I awoke to a dimly lit chamber, my head throbbing and my body aching. As my vision cleared, I found myself surrounded by unfamiliar faces. Blinking in confusion, I tried to sit up, only to be met with a wave of dizziness that forced me back down.

"Well, well, it seems our sleeping beauty has finally awakened," a sultry voice drawled from above me. I turned my head to see a captivating woman with long, dark hair and a mischievous glint in her eyes. "You had us worried there, darling. Thought you were a goner."

Struggling to make sense of my surroundings, I managed to croak out, "Where am I? Who are you?"

The woman's laughter was like a melodious tune. "No need for formalities, love. I'm Eveline, and these two are Fidèle and Nico. We found you unconscious in this forsaken castle."

"Unconscious... castle?" I repeated, my memories slowly resurfacing. The mimic, the battles, and the weariness that had overwhelmed me.

Fidèle Armand, a towering figure with an imposing presence, crossed his arms and regarded me with a mix of curiosity and amusement. "Aye, mate. You were out cold when we stumbled upon you. I'm Fidèle."

Eveline shot him a playful glare. "Fidèle, darling, be a gentleman and help our friend up."

He offered me a hand, and I accepted it gratefully, allowing him to assist me to my feet. As I steadied myself, I took in the three figures before me—an enigmatic rogue knight, a captivating sorceress, and a grumpy young warrior.

"Thank you for saving me," I managed to say, my voice weak.

Fidèle shrugged nonchalantly. "No need to thank us. We're adventurers, after all. This is Eveline, and the brooding lad over there is Nico."

Eveline extended her hand towards me, a seductive smile playing on her lips. "Pleasure to meet you, handsome. I'm Eveline."

I shook her hand, a mixture of fascination and wariness coursing through me. "I'm Ferdinand. Call me Fyrrdie."

Nico rolled his eyes, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "How heartwarming."

Eveline's laughter rang out, a melodious sound that filled the air. "Oh, don't mind Nico. He's just the grumpy one in the group."

I listened as Eveline recounted their discovery of me, her words painting a vivid picture of their exploration and eventual encounter. Fidèle interjected with a few comments, his deep voice adding depth to the tale. Nico, however, remained mostly silent, his arms still crossed and his expression unchanged.

Eveline's eyes sparkled with enthusiasm as she animatedly shared their adventure. "So there we were, deep within the castle's labyrinthine corridors. The air was thick with tension as we navigated through the darkness, each step bringing us closer to whatever secrets this place held."

Fidèle's baritone voice rumbled in agreement, his eyes focused on some distant memory. "Aye, I could feel the weight of history in every stone. This castle has seen ages pass, and its walls hold stories untold."

Nico shifted his weight from one foot to the other, a subtle roll of his eyes betraying his impatience. "We get it, it's an old castle. Can we move on?"

Eveline shot him a playful glare before continuing, undeterred. "As we delved deeper, we stumbled upon a series of hidden chambers. It was Fidèle who noticed a peculiar symbol etched into the wall—a mark we had only read about in ancient texts."

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Fidèle's lips quirked into a half-smile, his gaze meeting mine. "Aye, and I've got an eye for these things. That mark led us to a room, unlike any we'd seen before. It was as if magic itself had woven its essence into the very fabric of the chamber."

Nico's skepticism remained unshaken, but he leaned in slightly, clearly intrigued despite his efforts to appear aloof. "Magic, huh? You do remember that we're not exactly the council of mages, right?"

Eveline rolled her eyes, her tone playfully exasperated. "Nico, darling, even you have to admit that this castle is steeped in mystical energy. It's practically oozing from every stone."

Nico's response was a noncommittal grunt, but his gaze lingered on Eveline with a mixture of fondness and exasperation.

Eveline continued her tale, her words weaving a tapestry of wonder and mystery. "And that's when we found you, Fyrrdie. You were unconscious, lying amidst a strange aura. It was as if the castle itself had cradled you in its embrace."

Fidèle's voice held a note of reverence as he added, "We carried you back to a safer chamber, unsure of who you were or how you came to be there. But there was something about you, a connection to the castle's enigma. But bah, poetry."

Nico's arms tightened across his chest, his eyes narrowing as he finally spoke, his voice softer than before. "We decided to stay and search for answers. Our mission was to find Céadach, but it seems the castle has other plans for us."

