After Akira's band took a short rest, they followed him along the only road they had — a narrow path winding past the former prison chamber that once held Cleo.
It was a tight corridor flanked by frozen ramparts, rising higher and higher as they ascended. Twin chasms cut along both sides, isolating them from the icy walls. Akira spotted rare tracks in the snow — oddly shaped, somewhere between human and beast — but said nothing.
A few days ago, they were strangers. Now, the Ars Goetians moved as one, swiftly trailing behind Akira.
Zhenzhen: "All of us need to stay sharp. Extreme danger could be hiding here. I'm sure I'm not the only one feeling an evil presence coming from these very walls."
Akira nodded as they moved forward.
Akira: "Aye. Even reaching this 'Black Citadel' from here will be difficult. Maybe something inside the citadel is the source of the disruption blocking our teleportation."
Cleo faced Akira, trailing along with him.
Cleo: "It's Hades."
Liza glanced at Cleo.
Liza: "The who now?"
Akira looked at Cleo, confused, both with Zhenzhen.
Akira: "Hades? You mean lord of the dead, right from Greek mythology?"
Merlina purred with an expression.
Merlina: "Very interesting, indeed."
Akira shook his head while they all advanced.
Akira: "Care to elaborate, Sensei? Your enigmatic behavior is starting to wear on my patience."
Merlina faced him with a look of holy innocence.
Merlina: "You trying to offend me again, my boy? But it is clear as day that the master of this place is none other than one of the Kings of the Dreamscape himself!"
Liza's patience began to wear thin as well.
Liza: "Guys! Are you deaf or something?! Am I alone, totally clueless here? Ok, maybe I lack knowledge and fall asleep during school lessons sometimes. But who the hell is Hades? And why is he called 'King' like you just said?"
Merlina: "I can explain..."
Zhenzhen gently cut her off, trailing behind Akira.
Zhenzhen: "Ironically, she mentioned 'hell' then she asked."
Merlina looked at Zhenzhen with an agreeing smile.
Merlina: "Right you are, my boy, so like I said..."
Akira fixed a determined gaze on the path ahead.
Akira: "Hades is the lord of the underworld, right from Greek myths, Liza. And a VERY dangerous opponent. None of us is ready to face him just yet. I wonder how Cleo even got this information?"
Merlina grimaced.
Merlina: "Always in a rush to interrupt me..."
Cleo tried to respond to Akira's question.
Cleo: "Arthur called him that right after a frost-lit portal pulled us from the Knighthood realm."
Akira gave her a confused glance, but kept his eyes on the path ahead as he addressed Merlina.
Akira: "I'm sorry, Merlina, but you know in this kind of situation I'm out of patience."
He quickened his pace. Everybody tried to keep up with him.
Liza threw up her hands.
Liza: "Great! So we're all trapped here by some Greek lordy god aka King of the Dead - am I getting this one right?"
Cleo replied to her with a guilty expression.
Cleo: "I think it's somehow connected to what I got pulled here as well."
Liza: "Seriously? I don't think you're..."
Akira narrowed his eyes.
Akira: "It is possible, in the Dreamscape. Any alignment-related creatures are natural enemies of their opposites, since Cleo is a naturally born paladin... Just like Zhenzhen mentioned before, good versus evil. Simple to understand. I mean, it was hard to believe what 'that' Arthur stood right in front of us moments before."
Liza: "Well..."
Zhenzhen: "Not a coincidence for sure."
Akira sighed.
Akira: "I'm tired of these talks about destiny."
Cleo: "But fate is very important, Mr. Akira!"
Akira: "Cleo, please - just Akira."
Cleo faced him without Akira facing her in return, still gathering his thoughts. He tiredly brought his hand up to his forehead as if trying to pull out the migraine with his fingers.
Cleo: "I'm sorry."
She bowed her head apologetically.
Akira sighed heavily.
Akira: "It's all right. Since all of us are still alive."
Liza whispered to Merlina.
Liza: "Why does Senpai look so madder than he was previously?"
Merlina: "Oh, that..."
Akira glared at them.
Akira: "I can hear you, you know?"
