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

Here we go…

Quick note and update. The full story is now both completely written and edited, in the next 2 weeks all of the chapters will be released. A lot of the questions and things that were “off” in the story with both characters and other things will be explained. However there will be things that aren’t quite explained until we get to the next story. I won’t be posting the title of it just yet as it will spoil the ending of this first story. Any predictions on what happens next?

Chapter 39.

New chapter here

“Hey, look, Veyron!” Kaida says suddenly, snapping me out of my thoughts. Her tone is sing-song, teasing, and just a little too loud for comfort. “It’s the courtyard gate. You know, the one where you knocked that guard out?”

Veyron groans, rubbing the back of his neck. “Oh, come on. You’re never going to let that go, are you?”

Kaida grins, clearly enjoying herself. “Never. It was like the most ‘you’ thing you could’ve done. ‘Oh, let’s just casually take out a guard and act like it’s no big deal.’”

“Technically, it worked,” Veyron retorts, smirking. “We got away, didn’t we?”

“Barely,” I mutter, my eyes narrowing at the gate in question. The courtyard is quieter than I expected, but I can still see a few guards patrolling in the distance. “And let’s not repeat history, alright? This is risky enough as it is.”

Lorien steps up beside me, his calm gaze fixed on the castle. “She’s right. This time, we need a plan that doesn’t involve knocking anyone out—unless we don’t have a choice.”

Kaida snickers, elbowing Veyron. “Hear that? No punching your way out of this one, rogue boy.”

“Yeah, yeah,” he mutters, though his smirk doesn’t fade. “Just follow my lead, and we’ll be fine.”

I glance at him sharply. “Your lead? Oh, no. This is a group effort. No rogue improvisations, got it?”

“Got it,” he says with mock seriousness, holding his hands up.

Hrothgar chuckles softly behind us, his deep voice steady. “Focus, everyone. The more time we waste bickering, the more likely someone notices us.”

I nod, taking a steadying breath as I look at the gate again. Alright. Let’s just get this over with.

“Lead the way, fearless leader,” Veyron says, smirking as he gestures toward the castle.

I sigh, rubbing the bridge of my nose. “If we’re going to get in, it’s probably best not to go through the main entrance in the courtyard.” I glance around, scanning the perimeter. “Think they have another way in? Like a side entrance or something?”

“Most castles do,” Hrothgar says, his tone calm but focused. “Servants’ entrances, supply gates—places that aren’t meant to be obvious.”

Kaida perks up, grinning. “Ooh, like a secret passage or something? That’d be fun.”

“This isn’t supposed to be fun, Kaida,” I mutter, my eyes narrowing at the looming castle. “It’s supposed to be quick and quiet.”

Veyron steps forward, his smirk widening. “Relax. Castles always have weak points—it’s just a matter of finding them. Leave it to me.”

I cross my arms, shooting him a look. “You’re not running off by yourself. We stick together.”

“Fine, fine,” he says, waving me off. “Let’s just do a quick perimeter sweep. If there’s another way in, we’ll find it.”

Lorien steps closer, his calm voice steady. “We’ll need to move fast. The longer we hang around, the more likely someone will notice us.”

“Agreed,” Hrothgar says, already scanning the area with his sharp eyes.

We move cautiously along the outer wall, sticking to the shadows where we can. The castle looms above us, its crystalline peaks catching the sunlight and casting faint, fractured rainbows across the cobblestones. It’s beautiful, sure, but all I can think about is how exposed we are.

Veyron leads the way now, his steps light and deliberate as he scans the stone walls. Every so often, he pauses to run his fingers along the surface, looking for cracks or anything that might hint at a hidden entrance.

“Anything yet?” I whisper, keeping an eye on the guards patrolling the courtyard.

“Patience, fearless leader,” he murmurs back, smirking over his shoulder. “Good things come to those who wait.”

Kaida rolls her eyes. “If this takes too long, they’ll notice us and we won’t be waiting for anything—except maybe the dungeon keys to get thrown at us.”

“Relax,” Veyron says, his tone dripping with confidence. “I know what I’m doing.”

Lorien walks quietly beside me, his sharp eyes scanning the castle’s structure. “There,” he says suddenly, his voice low as he points ahead.

We all turn to look. Just past a cluster of hedges, there’s a smaller door tucked into the wall—metal, with faint scratches around the edges like it’s seen frequent use. It’s almost hidden behind a stone archway, and from where we stand, I can’t see any guards near it.

“Servants’ entrance,” Hrothgar says, nodding approvingly. “Looks promising.”

Veyron grins. “Told you we’d find something.”

“Alright,” I say quietly, gripping my bow tighter. “Let’s check it out. But stay sharp—we don’t know what’s on the other side.”

We approach the door cautiously, keeping to the shadows. Veyron crouches in front of it, inspecting the lock with practiced ease.

“Locked,” he says, pulling out his tools. “Give me a second.”

Kaida leans closer, whispering, “This better not trigger some kind of magical alarm.”

“It’s just a lock,” Veyron says, his smirk widening as he works. “What’s the worst that could happen?”

I shoot him a glare. “Don’t say things like that.”

The lock clicks, and Veyron steps back with a triumphant grin. “There. Easy.”

