As was revealed by an ancient AI's leftovers earlier that same day, the Kingdom Stone had been created by the Dragons with the intentions of providing a stable source; one that would help the natives grow while their own race slowly fades into legend. But most are to this date still unaware of the stone's true history and a hidden secret that will come to light eventually...
[Lilac's Treehouse, afternoon, one week after Brevon's defeat]
For these last days, Sash and Carol had been recovering from their injuries; and while the two are able to walk freely, the bruises haven't completely disappeared. Milla had been sent to a hospital in Shang Tu on life support, and it's still uncertain if she would ever wake up.
The girls used this left behind treehouse as their hideout for the next few years after they left the Scarves. Made of wood and blue-colored bricks for the roof, it is located on top of a giant tree in the middle of the forest. It's a good spot from where they can easily travel between the cities Shang Mu and Shang Tu as well as the original location of the Kingdom Stone, the Altar inside the ruins from ancient times. The two-stories big treehouse consists of a living room on the first floor as well as a shared bedroom on the second.
Back in the bedroom of the treehouse, Carol started packing her things up, including some pairs of clothes and a generic set of weapons. Done packing the stuff she thinks she needs most, Carol proceeds to leave the treehouse from the front exit and jumps off the ladder, down to the muddy ground. After having walked a few feet away from the treehouse, Sash notices her leaving and runs after her. Hearing Sash's footsteps coming towards her, Carol stopped dead on the track. Sash, moments later, stands right next to her in utter confusion.
"May I ask where you're heading with all that luggage?", the dragon asks, which is followed by Carol turning around to face the dragon. "You're not in the best condition to be going for another raid.".
Carol's face becomes unusually serious. "The agreement we had, remember?" Carol points out. "With the direction you've been heading, I have no reason to be standing with you."
"What do you mean by that? I thought we were going to go after the other's interests, together. Like friends would do.", Sash says in sadness over Carol's apparent lack of care.
"I enjoyed our time a lot, really, but... Our interests, they have started to contradict each other.", Carol makes clear. "Every minute I'm busy saving someone's ass is not spent on my search for her."
"Your big sister and our former sensei...", Sash reminisces, looking away from Carol to hide her grief.
"She has to be alive, Coral is simply the greatest Tea on this world!", Carol retorts with determination in her eyes, raising her clenched left fist. "When I find her, everything will be back to the good old days!"
"It has been five years from now, Carol, you think she's... still around?", Lilac notes. "She hasn't been giving us any sign of still being active or alive."
"Coral is somewhere, I just know it! I'm assuming she just grew tired of walking for an organization like the Scarves and is doing her own thing anonymously or something. Could be that the Scarves are preventing Coral from reaching us in any shape."
"Carol...", Sash responds before being silent for a moment and looking at Carol again. Sash sighs. "Knowing you, I wouldn't be able to change your mind anyway.", Sash says straight in Carol's face. "You need to make this journey and get behind the reasons for her disappearance. Just promise me two things."
"And those would be?", Carol asks.
"Just don't commit any crimes while you're gone, and promise me that we stay friends.", Lilac states.
"No worries, Heropants, just do your hero stuff while I keep looking after big sissy.", Carol says while looking surprised but pleased about Lilac's sudden turn. "I will make sure to show up from time to time!"
"Okay, pinky swear on that one!", Lilac says, raising her right hand towards Carol, with only the pinky finger extended.
"Pinky swear!", Carol responds while giving Lilac a pinky promise by wrapping her right pinky around Sash's. Following that, the two proceed to hug each other for a short while. "Goodbye, for now, Lilac!", Carol screams while heading deeper into the forest, out of Sash's sight. Sash kept standing in place until Carol was completely gone.
"I used to be more persuasive and would try to hinder you, but... If you were to stay with me, you'd only get hurt anyways, so it's probably for the best.", Sash quietly mumbles to herself. "After all, I haven't been able to protect you, Milla and the Stone."
Sash looks at the cloudy sky, covering the bright sunlight with her right hand. "... Maybe I should leave this place behind as well, for now."