(Zhenya Pov)

“Freddie, I’m not gonna lie. That arm looks terrible.”

Under the grandiose shadow of a castle reminiscent of Dutchy architecture, I tended to Freddie’s arm as Su got busy setting up camp.

Whatever pseudo-magic mumbo jumbo the knightess cooked up, probably bought from Rudi, was frighteningly volatile.

And she goes, ‘Oh, it’s fine.’ Telling me I had to carry that bomb into the boss fight. Seriously what if that thing blew up prematurely!

If I didn’t know better, I’d say the potion was a prototype or failed experiment.

Huh. Rudi has been pretty reclusive ever since we returned from Felschonheit, stuck in his lab all day and night. Even hired someone to man the storefront. He probably got sick of Freddie prodding him for help and lobbed the nearest thing he could at her. (Exactly what happened).

“Really? I’m still running on adrenaline here, doc. Give it ta me straight.” Chuckling at Freddie’s antics. Best we keep things lighthearted.

Running my fingers across her left arm, nothing felt out of place. “My best estimation is multiple hairline fractures and a hell of a bruise. Nothing a healing potion can’t handle.” Applying pressure, I definitely feel the bone give way a little. “Scratch that. Your arm’s on the verge of breaking. We should head back soon.”

Before Freddie could dredge up an excuse to keep going, a rustle from the bushes demanded our attention. Blades ready, a white-.... “Ah. You.” It was the priestess girl.

“Oh, you’re Zhenya, Fredrica, and hmmm.” She stares Su up and down, head empty.

“Sushila, her name’s Sushila. We just call her Su, though.” I introduced our pale friend, still confused as all hell watching our mysterious guest make herself at home by the fire pit. “But, how did you know mine and Freddie’s names?”

“Oh, that? The two of you are famous. Like handsome princes’ riding their gallant steads through the storm.”

“What?”

“Oh, yes! Two daring figures slick with their handwork, sharing-.”

“AHEM! To the point, please.” I decided to put an end to that. The girl was famous for her nonsensical tirades. Even by that standard, she can be pretty out there. But to summarize. The two of us have built up a reputation. Basically accomplishing all the deeds Virgil used to sell Su on us.

And as for why she’s here. The airhead got separated from Antonia and Nick. Something about following the winds of fate and all that. Dunno what that means.

“Ah! This must be why I was led here.” The robed airhead elegantly scooched over to Fredrica without getting the white of her clothes dirty.

“Power of the other world/

please heed this maiden’s summons/

strength from soul to body.”

Snow white flecks of mana coalesced in the air above her, gathering into balls of light no larger than the tip of my pinkie. Funnelling into the bread resting on her palm, it bestowed a warming aura. “Eat. But slowly, one bite at a time, and here take some water following each bite.” Changing personas, the girl got a 100% increase in respectability.

“So what’s with the bread? Why eat it slowly? And there won’t be any side effects, right?” I queried, seeing the arm mending itself.

“Well, I could heal her directly, but that’s super dangerous, and failure could be fatal. That’s why I channel mana into a medium rather than a person directly. You’ve ever heard of mana burn?”

Sadly, yes. I don’t think I can ever forget the sight, a body torn apart from the inside by raging chaotic elements. This was a fact of life growing up near the sacred peak, the large valleys funnel in altered mana from all over and pools them into one place. Goddess knows we’ve had our fair share of incidents, people stumbling across these areas, ending up in a nasty way.

“That’s to make sure there won’t be any side effects. Any bad stuff, if any, will just come out the other end.” I don’t think that’s something a maiden should be saying with such ease. “Also, the water’s to make sure she doesn’t choke, the bread is really tasty, yeah know?”

Seeing how Freddie was eyeing the loaf like a hungry dog, it checks out.

No sooner did she finish wolfing down the loaf did her arm heal. From what I could measure with my hands, nothing healed incorrectly. “Still. Freddie, you should keep it on ice. Nothing too strenuous.”

“Should never have called you doc in the first place.” She pouted, puffing her cheeks for extra effect. I never noticed how poke-able they are. Even Su couldn’t help it, holding back her twitching digits. The only one with the guts to do it was- “Poke!” This airhead.

“Anywho, thanks for doing right by Freddie. What are you going to do now? I doubt you’ll find your team.” This was an unexplored floor, travelling alone would be insane.

“Before I got separated, we were headed for the castle. They should be there right now.”

“Then it’s settled. Us three will accompany you.” Even if we weren’t already headed the same way, Freddie’s code demanded she repays this favor one way or another. Despite how distant feeling she felt for the girl at first meeting.

“Sure, I got no problems with that. Su, you in?” No complaints from our lovely assassin. “Alright, we’re in. Though it might be late, we still have to check if you’re actually you. No offense, but I’d rather be safe than sorry.” Pouring water on her hands, I let it sit for a moment. Just a simple precaution after dealing with all those Fredrica clones.

As expected, she wasn’t one of those gremlin doppelgangers. “By the way, I never got your name.”

“Hoy? Ah, I’m Tsukiko. Your lovely everyday shrine maiden. *Wink*”

Ignoring that shit in the end, we took time to recoup before departing. Tending the weapons, making sure of supplies, and generally unwinding. I don’t know how it happened, but Tsukiko fit right in with our group. Even Su’s anxiety was no match for her!

Although she also managed to fit right in with Antonia and Nick, probably an even greater hurdle, in my opinion. Is this the power of a natural airhead!?

