"You seriously think we're supposed to fit through that?" August eyed the narrow opening with open disbelief.
"I told you to take the second unit," Klaus snapped. "You chose to come with me—so shut up and get in."
"My lord, allow me—" Pritik began, trying to ease the tension.
"I'll go first," Klaus said, already stepping forward.
"No," August cut in, dropping to the ground. "Let your elders lead."
He forced himself into the passage with clear reluctance.
"It's pitch black in here. Don't tell me we're crawling like this the whole way."
"Move," Klaus said, nudging him forward with his boot.
August swore under his breath and kept going.
Just like before, Klaus didn't summon light until the tunnel widened enough for them to stand.
Only then did a sphere of lightning flare to life in his palm, casting sharp shadows across the stone walls.
"Finally," August muttered, brushing dust off his cloak. "Which way?"
"Slow," Klaus said. "And careful. After last time, I doubt they left this unguarded."
"Agreed. From here on—silence," August said. "Pritik, keep the portal ready. If anything goes wrong, we pull out."
"Yes, Captain."
No traps.
No resistance.
The tunnel led straight into the underground prison.
Every cell was empty.
"I don't like this," August said quietly. "You told me she didn't allow soldiers inside. I assumed she'd reconsider after your escape."
"So did I," Klaus said. "But she's… not stable. I don't know what to expect anymore."
"Let's hope we don't find out the hard way. Plan?"
"You take the slaves. Opposite wing," Klaus said. "I'll deal with someone more interesting."
"The witch?" August asked. "The one supplying Minami?"
"Yes."
"Want backup?"
"No. If something happens—" Klaus lifted the communication stone briefly "—I'll call."
They split.
Klaus moved through the estate without seeing a single soldier.
Outside, however—
the perimeter was heavily guarded.
So the entrance had been kept secret.
Then why no scouts before?
The inconsistency bothered him.
He pushed it aside.
For now.
He reached the eastern basement.
No slaves.
Just one room.
Hers.
Klaus didn't knock.
He kicked the door open.
A hunched woman in violet robes sat at a cluttered table, surrounded by glass vials.
She didn't flinch.
Didn't even look surprised.
Just sighed.
"And here you are."
"You were expecting me?"
"Not hoping for it," she said calmly. "But yes."
"Your name."
"For many years, I've been called the Witch," she said. "That's enough. Now—what do you want to know, young prince?"
"You already know."
"Do I?" she tilted her head. "Who I am? Why your mother hasn't aged? Why her mind is broken?"
"Start with who you are."
"A high-ranking slave," she said. "Sent here as your mother's healer from the very beginning. My abilities go beyond medicine. This place gave me freedom to experiment."
"You used my mother," Klaus said coldly.
The Witch let out a dry laugh.
"No. Lady Minami received only perfected formulas."
"Then why were you allowed to leave?"
"To gather materials," she said. "Always under guard. What could a slave possibly say?"
"The girls."
"Yes," she said simply. "Everything has a price. Your mother's youth cost many lives."
A pause.
"When Lilith arrived, things became… more efficient. Her magic stabilized the mixtures. She lived. The others didn't."
Klaus's gaze darkened.
"The potion preserves appearance," he said. "What about her mind?"
"That has nothing to do with me," the Witch replied. "Blame your father. He took her second child. Left her alone. Tell me—how long does anyone stay sane like that?"
"Second child?" Klaus's voice sharpened. "What do you mean?"
"She means," a voice cut in, "that the current crown prince is your full brother."
Klaus turned instantly.
Sword already drawn.
Vitos stood in the doorway.
"The woman presented as his mother is a lie," he said calmly. "You share the same parents."
"What are you doing here?"
"The same as you," Vitos replied. "Looking for answers. I found them."
"Whose side are you on?"
"Minami's," he said. "Always."
"She wants me dead."
"Yes," Vitos said. "That too."
"Then what do you want?"