I nod, taking a deep breath as I look at the others. “Alright. Let’s get in and get out—quietly.”

Lorien places a reassuring hand on my shoulder. “We’ve got this,” he says calmly, his gaze steady.

I hope you’re right, I think as I push the door open, the cool, dim air from the castle’s interior brushing against my face. We slip inside, the door closing softly behind us, and I can’t help but feel like we’ve just crossed a line we can’t come back from.

“I really hope you only know that because of the game and not because you’re a career criminal in real life,” Kaida says, raising an eyebrow at Veyron as we step into the dimly lit corridor.

Veyron grins, slipping his tools back into his pouch. “Relax. I’m all tech IRL. No lockpicks, no heists—just boring IT stuff.”

Kaida snorts, clearly not convinced but too distracted to push further.

Hrothgar’s deep voice rumbles softly from the back. “We should probably find some disguises if we can. It’d be a lot easier to move around if people thought we worked here.”

I glance at him, nodding thoughtfully. “Good idea. If we’re caught sneaking around like this, we’re done for.”

Kaida looks down at her outfit and grimaces. “Yeah, something tells me we don’t exactly blend in.”

“We’ll need to find the servants’ quarters or a storage area,” Lorien says, his calm voice steady as he surveys the dim corridor ahead. “Somewhere they’d keep spare uniforms.”

“Think they just have extras lying around?” Kaida asks, skeptical.

“It’s worth looking,” I say, gripping my bow a little tighter as I glance around. The corridor is narrow and quiet, lined with simple wooden doors. It doesn’t feel like a grand part of the castle—more like a functional area where staff might work.

“Alright, we’ll split into pairs,” I whisper, glancing back at the group. “Hrothgar, you’re with me. Kaida, you’re with Veyron.”

Kaida groans. “Why do I get the rogue?”

“Because I trust Lorien to not steal anything we don’t need,” I mutter, smirking slightly.

Veyron shrugs, unbothered. “Don’t worry, Kaida. I’ll keep you safe.”

Kaida rolls her eyes but doesn’t argue.

Lorien steps closer to me, his voice low. “Be careful, alright?”

I nod, offering a faint smile before turning to Hrothgar. “Let’s see if we can find anything that passes for a disguise.”

As we split up, the castle’s stillness feels almost too perfect, like it’s watching us. Hopefully, Hrothgar’s right about the disguises.

Hrothgar and I move quietly down the narrow corridor, the faint hum of distant activity echoing somewhere deeper in the castle. The stone walls seem colder here, lined with simple sconces holding flickering candles that barely light the way.

I glance at him as we walk, his heavy footsteps muted as much as possible by his effort to tread lightly. “Any idea where we should start?” I whisper.

He strokes his beard thoughtfully, his eyes scanning the doors we pass. “Servants’ quarters would make sense. Somewhere out of the way but close enough to the main areas of the castle for easy access. Maybe through one of these.”

I pause at a door, the wood worn and plain compared to the grander decor we’d seen in other parts of the city. Pressing my ear against it, I listen carefully but hear nothing. “Worth a shot,” I mutter, glancing back at him before slowly pushing it open.

Inside, the room is small and unremarkable, with a few simple wooden chairs and a table. There’s a shelf lining one wall, stacked with folded linens and what looks like spare uniforms—aprons, tunics, and pants in dull gray and brown tones.

“Well,” I say, exhaling in relief. “That was faster than I thought.”

Hrothgar steps inside, his large frame almost dwarfing the small space as he scans the shelf. “Looks like enough for everyone. Simple enough to pass as staff.”

I grab one of the tunics, holding it up. The fabric feels coarse and scratchy, but it’ll do the job. “Alright, let’s grab enough for everyone and head back.”

Hrothgar grins faintly, tucking a stack of the uniforms under one arm. “Bet Veyron will complain about how boring these are.”

“Let him,” I mutter, a small smirk tugging at my lips. “The less noticeable we are, the better.”

As we step back into the corridor, I glance around nervously, the weight of the situation settling on me again. We’ve got disguises, but that doesn’t mean we’re safe.

“Let’s move quickly,” Hrothgar says, his tone low but firm.

I nod, clutching the uniforms tightly as we make our way back to the meeting point. One step down. Now comes the hard part.

“Ok, we—” I stop mid-sentence, my words catching in my throat as I turn the corner and see Veyron and Kaida… making out.

“Seriously?” I say, my voice sharper than I intended. “Not the time or place!”

They pull apart, Kaida looking entirely unapologetic as she smirks at me. “Relax, we were just celebrating finding the storeroom.”

“Uh-huh,” I mutter, rolling my eyes. “Well, while you two were busy celebrating, Hrothgar and I actually found disguises. Come on.”

Veyron raises an eyebrow, his usual smirk firmly in place. “Found them? Great. Bet they’re incredibly stylish.”

“Trust me,” Hrothgar says, his tone dry, “you’ll hate them.”

Kaida grins, giving Veyron a playful nudge. “You’ll look adorable, don’t worry.”

He groans dramatically as I hand him a tunic and a pair of plain brown pants. “Oh yeah, this just screams ‘fashion statement,’” he says, holding them up like they might burn him.

“Good,” I say, glaring at him. “Because you’re not supposed to make a statement. Now hurry up and get changed.”

