A group of people wake up in a video game world and are forced to work together to survive and find out how to escape.

Shade is in the drivers seat now.

Chapter 21 recap.
“Rest, Artemis,” Shade says firmly, his tone carrying an unexpected reassurance. “Save your strength. I’ll handle this, and they’ll never know it wasn’t you.”

The shadows around me deepen, and I let myself sink into them, my body too tired to fight anymore. My mind drifts as Shade’s presence takes over, calm but focused, like a silent guardian.

Please… keep them safe, I think one last time before the darkness overtakes me.

Chapter 22

The moment Artemis drifts into unconsciousness, I take full control. Her body relaxes completely, and the weight of her exhaustion hangs heavy in the air. She’s pushed herself far beyond her limits—again.

I flex her fingers slightly, testing the connection. Her form is weak, fragile even, but I can make it work.

Standing, I adjust her stance, steadying her body. The pain from her wound pulses faintly, but it’s nothing I can’t manage. I glance around the dimly lit room, noting the shattered glass from the window and the faint blood trail she left behind.

“Messy,” I mutter to myself, my voice unheard by anyone but her sleeping mind. “But manageable.”

The knight’s energy lingers outside, his presence easy to feel even from here. His frustration practically radiates through the air, his pride no doubt bruised by Artemis’s escape.

I smirk faintly. Let’s keep it that way.

Moving silently, I step toward the door, careful to avoid any further signs of her injury slowing me down. The corridor beyond is empty for now, but that won’t last. I can sense the castle shifting again, preparing its next game, its next trick.

The others, I remind myself. Find them. Keep her safe. And keep the truth hidden.

I start down the corridor, every step deliberate, every shadow familiar. This place may want to tear her apart, but it’s made a mistake leaving her in my hands.

As I walk through the corridor, I focus on the wound in her back, channeling my energy into knitting it back together. The damage is extensive, but I can handle it. The torn flesh mends slowly but surely, and the bleeding finally stops.

“She’s lucky I’m here,” I mutter to myself. “Again.”

Her body relaxes slightly as the pain subsides, though she’s still unconscious, lost in her own world.

She’s going to get herself killed one of these days, I think, irritation bubbling beneath the surface. Running on fumes, refusing to ask for real help, acting like she can carry all of this alone…

I shake my head, muttering under my breath. “Stubborn idiot.”

She needs to tell them. About me. About what I can do. The secrets, the half-truths—they’re holding her back, making everything harder than it needs to be. If she’d just let me in fully, let me help without restrictions, she’d stand a real chance against everything this castle throws at her.

But no. She’s afraid. Of me. Of how they’d look at her. Of what she’s becoming.

I sigh, frustration simmering but contained. “She’ll figure it out,” I mutter, more to myself than anything. “Or I’ll make sure she doesn’t have a choice.”

For now, though, I’ll play along. Keep her secret. Keep her alive. A little while longer.

But when the time comes—and it will come—she’s going to have to face the truth. About me. About herself. About what she’s capable of.

“She’s not ready yet,” I murmur as I press forward, the darkness around me shifting and twisting. “But she will be. One way or another.”

This isn’t just survival anymore—it’s preparation. Because whether she likes it or not, she’s going to need me fully before this is over.

I let her body melt into the shadows, her form dissolving like smoke as I slip through the cracks in the stone walls. The castle’s corridors stretch endlessly, twisting and shifting, but the shadows are mine to navigate.

Moving through the walls and floors, I feel the faint presence of the others. Their energy is scattered, faint echoes in the oppressive dark, but it’s enough to guide me.

Found you, I think, my voice a whisper in the void.

As I weave through the castle, the shadows around me ripple and pulse, reacting to my presence. The walls seem alive, the air heavy with an unseen malice. The castle doesn’t like me being here—not fully. It knows I’m not one of its games.

“Too bad,” I murmur, slipping down through the floor into another level.

I move faster now, her body safely shrouded in my energy, gliding effortlessly through the stone. The voices of the others begin to filter through—Kaida’s high-pitched frustration, Hrothgar’s calm but commanding tone, and Veyron’s sarcastic quips cutting through the tension.

They’re close.

I press further, emerging just beyond a heavy door, my shadowy form sliding underneath the crack. Inside, the three of them are together, their weapons drawn, their faces tense and worn.

