Miria advanced cautiously through the castle corridors, flanked by Bryan, Eiden, and Axel. Their steps were light, their senses on high alert. When they turned a corner, they suddenly found themselves face to face with Asher.
Without a word, Asher raised his hand and unleashed a magical attack of raw power.
Miria and the others barely threw themselves behind a broken pillar for cover.
Vareck's voice echoed through the corridor, deep and amused.
"Miria… I hold your lover. If you want him… you must first hand over the grimoire."
Miria, still hidden, replied in a weary, cutting voice:
"Tell me, Vareck… are your ears blocked, or have you become so completely stupid over the years that you no longer understand the words 'I don't know anything about it'?"
Vareck growled, anger rising in his voice.
"You're lying. I don't believe you."
Miria sighed, exasperated.
"As if you've ever trusted anyone… You don't even trust your own shadow."
A heavy silence settled. Then Vareck continued, lower, more threatening:
"I'm telling you for the last time. Give me the grimoire. Otherwise…"
"Otherwise what?" Miria challenged.
"Well… Asher here is going to die."
Miria's voice changed radically. It became cold, icy, almost murderous.
"You'd better not lay a hand on Asher. Because otherwise… I highly doubt you'll have enough time left to live. Got it?"
Vareck remained shocked for a moment. Miria had never spoken to him in that tone. He quickly recovered.
"You asked for it."
He raised his hand toward Asher. Dark energy concentrated.
Miria, Bryan, Eiden, and Axel immediately came out of their cover.
Miria rushed toward Asher to push him out of the trajectory. At the same time, Bryan, Eiden, and Axel threw themselves at Vareck.
But at the last second, Vareck changed trajectory. Miria turned to intervene… and realized she could no longer move. A magic circle had closed around her, immobilizing her completely.
The attack veered and struck Bryan, Eiden, and Axel full force. The three men were violently slammed against the wall and collapsed, unconscious.
Miria watched, powerless, as the attack took her companions out of the fight.
Vareck turned toward her, a malevolent smile on his lips.
"So… you didn't see that coming, did you?"
Miria, frustrated and angry, desperately tried to free herself.
"You…"
"I didn't want it to come to this," Vareck continued, raising his hand toward her. "But since you leave me no choice…"
A black aura escaped from his palm and headed straight for Miria.
"What… what are you doing?!" she cried, panicked.
"I'm going to read your thoughts to discover where the grimoire is."
The black aura penetrated her. Miria screamed in pain.
"Stop resisting…" Vareck murmured. "The more you resist, the more it will hurt…"