Kaida grabs her own set of clothes, still grinning as she steps toward a small alcove. “I’m just saying, a little flair wouldn’t hurt.”

Hrothgar lets out a low chuckle as he pulls on his disguise. “Flair is how you get caught. Keep it simple, keep it quiet.”

I shake my head, already feeling a headache coming on as I slip into one of the gray tunics. Hopefully, this’ll make moving around a little easier. If they can actually stop flirting for five seconds, that is.

“Perfect, you found some,” Lorien says as he steps into the room, his usual calm tone steadying as he surveys the plain disguises.

“One issue,” Kaida pipes up, holding her staff like it’s her lifeline. “We really can’t be carrying weapons around—that’s a little, well, suspicious.”

“Maybe you guys can’t,” Veyron says, smirking as he flips one of his daggers effortlessly in his hand. “But these babies are easy to hide.”

“Great. No bow,” I mutter, the frustration creeping into my voice.

“What do we do with our weapons? And our clothes too?” Kaida asks, glancing around the room.

Hrothgar points to a nearby closet, its shelves stacked with old linens and forgotten supplies. “We could stuff everything in here, under some of this. Out of sight, out of mind.”

I stare at my bow, my fingers tightening around it instinctively. Leaving my bow again… I think, my chest tightening slightly.

“Okay,” I say finally, exhaling as I force myself to focus. “Let’s get changed and put everything away. One at a time in the closet,” I add, shooting a sharp glance at Veyron and Kaida.

Veyron grins, raising his hands in mock surrender. “Don’t worry, fearless leader. I’ll behave.”

Kaida rolls her eyes, tossing her staff into the closet with a sigh. “I don’t like this, but fine. One at a time.”

We take turns changing, each of us slipping into the coarse, dull uniforms that seem to strip away any sense of individuality. The tunics itch against my skin, and the fabric hangs awkwardly, but it does the job.

When it’s my turn to stow my gear, I hesitate for a moment, running my fingers over the smooth curve of my bow before tucking it under the pile of linens. “Stay safe,” I whisper under my breath, feeling ridiculous but unable to help it.

Once we’re all ready, I glance at the group, now dressed in drab servant clothes that make us look as unassuming as possible. “Alright,” I say, my voice low but firm. “No weapons, no extra gear. Just act natural, and we’ll get through this.”

Kaida smirks, adjusting her tunic. “Natural, huh? Because we’re all just so good at blending in.”

I roll my eyes, pushing the door open and stepping out into the corridor. “Let’s just hope we don’t have to.”

“It’ll probably be suspicious if the five of us are all walking around together,” Veyron says, his usual smirk firmly in place. “We might want to split up.”

Yeah, so you can be with Kaida, I think, narrowing my eyes at him.

“Kaida, you’re with me,” I say quickly, cutting him off before he can suggest otherwise.

Kaida blinks, surprised for a second, before grinning. “Aw, are you protecting me, Artemis?”

“Something like that,” I mutter, adjusting my tunic.

“I’ll go with Hrothgar,” Lorien says, his calm tone cutting through the moment as he steps forward. He looks at Veyron, his expression unreadable but firm. “Veyron, you better come with us too.”

Veyron raises an eyebrow, his smirk faltering for a split second. “Babysitting me, huh?”

“Something like that,” Lorien says, echoing my words with the faintest hint of amusement.

I glance at the group, nodding. “Alright. Kaida and I will head toward the east wing, see if we can find anything useful or valuable. You three check the west wing. And remember—no unnecessary risks.”

Hrothgar nods, his steady presence reassuring as always. “We’ll be careful.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Veyron mutters, still smirking as he falls in beside Lorien and Hrothgar. “Try not to miss me, Kaida.”

“Focus, Veyron,” Lorien says, his tone cool but firm.

As they head off toward the west wing, I turn to Kaida, my chest tightening slightly. “Alright. Let’s get this over with.”

She grins, nudging me playfully. “You know, for someone who’s so serious all the time, you’re surprisingly fun to mess with.”

I roll my eyes, starting down the corridor with her close behind. This better work.

“Hopefully we don’t run into too many people,” I mutter, my eyes scanning the dimly lit corridor as Kaida and I walk. The faint hum of distant voices echoes somewhere deeper in the castle, setting me on edge. “I’m sure there are guards, other servants… and probably some important people too.”

Kaida snickers softly, keeping her voice low. “Important people, huh? Maybe we’ll run into a prince or something. You can show off your charm.”

I glare at her, my voice sharp but quiet. “Not funny. The last thing we need is anyone noticing us.”

“Relax,” she whispers, grinning as she adjusts the plain tunic. “We’re dressed for the part. Nobody’s going to look twice at us. Well, maybe at me, because I’m fabulous.”

I roll my eyes, but my nerves don’t ease. Every shadow feels like it’s hiding a pair of eyes, and every faint sound makes me want to reach for my bow—except it’s stashed away, and I’m left feeling completely exposed.

Kaida, of course, seems completely unbothered, humming softly under her breath as we move. “You know, you really need to loosen up, Artemis. This is supposed to be an adventure.”

“This isn’t an adventure, Kaida,” I hiss. “This is breaking and entering.”

