The door leading to the dungeon slammed open against the wall. In the entrance stood Bahir, holding a densely covered piece of paper in his hand. Behind him was the guard with the candle.

"Where is he?!" the old man yelled, his breath heavy from the rushed journey to the dungeon.

"I-in h-his cell," the soldier stuttered.

His words were ignored by the treasurer, who slowly entered the separated area. His eyes immediately drifted through the dimly illuminated space to a certain cell, shrouded in thick shadows. He noticed an empty bowl standing right next to the metal bars, on the floor. Further was another shape. A man sitting on the ground, staring at the stone underneath his feet.

"You!" The old man shouted, prompting Bruno to raise his head.

The young alchemist was smiling, a cheeky grin adorning his lips, taunting and mocking. "I see you found another piece of my little puzzle."

"Puzzle?!" Bahir spat out, making droplets of his saliva spray forward. "You think this is a game?! How about I hang one of your companions? Or how about I break your legs? You don’t need them to do your work."

"Why so angry, old man? I thought you would enjoy this little mystery I prepared for you. Do you know how much time I’ve spent developing the invisible ink? Do you know how much it cost me to make a completely new cipher, so you wouldn’t be able to read the notes even if you could see them? It was hard work. You could at least acknowledge it."

Bahir’s eyes darted toward the guard standing at the entrance as he shifted his face toward him. "Go inside, and break his leg!" he growled.

The soldier hesitated before rushing forward, reaching for his belt to grab the key ring. He was obviously disturbed, avoiding looking Bruno in the face.

"There is no need for violence," said the young alchemist, undisturbed at all. "I can just tell you how to crack my cipher. Wouldn’t that be easier?"

"Then say it. Say how to crack this cipher of yours, and it better be the last one of your tricks," the old man growled.

"I’ll do it if you let me meet the king."

The facial muscles of Bahir tensed, barely visible due to his soggy skin. He took a deep breath through his nostrils, then slowly exhaled. "Tell me how to read this first," he said, raising the piece of paper with the words he copied from Bruno’s notebook. "Using an invisible ink was a clever move, I have to admit that, but your invention barely works, so maybe next time spare yourself, and those who would have to decipher the signs, the trouble."

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‘It barely works because it’s supposed to make you stick your nose right into the page, you old fart,’ the young alchemist thought as he smiled at the old man. "I didn’t have enough time to work it through. I was busy with a more important project. Bring me some paper and something to write with, and I’ll show you how to read my cipher.”

Bahir’s attention shifted to the guard, who stood right next to the cell door with the key already in the hole. "Go and bring ink, quill, and some paper.”

The man nodded before rushing outside, leaving the key behind. But before Bruno even looked at it, the old man quickly snatched the key ring.

The two of them patiently waited for the return of the guard, and when he came back, he put everything he brought through the gap between the bars. Bruno crawled forward, grabbing the quill. He stretched the yellow piece of paper on the stone floor to begin writing.

It took him quite a moment, but eventually, the code to crack his cipher was there, written on the pages, with only one small fragment missing – a safety measure.

"Here you are,” the young alchemist said, putting the paper through the bars, right into the old man’s hand, who snatched it.

Squinting his eyes, he brought the piece right to his nose to read the small letters.

"Now take me to the king,” Bruno added.

"I changed my mind,” Bahir announced, dropping the hand with the paper, then moved toward the door to leave.

"I knew you were going to do this,” the young alchemist sighed.

This single sentence was enough to stop the old man, who froze in the spot before slowly turning around. Eyebrow frowned, he glared at Bruno with fury. "What did you do?” he asked, trying hard to keep a calm tone of voice.

"I didn't give you everything,” the young alchemist shrugged. "You have one last missing piece to decipher my notes, and you will get it, but first you have to let me meet the king. I know you are a liar, so I had to take some measures.”

"How can I trust you that you will give me what I want if I let you meet the king? You are accusing me of lying, but you, yourself, hardly tell the truth.”

Bruno chuckled in response before slowly getting up, finding some support in the metal bars. "I’m not a liar like you,” he lied. "Not telling you everything, and keeping some secrets is not a lie. I’m just making sure you will stop trying to trick me, which you do. Now… Let’s stop playing those silly games. Let me see the king so I can give you what you want. The sooner you go through my notes, the quicker you will need my help, and I will be able to get out of this prison.”

Bahir needed a short moment to think those words through. "Fine. If meeting the king is what you want, I’ll let you do this, but whatever you think you will be able to achieve by this, let me dispel your doubts. You are going to return to this cell.”

"Oh, I know that. I just want to make sure the king understands my position. That’s it. I doubt I can convince him to do anything,” he smiled.

Bahir then gestured to the guard and gave him the key ring. The man took it and went to open the cell. He grabbed the young alchemist as he was coming out, making sure Bruno wouldn’t do anything reckless.

Then they followed the old man up the stairs, illuminating their path with candlelight.