Chapter 47: The Princess of the Seven Swords

 Marcel's action of looking for the management team to prepare in advance for the search and rescue team was indeed a brilliant idea but the heavy rain continuously poured, causing the mission to be put to halt. He was also aware that there wouldn't be any phone signals during heavy rain as he sat at the management office's shed sighing helplessly.

Andrew and Sandra who noticed Marcel was rushing off earlier had trailed him and as they saw his desperate efforts went to no avail, they accompanied him by his side to wait out the heavy downpour.

"Was the confession a dream or was it real?" Ivy woke to find herself under the aurora skies and instantly recognised the tall figure in front of her as she recalled the last question she heard from Jason. Ivy realised that stood in front of her was her younger self who was sitting on the ground in her paracosm and Jason doesn't seem to see her as she watches him focusing on her younger self.

"Hi!" Little Ivy was calling out to the teenage Jason in his dream. He reached out to the little girl instantly and pulled her younger self up to stand as they both stood under the aurora sky by the frozen lake. Little Ivy's eyes kept twinkling as she smiled at him and twirled around him as he admired her adorableness. 

Jason felt a nostalgic feeling when little Ivy pledged her future to him before running off to her mother. Ivy finally realised the teenager guy whom she always couldn't recall his face was Jason all along as she cried tears of joy.

The sound of notifications flooding in both their phones woke Jason. It was still dark when he checked the time on his phone and realised it was nearly six at dawn and the rain finally had subsided. He saw Marcel's messages telling him about him receiving Ivy's messages and updating him about the rescue team was on their way. 

A part of him was glad at Ivy's brilliant idea of leaving messages unsent as he closed his eyes. As he was too weak to move much and was struggling to keep himself awake, he tried to recall the dream he just had. He remembered every detail of the place which was where he had visited with his parents during his teenage days but he couldn't recall the face of the little girl as he sat still with Ivy in his arms. The sudden rumble of the thunder startled Jason to force open his eyes slightly but he couldn't manage to keep them open for long as the drowsiness was overwhelming. Just when Jason thought it was going to continue to pour again and the rescue team might not make it, he could hear voices calling out to him and Ivy. A part of him was counting his blessings as he let himself give into his drowsiness. 

Marcel breathed a sigh of relief at the sight of both of them being safe though weak and unconscious. While watching the rescue team put them on to the stretchers and carry them out from the shed, he secretly hoped they both had reconciled. He wouldn't want to go through another chaotic sleepless night with their matters ever again.

With the camp cancelled, Sandra and Andrew had notified their parents about the incident. Sandra also informed her mother to let Ivy's family know about it and which hospital Ivy was sent to.

When Ivy's family arrived, they saw Jason lying on the opposite side of Ivy's bed in a room as they quickly surrounded Ivy. Ray decided to check on Jason who was still unconscious since Ivy's side was crowded. All of them end up sitting around the room, hoping for both of them to be awake soon. Marcel, who came back from the cafeteria with a cup of coffee to watch over both Jason and Ivy ended up waiting outside the room alone as he tried to endure his fatigue and leave the family some time alone with them.

Ivy was finding herself intermittently thrown between the aurora paracosm into her grandma's iris plains. One minute she finds herself with Jason who rescued her from falling off into the frozen lake under the aurora skies and one minute later, she finds herself in her grandma's arms.

"Grandma?" Ivy gently called out as she lifted her right arm to touch her cheek.

"Ivy… You're alright?" Grandma asked as Ivy sat up quickly to find herself surrounded by The King, Phoenix and her grandma in the middle of the yellow irises plains.

"Ivy, listen to grandma… Your mother is sealed temporarily out from this shield. We have limited time for you to escape with your father and your twin brother. Follow them back to where you come from Ivy… Only with that could you be protected. Only then could your destiny be changed and grandma hopes very much for you to be able to make it this time…" Her grandma pleaded with Ivy as Ivy blinked in confusion while trying to understand what her grandma was trying to tell her.

"I don't understand this grandma.. this is where we belong…" As Ivy spoke, she was quickly interrupted.

"No, my dear… this is where I belong with your dogs you rescued all your life. This is where I will always be when you need me. I will always be here and I would never perish for as long as I live here." Her grandma explained as she placed her hand gently on Ivy's heart.

"My dear child… for your safety, you must leave here to the tower of reflection and let your twin brother guide you there, please…" Her grandma pleaded again.

"Why? Where is this tower of reflection?" Ivy asked everyone as Phoenix sighed.

