(Zhenya Pov)

“What the ‘el got their panties in a tussle?” The old woman asked, who I’m fifty percent sure is a witch, seeing how Fredrica was currently living a heart attack... Thanks, Tsukiko.

Although the hell is that accent? Similar to those guys from. What was that place called? Alb? Elb? Liber-something?

Letting her dark as sin cloak drag down the stairs, she descended on us. Each step bringing the realization that for a demigod, she was not the type to care about appearances. Donning a simple purple dress that ran down to her ankles. Simulating the appearance of two layers with knitted wool sleeves. Ending in what could be presumed as at-home fuzzy slippers, which made sense since this is her home.

Unruly was the description fit for her walking staff. Branches twisted and knitted into knots before fraying at its crown. Adorned with small animal parts, a beautiful black feather dangled from its most dominant branch.

“Freddie, you sure this old bag’s a witch?” I voiced my quietest tone, hedging my bets. From what pops told me, they should be stunning beauties. He was about a bottle in at the time. Yeah, not gonna stake my life on that.

“I-It only means- She must be very wise! Transcended physical looks!” In other words, old.

“Aight, what’re you youngins-” She pauses mid-sentence.

“Uhmm, miss. Do you need help?” Tsukiko, unconcerned with the whole religious experience half of us were going through, waved a hand in front of the old spell crafter’s face.

You know, Su spaces out from time to time. Tsukiko to, from what I hear... Huh, am I the odd one out?

Though this feels different. Like she’s communicating with something.

“Ahem, as ah was say’in... oh, fack it. Who cares about acting all magically prissy.” Seeing the elderly-daft ignoring our existence once again. I shoot another worried glance Freddie’s way, her eyes speaking wonders.

“You sure she isn’t a dungeon creation? I mean, look at her. Sure ain’t what pops told me about witches. Also, I don’t think a witch would be living in a dungeon of all things.”

“It’s possible if she’s one of the longer-lived ones. They usually end up in the strangest of places to conduct research. And look at her, the epitome of wisdom.” All I see is grandma venting to her invisible friends. “Sides witches have been known to reside inside dungeons for prolonged periods.”

“I hope you’re right.”

Welp, no talking sense into this delusional moon nut. How bout the other one? Checking in on Su, she was shocked stiff for the most part, perhaps receiving divine revelation? After all, before her was something akin to a religious site. I think. Pa knew a lot of things, just nothing in depth.

“Ha! Never stood’a chance. Now, where was I?” The old hag, with a toothy grin, finding whatever invisible presence sufficiently chewed out, turned her attention back to us. “Welcome ta my workshop. Why are you brats ‘ere?” Little to say, she was still a little peeved off.

“O, witch. Moon kin, we merely seek refuge from the horrors of this dungeon. I pl-” Oh, Freddie...

“What’s up with blondie?” Leaning in, the witch(?) asks me. Non-discretely pointing at somebody I’m one-hundred percent not acquainted with, who’s still talking like she came out of a play.

“Don’t worry bout her. She just thinks you’re a demigod. Basically, we barged in here to get away from the killer fixtures. Also, I should add that this one right here.” I pull the catatonic body of Su over. “May think your cauldron is a holy artifact.”

Casually putting a hand on said cauldron to get the point across. I subtlely tip the cold steel basin, causing it to rock. Yet, the moon’s reflection does not falter, in the slightest, the ‘water’ stubbornly staying ripple-free.

Sighing, the old lady smacks Freddie and Su upside the head with her staff. “Oof, that’s gotta hurt.” Tsukiko ran a hand over her head in camaraderie, a phantom twinge of pain on her face.

“Now stop that. I am the witch of this palace. And what I’m askin yea, is what possessed you to enter this place ta being with?”

“We’re seeking some friends of ours. Two adventurers, one clad in plate mail and the other in a green leathery cuirass.” Considering how loud Fredrica can be, I’m surprised we haven’t heard hide nor hair of Antonia.

“Ah, those two nuisances.” Asserting herself between the cauldron and I. “Back off a smidge. A lady needs her room.” She gives it a stir revealing the pair. Blitzing a path through hoards of wooden mimics, leaving even more in their dust, toting a mysterious girl in company.