“Potato, potahto,” she says, shrugging with a smirk.

I sigh, pressing my fingers to my temple. “Let’s just focus on getting what we came for. The fewer people we run into, the better.”

Kaida nods, her grin fading slightly as she glances around. “Alright, fine. Lead the way, fearless leader.”

I swear, if she calls me that one more time…

The hallway stretches ahead of us, dimly lit by faint sconces that cast long shadows on the stone walls. Each step we take feels too loud, even though we’re trying to move quietly. My heart races as I glance back at Kaida, who for once seems to be taking this seriously, her eyes scanning the corridor.

The faint hum of distant voices gets louder as we approach the next intersection, and I stop abruptly, holding up a hand. Kaida almost bumps into me, but she freezes when I glare at her.

“Voices,” I whisper, motioning for her to stay quiet.

We press ourselves against the wall near the corner, listening. Two voices—low, casual, and chatting about something mundane. Probably other servants or staff.

“…and then he spilled the whole tray. Right in front of the countess!”

“No way,” the other voice replies, stifling a laugh. “Bet he’s scrubbing floors for a week after that.”

Kaida leans closer, whispering in my ear. “Servants. We’re fine if we keep our heads down.”

I nod, exhaling quietly. “Let’s wait for them to pass.”

The voices grow louder, the sound of footsteps accompanying them. My muscles tense as they get closer, my heart hammering in my chest. Kaida stays completely still beside me, for once not making a single noise.

The two servants walk past, their arms full of folded linens. They don’t even glance our way. I wait until their footsteps fade before finally relaxing, letting out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding.

“See? Told you,” Kaida whispers, grinning again. “We’ve got this.”

“Don’t get cocky,” I mutter, stepping forward cautiously. “That was just luck.”

We move on, keeping our steps light and our ears sharp for any more sounds. The castle feels huge and endless, the corridors twisting and turning in ways that make it easy to get lost.

After what feels like forever, Kaida whispers, “You think we’re close to finding something useful? Or are we just wandering aimlessly?”

I glance at her, frowning. “We’ll know it when we see it. Let’s check these next few rooms.”

We stop in front of a plain wooden door. I press my ear against it, listening for any signs of movement. Nothing. I glance at Kaida, nodding before slowly pushing it open.

Inside, the room is small and dimly lit, with shelves lining the walls and a large wooden table in the center. Papers, scrolls, and ledgers are scattered across the surface, along with a few odd trinkets that look like they might be valuable.

Kaida grins. “Jackpot.”

I frown, stepping inside cautiously. “Let’s be quick. Grab what we need and go.”

She moves toward the table, picking up a small golden figurine and turning it over in her hands. “Think this is worth anything?”

“Probably,” I say, glancing at the scrolls. Something about this feels off, I think, my eyes scanning the room. Why leave valuables in such an open space?

“Artemis,” Kaida whispers suddenly, her voice tense.

I turn to her, my chest tightening. “What?”

She gestures toward the far side of the room, where a faint glow is coming from beneath another door. “I think someone’s in there.”

My stomach drops as I freeze, my mind racing. We need to get out. Now.

Before I can even think, the faint glow from beneath the door intensifies, and it swings open.

Kaida and I both freeze in place, caught like deer in headlights. A figure steps into the room, their tall silhouette framed by the light spilling from the doorway.

It’s a man in ornate robes, deep blue and gold patterns swirling across the fabric. His sharp eyes scan the room, narrowing as they land on us.

“What are you two doing here?” His voice is sharp, authoritative, and far too calm for my liking.

Kaida, to her credit, doesn’t immediately panic. “Uh… we’re just… cleaning!” she blurts out, holding up the golden figurine like it’s part of the job.

I resist the urge to groan. Seriously, Kaida?

The man’s gaze flickers between the two of us, suspicion etched into every line of his face. “I wasn’t informed that this area needed cleaning.”

“Well, you know, sometimes things don’t get properly communicated!” Kaida says quickly, her grin wide and overly friendly. “We were just told to double-check everywhere, just in case!”

He takes a step closer, his eyes narrowing further as he studies us. “I don’t recognize either of you.”

My heart is racing, and I force myself to stay calm. Think, Artemis. Think.

“We’re new,” I say, keeping my voice steady. “Just started this week. We were told to start here and work our way through the east wing.”

His gaze lingers on me for a moment, sharp and calculating. The silence stretches, the tension in the room suffocating.

“This is the west wing,” he says flatly.

And that’s why I need a compass, I think, forcing myself not to visibly react.

Kaida’s grin falters slightly, and she quickly jumps in. “Right! That’s… what she meant! We’re supposed to end in the east wing after finishing the west. You know, cleaning efficiency and all that.”

The man raises an eyebrow, his skepticism clear. “Is that so?”

I nod quickly, trying to back her up. “Yes, sir. We didn’t mean to intrude. We’ll move on and finish our work elsewhere.”

He doesn’t move, his sharp eyes scanning us like he’s picking apart every word. “Perhaps I should verify your assignment,” he says slowly, his voice dripping with suspicion.

My stomach drops. This is bad. Very bad.

“We’re so sorry for the disturbance,” I blurt out, taking a step back and forcing a nervous smile. “We’ll just… get out of your, uh… hair.”