Liza: "Whoopsie! Sorry..."
Merlina: "He always acts like this—then people's lives end up in danger, or he feels completely helpless."
Akira: "Very funny, Sensei, it's not all like that."
Merlina: "Also, he is extremely mad when something goes wrong and not according to plan!"
Liza giggled.
Liza: "Senpai, you totally a super hero figure!"
Cleo giggled right after her.
Akira: "Very funny, guys."
Right behind him, Zhenzhen smiled warmly, glancing up at the back of Akira's head.
Liza leapt ahead of him, grinning.
Liza: "Hey! Care to teach us a few tricks while we're here?"
Akira: "I'm no magician, Liza, better ask Merlina."
He still wore an expression as he got an annoying headache.
Liza: "I always wondered how you make your sword float like that? Can we do it too?"
Akira's sword was still floating on the level of his belt. Merlina, trailing behind in her white cat form, chimed in without missing a beat.
Merlina: "But you're weaponless, dear! Have you forgotten? Your hands are your weapons."
Liza: "Shoot! Well, maybe it'd be useful for Cleo then!"
She turned to Cleo.
To keep pace, Cleo — comically short beside the others — walked alongside them.
Cleo: "I'm fine, Liza. I don't really need it. This world... It's all still so new to me."
Akira: "I'll explain more when we're out of danger. But about your question, Liza, it's important for me to stay focused most of the time. That's what makes it work."
Merlina offered a sage comment.
Merlina: "What a responsible boya!"
Akira grimaced at her remark.
Akira: "Jesting panther... Anyway, it takes focus. The sharper my concentration, the more disciplined I become. Floating weapons in the Dreamscape aren't just for show — they're a manifestation of one's willpower."
Liza poked Cleo.
Liza: "Told ya our senpai's super strong, hah!"
Akira rolled his eyes, embarrassed.
Cleo startled, then blurted out.
Cleo: "Mr. Akira, you're the best!"
Liza's jaw dropped.
Liza: "You're so BOLD, girl — sweet mama Tereza!"
Cleo blushed like a schoolgirl caught passing a love note.
Akira picked up the pace, feeling even more embarrassed by Cleo's words, pretending he hadn't heard them.
Just after rounding another corner, Zhenzhen pointed toward the snow-covered cliffs jutting from the right rampart.
Zhenzhen: "I wonder who those two are."
Across a gap — perched on an icy shelf — two distant but familiar figures were locked in battle.
The narrow path hugged the right rampart, climbing steadily with the sheer cliff on one side and a deep chasm yawning open to the other. Beyond that gap, a ledge of ice jutted from the rock wall — rough and steep, like a staircase carved by frozen time. Snow veiled everything in white, and the wind howled low through the frozen pass throat. Upon that distant shelf, the two figures clashed with towering beasts.
The snowstorm howled from above.
Akira raised his head.
Akira: "Great, the blizzard is back."
Merlina raises hers as well.
Merlina: "There's something sinister riding this wind."
Liza: "Who are those two fighting there? Are they humans? Look!"
Right then, as they neared the cliff Zhenzhen had pointed out, a tall figure let out a furious scream and kicked a strange-looking creature off the stair-like ice ledge. His roar echoed through the glacial corridor, raw and thunderous — the sound of someone truly enraged.
It was the student from RIU, Akira had spoken the day before — Igor Blinov. Strangely well-dressed for the weather, he stood in front of Mia Walker, who wore similar heavy furs. The two looked like ancient Norse warriors, cloaked in thick coats.
Compared to how they appeared in reality, it was hard to recognize them. Igor wielded a colossal, diabolical-looking ashen greatsword — its handle crowned with a grim, leering skull. Mia stood beside him, half-hidden behind a summoned green-skinned woman wrapped in leaves and lianas.
Igor: "Take that, ape!"
Another yeti-like creature met its end at his hands, cleaved in half and vanishing into ash and smoke the moment it touched the ground, like a phantom.
Akira observed his allies, then made a subtle gesture — a signal to advance toward the edge of the cliff where Igor and Mia were standing.
Merlina: "I've got a bad feeling about all this, my children."
