(A few days pass since Mason and Kate have recovered Dante from Lexington City. Today, Kate is in her lab with her assistant Alexia, prepping for a full-body examination of Dante in his current weakened state.)
Alexia: So this is your other son, Dante. May I ask what happened to him?
Kate: That's what I intend to found out after I restore him.
Alexia: Restore him? But isn't he The Bloody Crow? Why would you heal him?
Kate: Look at him, Alexia. Do you hear his irregular breathing?
Alexia: I do.
Kate: The magic in which he was struck by has put him in a constant state of agony and suffering. On top of that, his body was already weakening from a sudden release of corrupted sorcery. To put it plainly, if I don't help him he will succumb to his injuries and I cannot have that.
Alexia: I understand. Tell me, what do you need to do?
Kate: First we need to calm his mind and body. We will need some ashwagandha and some lavender.
Alexia: On it. I will return shortly.
(As Alexia leaves to retrieve the herbs needed, Mason enters her lab and his shocked to see Dante there laying on a table.)
Mason: I thought we had an agreement? Why is he here and not in the tower you placed him in? Wasn't that the entire point of putting up magic barriers and having guards patrol it?
Kate: For once in your life, Mason, can you control your anger? I brought him here because here I can run a full test on him and extract the magic that's causing his current unending suffering.
Mason: You plan to heal this monster? Are you mad?!? We shouldn't be trying to help ease his pain! He isn't your beloved son anymore, Kate. He's a prisoner awaiting judgment.
(As Mason says this, Kate's mystical red aura starts to flare up.)
Kate: Enough! I think I've heard just enough from you. Are so blinded by your ignorant rage that you do not see the greater purpose of restoring him? In the seven years that I believed him to be gone, he has traversed the land. He has grown in skill despite not having access to an ounce of his born giving abilities. And in light of that, being under Lenneth's tutelage, Dante probably has had access to many great things that we as an entire region haven't! The person who did this to him is powerful. You heard Mori's explanation of the events he witnessed. Whoever this man is, we cannot pass up on the fact that he defeated Dante with a single blow. So if Dante knows who he is or even knows of what he is planning, don't you think it would benefit all of us if he were able to inform us, Mason?
(After hearing this, Mason is taking aback by Kate's words.)
Mason: My apologies, Kate. I didn't mean to anger you. I understand where you're coming from, but have you ever given thought that he won't feel so inclined to tell us what he knows, let alone anything at all?
Kate: He will.
Mason: And how do you know?
Kate: Because he won't be interrogated and treated like a criminal by you. Now if you will, please go. The spell I'm about to perform requires all of my focus and you being here is not good for that.
Mason: Of course my Queen. Best of luck with your spell.
(As Mason leaves, Alexia returns with the herbs. Once there, she feels the remnants of the tension between Kate and Mason.)
Alexia: Is everything okay, Lady Kate?
Kate: Yes everything is fine. If you would grind those herbs in my mixing bowl and bring it to me.
(Once Alexia does this, she brings the bowl over to Kate who dips both of her middle and index fingers into the herb paste and rubs it on both sides of Dante's temple. After a few moments, his erratic breathing stops as his body begins to calm itself and relax.)
Alexia: Wow it worked. What's next?
Kate: I'm afraid this part is all me. Take a few steps back.
Alexia: Okay.
(As Alexia moves towards a wall, Kate starts to flow as she begins to chant the spell.)
Kate: Corrupta tenebris expellere malum vobis notum fervidum!
(As she repeats this, the large black mark left on Dante's shoulder suddenly starts to divide and out from within, strains of magic start to show. Once this happens, Kate walks over to Dante and begins to take a closer look while slowly and carefully pulling the strings of magic all throughout Dante's left shoulder. Meanwhile, hours later, deep within the Owl Forest, Azura, accompanied by Vincent and Tana arrives at a secret base and greeted by some workers.)
Worker: You must be Azura. Please follow me. Our master is awaiting your arrival.
(As they follow the worker, they can't help to notice all of the people working as if they are all slaves.)
Vincent: Just what is going on here? This doesn't look like your average hideout.
Tana: Doesn't it though? You tell me what ruler has an empire and don't have slave workers.
Azura: Tana is right. Every ruler has those who will work willingly as that is all they desire. Sure a great deal are forced, but then on the other side of the coin, this is the only way they can provide for those they care about. It's the same with Ragnarock, although I do force those who do not want it.
Tana: Tell me, sister. Can we trust these new allies?
Azura: I trust that they will give us aid in the battles that have yet to come. Other than that, the only people I trust are Ragnarock.
(As Azura says a man with long black hair and grey skin approaches them.)
