(Up in the tower, Dante slowly begins to regain consciousness since suffering a near-death attack from Mikael. Just before he starts to awake, he suddenly finds himself standing alongside the street. He is soon greeted by a man wearing a black suit and long black hair with a bit of a purple tint to it.)
Dante: What is this place?
Karasu: Why this is a figment of your imagination. We are within your consciousness currently, Dante. While in your current state you wouldn't be able to conjure this up as I doubt you've learned the skill. And in case if you may have forgotten, our minds are linked so it pretty easy for me to do this.
Dante: Would you mind explaining just how linked our minds are? You can read my thoughts, right?
Karasu: Correct.
Dante: So if that's the case I'm assuming I can't read yours.
Karasu: You cannot. As I aforementioned earlier, you lack the wisdom to do so. As you are now, you are not ready to have that kind of access to my knowledge.
Dante: What? You don't trust me?
Karasu: While you do have potential Dante, I do not yet think you are mature enough to have that kind of access to my knowledge. Currently, I believe that you are at a standstill. You're still deciding on which path to pursue.
Dante: A simple "no" would've sufficed.
Karasu: No it wouldn't have.
Dante: And how do you know?
Karasu: Because you wanted the long answer. You are a person who likes the truth, ambiguous and the like.
Dante: Tell me something. Since we're bonded together, when that spell fights it's way in my head, do you feel that as well?
Karasu: I do. With our minds together comes my mental protection. However, I wouldn't have expected that spell to be that dominant. I'm afraid when you were going through that ordeal, I collapsed from its force.
Dante: Yeah...Whatever magic they were manipulating is definitely something you do not want to go up against. I hope Lenneth was right when she said they preferred secrecy. Speaking of which, have you told Lenneth and Kitara what we've learned?
Karasu: I have.
Dante: Good.
Karasu: Would you like me to relay a message to them?
Dante: Actually yes. Tell them to not worry about me at the moment.
Karasu: And what about Mikael?
Dante: Nothing. Let's let him continue on with his plan. When the time comes for him to approach the Lockheart Kingdom, only then will we strike.
Karasu: Very well then. I await our reunion, Dante.
Dante: Wait. I have one last question. Given our bond, you said that I will gain more abilities. So my question is, have I already gained some without knowing?
Karasu: That's the thing, we don't truly know until we try. Best of luck Dante.
(As Karasu says this, he snaps his fingers and suddenly Dante wakes up in his cell. He immediately notices the magic cube that Kate placed him in and magic imbued chains on his hands and feet. As he sits up and looks around, he sees a window within his cell. While this is happening, the guards on the lower level begin to realize that Dante has woken up and one of them goes to alert the King and Queen. After a few moments, Mason and Kate arrive in front of Dante's cell only to see him sitting with his legs crossed, eyes closed and back facing them.)
Dante: Well well...If this isn't a treat? The King and Queen gracing me with their presence.
Mason: Cut the shit, Dante. I've heard enough of it to last a lifetime.
Kate: If you will indulge us for a moment, there are some things we'd like to ask.
Dante: Yes, but before I answer them, I too have some questions that require answers.
Mason: You must be out of your mind if you think you have any say in anything!
Dante: Oh? Then I guess we're done here.
Mason: Why you! You will talk or else!
(As Mason says this, Dante doesn't budge as he sits there in silence which in turns angers Mason even more.)
Kate: Let's go, Mason. We'll pick this up later, Dante.
Dante: Very well, mother. I look forward to our talk. And do leave your boiling little teapot at home. It's very distracting let alone disturbing.
Mason: Tch!
Kate: I'll have someone bring up some food for you.
Dante: Good, I beginning to believe you were going to starve me.
(As Dante says this, Mason and Kate leaves. Once they are gone, a random crow flies towards Dante's window and sits on the ledge.)
Dante: Come. (He says as he reaches out his arm and to his surprise, the crow comes and lands on his arm.) Excellent. I've got a task you, little crow.
(Dante starts to grin as he begins to create a plan of his own. While this happens, elsewhere far up north in a snowy forest, a man with a small pair of binoculars. He takes a knee as he begins to look out of them, overlooking a village. Over in the left part of the village, he sees a group of people training in swordplay and in the far right another group practicing on their cryomancy. While he continues to observe the villagers, another man with very pale skin and black hair walks up. He lifts his dagger as he begins to clean it with a piece of cloth.)
Kai: So brother, will they be a problem?
