We should be reaching the town in no more than an hour," a burly voice called from the front of the carriage. Inside, I sat with Yura, Shina, and Heira, immersed in magical practice and spellcraft. Just this morning, I'd developed a storage spell—a small triumph, letting me store items without needing a physical bag. A minor victory, but useful.
As we traded knowledge, Yura and Heira shared that ruins and dungeons often held lost magic—ancient arts long forgotten by the world. Tempting, though such places rarely appeared. Still, the allure was undeniable.
Fortunately, magic here didn't rely on chanting. Visualization was enough to manipulate the ambient magic particles and cast spells. Chanting, however, helped me focus—like training wheels I hoped to shed someday.
As I concentrated, a sudden wave of dizziness hit me. My vision blurred.
"Something's not right… This area isn't safe," I muttered, my voice sluggish. My limbs grew heavy. With every passing second, it felt like the town of Galford was siphoning my consciousness.
I clenched my fists, teeth gritted. "Make sure the princess… is safe… Something's in the air—" Then darkness swallowed me whole.
A strange voice echoed in the void.
"Shiro, you will suffer. This will not be an easy test." A woman's voice—soft, cruel, laced with venom.
I drifted further into the dark, until a faint golden light flickered ahead. "I'm still worried about my sister… And no matter where I go, people don't change," I said, reaching toward it.
"She is under my watchful eye. Nothing will harm her. She watches you… with me."
A dark purple glow pulsed through the blackness—and vanished.
My eyes fluttered open. I was lying with my head in Yura's lap, her silver hair brushing gently against my cheek. Her face was inches from mine, eyes worried.
"Did I scare you that much? You stayed behind just for me?" I murmured.
"Worried? Ha! Not at all," she scoffed, her cheeks flushing. But that blush betrayed her.
"And the lap pillow wasn't your idea either, huh?" I teased, sitting up slowly.
"You collapsed out of nowhere—we didn't know what else to do," she muttered, trying to hide a smile.
I looked around. The carriage had stopped.
"What's happening in the town?"
"The princess, Izsa, and Shura went ahead… but they haven't come back. It's been thirty minutes," Yura said, already standing.
"Then we go," I said. We jumped out of the carriage and rushed toward the looming castle.
Just as we neared the entrance, the castle doors burst open. Princess Yullia, Izsa, and Shura stumbled out, panting and pale.
"What happened?" Yura asked, concern deepening.
"The men… they're all acting strange. Enchanted. Lost," Shura gasped, gripping the wall for balance.
Three knights staggered out behind them. Their eyes were glazed, faces twisted in euphoric grins, bodies moving like puppets.
"That's an intimacy spell," I said, narrowing my gaze. "It enslaves the minds of men. Is the town ruled by a woman?"
Yullia nodded grimly. "Yes. She uses this spell to take control. Those who resist are knocked unconscious—those who can't... become her slaves."
"Stay behind me," I said, stepping forward. "I won't let them lay a finger on any of you."
Magic surged through my body—into my fists and feet. In a blur of motion, I struck the knights in their guts, disabling them with clean precision. No killing. Just silence.
I pulled my hood over my head, activating my invisibility enchantment, and slipped inside the castle.
I should've asked where she was. No time now.
I exhaled, relaxing my body, and let my senses expand. Like a ripple through water, I felt it—a cluster of life signatures deep underground.
A cellar.
Moving through the halls, I passed more guards—barely conscious, their faces warped by the magic's influence. A shiver crept down my spine.
"Succubus? Or just that ugly?" I muttered, reaching the cellar door.
I opened it.
And there she was.
A massive woman—green hair, mossy eyes, and a grotesque frame that barely fit the chair she lounged on. Her expression dripped with lechery.
She wasn't a succubus.
She was just vile.
"You. Come quietly," I said, stepping from the shadows. "But first, deactivate the magic."
"Ohh? A bold little toy. You're quite the looker," she sneered, blowing a pink mist toward me.
With a flick of wind magic, I redirected the mist back at her. She didn't even have time to gasp before collapsing.
One move. Done.
The men under her spell slumped over, finally free.
"Glad you made the first move. Fighting you would've been a pain," I muttered.
I summoned Sanguine, the familiar spirit, to lead the others in. We tied her up with guard rope, avoiding any direct contact. Who knew what else she was laced with?
The girls arrived, expressions mixed with shock and relief.
"What should we do with her, Princess?" I asked.
"She's kidnapped and violated dozens. We imprison her," Yullia said, her voice steely.
"Don't worry. I didn't hurt the men. Once she was unconscious, the spell ended," I said, offering a reassuring smile.
The girls woke the others and explained everything. The guards and adventurers helped drag the woman out. I didn't touch her. I wouldn't.
Better safe than sorry.
With the enchantress secured and the townsmen freed, we boarded the carriage and began the journey back to Exium.