"It's in our kingdom… The one I promised to bring you to after the chaos is over…" Phoenix explained as Ivy looked at Phoenix with more doubts.

"Ivy, stop contemplating… all the answers you wanted to know, you will find them there in your kingdom. Where you belong…" Her grandma persuaded again.

"Where is the kingdom? What is it called?" Ivy asked sceptically.

"It's the kingdom of the seven swords. You're the princess of the seven swords… I am the King of the seven swords...." The King said as Ivy looked at their three faces in confusion. She has thousands of questions for them but she was too speechless to ask any.

"Leave… You have to go now, Ivy… My son, start moving…" Her grandma urged as The King summoned his sword and Ivy's as The King led Ivy to step onto her sword before he stepped on his while Phoenix got ready to fly with them.

Before Ivy left, she quickly turned around to hug her grandma. "Grandma… promise me you will still be here when I return…" Ivy cried as her grandma patted her head and nodded.

"Go, my princess… Change your destiny this time!" Her grandma let go of Ivy's hand as she rode with her family to a faraway land while the shield exploded right when Ivy and her family disappeared from the perimeters of the iris plains.

Ivy was fidgeting in her hospital bed as she fought her tears watching her entire dog kingdom explode into flames before she travelled at the speed of light with her family into another kingdom she was told was her home. She comforted herself by remembering the words of her grandma; for as long as she and her dogs lived in her heart, they would still be there once she returned.

As she blinked back her tears, she opened her eyes to find herself looking back at the bright white lights of the hospital room. She tried to blink a few times only to see a few black shadows hovering over her. The memories of being with Jason in the jungle when it was raining heavily jolted her senses to sit up and called out to him.

"Jason!" Ivy yelled while knocking into Ryu who was peering down at her earlier.

"Ouch!" Ryu and Ivy yelled in pain as Ray caught Ryu on the left while Peter caught Ivy on the right side before they inspected their injuries respectively. Fortunately, there weren't any scars but maybe a little bruise which will grow on them later.

"Jason? Where's he?" Ivy instantly asked her father who was busy inspecting her face and head as she struggled to endure the pain while wincing. Peter stopped momentarily to look at his daughter who had just woken helplessly as he pointed to his right and Ivy smiled in relief seeing Jason sitting up opposite her bed smiling back at her. Ivy breathed a sigh of relief recalling his confession as she pondered for a moment if she should daringly agree to him but decided she might need some time to think things over.

"All you do the first thing you wake up is to ask where are other people? Haven't you know what happened to you? Aren't you worried about yourself?" Peter nagged as Ivy smiled and hugged him.

"I'm sorry… I'm sorry… I'm fine now… Would you stop nagging?" Ivy pleaded with Peter as she gave him a pitying look which melted his heart but he still didn't want to give in.

"No… Let go…" Peter said as Ivy held on tightly.

"Daddy… I'm sorry… Please forgive me…" Ivy begged as she stole a kiss on his cheek.

Peter was completely defeated by his daughter as he smiled. "I thought you would be better than your brothers but you're equally good at worrying this old man…" Peter complained as Ivy chuckled and turned around to check on Ryu. Ray was still helping him to rub his forehead.

"You're alright, Ryu? Sorry for the sudden jolt… It might turn out to be a bruise later…" Ivy apologised as Ryu patted her head.

"Worry about yours first, pretty face…" Ryu pressed lightly on her forehead as Ivy yelped in pain and smacked him as Jin and Ray chuckled at their child play.

"Could you two please grow up?" Jin nagged playfully as he poured a glass of water for Ivy.

"There… Stay hydrated…" Jin offered as Ivy drank the entire glass and returned him the empty cup. "Thank you…" Ivy smiled as Jin nodded in acknowledgement with a smile too.

Marcel had been standing outside of the room as he watched the happy family chat noisily while Jason watched them. A part of him was happy for Ivy to finally find her happiness but a part of him knew Jason and Ivy's matters might not have been completely resolved. Judging from Jason's sad smile, there must be matters which were unresolved. Marcel sighed as he sat back down and held his pounding head trying to think of ways to resolve their matter.

"When are you all leaving?" Ivy asked her brothers as they all avoided eye contact. She turned around and tilted her head waiting for Peter to answer. 

