Tristen smiled and said in a reassuring tone, "I don't think so. This doesn't really change anything, does it? After all, we still have to get your sister out of here. But before I do that..." Tristen looked at Ai and continued, "Why does Lord Shade need you?"
Ai had a hesitant expression hearing that question and looked at her little brother.
The little king sighed and said as he held Ai's hand, "It's alright. We can tell them. They are the only ones ready to help us now."
Ai softly nodded, and the little king looked at Tristen as he said in a pained tone, "He needs my sister's ethereal cores. He said that since she is anyway going to die, he wants it before she dies. That is why my sister has been holding herself hostage by threatening to puncture her own ethereal core if he comes near her. Otherwise, god knows what would have happened."
