in fending off the demons.

 

“We need to locate it as soon as possible. Even as a Chosen One, my mana isn’t limitless. If we don’t find it soon, then this will be the end of Lazuli,” Queen Allura admitted.

 

“I won’t let that happen. It’s around here somewhere, we just have to keep looking,” Rein responded with determination.

 

The duo spent most of the time moving around Lazuli, checking every nook and corner, but they found nothing. They knew that looking around without any lead would only consume their time, so they decided to return to the castle to rethink and replan. Upon arriving inside the castle, they noticed something was off: an ominous presence emanating from the throne room. They rushed to check it out.

 

Upon opening the door, they were surprised to see that the ominous presence came from a young girl, around the same age and height as Rein and Laira.

 

The girl was small, dwarfed by the oversized, faded gray hoodie she wore, her hands buried deep in its front pocket. Her hood framed a perpetually confident and bratty expression on her face. Her very long, wavy black hair flowed down her back. Her eyes, however, were what stood out the most: a striking, glowing crimson red, a match to her impudent demeanor.

 

Rein already had a gut feeling about who they were encountering just from the ominous presence, but seeing the person with her own eyes confirmed her suspicions.

 

“That appearance… Queen Allura, that girl’s a human possessed by a powerful demon, I’m sure of it,” Rein warned.

 

“I see… if it’s a powerful demon, then it should be intelligent enough to communicate with us and tell us the location of the portal’s energy source,” Queen Allura responded, shifting her attention toward the demon. “Who are you? And what are you doing inside my castle?”

 

“I knew you would be back here eventually… so I waited. My name is Luz, one of the Great Demon Generals tasked to deal with a Chosen One such as yourself,” the demon responded.

 

“Is that so? I’ll cut to the chase then. If I defeat you, will you tell me where we can find the portal’s energy source?” Queen Allura asked, her eyes serious.

 

Instead of feeling threatened, Luz felt ecstatic. “Will you love me if I tell you?”

 

“I will never love a demon, especially someone who invaded my home and threatened the lives of my people,” Queen Allura answered with determination.

 

“I see… if you can’t love me, then you’re better off gone,” Luz said with a sinister and disappointed tone.

 

The room fell silent. Rein and Queen Allura couldn’t shake the feeling that something was deeply wrong. They prepared for battle, but before they could attack, Luz muttered some words and used her ability. “I offer a decade of my life force.”

 

[Forbidden Curse Technique: Love Sickness]

 

A thick pink smoke rapidly poured out of her hoodie, quickly enveloping Lazuli, which was encased in a massive water dome.

 

Thankfully, Rein and Queen Allura managed to defend against the attack by casting a water barrier around them, immediately realizing that breathing the smoke might have serious side effects.

 

After some time, the smoke eventually dispersed, but the two remained wary of its effect. With time running out, they dispelled their water barrier and went on the offense. They were both about to cast Aqua Bullets directly at Luz when a horde of demons came crashing through the palace windows, shattering the glass. This sudden disruption interrupted their offensive spells.

 

Queen Allura was confused as to how the demons managed to get inside when her guards were supposed to be keeping them outside. Her confusion was immediately answered when the huge throne room door was forcefully opened by everyone: the citizens of Lazuli, the royal guards, and the counselors.

 

Upon seeing her people, she realized something was terribly wrong. They were in a hypnotic state. Their movements were sluggish, and their eyes were glowing pink with heart-shaped pupils.

 

“Do you know? People will do crazy things for love, including hurting the people important to them,” Luz informed menacingly.

 

Queen Allura felt a sudden surge of anger. She instantly knew the thick pink smoke was the cause. “You, demon! What have you done to my people?” She shouted in frustration.

 

“Isn’t it obvious? Love conquers all, so I opened their minds by showing them the truth… that my love is worth chasing more than yours,” Luz answered confidently.

 

For the first time, Queen Allura showed intense hatred. “These people’s love isn’t so cheap that you can just take it away from them! The love you gave them isn’t real. It’s just a fake emotion you forcefully implanted in their minds!” She angrily retorted.

 

“Queen Allura is right! No matter what, we will break your control and give them back their honest and genuine feelings!” Rein declared.

 

Luz smirked and laughed. “Hahaha! Let’s see you try!”

 

She commanded the demons and everyone under her control. “Everyone! Make me proud by ending the lives of these two. Whoever does it first will earn a kiss on the cheek from me.”

 

“We’ll do anything to earn your love!” Everyone under her spell said in unison.

