Chapter 3
“…Who did you say is at Aden Castle?”
Chilly, bluish eyes demanded an answer from Eluana.
“His Highness the First Prince. Technically, he’s staying at the imperial villa that’s attached to Aden Castle.”
Kazar gave a bitter smile. He had expected this to be the Empress’s doing. The only thing that had nagged at him was that this kidnapping didn’t quite match her usual methods. That’s why he had suspected it might be the Fifth Prince instead.
‘Why would the Empress decide to deal with me again?’
Regardless, Kazar had completely fallen into their hands now. Aden was a place where you could make a person disappear without anyone noticing—perfect for human trafficking.
As he was gathering his thoughts, voices echoed from afar.
“Is there no healer in this godforsaken place? Jackson’s going to die at this rate.”
“Well, that’s fate. Which one of us hasn’t risked our life by now?”
“True. Money really is the root of all evil.”
Two servants, each holding a saw, came climbing up the stairs.
‘A saw?’
A metal saw, no less.
“Anyway, what’s up with the prison door not opening?”
“Exactly. If we can’t open the bars, we’ll end up like Jackson.”
“This time, it won’t stop at having your eyeballs burst.”
As they made their way toward the room where Eluana and Rui were held, the servants noticed Kazar locked up in the adjacent cell and flinched. Trying to pretend they hadn’t seen him, they turned their backs and stood awkwardly in front of Eluana’s cell.
“Step aside.”
At the commanding tone, Eluana stepped back from the bars with Rui in tow.
The servants shook the unyielding iron door before shoving the saw into the hinge. The shrieking scrape of metal on metal set Eluana’s nerves on fire again. Her hands trembled so badly she had to clench them into fists.
She was trying to stay composed, but in truth, she was at her limit. Could she really endure all eighteen lashes today? If she couldn’t, then Rui would have to take the remaining blows.
She hated pain. But she hated the thought of Rui in pain even more. She had to hold out, no matter what. At least until she could find a way to escape.
Could they really escape?
No—no. Stay positive.
Negative thoughts would help nothing. Maybe her dad would grant a wish and summon an orc from the Monster Forest or strike lightning down. As long as Regis disappeared, the kind-hearted lord might finally bestow some mercy.
The iron hinge was being diligently sawed through. With a clanging snap, one part of the hinge broke off. Just one more, and the door would open.
The scraping of metal resumed. As the two servants took turns sawing, the last hinge began to loosen and wobble.
No. Don’t open. Please.
Unable to bear the sight of the door giving way, Eluana squeezed her eyes shut. That’s when it happened. She felt something massive and foreign surge out from deep within her.
The moment her legs buckled, Rui let out a piercing scream. Reflexively opening her eyes, Eluana saw something so unbelievable that she dropped to her knees on the spot.
The straight iron bars of the cell were bending like snakes.
The servants were just as shocked.
“What the hell?!”
“Agh! Stay back!”
The elongated iron bars twisted like serpents and wrapped around the servants’ waists. One of them was left dangling midair, while the other froze in a half-crouched position, unable to move.
“B-black magic!”
“Help us!”
Their shrieks quickly faded. The twisted bars tightened like a boa constrictor, squeezing them until they whimpered like puppies needing to poop.
Amid the chaos, Kazar was the first to move. He stepped through the now-parted bars and fixed his gaze on Eluana. She realized that the bars of her and Rui’s cell had also opened enough for them to escape.
They could get out now.
After a brief pause, Eluana got to her feet. When she reached out to Rui, the child jumped into her arms. Eluana stepped into the corridor, letting Rui go first, then followed.
As she was squeezing through the bars, her back grazed the edge and a searing pain shot through her. Her body twisted in agony. Kazar instinctively grabbed her arm.
About to collapse forward, Eluana clung to his support. Leaning against Kazar, she slowly righted herself. A sharp question immediately followed.
“How did you use alchemy?”
“Alchemy?”
She answered without thinking, only to realize how close Kazar’s face was.
Wow.
Seeing Kazar up close, she thought he was simply beautiful. Even though his hair was nearly gray with dust and his eyes were dull, his face was breathtaking.
Eluana had never seen anyone this handsome. He didn’t resemble the boys around Aden at all. In any other situation, she might have flirted with him over a bowl of corn stew. It wasn’t just his unreal looks—he had an aura of nobility, like the prince from the fairy tales her mother used to read.
Turning away, Kazar muttered to himself as he climbed the stairs.
“You can’t use alchemy unless you’re from the Spes family.”
Eluana, holding Rui, called after him.
“What are you talking about? Wasn’t it you who did that?”
“Me?”
“Who else, then? Rui?”
Kazar looked down at the child. He was far too young. No one that age could awaken alchemical power. And if you weren’t from the Spes family, using alchemy was impossible to begin with.
