It was an unbelievably absurd story and with every word that the Great Wizard punched, Nicadeaus read and detected malice. In his opinion, what the Wizard was doing was trying to confuse him even more in order to continue with his revenge against the Emperor, his father. The Great Wizard was already wicked enough to admit to him that he had used him to advance his revenge agenda against the Emperor. He couldn't trust any other thing that came from his mouth. Maybe it was another plot. Maybe he was planning another avenue for his vengeance. But he was not going to wait for the Wizard's plan to mature for execution. This time he was going to fail, this time he was going to fall.
On the other hand, Cinderella was in another denial. Revina was her daughter and that was that. This nonsense of being a non-resident wasn't going to convince her otherwise. She refused to believe that Revina could have any supernatural powers. She was her baby, her child from the upper dimension, Palawa Kingdom. Malin may have been adopted, she couldn't trust Nicadeaus either. She hadn't known Nicadeaus had a son until recently so it could be that Malin was actually not his son. But even so, how could Malin have managed to kill Prince Mamadu, an immortal if what the Great Wizard said was true?
Nicadeaus resolved to hunt Malin and Revina down, if indeed they were in Dalawa empire and prove to the Wizard that his story was hogwash, pathetic. But he was also prepared for an upset. Should it turn out to be true, then his plan to eliminate Malin could face problems. It was harder to defeat a prince without the dark magic yet the Wizard was claiming that Malin was immune to the dark magic. His father's reign was just about to end and he was prepared to present himself before the royal court in order to convince them that under the circumstances, they had no choice but to let him succeed his father. If Malin was in deed a prince, then his quest could have complications again. But this time he was prepared to do anything to regain his place.
But Cinderella had other plans. She wasn't going to allow anybody harm her daughter now that she knew she was still alive and in Dalawa empire. She was going to defend her and protect her like she always does, like she had always done in Palawa Kingdom. She was well aware that outside the Hill of Doom, which acted as the gate between Palawa Kingdom and Dalawa empire, her powers were useless against Nicadeaus but she was prepared to risk it. But if what the Great Wizard said were true, then her daughter was safe for Nicadeaus couldn't kill a prince unless he used dark magic. Malin, according to the Wizard himself, had powers beyond any magic, stronger than the evil Prince Mamadu. He couldn't be defeated.
"Have you even for a second considered what could happen should the Wizard's story turn out to be true?" She asked Nicadeaus as they left the Hill of Doom, her powers fading with every forward step she took.
"Yes," he replied. "But either way, your daughter and that good for nothing son of mine are going to die."
"You sound so confident yet you couldn't even defeat them in the upper dimension where you were like a god. What makes you think you can kill them here now?"
"In the upper dimension I must have underestimated them because I didn't know any of this. But now I do."
"So you believe the Wizard?"
"No, but I believe there is a reason they were able to cross the portal. I believe your story, I despise his."
"Then I would suggest you leave them alone."
"You are mad. I won't do that, not if he could possibly take the crown in my stead. That's never going to happen."
"So you are going to hunt them down after all."
"Yes, and this time, your beloved daughter is not going to run away from me."
"Why can't you just accept that you've lost and let it go? Why is your ego this fat?"
"Mind how you talk to me Cinderella. Don't forget that we are already getting out of this doomed hill and in this empire, your powers are nothing against me. I can squash you in a minute and at anytime."
"That may be so but it still doesn't mean you are going to win against an undefeatable prince. He beat you once when he was just a normal man, he'll beat you again now that he is a prince. I guarantee you."
"You are pathetic."
"And you are a pigheaded egocentric maniac who cannot see anything beyond his nose. Just so you know, I'm going to defend my daughter at whatever cost."
"I'm glad to hear that because finally I'm going to have a golden opportunity to get my revenge. And this time, even your pleadings won't derail my plan even for a second."
"We'll see you bastard."
They split as they entered the city, each disguised differently. None of them wanted to be recognized because that would mean their arrest. Nicadeaus was still a fugitive and if spotted in Dalawa by any of the royal army, he was to be reported and immediately arrested. Cinderella was also a fugitive though hers was self imposed by fear. Nobody knew about what she did but out of fear of being discovered and put to death, she had hidden her face and her identity from everyone including her family that she had never visited for thirty years.
The city was full of people when they entered. In one or two families, there was a funeral taking place, sadly confirming to Nicadeaus that the Great Wizard was indeed right. But he still couldn't believe it until he heard it from Malin himself. He had to find him and find him fast.