Rai: No I do not think so. If we fire off our attacks where I plan them and we will more than likely kill everyone there.
Kai: So are there no threats? Nobody down looks like they'll put up a fight?
Rai: Some are a bit stronger, but aren't really significant. If any of them do manage to survive the initial strike, one blow will be overkill. And besides, killing everyone isn't our mission. Stealing their clan's medallion is the main objective.
Kai: Aw come on? Don't you want to have fun with the locals? Their village can do with new decor.
Rai: While the idea of filling the streets with their entrails and coloring their entire home with blood sounds very enticing, we must not waste any valuable time. The master needs us back soon. Sounds like things are starting to roll.
Kai: Very well. Then let's get this over with.
Rai: No, not yet. At nightfall, we strike.
Kai: Just because your the tactician, doesn't mean that you have follow the rules always, Rai.
Rai: I'm simply taking precautions. Trust me, walking through the flames of this village under the moonlight will make for a dramatic scene. And if there are any survivors, feel free to what you will with them.
(As Rai says this, Kai begins to smile in anticipation of the night's event. Back over by the Lockheart Kingdom, Stephen's sparring match with Ken is broken up when one of Ken's clansmen comes and informs Stephen of something strange within one of the lower sectors of the kingdom. Ken offers to join Stephen, but he declines and leaves immediately. Once in the sector, Stephen walks through the streets in search of something but has no luck. He later finds himself in a dead-end where only an old and broken down house remains. The doors and windows are all boarded up and the paint on the house has long faded away.)
Stephen: Out of everything I've seen so far, this place definitely has a strange aura to it. This must be this place.
(As he approaches the abandoned house, before entering he walks around it and examines the house. After this, he enters the home and looks around. The floorboards start to creak as Stephen walks around the home.)
Stephen: I think it's safe to say that I'm glad this place is empty.
(Just as Stephen says this, he is immediately swarmed by a large group of people in masks and cloaks. After this in the Royal City, a few hours pass as Kate makes her way back to the tower where Dante is being held. Once she reaches the top, she sees Dante standing with his hands behind his back looking at the wall.)
Kate: You're still up? I would've assumed that you'd be asleep by now.
Dante: I've been doing a lot of resting over the last few years, I prefer to be wide awake now.
Kate: It's been quite a few years for you, haven't they?
Dante: Indeed so. You nor anyone, except for one, have an inkling of what I've been through and what I've done over the years. Nevertheless, I gather that won't stop you from making assumptions.
Kate: That's the thing, Dante. I don't want to make assumptions, I just want to know the truth. Tell me your side of the story.
(Upon hearing this, Dante turns around and walks as far as his chains allow him towards his mother.)
Dante: Don't you dare patronize me. Just what game are you playing mother?
Kate: No games. I am here as your mother, not as your judge and definitely not as your executioner.
Dante: It's funny that you say that because as I recall, you did nothing to stop Mason from killing me. And it is by your lack of action, you too along with Mason are guilty.
Kate: You're right. You're right about everything you said, but do you not see that I've been nothing short of kind and gentle towards you since knowing that you were alive?
Dante: Stop...Just stop it! I do not buy your loving mother act! It is a trick! It has to be and I will not be played a fool!
Kate: Dante...
Dante: Just what have I done to garner this pathetic attempt of kindness and compassion from you?!?
(As Dante says this, Kate waves her hand and suddenly her magic cube fades and teleports into Dante's cell. As she walks towards him, Dante slowly walks back. Once his back is near the wall, Kate first looks into her son's eyes as she places her hands on his shoulders, then following that up with a hug. While she hugs him, she begins to whisper something in Dante's ear.)
Kate: You asked what you did to deserve this. It's very simple really...You came back to me, Dante.
(As Kate says this, elsewhere Kai and his brother Rai readies their men in preparation for their attack.)
Rai: Is everyone in place?
Kai: There are.
Rai: Then on my mark.
(As Rai says this, he raises his hand.)
Rai: Fire!
(As Rai gives the order, several gigantic fireball shoot up into the sky and immediately crash down onto the Uesugi Village. Moments after this, Rai & Kai take a moment to hears the screams of the villagers as their home burns in flames.)
Rai: I'll go retrieve the medallion. Have fun with the stragglers, Kai.
Kai: Oh I will.
(As Kai says this, he hops off the ridge into the village.)
Rai: Such an animal, my brother. At least he's having fun.
(Rai jumps off and heads towards the sanctuary in the center of the village.)