Chapter 306

Chapter 306
【Elsa POV】

The metal sphere is cramped beyond belief. I'm pressed between Leif's solid warmth on one side and Karl's tense frame on the other, while Edda sits cross-legged across from us, her knees brushing against mine. Freyja takes up what little floor space remains, her silver-gray bulk sprawled across our feet with absolutely no regard for personal space.

This is ridiculous, Freyja grumbles through our mental link, her irritation flooding my consciousness. I feel like I'm being compressed into a meat patty. Why couldn't that dwarf make this contraption bigger?

I shift uncomfortably, trying to find a better position, and accidentally elbow Karl in the ribs. "Sorry," I mutter.

"It's fine," he grunts.

Leif notices my struggle and immediately adjusts, pulling his shoulders back to create more space for me. "Here," he says softly, repositioning himself so I can lean slightly against the curved wall. "Better?"

The gesture is so thoughtful, so naturally protective, that my throat tightens. "Thank you," I whisper, meeting his amber eyes. Even without his memories, he's still taking care of me.

Grand Sage's voice crackles through the communication system, making us all jump in the confined space. "Attention, passengers. I'm about to outline our flight plan. Estimated travel time is ten hours."

"Ten hours?" Edda's voice pitches higher as she looks around at our cramped quarters. "Jesus Christ, it doesn't take ten hours to drive there. How the hell is flying slower?"

Karl shifts beside me, his knee bumping mine. "This better be worth it."

"The sphere needs to maintain full invisibility throughout the journey," Grand Sage explains through the speakers. "This requires a more circuitous route and reduced speed to avoid detection."

Freyja lifts her massive head and fixes me with an annoyed stare. Ten hours in this tin can. I'm going to go insane.

I reach down and scratch behind her ears, earning a reluctant rumble of approval. "She's not happy about the accommodations," I tell the others.

Leif's lips twitch in what might be amusement. "Can't say I blame her."

"Now," Grand Sage continues, "let's discuss our target. We'll be depositing you in the central plaza of the Forgotten Cities. According to my intelligence, the Mad Prince's residence is the most elaborate castle overlooking the square."

I lean forward, trying to focus despite being wedged between bodies. "How reliable is this intelligence?"

"Reliable enough," Grand Sage replies. "The good news is that centuries of isolation have made them complacent. Their defenses are minimal. With our invisibility field, you'll have time to scout for weak points."

Edda crosses her arms, which in the tight space means her elbows dig into both me and Karl. "And if your intelligence is wrong?"

"Then we adapt," Leif says firmly, his voice carrying that Alpha authority I remember. "We've handled worse odds."

Grand Sage's voice returns. "Now, elimination methods. Since no one has successfully killed a vampire of this age and power, we're working with educated guesses."

Karl straightens, suddenly more alert. "What kind of guesses?"

"First, forget everything you think you know about vampire weaknesses. Silver won't touch the Mad Prince—that's folklore. But gold..." Grand Sage pauses dramatically. "The Mad Prince banned all gold from the Forgotten Cities centuries ago. That suggests a genuine vulnerability."

Leif's hand moves instinctively to the golden dagger at his belt. The blade gleams even in the sphere's dim lighting, and we all stare at it for a moment. The weight of what we're about to attempt settles over us like a heavy blanket.

"Will one dagger be enough?" I ask, though I already suspect the answer.

"One blade might wound him, weaken him," Grand Sage confirms. "But to kill him permanently, we'll need your magical energy, Elsa. Combined with Mani's blessing, it should be sufficient."

The responsibility hits me like a physical weight. Through our bond, I feel Grimoire's steady presence, a quiet confidence that helps calm my racing heart.

"Initiating launch sequence," Grand Sage announces. "Brace yourselves."

The sphere shudders violently, throwing us all against each other. Edda grabs my arm to steady herself while Karl braces against the wall. Leif's hand finds my shoulder, holding me secure as the vibrations run through the metal around us.

Then suddenly, everything goes still.

"We're airborne," Grand Sage confirms. "Journey time: ten hours. I suggest you rest."

I look around at my companions. Karl has already closed his eyes, his breathing evening out as he tries to sleep despite the cramped conditions. Edda follows suit, tilting her head back and letting her eyes drift shut.

But Leif remains alert, watching me with those intense amber eyes.

"You should sleep too," I whisper.

He shakes his head slightly. "Can't."

I understand the feeling. Despite my exhaustion from the magical drain, my mind is racing. There's so much I want to say to him, so many memories I want to share. But I don't want to wake Karl and Edda.

Then an idea strikes me.

Freyja, I call through our mental link. Can you create a private channel between Leif and me?

She lifts her head from where it's resting on my feet. I suppose I could manage that. Though it's exhausting to maintain.

Just for a little while. Please.

Freyja's mental presence expands, reaching out toward Leif. I feel the moment she makes contact—his eyes widen slightly, and he sits up straighter.

Can you hear me? I project toward him.

He blinks, then nods slowly. This is... weird. But yes.

I thought we could talk without disturbing them. Maybe I could help you remember some things.

His mental voice carries a note of hope. I'd like that. These fragments I keep getting... they're driving me crazy.

I settle back against the curved wall, letting my eyes close as I sift through our shared history. What do you want to know?

Everything, he responds immediately. Start with... us. How did we really begin?

A smile tugs at my lips as the memories surface. You were incredibly persistent. I kept trying to avoid you, and you kept showing up everywhere I went.

Sounds like me, he admits with mental laughter. What else?

You brought me coffee every morning at the bookstore. Not to buy anything—just to see me. You'd make up these ridiculous excuses to hang around.

I feel his amusement through the link, along with something deeper—recognition, as if the memory is trying to break through on its own.

You were scared of me, he observes. I can feel it in these impressions. Why?

The question hits deeper than expected. Because you represented everything I thought I could never have. You were this powerful Alpha, and I was just... broken.

And what changed?

You did. I let all my certainty flow through the link. You showed me I was worth fighting for.

In the cramped sphere, surrounded by the quiet breathing of our sleeping companions, this mental conversation feels intimate and precious. Through Freyja's bridge, I can sense Leif's emotions—curiosity, growing affection, and underneath it all, a sense of rightness.

Tell me more, he requests quietly. Help me remember who I used to be.