As time passed, Rose prepared for her journey to the Alaska front lines.
Before she left, Sarah naturally had countless questions about the trip. She had hoped to go with Rose, but Rose gently explained that this wasn't a vacation.
"I won't be able to travel with you right now," Rose said. "Maybe next year, once things settle down with my family, we can plan something together."
Sarah sighed dramatically but eventually agreed.
The person who was most disappointed, however, was Brian.
He had been looking forward to spending the summer with Rose.
Rose smiled reassuringly.
"Don't worry. We'll have time together during winter break when the new semester starts. I'll make sure I spend more time with you then. Right now, I need to find the rest of my family."
Brian shook his head with a smile.
"I'll hold you to that."
Rose laughed.
"You better."
After saying her final goodbyes for the semester, Rose headed toward the school to pick up Momo and Jack.
For days, she had felt as though someone was watching her.
No matter how carefully she searched, she couldn't find the source.
Even with all her abilities, whoever it was seemed capable of hiding from her.
Worse—
they appeared to know something about her powers.
As Rose waited at a small café across from the school, a figure entered.
He walked directly toward her table.
Without asking permission, he sat down across from her.
"Hey, love," he said casually. "My name is Diablo. I think you know who I am."
Rose calmly took a sip of her coffee.
Only after setting the cup down did she slowly lift her eyes to meet his.
There was no fear in them.
Only amusement.
A small smirk appeared on her lips.
"Right. I remember you."
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"You're Diego Masters, aren't you?"
For the first time, genuine surprise appeared on Diablo's face.
He studied her carefully.
Trying to figure out how she knew his real name.
Then he smiled.
Not a friendly smile.
The kind of smile that sent chills down a person's spine.
Rose wasn't impressed.
She crossed her arms and leaned back in her chair.
"What do you want?"
Diablo chuckled.
"I like you."
He relaxed into his seat.
"You get straight to the point."
His eyes carefully studied her.
"I just want to know how you defeated my man."
As he leaned back, Rose felt his thoughts the moment they crossed his mind.
So this is Rose Maxwell.
Pretty face.
Strong body.
Dangerous eyes.
Definitely not what I expected.
Rose's expression immediately hardened.
A faint flicker of golden flame appeared within her eyes.
She slowly set her coffee cup down.
Diablo noticed the sudden change.
His brow furrowed.
"I don't know what got you angry, my love, but I'm not here to cause trouble."
His smile faded slightly.
"I just want answers."
Rose stared at him.
"Were you at the excavation site?"
Diablo laughed.
"So you noticed me."
He folded his arms.
"I didn't want to interrupt your little field trip, so I left."
His gaze sharpened.
"But I do want to know who that woman was."
"The one who scared off my men."
He leaned forward slightly.
"You're not an ordinary girl, are you?"
Rose slowly stood.
Her eyes locked onto his.
She knew exactly how dangerous this man was.
But she also wanted him to understand something.
She was not someone he could manipulate.
Without thinking, she reached into his mind one final time.
Diablo's thoughts:
I need to know what her trick is.
Rose smiled.
"I don't have any tricks."
Diablo froze.
His eyes widened.
She had just answered a question he never spoke aloud.
Rose grabbed her bag.
"But I'll tell you one thing."
Her voice became cold.
"If you ever go near anyone I care about…"
A faint wave of heat spread through the air.
"…you'll discover exactly what kind of person I am."
Without another word, she turned and walked away.
Diablo sat frozen in his chair.
For several moments, he simply stared at the café door.
His mind replayed everything that had happened.
First she knew my real name.
Then she reacted to thoughts I never spoke.
His fingers slowly tapped against the table.
For the first time in years, uncertainty crept into his thoughts.
What exactly is she?
The smile he usually wore disappeared.
He had come searching for answers.
Instead—
he was leaving with even more questions.
⸻
Rose headed toward the school.
In the distance, she spotted Momo holding Jack's hand.
Jack immediately turned bright red when he noticed her.
Rose couldn't help smiling.
This boy never changes.
"MO-MO! JACK!"
Both children looked up.
Momo instantly waved excitedly.
"ROSE!"
She sprinted across the street toward her.
Jack followed behind at a much slower pace.
As they started walking home, they noticed a familiar figure waiting near the forest path.
Sanju.
Momo immediately ran over.
"What are you doing here?"
Sanju smiled.
"I'm here to pick you all up."
He looked toward Rose.
"We're leaving once you grab your things."
Rose blinked.
"Wait. You're coming too?"
Sanju nodded.
"Of course."
Then he added casually:
"There will be fifty of us."
Rose nearly stopped walking.
"Fifty?"
