(Iris POV)

Let's go back a little. Back before we all reunited and created a plan for the final battle.

As we flew away in the jet, I couldn't help but worry about them. Obviously I worried about Irene, my dear sister, and Ken, my love. But I also worried about the others.

While I hadn't interacted with Aoi much, she seemed nice when she wasn't trying to kill us. Bianca, while we didn't talk much, I knew she was good.

After all, she is a fellow sister. She loves Ken as much as I do.

Goku is a great mentor to Ken and quite high in the Cult of Loki, just under us sisters. It would be terrible if something happened to him.

Erica was also a great friend. I love hanging out with her and Lily on days off when we aren't training.

That brings back memories.

Please, be safe.

"Alright, here's the coordinates." Principal stated, pointing at a place on the map. The pilot glanced at it before bringing his attention back to flying, nodding.

"How long will the flight be?" Yui asked.

"About an hour. My father lives out in the mountains." Principal stated.

"Awwww..." Yui sighed, slumping down in her seat. "I'm already bored...I need something to distract me from my worry."

"I'm sure they'll be fine." Principal stated. "They're strong."

"I hope so..." Lily absentmindedly muttered, looking out the window of the jet.

Amber fidgeted with her hands, obviously worried about her father and Ken.

The ride was silent. We were all too worried in our own thoughts to engage in any form of thoughtful communication.

An Open Rift was dangerous.

They'll be fine...

I stared outside the window, watching as we traveled high above the ground, passing the fluffy clouds in the air. Unfortunately it didn't do much to distract me.

The ride felt like forever, before finally we descended down onto a clearing on a grassy mountain.

Departing the jet, not too far from us was a moderate-sized wooden house on the mountain.

"Let's go." Principal stated, leading the way forwards.

We walked up to the house, Principal knocking on the door.

"Who is it?" a voice asked from the other side.

"It's me, Dad." Principal sighed.

"Proof." The voice stated. "What did you always want as a kid and got for your 12th birthday."

Principal's face tinted red. "The Fairy Azuka doll..."

Principal used to watch Fairy Azuka, that older magical girl anime? Well, it probably came out while she was that age.

The door opened as a man latched onto Principal, tightly hugging her. "I had to make sure it was you!"

"Doesn't make it any less embarrassing..." Hse muttered. "Now let us in."

The man let us into his house. It was a nice and humble small home.

"Excuse the intrusion." I stated, as I took my shoes off, the other girls following my lead.

Now that he wasn't hidden by the door, I could finally see the man clearly. He was older, with gray hair and a warm demeanor. He seemed pretty well fit for an old man.

He looked towards us. "Hello, my name is Saate Kato. It's nice to meet you."

"It's nice to meet you as well." I bowed.

"All right Dad, you already know what we are here for." Principal stated.

"Yes." He nodded, becoming serious. "But before we get the seal, I should probably show you this first."

"Show us what?" Principal questioned.

Saate gestured is to follow him. We walked into the living room, which had a couch, television, and a table. In the table was an old book.

Saate sat down at the table, the rest of us following his lead and sitting around the table.

"This book, was from my father." Saate stated, looking at the book. "I don't remember much about him, I was young back then. But if I remember anything, it's be this."

"What is it?" Principal asked.

"It's a book." Saate stated.

"No, I know that. What is it about?" Sighed Principal.

"'This is our legacy.' That's what he said, the last night I saw him and the night he gave me this book." Saate stated. "It's a book that holds the truth. The truth about the seal."

"The truth?" Principal questioned. "Have you been hiding something this whole time?"

"Yes." Saate nodded. "The seal, it's not what you think it is. Books say that it's an item which was infused with the powers of the Great Sage, used to seal the Demon King back into his world. That's not true."

"This book was written by my father, one of the Great Sages." Saate restated. "And he says what the seal actually is."

"What is it?" Principal asked, narrowing her eyes.