My voice falters as my eyes land on his very shiny, very bald head.

Kaida chokes back a laugh, and I immediately regret every decision that’s brought me to this moment. The man’s eyes narrow further, his lips pressing into a thin line as the tension in the room skyrockets.

Kaida, ever the queen of bad timing, jumps in. “She means metaphorically! You know, like, uh, we’ll get out of your way!”

“Out of my hair,” he repeats coldly, his tone as sharp as a dagger.

“Yes! Exactly!” Kaida says, nodding far too enthusiastically. “It’s just an expression. Totally harmless.”

I resist the urge to bury my face in my hands. “We’ll leave right away,” I say quickly, trying to salvage what’s left of this disaster. “Sorry for wasting your time.”

He takes another step forward, his robes shifting with the movement as he looms over us. “Stop,” he says, his voice low and commanding. “Stay exactly where you are.”

My heart sinks as Kaida and I freeze in place, the weight of his gaze pinning us to the spot. This is so much worse than I thought it’d be.

I stand frozen, my breath caught in my chest as the man’s sharp gaze bores into us. My heart is hammering so loudly I’m sure he can hear it.

Kaida, to her credit—or lack thereof—tries to fill the silence. “We, uh, didn’t mean to… you know, disrupt anything. We’re just doing our jobs, trying to keep the place, uh… clean!”

The man says nothing, his expression unreadable, and my nerves twist tighter and tighter. I open my mouth to say something, but no words come out. My throat feels dry, my tongue heavy.

“Quiet,” the man says, cutting Kaida off mid-ramble. His tone is calm, but there’s a dangerous edge to it that makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up.

Kaida snaps her mouth shut, her grin now completely gone.

The silence stretches unbearably, and I find myself unable to move, unable to breathe. Do something. Say something! But nothing comes.

Finally, the man’s eyes narrow, and he takes a slow step closer, his robes swishing faintly with the motion. “You’re lying,” he says quietly, his voice as sharp as a blade.

My stomach drops, and I feel the blood drain from my face. This is bad. This is really, really bad.

The weight of his words presses down on me like a stone. ‘You’re lying.’ My breath catches in my throat, and I can feel my hands trembling slightly at my sides. Kaida, for once, is completely silent, her usual quick tongue failing her.

The man takes another step toward us, his sharp eyes flickering with something dangerous. “You don’t belong here,” he says slowly, his voice dripping with certainty.

I glance at Kaida out of the corner of my eye, but she looks just as frozen as I feel. My mind races for something—anything—that might salvage the situation, but my nerves have locked every thought behind a wall of panic.

“You’re not servants,” he continues, his voice low and cutting. “Who sent you?”

I manage to force my mouth open, but nothing comes out. Kaida stumbles into action first, though her voice cracks slightly as she speaks. “N-No one sent us! We… we got lost! That’s all! We’re new, and—”

The man raises a hand sharply, cutting her off. “Enough.”

My heart sinks further as he gestures toward the glowing door behind him. “You’re coming with me. Now.”

Kaida glances at me, her eyes wide with panic, but the man doesn’t give us time to respond. He steps closer, his presence overwhelming as he points at the door again. “Move.”

This is it, I think, panic washing over me in waves. We’re caught. My muscles tense as my mind screams for me to do something.

And then, in the back of my head, I hear Shade’s voice, calm and almost amused.

“Well, this escalated quickly, didn’t it?”

“Not now, Shade,” I think back desperately, my pulse pounding.

“You need an out,” Shade says smoothly. “Lucky for you, I’m very good at distractions.”

We can’t just attack him or run off, I think, panic swirling in my chest. If we do, the whole castle will be after us.

I take a slow, shaky breath, forcing myself to focus. We need to play along. Act innocent. Maybe we can talk our way out of this.

Kaida glances at me, her eyes wide and filled with uncertainty. I give her the slightest nod, hoping she understands.

The man gestures toward the glowing door again, his patience clearly thinning. “I won’t ask again. Move.”

“We’re really sorry,” I say, finally finding my voice. It’s softer than I’d like, but at least it doesn’t shake.

“Stay quiet and move,” the man snaps, his voice sharp and final.

Kaida and I exchange a brief, panicked glance, but neither of us dare speak. I can feel the tension radiating off her as much as my own, and my legs feel like lead as I force myself to take a step forward.

The man’s piercing gaze doesn’t leave us for a second as he gestures for us to go ahead of him. The glow from the doorway behind him flickers faintly, casting long shadows across the walls and floor.

Just stay calm, I think, my heart pounding as I step closer to the door. We can figure this out, but not if we make it worse.

Kaida moves beside me, clutching the golden figurine she never managed to put down. I nudge her slightly, and she quickly hides it behind her back, her face pale but composed.

The man doesn’t say another word, but I can feel his suspicion bearing down on us like a heavy weight as he follows close behind.

The glowing door looms in front of us, and as we step through, I realize too late that we’re walking straight into whatever he has planned. I just hope this doesn’t get us all killed.

We’re probably going to be locked up. Or executed. Or maybe even—

“Stop it. You’re spiraling,” Shade cuts in sharply, his voice firm in the back of my mind.

