The towering cloaked figure before them was Rowar. Artis stepped forward with a friendly smile and said: "Hello, Rowar. These kids are looking for you."
Rowar remained silent for a moment before responding in a metallic, robotic voice that resonated through the air: "We'd better move along. We can't talk here," the mechanical giant instructed firmly, turning toward the counter girl, Karla, who observed the scene with a neutral but attentive expression.
Rowar paused briefly before adding, in a casual tone: "By the way, sorry for the inconvenience."
Karla simply looked at the imposing hooded figure, unfazed by his presence. With a half-smile, she replied: "No worries, Rowar. Those adventurers are always trouble, but I must admit, I admire how you took them down without lifting a finger. I barely saw what you did."
The figure under the hood let out a soft laugh. "Let's just say I've had practice with situations like this."
At that moment, several soldiers entered the area, moving quickly and efficiently. Without a word, they lifted the five unconscious men and escorted them to a private room. As they were taken away, some of the soldiers murmured among themselves, exchanging knowing glances toward Rowar.
"Another fine job by Rowar… As always," one of them commented quietly, though loud enough for everyone in the room to hear.
Without further delay, Arios, Filiola, and Artis followed Rowar out of the guild. He led them through a narrow alleyway where the light illuminating their path gradually faded until everything was plunged into near-total darkness. Just as it seemed they would have to proceed blindly, Rowar signaled for them to stop. A small glowing orb emerged from his hand, illuminating the space around them.
As the light brightened, they noticed they were in a gloomy, dimly lit room with moss-covered walls and cracks that revealed the passage of time. A chill ran down Arios's neck; the air in the room felt heavy, as if the mossy walls were listening to their every breath.
"So, you've been looking for me," Rowar said, his metallic voice echoing in the confined space as he studied them intently. "What do you need?"
Arios and Filiola exchanged a glance before responding. "Yes, we need your help. It's for the good of the kingdom," Arios explained seriously.
Rowar stared at them, focusing particularly on Arios, for a few seconds before speaking: "Have you already forgotten me? Wow, little Arios, how much you've grown!"
Arios frowned, perplexed by Rowar's words. "Me? But this is the first time we've met," he responded, trying to make sense of what was happening.
Rowar let out a brief, mocking laugh. "Oh? Is that so? I'm not talking about Vainilla—I'm talking about Arios."
Arios and Filiola exchanged an even more confused look. How did Rowar know Arios's true identity despite his disguise? The tension in the air grew significantly.
"Really, you don't remember me?" Rowar asked, leaning slightly forward as if trying to study Arios's expression more closely.
Filiola, alarmed upon realizing that Rowar knew the prince's true identity, quickly unsheathed her sword and positioned herself protectively in front of Arios. "Who are you, and how do you know he's the prince?" she demanded, pointing the blade at Rowar with determination.
Artis, who had been silently observing, was also surprised to hear the revelation. "Arios is the prince!" he exclaimed, looking at the young man with astonishment.
Rowar let out a metallic, mocking laugh. "Oh dear! You've already exposed the prince in front of strangers," Rowar teased sarcastically, crossing her arms as she laughed in a robotic tone. "Relax, Musa—if that's your name… I'm not a threat… well, at least not to you."
Filiola frowned at the comment, even more irritated by Rowar's relaxed and playful attitude. She tightened her grip slightly on the hilt of her sword, as if to reassure herself it was still there, ready to be used should the situation demand it. She didn't fully trust the person standing before them, no matter how urgently Arios seemed to need to see this individual.
"I'm not so sure about that," Filiola responded coldly, her voice laced with distrust. "And how do you know so much about him? Who are you really?"
Rowar paused before continuing. "Oops! I forgot I have this thing on," Rowar said, touching the robotic helmet with an annoyed grimace. "Just a moment…" she added, struggling to remove the robotic helmet that concealed her face. After wrestling with it for a few seconds, she growled in frustration. "Ugh, this stupid thing is broken again! Barima, get over here right now!"
At that moment, a feminine voice responded from the shadows: "Coming, coming…"
A girl emerged slowly. She had short black hair, bright red eyes, and wore an impeccably fitted maid's outfit. However, what stood out most were her pointed fenec ears, which peeked slightly beneath her bangs. The young woman approached Rowar calmly, inspected the robotic helmet, and, using a hairpin, adjusted something inside. With a soft click, she managed to remove not only the helmet but also the suit covering Rowar.
