Meanwhile, Ace and I stalked up to the entrance as quietly as possible, Grim hiding behind my shoulder.

""Gaaah this is insane! Are you sure this is gonna work Glory?" Grim whimpered whose legs are shaking.

"I'm sure it will work, I promise you Grim." I reassured him with a soothing grin as I pat his head to calm him down.

"Haha! You're a bit stiff! Just go with the flow! Now, let's do this!" Ace smiled.

I nod back with a grin as I turned to look out for the monster. I know it's risky, but it's worth the risk! Time for real plan to start!

While we waited for the monster to appear, we finally spotted it and I sent Grim a quick nod as a sign to start the distraction. Grim nod and jump off from my shoulder and landed on the rock.

"Hey, beasty! Over here!" Grim shouted while bouncing on the rock.

The monster quickly noticed and roared.

"Grrr.....LEEAAAAAAAVVVVVEEE!!!"

Then it started moving towards the group.

"Gah! It's coming!" Grim shrilled.

"Then it's our time to move!" I shouted, trying to aggravate it. The monster noticed me.

"There...thief...to- WAIT...."

The monster then tilts his head only to let out a loud gasp before grunting out a low menacing growl.

"Go...GOTHEL!...Won't give....Mine....MINE!!!!"

"Huh? Daah!" I shrieked as the monster struck the ground with a harsh punch as a warning. But one thing in mind...why is it calling me Gothel?

Soon I heard letting out a yelp. "That punch looks like a knockout if it lands!" I shook my head quickly and focus on the task at hands.

"Get that thing as far away from the tunnel as best as possible!" I shouted, running further ahead.

"Go away...go away GOTTTHEEEELLLLLLL!!!!" The monster orders.

Once the monster slid forward a few more inches,

"It's pretty far from the tunnel now!" Grim guessed.

"Now's your chance Ace!" I yelled.

"Okay, I've got this! Let's go: Extra Tempest!" Ace waves his pen.

"With the Great Grim's Fire Special!" Grim backs up.

The monster was trapped in a blazing circle of blue fire, as the winds kept sweeping them higher, creating a wall of flames.

"Yes!" I smiled.

"How 'bout that? I can even fan Grim's shoddy flame into an inferno!" Ace smiles as well.

"It's not shoddy! Ugh, every word that comes out of your mouth pisses me off!" Grim complains.

"Not the time Grim! Deuce, now's our chance!" I called.
——————————————

Farther away, near the mine entrance, Deuce calmly focuses. He hears Gloriane's call.

"Calm now...take aim....the biggest, heaviest....thing I know...." He murmurs, eyes closed.

They open. "Come forth, Cauldron!" He orders and a swish of a pen, a giant cauldron squishes the monster, as it screams in pain.

"We got him! Great work, guys!" Gloriane compliments.

Grim snickers, "Hey look! The monster looks just like Ace did earlier on!"

"Oh geez!" Glory snickers trying not to laugh, but she's thinking about it anyway.

"Don't bring that up again! Jeez, today's just not my day...." Ace grumbles.

"Never mind that! Let's go get the magic crystal while that thing can't move!" Deuce motions for the others. They regroup and hurry back into the mine. The monster looks up to see the group leaving.

"WaaaaaaaIT!! G...G...GOTHEEEELLLL!!!!"
———————————————————

"Psst. Hey Glor, why does that thing keep calling you 'Gothel'?" Ace asked whispering into my ear. I shrugged my shoulders in response.

"I asked myself the same thing Ace." I replied while strolling the cave.

"Aha! There's the crystal!" Deuce shouted as he spots it as soon as we get back from the checkpoint.

It looked just like the one from the chandelier! But more bigger! Deuce plucked it from its spot in the wall.

Outside, the monster senses them approaching the artifact.

"Hands ooooooooooffffff!!!!"

Suddenly, the flames were diminishing as the monster thrusted one hand out of the circle.

"Oh no." I gulped.

Another arm broke the wall.

"GOTHEEEEELLL!!!!"

"Annnnd here it's back!" I quivered.

"Crap! That thing's almost free!" Ace spoke.

"Hey, Deuce! Throw more stuff at it!" Grim piped up.

"More stuff???" Deuce questioned. "C-Come forth, cauldron!"

Clatter.

"And, Uh...uh...cauldron!"

Another clatter.

"Last one! Cauldron!!!"