I suck in a deep breath, forcing my thoughts to slow as we step through the glowing doorway. The air inside feels heavier, warmer, and the room is… grand.

The walls are lined with intricate tapestries, each depicting battles, crowned figures, and scenes of magical power. A long table stretches across the center of the room, covered in books, scrolls, and strange glowing artifacts that pulse faintly with light. The atmosphere hums with energy, making the hairs on my arms stand on end.

Kaida steps beside me, her posture stiff as she tries to glance around without being obvious. I can practically feel her nerves buzzing.

The man in the ornate robes strides past us, moving toward the table. His every movement is sharp, deliberate, and I can’t help but feel like he’s sizing us up with every glance he throws our way.

“You,” he says coldly, gesturing to us. “Stand there. Do not move.”

Kaida and I exchange another quick glance, but we both stay rooted to the spot. My heart races as the man begins rifling through one of the glowing books on the table, muttering to himself.

We need a way out of this, I think desperately, my mind spinning for ideas.

“Just keep your head,” Shade murmurs, his tone calm and steady. “He hasn’t called the guards yet, which means he’s not certain about you. Play it smart, Artemis.”

I swallow hard, nodding slightly to myself as I focus on keeping my breathing steady. Smart. Stay calm. Don’t give him a reason to confirm his suspicions.

Kaida shifts slightly beside me, leaning just close enough to whisper, “This is bad.”

“No kidding,” I whisper back, my eyes still locked on the man. “Just don’t do anything stupid.”

Her mouth twitches like she wants to argue, but she stays quiet as the man finally looks up from the book. His sharp gaze pins us in place once more, and the faint hum of magic in the room seems to grow louder.

“You’re going to tell me the truth,” he says, his voice calm but dripping with authority. “Who sent you, and what are you doing in my castle?”

“Your castle?” Kaida blurts out, her voice rising slightly in surprise. “Oh.”

I elbow her gently, glaring at her as I speak quickly, trying to salvage the situation. “No, no one sent us. Really. We’re just—”

“—new,” Kaida cuts in, her grin reappearing as she tries to cover her slip-up. “Just really new. Like, we barely know which wing is which.”

The man’s eyes narrow dangerously, and I can feel the weight of his suspicion settling over us like a heavy blanket. “You expect me to believe that? Two random servants, conveniently ‘new,’ wandering unsupervised into a restricted part of my castle?”

I swallow hard, keeping my voice as steady as I can. “We got lost,” I say, my tone careful and even. “We didn’t know this area was restricted. We’ll leave immediately if you’ll just let us.”

The man doesn’t move, his sharp gaze flicking between us as if he’s dissecting every word.

“You’re lying,” he says simply, his voice cutting through the air like a blade.

I take another deep breath, fighting to keep my panic in check. This isn’t going to work. He’s not buying it.

Kaida fidgets nervously beside me, clutching the figurine tighter behind her back. I glance at her briefly before turning my attention back to the man.

“I swear,” I say, forcing as much sincerity into my voice as I can. “We didn’t mean to intrude. It was an honest mistake.”

The man’s expression doesn’t change, but his fingers twitch slightly, and I can feel the faint pulse of magic radiating from him.

“An honest mistake,” he repeats, his tone dripping with disbelief. “Very well. If that’s the case, you won’t mind if I verify that for myself.”

“We’ll make it up to you,” I say quickly, my voice trembling just enough to sound genuine. “We don’t want to be in trouble. Really. It was a mistake being in this area, and we’ll do whatever it takes to fix it.”

Kaida nods enthusiastically beside me, though her grip on the figurine is still way too obvious. “Yeah, we’ll do anything! Scrub floors, wash windows, whatever you need. Just… please don’t throw us in the dungeon or anything.”

The man tilts his head slightly, his sharp eyes narrowing as he studies us. The silence stretches, and I can feel my pulse pounding in my ears.

“Make it up to me?” he says finally, his tone calm but dangerous. “You think you can ‘make up’ for trespassing in my castle by scrubbing floors?”

Kaida’s grin falters, but she doesn’t lose it entirely. “Uh… really well? Like, spotless floors?”

I resist the urge to facepalm. Kaida, please stop talking. Don’t out us.

The man’s gaze flickers to the figurine in her hand, his brow raising slightly. My heart drops as he steps closer, his robes swishing faintly with the movement.

“And what, exactly, is that?” he says, his tone dangerously quiet, gesturing toward the figurine Kaida is desperately trying to hide behind her back.

Kaida freezes, her mouth opening and closing as she fumbles for an answer. “Oh, this? It’s… uh…”

“We were just moving it so we could dust the shelf it was on. Didn’t want it to fall or get damaged.” I say quickly, cutting her off and forcing a tight, nervous smile.

The silence that follows is suffocating. Kaida shifts nervously beside me, her grip tightening on the figurine.

“Very well,” the man says at last, his tone low and calculating. “If you’re as ‘thorough’ as you claim, I suppose you won’t mind proving yourselves.”

Kaida glances at me, wide-eyed. “Uh… prove ourselves how?”

The man’s lips curl into a faint, cold smile. “I have a task for you,” he says, his gaze flickering between us. “Something that will demonstrate whether or not you’re truly as honest… and useful… as you claim to be.”

What choice do we have? I think, my chest tightening as the man steps closer, his sharp eyes boring into us.

