Suta POV

Entering the immense castle hall, a grand hall spanned nearly twice the size of any cathedral his eyes had ever witnessed. Judging by the sheer vastness before him, he could scarcely fathom how many more spacious chambers dwelled within these walls.

'This is undoubtedly a castle fit for royalty. To call such a grand manor home...'

The mere thought of whiling away his days amid these echoing corridors shattered any naive fantasies he may have harbored. Though Suta favored tranquility, the oppressive silence would surely drive him to madness.

Before him rose an ivory staircase, its countless steps climbing towards a mezzanine adorned with stone railings.

Peering through the gaps, he spied glassed ornaments and mirrors lining the upper walls. The ground comprised squared grey stone, yet its simplicity did little to dull the exquisite interior.

Even Suta had to admit this place befitted a sovereign. Deep crimson curtains flowed luxuriantly while glittering chandeliers hung above polished chrome pillars. His gaze wandered to the towering walls, either graced with arched windows or displaying bizarre murals of animals garbed in knightly armor.

'Well, nice to see the weirdness remains consistent, ' he mused, observing a tawny cat in an elegant grey suit of armor.

Beside it stood a crocodile clad as a musketeer, one arm resting on a wooden stool. Suta exhaled an exasperated sigh before following Demoria's spirited voice down one of the many wide halls.

As the day carried on, he and Demoria were escorted through the castle's ground floor by none other than Sir Mynx a lot, a name Suta refused to utter out loud under any circumstances.

It took hours to traverse from the towering entrance to the largest kitchen imaginable. And then down to the cellars stocked with obscene amounts of dried provisions. Here, Suta encountered another pair of whimsical, clothed creatures, two foxes dressed in bakers' whites, conversing animatedly over meal preparations for the entire castle.

With an expressionless mask concealing his intrigue, he observed the furries sketching plans amidst scribblings and crude seating illustrations.

They eventually sensed the arrivals, startled upright into greeting them with solemn bows.

The dining halls they visited dwarfed any room prior, filled with rows of long, polished glass tables and plush chairs that could host thirty per table. Lining the walls were at least two dozen maids - long-mouthed, floppy-eared dogs in black suits and unmoving white-gloved hands.

Other noteworthy chambers included the strategy room, armory, a combat hall overseen by a slumbering bear in an oversized kimono, and lastly, the ceremonial hall - the most elegant yet.

Here, two unmissable rose-cushioned, golden-framed thrones sat against a far wall of dark stone. Suta might have admired them, were it not for another giant mural resting against the wide wall behind them, depicting not animals, but humans, the first he'd seen in this strange castle.

Perhaps illuminated by bright windows, a luminous white glow almost masked the slender standing figure's face, revealing only tumbling golden curls falling down slender pale-skinned arms. But in the seated woman before them, Suta found shocking familiarity; olive-skinned and draped in white and blue silks, various amber and sapphire rings adorning her slender fingers, with an umissable deep blue hair gracing her neck and chest.

As his gaze met her dull eyes within the frame, his heart almost stopped.

"What the hell...is it just me or does she look strangely like..."

"Like me?" Demoria's concerned voice sounded beside him.

Suta turned to face her mask of slight horror as she stared off with a complicated expression.

'Hmph, so she finally realizes this place is weird. About damn time,' he inwardly scoffed.

'That woman is strikingly similar to Demoria. I'd even say if Demoria were much older, they'd be identical down to the smallest details.'

The troubling thought gnawed at him as the ominous atmosphere deepened the worry in his heart.

'I guess that's why they think we're royalty. Unless...'

His eyes drifted to Demoria's profile, unconsciously raising questions.

'How much do I truly know about her? She's my friend, yes, but what else? Even about Granny Baba? She wields that strange golden eye that almost killed me that one time. With her recently awakened, S-rank powers...'

The growing unease wouldn't allow him to dismiss the possibility that Demoria was deeply connected to their plight. As much as he wished it untrue, all signs pointed to her immense power as the cause.

'Look too deeply and I miss the forest. Focus on the trees and I miss the world. I should be careful and take this slowly.'

Demoria extended a dainty hand, pointing to the towering painting ahead.

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"Mr. Kitty, who...who is that?" she asked uneasily.

"Ara! Why, that's none other than our great benevolent mother! The gracious Queen of Candy herself!"

***

Suta sank deeper into the plush rose-colored chair, finally allowing his weary body to rest.

