The most crucial moment of the whole war had come.
With the enemy closing in on the Snow White Wolves' fortress, whatever Melissa had planned, it would be her last play if it didn't work out.
While the girls were doubtful that victory was still possible, they remained on high alert back on Earth, ready to join me the second I called them.
Everyone around me believed that trying to assassinate the Second Prince of Hamperlon or the Seven Rainbow Miracles would only lead to my death.
But without another strategy, I only had two options left: Abandon the war entirely or believe Melissa could still turn it around.
Having chosen the latter, I left the Kingdom to meet Melissa.
But as the grassfields vanished from my sight, instead of the Wolves' Chieftainess, the one waiting for me was her daughter.
Mia: "I'm gonna call her."
Her eyes widened for a brief second when I appeared in thin air, but she didn't extend a greeting or even a snarky comment. Instead, she turned her back and dashed upstairs.
As fast as she was, for a brief second, I caught a glimpse of her trembling hands.
I couldn't tell whether this was because she knew what Melissa had planned, or because she, too, was in the dark about everything.
Though from the little I knew about Mia, she'd believe her mother no matter what, so Melissa probably didn't need to share anything with her...
As I sat in the prison cell, I could hear hundreds of spells crashing around.
If I were to concentrate a little, I could even distinguish the different volleys, even though everything, from the water splashes to the rolling thunder, was deafeningly loud.
No wonder Mia was so nervous.
This was their last bastion, and from the sound alone, it wouldn't stand for long.
It was strange. In such an urgent moment, time felt almost frozen.
Even though Melissa arrived incredibly quickly, it still felt like ages.
Seeing her face, not looking much better than Mia's, I could barely stop my own anxiety from showing.
Miwen: "So, what do you need me to do, Melissa?"
I still had no idea what she had on her mind.
All I knew was that Melissa was smart enough to realize her situation, and that she wasn't the kind of leader who'd run from a fight.
However, there was no time left for hesitation.
Whether the girls or I were right, the curtains were finally about to rise and reveal the truth.
Melissa: "I'll need your Gift. Please, register Mia and me as your citizens."
I wanted to ask her how turning Mia and her into citizens helped with anything, but the circumstances being what they were, I couldn't afford to waste a single second.
Still, while doing as she asked, my mind naturally began working on the issue.
Maybe she wanted me to share her skills with Mia, strengthening her so they could take on a General or a Prince?
But I'd need a couple of days to duplicate all of Melissa's skills, even with the two registered as citizens.
Even then, Mia's level was still too low...
Furthermore, even in the best-case scenario, would that even change anything?
Maybe before Hamperlon disembarked, but now...
I took a deep breath, calming down my beating heart.
Claire was right. I had done everything I could given my position and my level.
Melissa was the only one who could save her tribe.
All I could do was offer her my help.
Miwen: "There you go."
Melissa: "Let us enter the Kingdom, then. Mia, we're teleporting to a new land, alright?"
For a moment, Melissa seemed to recover her composure.
Mia, on the other hand, seemed more confused than ever.
Mia: "...Alright."
My mind was suddenly flooded with warnings of new buildings available, but after closing them all, I accepted Mia and Melissa's request to enter the Kingdom.
Miwen: "So, here we are now, Melissa. What do we do?"
Mia's eyes darted around, searching for an enemy that didn't exist.
But once Melissa landed a hand on her shoulder, she calmed down, straightening her back.
Melissa: "You're quite tense, boy. I think you should relax a little."
...If I didn't know better, I'd believe she had gone insane.
Yeah, I was a little stressed, but Mia and I were the normal ones in this situation.
Unless things were going exactly as she had planned, it didn't make sense for Melissa to be so calm when Hamperlon was about to destroy her fortress.
But how would that even work?
It had to be an act to calm Mia and me down.
Miwen: "That's a given, the current state couldn't be worse, and you've yet to let me in on how you plan to win this-"
Melissa: "Win? Boy, you're quite optimistic, aren't you?"
Even though a soft chuckle escaped her, Melissa's eyes were completely somber.
Mia: "...? Mother ?"
I wasn't the only one caught off guard.
Mia looked at her with the same confusion I had.
However, she was a little more patient than me.
Melissa hadn't shared anything with me until now, only for her to spew those defeatist words.
If she had truly given up, what was the point of having me bring her inside the Kingdom and having me form that blood contract?
What were we doing right now?
Miwen: "What do you mean?"
Despite being agitated, I tried not to sound harsh.
However, some of my anger might've leaked a little.
Melissa didn't flinch, though.
Instead, I was the one in shock.
Melissa: "Sleep."
I couldn't see what happened.
I only heard it.
After a resonating thud, Mia's body fell forward.
A single strike knocked her out.
The perpetrator was none other than her mother.
Melissa herself.