Mia found herself standing in an unfamiliar place. It was in front of a castle gate.
Everything around her was pitch black, and the castle was covered in thick thorny brambles.
Where am I right now?
—Lady Mia… over here, down here.
A small, cute voice called out from below. Mia looked down at her feet.
There, a salamander was staring up at her with its pitch-black eyes.
—Wait, you're the salamander! What happened? I've been looking everywhere for you! Are you okay? Is Roy okay too?
The salamander flicked its split tongue a few times without responding. Something about that silence sent a chill through Mia.
—What is it? Don't tell me something happened to Roy.
Only then did the salamander answer slowly.
—Don't worry. Lady Roy hasn't suffered any serious harm… yet.
—Oh, thank goodness! Then what about you? You're okay too, right? We searched high and low for you. But in the end, we couldn't find you.
The salamander's small eyes shimmered again.
—We were moved here after being held in the Vampire Labyrinth. I'm sorry you made a wasted trip…
—No, it's not your fault. But how is Roy doing now?
—Both Lady Roy and I had most of our mana and strength drained in that labyrinth. She barely eats enough to stay alive and sleeps constantly. As for me, I'm only barely managing to survive.
—Salamander… I'm so sorry. You're suffering because of me…
At that, the little lizard shook its head.
—If the master of the labyrinth dies, we'll be able to return to our original states.
—Where… where is that place? I'll go and kill that damned mage myself!
The lizard gazed silently at Mia once again.
—But both you and Lord Leca… you've also had some of your energy and mana taken, haven't you? You won't be at your full strength.
Mia gave a crooked smile.
—I already suspected as much. But it's fine. I've got the ancient sword and shield—ones that can cut through anything.
—You would truly come for us again?
—Of course I would. Once I set my mind to something, I see it through no matter what.
The salamander blinked slowly, then said:
—…Please don't come. A salamander must not put its master in danger…
—I can't do that. I'm the one who sent you there, so I'll take responsibility. I'm not going to let you or Roy die in that place.
—…You truly are a master unlike any I've known. But… I'm glad…
Mia thought she saw a smile on the little magical creature's face. Then it spoke again.
—In any case, this place is dangerous. But if you must come, go to the court mage's chamber.
Mia recalled Roland, the mage in the silvery-gray robe who reminded her of Jakiel.
—Why there?
—This used to be the former court mage's villa. So they say there's a direct passage from there. That's what I heard.
—I don't think I could sneak in there. Isn't there a normal route?
—The villagers call this castle the "Curse of a Hundred Years." I only heard about it from the maids, so I don't know its exact location. This is all I know.
Then… where are you inside the castle?
—At the very top floor. So then…
The salamander's form began to fade. Mia reached out and touched one of the thorns on the brambles.
"Ow!"
The moment she felt a sting on her finger, Mia shot up in bed with a cry.
There it is again. That dream… so vivid it felt real.
Breathing heavily, Mia held her forehead. After dreams like that, she always felt utterly drained, with a parched throat.
She looked outside.The night sky beyond the window was dark—The moon had disappeared.
What should I do now? Roland's chamber… or the village?
If she chose Roland's chamber, she could enter the castle quickly and directly.
But it would be extremely dangerous. She might not even be able to get close.
Then what about asking the villagers about the castle called "Curse of a Hundred Years"?
It was a more realistic option, but hiding her wings from public view would be difficult.
Maybe I should ask Rodolphe. I could say I'm going to the market like last time…
No. I'll ask Lily first. Lily often goes to the village—maybe she knows about the castle.
I'll talk to Leca in the morning.
However, the next morning, No matter how much she knocked, Leca didn't come out of his room. The door was locked.
Where could he have gone?
Mia hurried to find Lily.
"Leca's not in his room. Do you know where he went?"
Lily looked surprised, then said she would go find out and disappeared.
About an hour later, she came back, panting.
"Leca was summoned for a physical examination."
"A physical? For what?"
"I don't know… Maybe it's just a routine health check."
"Health check?"
"Yes. Everyone working in the palace gets one each year. Usually, people with the same job get examined together, but since Leca no longer has an official title…"
Mia fell into thought. Maybe Lily was right. Still, something didn't sit right.
"Where do they conduct those?"