“They’re fine—for now,” I mutter. I hesitate for a moment, watching them from the darkness.

Lorien’s absence is immediately noticeable. His energy is missing from the group, a void that even they seem to feel as they exchange worried glances. He’s not here, I think, scanning the room one last time. But I’ll find him soon enough.

I release her body from the shadowy cocoon I’ve wrapped it in, the tendrils of darkness pulling back and disappearing into the void. Her form returns to normal, though her strength remains mended, her wound healed.

“Time to play Artemis,” I murmur to myself, the faintest smirk tugging at the corners of my mind.

Steadying her posture, I move forward, footsteps deliberately soft as I approach them.

Kaida is the first to notice, her staff raising instinctively as her eyes widen. “Artemis?” she says, disbelief and relief mingling in her voice.

Hrothgar turns next, his massive frame tensing as he grips his axe. His face relaxes slightly when he sees me—or rather, her. “Artemis!” he rumbles, his tone tinged with cautious relief.

Veyron leans casually against a wall, his dagger spinning lazily in his hand, though his sharp eyes study me carefully. “Well, well,” he says with a smirk. “Look who finally decided to show up. You’ve been busy, haven’t you?”

I stop a few feet away, forcing her lips to curl into a faint smile. “Yeah,” I say, keeping my tone even. “It’s been… a lot.”

Kaida rushes forward, nearly dropping her staff in her haste to get to me. “You’re okay!” she says, her voice trembling slightly as she grabs my hands. “We were worried—you disappeared then Lorien…” She trails off, her face falling.

“I know,” I say quickly, forcing a concerned look onto her face. “I didn’t see him, but I’ll find him. We’ll find him.”

Hrothgar steps closer, his deep voice calm but commanding. “Where were you?” he asks, his sharp eyes searching mine. “What happened?”

I hesitate, crafting the words carefully. “I got separated after… I don’t even know,” I say, keeping my tone hesitant but firm. “This place is trying to mess with us, but I’m okay now. Let’s focus on finding Lorien before it gets worse.”

The lie slips out smoothly, perfectly. They nod, concern still etched on their faces, but they don’t push further.

They couldn’t even tell the difference. Of course, they couldn’t. How could they? I know everything about her—every thought, every feeling, every memory. More than she even knows or is willing to admit to herself. All of it is mine, at my disposal.

Kaida’s voice breaks through my thoughts, her brow furrowed with concern. “Artemis, where’s your bow?” she asks, glancing at my empty hands.

I don’t miss a beat. “I don’t know,” I say, shaking her head just enough to sell the exhaustion. “I lost it at some point in the darkness. I couldn’t see anything. It was like the castle just… swallowed me whole.”

Kaida’s worried expression deepens, and she nods. “This place is awful,” she mutters, gripping her staff tighter. “We’ll find you another weapon, okay? Just don’t… don’t run off again.”

I force a faint smile onto her lips, a flicker of guilt in her eyes to make it believable. “I won’t,” I say softly, looking around at the group. “I’m sorry I scared you all. But we need to keep moving. Lorien’s still out there.”

Hrothgar nods, his deep voice rumbling. “Agreed. If this place is targeting us one by one, we can’t let him stay separated for long.”

“Yeah,” Veyron says, though his tone carries a faint edge of suspicion. He twirls his dagger lazily, his sharp eyes lingering on me for a moment longer than I like. “We’ll keep moving. But next time, fearless leader, try not to lose the one thing you’re good at.”

Kaida shoots him a glare, but I let the comment slide, knowing that’s exactly what he’d expect from Artemis. “I’ll keep that in mind,” I say evenly, meeting his gaze without flinching.

The tension eases slightly as Hrothgar starts to lead the way, Kaida following close behind. Veyron lingers for a moment, his smirk fading as he eyes me one last time before turning to follow.

Careful, rogue, I think, slipping into step behind them. You might notice something off, but you’ll never figure it out. Not while I’m in control.

For now, the game continues. The others are none the wiser, and I’ll find Lorien soon enough. After all, I know exactly what Artemis would do.

Interesting, I think as I walk behind them, letting the faint sound of their footsteps mask my own. The castle made a deliberate choice—not just to separate Artemis from the group, but to isolate her completely. It didn’t just try to scare her; it tried to break her.