Sanju grinned.
"And we have our own plane."
Rose stared at him.
"Where exactly did we get a plane?"
Sanju laughed.
"Marina is part of a much bigger organization than you realize."
He began walking again.
"Don't ask questions. Let's go."
Rose shook her head.
As they entered the forest, she muttered under her breath.
"Marina has way too many secrets."
⸻
When they reached the house, Marina stepped outside.
She looked at Rose.
"Are you ready?"
Rose smiled confidently.
"I'm ready for battle."
Marina nodded.
"Your luggage is already packed and loaded."
She handed Rose a small bag.
"You'll get food on the flight, but take this snack for now."
Rose glanced around.
"So these are the fifty people traveling with us?"
"Yes."
Marina folded her arms.
"Teleportation won't work for a group this large."
Rose nodded.
That made sense.
She picked up her travel bag and wrapped Marina in a tight hug.
"I'll be back."
Marina hugged her just as tightly.
"I know."
Rose then knelt beside Momo.
"Big Sis will come back."
She smiled.
"And when I do, we're going to the amusement park."
Momo's eyes lit up.
Then she grabbed Rose's face.
"And bring that friend with you!"
Rose blinked.
"What friend?"
Momo simply smiled.
"The friend."
Rose stared at her.
Then shook her head.
"Sure."
Momo giggled.
⸻
Marina's expression became serious.
"If the Queen speaks to you again, tell me when you return."
Rose nodded.
"You're heading into Blackwell territory," Marina continued.
"The front lines belong to them."
Rose understood.
This would be unlike anything she had faced before.
"If anything happens, I'll contact you through a mind link."
She smiled confidently.
"The training worked."
Her eyes shone with determination.
"I'll come back."
"And I'll bring us the victory we need."
For a moment, Marina simply stared at her.
Then she stepped forward.
Gently placing a hand against Rose's cheek.
"You may not be my biological daughter…"
Her voice softened.
"But you are my child."
Tears threatened to form in Rose's eyes.
"If I had found you sooner, I would have protected you from so much pain."
Marina smiled.
"This is your home."
"We'll all be waiting for you."
Rose quickly wiped her eyes.
"Don't worry."
A grin spread across her face.
"I'll come back."
"And when I do, I already have my first date planned with Brian."
Marina laughed.
"So that's what you're worried about."
Rose laughed too.
Then she turned and headed for the waiting bus.
Everyone waved goodbye.
She sat by the window and watched them disappear as the bus pulled away.
⸻
The ride to the airport passed quickly.
Rose was surprised by the number of different races aboard.
Elves.
Beastkin.
Hybrids.
People she had only briefly seen around the village.
The girl sitting beside her looked particularly nervous.
She was small and delicate.
A rabbit-beast hybrid with traces of elf blood.
Rose recognized her from the village marketplace.
"Hi," Rose said.
"My name is Rose Maxwell."
The girl jumped slightly.
"Oh!"
She smiled nervously.
"My name is Claudette Perry."
Her voice trembled a little.
"I know who you are."
Rose laughed.
"Everyone keeps saying that."
Claudette blushed.
"Everyone in the village knows who you are."
"This is actually my first time talking to you."
She looked down.
"Some people say I talk too much."
"I'm sorry if I'm bothering you."
Rose immediately shook her head.
"Not at all."
She offered her hand.
"It's nice meeting you."
Claudette carefully shook it.
Then her face turned bright red.
"You actually…"
She swallowed nervously.
"You're my idol."
Rose blinked.
"Really?"
The girl's rabbit ears instantly popped up.
A fluffy tail appeared behind her.
Rose couldn't help smiling.
"That's adorable."
Claudette nearly died from embarrassment.
"P-Please stop!"
Rose laughed.
The tension vanished instantly.
As they continued talking, Rose learned something interesting.
"So what's your ability?" Rose asked.
Claudette smiled shyly.
"I'm a tracker."
Rose tilted her head.
"A tracker?"
Claudette nodded proudly.
"I can find almost anything."
Rose's eyes widened slightly.
That would be incredibly useful on the battlefield.
Before long, they reached the airport.
After boarding the plane, the group finally departed.
Hours later, Rose sat by the window staring out at the endless landscape below.
Snow-covered mountains stretched across the horizon.
Dark forests blanketed the wilderness.
Somewhere beyond those mountains waited the battlefield.
Somewhere beyond those forests stood Blackwell territory.
The war was waiting for her.
Rose rested her forehead against the glass and smiled.
"Just wait."
Golden flames briefly flickered in her eyes.
"I'm coming."
And far ahead, beyond the frozen wilderness of Alaska—
the front lines awaited their arrival.
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