“Of course, uh… sir,” I say hesitantly, unsure of his actual title. My voice wavers slightly, but I force myself to keep eye contact.

The man doesn’t respond to the hesitation, merely turning to the table behind him. He picks up a small vial filled with a swirling, faintly glowing liquid. The substance shifts colors—deep blues and greens, almost hypnotic as it catches the light.

“Simply drink this,” he says, holding it out toward me, his tone cold and unreadable.

Kaida stiffens beside me. “Uh, what is it?” she asks nervously, her voice cracking slightly.

The man’s gaze snaps to her, and the faintest hint of irritation flashes across his face. “It is not your place to ask questions. You said you would prove yourselves. This is how you do it.”

I glance at the vial, then at Kaida, who is clearly debating whether to bolt or faint. My heart pounds in my chest, every instinct screaming at me not to trust this man.

But what else can we do? If we refuse, he’ll know we’re lying. If we try to run, we won’t get far.

I take a deep breath, my fingers trembling slightly as I reach out and take the vial. The glass feels warm against my skin, the swirling liquid inside almost alive as it shifts and glows.

“What does it do?” I ask carefully, my voice low.

He smiles faintly, but there’s no warmth in it. “It will reveal the truth.”

The truth, I think, my stomach twisting. What does that mean?

Kaida steps closer, her voice barely a whisper. “Artemis, you don’t have to—”

“I’ll do it,” I say quickly, cutting her off before she can make things worse. I tighten my grip on the vial, lifting it slightly. We don’t have a choice.

As I glance once more at the swirling liquid, I force down the knot of fear rising in my throat. “Alright,” I say, my voice steadier than I expected. “Here goes.”

And with that, I tilt the vial to my lips. Whatever it is truth serum or whatever I can just resist it right? Can’t be that hard.

The liquid is warm as it touches my lips, and as I tip the vial back, it flows down my throat like liquid fire. My chest tightens instantly, and I gasp, almost dropping the empty vial as heat blooms in my stomach and spreads through my veins.

I stagger slightly, and Kaida grabs my arm. “Artemis!” she whispers urgently, her voice tinged with panic.

“I’m fine,” I manage to say, though my voice is hoarse and weak. The warmth in my chest intensifies, almost unbearable, and for a moment I think I might collapse.

The man watches impassively, his sharp eyes glinting with interest. “Good,” he says quietly, folding his hands behind his back. “Now, let’s see what you’re hiding.”

Hiding? The word echoes in my mind as the warmth shifts, turning into a strange, tingling sensation that radiates outward. My vision blurs for a moment, and I blink rapidly, trying to focus.

The room seems… different. The glowing artifacts are brighter, their light almost pulsing in time with my heartbeat. The man’s presence feels heavier, like the air around him hums with power.

“Artemis, are you okay?” Kaida’s voice cuts through the haze, her hand still gripping my arm.

I nod slowly, though my legs feel unsteady. “I think so,” I say, my voice trembling slightly.

The man steps closer, his gaze piercing. “And? Do you feel… different?”

I hesitate, unsure how to answer. I don’t feel like anything is wrong, but the strange heat and tingling haven’t faded entirely. “I don’t know,” I admit cautiously.

His lips curl into a faint smile, but it’s far from comforting. “You will,” he says. “In time.”

“What did you do to her?” Kaida snaps, her voice rising as she steps in front of me protectively.

The man’s expression hardens, and his gaze flicks to her. “She agreed to prove herself, did she not? The truth will show itself soon enough.”

The tension in the room is suffocating, and my pulse pounds in my ears as I try to steady myself. What does he mean? What’s supposed to happen?

Suddenly, a sharp jolt rushes through me, and I gasp, doubling over as the warmth in my chest explodes into something else entirely. It’s like a wave crashing over me—my body feels like it’s shifting, twisting, something far beyond anything I’ve ever experienced.

I hear Kaida’s voice distantly, panicked. “Artemis! What’s happening?”

The room blurs and distorts, the edges of my vision swimming with light and shadow. My hands clutch at my stomach, and then… I feel it.

My body is changing.

No.

No, no, no!

The feeling is impossible to describe—like I’m being unraveled and stitched back together at the same time. My shoulders broaden slightly, my arms lose their slender shape, and my chest… My chest tightens, flattening as the curves I’ve grown used to vanish.

I catch my reflection in one of the glowing artifacts on the table. My breath catches.

It’s me.

Alex.

My jaw sharpens, my hair shortens, and the face staring back at me is one I haven’t seen since the day I woke up in this world. For a moment, I’m frozen, my thoughts spinning wildly.

“I’m… Alex,” I whisper, my voice lower, more familiar. My voice.

Kaida steps back, her eyes wide with shock and horror. “What the… Artemis, what is going on?!”

“I—” I choke, staring at my hands. My hands. Broader, rougher. Not Artemis’s hands. Alex’s hands.

The man in the ornate robes tilts his head, a faint smirk tugging at his lips as he watches me. “Fascinating,” he murmurs.

I glare at him, my shock morphing into anger. “What did you do to me?” I demand, my voice shaking but unmistakably mine—Alex’s.