Zhenzhen narrowed his eyes.
Zhenzhen: "Graverobber."
Liza choked.
Liza: "For a monk, you are way too good at giving people nicknames, Zhenzhi!"
He shot her a barely visible wink and cracked a grin.
Akira: "Let's try not to be hostile. Our enemies here are extraordinary beings — not real people."
Liza gave a goofy salute.
Liza: "As you command, Senpai! Though I can't promise I won't launch a big green fireball at that guy whose hair looks like onion-shaped ice cream!"
Zhenzhen couldn't hold back a laugh.
Zhenzhen: "You're not bad yourself, Liza Pavlenko."
Liza: "Hey! Don't say it like that. Sounds like some official title. Just Liza is fine."
Zhenzhen nodded.
Zhenzhen: "If you say so..."
Liza kept her eyes on him, dramatically serious.
Liza: "...L. I. Z. A."
Zhenzhen gave a silent bow.
Liza: "Still mad at me. Gotcha!"
Akira let out a soft chuckle.
Liza raised her hand in a puzzled gesture.
Liza: "I wonder why they're fighting those beasts here. It's not like they're being dragged to that disco floor we faced in the Greek goth-looking dungeon."
Akira: "It wasn't a dungeon, Liza. It was a gauntlet."
Liza: "Same thing to me, Senpai!"
Cleo: "Ah... So that's what you meant when you mentioned a 'gauntlet' game."
Akira: "It's a—"
Merlina finally seized her chance to interrupt, eager to educate the newbie girls herself.
Merlina: "Because we are already within someone else's realm, Liza dear. Look around. This land is no neutral ground — it is ancient, like the Dreamscape itself."
Akira: "Wow. Cat-a-pedia finally reveals her secrets."
Merlina: "Buzz off, boya."
She paused.
Merlina: "And to explain it to you, Cleo dear — the gauntlet is the place the four of us escaped from just yesterday. It's usually a realm like this one, only smaller, and shrouded in darker secrets. Dukes and Princes are often the ones guarding such places."
Cleo shook her head, visibly confused.
Cleo: "This Dreamscape... It's such a strange place."
Liza gently tapped her on the back.
Liza: "We need a whole lore course on all these kings-shmings and prince-shminces or whatever they're supposed to be."
Separated by a frozen chasm, Igor and Mia stood facing Akira and the others. Above them, the wind howled, hurling fresh flurries of snow down from the cliffs.
Mia stood with her arms crossed, wearing her usual student council president expression — high and mighty, like royalty in exile. Igor stepped closer to the edge, resting one hand on his knee while letting his massive sword lean casually against his shoulder.
He smirked, his voice loud enough to carry across the chasm to Akira's group.
Igor: "Finally left that small tunnel, huh? I thought you guys were stuck there forever!"
Akira faced him with a firm expression.
Akira: "Was that your bonfire in the tunnels, then?"
Igor barely shrugged.
Igor: "Maybe."
He smirked and chuckled.
Akira said nothing, just stared at him.
Igor waved dismissively.
Igor: "Oh, don't give me that look. You guys are too soft for this kind of stuff. What's going to happen when you face wendigos..."
Liza snapped back, raising a finger tipped with long nails.
Liza: "Hey! We're strong enough to face any foe, muscle head!"
Igor grinned.
Igor: "Ooooh, sharp-tongued girl, love it."
Mia stepped forward, clearing her throat loudly.
Mia: "No need to shout, Pavlenko. We can both hear you just fine, standing right here. Now... Yamauchi, as I gathered from our meeting at the RIU gardens, you're not accepting our generous offer. Sadly, all of you will be in grave danger without our help."
She finished with a sly smile.
Merlina muttered under her breath.
Merlina: "Talk about pompous people..."
Liza giggled, looking at Merlina in her cat form.
Zhenzhen glanced at Mia.
Zhenzhen: "If anyone needs saving, it's you, RIU's student council president. Should your heart fall into the same darkness as this wretched fiend, you'll be beyond redemption."
Mia straightened, adopting a regal posture and raising her hand proudly.