Underneath all that equipment appeared a completely different woman: shoulder-length blue hair, dazzling green eyes, and an extremely revealing swimsuit that left little to the imagination. She was lightly sweating, as if she had just exerted herself physically. She looked at Arios with a mischievous smile before speaking: "There we go. Now, do you remember me, Arios?"
Arios's eyes widened in surprise as he recognized her. He stammered nervously: "Ma… ma… master…"
Rowar—or rather, this supposed master—smiled widely as she responded in a much sweeter, feminine voice: "The one and only, boy."
Without warning, she stepped closer to Arios, grabbing his arm and pulling him toward her chest. Airos blushed intensely, trying to pull away without seeming rude.
"Aren't you going to introduce me?" she asked flirtatiously, looking directly into his eyes.
Still uncomfortable, Arios murmured timidly: "Yes, but… could you please put something on?"
Filiola watched the scene with a mix of irritation and confusion, tightening her grip on the sword hilt slightly. Artis, on the other hand, was completely red, trying—and failing—to avert his gaze.
Barima, who had been observing everything with a stoic expression, finally intervened: "Stop being a degenerate," she said, pulling Xandia back and wrapping a towel around her body to cover her up.
Once the awkward moment ended, Arios decided to break the silence: "She's Xandia, a very powerful mage and my former master," he explained, gesturing awkwardly toward the woman.
Xandia smiled widely at the introduction, winking at Arios and clearly enjoying his discomfort. "Thank you for the compliment, dear prince," she responded teasingly, making Arios even more nervous.
Then, Xandia turned to the others and formally introduced Barima: "And this is Barima, my assistant. As you've probably noticed, she's a beastwoman—though her fenec ears likely gave that away."
Arios did the same and introduced his companions: "She's Filiola," he said, gesturing respectfully toward his companion, "my bodyguard. And he"—he turned slightly toward Artis with a small smile—"is Artis, who helped us reach the adventurer's guild. Without his help, we probably wouldn't have been able to enter this city without papers."
Barima nodded briefly, appearing much more serious and direct than Xandia. She fixed her gaze on Artis and said: "Well, at least you followed the orders I gave you to bring them here without complications."
Artis raised his hands defensively, scratching the back of his neck nervously. "Ah, yes… But, to be honest, I didn't think it was them when I received the instructions," he responded with an awkward laugh.
"Typical of you," Barima commented dryly, though she couldn't help but add with a small teasing smile, "That coat suits you well, after all."
Filiola narrowed her eyes for a moment before interjecting: "So, she's the one who gave you that outfit. Seems like she's mocking you, Artis, but well… I'll let it slide."
Artis sighed in relief, though he still looked a bit embarrassed.
Finally, Filiola broke the silence again, addressing everyone: "So… did you two already know each other?"
Artis nodded: "Yes, but I never imagined Barima worked for Rowar—or should I say, for Xandia."
Arios looked at his master curiously and asked: "Why were you wearing that huge mechanical suit?"
Xandia smiled mischievously as Barima adjusted the towel, ensuring she remained covered. "It's to keep up appearances and handle certain things covertly," she replied with a wink, hinting at something that made Arios recall his own actions off the radar of his father and bodyguards. It was clear that both of them had experience moving in secret when necessary.
Then, Xandia changed the subject and began questioning him with genuine interest: "How are things in the kingdom? Have you made progress with your magic?"
Filiola, upon hearing the mention of magic, frowned slightly. She assumed Xandia was the one who had only taught Arios healing magic, as she'd never seen him use any other magical abilities. However, she said nothing, limiting herself to observing the interaction between them.
Xandia continued with her questions, this time adopting a more personal tone: "And your parents? How's that brat of a sister, Claris? Oh, and also… how's little Kei? He should've grown quite a bit since the last time I saw him."
Before Arios could respond, Xandia noticed a subtle shift in his expression. His face tensed, and his eyes reflected a mix of worry and pain.
"Something happened to the little one, didn't it?" Xandia asked seriously, her tone now completely different from the playful one from before.
Arios nodded slowly, confirming her suspicions. "Yes… He was kidnapped."
He explained everything that had happened: the shadow that took Kei and his father's instructions to seek out Rowar, thinking she might be able to help. Though he hadn't expected Rowar to actually be Xandia.
