Both Keith and Hana held their breath as they crossed the last barrier between them and the elf princess. No one had asked them to confirm their identity yet which was a miracle.
They easily slipped into the last corridor and glared at the people who were keeping a guard on the elf princess's room. The guards looked sloppy, with one of them even yawning tiredly.
"Oh man, you both are finally here. Good, now take over the shift for us. We are tired and would like to rest."
The second guard spoke in a lethargic manner.
There was no way to know how long these two had kept guard in front of the princess's room without sleep, but what was known was that the guard's attention span was swindling. And that was what they needed to take advantage of.
"Please, leave the shift over to us and have a rest. You are lucky that we managed to find you and come here early."
Somehow, Hana's voice did not cause people to look at her in suspicion. And Keith knew he would have to re-evaluate her value.
The guards left with blinking and tired eyes. And as soon as the guards were gone, all the tension bleed out of Hana's body and her legs shook.
"That was a tense one. I thought I was a goner for a second there."
Hana spoke with an almost laugh in her voice. But Keith could tell that she had been holding her nervousness down all this while.
He wanted to praise Hana but that would be out of character for him. So, he held his voice back.
But he did pat Hana's head in a manner that said that she did well. And that startled Hana. a blush covered her cheeks and she looked away from Keith.
Finally, Keith opened the door to the princess's room, only to find her looking back at him and Hana with a startled expression.
"Hey kid, it is time to run away. We just need to get out the last companion and we are free to leave this place."
Master Hana had finally pulled herself together and offered Himeko her hand. The kid looked startled but quickly took it and was pulled out of the room.
Since Himeko was with guards, not a lot of people thought much of it. They just took it as a part of her routine.
"So, do you have any idea where Shimi would be kept? We should get her as well before we try to break out of this illusion."
Himeko flinched once she heard Master Hana's words. The kid knew this was an illusion, but the reality of her situation was a little difficult for her to swallow.
"I…might have an idea where she might be. I remember that Mother used to brag about her underground chamber a long time ago. If I am remembering things right, it should be where my half-sister is being kept."
Himeko seemed to be having difficulty getting those words out. Mainly because she knew that the underground chamber her mother kept her half-sister in was a cruel place. It was a place where no living being should be kept.
But at the same time, the person who was making all these cruel decisions was her mother and Himeko did love her a lot. She wanted to only see the good sides of her mother.
"Alright, we got it. Then, let us go and save Shimi now. Ah, you do not need to force yourself to come with us, Himeko. You can stay here, where it is safe."
Master Hana offered this to Himeko and the kid knew that it was in her best interest to stay back. She did not have to ruin the impression of her mother being a good person.
But…
"I cannot keep on turning my head away from reality. I need to see what my mother is doing to accept the reality of her nature. So please, take me with you."
An elf had an incredibly long life span. Despite looking seven, Himeko had lived longer than both humans combined. So, it was also about time she faced the truth she had been hiding from.
Both Keith and Master Hana looked at each other. They did not want the kid to force herself, but it seemed that there was no choice in this matter left.
Especially when Himeko wanted to undertake this journey herself.
"Alright kid, you can come with us. But you need to accept whatever you see down there."
The Grandmaster spoke in a firm voice. His voice left no room for mercy or misunderstandings.
But somehow, it did not scare Himeko at all. She was ready to accept whatever she saw down in the prisons.
"I am ready."
..........
Keith had to say one thing about this illusion - it was detailed and did not miss anything. Even the smallest of details seemed to be taken care of.
They had snatched the guard's petrol route details and the trio was now making their way into the underground prison. The entrance to this place was through the temple standing in the middle of the city.
"This place is cold. The lack of sunlight is affecting this place in negative ways."
Master Hana observed as she looked at the unnatural growth happening on the dungeon walls.
Fungi and other life forms were growing here, but it was best not to meet these things. Who knew what kind of disease it could cause in people?
"This place was built to keep the worse people. It is often said that you will lose your mind if you spend too long down here. Even my sister was seldomly held here and then brought back to the surface."
Himeko's voice was straight, but Keith could see her effort. Himeko was trying not to break down as she walked deeper and deeper into the prison.
Somehow, it was difficult to see but felt necessary.
"Oh, I can see why this place would drive someone insane. Ah, I can see a light source ahead."
Master Hana pointed out as she exhausted the small ball of magic in her hand. The cave finally had a source of illumination.
The small clearing the corridor opened was a cell block. It was filthy and had a lot of fungal growth on all sides.
All the cells down here were empty except one. And the prisoner inside the last cell did not seem to be in good health.
"A-Are you back for m-more?"
Keith flinched as soon as he heard Shimi's voice. It was devoid of any emotion and there seemed to be no hope left in her.
Shimi had suffered greatly in this prison and Keith felt sorry for her.
"Hey, is this how you talk to someone who came to save you? Show some gratitude at least."
Master Hana tried to lighten the mood but it fell flat. She was surprised to see Shimi's worsening condition as well.
Shimi let out an almost hollow laugh as she watched her companions finally come for her. All her suffering and enduring had been worth it.
"S-Shut up and get me out. How long would it take you?"
Shimi asked as she shivered. This place was cold and the promise of freedom left a sweet taste on her tongue.
Her current self could not even muster enough strength to put up her usual mask on. She was tired and sore in places she had never been before.
"We are trying our best. We do not exactly have a key to open your cell door. So, we will have to compromise."
Master Hana spoke as she neared the cell. She placed her hand on the old rod that blocked the prison door and it melted from her mana.
The thing that made Master Hana's strings had two different effects depending on what she used. It could either be a sedative, calming her victim down. Or, it could be a poison used to kill people.
And right now, her poison was potent enough to even melt the rods of an old cell.
Once the door rods were done, Master Hana moved toward the handcuffs and chains that were holding Shimi in place.
"Hey, I will not be melting the main cuffs because it can hurt you but I will free you. So, hold on tight."
Master Hana melted the chain that held the cuffs up. The sudden drop caused Shimi to be startled but she held her yelp in. She did not want to show that she was scared o had been taken by surprise.
The chains became free and Shimi fell on the ground. The freedom tasted sweet in her mouth.
She looked at the full elf in front of her. Himeko had an almost guilty expression on her face when she looked back at her half-sister.
"Shimi, I want to apologize-"
"Save your words for later. You are not the one who did this to me and I do not blame you."
Updated from fr𝒆ewebnov𝒆l.(c)om