Mia: "Ah, the monk. Mister Mao. You're far from home, spying in our country, no doubt. Don't lecture me on 'foul' and 'dark'—you're not far from those yourself."
Zhenzhen narrowed his eyes.
Zhenzhen: "I'm no spy."
Igor turned to Cleo, mocking with a whistle.
Igor: "Woof! A paladin! Lucky bastard you are, Yamauchi. A paladin, a monk, and a witch all in one team—extraordinary!"
Akira was mildly startled.
Akira: "I'm not—"
Liza pointed her finger again.
Liza: "Ha! Got it now, beach boy! We are invincible!"
Igor straightened and planted his sword in the snow beside him.
Igor: "This girl, I swear. Sharp tongue, but do you have what it takes?"
Liza: "I can handle bullies like you just fine. Cleo's my friend and under my protection. You... Toasty!"
Igor cackled loudly.
Igor: "Somebody stop this savage, this instant. You'll pay for that, Cinderfella."
He narrowed his eyes playfully.
Liza's face tightened, looking ready to explode.
Liza: "You!"
Cleo gently tugged Liza's sleeve.
Cleo: "It's okay, Liza. I'm not mad at him. I don't even know who he is."
Igor tilted his head.
Igor: "Nice to meet you, 'paladin'. I'm your natural enemy—the Death Knight."
He winked sinisterly.
Cleo kept her usual calm expression, meeting his gaze without flinching.
Igor mumbled softly, unable to hold her stare.
Igor: "Ooooh, this one looks like trouble..."
Merlina stepped protectively in front of Cleo.
Merlina: "Get to the point, ashen one."
Igor grew louder.
Igor: "A talking cat! Hey Mia, can you believe it? I only just noticed her! They've got a magical cat with them—crazy..."
Mia: "We're not here for chit-chat, Igor. We're here for the artifact."
Akira raised an eyebrow, facing her.
Akira: "An artifact, Mia? What's going on? Are you in league with my father on this?"
Mia lifted her chin, looking even more regal.
Mia: "Not your business anymore, Yamauchi."
Akira's voice hardened.
Akira: "You have no idea how much it is—my business."
Igor took a step forward.
Igor: "Yeah? And what are you going to do about it now, pretty boy? There's a frozen abyss between us, and this 'evil wind' blocks any warps or teleportation."
Just as he spoke, the wind howled again between them, as if it had heard every word—and possessed a will of its own.
Akira raised his eyebrow higher.
Akira: "An evil wind?"
Igor nodded mockingly.
Igor: "Aye, supernatural, you can be sure of that, Katana-man. But like Mia said, it's nothing personal. I'm just doing my job because I like her—committed to my pure feelings, heh."
Mia slapped him playfully, hiding her embarrassment.
Liza turned her head back toward Igor and Mia.
Liza: "Four-eyes?! Seriously, with this guy?!"
Igor grinned.
Igor: "Hey, Ukrainian girl, you can call me names, but if any of you call Mia something I don't like, I'll demand a death duel. You can bet on that!"
His sinister expression flickered into a childish glare as he playfully pulled Mia close, holding her like a prize. Mia blushed bright red, tried to resist, but quickly gave in.
She whispered.
Mia: "Idiot."
Igor: "I'm your idiot, my lady."
Mia: "Stop embarrassing me in front of these newbies, fool!"
Her voice was a mix of resistance and surrender.
Liza: "How the hell does he even know where I'm from? Wait a minute..."
With Igor's arm still around her, Mia cut her off.
Mia: "Because he and his friend have issues with their ID photos. They saw some people's bios in my mom's cabinet."
Igor looked at Mia.
Igor: "Hey, don't call him my friend. Aberash is an arse. And why are you telling her this again?!"
Mia lowered her voice so only Igor could hear.
Mia: "Yeah, sorry. It's a bad habit of mine—when it comes to RIU info, something in me just wants to help these newbie students."
Igor whispered back.
Igor: "And the bold one said you're beyond redemption."
Mia smiled warmly at him, then turned her attention back to the group standing beyond the icy abyss.
Liza barked.
Liza: "You two lovebirds can be on your own. We don't need you!"
