The princess made her way to the capital on her own to avoid arousing suspicion from the inquisition due to a sudden appearance. Her return was expected in at least a week. If I go to rescue Kurone, I won't be able to return to the Academy, so I decided to finish the crystals before my departure. Vina's attempts to gather information about the fortress's interior yielded little result. The vast valley surrounding the ancient stronghold was hidden from prying eyes, and only high-ranking church officials were allowed inside. Commanders of paladins, senior priests, and inquisitors were the only ones permitted, along with hundreds of prisoners who never saw the light of day. Trying to find former church servants also proved unfruitful; they either feared speaking about what happened inside or remained loyal to the church even in their old age. All we managed to learn was the external appearance of the fortress, resembling an equilateral cross from above, the symbol of the church, and that the prisoners were most likely held in the central part. We would have to find out what forces guarded the castle on-site.
Three days later, the princess arrived in Verengard and immediately headed for an audience with the king.
"And why did you have to burst in here so rudely?"
"Father, I have an important matter to discuss!" Katrina tried to contain her frustration, but it seemed that her father wasn't willing to listen.
"It seems you've forgotten your manners in your new environment, but if you can't wait."
"Then..."
"I know what you came to talk about. About that girl the inquisition recently took into custody."
"Kurone is not guilty of anything!"
"Is that so?" Archbishop Vittorio appeared next to the throne. "According to our information, this girl was involved in a poorly studied form of magic."
"Her magic is a form of necromancy."
"And yet, she applied to the Academy as a mage without allegiance to any element and claimed she could read people's minds and become invisible."
"That's part of mind magic."
"How strange that no one studied this magic before, as it could have been quite useful."
"That's because only a small number of necromancers possess it, and there aren't many of them to begin with."
The confidence in the princess's voice gradually began to fade.
"This sounds rather dubious. Besides, that's not the only thing she's accused of."
"Tch," Katrina clicked her tongue dissatisfied, and Archbishop Vittorio noticed it with a slight smile.
"During the recent trial, many present complained of malaise, headaches, dizziness, and even mental confusion. However, the inquisition guards present at the trial didn't notice anything because they were equipped with magical amulets protecting them from curses and other indirect magical effects. At that time, we decided to find out the source of this strange illness."
"The reasons could be various."
"Of course, but we found the source of the problem in the most unexpected place," Vittorio said with a devilish grin. "Someone at the Academy recently used magic similar to what was felt in the courtroom, and we managed to trace its source. It was your friend."
"Kurone did it only to expose the real criminal, and she succeeded!"
"So, you knew?"
"I...," Katrina lowered her gaze. "I found out about it recently, but if it was necessary, she shouldn't be punished for it."
"She influenced the minds of the first persons of three states; it's an unthinkable crime! But even so, we can't make it public, it will damage our reputation."
"But then why did you apprehend her?"
"Still haven't grasped it, have you?" The king looked at his daughter with a sad expression. "I don't care about what happened in the trial, but you were under her influence for over a year, and you didn't even know about it."
"I trust Kurone."
"And? Are those your words, or did she plant them in your mind? You believe her, but how can I trust you? I don't know how deeply she influenced your mind, so it's better if you two never meet again."
"Father, what are you going to do?!"
"She'll never leave Belenor's prison; it's the only way I can be sure you won't fall under someone else's influence."
The king signaled the guards to escort the princess away, but she broke free before they could. "I'm willing to do anything to prove to you that I act of my own free will. Please, just let her go."
"So, you're ready to go to any length for a little-known commoner. That only raises more suspicion."
The princess bit her lip, unable to find words in her defense.
"Your Majesty, if you allow me," the inquisitor quietly leaned towards the ruler, "maybe we shouldn't act so radically. Besides, if the princess desires it, we can protect her from ill influence in other ways."
"Hmm, well, okay. I'll announce my decision later."
Underneath Belenor, Kurone had been interrogated by the inquisitors for several days. Her body bore the marks of torture, deep cuts, and she could barely sit on the chair, but the tormentors showed no intention of giving her respite.
"Hmm, it seems the torture can be stopped now," a mage in a robe of higher quality than the regular jailers interrupted the prolonged torment. Kurone had met this tall man with a short haircut before.
"Ah, it's you, William Warden, Milena and Miguel's father."
"Hmm, I don't recall introducing myself," the inquisitor had been overseeing his subordinates during the interrogation.
"You're also the chief executioner of the inquisition, so this is the end for me, I suppose? I won't tell you anything new anyway."
