The birds were chirping as Naruto, Clema, and Soria walked on the gravel path with their backpacks. It was a sunny day, and the temperature was nice.

“It’s such a nice day.” Soria said raising her arms in the air, stretching them.

“You got that right.” Naruto said smiling.

Clema merely smiled. “We should make it to Limestone tomorrow morning.”

“That’s good.” Naruto said.

Clema suddenly stopped and looked at Soria. “I need to speak to you, in private.”

Soria froze and Naruto put on a blank face. “Uh ok, I’ll be over here.”

Naruto walked away from the two girls. Clema displayed a serious face.

“You and Naruto will go to Limestone.” Clema whispered so Naruto could not here.

“No.” Soria responded. “I will not let you go to the forest.”

“It’s not your business.” Clema said raising her voice.

“It is.” Soria said. “Clema, I knew that you would try this, but I won’t let you.”

Clema sighed. “You don’t have a choice.”

“Come on!” Naruto yelled. “We have to keep moving if we want to make it to Limestone by tomorrow!”

Clema looked at Soria. “Look, just go to Limestone with Naruto, get the medicine, and meet me on the way back. I’ll be fine.”

Soria started to walk towards Naruto. When she passed Clema, she said sternly “No.”

Clema clenched her fists, but started to follow them.

“Too bad there wasn’t a way to kill The Master without destroying The Meeting Hall.” Rose said in her smooth voice. She was at her house with Laura, packing things into boxes.

“Where are they moving you?” Laura asked concerned.

“A huge building by the Execution Grounds. The Royal Estate they call it.” Rose answered moving a box toward the door.

“I think I know that building.” Laura said. “So that’s the new Meeting Hall.”

“Yes.” Rose said placing the box down. “That’s where I will be living.”

Laura grinned. “The Royal Estate of Master Rose.”

Rose also grinned. “Has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?”

There was a knock at the door. Laura sighed and walked over to answer it. When she did, Mosabi appeared with a serious face.

“Hello Captain Mosabi!” Laura said smiling.

“Hello Assistant Captain Laura.” Mosabi answered. “I have some information for Master Rose.”

Rose heard this and went over to them. She smiled. “Hello.”

“I have to report that most of the debris from The Meeting Hall is cleared.” Mosabi began looking at the boxes.

Rose looked at him. “Very well.”

“Also,” Mosabi said looking at her directly in her eyes. “We found blood-stained clothing of The Master… but no body.”

Rose frowned. Laura froze.

“So he may be alive still.” Mosabi concluded.

There was a moment of silence as Rose stared in Mosabi’s eyes. She sighed. “I see.”

“A chance that The Master is alive?!” Laura said suddenly. “This is most fortunate!”

Mosabi smiled. “Yeah.”

“That is all. Tell Karin I say hello.” Rose said quietly.

Mosabi smiled and walked away.

“This is not good.” Laura said when he was out of sight. “That fool can’t be alive after my explosion, can he?”

“I don’t know.” Rose answered sternly. “But something isn’t right.”

“What do you mean?” Laura asked with a blank face.

“Captain Mosabi.” Rose said crossing her arms. “I think he knows something.”

Rose walked back into the house, starting to move boxes around again. Laura sighed and started to help.

Soria, Clema, and Naruto came to a division on their path. On the left side, the gravel path continued, on the right side, there was a vision of a forest ahead.

They stopped at the division. Clema stared at the right path, the wind moving her hair.

“So we take the left?” Naruto asked them. There was silence.

“Yes, we do.” Soria answered. “We all do.”

Clema looked at her and sighed. “Left it is.”

They started to walk on the left path. As they did, Soria had an uneasy feeling. “Why didn’t you go, Clema?”