The spells worked well for a brief moment—until mysterious writings began to appear on the wall. Surprisingly, Tiffy's map results matched Nick's, who had brought his copy along.
Comparing both, Nick quickly noticed the similarity.
"Wait, Tiffy! Your wall map is exactly like mine!" he exclaimed, holding up his version.
"So… what does that mean?" Tiffy asked, curiosity sparking in her eyes.
"It means you descend from either the Liputian or Crispin empires, just like me. Remember what I told you earlier?" Nick said, trying to jog her memory.
"I do, but if I descend from the same lineage as you—does that mean I could also be the 'unlocking kisser'? I'm only saying that because our dads speak the same native language!" Tiffy pressed.
"If our dads share the same native tongue, then yes—it strongly suggests you're from the Liputian lineage too. Best of luck in your 'unlocking kiss' journey," Madam Jezebel interjected warmly. "I think Tiffy should join the mission."
"Oh! Before I forget—I was wondering about Luca, the dragon. He could be a huge help on our journey," Nick said thoughtfully.
"I'm not sure where Luca lives," Madam Jezebel replied. "He only escorted me home that night. But he mentioned leaving behind traceable clues in case we needed his help."
"Traceable clues? Like what?" Tiffy asked, her curiosity piqued.
"Oh, Tiffy, darling. Luca was one of the dragons freed by Nick and his team—right after your wedding. He showed up late that night after flying us all home. Didn't Nick tell you?" Jezebel said, raising an eyebrow.
Tiffy turned to Nick, her expression darkening.
"Nick, what is this I'm hearing? You told me you were visiting a friend in the hospital after disappearing for days! You lied to me! You traitor! You were off with Elizabeth and the others, weren't you?!"
Nick took a deep breath, his voice laced with regret.
"I know I lied. I'm really sorry, Tiffy. I never meant to ruin our post-wedding joy. The truth is, the main reason I took that leave wasn't just for the wedding—it was to go after the relics at the Mansoon basements. Elizabeth, Mikal, and I got trapped. The rest of our allies rescued us, along with Luca. Luca gave us a flight ride home. I swear, that's the whole truth. Please forgive me."
Silence hung in the air before Tiffy finally let out a long sigh.
"Nick… I forgive you. But from now on, be honest with me. If there's one person you should be open with, it's your wife. Now, let's go. We have a mission to prepare for."
"What?! Why the rush?" Nick asked, startled. "We haven't even spent time with Madam Jezebel."
"I don't feel right here, okay? I'm just moody," Tiffy muttered.
"She's right, Nick," Jezebel said gently. "Take her home. No need for drama tonight."
Nick nodded, then escorted Tiffy outside. Once there, she started venting.
"You need to choose your friends more wisely. I don't trust that witch. 'Traceable clues'? That makes no sense!"
"Tiffy, come on. You're just stressed. Madam Jezebel has always been kind to us—offering guidance, sharing legends. I don't think she means harm."
"Nick, I've been a captain. I know what trust looks like. And when people hesitate or avoid clarity, it's a red flag. Either Luca or Jezebel is hiding something. If Luca meant well, he could've just told us where he lives. Instead, we get these vague 'clues'? That's shady. And right now, we need Luca and his team if we're going to fight these hybrids."
"Tiffy, you're acting like a saint now? After what you did to Sally and Elizabeth—poisoning them? That was too far, even for you!"
"And you need to reevaluate your loyalties. I only did what I thought was best to protect our relationship. They didn't die—it was just a warning. But we've moved on, right? Let's focus on the mission. Where does the map say we go next?"
"You sound like a proud peacock right now," Nick teased. "Be humble, girl. Let me check the maps."
After examining the map closely, Nick pointed out a symbol.
"This desert mark… based on my studies, it's pointing to the Chillbi Desert. We'll need to alert the others. Though I'm not sure how they'll react with you joining the mission."
"We'll tell them the truth," Tiffy replied confidently. "We have no choice. Also, we need to divert the government's attention—they're probably tracking us already. We need more weapons, too. They know what we're after."
"Alright, but how soon do we start?"
"I'll visit my dad tonight and explain everything. He might not join us, but he can support us behind the scenes. Tomorrow night, we gather everyone at our place—then we march to the desert."
"Sounds like a plan," Nick agreed.
That night, Tiffy paid a surprise visit to her parental home. Her mother and younger sibling embraced her warmly.
"Tiffy! We missed you! How's married life?" her mother asked as she ushered her in.
"It's going well. Nick was lost, but now he's back—and safe," Tiffy replied.
"Your dad told us everything! He said your allies were rescued from Melon Airbase. We were all so worried, but so glad you're alright!"
"Yeah, it was a close call—but we made it. By God's grace."
"You must be favored," her mother smiled.
"Anyway, do you know when Dad will be home?"
"He usually gets in late. Come, we'll make dinner while you wait."
They spent the evening cooking and laughing over newlywed tales. After dinner, Tiffy bonded with her sibling before everyone else retired. She stayed up, scrolling through her phone, waiting.
Finally, her dad arrived. She rushed to the door and embraced him.
"Dad! I missed you!"
"I missed you too, sweetheart. What brings you here suddenly? Shouldn't you be with Nick?"
"Please, sit down. I have something important to tell you."
Once seated, she leaned in.
"Dad, promise me this stays between us."
"Tiffy, you've always supported me—even by boosting my social media presence! You have my word."
She laid it all out (explanations)—Nick's true mission, the relics, the Liputian lineage, and the coming journey to the desert. She handed him the map copy.
Her dad studied it, then looked up.
"Tiffy, this is dangerous. But if you need help, I know a hacker who can give you untraceable phone's sim cards. I just need everyone's ID numbers. Can you get them tonight?"
"Absolutely," she said, calling Nick immediately.
Thirty minutes later, she handed over the numbers to her dad in a note.
"Before you go—please join us at my place tomorrow at 9 p.m. Everyone will be there. It's important."
"I'll be there—with your SIM cards."
Tiffy spent the night at her parents' place. The next day, she returned and explained everything to Nick. Together, they made calls to gather their allies.
By 9 p.m., the whole team assembled at Tiffy's place. Nick stood up to speak.
"Everyone, listen up. Tiffy's joining us for the next mission—into the Chillbi Desert. Her spell results matched mine, which means she likely shares my Liputian ancestry. That also means she could be the one to trigger the unlocking of the goodness magic through a kiss."
A hush fell over the room—just as Tiffy's dad walked in.
"Tiffy, I'm here."
"Dad!" she exclaimed, running over to hug him.
She brought him in.
"Everyone, this is my father. Last night, I told him everything. Don't worry—he's promised to keep it a secret. He's helping us by supplying private SIM cards through a trusted hacker."
Her father stepped forward, pulling out a package.
"I've got your untraceable numbers. Distribute these SIM cards based on your IDs."
As dinner was served, the team discussed their plans to journey into the desert—now stronger, more united, and finally complete.