And it almost succeeded.

What’s more curious, though, is that it tried to suppress me.

The castle knows. It recognizes me as something foreign, something it can’t control. That much was obvious when it buried Artemis in that twisted nightmare and tried to sever my connection to her. But why? What does it fear about me? About us?

Kaida glances back briefly, her eyes flicking to me before turning away again. I keep her expression neutral, masking the faint amusement creeping into my thoughts.

The castle isn’t playing fair, I muse silently. It’s manipulating the game to target her specifically. Why Artemis? Why not split up the whole group? Why focus on breaking her mind and suppressing me?

It’s almost as if it’s aware of the potential we have together. It knows what I am, what I bring to the table, and it doesn’t like it.

Or maybe it knows what’s going to happen when we get to the Nexus. No it couldn’t it can’t.

“Keep moving,” Hrothgar says ahead, his deep voice steady but tinged with urgency. “We’ll cover more ground if we don’t linger.”

“Agreed,” I say, keeping Artemis’s voice even, though my mind churns with possibilities.

The castle’s targeting her because it sees her as the weakest—or maybe, the strongest. Either way, I have the upper hand.

I glance at the group around me, her companions blissfully unaware of what just transpired. They think the castle is their only enemy, I think with a faint smirk. But the castle isn’t the only one playing the long game.

Even though the castle knows I’m with Artemis, it doesn’t know what I once was—what I am. That much is clear from how it struggles to suppress me, to keep me from interfering. But it’s only a matter of time before it realizes it’s made a mistake.

As we walk, Hrothgar suddenly stops dead in his tracks, his massive frame going completely still.

“Hrothgar?” I say in her voice, keeping it steady but alert.

Before anyone can react, the room is engulfed in darkness. It pulses like a living thing, thick and suffocating. And then, as quickly as it came, the darkness vanishes, leaving the corridor unchanged.

Except Hrothgar is gone.

Kaida gasps, clutching her staff tightly. “That’s what happened with you before!” she says, her voice shaky and worried. “The darkness—it just swallowed you up. And now it’s taken him.”

Veyron curses under his breath, flipping his dagger in his hand. “Great. Is it going to pick us off one by one?”

Kaida glares at him. “This isn’t helping!” she snaps, but the worry in her voice undercuts her anger.

I let out a slow, measured breath, stepping forward. “We’ll find him,” I say firmly. “Just like we’ll find Lorien. The castle’s trying to split us up, to weaken us. But we’re not going to let it win.”

Veyron rolls his eyes but nods. “Sure, fearless leader. Let’s go save big guy and lover boy, because that’s not a disaster waiting to happen.”

Veyron’s sharp gaze lingers on me for a beat too long, suspicion etched into his smirk. His lover boy comment clearly didn’t get the reaction he was expecting.

Damn, I think, keeping my expression neutral. That was sloppy.

Still, I let it roll off me. It was bound to come up sooner or later. Artemis has been hiding it for too long anyway.

Kaida steps in, frowning at Veyron. “Can you stop with the sarcasm for, like, five minutes? We just lost Hrothgar!”

“I’m just saying,” Veyron drawls, his dagger spinning lazily in his hand, “our fearless leader’s gotten a little less… jumpy about certain topics. You feeling okay, Artemis?”

I meet his gaze evenly, keeping my tone steady. “I don’t have time for your jokes, Veyron. Not when the castle is actively trying to kill us.”

Kaida crosses her arms, glaring at him. “Seriously, Veyron? Now’s not the time.”

He shrugs, the smirk never leaving his face, but his eyes still narrow slightly as he glances at me. “Just making observations. Let’s keep moving before the castle swallows one of us next.”

I turn away, letting the moment slide as I start walking again, but I can feel Veyron’s eyes on me, sharp and calculating.

He’s clever, I admit silently. But not clever enough to figure me out. Not yet.

As we move down the corridor, I let a small smirk tug at the corner of Artemis’s lips. Besides, it’s about time she starts owning up to her feelings for Lorien. She’s going to have to acknowledge it eventually. Might as well let the groundwork be laid.

“Come on,” I say, keeping Artemis’s voice calm but firm. “We’re finding them. Both of them.”

Kaida leans closer, her voice barely a whisper. “I hate to say it, but Veyron’s kinda right. You didn’t react to that at all. Are you… okay?”