"What do you want?" Vitos countered.
"I expose the truth. Destroy my father. And cure her."
A pause.
"Then we're aligned."
"I don't trust you."
"I wouldn't expect you to."
"At that point," the Witch said without looking up, "she had already lost her second child. She wanted to erase the Defender line. Even if it meant killing her own sons."
Klaus exhaled slowly.
"I can't blame her," he said. "But I need to speak to her while she's lucid. If she still rejects me—I walk away."
A brief pause.
"Can you take care of her?" he asked.
"I will do whatever is necessary," Vitos replied.
"Good."
Klaus turned slightly, thinking it through.
"Then we have another problem. We need proof she's alive—without showing her like this."
Vitos gave him a long look.
"You stormed the estate without thinking that part through?"
"…Apparently."
A flicker of something almost like amusement crossed Vitos's face.
"Witch," he said, turning to her, "your potions require magic. What happens if the subject enters a world without it?"
"They weaken," she replied. "Without magical support, the effect fades. The body returns to its natural state."
"How long?"
"Impossible to say precisely. Depends on the subject. But it will happen."
"No permanent damage?" Klaus asked.
"None that I observed," she said. "At least not during my experiments."
Klaus nodded once.
"Then we send her."
"If something goes wrong, we bring her back," Vitos added.
"Transporting her won't be simple," Vitos said. "She won't cooperate."
"I'll handle that," Klaus replied. "We open the portal here. She doesn't need to move far."
"And once she's through?"
"I leave her with Pauoka," Klaus said. "Safe. Quiet. Then we find a doctor."
Vitos studied him.
"You're not coming with us?"
"I can't," he said. "There are things I need to finish here. Give me a week. I know someone in your world who can help."
"That works," Klaus said.
Silence settled for a moment.
Then both of them turned toward the Witch.
She was staring at Klaus.
Not with fear.
Something else.
Recognition.
"Something wrong?" Klaus asked.
She lowered her gaze slowly.
"I belong to my mistress," she said. "I will follow her will."
"You'll stay here," Klaus said. "If you disappear, suspicion starts immediately."
A pause.
"I'll leave someone to watch you."
He stepped closer.
"For your sake—don't talk."
The Witch gave a small nod.
Footsteps echoed faintly from the corridor.
August.
Klaus didn't need to turn to know.
"You're done here?" August asked, stepping into the doorway, eyes immediately flicking between Vitos and the Witch.
"More or less," Klaus replied.
August's gaze lingered on Vitos.
"And who's this?"
"An ally," Klaus said.
"For now," Vitos added calmly.
August didn't like that answer.
It showed.
"You trust him?" he asked.
"No," Klaus said.
A beat.
"But we're aligned."
August let out a quiet breath through his nose.
"Right. That always ends well."
Klaus ignored that.
"The slaves?" he asked.
"Secured," August replied. "No resistance. Which I don't like."
"Neither do I."
"Perimeter's full of soldiers," August added. "They're just not inside."
"Which means the entrance is still a secret," Klaus said.
"Or a trap," August countered.
"Maybe."
A pause.
"Either way, we move fast."
August glanced at Vitos again.
"If he's coming with us, I want to know exactly what he can do."
"I'm not coming," Vitos said.
August's expression sharpened.
"Convenient."
"I have my own role to play," Vitos replied calmly. "You'll understand soon enough."
"I doubt that," August muttered.
"Enough," Klaus cut in.
"We don't have time for this."
He looked at August.
"We proceed as planned. Prepare the signal. Once we move her—the second phase starts immediately."
August held his gaze.
Then nodded.
"Fine."
As they turned to leave, Klaus paused at the doorway.
Just for a second.
Then glanced back at the Witch.
"If anything changes," he said, "you tell me first."
She didn't answer.
But she didn't look away this time either.
The alliance was fragile.
Temporary.
Built on necessity.
But for now—
it would hold.
Until it didn't.