“Di- Did she just.” Freddie and Su were equally at a loss for words. Girl just pulled a freaking axe out of her skirt. Crushing a chair mimic, she used the momentum to swing upwards behind her, splitting a closet in half. If these things bled... Well, she’d be slathered in it by now.

She wasn’t even built, tomboyishly toned, yes. But even then, she’s swinging that thing around like a one-hander. Look, as a benchmark, the girl was nowhere near Nick’s speed or agility, and definitely not at Antonia’s level of skill, but to even be in the same ballpark as those two...

“Phooey. They better not have replaced me. I’ll give that ice-heart an earful!” This garnered a scornful prick from Freddie, not that our flighty tag along cared. Undaunted by the sight of an axe-wielding maniac. Seriously this girl is on another level of not sweating the details!

Getting tired of our antics (let’s be honest, our bullshit), the grumpy mule saw it fit to push things along, no longer caring if we paid her any heed.

“Yaer friends in the west wing. Although I’ll warn you, be careful around that princess of theirs. That girl’s lookin to set free a beast of unimaginable cruelty. Ahem. So it’s best you strike her down as swiftly as possible.” Sending us off, practically pushing us out of the room.

I tried to eep out more questions, caught off guard by this kill on sight order, but she wasn’t having it.

Kicking us out the door, throwing Su a bottle of moon water.

One for the road, she claimed, hurriedly slamming the door shut. Hoping that’ll convince us to leave her alone.

Welp, it worked. Maybe it’s for the best if it gets the moon duo’s heads back in the game.

Shuffling through the winding halls, eerily devoid of all life. In these barren, silent straights, I voiced my suspicions to Freddie, who was back in her right mind. Surprisingly she felt the same way. “So, was all that fangirling just an act?”

“Nope.” I gave you an out. Just take it! “But witches are bull-headed and self-serving, even at the best of times. Showing us Toni’s and Nickolas’s location for free is one thing, but giving away her personal brew for free? To a stranger at that. There’s the red flags.”

Let’s not delude myself. This girl still had zero doubts about that hag being a demigod. Even admitting that she was up to something and was using us to achieve it. But added that it might not be in ill intent.

Whatever the case was, I didn’t have time to think on it. Rounding the corner, we found a veritable hoard crowding the end of the hall like a makeshift barricade. Telltale clanging of loud as shit armor resounded from beyond. Yep, that’s Antonia, alright.

Charging down the hall, we were already set in formation. Freddie leading, Su hidden in her shadow, as I brought up the rear, along with Tsukiko. The priestess being propelled by literal joy, keeping up with us. Actually, not that big of an accomplishment since Freddie is dictating the pace.

Blindsiding and breaking the encirclement, Freddie gave the sentient furniture no time to gather their barrings. Lodging her shield into the large sofa that acted as their forward vanguard. Sushila followed up, hopping from a wooden shoulder, striking their aerial support.

Crashing porcelain rained down, with Tsukiko covering my advance, I cut down a chair while tagging several others with throwing daggers.

Creating an opening, I make out the tired figures of our friends and their escort. “This way!” Hearing my voice, the group didn’t even need to look. Grabbing the princess’s hand, Nick made a mad dash my way, Antonia shoulder bashing a stool off their tails’ before retreating.

Past me than Su and everyone else, the hoard soon recovered from the splint we forced into them. With little time for introductions, we made our escape, a group of seven not doing any favors. There’s a reason why the A.A recommended groups keep to a maximum of five.

Finding ourselves knocking against whatever accoutrements decorated the hallway, the hallway itself, and ourselves. It was a mess, but somehow we survived, managing to dive into a room.

“Oh! Oh! I can’t believe it! They have a mudroom!” Tsukiko shot forward, eyes sparkling. Can’t deny her enthusiasm, at least. The room was tiled similarly to a bathhouse with grand pillars and potted plants scattered across the otherwise flat, uninteresting features. No tile remained ignored, each playing a part in the grander murals that stained every square foot, painted in soothing colors, adding to the already mesmerizing depictions.

The floor was saturated with all sorts of baths, from single-celled ones to some large enough to contain a group. In a fashion, it reminded me of a swamp, a really classy swamp. And in the center of the greatest mud pool was a key hanging from the ceiling.

“Roll-call!” I shout out. After the sixth name, the four from our group turned to the seventh.

The princess faltered under our scrutiny, or whatever hell kind of eyes Tsukiko was giving her.