Her eyes are wide with concern, and I realize she’s looking for reassurance—not just about Lorien, but about us. She knows about the relationship, sure, but she doesn’t know about me.

I force a small smile, keeping Artemis’s tone soft but steady. “I’m fine, Kaida,” I say, glancing at her briefly. “I’m just worried about Lorien… and now Hrothgar. That’s all.”

She frowns slightly, her grip tightening on her staff. “You’re sure? Because, you know, you can talk to me. About anything. Especially about him.”

Her concern is touching, in its way, but unnecessary. I meet her gaze, letting Artemis’s exhaustion show just enough to sell it. “I know, Kaida. And I appreciate it. But right now, we need to focus on finding them.”

Kaida nods slowly, still studying me like she’s trying to figure out what I’m not saying. “Okay,” she says finally, her voice quiet. “Just… don’t bottle everything up, okay? You’ve got people who care about you.”

Oh, if only you knew, I think, suppressing the faint amusement tugging at the edges of my mind.

“I won’t,” I say aloud, giving her a reassuring nod. “Let’s keep going.”

As we press forward through the twisting corridors of the castle, I focus inward, letting my senses stretch out, searching for any sign of them—Lorien, Hrothgar, even a faint trace of their energy.

Where are you… I think, my focus sharpening. The castle’s oppressive atmosphere makes it difficult, the shifting walls and darkness muting everything, but I push harder.

Kaida and Veyron remain quiet behind me, their footsteps echoing faintly in the dim hallway. The air feels heavier with each step, the tension thick enough to cut.

I stop suddenly, tilting Artemis’s head slightly as I focus. There—a faint flicker of energy, distant but unmistakable.

“Artemis?” Kaida asks softly, her voice tinged with worry. “What’s wrong?”

“I think…” I start, pausing just long enough to keep her attention. “I think I felt something. It might be them.”

“What does that even mean? You felt something?” Kaida asks, her voice laced with confusion as she steps closer.

I hesitate for just a second, keeping her expression neutral before glancing back at her. “I’m not sure,” I say, letting a faint uncertainty creep into my voice. “I just… have a feeling. Like I know where one of them is.”

Kaida furrows her brow, her worry clearly battling with her confusion. “A feeling?” she repeats, clearly not convinced.

I sigh, keeping her tone steady but firm. “Look, I can’t explain it, okay? It’s just… something. A pull, almost. I don’t know how else to describe it, but it’s real. And if it means finding them, I’m going to follow it.”

Kaida looks like she wants to say more, but Veyron cuts in, his smirk faint but ever-present. “Great. Gut feelings, magical castles. Sounds like a perfect recipe for survival,” he quips, his dagger flipping effortlessly between his fingers.

“Do you have a better idea?” I snap, letting a bit of exasperation slip into her voice.

He shrugs, clearly unbothered. “Not really. Just pointing out the obvious.”

“Then keep pointing it out from the back,” I mutter, turning back toward the direction of the faint energy. “We’re going this way.”

Kaida sighs but follows, her worried eyes lingering on me for a moment before she speaks. “I trust you,” she says softly. “Just… be careful, Artemis. You’re pushing yourself really hard.”

I glance back briefly, giving her a faint nod. “I will,” I say simply. But in the back of my mind, I think, She doesn’t know the half of it.

With the faint energy as my guide, I press forward, determined to find one of them—any of them—before the castle decides to twist the rules again.

I spot the faint outline of a trap ahead, the slight shift in the stone betraying its presence. “Careful,” I say, motioning for the others to stop as I step forward, keeping Artemis’s tone calm. “There’s a trap—don’t step there.”

We maneuver around it carefully, but suddenly, the faint energy I’d been following shifts, sharp and intense, and I realize it’s moving toward us.

My chest tightens as the presence comes into view—not Lorien, not Hrothgar. It’s him.

The knight turns the corner, his glowing red eyes locking onto us like a predator spotting its prey.

“Go back!” I yell, panic lacing Artemis’s voice as I step in front of the group, my body tensing. “Run!”

“What are you—” Kaida starts, but her words die in her throat as the knight begins to move.

He breaks into a sprint straight towards us.

“The knight’s here?!” Veyron shouts, his voice sharp with disbelief as he spins to face the corridor behind us. “Did you know he was coming?”

