Return from the Trial – Reunion at the Stairway
The glow of the teleportation faded, and the three adventurers — Andras, Floralys, and Ironclaw — found themselves back on the spiral staircase of the deep tower. The air still vibrated with lingering magic, and MS Eli's spectral form hovered beside Andras's shoulder as if she had always belonged there.
Floralys looked around, then let out a relieved sigh.
"So we're back at the entrance? Welcome again, Young Wolf. I assume all of us passed Eli's trial — even Ironclaw."
Ironclaw puffed out her chest proudly.
"Eli wasn't even smart! I was smarter than her!"
MS Eli snorted.
"You think you fooled me, little wolf? Thanks to you, I saw something interesting for the first time in a thousand years!"
Then she quickly corrected herself:
"I mean… you have an excellent team, Young Wolf. All three of you passed the sacred trial."
Floralys turned toward the spirit with a mischievous smile.
"Well, Eli! Will you be haunting my castle from now on?"
MS Eli crossed her arms as she floated.
"Don't dream. Wherever Young Wolf takes the staff, that's where I go."
Floralys's eyes lit up.
"So Young Wolf received your staff? I don't mind — but in exchange, let me play with your staff tonight, Young Wolf."
MS Eli instantly darted between them.
"That staff is under my protection now! Only someone who defeats at least one Demon General is worthy of it!"
Floralys paused, then spoke with complete seriousness:
"Then if I defeat a Demon General, will you marry me? Though I doubt I could defeat one alone. What if we defeat one together? That could be our engagement symbol."
MS Eli froze.
Andras quickly stepped in before the situation spiraled into even greater absurdity.
"It's getting late, but we still need to discuss a possible demon attack. Floralys, please inform Christina — the three of us will sit down and plan our tactics against the demons."
Floralys nodded.
"Don't you want to inform the King or the Hero?"
"The King brought this on himself if the demons attack. And the Hero can take care of herself."
Floralys tilted her head thoughtfully.
"What about the Redwoods?"
Andras shrugged.
"I don't know them. I don't trust them."
Floralys's smile returned.
"Then it will be just the sweet trio."
"Four of us," Andras corrected. "I'm counting on MS Eli's wisdom too."
MS Eli straightened proudly.
"Of course! I even have experience fighting Demon Generals. Though one of them wasn't actually a demon — he was a beast‑man. Truly."
Andras's eyes sharpened.
"And what kind of beast‑man?"
MS Eli's expression darkened.
"That's the thing… it was impossible to tell. He wore some cursed necklace that distorted his form. But one thing was certain: he hated humans even more than the demons did."
Andras nodded slowly.
"The Empire must have been cruel to beast‑folk even a thousand years ago."
MS Eli sighed.
"So that hasn't changed? Wonderful. A thousand years and the Imperials still haven't grown a heart."
The silence of the deep tower wrapped around them.
The trials were over —
but the real danger was only beginning.
Back to the Great Hall
Young Wolf, Floralys, Ironclaw, and MS Eli returned to the great hall, where the guests were still chatting, drinking, or preparing for the next day's hunt. Their sudden disappearance — and equally sudden reappearance — drew more than a few curious glances.
Floralys stepped over to Christina, whispered a few words, and soon the three nobles — along with MS Eli floating beside Young Wolf, invisible to everyone else — slipped out of the hall again. They headed straight toward Lady Greenwood's bedchamber.
Two pairs of eyes followed them with particular interest.
Princess Anabella.
And Eris, the Hero.
The Princess narrowed her eyes. She had consumed a bit too much honey‑wine.
"Young Wolf disappeared with Floralys for quite a long time. Now they return, and immediately leave again with Christina. This is very suspicious. Something naughty is going on. I'm sure they're having an affair."
Eris raised an eyebrow.
"That's a pretty hasty conclusion. Floralys and Young Wolf are both mages. Maybe she just took him to show him some magical things. Master Albert does that all the time. The old man is obsessed with that stuff."
The Princess crossed her arms.
"Fine. Then explain why Christina left with them."
Eris fell silent.
"…Alright, I admit, that is suspicious."
The Princess nodded with great satisfaction. Her wineglass was already empty.
"Good. Then we're going to investigate."
Eris stared at her in disbelief.
"You seriously want to follow them."
But Princess Anabella had already grabbed Eris's hand and marched determinedly toward the corridor.
The Secret Pursuit
The two women moved quietly through the castle corridors, following Young Wolf's group with exaggerated caution. They climbed two floors before reaching the wing where Floralys's bedchamber was located.
Princess Anabella stopped at the end of the hallway just in time to see Floralys usher her two companions inside and lock the door from within.
The Princess's eyes gleamed.
"There. I told you."
The Hero tried to remain rational.
"They might just be… discussing tactics."
"In the bedchamber?" the Princess asked with biting sarcasm. "Oh yes. Obviously."
The two women crept up to the door, but before they could press their ears against it, a Greenwood maid walked past them.
The Princess immediately snapped:
"Hey, you. Maid. The Princess is speaking to you."
The girl froze in terror and bowed.
"Good evening, Your Highness. How may I serve you?"
"Do you know whose room this is?"
"Of course. This is Lady Floralys's bedchamber."
The Princess nodded with great satisfaction.
"Exactly. And we have business in this room, so I don't want a single maid anywhere near this hallway. If anyone is caught listening in, there will be consequences. Understood?"
The maid went pale.
"Yes, Your Highness. I'll tell the others not to come here."
"Good. Now go."
"With your permission, I'm already gone."
The maid fled as if chased by demons.
The hallway fell silent.
The Princess leaned against the door to listen.
The Hero reluctantly followed her example.
Thus, in front of one of the most important rooms in the castle, two women knelt on the floor with their ears pressed to the door — while inside, Young Wolf and his team were preparing to discuss strategy against the demons.
The Princess, however, was absolutely convinced something entirely different was happening.
The corridor was quiet, save for the distant crackle of torches. The Princess and the Hero listened as Floralys's voice drifted through the door.