"That's not necessary; we already knew everything. Do you think your peculiar power went unnoticed for us? We were just waiting for the right moment. Unfortunately, your blood doesn't help to pass your ability to others; all attempts during these three days have been in vain. If you had agreed to work with us, things might have ended less tragically."
"Ah, that's what it's all about. With my power, it would be much easier for you to control the country, and you'd use it against Kat and the others. Do you really think I'd agree to that?"
"No, but it's my duty to offer," the inquisitor turned to his assistants. "They've finally decided on her fate; for now, lock her in the lower chamber."
"Ee-ee-ee," the younger inquisitors exchanged glances. "But she probably won't survive there."
"Well, what can we do? If something happens to her, it's not our problem."
"You never intended to let me go, did you?"
"You've played your role, but releasing you would have been too risky. Farewell, dark sorceress."
William headed towards the exit, and his subordinates dragged the girl to the lowest part of the central tower.
"What's this?" At the end of the empty corridor was a large, empty room with a stone dome in the center.
"This is the final abode of our most dangerous prisoners. Here, we bid farewell."
The inquisitors opened the massive iron door and hurled the captive into the dark room, hastening to lock the dungeon as quickly as possible.
A week had passed since they took Kurone. Katrina had finally returned, but I hadn't had a chance to talk to her yet. Whatever she does, it will only benefit the inquisitors now.
"Krito..." A timid knock on the door interrupted my thoughts. "May I come in?"
"Come in." I turned to the princess, who was trying to hide her gaze from me. "I don't see the former optimism in you. They won't release her, will they?"
"No, they agreed to release Kurone, but I have to fulfill all their demands."
"Hah, it's hard for me to believe in their sincerity. So, what did you promise them?" I slowly approached the princess.
"I will leave the Academy and the guild. I won't see anyone of you again. Kurone will also have to leave the Academy to avoid influencing the students."
"How convenient, and no one will check if they really let her go."
"They promised, and we have no other choice." Katrina tried to leave the room, but I grabbed her hand.
"Wait! Is that really everything? Or is there something you don't want to tell me?"
"That's all." Katrina tried to break free from my grip, and I felt something unfamiliar on her finger under the glove.
"And what's this then?" Removing the white glove that I had once given the princess, I saw a small ring with a precious stone on her ring finger. "Are you going to say it's just something you liked and bought while in the capital?"
"It's one of the conditions."
"And of course, the groom is Alfred?"
"Yes."
"Marvelous. You're saving Kurone, but practically handing the throne to the inquisition. Are you out of your mind?"
"This is all I could do; otherwise, they wouldn't have let her go!"
"Do you think Kurone will approve of this? You'll save her, but how many people will die because of your foolishness? You know I ended up here only because the feudal lords' power now outweighs the church's influence. But if the son of the chief inquisitor becomes king, no one will be able to oppose them. You have no idea what sacrifices it will lead to!"
"But what else could I do?" Tears welled up in Katrina's eyes. "After everything you did, without even warning me! I couldn't say anything to my father; he wouldn't have believed me anyway. What if all this friendship and my goals were imposed on me by her magic? Even if I believe it, it doesn't mean he will!"
"And do you believe it?"
"What?"
"Do you believe that all this wasn't imposed on you? After all, Kurone has been with us almost from the beginning. And then you suddenly developed such close relationships with those who initially disliked and even hated you. If you don't believe it yourself, no one else will."
"I want to believe it, but I don't know. I'm the same as I was a year ago. I want to change my country and make it better. And I want to be friends with everyone; I know their good and bad sides, not because Kurone revealed them to me, but because I learned them during our adventures."
"Then believe in it and don't let others persuade you otherwise."
I threw the scabbard with the blades over my back and donned a nondescript gray cloak.
"Where are you going?" Only now did the princess notice that my room was almost empty. There was a uniform and a mage's mantle lying on the bed, and a small note on the table: "You..."
"Give this to Seleria," I handed Katrina a small box with two crossed blades on the lid, "Tell her that I cannot go down this path."
"You won't be coming back, will you?"
"No, if everything goes as planned, we'll have to hide for the rest of our lives."
"This isn't the way."
"No, it's the only way, and I became convinced of that after talking to you. If I save Kurone, you won't be obligated to marry Alfred, and maybe someday you'll help us clear our names. But if everything goes as the inquisitors have planned, then saving her won't make any sense."
I headed towards the exit, but the princess timidly grabbed the edge of my cloak.
"But friends aren't the only ones I don't want to part with," her voice trembled.
"No, you have to protect the others. The Church will find a way to take revenge. If they can't get to me and Kurone, they will try to take it out on Grain, Leira, and their relatives. Only you can protect them, and Seleria and Hilda will help you. And I'll do everything in my power."