Jacob, Maria, and Lidia all quietly snuck out of the dungeon, gently closing the door behind them as they left. Jacob made sure to grab the charm around the guard’s neck before leaving. Lidia looked at Jacob with surprise as they walked.

"Was that you who controlled those creepy roots?"

"It was. I can explain later."

"Man. We could’ve used you help last summer. Those roots back then were the biggest pain in the ass."

When they reached the top of the stairs to run out into the palace hallway, they had Jacob peak his head out to see if the coast is clear.

"Do you see anything?"

"Just some palace servants cleaning, but no one that would be a threat to us."

"Do you have a plan to get us out of here? How are we supposed to sneak through the kingdom without being seen?"

"That’s why we won’t sneak through the kingdom."

"What do you mean?"

"My father gave Mr. Katra a key to a secret exit in the palace that supposedly leads outside. That’s what we’re going to look for."

"You don’t know where it is already?"

Jacob tried his best to remain calm, but inside he was secretly panicking. What he was attempting was a massive gamble. Staying in the palace close to his uncle was the last place they wanted to be. However, it was hard to determine if that was safer than simply booking it through the crowded streets of the kingdom.

"We’ll find it. I’ll make sure of it. I remember him saying it was in the back of the palace. That means it’s going to be by the training grounds, or possibly even in them. That should be the first place we look."

"How are we going to sneak past those palace servants."

"... We don’t."

Maria paled.

"What do you mean we don’t?! What if they report our presence to the king?!"

"Then we simply have to run fast enough to buy us as much time as possible. Even if these first servants were to run and report their sightings, if we assume the king is in the throne room, that gives us five to ten minutes to escape."

Even Lidia seemed uncertain with the plan.

"Are you sure that’s going to be enough time?"

"It’s going to have to be. Now follow me as fast as you possibly can."

Jacob moved his legs to start sprinting. However, once he tried pushing off the ground with his first step, his muscles refused to push forward with any might. A small bit of hopelessness grew in his gut.

"Shit. I think I overdid it with my power earlier."

Maria, without wasting a single second, scooped him up in her arms and started sprinting down the hallway. Both her and Lidia were moving so fast that the air was pushing Jacob’s hair straight up. He couldn’t believe how fast she was for being so malnourished.

It took them hardly any time to reach the back of the palace where the training grounds were. They opened the door and quietly closed it behind them. Maria was still holding on to Jacob.

"Uh... Maria? You can put me down now. I can walk, just not very fast currently."

Maria ignored him and kept looking around for clues.

"No thank you. I’ll just carry you instead."

"What?! What do you mean no thank you?! I wasn’t asking nicely, that was a command!!"

Lidia hit him on the head with her elbow.

"OW! What the hell was that for?! Let me help you both search!"

"Don’t tell my daughter what to do! If she wants to carry you, well it’s your lucky day! So, stop being so ungrateful, sit tight, and stop whining!"

Jacob couldn’t believe what he was hearing. How could Lidia be on Maria’s side when time was actively against them?

Jacob racked through his brain trying to remember his father’s exact words.

’... near the wall by the back of the palace... did he mean on the wall or simply near it? And by wall did he mean the palace walls or the wall surrounding us?’

"You need to find a keyhole of any sorts on the walls. If you can’t, we have to travel outside and look on the kingdom’s walls for anything."

Suddenly, they heard the door creak open behind them. Maria held Jacob tighter and gave the door a menacing glare, waiting to attack anyone who came through. Lidia prepared to flash towards whoever walked through as well. When they saw who entered though...

"...Doc?"

It was none other than the palace doctor. He seemed to be in great health for someone so old. Not only that, but he seemed to be less narcoleptic than he normally was. Maria and Lidia were still trying to assess if he was a threat or not. They slowly watched each movement he took as he walked towards them.

"Jacob. I’m glad to see you are okay. I went down there to rescue you myself just now, but to my shock, you already seemed to be planning something yourself."

Jacob’s heart dropped.

"You... were going to help us escape?"

"Well, that was the plan. By the way, that was quite a mess you left down there. You’re lucky I found it before your uncle did. It’s taken care of now, so we have more time."

Jacob still tried to wrap his head around what was going on.

"Why are you helping us? How do I know you aren’t with my uncle?"

Doc smiled brightly.

"Because if I was on your uncle’s side, you would all be dead where you stand right now."

Chills were sent down everyone’s spine. Even though the old man seemed to say it innocently, it felt like he meant every single word. Not only that, but Jacob had a feeling that it wasn’t an empty threat. Doc seemed to notice their fearful expression and eased up slightly.

"Sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. You can just think of me as the better uncle if that makes me seem less creepy. I knew your parent’s very well before... anyway, we need to escape."

"You didn’t answer my first question. Why are you helping us?"

"Why? It was your father’s final command to me to keep you and your friend safe. So, that is what I intend on doing."

"Why did it take you so long to come and save us?"

"Whoever was guarding your cell always had that stupid charm. I needed to figure out a way to take them down without my power. As much as I hate to admit it, these old bones can’t really put up a good fight without it. I’m sorry for what you went through without my help."

Lidia and Maria were still skeptical, but they almost had no choice but to trust the old man.

"Oh, by the way, why is that woman holding you like a child?"

Maria blushed and dropped Jacob immediately out of embarrassment.

"I was just letting him down. He was a bit tired is all!"

Jacob laid on the ground defeated.

"That’s just... not really true!"

Maria started stepping on him as he tried to argue.

"Can we just find this secret exit, please!!"

Doc seemed to react to Jacob’s words and slowly started walking towards a random wall in the room surrounding the training area. Meanwhile, Lidia, Maria and Jacob kept butting heads.

"You were the one who wanted me to hold you!"

"I asked you to put me down! It was Lidia who was insistent on you keeping me there!"

"That’s mom to you! And don’t you think I forgot what you two did while you were in the cell together! I won’t allow anymore dates until Jacob gets his tendencies under control!!"

Jacob and Maria both started blushing heavily.

"Tendencies?!"

"No more dates?!"

Jacob and Maria kept trying to talk over each other to defend themselves.

"That wasn’t even anything you thought it was!! Maria was the one who woke up on-"

"But mom, you can’t just take away dates from me! I’m a grown woman who can make my own-"

"... and did I forget to mention how she was attacking me after it happened! I’m the victim here if you really-"

"... I thought you said before that Jacob made a great son-in-law! Were you lying to me?!"

As they continued bickering, they heard a loud click sound from where Doc was. He looked over with a small dark key in his hand and waved.

"If you all are done, the way out is open. I was the only with a key to this passage besides your dad."

The trio looked at each other then slowly started walking toward the revealed exit.