Two days have passed since the Royal Party's departure. The journey from the city of Pitha has been smooth and peaceful. Kim's mood seemed to have lightened as they become closer to the Dairyu Palace, though she has not yet told Pie about what is bothering her. It was the last night of the journey and the party decided to settle down for the evening. The encampment has been set into three layers, the first layer was composed of soldier's tents, the second layer was occupied by servants and the cargo while the royal family's tents were located in the middle layer. Each layer was filled with guards and torches, no one was allowed to enter the middle layer without the royal family's approval. The security was tightened because of the attack on Kim in the Bleeding Woods, no corner of the perimeter was left unlit. As they grow closer to the mountains, the weather becomes cooler which was troublesome for the Vitharian party. Kim ordered the men to make more fire pits in the camp. “Hey Pie, how are you?” Kim asked Pie as she feeds more wood to their fire pit. “I'm freezing Kim. I don't think my age is capable is for this kind of weather.” Pie replied to Kim as she placed her hands in front of the fire pit. Kim chuckled as she grabs something from her tent. When Kim came back, she wrapped a white and gray fur coat on Pie, then she gave her a ushanka with the same patterns and colors. Pie was marveled by the warmth of the coat and the ushanka, the patterns were very beautiful as well. Kim then sat next to Pie as she wraps her arm around her.

Kim: “Feeling better Princess?” Kim smiled at Pie.

Pie: “Much better. Thanks Kim.” Pie lays her head on Kim's shoulder. Jane and Puey joined in on Pie and Kim's fire pit.

Jane: “Hey guys, want to hear a ghost story.”

Pie and Puey: “Yes!”

Kim: “Uhm..” Then Yam came to the fire pit. Jane invited her to sit next to them.

Jane: “Prince Kim, don't you want to hear a ghost story?” she curiously asked.

Yam: “Hehe, Prince Kim is afraid of ghosts.” Yam chuckles.

Kim: “I'm not afraid of them, I just don't like the fact that I can't slice them with my sword.” Kim pouts as she denies.

Yam: “Well, when you were in the eastern province three years ago, you hid behind me when the maid told us the story about the headless wood cutter. And you didn't sleep for the next two nights hehe..” Yam laughed and so did Puey and Jane, but Pie did not react. She was jealous because Yam knew a side of Kim that she didn't know. Kim noticed Pie's face so she tried to lighten up the mood. “Well, ghosts don't scare me anymore. They should be more afraid of me if they try to get near Pie. I'll slice them in the next life. Hehe..” Kim chuckled and Pie started to smile again. Jane then starts her ghost story and Kim slowly lowers her head and hides her face on Pie's hair when there was a scary part. Everyone laughed through the night as the snow starts to fall.

The next day, the party was on the road again. After a few hours, Mount Akhmi starts to peek on the horizon. As they come closer, the Dairyu Palace becomes visible as well as the enclosed wall on the foot of the mountain. The wall stood 50 meters tall, it was made of stone and minerals that were quarried from the mountains. The top of the walls were guarded by archers and catapults, the main gate was made with pure stone as well while the inner gate was made with 5 inch thick woods. The front of the wall was decorated with the red and golden dragon of the Dhiratva. As they close in, horns were sounded to open the main gate and the inner gate. Inside the wall, a medium sized garrison served as homes for the soldiers who were assigned to guard the wall. There were two paths on the road, one leads to the Dhiratva kingdom proper while the other leads to the Dairyu Palace. Another gate and wall stands on the path going up the palace. The roads leading there were made of stones and the trees were all cut down to avoid dark corners and oil lamp posts were placed on each sides of the road while guard towers were on every corner. Alas, after three days of travel, the Royal Party finally arrives. Kim got out of the carriage and escorted Pie out while the rest of the family walks toward the entrance. “This palace is so enormous. It is as if they cut off a quarter of the mountain to build this.” Pie whispered to herself. Unknowingly, Kim heard Pie and answered her. “Actually, that is true. My ancestors did cut a big portion of the mountain to build the palace. It took five generations of Dhiratvanian Kings to finish this castle.” Kim then assists Pie on the stairs to the main entrance which leads to the throne room. When the doors were opened, an old lady suddenly greeted and hug Kim. “Kiiiim! My handsome nephew! You're finally home!” Kim: “Aunt In! I've missed you!” Kim hugged back. Then suddenly, Aunt In realized the Vitharian royal family was there as well. She then bows to them and Kim introduced her. “She is Duchess In of the House Keenan, she is my father's older sister and my cousin Zee's mother.” She then introduced Pie. “Kim! She really is as beautiful as the stories say.” She then focused her attention to Pie. “My dear princess, you really are like a goddess that descended from the heavens. My troublesome nephew is very lucky to have you. He can be a bit hard headed that may sometimes need some pounding but he's a good kid.” Aunt In excitedly tells Pie. She then offered to assist Pie through the throne room. Pie observed every detail of the palace. “This will be my home from now on.” She thought to herself, she then felt a bit of sadness as she missed her palace by the sea, her home for the last 18 years. She then focused on the interior of the throne room. It was twice as big as theirs, the pillars were crimson red and was decorated by golden dragon patterns. The walls were crimson red as well with gold linings. In the middle of the room was the throne. It was lifted higher than the ground and was placed against the wall. The throne was made with pure gold and dragon carvings were on its surface while rubies served as the dragon's eyes. Pie was astounded with the details of palace, everything seemed very mystical to her. “The house of the dragons surely fits their reputation.” Pie thought to herself. When they passed the throne room, they were welcomed by Zee in the formal dining hall. The formality of Kim's family seems to slowly disappear, in their own home, they seemed like any ordinary family. Pie and her parents liked this atmosphere, they joined in the chatter and the jokes as they wait for the food to be served. Aunt In was like any parent or relative, she revealed embarrassing things about Kim and Zee and King Anapan joined as well:

Aunt In: “These two knuckleheads are very troublesome! They almost set the palace on fire when they were 10 years old.” Aunt In chuckles as Kim and Zee defend themselves.

Zee: “We were just trying to imitate the dragons from your story mother.”

Kim: “Yeah, Aunt In! You basically influenced us to do it!” Kim laughs and the others laugh as well.

King Anapan: “But I bet she did not tell you to grab a couple of dragon skulls and put flames in their mouths huh?” They all laughed harder and then, food was served. It was Kim's favorite dish, Roasted Chicken. The palace halls were filled with joy and laughter for the first time in three years. A calm before the storm.