The Author's POV

Late at night.

The sun had already begun to set, and slowly darkness enveloped the city of Issanor.

Following Ren's match, Jin and Amanda also went next. After a long and arduous fight, the both of them were able to come out on top and thus make it to the rounds of eight. This may have been something noteworthy in the past, but Ren's actions had completely overshadowed their achievements. The same could be said for the other contestants as well.

Not that Amanda cared as after winning her round, the first thing she did was change her clothes into more comfortable ones. Following this, she was led by an elf toward a restricted area in Issanor.

As she had already been to the place before, Amanda was already quite familiar with where she needed to go, and before long, stopping in front of a familiar tree, the elven guard she came with placed their hand on the tree causing it to move upwards and revealing a familiar entrance.

Rumble—!

Giving a polite nod to the guard, Amanda entered the place. Through her memories, she navigated the place and paused before a certain room.

Raising her hand, she knocked on the door.

To Tok—

"Come in."

A smooth and pleasant voice spoke up as soon as Amanda knocked on the door.

Getting confirmation from the queen, Amanda entered the room where the first thing she saw was the elven queen standing beside the capsule her mother was resting in.

With her hand over the capsule, the queen stared at Amanda's mother with sadness in her eyes.

Then, turning her head to look at Amanda, she smiled.

"You're finally here."

"Mhm."

Amanda nodded; she was still a little bit reserved with the queen as she had not known her for long, however, from the way she was treating her mother, Amanda knew that she truly cared for her.

Unaware of what Amanda was thinking, the smile on the queen's face deepened as she raised her hand and revealed a familiar-looking fruit. With doubt on her face, she looked at Amanda.

"I've checked out the fruit that you've given me. I can't really tell if it will work or not, but are you sure that the individual that has given you this is trustworthy?"

"He is."

Amanda firmly nodded her head. Not for one second did she believe that Ren would try to lie to her about the fruit.

Seeing the resolute look on Amanda's face, the queen sighed before softly mumbling.

"I see."

Honestly, despite Amanda's confirmation, she was still on the fence about the fruit.

The moment Amanda explained to her how she got the fruit, and who gave it to her, the queen quickly had her servants do a background check on Ren.

too important for her

him, from what he had achieved back on earth to even his exploit in Henlour. They had left nothing behind. There was even a report about him passing through their borders a year

she saw his exploits, however, that still posed a

his hands on a fruit that in no way shape or form the dwarves could've ever had nor could

wondered, but she quickly shook her head. It didn't really matter if

this state for over

sort of preparations are needed for the fruit?" The queen asked Amanda, who nodded her head in

he said that squeezing the fruit and extracting the juice

"Okay."

glow slowly enveloped the queen's hand as she twisted her fingers

from the fruit as elven queen completely crushed

the ground, twisting her fingers in a circular motion the juices came to a stop. Then, bending her fingers in her

she was done extracting all of the liquid from the fruit, the elven queen motioned with her fingers and the ball in front

as the queen controlled the juices with her extreme control over psyons. Pointing towards Natasha who was laying down on the capsule, the liquid slowly seeped through the small hole at the top of the capsule before making its

liquid stopped before her, the queen turned

"Open her mouth please."

"Okay."

queen's orders, Amanda walked up to her mother and pressed her thumb underneath her chin. Applying a little bit of pressure, she slowly opened her mouth and the liquid the queen

liquid to completely enter Natasha's body, and once it did, Amanda finally let go

eyes were also filled with hope. She wanted nothing more

One second.

Two seconds.

Three seconds.

to tick away, and it wasn't before

"Did it not work?"

flashed across the faces of both Amanda and the queen as the two of them had a hard time

minutes had passed, Ren had previously mentioned that the curse would break as soon as the liquid was ingested, and ever since giving her mother the fruit, she had not once shown signs

Twitch.

all hope was lost, Natasha's

"!"

up the twitch, and when

Twitch. Twitch.

twitch, Natasha's eye once again twitched and her pale complexion slowly turned rosier. It wasn't before long that Natasha's complexion returned to a healthy young glow, raising hope for both Amanda

Twitch. Twitch.

finally opened her eyes revealing her beautiful obsidian black eyes that seemed to suck the soul away of anyone that was looking at

her eyes, she had to squeeze her eyes multiple times to get adjusted to the bright lights coming

"...Where am I?"

***

didn't think this through

be honest, despite having made so many preparations, I still felt the threat

a couple of advanced potions I had prepared in advance, there were also a few powerful pain killers. The hope was so that they could help me endure the pain more easily, but

contract would directly eat at my soul, and so this was not something any potion or pain killer could

was worth a try. Perhaps I would be left pleasantly

turned to ask Angelica who was standing

"Are you ready?"

only one that needed to make preparations.