Eluana added,
“So, you’re a mage, huh? You’re the first I’ve met.”
“That wasn’t me. And it wasn’t magic.”
Kazar denied it outright. There was barely any mana in the prison, so it couldn’t have been magic. Even someone like Grand Mage Cairen wouldn’t be able to use spells in such a mana-depleted place.
Kazar wasn’t a mage, but he could see mana. What bent those bars was definitely alchemy.
‘How could that be?’
As he wrestled with the inexplicable, Eluana quickened her pace and adjusted Rui in her arms. The effort sent a sharp pain through her back. She bit her lip to stifle a groan.
“Who cares who did it? Let’s just run. I know a dog hole.”
Kazar’s eyes were drawn to her back.
Her clothes were torn, likely from being whipped while still wearing them. Countless wounds showed beneath the shredded fabric, some oozing blood. Pieces of cloth had gotten embedded in the open wounds and begun festering. Worse, they were healing that way.
“Your back…”
Eluana didn’t turn around. She replied nonchalantly,
“I know. I’ll live.”
Kazar’s brow furrowed.
‘She might die at this rate.’
The wounds weren’t the problem—it was the infection. She needed treatment fast.
“This was the First Prince’s doing?”
Eluana flinched. Kazar hadn’t used the honorific “His Highness” when referring to the First Prince. Then again, they were fugitives now. They were as good as dead if caught—calling him a bastard wouldn’t make a difference.
“Yeah. That psycho did this.”
“Wait a moment.”
When she turned around, Kazar reached out with a strange look in his eyes and gently took Rui from her arms.
“Lead the way. If you collapse, it’ll be a problem.”
Eluana opened her mouth to say something, then shut it. He was right. She could barely hold herself together.
“Thanks.”
As she turned and started walking again, Rui squirmed in Kazar’s arms. He whispered softly to the unfamiliar child.
“Your sister doesn’t have the strength to carry you.”
Just like that, Rui went still.
Feeling the child wrap his arms around his neck, Kazar picked up the pace. But he wasn’t in great condition either. Even focusing, he couldn’t feel anything—his senses were dulled.
“How many guards are watching the prison?”
He braced himself for the answer, but Eluana replied unexpectedly,
“Probably none? It’s usually empty. Maybe the Prince brought a few with him.”
“Empty?”
“There are no criminals in Aden. The prison tower is usually deserted.”
Impossible.
Even with a small population, there had to be at least a few thieves. As Kazar wrestled with doubt, Eluana pressed forward without hesitation.
After descending the stairs, a large iron gate marked the prison’s entrance. Beside it hung a flag bearing the Empire’s dragon emblem.
Just as she’d expected, no guards.
But the door itself was a problem. Eluana glanced back.
“What do we do? We need to open the door.”
She considered going back for the servants’ keys, but Kazar stepped forward and pushed.
The door, which she thought would be locked tight, swung open smoothly.
Like magic.
“You really are a mage, huh? Is that a secret?”
Kazar turned around, dumbfounded.
“It wasn’t me. It was just unlocked.”
“Okay, okay. I’ll keep your secret. We’re escaping thanks to you, after all.”
Eluana led the way out the door. Just stepping outside rid her nose of the moldy prison stench. A few steps further brought them into the lord’s garden. There were still no guards. Not just guards—no people at all.
As soon as she stepped outside the garden, a strong wind blew. A floral scent drifted through her hair. The flowers in the garden swayed gently, as if welcoming them.
Eluana inhaled deeply.
“We’re out.”
They were alive. Not safe yet—but alive.
While Eluana reveled in her brief freedom, Kazar surveyed the surroundings. Even outside, he couldn’t feel any mana.
‘Why can’t I sense any mana?’
As confusion flickered across his brow, a voice called out.
“What are you doing? This way!”
Eluana rummaged through some overgrown bushes with her arms. Behind them was just enough space for a person to squeeze through—a dog hole.
Kazar blinked.
“How’d you know this was here?”
“Rui kept wandering everywhere. I had to chase him all over.”
Eluana crawled through first, followed by Rui. Kazar went last. The hole was tight—any bigger and he might not have fit.
Once out of the castle, they sprinted. Kazar kept pace while holding Rui and asked,
“Where are we going?”
“We can’t take the main road. We’ll cut through the eastern forest. Oh—and I need to stop by home.”
Kazar didn’t answer. Splitting up here might have been smarter, but for some reason, he couldn’t bring himself to leave Eluana and Rui.
‘She knows the way.’
And he needed to confirm whether she really had alchemical powers. After all, she’d helped him escape. Leaving now would leave a bad taste.
Kazar, justifying his decision with one excuse after another, quietly followed Eluana.
