XXIV

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———

With wind hitting their innocent faces, the Juniors rode back through the widest road of Portland Goldens' west side. The turns of the road expeditiously led them to the Generals' base of the Portland Goldens.

"I just thought," Elise exhaled and looked at her teammates' fatigued faces. "The adventure seemed longer than any of our missions."

"It's tiresome," Tom complained. No one seem to hear him but everyone stayed silent until all of them had made their way down the horses.

"Should I leave my horse here at the base?" William asked and visualized the rows of stables at the back of the Generals' Base.

"William, you have a mansion," Tom reminded him the verity. "You have an ample lot. If I were you, I'd let my horse enjoy what his master has."

"I agree," Sally commented.

"I will take Airie to the palace," Amy said. "Will you do the same, Lance?"

"I'll take mine with us," Lance replied.

Amy and Lance, who were residing in the palace of Portland Goldens, decided to make their horses stay at the stables of the royal horses. William has a pretty spacious lot with his mansion which can be a benefit for his horse. Elise resides in an apartment with a stringent landlady who forbids any blockage on their gate. Sally lives in a house owned by her relatives and they have no lot. Tom lives in a row house of his nonbiological parents.

Elise, Tom, and Sally have something in common – they don't have places to build a stable for their horses. As a result, the three of them made their horses stay at the stables of the Generals' base. William, Amy, and Lance escorted the rest to the stables.

"Welcome back, my pride," a voice welcomed them from their behind. This made Amy and Lance look at their backs. Wearing a dark green uniform akin to the Juniors', Phillip stood.

"General," Lance looked down politely then stealthily glanced at the orange and dark blue sky. "It's getting late. Are generals required to stay here until his team returns?"

In Phillip's eyes, it shows he was about to tell a good news aside from the answer to the question of Lance.

"We're sometimes required and I want to. By the way, I have a good news," Phillip said. "I'm sure this'll make you smile."

"What is it, General?" Tom thrillingly asked after he had locked his horse in the stable. Elise and Sally looked at Phillip as their horses were already locked in. As soon as he got everyone's eyes, Phillip spoke.

"The Alpine, Hawk, Camouflage, Scorpion, and Bishop Team are the five teams united for the search of a the main base of the Kininvas," Phillip said. "They have finally found the main base. Unfortunately, only idle Kininvas were displayed on there. They chiefly burned the base after the raid."

"What?" Amy asked in disbelief. "How can it be that James' remaining prisoners, including my father, were not there?"

"Amy, your Majesty, I'm sorry," Phillip said. "Your question can't be answered by me."

"Is there anything that can make me reckon that my father is safe?" Amy hopefully asked.

"We still have no traces about the prisoners," Phillip replied. "All we can do right now is to wait for any news from the five teams. In order to give more efficiency in finding where James and the Kininvas moved, the Demoiselle Team is sent to join the five teams."

"Can't we join them?" Elise asked and tried to remember the faces of the Demoiselle Team.

"Those teams have more than five years of experience," Phillip explained. "We need the youngest teams to get safe because they will be the one to protect whatever conflict the future might face."

The silence after Phillip's explanation helped in terminating the conversation.

"Juniors, I will send a letter to your addresses if there will be any missions open," Phillip told them. "As long as you have no missions and quests, condition yourselves for a much easier set of tasks. Your next tasks might be only within the outskirts. So . . . see you soon."

Phillip nodded as a goodbye with his both hands at the back. He turned his back to leave, giving a chance for the Juniors to go home.

---

"Amy, don't sit on the ground. You're a princess," Lance said and placed his hand on Amy's shoulder. Like what is mentioned, Amy is sitting on the grass of the garden's lawn of the palace. She refused to reply. Her tears fell down while the softest sobs are made.

Lance knelt down on the well-mowed grass to be able to have a view of Amy's face.

"I'm sure you'll see him," Lance instantaneously wiped Amy's tears. With all the words he'd said, Amy gave no reply.

"Amy, do you want your father to be happy?" Lance, trying to look impassive, asked.

Amy nodded sadly and this is her first reply to Lance.

"Don't be sad and he'll be happy." Lance forced a smile. I can't be happy if my best friend isn't, he thought. And I am sure his father will not feel comfortable if Amy is worried.

"Thank you, Lance," Amy whispered, so soft only Lance could hear it. She leaned forward and hugged him. With a smile, Lance hugged back without faltering.

---

"Sir James." Mixture of regard, amicability, and trepidation in his face, a much taller guy –not a Kininva– than James frowned. James looked up at the man.

"What is it, Nefas?" James irritatingly asked as he puts out the cigarette.

"We have gone out of our main base and we have no place to go," Nefas said and glanced at their trucks of Kininvas and prisoners. "How can we live if we are not in the main base? Remember, you have me, Deyja, and Ferox. We are four humans here, the prisoners are exceptions."

"Worry not," James said and smirked.

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