Jason who was watching from afar couldn't help but be smitten by her little actions which looked like the missing piece the family needed. A part of him wondered if Ivy heard his confession last night and if she were to reject him, what would he do as he had gone too far to turn around anymore. For now, all he could do was to watch her living with happiness among her family as that was one of the hopes he had for her in revealing the truth and he was glad he made that decision.

"Darling…" Peter held Ivy in his arms. "We were supposed to leave tonight but with your condition, none of us could bear to leave you alone here…"

"Daddy… I am fine now… They have schools and classes that they shouldn't miss. Besides, when are the share transfer documents going to be ready?" Ivy asked nonchalantly switching topics.

"Darling… you're just awake and you're already concerned about work? Looks like I need to keep you close to me and grounded soon to teach you a better lesson at taking care of yourself…" Peter nagged as Ivy chuckled.

"Alright… I am sorry but don't worry… I have Auntie Soh. Besides, Sandra and Andrew will be coming along with me. They initially wanted to find an internship offer in the psychology field. So, all of you can go ahead and leave as scheduled and I have another shareholder who needs to come along too…" Ivy pointed towards Jason's direction as Peter snarled playfully at Ivy.

"It runs in the family, doesn't it for being so smart?" Peter sighed helplessly. "Fine, fine… We will leave tonight and promise me you will stay out of trouble. I will see you in Landsfield and the construction of your grandma's house starts tomorrow. I have shifted all your belongings to Landsfield. Once you're discharged, you could directly fly over to Landsfield." Peter explained his arrangements as Ivy nodded and hugged him.

"See… You don't have to worry… All is well now…" Ivy said as Peter sighed, gladly feeling defeated by his own beloved daughter.

The family stayed for another few hours before they reluctantly left Ivy with Jason in the room alone. Ivy finally could have a good look at the man she had been contemplating for way too long.

"Hello, stranger…" Jason greeted as he winked from afar with his leg in a case as Ivy decided to move over to his side of the room with her drip.

"Hey… Stay there…" Jason instructed as Ivy shook her head while walking over.

"Here… I will have a better view of you and I don't have to talk so loud." Ivy said as she took a seat by the side of his bed. Jason shifted a little to the right side of his bed and patted his left side for her to climb in.

"Come…" Jason smiled as Ivy jumped up from her seat excitedly and hopped on the bed with him.

"There… is this better?" Jason asked as she sat leaning on him while he wrapped her in his arm. Ivy nodded.

"Thanks to you for being so smart that when the rain stopped, your unsent messages were sent to Marcel…" Jason praised Ivy as he kissed her forehead which made her smile widely with her eyes closed. Ivy didn't notice how sleepy she was before this when her family was around until she was all wrapped up in Jason's arms that she couldn't keep her eyes open for too long. Jason's heart melted at the sight of her beauty this close by his side.

"I was wondering how you had that energy earlier when your family was around…" Jason mumbled as he tucked Ivy closer to him.

"I was enduring them but again I was really energetic earlier… I don't know how but guess your chest is still comfy than ever. I didn't want them to be worried either…" Ivy mumbled back.

"Sleep… Sleep all you want. I will be with you by your side tonight…" Jason comforted as Ivy snuggled into his arms.

Marcel, who returned back to the front of the room's door after sending off Ivy's family, knew he too should return home as he watched the couple cuddled comfortably in a single bed by the glass panel on the door. He sighed in relief as he smiled and walked off to the car park.

Ivy opened her eyes a little after a while and found herself back in her paracosm. She saw the orange-red sunset sky ahead of her. She noticed she no longer was standing on her flying sword but was lying on Phoenix as she beamed with comfort.

"Phoenix…" Ivy called out as Phoenix turned his head slightly to his right to catch a glimpse of his twin sister.

"Yes, Ivy?" Phoenix echoed.

"Is our home as pretty as this?" Ivy cooed as Phoenix smiled.

"You will be surprised…Hold on tight!" He teased as he twirled Ivy in the sky a few times sending her into little excited squeals. The King who was guarded far in front turned around for a while to watch the twins enjoying themselves as he savoured the moment and hoped for the best for the both of them.

If this time, Phoenix could help The King to atone for all his sins of many generations, The King would be forever grateful to Phoenix for a chance to change Ivy's destiny on their last chance through the tower of reflection. Otherwise, if history repeated itself again, The king would then have to use his last resort which was to trigger both twins' evil side and let the unknown chaos be unleashed which he was also unaware of how bad the damage would be if that's the case. As he lamented on the upcoming arduous journey for his twins, he slowed down his sword to give both of them more time to have some fun while they could.