"I'm exhausted," Klaus said flatly. "These negotiations are suffocating. Why don't you handle them yourself?"
August didn't even look up.
"Klaus, stop acting like a spoiled child. You know exactly why."
A pause.
"You started this mess. You finish it."
Then, more quietly:
"Though I'll admit… it turned out better than I expected."
Klaus let out a sharp breath.
"Better? Maybe. Slower? Definitely." His jaw tightened. "I'm sick of listening to their demands. Their conditions. Their whining."
A flicker of irritation crossed his face.
"Remind me again why I declared this place neutral."
He leaned back slightly.
"It would've been far easier to kill every arrogant noble who walked through that door."
August's head snapped up.
"And that," he said sharply, "would have destroyed everything."
A step forward.
"Who would trust you after that? Who would come here? Who would even risk speaking your name?"
Klaus clicked his tongue.
"I know."
A pause.
Then—
"Has anyone come from the underground city in the last four days?"
August frowned.
"No. Why?"
Klaus's gaze darkened.
"Egor hasn't contacted me."
Silence.
"Four days."
A beat.
"That's not like him."
August exhaled slowly.
"Or maybe he finally realized what you are," he said, voice edged with something bitter, "and ran back to his quiet little world."
Klaus's response came instantly.
"No."
Firm. Absolute.
"He wouldn't leave."
A pause.
"Not without telling me."
His voice dropped.
"Something's wrong."
Another breath.
"If I don't hear from him by tonight—I'm going there myself."
"You're not," August cut in immediately.
Sharp.
Decisive.
"If you're that worried about your… lover, I'll go."
A faint, crooked smile.
"Relax. I'm sure nothing serious happened."
Klaus studied him.
"…Are you sure that's convenient for you?"
August huffed.
"You mean the part where you're sleeping with him instead of me?"
A smirk.
"Don't flatter yourself. I can survive that."
A pause.
"I'll wait. I always do."
He turned.
"I'm going."
"Klaus watched him for a second.
"…I'll be waiting for news."
A beat.
"And… thank you."
August froze mid-step.
Then groaned.
"Oh no. No, don't do that."
He turned, grimacing theatrically.
"You're terrifying when you try to be… what is that? Polite? Grateful?"
A shake of his head.
"Stop it. Go back to being the arrogant bastard I'm used to."
Klaus almost smiled.
Almost.
And for the first time—
he understood.
August wasn't joking because it was funny.
He was joking because otherwise—
he wouldn't be able to stand it.
What could be worse than going to check on the safety of the person who had taken the one you loved?
Klaus pushed the thought away.
Hard.
Another portal opened behind him.
August didn't enjoy this.
Not even a little.
But he had chosen it.
Better to deal with that irritating boy from another world himself—
than let Klaus tear everything apart over a bad feeling.
He knocked on Egor's door.
No answer.
He opened it.
Empty.
The training grounds—
empty.
The infirmary—
empty.
The dining hall.
The baths.
Even the inventors' wing.
Nothing.
No one had seen Egor for four days.
At first, August assumed the obvious.
He ran.
Coward.
Gone back to his safe, quiet world.
It would've made things simpler.
Cleaner.
Easier.
But—
something didn't fit.
Maybe it was the certainty in Klaus's voice.
That quiet, unshakable conviction.
Egor wouldn't leave.
Not like that.
August kept searching.
Hours passed.
Nothing.
Not a trace.
At one point, he even considered going to the other world himself—
just to be sure.
But that thought died immediately.
There was only one portal.
And Egor had it.
August returned to Klaus's room.
Opened the desk.
Checked the drawers.
Then—
stopped.
The portal sphere lay inside.
He went still.
That meant—
Egor hadn't left.
"Then where the hell are you…" he muttered.
He sat on the edge of the bed.
Thought.
Nothing.
No answer.
Just a growing, crawling unease.
He stood abruptly.
Enough.
He needed clarity.
Needed something—
anything—
to cut through this.