 

Following Luz’s command, everyone attacked Rein and Queen Allura without hesitation. The two had no choice but to defend. Defeating the demons would have been easy, but their allies were a different matter. They couldn’t afford to hurt them, so they focused on defending.

 

“Queen Allura, the only way out of this is if we take out Luz first. Defeating the demons would be easier once we freed our allies from her ability,” Rein proposed amidst the chaos.

 

“That’s easier said than done. It’s impossible to get close to her with all of this chaos going around,” Queen Allura responded worriedly.

 

“Then let me create an opening for you and use the chaos to our advantage,” Rein suggested.

 

[Water Magic: Mistcloak]

 

Rein created a smokescreen, covering the entire throne room with her mist magic to impair everyone’s vision.

 

Queen Allura used this opportunity to hide her presence and rapidly navigate the room. She used her water jet spell to increase her agility and conjured an ice hammer for a surprise attack.

 

In an instant, Queen Allura managed to close the gap, thanks to Rein’s opening. She was about to defeat Luz when things took a sudden turn. Instead of surprising Luz, Queen Allura was the one surprised: in front of her was her daughter, Princess Laira, using her own body to shield Luz.

 

Luz had anticipated the two prioritizing her defeat and had prepared a contingency plan by keeping Princess Laira near her side as a shield. Princess Laira was supposed to be hiding inside her room, but Luz had sneaked inside the castle to use her ability and control her.

 

Queen Allura had no choice but to step back and stop her attack to avoid hitting her daughter.

 

“Buwahahaha! Your daughter is probably a minced pie right now if you didn’t stop your attack!” Luz laughed triumphantly.

 

“You really are a demon! Give me back my daughter!” Queen Allura said angrily.

 

“Mother, please no more! Don’t take the person that I love away from me,” Princess Laira interrupted, crying heavily.

 

“Snap out of it, Laira! You are under that demon's influence!” Queen Allura urged, hoping her words would reach her daughter, but they didn't.

 

"Your daughter told me what a stubborn mother you are, so why don't you listen to her for once? Huh?" Luz taunted.

 

She then approached Princess Laira and hugged her from behind. "Do you remember your promise to me if your mother won’t listen?" She asked.

 

"Yes, if I can't make my mother listen to me then I'm going to end myself," Princess Laira answered.

 

Queen Allura froze in shock. Luz’s influence on her daughter was overwhelming. To prevent her daughter from getting hurt, she dispelled her magic and backed off.

 

"Ha! Love really does make people crazy!" Luz gloated. She then used the opportunity to land a deadly blow on Queen Allura, pulling a cursed dagger hidden inside her hoodie and stabbing her.

 

"No matter how powerful you are, even if you're the Chosen One, you are nothing without your allies! You are all alone, and the people you swore you'd protect will be the cause of your doom!" Luz said menacingly. She was about to stab Queen Allura for the second time when Rein finally intercepted.

 

"You're wrong! Queen Allura isn't alone, she still has me!" Rein declared. She created a huge wall of ice to separate them from Luz, using that opportunity to retreat and take Queen Allura and Princess Laira away. They hid on the castle's rooftop to figure out a way to save everyone and defeat Luz.

 

Luz was furious, having lost track of the three. "Find them, you useless garbage!" She shouted in anger. The demons and everyone under her influence scattered all over the castle to find the three as per her command.

 

Upon arriving on the rooftop, Rein immediately encased Princess Laira’s lower half body in ice magic to restrict her movement, as she was still under Luz’s influence.

 

Queen Allura fell to the ground, having lost a lot of blood from Luz’s stab. She managed to stop the bleeding by freezing the wound, but it was only a temporary solution.

 

Naia came out of her heart to try and help her Queen, but it was no use. They couldn’t transform into their Awakened State because Queen Allura needed to be in top shape in both mind and body, and right now, her heart was wavering, and her body was deeply wounded.

 

Huff Huff

 

“Rein, I’m sorry for putting so many responsibilities on you even though you’re still so young. I know you’ve already saved my home and my people, but I’m asking you to save everyone once again. You’re my only hope right now,” Queen Allura pleaded.

 

Rein felt happy being depended on, but this time, she wasn’t sure if she was actually up for the job. “I… I don’t think I can do it all alone, Queen Allura. There’s just too many enemies this time.”

 

“You’re a smart kid, Rein. I know you’ll figure something out. I’ve already taught you everything there is to know about magic. You can do it, my apprentice, you just have to believe in yourself,” Queen Allura assured her.

 

While the two were conversing, Princess Laira, still under Luz’s influence, interrupted them. “Let me go this instant! I need to go back and help Luz, or she won’t love me anymore!” She shouted, struggling to break free of the ice.