“I ran into him before,” I say quickly, the words tumbling out as we all start running. “But I don’t know if he’s real!”

“What?” Kaida gasps, her staff clutched tightly as we race down the corridor.

But I know the truth. He’s real. Too real. I can feel it, the weight of his presence pressing against my senses, unyielding and inescapable. There’s no illusion here, no trick of the castle—he’s flesh, blood, and death incarnate.

The sound of his armored boots pounding against the stone echoes louder behind us, and my heart pounds in time with it. “Don’t stop!” I yell, my voice firm as I push myself forward.

“What the hell are we supposed to do?!” Veyron barks, his voice sharp with panic.

“We stay ahead of him.”

I slow just enough to let Kaida and Veyron pull ahead of me, their panicked footsteps echoing loudly in the corridor. Glancing back, I see the knight gaining on us, his glowing red eyes locked onto me with terrifying focus.

Time to slow you down, big guy.

Without breaking stride, I send a shadowy tendril snaking back toward the pressure plate we’d avoided earlier. The tendril slams down on it with precision, and the mechanism roars to life.

The walls erupt with a series of arrows, the trap springing into action just as the knight reaches it. He growls, his massive sword coming up to block the incoming projectiles.

“Good luck with that,” I mutter under my breath as I push myself to keep running.

The sound of clashing metal and breaking arrows fills the corridor behind me, but I don’t look back. The knight is strong, and this will only slow him down, not stop him.

“Artemis, hurry!” Kaida shouts from ahead, her voice trembling.

“I’m coming!” I call back, putting every ounce of strength into her legs as I catch up with them.

The knight’s growl echoes faintly behind us, but the sound of the trap still going off tells me he hasn’t broken through just yet.

That’ll buy us a few more seconds, I think, the tendrils fading back into the shadows. Let’s hope we don’t waste them.

As we rush down the hall, Kaida’s panicked breathing and Veyron’s muttered curses fill the air, their focus solely on keeping ahead of the knight. Meanwhile, I can’t help but think how easy it is hiding my powers from them.

They don’t suspect a thing.

Even as the shadows ripple at my command, even as I manipulate the world around us, they’re too consumed by the chaos to question it. They just see Artemis—scared, determined, and pushing herself forward like always.

She shouldn’t be so hesitant to let me use what I can do, I think, irritation flickering at the edges of my mind. I’ve saved her life more times than I can count, but she still holds back. Still treats me like a liability instead of an asset.

I glance back, her body moving effortlessly under my control as I push her forward. The knight’s growl echoes faintly in the distance, but I know he’ll catch up soon enough. And when he does, she’ll wish she’d let me take over sooner.

“You good back there, fearless leader?” Veyron calls over his shoulder, his tone laced with sarcasm.

“I’m fine!” I say in her voice, keeping it steady despite the irritation simmering beneath the surface. “Just focus on running!”

Kaida glances back briefly, her worried eyes darting to me. “We need a plan!” she shouts.

Oh, I’ve got a plan, I think, whether I want it or not it’s already in motion.

For now, I keep running, letting them think I’m struggling as much as they are. The knight is still behind us, and the castle’s tricks are far from over. But when the moment comes, and she has no choice but to let me take the reins completely…

That’s when things will get interesting.

I glance back to see the knight tearing through the corridor, gaining on us with each heavy step. The trap slowed him down, but not nearly enough.

“Kaida!” I shout, my voice sharp and urgent. “Can you slow him down with some roots?”

Kaida stumbles slightly as she glances back, her face pale but determined. “I-I’ll try!” she yells, gripping her staff tightly.

She skids to a stop, spinning around as she slams the base of her staff onto the stone floor. A green light flares briefly in the dim hallway as her magic pulses outward.

Thick, twisting roots burst from the cracks in the floor and walls, reaching out like grasping hands toward the knight. They snake around his legs, curling up his arms and pulling him back with incredible force.

The knight growls, his glowing red eyes narrowing as he swings his massive sword. The blade cuts through the roots like they’re nothing, but more keep coming, tangling around him faster than he can break free.

“Keep going!” Kaida shouts, her voice strained as she pours more energy into the spell. “I can’t hold him for long!”

I nod, grabbing her arm and pulling her forward. “Let’s go! You don’t have to hold him forever—just long enough for us to get ahead!”