"Women get examined in the clinic within the inner palace. But for men, I think it's in a completely separate building. I don't really know the details."
"Then, hey—do you happen to know where the court mage Roland's room is?"
Lily looked startled.
"Ordinary maids like me would have no idea. The court mage's chamber is only accessible to priests and temple slaves."
"Temple slaves?! Where can I find them?"
"In the temple, of course. It's connected to the eastern garden of the palace… Shall I take you there?"
"Yes, please."
Mia and Lily arrived at the temple, which was striking for its large dome.
The entire temple was built in white and gold, and even the dome above gleamed dazzlingly.
"This is the Temple of Ahura Mazda, god of light. I have some errands to run, so I'll take my leave…"
After Lily departed, Mia was left alone. People in gold-trimmed robes and red hats—likely priests—walked by.
Boys and girls who looked to be in their teens, all dressed in white, were busily cleaning or carrying things. Those must be the temple slaves.
Now what?
She couldn't just go up to one of them and start asking questions…If she stirred up trouble here, it might cause a scandal.
What do I do? What now?
Just then—
"Well, look who it is!"
A voice called out from behind her. When Mia turned around…
Short silver hair, crimson eyes. A lean teenage boy.
"Wait, you're—!"
"It's been a while! Good to see you!"
It was Zeffel, the spirit of air. The same boy she had met only once in the desert.
Now he was standing right in front of her. He grabbed Mia's hand and shook it.
"I always knew we'd meet again. Took longer than I thought, but still!"
Zeffel was just as cheerful as before. Mia smiled, genuinely happy to see him, and shook his hand back.
"It really has been a long time. How have you been?"
"Me? Same as always. But you and Leca? Haven't gone a day without hearing about you two, ha ha ha."
"Actually, I have a favor to ask."
Mia quickly pulled Zeffel into a corner. She couldn't afford to let this opportunity slip by.
"Hm? Are you about to confess your love? I'm not really into older women, though."
"You wanna get smacked?"
Mia gave him a hard flick on the forehead before getting to the point.
"Do you know where the court mage Roland's chamber is?"
"Of course I do. But why?"
Yes! The god of light, Ahura-whatever, is on my side!
"Do you know the layout of his room too?"
"Hmm… kinda. What do you want to know?"
"There's a passage in that room that leads to a castle—apparently, it used to be the former court mage's private villa. Do you know anything about that?"
Zeffel's eyes went wide with surprise.
"So that's why people say you're the one in those rumors. Planning to stir up trouble again, huh?"
"Please. This is really important."
"Man… Fine. I don't know anything for sure, but I do have a hunch."
"Really? Then take me there."
Zeffel looked around to make sure no one was nearby, then whispered.
"Roland is usually in his lab during the day, so his room should be empty right now. Perfect timing. But before that…"
He muttered something under his breath and placed his hand on Mia's forehead.
"I cast an invisibility spell. Let's go!"
Whoa! Invisibility magic? That's amazing! Leca can't do that—must be something only spirits of air can pull off.
Mia, now invisible, followed Zeffel like the wind. It felt strange to know that no one around her could see her.
Zeffel ran like a rollercoaster and stopped in front of a door. He took something like a pin out of his pocket.
With it, he fiddled with the keyhole. Click. The door opened.
The room was vast and grand. High ceilings, and bookshelves filled the walls.
A desk, a study, a bed. A table, sofa, fireplace.
Which of these would lead to the secret passage?
Zeffel darted around the bookshelves so quickly he was nearly invisible to the eye, then said:
"Just as I thought. The passage is here."
Behind the bookshelf? Could it be… like those secret doors in the movies?
Zeffel pushed one of the shelves, which slid aside surprisingly easily. Behind it, a staircase leading to the basement came into view.
Mia stood on the stairs and looked down. It looked like nothing more than a storage room cluttered with odds and ends.
Not even very spacious.
"This just looks like a storage room. I thought you meant a passage leading to a castle…"
"Hold on."
Zeffel strode down the steps and tapped on the walls one by one.
"The sound is different here."
He placed a hand on one of the walls and chanted a spell. A transparent silver ring appeared—And then, a square-shaped outline of a door emerged on the wall.
"This must be what you were talking about. Try pushing it."