Chapter 16 – Dorothy
The dry creak of the door marked their entry into the second floor. Unlike the ground floor, there was no warmth here—the air was icy and still, as if no one truly lived there at all. Pale light filtered through a narrow window, partially illuminating the female figure sitting in a straight-backed chair, her hands crossed over a closed book in her lap.
She did not move at the sound of their footsteps.
"Breaking into houses now?" she said, devoid of emotion, her voice echoing softly but coldly through the room.
Cael hesitated for a moment before replying, feigning confusion.
"The door was open... and the kids said someone lived here."
She raised her eyes. A clear, calm, distant gaze.
"Hansel and Gretel... I brought them inside when they were nearly freezing in the forest. They are annoying, but they haven't died. Yet."
" 'Annoying, but they haven't died.' A decent summary of how she handles everything," the System said. "And you know she didn't 'save' anyone out of kindness."
"So... you live here alone?" Cael asked, keeping his tone casual.
"Alone enough." She stared at the black-armored knight for a second. "You are the first visitors in days. Or weeks. I don't tend to count."
Leaf watched everything with suspicion, staying close to the door.
"Are you a witch?" Cael asked, observing her reactions.
"That is what they say. And do you believe everything you are told?"
"Depends on who is doing the telling," he countered with a forced smile.
Dorothy stood up. Her steps were soft, almost soundless, as if the floor dared not creak beneath her. She walked to a small bookshelf and picked up a small blue vial, turning it between her fingers before tossing it to Cael.
"Basic healing. Use it if you want. Or throw it away. It makes no difference to me."
Cael caught the vial.
"Thanks... I suppose."
"No need to thank me." She sat back down, posture straight, as if she were a piece of the furniture. "I just don't like people dying in here. It makes a mess."
"She pretends she doesn't care, but she's evaluating you like a butcher evaluates a cut of meat. And, of course, she doesn't even know what a game is. Or she's pretending she doesn't."
Cael tucked the vial into his belt, his gaze fixed on her for another second.
"The forest was full of strange creatures... Do you never feel in danger here?"
"Danger is constant, but predictable. Like a distant storm. Only fools try to stop it."
Cael nodded, more to end the conversation than out of agreement. He turned to leave.
"Let's go. We have no reason to disturb her further."
Dorothy did not answer. She had already returned to staring out the window, as if their presence had never mattered at all.
As they descended, the silence accompanied them like a shadow.
"You feel it, don't you? This... lying calmness. This house reeks of lies."
"And she... she reeks of something worse."
Cael didn't answer. But yes—he felt it.
And he wasn't the only one.