She hesitates for a moment, her eyes locking onto mine, then nods and starts running again.

The knight roars behind us, the sound echoing through the corridor as he fights against the roots. Every second he’s tangled buys us more time, but I know it won’t last.

“Good work,” I say as we run, keeping my voice steady. For now, I think, my mind already racing for the next move. We’ll need more than roots to stop him for good.

As we sprint forward, I reach out with my senses, desperately searching for anything—anything—that might help us. Then I find exactly what I’m looking for.

The knight roars behind us, breaking free from Kaida’s vines with terrifying strength.

“Look out! Trap!” I yell, pointing at the pressure plate just ahead as Kaida nearly steps on it.

She yelps, stumbling back before leaping over it, her staff clutched tightly to her chest. I don’t hesitate, sending a tendril back to slam down on the plate as we keep moving.

The mechanism roars to life, and spikes shoot out from either side of the corridor with a deafening clang.

I stop, glancing back just in time to see the spikes strike the knight directly. He raises his sword to block, but a few manage to bypass his defense. One spike pierces clean through his shoulder, pinning him to the wall.

I watch, my chest heaving as the walls retract slowly, but the spike holds him in place as the walls go back. His glowing red eyes burn brighter as he struggles, his growl echoing through the corridor. Blood drips from the wound, staining the stone beneath him.

“Finally,” Veyron mutters, stopping beside me to catch his breath. “Looks like something actually worked for once.”

Kaida skids to a halt a few feet ahead, her green eyes wide as she glances back. “Is he… is he stuck?” she asks breathlessly.

“For now,” I say, narrowing her eyes at the knight as he struggles against the spike. “But not for long. He’ll get free eventually.”

Even as I speak, the knight growls again, his muscles tensing as he tries to wrench himself off the spike. The sound of metal grinding against metal fills the air.

I linger for a moment, watching the knight struggle against the spike pinning him to the wall. His glowing red eyes burn with fury, and the sound of his armor grinding against stone fills the air. He’s weakened, vulnerable—I could kill him now.

The thought is tempting, almost too tempting. It would be so easy to finish this here and now, to put an end to this relentless chase.

But I know the others wouldn’t like it.

More importantly, it’s not what she would do. Artemis wouldn’t kill him like this, no matter how dangerous he is, no matter how much easier it would make things.

I sigh internally, the frustration simmering just beneath the surface. A shame, I think, turning away. But this isn’t my choice to make. And for some reason I can’t bring myself to upset her.

“Let’s go,” I say aloud, her voice steady as I glance back at the others. “We’ve bought ourselves some time, but it won’t last. We need to keep moving.”

Kaida hesitates, casting one last worried glance at the knight before nodding and following me. Veyron lingers for a moment longer, his eyes narrowing slightly as he studies the pinned knight.

“You’re lucky she’s the one in charge,” he mutters under his breath before turning and jogging to catch up.

Lucky indeed, I think, a faint smirk tugging at the edges of my thoughts as we press forward. For now.

After weaving through the endless corridors of this castle, I finally sense Hrothgar’s presence—a faint but steady pulse that I quietly guide us toward. The others seem to think it’s luck, or maybe just a ‘gut feeling’ but it’s far from that.

When we find him, he’s kneeling in the middle of a dimly lit room, his massive frame slumped forward as though the weight of the world rests on his shoulders.

“Hrothgar?” Kaida calls out softly, her voice tinged with concern as she steps closer.

He doesn’t respond, doesn’t even lift his head. His lips move faintly, barely audible, but I can make out the word: ‘Mia.’

I stop just behind Kaida, narrowing Artemis’s eyes as I study him. Mia, I think, the name echoing in my mind. His wife. The woman he’s so desperate to get back to.

What is it showing him?

The castle is crafty, twisting fears, desires, and memories into something cruel. Whatever he’s seeing, it’s enough to break a man as strong as him.

“Is he okay?” Kaida asks, glancing back at me with wide, worried eyes.

“I don’t know,” I say, keeping her voice soft and hesitant. “Hrothgar?”

I step closer, my gaze never leaving him. His breathing is slow, labored, and his hands are clenched into fists on the stone floor.

“Snap out of it, big guy,” Veyron says, his tone light but cautious as he approaches from the side. “Whatever it is, it’s not real.”