Just as the circle of fire vanished, the monster was pushed to the ground again, yelling in pain at the impact.

"You seriously have nothing but cauldrons in your repertoire?!" Ace asked, like it was a joke.

"Not helping Ace!" I retaliated.

"Shut up! I'm at my wits end!!" Deuce snarks back.

"We've got the crystal already! Let's scram!" Grim fired.

"Roger!" Ace saluted as the group ran back for the exit. Just then, the monster, from the cavern's shadows appeared, the gem long gone.

"That's MiiiiiiiiiiNe?! GOTHEEEEEEEELLLLL!!!!!!"
——————————————

The group ran as fast as they could through the woods, the monster hot in their tracks.

"Jeez, that was a close one!" Grim panted.

"Tell abo-"

Suddenly, out of anger, it swung its axe, cutting down a handful of trees in its way.

"Oh hell no..." I gulped.

"You're kidding me?! It's knocked of all that stuff and came after us?!" Ace asked bewildered. Seems like their enemy was a lot stronger than they anticipated.

"GOTHEEEEEL!!! Give...it...ba...ck!!" The creature roared, not slowing down for a second.

"Crap! It's gonna catch up to us!" Deuce seethed. Suddenly something flashed from my mind when I remembered that note from last night.

——————————
Dear Gloriane,
Here are your belongings that I transported from your world. Now here's a message that you must remember:

"Flower, gleam, and glow
Let your power shine
Make the clock reverse bring back what once was mine
Heal what has been hurt
Change the Fates' design
Save what has been lost
Bring back once was mine
What once was mine."

Once you're done reading the chant, go to the top drawer on your left to receive your gift.
————————————

After a few seconds of thinking, Glory decided to take the ultimatum. Glory slid her feet against the ground and rummage through her pocket causing the three to halt their tracks to see her stopping running.

"Gloriane! What are you doing?!" Grim screamed as she finally pulled out her dagger.

"Doing what I must do." She told him as Glory turned her heels and sprint towards the monster with the dagger held on to her hand.

"Wha?! Are you insane?! You're gonna get killed!" Ace shouted.

"Stop!" Deuce pleaded.

Gloriane didn't even listen to them, however. Her adrenaline was spiking and her courage was overflowing at this point despite feeling overwhelmed with fear. She kept running tenfold towards the monster, eyes burning.

The monster screeched as it raised its arm, preparing to crush her.

"GLORY!!!!!" The three screamed.

Suddenly, Glory glance up at the monster's arm, just in time for it to swing down. Gloriane jerk her body to the side, dodging the monster's arm just missing her by a foot. Scooting aside, Gloriane didn't hesitate with her next move: She position her dagger while carefully analyzing his weak spot until it got closer, but Glory wasn't expecting the outcome when a bright yellow glow from her left hand appeared out of nowhere where it changes from a dagger to a large golden sword as she immediately sliced both of his arms out. It's head was thrown up and back, letting out a strangled sound of pain.

Ace, Deuce, and Grim were left awestruck at the sudden attack. Who was that girl?! Eyes wide, mouths open, they could only stare at the non-magic girl that turned into a warrior in front of them. On the other hand, Glory was stunned and stared at this newfound power, but quickly shook her head when realized that the monster was about to fall on her. Gloriane scowled at the giant creature.

"Take this, ugly!" She yelled. She did a combat stance, raising her sword from the back. Then, at the right moment, she threw out her arm and sent a flying sky uppercut with her sword of her opponent's head, throwing and pushing the monster off to the side. It tipped over backwards as it fell to the ground causing it to be immobilized due to having its arms cut off.

Gloriane breathed as calmly as she could, trying to regain her composure. She then took a deep breath before she bit the top of her bandage and yank it off from a split second revealing her golden flower tattoo on her left hand.

"Ngh?! Her hand!" Grim shouted as he is the first one to noticed her tattoo.

"Whoa! What the-?!" Ace widened his eyes.

"It's glowing!" Deuce shouted as he witnessed the tattoo glowing before them.

As she stood before the armless monster, Glory hold the sword with both hands while regaining her composure, stood still where she lifts her sword pointing upwards to the night sky. Then her sword starts glowing with her grey eyes burning with determination and courage.

*play the video above to watch*

"Flower, gleam, and glow...
Let your power shine...
Make the clock reverse...
Bring back what once was mine...
Heal what has been hurt,
Change the Fates' design
Save what has been lost....