 

After hearing her, a bright idea popped into Rein’s head. “That’s it! Maybe I don’t have to do it alone. Maybe with Princess Laira’s help, it might be possible!” She realized.

 

“But how? Maybe you forgot, but she’s currently under the enemy’s control,” Naia reminded her.

 

“Luz said earlier that love conquers all and that she opened everyone’s mind by showing them the truth. Maybe I can rewrite Luz’s influence if I showed Princess Laira the truth as well… by fighting love with love,” Rein theorized.

 

“What are you getting at?” Queen Allura asked.

 

Rein didn’t utter a single word and showed it through action. She approached Princess Laira, dispelled the ice, and grabbed her hand.

 

“W-what are you doing? L-let me go! The one that I love is Luz, and she needs me right now!” Princess Laira shouted.

 

“What she showed you is a fake love, so please, allow me to show you what real love truly is,” Rein said. Without hesitation, she kissed Princess Laira on the lips.

 

Queen Allura was shocked by Rein’s action but didn't mind it.

 

Rein knew her intention was genuine and true, but she wasn’t sure if it would work. Thankfully, luck was on their side, and her theory was correct. Moments after the kiss, Luz’s influence on Princess Laira was lifted. Her glowing heart-shaped eyes disappeared, and she finally went back to normal.

 

“Phew, I’m glad that worked.” Rein sighed in relief. “Teehee… Welcome back,” she followed up.

 

Princess Laira couldn’t remember anything that happened, except the kiss. 

“R-R-R-R-Reeeeeiinnnnn???? W-what was that?” She shouted in shock, her face so red that smoke was literally coming out of her ears due to embarrassment and fluster.

 

“I’m sorry, it’s the only way I could think of to bring you back, and I’m glad that it worked,” Rein responded.

 

Princess Laira’s shock was immediately replaced with worry after seeing Queen Allura wounded on the ground. She quickly rushed to her side. “M-mother, are you okay? Who could’ve done this to you?” She worriedly asked.

 

"I'll be okay, Laira. For now, I need you to focus and listen to me. Rein needs your help in saving our home from the demons that invaded us. Your people need you, I need you," Queen Allura requested, speaking from the heart.

 

Princess Laira felt happy that her mother was finally depending on her, but she was confused. "M-me? Free our people? But I don't even know how to fight!" She doubted.

 

“I’ll do the fighting. What we need is your voice to win this battle. We need you to sing,” Rein chimed in.

 

“S-sing? Are you out of your mind?” Princess Laira asked.

 

“Your voice is the key to winning this battle. Right now, everyone is under a powerful demon's control, and only you can free them from her influence. I promise to protect you no matter what. All you have to do is trust me and sing from the bottom of your heart,” Rein reassured.

 

“B-but what if it doesn’t work?” Princess Laira said in an unsure tone.

 

Rein held her hand and looked her in the eye to assure her. “I’m sure it will. Do you remember when I was struggling to analyze the magic composition of the water dome before? I was on the verge of giving up that time, but somehow, hearing you sing brought me back to my senses. My eyes never deceive me. That day, my eyes showed me that your voice was not only magical, it was magic itself.”

 

Hearing Rein’s encouragement sparked her confidence and gave her the push she needed to believe in herself. “Okay! Let’s do it! I’ll give it my all so let’s go and save everyone!” She cheerfully agreed.

 

“Girls, please be careful. Make sure you both come back in one piece,” Queen Allura said, worried.

 

“We’ll be back in no time,” the two responded in unison.

 

Princess Laira and Rein proceeded with their plan and went back inside the throne room for a final confrontation with Luz.

 

Luz was getting impatient, pacing and chewing on her nails. She was about to burst out in anger when Rein finally showed up. She was expecting Queen Allura and was disappointed when it was Rein instead.

 

“You! You’re not the Chosen One! I don’t have business with a nobody like you!” Luz shouted angrily.

 

“I might not be the Chosen One, but I’m still her apprentice, and I’m more than enough to take you down,” Rein responded with determination.

 

With the solar eclipse just around the corner, she attacked Luz with a barrage of Aqua Bullets. Unfortunately, Luz had anticipated their return and left two demons behind to protect her. The demons defended Luz with their bodies, taking Rein’s spell head-on.

 

“Ha! You think I’ll leave myself alone and vulnerable? Not a chance!” Luz bragged. She shouted and called for help. “Everyone! Come back and protect me from this crazy girl!” She commanded.