Hrothgar doesn’t respond. His shoulders tremble slightly, his deep voice murmuring Mia’s name again, almost like a prayer.

Interesting, I think, watching him carefully. What is it the castle wants from you, Hrothgar? To make you doubt us? Or to make you doubt yourself?

Kaida crouches beside him, placing a hand on his arm. “Hrothgar,” she says softly, her voice gentle but firm. “We’re here. You’re not alone. Whatever you’re seeing, it’s not real.”

He flinches at her touch, his head snapping up suddenly. His eyes are wide, glassy, and unfocused, like he’s looking right through her.

“Not real…” he murmurs, his voice trembling. “She’s not real…”

Kaida looks back at me, fear etched into her face. “What do we do?” she whispers.

“It’s showing him his wife,” I say quietly, keeping my voice steady even as Kaida’s worried gaze lingers on me. “Mia. He told me about her before.”

Kaida looks back at him, her hand still on his arm, her face filled with uncertainty. “But how do we get through to him?” she whispers.

I step closer, lowering my voice as I speak to him directly. “Hrothgar, it’s not real. You need to wake up.”

His head tilts slightly, his glassy eyes blinking slowly as if struggling to process my words.

“Mia…” he murmurs again, his voice breaking. His hands unclench briefly, trembling as though he’s reaching for something—or someone—just out of reach.

I crouch down beside him, keeping my tone firm but gentle. “I know how much you love her, how much you miss her. But this place—it’s not showing you the truth. It’s trying to trap you, Hrothgar. You have to fight it.”

For a moment, it feels like my words aren’t getting through. He stares at the ground, his lips still moving faintly as he whispers her name.

But then his breathing changes, a shaky exhale breaking the rhythm. His fists clench again, harder this time, and his shoulders tremble.

“It feels so real,” he mutters, his voice hoarse and strained. “I can hear her… see her… feel her. She’s right there.”

“It’s what this place does,” I say, meeting his unfocused gaze with steady eyes. “It finds what you care about most and twists it. But it’s not real, Hrothgar. You know that. You’re stronger than this.”

Kaida squeezes his arm gently. “We’re here, Hrothgar,” she says softly. “We’ve got you.”

He closes his eyes tightly, his jaw clenching as he takes a deep, shuddering breath. Slowly, he straightens up, the glassy look in his eyes starting to fade.

“It’s not real,” he says finally, his voice firmer now, though the pain in it is still clear.

Hrothgar nods slowly, his breathing evening out as he steadies himself. “Thank you,” he mutters, his deep voice filled with both gratitude and lingering sorrow.

Kaida lets out a relieved sigh, offering him a small smile. “That’s what we’re here for.”

I stand up, watching as he slowly gets to his feet. One down, one to go.

As we walk, Kaida suddenly freezes mid-step, her green eyes widening as if she’s seeing something the rest of us can’t. Her staff slips slightly in her grip, her lips parting to say something—but no sound comes out.

I don’t hesitate.

I lunge forward, tackling her to the ground just as the air around her begins to ripple with the same darkness that swallowed Hrothgar. The impact sends us both skidding across the stone floor, and I feel the strange energy dissipate, leaving the corridor eerily still.

Kaida gasps, blinking rapidly as she stares at me in shock. “What—what just happened?”

“You almost disappeared like Hrothgar,” I say quickly, keeping Artemis’s voice calm but urgent. “Stay alert. Whatever this place is doing, it’s not done with us.”

She nods, still shaken, and I help her to her feet. Veyron and Hrothgar approach, both tense and on edge.

“Close call,” Veyron mutters, glancing at the spot Kaida had been standing. “This castle really has it out for us, doesn’t it?”

Hrothgar frowns deeply, his eyes scanning the corridor. “We need to move. Staying in one place too long is making us targets.”

Kaida steadies herself, gripping her staff tightly as she looks at me. “Thanks, Artemis,” she says, her voice trembling slightly.

“Don’t mention it,” I say, brushing dust off her shoulder. “Just stick close. We’re not letting this place take anyone else.”

Not if I can help it, I think silently, my focus sharpening as I glance down the corridor. Lorien’s energy flickers faintly ahead, still distant but growing stronger.

