The doors creaked open, and both Juliana and Cistar stepped into the room. Juliana had traded her wedding dress for a dark violet gown that draped elegantly around her, evoking the somber air of a widow. The transformation was striking; she now looked both regal and haunting.

As her gaze fell upon Kosu, a moment of silent recognition passed between them. Then, with grace befitting her noble lineage, she curtsy deeply. "I apologize for my late introduction. I am Juliana, daughter of Duke Valet. Thank you for saving me."

Kosu, taken aback by her poise and sincerity, stuttered, "No, this is what we need to do. I cannot leave a person in crisis."

Juliana offered a soft smile, her eyes reflecting gratitude and an underlying sadness. Cistar motioned for them to take their seats, and the atmosphere shifted as they settled into a more formal arrangement.

Before the team could ask their last round of questions, Cistar spoke, her voice steady yet laced with anticipation. "Before we continue, I would like you to hear my request."

The team exchanged glances, their expressions a mix of curiosity and apprehension. They leaned in, fully attentive, ready to absorb whatever Cistar had to say. This moment felt pivotal, and they understood that her request could hold significant weight in their quest to navigate the complexities of the manor.

"Please, listen carefully," Cistar continued, her gaze scanning each member of the team. "What I ask of you is not simple. As you know, this manor is steeped in darkness, and many souls are trapped within its confines. I wish for you to help me free those who remain bound to this place. In doing so, you will not only release them but also help restore balance to the manor itself."

Juliana nodded solemnly, her expression mirroring Cistar's gravity. "It is a chance for redemption—for both the lost souls and for my family's legacy."

The team absorbed her words, the weight of the request settling heavily upon them. They understood that this was not just a plea for help; it was a call to confront the past and reshape the future of the manor and its inhabitants.

With the atmosphere thick with tension and purpose, they prepared to respond, knowing that their next steps would be crucial in determining the fate of not only themselves but also those trapped within the manor's dark embrace.

Jenna was the first to break the tense silence, her voice steady but challenging. "What if we don't accept this request? What will you do to us?"

Cistar smiled, but there was an edge to it, a hint of aggression lurking beneath her calm exterior. "Nothing. You are free to go. But keep in mind that you are inside my domain, okay?"

Thorn, sensing the underlying threat, quickly interjected, "Please tell us what we need to do first8."

Cistar's smile widened, a flicker of approval in her eyes. "I believe you are more professional than I am at dealing with dungeons. How will you handle a dungeon filled with dozens of monsters like this?"

Kosu and Thorn exchanged knowing glances and simultaneously realized, "The dungeon core!"

Cistar nodded, pleased. "Yes, gentlemen. I need you to find and destroy the core to set free all the souls that have been bound to it."

Miko's brow furrowed with concern. "But what about you and Juliana?"

Juliana shook her head firmly. "Nothing will happen to us. We remain bound to this manor, but at least the souls of all those who have been trapped here can finally ascend to heaven."

Jenna pressed further, "Do you know where this core is? It will take a long time to search this whole manor!"

Cistar shook her head regretfully. "Unfortunately, we who are bound to the core cannot go near it, so we do not know its exact location."

Jenna felt a wave of unease wash over her at the answer.

"But we do know the places where we cannot go," Cistar added, her tone shifting slightly. "That should give you a head start."

Riku jumped in, eager to clarify the situation. "What about our last question?"

Cistar looked surprised for a moment but then returned to her calm demeanor. "You can continue after you've completed my request. Or did you want to ask it now?"

Miko quickly intervened, blocking Riku's mouth with her hand. "No, no! We should focus on the request first, right?" She leaned closer, whispering, "I have a lot of questions too, but let's save them. I'm sure many will be answered once we start the quest!"

With the mission set before them, the team exchanged resolute nods, ready to take on the challenges that awaited them in the depths of the manor. The weight of their task hung in the air, but so did a sense of purpose, driving them forward into the unknown.

Kosu looked around at his teammates, determination etched on his face. "Which places are the potential locations of the dungeon core?" he asked Cistar, eager to gather more information.

Cistar nodded thoughtfully. "There are three places in the manor that I cannot go. The first is the maze in the garden, the second is the treasure room, and the last is the ritual chamber underground. Either these places have artifacts that prevent me from approaching them, or the dungeon core resides there, keeping me from destroying it myself."

Kosu quickly pieced it together. "I've been to the garden maze while searching for an exit. There's definitely a mechanism that prevents the use of magic there. I thought it was just some artifact of the Duke to keep outsiders away."

Riku's eyes lit up. "That's our head start! With my scouting abilities, we can surely find a way to navigate through the maze."

Riku then recalled the second place. "I passed by the treasure room when I was checking the manor. The lock was impossible to pick. We'll need to find the key to get in."

Kosu checked his pockets, his heart racing at the thought. "Could it be the key from the servants' chamber? Here, let me give it to the team to check."

Miko chimed in, her brow furrowing. "So, the ritual chamber is underground. I think I may have passed through it when I checked the hidden stairs. I'll need to go back and investigate it one more time."

Jenna, feeling a spark of excitement, suggested, "Since Cistar has freed us from her familiars, we can use the radio to communicate now."

Cistar smiled in agreement, her presence a steadying force.

Thorn, taking charge, laid out the plan. "Then it's clear what we need to do. Riku, you'll check the garden maze and put your scouting skills to good use. Kosu, you should investigate the treasure room; the key could be what we need to open it. Miko, you and I will head to the ritual chamber. You're not a combatant, so I'll protect you. Jenna, I'm counting on you to prepare the equipment and set up our radio communications. While you're at it, try to send a telegram to HQ to inform them of our situation."

Miko, Riku, and Jenna all saluted, their resolve shining through. "Roger!" they chorused.

Kosu, not used to military lingo but caught up in the moment, followed suit and saluted as well. "Roger!"

After the team saluted, Cistar stepped forward, her voice firm yet encouraging. "May the spirits guide you and grant you strength in your quest. Good luck."

Juliana, her gaze softening, added, "And may you find the peace and resolution you seek. I believe in each of you."

As the team prepared to leave, Juliana caught Kosu's eye. "I... I'm sorry for mistaking you for my husband earlier," she said, her voice tinged with regret. "It was a moment of weakness, I suppose."

Kosu flashed a carefree smile, the kind that radiated warmth and reassurance. "No need to worry, Juliana. Just believe in me. I will surely complete this request and free your family's souls."

In that moment, as she looked at him, Juliana could see shadows of her husband, Calisto, flickering in Kosu's presence. Memories flooded her mind—the way Calisto had smiled, the strength he had exuded. She whispered his name softly, "Calisto," feeling it escape her lips like a gentle breath.

Kosu noticed her moment of vulnerability and gave her an encouraging thumbs-up. "We've got this," he said, his voice infused with confidence.

With that, he turned to join the team, stepping out into the unknown with determination. As they made their way down the corridor, Juliana felt a flicker of hope ignite within her. She watched them go, the shadows of her past mingling with the promise of the future, ready to take the next steps toward healing and liberation.

With their roles assigned and a sense of purpose ignited, the team felt ready to face the challenges ahead. Each member understood the weight of their task and the importance of their mission to uncover the truth behind the manor's darkness. They set off, determined to navigate their respective paths and bring them one step closer to freeing the souls bound within the manor's depths.