Bring back what once was mine....
What once....was mine..."

Soon her eyes starts to glow golden yellow as huge light of aura emits from her body. Then Glory starts to float in midair while surrounded by light aura.

"What once....was mine..."

She chanted as three watched with awe where Glory then raised her sword as a bright glow emits from the top of her sword. Then she points her sword and blast the monster with a powerful force of light letting out a piercing warrior-like screech as it roars in pain. Suddenly, the light starts to burst.

The monster's body started to glow as it cried out in pain feeling helpless and frightened. Ace, Deuce, and Grim could only watch in horror as the monster suffered. There was no saving him.

"EVERYONE HIT THE DECK!!" Deuce yelled causing the three to hide behind the bush nearby dodging from the impact. Ace and Deuce shield their eyes and Grim curled against Ace's thigh, eyes clenched. The monster's screams grew more and more agonized as the light shined brighter. It's body was engulfed completely in light and then-

Like a dimmed star, it dissipates from the sight. With its remains vanished from the sight. Then the light diminished and everything became clear again.

As soon as the light diminished, the three peered from the bush to look at the place where the monster once stood. It was gone. Dead.

Furthermore, they saw Glory landed back to the ground with such grace. Then the large golden sword reverts back to its regular small dagger.

Afterwards, Glory moaned softly and feels her legs wobbling where she was about to flop to the ground causing the three comrades to panicked.

"Glory!"

The three immediately sprung out from the bush where Deuce quickly caught her fall where she landed on his chest. Glory slowly batted her eyes and glance up to see Deuce holding her close.

"You ok?" He asked curiously. Glory grinned a bit and nod.

"I...think I am..." She stuttered while panting softly. Glory then looks down at her left hand where it was glowing.

So is this what the mirror meant by "unlocking" my power?

Glory thought curiously while gazing at her hand. Ace then grabs her hand to look at it with hopping on to his shoulder to gaze at it as well.

"What the hell Glor?! You never told me you can do that!" Ace shrilled.

"That's because I didn't know it was going to do that!" She shrieked.

"Glory...." Deuce looked at her, eyes full of fear. "What did you do?"

"I-I don't know! I thought I was going to stab him with his dagger, but I wasn't expecting it to turn into a f#*king big-ass sword!" She was equally as scared and confused. "Don't ask me! I'm just as surprised as you are!"

"Crap....you really are scary when you're mad...." Grim uttered.

She could only nod as she staggered to her feet while holding Deuce's shoulders. Cautiously, she walked over to the spot where the monster was obliterated. Nothing remained but a mess of black ooze.

"Did...we do it?" Ace asked, unsure.

"I think so...." Glory breathed.

"W-We won...We actually won!" Grim smiled.

"Yes?!" Deuce smiled.

"Hell yeah!" Ace mirrored.

"Hell yeah!" Glory smiled, twirling around with her hands up in victory.

"High fives all around!" Grim smiled as he jumped into Glory's arms.

"Seems like the teamwork thing was a success." Glory hummed.

"So...is it 'adversity brings people together now~?" Glory teased.

"Wha-?! No! It's not like that!" Deuce denied.

"Y-Yeah! What he said! And stop saying things like that!" Ace stuttered.

"We won thanks to my genius!" Grim "corrected" her.

Glory rolled her eyes sending them a knowing smirk.

"Sure it is~." She sarcastically snarks with a smirk.

"...I guess making excuses was pretty lame." Ace confused. "Hate to admit it, but we won thanks to your brilliant plan." He shot a small smile.

"True." Deuce joined. "We got the magic crystal because you gave us well-thought and levelheaded instructions. And we can prevent the expulsion now....I'm so relieved."

"Well, at least we're all safe now." She smiled.

"True...true. We're relieved as well. As well as work out and battered. Let's get home." Ace sighed.

"Wait, where's the crys-"

"Right here." Glory said pulling out the crystal from her pocket causing a sigh of relief from the three.

"Thank god, but anyways, let's go going. I'm starving from using up so much magic...." Grim moaned. But then, he noticed something on the ground where the monster was.

"Huh...? What's that?"

"Remnants from the monster?" Deuce guessed. Upon closer inspection, "A magic crystal? But I've never seen one pitch black like coal before."

Grim sniffed it. "This thing smells real good."

"Say what?!" Ace stared at him in disbelief.