Mia rolled her eyes behind her glasses.
Mia: "Pavlenko, the menace..."
Igor made a bark of his own.
Igor: "I actually like her!"
Mia gave him a death glare over her glasses.
Igor: "I mean, she's got a bad mouth. That's what I like."
Mia: "Why am I still with you? Sometimes it's beyond me... We're complete opposites."
She made a step away from him.
Igor: "You know how it is, opposites attract each other?"
But he pulled her back to him.
Mia: "Stop it, idiot!"
She blushed, trying to escape.
Igor: "Heh."
Akira: "The only thing I got from all this is that you two want some artifact from this place. It'll be hard with only two of you."
Mia and Igor both faced Akira again.
Mia: "Don't worry, Yamauchi. We'll manage. Good luck with the wendigos."
Cleo found her voice at last.
Cleo: "President, I don't understand. Why are you doing this? Can't we all be friends? Mister Mao says we're all in grave danger here!"
Mia rolled her eyes again.
Mia: "Oh, sweet mother, give me mercy..."
Igor's eyes widened in disbelief.
Igor: "I can't believe this girl's naivety..."
Zhenzhen stepped protectively in front of Cleo.
Zhenzhen: "Don't waste your breath on them, Cleo. They're already on the wrong side."
Akira: "Can you at least tell me what you want to find here?"
Igor: "Like you told me yesterday, huh?"
Akira: "How about an information trade?"
Igor raised his hand to his chin.
Igor: "Interesting..."
Mia pulled free from him again, wearing an expression that said she was about to walk away.
Mia: "No time, Igor. Let's go. Wendigos could return any minute. Show me that shortcut you promised. We need to reach the entrance soon."
Akira: "Entrance?"
Igor let out an annoyed growl.
Igor: "Go tell them our whole plan, woman."
Mia startled.
Mia: "Sorry, I forgot myself."
She paused, then spoke louder to Akira's group.
Mia: "Everyone, not a word about any of this in the real world. Any gossip I hear from you, I'll smack you like cockroaches. You all know my mother is a vice chancellor—"
Liza smirked, interrupting.
Liza: "Chancellor—shamcellor."
Mia snapped.
Mia: "QUIET, Pavlenko! I hope you'll be expelled soon. Still a mystery how you even got here, you troglodyte."
Liza shot her a look, stating proudly.
Liza: "Shut it, snake tongue! Senpai helped me, and I'm grateful. You, on the other hand, have no friends—except this cooked onion standing there!"
Igor's eyes widened.
Igor: "Cooked onion, that's a good one. But didn't I tell you not to talk rudely about Mia?"
Liza: "Got it, Toasty! You love her, but we're all friends here, and we don't need to be enemies with you two. Your girlfriend made things difficult from the start!"
He faced Mia.
Igor: "Well..."
Mia threw up her hands.
Mia: "Do you agree with her? Really!?"
Igor: "Obviously not, Mia. You're the only one for me."
Mia nodded in mutual approval.
Mia: "Good."
She paused.
Mia: "Now, everyone has a simple choice. Igor and I have cleared most enemies nearby. You can stay here in safety or continue and perish."
Akira made a step toward them.
Akira: "My proposal still stands—from one warrior to another. No nonsense, just an honest deal for you, Death Knight."
Merlina muttered proudly.
Merlina: "Smarty pants, boya."
Igor finally looked at him seriously, then smirked again.
Igor: "Ha! Almost had me there! Nice try, Katana-man. Like I said, I'm hired muscle in this 'foul' place—like your two goody-two-shoes friends call it. Anyway, I hope you don't die here. Something tells me you're up to something stupid, like heading on that path."
He pointed at the slender path leading toward the distant opening ahead.
He playfully tilted his head.
Igor: "Good luck with the big guy out there."
Akira raised his hand slightly.
Akira: "So you won't tell me anything about this place, even for a price?"
Igor shrugged.
Igor: "Like you've got anything to interest me."
Akira: "How about magical items?"
Merlina hissed.
Merlina: "Don't give him anything! What are you doing, my lad?"
Igor whistled.
Igor: "Cat seems angry. Your familiar?"
