The narrow staircase leading to the second floor of the castle was cold and steep. Each step they took echoed like someone else following them from behind. Xavier, Aji, and Zoro climbed steadily, but as they reached the top of the stairs, something strange happened.
Suddenly, Xavier noticed something—a quiet absence. "Zoro?" he called out, stopping abruptly. He glanced around, confused. "Zoro?"
Aji turned around, scanning the stairs below them. “He was right here. Where did he go? Did he try to play a prank on us too?”
Xavier shook his head. As, he was praying hard that his mischivious puppet was really pranking them as tried hard to connect through their mana core.
Xavier's heart sank. Zoro had been with them just moments ago, but now, he was gone. He could not feel their connection a