And there was one person who always made things clear.
The cell.
Empty.
For a second, August didn't move.
Didn't breathe.
Then—
cold dread hit him all at once.
Impossible.
He turned and walked fast.
Then faster.
Then—
ran.
The dining hall.
The men who brought Abel food.
"Captain? What are you talking about? The prisoner's in his cell," one of them said, confused.
August stopped.
Slowly.
Everything snapped into place.
"Idiots…" he muttered.
Abel.
The collar.
Non-mages.
Control.
Egor.
"Damn it!"
August stormed toward the barracks.
"Who left?" he demanded.
"A small unit, Captain. Said they were on a confidential order from Lord Klaus."
"Who approved it?"
"They… didn't say."
Of course they didn't.
August closed his eyes briefly.
The worst possible outcome.
Abel had Egor.
And he was heading for the capital.
If they chased now—
they'd never catch him.
Too far ahead.
Too many variables.
Only one option.
Cut the distance.
Intercept.
Near the capital.
Dangerous.
Reckless.
Too close to enemy territory.
Didn't matter.
If Klaus found out—
there would be nothing left to stop.
August moved.
Fast.
Decisive.
He chose four soldiers.
All mages.
Not the strongest.
Didn't matter.
They were immune to Abel.
That was enough.
By his estimate—
Abel would need at least five days to reach the capital on horseback.
With Egor?
Longer.
Much longer.
There were several portals near the capital.
He ignored the closest.
Too risky.
Too obvious.
Too exposed.
Instead—
he chose a point half a day away.
A small village.
A minor recruitment outpost.
Quiet.
Forgettable.
What to tell Klaus—
he didn't know.
So he decided not to tell him anything.
Handle it alone.
Fix it.
Return with Egor.
And only then—
say anything.
Klaus was busy.
Drowned in negotiations.
He wouldn't notice.
Not immediately.
He hadn't even noticed Egor was gone for four days.
August left the communication stone behind.
Took several experimental devices.
And stepped through the portal.
They emerged—
and stopped.
The village was gone.
Not damaged.
Not attacked.
Erased.
Blackened earth.
Collapsed structures.
Ash drifting through the air.
The ground still radiated heat.
Recent.
Very recent.
"What… what happened here?" one of the soldiers whispered.
August's voice was flat.
"Can't you see?"
A pause.
"A purge."
"But the trials—those haven't even started yet—"
"They found out," August cut in. "The village was connected to us."
His jaw tightened.
"We should've left more men here."
A beat.
"Too late now."
They moved forward.
Step by step.
Through what was left.
The center of the village—
had been turned into an execution ground.
Two piles.
Burned.
Blackened.
Unrecognizable.
One—
villagers.
The other—
rebels.
Between them—
a banner.
The royal crest.
Untouched.
And nearby—
trampled into the dirt—
Klaus's flag.
Torn.
Crushed.
Desecrated.
The message was clear.
"They killed everyone…" one soldier whispered.
August didn't look at him.
"That's war."
Cold.
Detached.
"You're new. You've never seen border raids. Slave hunts."
A pause.
"This is normal."
Another.
"And this—"
he gestured around them—
"is exactly what we're trying to stop."
Silence.
"…Isn't it?"
"…Yes, Captain."
A shaky breath.
"But still—this…"
"I know."
Quiet.
Low.
"Move."
They didn't stop until they reached the crossroads.
Only one road led to the capital.
No alternatives.
No detours.
They took positions.
Behind rocks.
A dead tree.
Thin, useless brush.
Pointless cover in daylight.
August pulled out the devices.
Activated them.
The air shimmered.
Warped.
Bent around them.
Camouflage.
Temporary.
Unstable.
One hour.
At most.
August climbed the dead tree.
High enough to see the road.
Far enough.
Clear.
"You can rest," he called down. "When I give the signal—activate the devices."
A pause.
"How long do you think we'll wait?" one of them asked.
August didn't look away from the road.
"…No idea."
A beat.
"Not long enough."