Elric sighed heavily and pinched the bridge of his nose. The anger didn't vanish, but it dulled as he shifted his tone.
"Forget it," he muttered. "This isn't the time to argue."
The duke remained silent.
"We found them," Elric said then, The duke's eyes flicked toward him. "Where?"
"In the old village, near the forest ridge. They're in the holding cells now…"
The duke's presence changed instantly. His shoulders straightened, and his eyes sharpened with command.
"Let's go."
They made their way back into the duke's office. The room was large and stately, lined with old books and cold silver furnishings.
At the far end, behind the desk, the duke pressed his hand against a smooth section of the wall. A faint clicking sound echoed, and a panel slid aside to reveal a narrow stone staircase.
They descended quietly.
Each step took them deeper beneath the manor. As they walked, pale blue crystal lights embedded in the walls lit up in sequence, humming gently with mana.