Merlina gave him a catlike smirk.
Merlina: "I'm his teacher, thank you very much."
Igor whistled again.
Igor: "Your mentor's a cat? Katana-man, you sure attract some fairy tale weirdos. I almost envy you—always loved 'The Wizard of Oz'."
Mia tugged him by his fur coat.
Mia: "Time's wasting. Let's move."
He nodded.
Igor: "On it, madam."
They turned away.
He raised his voice, echoing through the frozen pass.
Akira: "My offer still stands."
Mia glanced sideways, raising her voice above the howling wind.
Mia: "You just don't give up, do you, Yamauchi?"
Akira stood there, watching them with a steady gaze, as if his words were meant for them alone.
Akira: "The only thing I need to know is if you're in league with my father. And what is this evil wind supposed to be?"
Igor pulled his sword from the snow.
Igor: "Maybe we need something from this one. He seems experienced. You know me—I never say no to powerful items."
Mia shook her head and adjusted her glasses.
Mia: "Whatever, Igor. But just... don't tell him everything. Give them only enough to stay alive. I don't want four dead bodies showing up tomorrow — and if my mother finds out one of them's Yamauchi's son, she'll make it five by finishing me off in the real world. Curse him and his friends..."
Igor: "Like she even cares."
Mia: "Oh, stop it. My mother's not that bad. She almost approved of you once."
Igor: "Something tells me by 'approved' you mean didn't scream at you like usual."
Mia: "Shut it! Whatever. Just take what you want and let's bounce. I think Deianira didn't take the cold well, unlike your 'Koshchei'."
Igor gave her a sly smile.
Igor: "Just like you said, beautiful."
Mia blushed red as a pepper again.
Mia: "Bah."
Igor again leaned toward Akira's group, his greatsword resting on both shoulders.
Igor: "So, Yamauchi. What's your proposal?"
Zhenzhen whispered.
Zhenzhen: "I hope you know what you are doing, Akira. We jest with Alloces to find his weakness, but this one... I cannot fathom why you even trouble yourself with him."
Akira swiftly faced Zhenzhen and gave a sharp nod—a clear sign he knew exactly what he was doing.
Akira: "First, I need to know what this 'evil wind' is you mentioned earlier."
Igor widened his eyes.
Igor: "Ooooh, how magical! Give me something first, and I might think about it."
He waved his hand as if brushing off the demand, clearly not serious. The grin on his face said he was going to spill it anyway—just needed a convenient excuse if Mia got mad later.
Akira smirked and raised his brow.
Liza's eyes shot open, somehow wider than Igor's.
Liza: "He's helping us?! I can't believe it!"
Merlina hissed under her breath.
Merlina: "Quiet, foolish girl! Must you always ruin the fun? Let them talk—we'll just stand here and pretend to be clueless and pretty."
Liza blinked, pouting.
Liza: "Why does everyone say I'm no help?"
Merlina: "It's not because you're no help. It's because—"
Cleo: "Please. Both of you. Let them speak."
She faced them with that unblinking, righteous stare of hers. Like a magical robot, with manners.
Liza sighed. Merlina too.
Akira tried to ignore the noise behind him and focused.
Akira: "How about I give you a potion?"
Igor raised an eyebrow.
Igor: "A potion?"
Akira: "Yeah..."
A moment passed. Both of them realised it was a dumb idea. Akira didn't really have anything to trade—certainly not real items—and any knowledge he had probably been worth much to Igor. Still, since the charade had started, they had to keep up appearances. Anything to fool Mia.
Igor shook his head.
Igor: "I can't believe you, man..."
Akira: "I've got a prism fountain back at my pocket plane. Empowers Dreamscape connection. Boosts your abilities. Real deal."
Merlina groaned.
Merlina: "Boya, boya..."
Akira: "So, how about that?"
Igor: "You're a one-of-a-kind jester, Yamauchi."
He chuckled, then made a flourish with his hand.
Igor: "Potion—hueyshon, my man."
Liza giggled, still red-faced from earlier, but unable to resist.
Liza: "What did you just say? You make no sense, Toasty. I think I already know what country you're from..."