"My father didn't know that you were Rowar, right?" Arios added, trying to justify the situation.
When Xandia heard the name of the place they had to go, her calm expression shifted drastically to one of absolute seriousness. "Kanasfort!" she exclaimed, her voice heavy with gravity. "It's a place I wouldn't send even my worst enemy to. It's a site of certain death." The mention wiped the smile completely off Xandia's face and made her hands tremble.
"I have to do it," Arios insisted firmly. "I need to rescue Kei."
Xandia observed him silently for a few seconds, assessing his determination. Then, without a word, she grabbed him by the suit and dragged him toward a portal that suddenly appeared before them. Filiola, concerned, tried to follow, but Barima stepped in calmly. "Stay here," Barima said in an authoritative yet respectful tone. "It's something the mistress and Arios need to discuss."
Arios, noticing the worry on Filiola's face, gave her a reassuring look. Though serious, his eyes conveyed confidence and calm, as if trying to assure her that everything would be under control. "I'll be fine, don't worry," he said softly, attempting to ease the tension radiating from her.
Filiola clenched her fists tightly, her knuckles white from the pressure. Her expression reflected a mix of frustration and helplessness, but she finally nodded stiffly, accepting to stay behind. Despite her decision, her body remained tense, like a spring ready to snap. "You'd better come back in one piece," she responded firmly, though a slight tremor betrayed her concern. "I'm not letting that perverted woman do anything weird to you."
Arios gave a weak smile at the comment, knowing Filiola had always been this way: fiercely protective, even when it wasn't necessary. "I promise," he said, nodding affirmatively before turning toward the portal, where Xandia was already waiting with a teasing smile.
Filiola watched as he disappeared through the threshold, biting her lower lip as she tried to contain her unease. "Fine, but I'm not leaving him alone with that perverted woman for long," she muttered, casting a distrustful glance toward Xandia.
Upon entering the portal, the landscape changed abruptly. What had once been a closed and gloomy space transformed into an arid and desolate terrain. Jagged rocks jutted out of the ground like broken teeth, and a freezing breeze whipped against their faces, cutting into their skin with its relentless cold. The sky above them was covered by gray clouds that seemed to absorb any trace of light, creating an oppressive and ominous atmosphere.
Xandia looked at Arios intently, her expression now serious and filled with genuine concern. "You're not ready to go to that place," she said firmly, her voice resonating with an authoritative tone that brooked no argument. "And certainly not alone. Do you really think your father would have sent you to find Rowar if he thought you could handle this on your own?"
Arios clenched his fists, his determination unshaken despite his master's warnings. "It doesn't matter," he responded calmly, though his voice trembled slightly with emotion. "I have to go. Kei needs me. If my father thought Rowar could help me, then that's what I'll do. I'll go with or without you… Well, now that I know you're my master, I was hoping you'd support me."
The woman studied the young man's face, noticing the mix of resolve and vulnerability in his eyes. She sighed deeply, knowing she wouldn't dissuade him easily. Arios had always been this way: stubborn, determined, and willing to risk everything for those he loved. It was an admirable quality, but also a dangerous one if not handled carefully.
Then, an idea crossed her mind. A small, mysterious smile appeared on her lips as she crossed her arms. "Alright, if you insist so much…" she said, leaning toward him with an evaluative air. "Do you still have the brush I gave you?"
Arios quickly nodded, pulling the object from his pocket with a proud gesture. "Yes, I have it right here."
"Well then," Xandia responded, her smile widening as she pointed at the brush with a finger. "I'll judge whether you're truly ready to face Kanasfort."
At that moment, the ground beneath them began to shake violently, kicking up clouds of dust that obscured visibility. From among the jagged rocks, monstrous creatures emerged with ferocity. Their deformed, grotesque bodies seemed made of living shadows, with sharp claws that gleamed under the dim light of the surroundings. Their eyes, red like burning embers, locked onto Arios with an intensity that froze the blood in his veins.
The creatures roared in unison, ready to attack.
Xandia took a step back, crossing her arms as she observed Arios with an inscrutable expression. "Alright, prince," she said in a teasing tone, though not without seriousness. "Show me what you've learned during my absence."
Arios tightened his grip on the brush, feeling his heart pound fiercely. He knew this test wouldn't be easy, but he had no other choice—not if he wanted to save Kei.