Figures appeared one after another beside Little Gwen: a pristine white unicorn, a tiny squirrel, a skunk crawling along at a leisurely pace... and even a girl wielding a longsword.
These were all Little Gwen's friends—friends she had imagined, friends she cherished most.
Theus was somewhat surprised. Little Gwen had told him about her friends many times, or rather, everything Little Gwen had ever told him was about her friends.
This was the first time he had seen them with his own eyes.
"With my friends by my side, I'm not afraid of anything."
Little Gwen held Theus's hand and looked resolutely at Jules. "We're leaving."
"Oh, Theus, you aren't staying?"
Theus lowered his head to glance at Little Gwen, then slowly shook his head.
"I'm leaving with her."
Leaving behind a shell that could communicate with Jules would indeed be somewhat useful, but it was nothing compared to Little Gwen's safety.
He would not be at ease unless he personally watched Little Gwen leave Rhine.
Jules looked Theus up and down, then suddenly grinned.
"Fine. Let me see just how far you can go."
A section of the empty palace suddenly collapsed with a thunderous crash. An enormous construct of steel crushed the ornate bricks and stones as a massive steam fortress crashed down like a mountain!
Theus's eyes widened. The sight was far too shocking. The steel body rapidly grew larger in his vision—then abruptly stopped.
A gigantic skeletal claw blocked it in front of him.
Theus turned to look at Little Gwen. She awkwardly turned her head aside. "Sorry, I hope I didn't scare you... This is my true form."
Theus shook his head and tightened his grip on the girl's hand.
Guards from the Candlelight Society poured out, opening fire at them with their guns, only