Igor shrugged with a grin.
Igor: "Not like I tried to hide it. But let's keep it between me and your Katana-boy. Political disputes are boring."
She gave him a mocking face.
Liza: "Not like I care about you, Toasty."
Igor mirrored her smirk and raised his voice for Mia, who stood behind him, pretending to examine a nearby tunnel.
Igor: "So, Yamauchi. 'Evil wind'—basically a magic barrier. No teleportation. No warping. You get in, you don't get out. That clear?"
Akira gave a theatrical nod.
Akira: "Aye."
His team stared at him like he'd just betrayed their table at lunch.
Igor: "Oof! Yamauchi, your crew's giving you the side-eye. Maybe you should join us instead."
Akira smirked.
Akira: "Just tell me what I need to know, and we'll go our own way."
Igor: "If you say so."
Akira: "Since you went first—and I owe you from yesterday—I'll share. I'm after the Lesser Key of Solomon. In this realm. The Dreamscape."
Igor's eyes popped open wide.
Igor: "No way... Well, actually, yeah—I kinda figured."
His face shifted back to his usual smirk.
Akira: "Not surprising, considering my father and Mia's mother's connection."
Igor muttered.
Igor: "Connected how, I wonder..."
Akira: "Nothing personal. We met as kids a few times. My father and Miss Walker are some sort of business partners, that's all."
Igor raised a brow and glanced back.
Mia barked at them, losing patience.
Mia: "Will you two finish already? I'll get old before this conversation ends!"
Igor turned toward her and called out.
Igor: "And I'll still love you when you're old, Lady Walker!"
Mia: "Bah!"
She disappeared into the tunnel, bright red.
Igor: "Well..."
Liza couldn't resist.
Liza: "Nice one, Kazanova! HA!"
Liza and Igor cackled in sync.
Igor: "Alright, Akira, you got me. Lesser Key of Solomon, huh? You going for a wish, or...?"
Akira: "It's personal. No offence."
Igor: "Whatever. I'm here for two artifacts—one somewhere around here, the other inside the Citadel."
Akira: "What are they?"
Igor paused.
Igor: "Man, you should work for an intel agency or something. I'm not supposed to spill info to losers like you—no offence, guys. But let's say I've got a soft spot for this Katana-man right there."
He pointed at Akira.
Liza: "We're not losers, you dumbbell!"
Cleo: "Liza, please. Don't let him provoke you."
Liza: "Just a tiny fireball. Between his eyebrows."
Cleo: "Liza!"
Liza: "Alright, alright..."
Igor: "I'm after a needle—my personal goal. As for the second artifact, I can't share. It's deep in the Citadel. Just like you said—'personal matters'. But business stuff? That stays sealed."
Akira nodded.
Akira: "Understood."
Igor: "Well, we're not fighting today. Not that we can reach each other across this gap anyway."
He leaned closer, lowering his voice.
Igor: "Or maybe we're just pretending we can't, huh?"
He winked.
Igor: "Time to catch up with my damsel. Adieu!"
Akira called out as Igor turned to go.
Akira: "Hey, Igor!"
Igor looked over his shoulder.
Igor: "Wha?"
Akira: "It's not a Katana. It's an uchigatana. So next time you mock me, do it right. That's what this sword is. Uchigatana."
Igor raised a brow.
Igor: "They all look like toothpicks to me... But fine—'Uchigatana-man' it is!"
He laughed and vanished into the tunnel, just before reaching the frost-covered stairs.
Akira sighed heavily in relief.
Everybody looked at him as he again made an impossible.
Akira observes his companions.
Akira: "Just like they said, they got their path out of here, we got ours. If you are still with me, we can proceed."
Zhenzhen nodded.
Zhenzhen: "Always, Akira Yamauchi."
Liza beamed at him.
Liza: "Aye!"
Cleo gave him a warm smile and a silent nod.
Akira: "Then let's move out."
Akira made a faint gesture, pointing toward the exit from the icy corridor.
Merlina shook her head in her cat form while they proceeded forward, staying behind them.
Merlina: "Boya, boya, what a scoundrel..."