The door of obsidian runes opened with a loud hiss, spilling white light across the hall.
Elizabeth was the first to widen her eyes, having her hands clutch to her chest as Grimhild stepped out with her expression unreadable as ever.
"You're back…" Elizabeth's relief was almost palpable.
Estrilda leaned forward with her frost-blue eyes narrowing.
"How did it go, Grimhild?"
Jean, arms crossed, pushed off from the wall.
"Judging by your face, it wasn't a simply family reunion. Are you okay?"
Grimhild only shook her head lightly.
"We will speak of it later. For now… there are more pressing matters."
"Lancelot." Kyto's voice was calm but edged.
Grimhild gave a small nod.
At that moment, Arminel returned. She surveyed the group with her usual steel-eyed detachment.
"His Majesty has been awaiting this moment for some time. The duel is set at the Bastion Arena. However, until then, you and your… companions will be granted quarters within the Academy."
Zarutha, perched on Obsidia's shoulder, fluttered his wings dramatically.
"Quarters, eh? Finally, a bed that doesn't shake like an airship in a storm. I'll take it, that I will!"
Jean smirked.
"Assuming they don't stick us in a dungeon cell."
Arminel shot him a glance but did not answer.
Instead, she gestured curtly.
"Please, follow me."
The apprentices who had gathered earlier kept their distance as the strange company passed through the Academy's vast halls.
Spirits moved through libraries that stretched into infinity with staircases twisting impossibly upward.
Elizabeth turned in a slow circle as she walked with awe lighting her face.
"The Academy feeds on knowledge." Said Grimhild, side-eyeing Elizabeth. "Every spell, or magic ever spoken here lingers in its walls."
"Whaaat?" That almost silenced Elizabeth quickly.
At last, Arminel stopped before a tall wing of obsidian arches with each chamber marked with a glowing magic circle.
She inclined her head toward them.
"These will be your quarters. Rest while you can. When the bells of Mesnil toll at sundown, you will make your way to the Bastion Arena. Grimhild…" Her gaze sharpened. "Do not be late. The people wait for this duel as they would a coronation."
Grimhild's expression didn't waver.
"I will be there. Don't get your panties in a bunch, Arminel."
Arminel lingered for only a moment more before sweeping away—her presence now vanishing into the endless corridors.
The group slowly dispersed into their rooms.
Estrilda lowered her massive frame to fit through the arch of her quarters, sighing.
"Human architect…"
Zarutha immediately flapped inside his chamber, claiming the highest perch of a bedpost.
Elizabeth drifted hesitantly into hers, still stealing anxious glances at Grimhild.
Jean, however, lingered outside his own room with the witch.
"So. You gonna tell us what your brother said, or keep it locked behind those poker eyes of yours, Grimhild?"
Grimhild looked at him with a small smile on her lips.
"Later, perhaps. For now, conserve your strength. You'll need it."
Jean scowled, almost pouting.
"I'm not the one fighting Lancelot."
"No," Grimhild replied with a quiet tone, turning toward her own chamber. "You're not. But still, rest is important. I have other matters to attend to in the meantime."
She left him with that thought, disappearing into the dark.
+
Grimhild arrived in her room, closing the door behind her as she approached a couch in front of her.
Sitting down, she huffed a weary sigh and erected a magic circle.
"Rivonza."
Tearing open a rift in space, she reached her hand inside, pulling out a book.
"The Ancient Book of Nazar. I have yet to read its contents."
Grimhild gently set the book in her lap and flipped it open. What was revealed inside made her stoic expression waver, albeit briefly.
"It has every Earth Elemental spell in existence, with over a million of them on each page written in Terralian."
Terralian—a language outside of Yggdrasilian—spoken by the Earth Elementals primarily.
Grimhild was wise, knowing every language that the world had to offer, and even creating her own which she only spoke when using Destruction Magic.
It took only a flick of her wrist as all one thousand pages of the book flipped sporadically into the last page.
"Hmm. I see."
She closed her eyes, closing the book shut.
It took no time at all for her to read and memorize every spell.
Grimhild was wise. Some of the Earth Elemental spells would be useful in battle, considering Merlin has been watching her for quite some time, and has no knowledge about the Book of Nazar.
It was a smart move on her part to read other spells she had yet to take note of.
But that was gonna change.
