Everyone was shocked, turning to see the meeting room door open and Hikaru appearing.

Immediately, a smile appeared on Albatross's face. He straightened up and then clapped. Sphinx seemed excited about this development; even the hooded man beside him raised his head a bit as if curious about what the Pillar of Cephiro was like.

With a growing sense of foreboding, Lantis realized that they wanted Hikaru, and now they had her. "Hikaru..." he whispered, wanting to tell her not to come, but Hikaru did not stop. She continued entering the room without looking at him or anyone else in the room. Her eyes were fixed straight at Albatross. Her steps were slow, indicating her still-weak body but full of determination. She walked past everyone to stand at the forefront.

"You want me, but I will only accept the negotiation with one condition," Hikaru said boldly.

"Speak," Albatross replied with a satisfied smile.

"Release all the people you have captured on your ship."

Albatross paused for a moment, then said, "You're clever. Very well. That's easy." He leaned back in his chair and glanced at Sphinx, who looked displeased and uncertain. "Release them," he commanded as if it were an ordinary order.

"Yes, Sir."

Albatross turned his attention back to them, focusing particularly on Hikaru. He scrutinized her from head to toe, slightly surprised to discover that the Pillar of Cephiro was a woman who appeared so frail. Could she really be the strongest magic knight and the Pillar?

Before long, two warships floated into the night sky: Chizeta's Bravada and Fahren's Dome. These ships carried the members of the Chizeta and Dome royal families, along with thousands of their people who had surrendered and, consequently, survived. The meeting room was filled with tense silence while waiting for all the captives to land. No one spoke or left their place.

Umi continued to worry about Hikaru while Fuu noticed Ferio's displeased expression. Fuu understood why. She, too, looked at Hikaru, who stood with her back to all of them. She was the Pillar of Cephiro. But she had renounced that status. Why was she still more important than Ferio, the king of Cephiro?

While everyone anxiously pondered this and what would happen next, Hikaru, in silence, was lost in her own thoughts, contemplating her vision. Somehow, the vision had given her clues and the strength to make choices, even though she didn't want to act as a Pillar in her current state.

Hikaru remembered those words from that man in her dream. "Do you see the future the same as I do?"

The future is not an illusion, she thought to herself. That time finally comes, and my task is to protect everyone. This negotiation must succeed. Hikaru steeled her resolve.

Suddenly, the sound of running footsteps grew closer, and the Chizeta princesses, Tarta and Tatra, along with Princess Aska of Fahren, accompanied by her advisor, San Yung, appeared. The Chizeta princesses were still beautiful, but their condition was somewhat pitiful. Princess Aska had grown into a lovely young lady. Her hair flowed freely, without any adornments. She looked disheveled. They had undoubtedly endured a difficult time as captives.

"Tarta! Tatra! Princess Aska!" Umi exclaimed joyfully. "Thank goodness you are all okay."

But Princess Aska ignored Umi's greeting. She continued to step forward and shouted at Albatross, shaking her fist, "I will never forgive you! I will kill you! I will avenge what you have done!" She burst into tears.

Fuu approached and hugged the girl to calm her down. "He will pay for all the wrongs he's done to us."

Albatross merely smiled, paying no attention to the protesting and sobbing Princess Aska. The little princess meant nothing to him. His focus was solely on the Pillar standing before him. "You have what you wanted," he said to Hikaru.

The relief after the captives were released quickly vanished. Everyone was reminded that the negotiations were about to begin.

Suddenly, Albatross burst into laughter. "My God, I had never expected it to take so long. Three years is not short, and the destruction has been tremendous," he said to Hikaru. Hikaru was utterly shocked by his words, which seemed completely unrelated to the peace she had hoped to negotiate. "Finally, I managed to drag you out, Your Majesty."

Hikaru's head snapped up. "Drag me out… What do you mean?" A chill crept through her fingers, and her body trembled.

Lantis was stunned, realizing that this entire war had been aimed at capturing Hikaru. He recalled his meeting with Mazda three years ago. To him, this had nothing to do with Nair's desire for Hikaru, but it was highly suspicious. He gripped his sword's hilt tightly, ready to take Hikaru away from there, but Clef held him back with a warning glance. Clef shook his head, forbidding him.

"What?" Ferio asked, struggling to comprehend. "The purpose of this war and all destructions is..." He couldn't finish his sentence. He looked back and forth between Hikaru and Albatross, feeling overwhelmed. The truth that was beginning to emerge was a bomb in his heart. "This is a total madness..."

Albatross seemed to revel in everyone's reactions. "Her Majesty, I truly admire your stubbornness. Your heart is truly made of stone. All this should have ended quickly. So, surrender to us today, and I will grant peace to your country, Fahren and Chizeta."

"Surrender…" Hikaru stood frozen. The demand sounded like a brilliant solution, but... She felt a mix of emotions… of horror, anger, sadness, suffering, and intense guilt. Hikaru clenched her fists tightly. Why? When I truly wanted to protect the people, why must they suffer because of me? What was the meaning of everything that had happened… to me?

"No... I won't let you touch her!" Umi suddenly shouted, but Fuu restrained her.

"Umi!" Fuu warned. "Don't. Don't interfere."

"Fuu, I can't let this... We need to leave Cephiro!"

"Umi! Calm down," Fuu said firmly. Umi was shocked to see Fuu acting this way, not defending Hikaru.

"How can I be calm?"

"Indeed, we won't let her!" Ascot shouted. "We can't possibly sacrifice her..." LaFarga nodded in agreement.

"Impossible?" Albatross questioned. "Anything is possible for me."

"Why?" Hikaru asked softly. "What is it you truly want?"

"Simple. Your death," Albatross answered dramatically. "That's the price for peace. Your death will end everything and begin a new world. A world without a Pillar."

Those words reminded Hikaru of her vision. She remembered Clef's words, her decision to close the portal, and her choice to return to Cephiro. Is this the meaning of my vision, that I am destined to die? Should I really never have returned? Her body trembled, overwhelmed by emotions. Why is this happening when everything seems to be concluding?