"Wait a moment," I interrupted. "You mentioned Céadach, the old wizard. I've come across that name in the castle."

Eveline raised an eyebrow, her gaze narrowing slightly. "You have? That's... intriguing. Céadach is the reason we're here."

Fidèle nodded in agreement, his stern expression softening for a moment. "Aye, we were hired by the royal palace to find and retrieve him. The kingdom is in turmoil, and his counsel is sorely needed."

Nico chimed in, his tone less grumpy and more matter-of-fact. "The council of mages has been disbanded, and magical disturbances are on the rise. Céadach is the last remaining link to restoring balance."

I leaned forward, my interest deepening. "But what happened to him? Why is he in this castle?"

Eveline sighed, her gaze distant. "Céadach was exiled many years ago for reasons I won't go into now. He chose to live in isolation, dedicating himself to his research. But now, his knowledge is crucial to saving the kingdom."

Fidèle crossed his arms, a thoughtful expression on his face. "We received word that Céadach had been seen in this castle. Our mission was to find him, ensure his safety, and bring him back to the palace."

Nico's eyes held a hint of determination. "The council of mages may have disbanded, but that doesn't mean we can't restore their legacy. With Céadach's guidance, we can uncover the truth behind these magical disturbances and put an end to them."

I absorbed their words, realizing the gravity of their mission. "And you believe Céadach is still within these walls?"

Fidèle nodded. "That's right. Our original mission was to retrieve him and bring him back to the royal palace. But finding you took precedence. You could say we had a change of plans."

Eveline nodded. "Our investigation led us here, but the castle is a labyrinth of secrets. We've been searching for clues, and that's how we stumbled upon you."

Fidèle's gaze turned back to me, his eyes assessing. "Your presence in this castle is a mystery as well. Perhaps there's a connection between you and Céadach."

Nico's skepticism resurfaced as he crossed his arms again. "Or perhaps he's just another lost traveler who got caught in this mess."

I couldn't help but feel a sense of purpose stir within me. "Well, if Céadach's knowledge is needed to save the kingdom, then I'm willing to help. I've already encountered some strange things in this castle, and I believe there's more to discover."

Eveline smiled warmly, her eyes reflecting gratitude. "We could use all the help we can get. And who knows, maybe your unique abilities will prove to be the key to unlocking the castle's secrets."

Fidèle's expression remained stoic, but I detected a glimmer of approval in his eyes. "Very well, then. Welcome to the team."

Eveline winked at me. "Consider yourself lucky, Fyrrdie. Fate works in mysterious ways."

Nico muttered something unintelligible under his breath, clearly uninterested in the whole affair.

Fidèle cleared his throat. "Now that you're awake, we should discuss what comes next. We're still on a mission to find Céadach and—"

"Actually, I've met Céadach," I interjected, excitement and urgency coursing through me.

The three of them exchanged surprised glances. "You've met him?" Eveline asked, her curiosity piqued.

I nodded. "Yes, he helped me, guided me through the castle. He seemed to know more about this place than anyone else."

Fidèle's brow furrowed. "That's interesting. We were sent to find him, but we've yet to cross paths. Care to share what you've learned?"

I quickly recounted my encounter with Céadach, describing his cryptic warnings and his cryptic insights into the castle's mysteries.

Nico scratched his head, his grumpy façade cracking just a bit. "So, we've been chasing after this old man, and he's been right under our noses?"

Eveline smirked. "Looks that way, doesn't it?"

Fidèle sighed, a wry smile tugging at his lips. "Well, at least we know he's still alive. And since you've met him, Fyrrdie, you're coming with us to find him again."

As they continued to discuss their plans, my mind raced with a whirlwind of thoughts. I had stumbled into a group of adventurers, each with their own unique abilities and quirks. They were a motley crew, brought together by fate and united by a common goal—to uncover the secrets of this castle and find the elusive wizard, Céadach.

Despite their differences, I could sense a genuine camaraderie among them. It was clear that they trusted each other implicitly, and even Nico's gruff exterior couldn't hide the bond they shared.

As we delved deeper into our discussions, my weariness began to wane. The presence of these people breathed new life into me, rekindling my determination to unravel the enigma that had become my existence. With their help, I hoped to find the answers I sought and confront the reason why I was brought up in this world, and what Céadach might've known that he chose to spare from me.