Chapter 308

Chapter 308
【Elsa POV】

The dragon's roar still echoes in my ears as we crouch behind the moss-covered rocks, watching the massive creature circle overhead before disappearing behind the castle's towers. My heart pounds against my ribs, but Leif's steady presence beside me keeps me grounded.

"Well," Leif says quietly, his amber eyes tracking the dragon's flight path, "at least we know the invisibility field is working."

Karl shifts beside him, his hand still resting on his weapon. "So what's the plan? We can't exactly wait for that thing to take a nap."

"We stick to the mission," I say, pushing myself up from my crouch. "We came here to find Mad Prince, and that castle is our best lead."

Leif stands and dusts off his knees. "Elsa's right. The longer we wait, the more chances we have of being discovered."

Edda adjusts her medical pack and checks her equipment. "Then let's move. That castle isn't going to explore itself."

We cross the ancient stone plaza in single file, Leif leading with his hand on his weapon, Karl bringing up the rear. The invisibility field shimmers around us, and I can see the air distorting slightly where our bodies move through it.

The castle entrance looms ahead—massive doors of deep crimson wood bound with thick iron chains. Each link is wider than my fist, and heavy locks hang from multiple points.

"Jesus Christ," Karl mutters, walking up to examine the chains. He grabs one and gives it a hard pull. It doesn't budge. "These things look like they haven't been opened in decades."

Leif runs his fingers along the door frame, pushing against the wood. "There has to be another way in. Buildings this old always have weak points."

"We should split up," Karl suggests, stepping back and wiping his hands on his pants. "Cover more ground that way."

Leif nods and points around the castle. "All right. Karl, you take the east side. I'll circle west. Look for any openings, loose stones, anything we can use."

"What about us?" I ask, gesturing to Edda and myself.

"You two wait here," Leif says, his tone brooking no argument. "Find somewhere concealed and rest. We'll need you at full strength for whatever we find inside."

I cross my arms. "Leif, I can help—"

"Elsa." He steps closer, his voice softening. "Please. You're our trump card against Mad Prince. If something happens to you while we're just scouting..."

I see the worry in his eyes and relent. "Fine. Twenty minutes."

Karl checks his watch. "Twenty minutes. Meet back here."

The two men head off in opposite directions, and Edda tugs on my sleeve. "Come on. Let's find that shelter."

We locate a cluster of pine trees growing near the castle's base. The branches provide good cover.

"You should rest," Edda says, settling beside me. She opens her pack and pulls out a water bottle. "Here, drink something. You're our ace in the hole when it comes to taking down Mad Prince."

I take a sip of water, but the moment I close my eyes, I feel it—a violent tremor running through my chest, right where Grimoire's bond sits.

"Grimoire?" I whisper.

The response hits me like a physical blow, making me gasp and nearly drop the water bottle.

Do you feel it, little witch? The power sleeping in the depths of this place?

"What are you talking about?" I hiss under my breath.

Magic, Grimoire's voice resonates with excitement. Ancient, pure magic, the likes of which I have not sensed in centuries. It pulses from the deepest chambers of this castle like a heartbeat.

"What kind of magic?" I whisper.

But Grimoire's presence suddenly vanishes, cutting our connection so abruptly that I'm left gasping.

"Elsa, you're pale as a sheet," Edda says, scooting closer. "What's wrong?"

"I'm fine," I lie, pressing a hand to my chest.

The sound of footsteps on grass announces the return of our scouts. Leif appears from the west side, Karl from the east. Both look frustrated.

"Please tell me you found something," I say, standing up and brushing dirt from my jeans.

Karl shakes his head and kicks at a stone. "My side is sealed tight. Solid stone walls, no windows, no doors. It's like they built that section to be a fucking fortress."

"Same on the west side," Leif reports, running a hand through his hair, "mostly. But there's a small lake on that side of the castle. Might be worth checking out."

"Anything's better than sitting here," I say. "Show us."

Leif leads us around the castle's western wall. The lake comes into view—maybe fifty meters across, with dark water that looks almost black under the artificial red sky.

"There," Karl points upward and squints. "See that window?"

I crane my neck. High up on the castle wall, about fifteen feet above the water, there's a narrow window opening.

"Even if we could get up there," Karl says, measuring the distance with his hands, "that window's tiny. Maybe Elsa could squeeze through, but you and I sure as hell wouldn't fit."

Leif walks to the water's edge and examines the castle wall. "The walls are too smooth to climb. No handholds, no cracks."

I stare up at the window, clenching my fists. "There has to be a way in. If Mad Prince is really in there, he didn't just seal himself inside permanently."

"Maybe he's not even in the castle," Edda suggests, kicking at the grass. "I mean, if I had to live in the same place for hundreds of years, I'd go crazy."

"No," I shake my head firmly. "Whether or not Mad Prince is inside, the castle is our best bet. We didn't come this far to give up because of a locked door."

Suddenly, Freyja's head snaps toward the water. She takes three quick steps forward and lets out a sharp bark that echoes across the lake.

"Freyja!" I grab her by the scruff and pull her back. "What the hell? Do you want to give away our position?"

She looks up at me, panting with excitement. Sorry! I couldn't help myself. Look at the water—really look.

I follow her gaze to the lake's surface. At first, I don't see anything, but then I notice subtle ripples moving toward the castle wall.

There's a current, Freyja explains, her tail wagging. Underground water flow. This lake isn't stagnant—there's fresh water feeding into it constantly.

"What is it?" Leif asks, walking over to crouch beside Freyja.

"She thinks there might be an underwater entrance," I translate. "Like a drainage system that feeds into the lake."

Karl's eyebrows shoot up. "Shit, that actually makes sense." He walks to the water's edge and kneels down, putting his hand in the water. "Old castles always had elaborate drainage systems. If this lake is fed by underground channels..."

"Then we might be able to swim in," Leif finishes, standing up and already reaching for his jacket zipper.

"Whoa, hold on," I say, grabbing his arm. "You're not just diving in there blind."

"Someone has to test it," Leif says, shrugging out of his jacket. "If the current is strong enough to feed this lake constantly, there has to be a passage large enough for water to flow through."

He pulls his shirt over his head, and I can see the defined muscles of his chest and shoulders in the artificial red light.

"Give me ten minutes," he says, handing me his clothes. "If I'm not back, you'll know it was a dead end."

"Ten minutes," I agree, my stomach clenching with worry. "Then I'm coming after you."

Leif grins and cups my face briefly with one hand. "Don't worry. I'll be back before you know it."

He wades into the lake, the dark water rising to his waist, then his chest. The cold makes him hiss between his teeth.

"Damn, that's cold," he mutters.

"Be careful!" I call out.

He gives me a thumbs up, takes a deep breath, and disappears beneath the surface.