“Welp, Zhenya, Su, Tsu, it’s time to hit the dusty road.”

“Wait, wait, hold up! Freddie, we’re sticking with Tsukiko. It’ll get confusing with two Su’s running around.”

The woods held nothing of interest. But coming onto the castle walls, Fredrica almost had an aneurysm.

“T-This stone cutting... These lovely bricks... This artistry.” She kicked and cried, clinging to the damn thing as we pried her off before she could purpose to it. Then passing through the courtyard, coming up to the castle itself, she went. “Eh- It’s nice if not excessive.” I’ll never understand this girl.

This is it, our first step back into the frontier, the third floor.

Pushing open the intricate double-door, streaks of light seeped through the crack. On the other side was an opulent foyer, almost scarily picturesque to every girl’s, even every guy’s dream castle. Blending both cool utility and fairytale-like wonder. Magical, to put it bluntly.

“Ooof! Su?” The shivering specter stuck to me, right in my shadow or where it would be. I don’t have a shadow! Nothing in this castle has one. This place was the definition of glitzy, all light without a hint of darkness. It’s still night outside, yes? Turning back, the door was already shut.

Thankfully it opened just fine, revealing the night sky belittled by the palace’s radiance. A torch in the night.

And yet this place still puts me on edge, a creepy forest at night? Sure, but it’s still normal. This is wrong in so many ways, not to mention how Su’s acting. Eye’s darting like a hunted beast. There’s danger afoot here. Hidden, waiting to pounce, we can only wait for them to make their move.

“Su, it’ll be alright. Freddie, keep vigilant. Tsukiko, stay behind her.” Orders set out, we started searching the foyer in pairs. Staying close but not too close.

-----------------------

“More items.” Searching through various cupboards, we found loads of materials. Which caused Freddie and Tsukiko to beam for completely different reasons. I don’t know what Tsukiko could want these for, but word on the vine has it she’s a prolific writer of ‘cursed text’.

For an airhead, she is rather adept at magic, healing and now curses. Although I’ve never heard of anyone coming to her for something like that. Usually, it’s her running up to others.

Anyways, with a bounty like this, either these things refill quickly or Antonia and Nick aren’t he-

*Ekk!* *Slorp* “What!” Snapping to Fredrica and Tsukiko, the materials the shrine maiden had been holding was strewn on the floor, Frederica's shield lodged into the cabinet in front of them. The wood didn’t crack nor shatter. It bent like cardboard.

Tch, not these gremlins again. “Regroup!” With the four of us back together, the jig was up. The furniture, like the boss before them, sprouted limbs. Erstwhile smaller objects such as decorative plates and useless candle-stands lightly danced on the ether.

Fending them off. Okay, these guys might not be those doppelgangers. For one, they were vastly superior in combat to the little buggers, still a step down from the boss. But still, these guys sure can take a hit. They even spoke crude common chanting, branding us thieves and scoundrels.

The cabinets hit like oxen, the riff-raff in the air danced in our blind spots, even the carpeting slithered from underneath us. Each new foe pushed us further and further on the back foot.

I couldn’t deal with the heavy hitters. Freddie wasn’t agile enough. There weren’t any shadows or vantage points for Su to strike from. Tsukiko was hopelessly overwhelmed.

“Run!” Left with little choice, I signalled for retreat. Not that we had a lot of options for that either. They had us surrounded on both sides, and there was no time to push open the door again. The only path left was forward, up the grand staircase, deeper into the bowels of this castle.

On the second-floor mezzanine, Su effortlessly spearheaded the way. While Freddie and I, the former lugging a spell-slinging Tsukiko on her shoulder, brought up the rear.

Running our pursers through these lordly halls, we managed to give the majority of them the slip, being waddling furniture and all. “Here!” And the rest when Su called out to all of us, ducking into a side room.

“Huh, this is an odd change.” Unlike the eerie artificial light that gripped every inch of this castle, this room, which I’m now realizing is huge, was lit solely by moonlight. It’s easier on the eyes, that’s for sure.

Rudi would have a field day. High-rising strolling ladders, yellowed tags, walls of books. Walking down the stairs, taking in the sights. From the top layer, circled with ingredients, only disrupted by one door, presumably a storage area. The room descended lower in three rings, each hosting its own collection of curios, ending in the lowest layer where a cauldron hung.

The layers were further split into fours, with the stairs separating them going off in the cardinal directions. Each section housed different workshops, one for reading and enchanting, another for processing materials, and so forth.

Reaching the bottom where the moon’s light gleamed purest sliver, unfiltered through the glass ceiling, undaunted by the tyrannical dream-like haziness that polluted all. Its silver radiance poured into the cauldron, finding rest within its depth.

Tsukiko looked upon the scene with indifference, but Su and Freddie. The former gazed upon the silvery moon water with worship. While the latter paled as if she had seen a goddess, kneeling before the cauldron. If I remember Pa right, the moon goddess was the dominant religion in the Archipelagos and Dutchy. One saw the moon itself as their goddess, made of the tides themselves, water. Gracing the barren earth with the first drop of life that became the great sea.

While the other believed the moon to be a celestial plane, where the moon goddess resides. The-

“Oi, visitors already?” A harsh elderly tone, softly spoken, resounded from the storage room. As an old woman draped in robes came hobbling out.

The sight of which caused Fredrica to gape.

The Dutchy’s version of the moon goddess. The bearer of innovation, the boundary of worlds, the pale lady, the first witch. All witches are her descendant, each an object of worship, a demigod.