 

Without delay, all the demons and everyone under her influence arrived back in the throne room and surrounded Rein with malicious intent.

 

“Who’s the cornered rat now?” Luz said menacingly. She expected Rein to fall into despair, but instead, Rein was smiling, her eyes shining bright with hope.

 

Luz didn't know that Rein wanted her to gather all their allies in one place for her plan to work.

 

“Your turn princess,” Rein said. She then revealed Princess Laira was beside her all this time by dispelling her Mirror Mirage magic that she used to hide her presence.

 

“I-I’ll try my best!” Princess Laira responded.

 

Luz was shocked to see Princess Laira freed from her control. “I-Impossible! How did you break out of my ability?!?” She shouted in disbelief.

 

“A demon like you who doesn’t know what love truly is will never understand,” Princess Laira responded with fierce determination.

 

She put her hands together, closed her eyes, and breathed as deeply as she could. The moment she reopened her eyes, she put all her heart and soul into singing with the most beautiful and mesmerizing voice anyone had ever heard. Her voice echoed all over the room like a calming lullaby, putting everyone at ease.

 

Her performance was magical, a showcase of pure, raw talent without any accompaniment. Everyone who listened was put into a trance. Not even the demons could escape the magic of her voice.

 

Luz was also enthralled but managed to snap out of it immediately due to the intense anger she was feeling. “W-what are you all just standing there?!? Stop her at once!”

 

The demons managed to snap out of the trance and followed her command.

 

Rein used everything in her arsenal to protect Princess Laira and prevent the demons from interrupting her performance.

 

It didn't take long. The moment Princess Laira’s magical performance ended, all the allies who listened to her voice finally snapped out of Luz’s control. Their glowing heart-shaped eyes disappeared, and their real feelings and emotions returned.

 

Luz was in total shock, kneeling on the ground in disbelief that her ability was so easily overturned.

 

Their allies couldn’t remember anything but trusted Rein and Princess Laira instantly. Seeing the demons around them, they immediately knew what they had to do and went back to fending them off and pushing them out of Lazuli.

 

Now that their allies were back on their side, no one stood in Rein’s way of defeating Luz. Rein approached Luz slowly, ready to cast a spell.

 

Luz was so scared she started stuttering. “D-don’t come any closer!” She shouted, pointing the cursed dagger she was holding directly at Rein’s throat.

 

“It’s over. No one’s left to protect you anymore,” Rein said. “Tell me where the portal’s energy source is this instant, and I might go easy with my punishment,” she followed.

 

“You won’t get anything out from me, and if you touch even a single strand of my hair, I’m going to hunt your family down, control them, and have each of them fight each other until there’s nothing left of them!” Luz threatened.

 

Instead of fear, Rein was filled with uncontrollable rage. For the first time, she lost control. “You can hurt me any way you want or say anything bad about me, I can take all of it… but I won’t forgive anyone who thinks ill of my family! Don’t you ever… ever threaten my family again!” She angrily said.

 

Before she knew it, she was gathering so much mana, preparing to cast her ultimate magic. Her magic usually takes the form of a magnificent dove that signifies freedom, but because of the intense emotion she was feeling, the form of her ultimate magic changed into a dark and ominous raven.

 

The moment Luz witnessed her ultimate magic, pure fear was all she felt, causing her to panic and pass out.

 

Rein’s mind was clouded with hatred, and she was about to release her ultimate magic without regard for her surroundings or allies, which would destroy the entire castle. Thankfully, Queen Allura recovered in time and arrived at the right moment to stop her. She grabbed Rein’s hand and calmed her down. “It's okay now, Rein. The enemy has already passed out. You have nothing to worry about anymore.”

 

Hearing Queen Allura brought Rein back to her senses. She was overcome with guilt and regret. “I-I’m sorry, I… I lost control,” she said. Tears ran down her face, and her knees gave out from exhaustion.

 

Princess Laira rushed to her side to hug and comfort her. “It’s okay to feel angry sometimes. It just proves that you’re human.”

 

Rein couldn’t help but break down. “I… I just miss my family so much. I don’t know what I’ll do if I never meet them again.”

 

“Don’t worry, I’m sure they’re doing okay, and that you’ll meet them again. For now, we just need to survive long enough so we can make it to the future,” Queen Allura assured.

 

Even with Luz defeated, the battle wasn't over. They had to keep fighting despite the exhaustion and injuries. Swarms of demons were still pouring out of the portal, and unfortunately, they never learned the location of the portal’s energy source after Luz passed out.

 

A few more minutes left before the inevitable solar eclipse.