“Me? My name is Belle.” A tad taller than Freddie, fair-skinned coupled with brown, discerning eyes. Messy brown hair parted into two bangs framing her boyish face, only to be lassoed into a ponytail. Wrapped in a simple blue-bodied and white sleeved shirt with matching ankle-length skirt.

By her side was that large signature fuck-off axe. Thing must weigh more than her. Seeing it close up, it’s even more of a marvel that she’s swinging it around. That wicked head was about the width of Freddie’s unarmored torso. And with handle stood nearly half her size.

Freddie... Welp, this ain’t the first time I’ve seen a short stack running around with ridiculous strength.

Nodding to Freddie, Su and, Tsukiko, the remaining two swiftly caught on. And on a hairpin trigger, we found ourselves in a stand-off.

Eyeing each other in armed silence, Tsukiko dared move away from her staff first. “Okie dokie!” She, as well as Nick and Antonia, were happy to see each other again. If only it weren’t under these circumstances. Weapons pointed for reasons they didn’t know. “Let’s calm down. We’re all friends here.”

Seeing as Nick and Antonia still had control of their faculties, we released our weapons, as did they. But I kept a close eye on our ‘princess’. If what the old hag said was true, I’d rather not get blindsided with my pants down. She can cut furniture in half with a single stroke. That’s something I just don’t wanna deal with.

“Tonia, we met with a person who I believe is a witch.” The taller platinum blond’s eyes didn’t give an inch. “She showed your location and warned us that Belle is deceiving you.” Freddie explained our situation in a slow, firm, and decisive manner, leaving nothing to be misunderstood. “But we have reason to believe that she has her own agenda. As we left, she gave Su a bottle of her personal brew. For free.”

Taking in this information, Antonia told their side of the story. Greeted with a similar reception and run around. The pair found themselves at the bottom of an imposingly tall tower. Scaling the crumbling flights, which Nickolas found himself the MVP of, fending off monsters, they reached the top finding our princess imprisoned in her room.

On cue, Belle pulls out a small glass box. Containing a lonesome pale blue rose. “The witch enshrouded a curse upon this land, turning the castle’s servants into those formless things, their prince into a beast, and the townsfolk into monsters.

Although it was due to his actions, denying her reprieve. That was ages ago, and yet her ire still shines strong.”

Looking to Freddie, she nodded saying. “Yep, it checks out.” Way too accepting of everything. “Zhenya, Zhenya, Zhenya. This type of behavior is normal for witches. But really, Belle. Whatever this prince guy did must have been pretty horrible.” The girl nodded in tandem with her liberators.

“We’re trying to get Belle to the ballroom. Apparently, the prince is locked in there, tearing the place up, and this rose can weaken him enough for us to subdue him.” Nick followed up, setting everything in stone.

“Alright.” I call out, a shadow of doubt still lingering on my mind. “We got the where, how, and why for this place and that shady hag, but what about you?” I directed it at Belle. Given how she referenced the townsfolk and servants made it sound like she’s not even from here.

The blue-dressed lumberjack stiffened like a frighted goat, much to the surprise of her escorts. Apparently, they simply assumed she was a princess, finding her in that tower. She looked left and right into the air as if hoping for an answer that would be hurriedly rushed out and half-assed.

Strange, why does it feel like the dungeon want’s to beat me over the head right now?

“Uhmm. Have you met a young girl with a red hood? She’s my sister. While she went to visit our grandma, I came here to scavenge books and the like and ended up running across this rose.” ... Honestly, I can’t tell with these dungeon constructs. But my gut says not to think too hard about it, and seemingly everyone else’s guts.

Pondering what to do now everything was laid out before us. Freddie was still hesitant on taking any action that would piss off the hag. But Antonia being far less god-fearing than her friend talked some sense into Freddie.

While Su, Tsukiko, and I were already on board with the idea. That hag has been nothing but shifty.

This beast prince sounded like a floor boss, which means like or not, we were going to tango. Nick also brought up that they know the exact door he was sealed behind. Throwing our hopes of a swift resolution out the window, mentioning that it required keys strewn about this maze of a castle. And Tsukiko added that she saw a key dangling from the witch’s waist.

Yep, we needed keys. One of which was hanging right there in the middle of the room. This is squaring up to a shit show if I ever heard one.