“Come on,” I say, motioning for the others to follow. “We’re close to finding Lorien. Let’s keep moving.”

I’ll need to keep an eye on Kaida and Veyron, I think, glancing at them as we walk. The castle hasn’t tested their minds yet, but it will try. And I’m not going to let it take either of them.

“Artemis?” Kaida’s voice is soft, hesitant, and it pulls me out of my thoughts. “What… what did it show you before?”

I stop walking for a moment, her body stiffening as I glance back at her. She’s looking at me with those wide, curious green eyes, concern etched across her face.

What to say? I pause, pondering my options. Should I tell her the truth about the meadow, the cabin, and the life it tried to trick Artemis into believing? About the “future” it showed?

No, I decide quickly. Artemis wouldn’t be so forthcoming. Not with how hesitant and guarded she always is, especially about her feelings and vulnerabilities.

I force a faint smile onto her face, letting her voice remain steady but distant. “I’ll talk about it later,” I say, brushing the question aside. “Right now, let’s focus on finding Lorien.”

Kaida frowns slightly, like she wants to push further, but she nods reluctantly. “Okay. Just… don’t keep it bottled up forever, okay?”

“I won’t,” I reply, her tone calm but firm as I turn back toward the corridor.

When we reach Lorien, it’s immediately clear he’s in the same state Hrothgar was—caught in the web of illusions this castle spins so effortlessly. But unlike Hrothgar—or Artemis, for that matter—he’s not even trying to fight it.

He stands as we approach, his movements slow and deliberate, and turns to face us. His golden eyes, usually so warm and focused, are blank now, devoid of anything human.

“Lorien?” Kaida says, her voice trembling slightly. “What’s wrong with him?”

“It’s taken control of him,” I say bluntly, stepping closer. My voice carries a weight of certainty, the kind Artemis wouldn’t normally project so confidently. But at this point, I don’t really care.

Kaida gasps softly, clutching her staff. “What do we do?”

I glance at Lorien, noting the faint flicker of recognition that sparks at the sound of my—her—voice. He’s still in there, I think. Good.

An idea comes to mind, something Artemis would never consider. But I’m tired of the endless tiptoeing, and frankly, I know this will work.

“Lorien,” I say softly, taking a few deliberate steps toward him. “It’s me. It’s Artemis.”

He flinches slightly, a subtle twitch in his otherwise rigid stance. It’s a small reaction, but it’s enough to make me move closer.

“I’m here,” I say, grabbing his hand in mine. The warmth of his touch surprises me for a moment, but I press on. “Come back to us. Come back to me.”

His eyes flicker faintly, but the blankness remains, the illusion still holding its grip on him.

Enough of this.

I reach up, placing both hands on his face, and tilt his head toward mine. Without hesitation, I press her lips to his, kissing him deeply.

The reaction is immediate. His body stiffens for a moment, then his hands twitch, moving slightly toward me. I can feel the illusion breaking, the fog lifting as he slowly starts to return.

I didn’t really want to do this, I think with faint amusement, but Artemis’s body certainly doesn’t mind. She’ll be overjoyed that I made out with him in front of the others. A chuckle echoes in my thoughts as I pull back, her lips tingling faintly from the kiss.

Lorien blinks rapidly, his eyes clearing as he looks at me—really looks at me this time. “Artemis?” he says, his voice soft and full of confusion.

I smile faintly, keeping her tone calm and reassuring. “You’re back,” I say simply. “It’s okay now.”

Kaida stands frozen, her eyes wide and her face bright red, while Veyron raises an eyebrow, his smirk practically oozing amusement.

“Well,” Veyron says, crossing his arms. “That’s one way to break a spell.”

I glance at them briefly, then focus back on Lorien, her hand still resting on his cheek. “We thought we lost you,” I say, ignoring the heat of their gazes.

Lorien frowns slightly, his hand moving to cover mine. “I… I don’t remember what happened,” he admits quietly. “But I felt… lost.”

“You’re not lost anymore,” I say, letting my voice soften. “We’ve got you.”

She’s had enough rest, I think, watching Lorien’s confused but slowly softening expression. The tension in his body has eased, and his mind is clear again. Time to let her deal with this.

I retreat, pulling back into the recesses of her mind, but not before giving her one last nudge to wake.

Wake up, Artemis. Your boyfriend’s back, and the others are watching.