There was a traitor in the midst of it all.
+
"How foolish of you, Grimhild Yorgana! How very foolish, indeed! I've planned ahead of you, and I've taken many under my command!"
Merlin could see her.
Grimhild Yorgana.
She stood at the edge of time, beyond the physical and spiritual world, deep in the Bifrost, laughing in her castle that floated in the endless pool of mana.
"I do hope I satisfied you, Lady Merlin."
Standing at the end of the room, bowing on a knee was Arminel; an Archmage of the higher circle.
"Yes, Arminel, I'm proud of you." Merlin didn't even turn to face her lackey whilst staring at her crystal globe. "You've planted the spell I asked of you on Grimhild Yorgana. Now I can see her every thought, action, and spell."
Arminel smiled reluctantly at her praise.
"You're magnificent, Lady Merlin. To create such a spell even to the likes of the Witch of Destruction herself. It was an honor to use it, even if it was for a short while."
Merlin finally turned away from her Crystal globe, staring Arminel down.
"The spell wasn't mine, Arminel. It was created by the Lady of Chaos, Agnes Gravenworth. It's wise to show some respect to her name." She finally stood up from her seat, approaching her kneeling servant. "It is a spell created by Chaos Magic. Something Grimhild Yorgana herself has no knowledge of."
Arminel widened her eyes.
"C-Chaos Magic?"
Merlin became smug.
She obtained a portion of Chaos Magic from Agnes after witnessing Arthur versus Grimhild, and realizing how insignificant she was to the likes of the witch. But now, she had all that she needed to take Grimhild Yorgana down.
"So you've never heard of it?" She closed her eyes and faced the other way, chuckling. "Of course you haven't, only I possess such knowledge. But I'm feeling quite generous today, so allow me to explain."
She paced around the round table in her room, wrapping her arms behind her back.
"Unlike Basic Sorcery, Chaos Magic differs greatly. It doesn't use information particles or platonic elements to give it shape, instead, it is fueled by Entropy."
Arminel went quiet, widening her eyes.
"Entropy is the 'mana' for Chaos Magic. This magic is known to push aside logic and reason, and strip away all possibilities, creating its own. And those possibilities are spells. A wielder of chaos magic must always create disorder, and form their own possibility in order to use this magic. That's what makes it different."
Arminel was baffled, staring at her master in awe.
"With the spell, Adolvrien, placed on Grimhild Yorgana, I'll be able to finally predict her patterns and strip away her abilities."
Arminel's breath quickened, though she kept her posture rigid, bowing deeper before the Great Mage.
"To think such a power exists… and that you alone command it!"
Merlin's lips curled into a smile.
"Command? No, Arminel. One does not command Chaos. One survives it, one bargains with it. I simply… guide its direction."
Her hand hovered over the crystal globe as the surface rippled with an image of Grimhild sitting calmly with the Book of Nazar in her lap.
For a moment, the witch's eyes moved upward, straight into the vision.
Merlin's smile froze.
"Impossible…"
Arminel stiffened.
"What is it, my Lady?"
"She looked at me." Said Merlin. "For a moment… as though she felt the gaze. Hmph. Perhaps I've underestimated her intuition, even with Lady Agnes' spell planted on her. Or maybe I'm overreacting…"
Arminel dared to raise her head.
"Should I remove the spell? Before she…"
"No." Merlin's voice cut sharply, like the snapping of a blade. "Even if she suspects, it no longer matters. Adolvrien is woven into her nucleus thanks to you. Not even she can unravel a spell from Chaos without tearing herself apart!"
Her fingers pressed harder against the globe.
"Let her walk to her duel. Let her believe herself in control. The people will watch her clash with Lancelot, but I will watch her mind unravel. The Witch of Destruction cannot win if every strike, every spell, every thought is already in my hands. And that's when I'll strip her away from the Yorgana System, and watch her fall!"
Arminel lowered her gaze again, though unease gnawed at her heart.
Merlin turned away, confident as ever in her expression.
"Agnes made me unstoppable in her script, Arminel. With each fragment of Chaos Magic I have from her, I rewrite inevitability. Soon even creation will bow to Lady Agnes, and even the Hortus itself will burn into silence!"
Her laughter echoed through the chamber.
"That is the Ultimate Goal! Pure Chaos to all! And you will be right beside me to watch it all fall apart!"