"It's not infused with any sort of powers." Saate stated. "It's a device which is powered by magic, but it doesn't hold magic. It's a magic tool which creates a rift; one to the Void."

"....The Void?" Principal questioned. "What does that mean?"

The Void...?

"I think I've read something about that..." I stated. "If I remember right, it's a theoretical plane of existence in which nothing exists."

"I'm surprised, I didn't think many books knew about that." Chuckled Saate. "But yes, that is what the Void is."

"Then what does this mean?" Yui asked. "Why is this 'Void' so important?"

"The Void is nothing." Saate stated. "And that is why it's so important. It shouldn't be able to be accessed. But this device was created to punch a hole through reality to the Void."

"How is that even possible?" Principal furrowed her brows.

"I'm not completely sure. Our understanding of Arcanas and magic is a lot less than what the Great Sages knew. This book holds a lot of secrets about it, but I don't understand many." Saate explained.

"Anyways, that's why the seal was so powerful. Because once you're inside, there's no way to get out." Saate continued. "The 'seal' isn't a seal. It's a key. A key to the Void."

"That could be dangerous if in the wrong hands..." Principal muttered.

"There's a countermeasure." Saate stated. "In order to use it. You need four people, one from each family, to use their magic to power the seal in a ritual."

"Damn. We don't even know the fourth family." Principal sighed. "I guess it keeps others from using it..." Principal stated.

"Agreed. I believe they made it this way due to the possibility of traitors. If one could use it, they could easily bring him back." Saate explained.

"I actually believe there are traitors now. There's no other way for the Demon King to possibly return without help from our side." Saate theorized.

"We also believe there are traitors." Principal grimly replied. "Damn, what are we supposed to do?"

"We have two options." Saate stated. "Either we kill the Demon King, or seal him again and snuff out every single traitor."

"Those aren't going to be easy." Principal replied. "Not even the Four Great Sages could kill the Demon King, so that is off the list."

"And for the second one...how are we supposed to get and find out every single traitor?" She questioned. "It's just delaying the inevitable."

"I don't know..." Saate solemnly stated. "I have no idea...but we have to do something, or else this world will be taken over."

Principal rested her hands upon Saate's. "It's okay." She softly spoke. "We'll stop him."

"Just...be careful." Saate replied. "I don't want to lose you too..."

"And you won't." Principal smiled. "I promise, we will find a way through this, even if all odds are against us."

"Alright." Saate nodded, letting out a breath. "Here." He pushed the book to Principal. "Like I said, there are many more secrets in there. Maybe Merlin can crack one or two to help."

"Thank you." Principal smiled, knowing how important this book was to her father.

"You're welcome." Saate nodded. "Now, let's go get that seal."

Saate stood up, walking towards a door. Opening it, it opened to a bunch of stairs which went downstairs.

We descended the stairs, entering the basement of the house. It was fairly empty, with only a couple items strewn around. It was cold, and the stone floor didn't help either.

Saate picked up a sledgehammer that was leaning on the wall before slamming it down onto the middle of the stone ground.

We jumped back in surprise.

"What the hell?!" Principal exclaimed.

He continued to slam the hammer into the ground, creating a hole from the broken ground. And in that hole, something was there.

He pulled out a wooden chest from the hole that he had made in his floor.

"I memorized where I hid it." He stated. "I didn't want any clues to where it may be for the enemies. The only clue was in that book, an entry that I made myself."

He opened the chest, pulling out a circular stone tablet. It was about the size of a steering wheel, and was as thick as a large book. It was cracked in many places.

He handed it to Principal. We gathered around her, looking at the seal. On it was a carved design. It was divided into four sections. Each section had it's own symbol.

One was lightning. Another was fire. The third was ice, and the fourth was a rock. On the edge of the seal, a family name was with each symbol.

Aegis for lightning.

Kato for the rock.

Tsuki for ice.

But the final family name made my mouth go dry. I couldn't believe it.

No way...

Kage, for fire.