Galan: That's a wise choice, Lady Azura. If I were you, I probably wouldn't trust myself as far as you could possibly throw me. And judging by how strong you are I assume you could send me flying for miles.
Azura: Galan I presume?
Galan: Correct. It's a pleasure to meet someone of your stature. When our friend told me that you'd be joining our cause, I was suddenly filled with excitement! You see, I'm very interested in seeing that mighty Azura in action and now thanks to Mikael's unique ability to formulate words, here you are.
Azura: Enough of your flattery. Mikael said you'd have something that could help in taking down the Grand Cities.
Galan: Indeed I do.
(Just as Galan says this, he snaps his fingers and suddenly out of nowhere a briefcase appears before them. As he opens it, six black gauntlets, each with a different color stone in the middle, lie within.)
Galan: As you all can see, each one of these gauntlets possesses a rare stone. Depending on which Grand City each of you decides to attack, the stone holds the magic to render said cities most powerful defenses completely and utterly useless. All you have to do and remove the stone and crush it within your hand. The essence of it will spread and everyone who breathes it in excluding the caster, of course, will be severely weakened if not dead depending on strong they are.
Tana: Will you be joining us on this task?
Galan: Oh an invitation? Why yes I would love to accompany you, young lady.
Tana: No thanks. I think I can handle it on my own. I meant in general.
Galan: Well I am providing something am I not? And besides this is only phase one. If anything, this is the easy part. Marching on the Lockheart Kingdom will be most difficult with Queen being as powerful as she is.
Tana: You've got to be kidding me right? She's nothing. She can't be as strong as you say and definitely not at her age. Just what can she possibly do against all of us?
Galan: You mean besides kill you in an infinite amount of ways? I don't know. Nothing comes to mind at the moment.
Azura: Silence Tana. From what you've just said, you clearly don't know what you're talking about or who we are going to be dealing with.
Galan: You'd be wise to listen to your leader. The Scarlet Sorceress is no laughing matter. Given the proper motivation, she could destroy the entire planet if she really put her mind into it. She's the most feared in all of Ataria. And let's not forget about her husband the King and their offspring Prince Stephen. Individually they can hold their own, but together they are a force to be reckoned with. It is because of that retrieving these artifacts are so important.
Vincent: And just what do these artifacts do?
Galan: Well by themselves absolutely nothing, but together they form a the perfect cube.
Azura: Wait a second. You mean "The Perfect Cube"?
Galan: The very same.
Azura: This just got way more interesting. Vincent, take the briefcase. We'll be taking our leave, Galan. Thank you for your assistance.
Galan: Any time. We'll be seeing each other sooner rather than later. Best of luck obtaining the artifacts.
(As Galan says this, they leave. Back over in Kate's lab, she has almost removed eighty percent of the magic within Dante's shoulder. As she continues on with her task. She takes the magic she's extracted and puts it within multiple bubbles above her, collecting as much of it as she can. After a quick break, she gets back to work. As this happens though, Stephen enters her lab with food.)
Stephen: Hello mother. I noticed that you were still down here working so I decided to bring you some dinner.
Kate: Thank you, Stephen.
Stephen: Where's your assistant?
Kate: I send her home earlier.
Stephen: So how is it going so far? You've been going at it all day. And I see that you've extracted a lot of that black magic.
Kate: Yes. So much magic was put into that attack Dante suffered and something tells me that the caster barely put any real effort into his attack.
Stephen: You think so?
Kate: Yes I do. Judging just by how potent these strains of magic are, if the caster were to have used any of his real power, Dante would've killed on the spot.
Stephen: He's that strong?
Kate: Possibly even stronger if I'm honest. It is because of that, that I'm taking liberty with the magic that I've been able to take. I plan on creating a weapon from it. Something that should create the same effect as the attack he used against Dante. Although it'll probably take some time. Nevertheless, I will get it done. I must if I want to protect our Kingdom.
Stephen: You think whoever did this, will come here?
Kate: I don't see why he wouldn't.
Stephen: I see. I think in the meantime I start training again. If this new potential threat is as strong as you say, then there is no reason why I shouldn't be preparing myself for the inevitable battle.
(As Stephen says this, Kate extracts the last strain of magic.)
Kate: There. It's done. Within a few more days, he should come to.
Stephen: Can't you heal him?
Kate: I cannot. Given the magical operation I just did on top of there still being some other mystical force within him, I can't. His body needs a break from magic for a little while.
(As Kate says this, she and Stephen both just look at Dante as he lays there unconscious.)
Stephen: Do you truly think he will help us? After everything that's happened between us? He probably still holds a grudge against us for what happened.
Kate: I don't know for sure, Stephen. All I can do is hope that he does. Now then, I'm going to bring him back to the tower.