"This has to be candy the monster was hiding! Oooh, I can't resist! Itadakimasu!" He popped it in his mouth.

"He did not just ate that thing...." Glory said with a sweat drop.

Grim then froze with his eyes wide open.

"Ah! You okay?!" Deuce asked.

"That's why you don't eat things off the ground..." Ace rolled his eyes.

"Wow...that's...DELICIOUS!" Grim squealed with a huge grin.

"Eh?!" Deuce and Ace shrilled.

"Ughh yup..." Glory sighed.

"It's full-bodied but also rich, with an aromatic sweetness that blooms in my mouth~! Like a whole field of flowers on my tongue!" Grim gleed.

Ace gagged. "Monsters really do have different tastes from us."

"I can't help but agree with you." Glory sighed.

"True....but also: most people wouldn't even put a mystery object in their mouth without a thought...." Deuce shook his head.

"Unless they're babies." Glory shrugged. "You sure you're good, Grim?"

"Don't worry! My stomach isn't weak unlike yours!" He reassured.

"Well, don't come crawling to me if you get sick." Ace told him.

"Anyways, let's get the magic crystal back to the headmaster!" Deuce secured it under his arm. "But Glory, seriously, what was that back there?"

"Like I said before, I'm not sure!" She shrugs.

"Well whatever it was, you seriously pack a punch!" Ace laughed.

"Yeah...I guess I do." Glory mumbled while still looking conflicted by what just happened back there. Then the group begins the journey back.

While strolling back to Night Raven College, Glory was minding her own business. But unbeknownst to her, a female skeletal figure leans on the tree watching her with a satisfied smile.

"My blood has risen...."

"Huh?"

She spun behind to see the voice that called her, but was left nothing. Glory looked puzzled at the moment.

"Glory?"

"Huh?" She turns to Deuce.

"You okay?" He asked curiously.

"Oh I'm fine.." She replied while glancing back at the far forest with an uncertain look before she turns back and follows the group. While doing so, Gloriane felt something off like she feels like something is on their trail. Soon she shivers when she felt someone crept behind her like he or she wants to kill her. Her creep meter has immediately skyrocketed to the maximum when she felt a hand on her left shoulder where she can feel its face closer to her ear.

"My Blood~"

Glory soon gasped and quickly spun around, by once again. Nothing. The team turned notice to see Glory's distressed expression causing them to panicked.

"Glory? What's wrong?!" Deuce asked holding her shoulders. Gloriane shivered before taking a deep breath to calm herself down. Then she glance at her three comrades who are confused yet scared at the moment.

"Glor, what's going on?" Ace asked looking confused. Glory stares at the three for a minute before letting out a sigh.

"Don't tell anyone about this ok?" She reminds them as the three of them nodded. Afterwards, Glory explains everything in specific details from the first dream to the ominous voice she kept hearing recently.

"Wait, so let's back up for a second. You need to tell me, that you had this dream of this same hag who chased you down in her monstrous form. And then you woke up and that's when that mirror pulled you in and transport you here?" Grim assumed.

"I know crazy right?" She sighed.

"That is pretty odd....though what you said about her does sound familiar, but....where do I even heard of this woman from?.." Deuce tilt his head with a curious expression.

"Ugh as long as I wanna figure out where I heard about this hag or whatever, I just wanna meet up with headmaster so I could get some rest." Ace stated.

"I guess you're right. We can also tell him about that power you have." Deuce suggested.

"That's exactly what I was supposed to do before this happens." Glory said.

"Eh? Really?" Deuce blinked his eyes and Gloriane nodded.

"Because...." She then pull out the dagger and the note that she received last night.

"I got this note and dagger last night. I believe this is how it unlock my power." I told him as Deuce took the note and read the letter with his head tilt in curiosity until his eyes widened when he read the letter. Soon he caught me off guard he starts to quiver in fear.

"The hell is it Deuce?" Ace asked curiously.

"Yeah, What's wrong with you?" Grim asked confusingly. Deuce looked stunned as he quivers while holding the letter before he turns back Glory who looked puzzled at his reaction.

"We have to tell him right now! Let's go!" He ordered as Glory nodded, both of them sprint through the path making Ace and Grim surprised by their sudden running.

"Wha-! Hey! Don't leave us here Baka!" Ace shouted.

"Don't forget about me too!" Grim yelled as he hops on to Ace where they both catch up to Deuce and Glory where the mystery slowly unravels.