“I simply revealed what was already there,” he says calmly, his eyes gleaming with curiosity. “The form you were hiding beneath the one you wear now.”

Kaida takes another step back, her voice shaking. “Artemis—Alex—whoever—are—are you ok?”

I don’t answer her. I can’t. My mind is spinning, my heart pounding in my chest. I’m me again… but at what cost?

“So it seems you are not as trustworthy as you claim,” the man says coldly, his eyes narrowing as he steps closer. His voice is sharp, cutting through the suffocating silence.

“So, boy,” he continues, his tone dripping with disdain, “what are you doing here? And don’t bother lying—I’ve seen enough to know when someone is hiding something.”

My throat tightens as his words sink in, and I clench my fists at my sides. The weight of my altered body feels alien, wrong, but there’s no time to process it. My mind races for an answer—something that won’t make this worse.

Kaida stumbles over her words, clearly panicked. “He—uh—uh, we—”

I raise a hand to stop her, my voice firm despite the chaos inside me. “We told you already,” I say, meeting his gaze. “We got lost. That’s the truth. What you just… revealed doesn’t change that.”

The man snorts, his sharp eyes glinting with amusement. “Lost? Do you truly expect me to believe that? You trespass into my castle, claim ignorance, and now this—” he gestures toward me, his expression hard. “This deception comes to light?”

I grit my teeth, forcing myself to hold his gaze. “It’s not deception,” I snap, though my voice shakes slightly. “I didn’t choose this. I woke up in this world like this, and I don’t know why.”

His eyes narrow, his curiosity shifting into something darker. “You don’t know why,” he repeats, almost mockingly. “A convenient excuse.”

Kaida steps forward suddenly, her voice louder and more confident than I expect. “It’s the truth,” she says sharply, glaring at him. “None of us asked for this. We’re just trying to survive here.”

The man’s gaze flicks to her, then back to me. The air in the room grows heavier, the hum of magic louder, and I can feel the weight of his power pressing down on us.

“You’re hiding more than you’re letting on,” he says finally, his tone low and menacing. “But no matter. If you’re telling the truth about being lost… then I’ll simply have to decide what to do with you.”

My chest tightens as his words hang in the air, and I glance at Kaida, whose wide eyes betray the panic she’s trying to hide.

“What do you want from us?” I ask, my voice steady despite the storm raging inside me.

The man tilts his head, a faint smile curling at his lips. “I haven’t decided yet,” he says. “But for now, you’ll remain here… under my watch.”

This can’t be happening.

The man’s faint smirk twists into something colder as he gestures toward the door. “I’ve already summoned the guards. You’ll remain in a cell until I decide what to do with you two.”

Kaida’s face goes pale, her grip tightening on the figurine she’s still clutching. “W-Wait! There’s no need for that! We—we can just leave! No harm done, right?”

The man’s expression darkens, his sharp eyes locking onto her. “You’ve trespassed in my castle, attempted to deceive me, and now you stand here thinking you can walk away unscathed?” He snorts, his tone dripping with disdain. “You’ve already wasted enough of my time. Guards will ensure there’s no more trouble from you.”

I glance at the door, panic flaring in my chest. Guards? A cell? My mind races, searching desperately for an escape.

Kaida stumbles over her words, trying to come up with something—anything—that might work. “Please,” she says, her voice trembling. “We really didn’t mean to—”

“Enough,” the man snaps, his voice cutting through her protests. “You’ll have plenty of time to reflect on your mistakes in the dungeon.”

The sound of approaching footsteps echoes down the corridor, and my heart sinks. We’re out of time.

I want to move, to run, to do something, but my body feels like it’s made of lead. The heat from whatever that vial did to me still lingers, leaving me unsteady and drained. My legs barely respond as I hear the heavy clatter of armored footsteps growing louder.

Kaida stumbles back, gripping the figurine like it’s a weapon, but her panic is written all over her face. “Wait, no! You don’t need to do this—please! We’ll leave, we’ll never come back!”

The man doesn’t even acknowledge her, his cold gaze fixed on me as two guards enter the room. Their heavy armor glints faintly in the magical glow, and the sight of them makes my chest tighten.

“Take them,” the man orders curtly, gesturing toward us without even sparing another glance.

Before I can react, one of the guards grabs me roughly by the arm. His grip is firm and unyielding, and I wince, still too weak to fight back.

Kaida yelps as another guard seizes her, pulling the figurine from her hands and tossing it aside. “Hey! Let go of me!” she protests, trying to wriggle free, but it’s no use.

“Artemis—what do we do?” she cries, her voice cracking as panic overtakes her.

I don’t answer. My mind is a blur, torn between trying to think of an escape and the crushing realization that we’ve completely lost control of the situation.

The man steps closer, his expression unreadable as he looks down at me. “Consider yourself fortunate,” he says coldly. “I’ve spared you—for now. But lies have consequences. Remember that.”

The guards start dragging us toward the door, and I stumble along weakly, my mind racing. We can’t end like this. We can’t.

“Stay calm,” Shade’s voice whispers suddenly, sharp and steady in the back of my mind. “You’re not done yet. This isn’t the end.”

I grit my teeth, forcing myself to focus. If this isn’t the end, then I need to figure out what comes next.

End of chapter 39.

Looks like the wrong choice was made.