He released a deep exhale, the day's accumulated fatigue weighing heavily upon him.

Gently opening his half-lidded eyes, his expressionless gaze beheld the towering mirrors lining the wall before him.

The lion, Sir Mynx a lot, had, at last, permitted them respite in this lavishly appointed lounge area connecting two spacious chambers where they could settle for the night. A sparkling golden chandelier hung from the vaulted ceiling above as Suta's mind drifted, wondering how he could possibly save them from this strange predicament.

'Perhaps we should simply wait for Granny? Surely an Arcanist of her prowess is doing everything in her power to find us. Yes, that may be our best recourse.' He harbored no doubts that she could uncover a way to their rescue, provided she was aware of their plight.

Although...

'Wherever this place is, I do hope it's not completely severed from the rest of the world.'

That disastrous possibility chilled him to the core, for it would almost certainly leave them stranded without hope of ever returning home.

The soft creak of parting double doors stirred Suta away from his daydreams. Where his gaze landed upon a vision of radiant beauty.

"Demoria?" He almost blinked thrice to make sure he wasn't seeing things, she was now garbed in a bright, finely tailored gown, skipping jovially towards him.

"Hey Suta, look-look! I found these clothes and they fit me perfectly, hehehe, how weird is that?"

Suta lazily appraised her from head to toe.

'Yeah...weird indeed.'

"Don't be shy, Suta! Go on, tell me how pretty I look?" Demoria fawned, pirouetting on her toes as the wide hem of her dress swirled enchantingly, her lush dark blue tresses cascading in the gentle breeze.

Even Suta could not deny the girl's lily-like beauty beneath the soft lighting.

At times, he forgot she was only seventeen, for despite her childlike mannerisms, she carried an aura of mature allure that often dazzled and intrigued him.

Quickly realizing where his thoughts strayed, he shook his head firmly to dispel them.

"H-hey Demoria, we need to talk," he beckoned after clearing his throat. Sensing the seriousness in his tone, she sighed dismissively.

"Urgh, I hope it's not about more boring things, Suta? Why don't you try livening up a little? Granny said frowning all the time will make your face crippled, you know."

'Cri-crippled? I don't think that's quite how that saying goes...' he thought, brows furrowing slightly.

"I'm serious, Demoria. We have to be cautious here. There's no telling what dangers lurk in this bizarre place. And you're letting your guard down around that talking lion a lot-"

"His name is Sir Mynx a lot Suta. Don't be rude, he's a perfect gentleman," she chided practicing her curtsy in one of the tall mirrors.

"Tsk! He's a talking lion in a onesie.

At best, he has a few screws missing in his head.

At worst, this is all an act. I advise you to be wary lest he suddenly 'flips out and goes crazy,"

Suta warned gravely.

"Hahaha - flip out and go crazy?" Demoria tried and failed to stifle her laughter behind a dainty hand. "Suta, you worry too much. Do you think I'm that silly? Of course, I'm aware of the potential peril we face. Why else would I be so accommodating to the 'talking kitty'? Surely you haven't forgotten whose power eclipses all others here."

Suta held her gaze, bewildered for a moment as he gauged her sincerity.

"So you're saying this has all been an act?"

"Mmhmm, it's better if they think us allies rather than foes. Especially when we haven't the foggiest idea where we are or how formidable they might be. Granny always said an Arcanist must be five steps ahead at all times." Demoria concluded with a raised chin.

Genuine surprise spread across Suta's features as he considered her prudent words.

'She's right, if one of us can ingratiate ourselves, perhaps we can glean information from one of these furries and find a way home.'

Scratching his head sheepishly, he marveled at when Demoria had become so bright.

'Perhaps I should give her more credit.'

A self-mocking smile creased his lips as he pondered his cynicism of late.

The Mana Storm disaster had understandably fortified walls around his heart - walls he deemed necessary after the mental trauma he'd endured. Though he trusted Demoria implicitly after their hundred or so days spent together, the wider world filled him with caution.

A world that could so easily deceive and corrupt even the purest of hearts.

'I suppose she's right. I should try to relax a little.'

One of the double doors creaked softly open, with peculiar footsteps following swiftly after the other. Lifting his gaze, Suta was surprised to see Sir Mynx a lot accompanied by another strangely dressed furry.

"Is that...a crow?" he mouthed louder than intended.