"You handled that very well, all things considered," Yuhana said with a soft chuckle, the faintest hint of amusement curling at the edge of her lips.

  I didn't respond. Just kept walking.

  Sarcasm clung to her words like desert sand to sweat, and I wasn't in the mood to py word games. I followed her through the castle's winding corridors, each step echoing against walls carved from sun-baked sandstone and adorned with polished obsidian tiles that shimmered like liquid onyx under torchlight.

  The air was cooler here—unnaturally so. Small blue crystals embedded in the walls pulsed gently, drawing the heat from the halls like an unseen breath. Magic, no doubt. The same kind I saw over the sink back in the cell, when touching a crystal spat out cold water like a well-trained faucet. This pce may look ancient, but its bones were woven with a kind of power I barely understood.

  Yuhana, either unaware or purposefully ignoring my silence, continued talking, her voice sharp but steady. She expined the history of the Saharan Castle, how it was carved from the cliffs of a once-forgotten mountain range, reforged into a stronghold after the first summoning. Something about sacred architecture, protective runes, and spirits watching over its halls. I tried to pay attention, I really did. But my mind was still racing—from the "Bearer of the Cardinal Sins" bombshell to the "go kill a dragon" side quest they'd so generously tossed my way.

  A dragon. As a warm-up.

  Gods help me.

  We eventually reached the east wing of the castle, and it was... chaos.

  Staff bustled like ants during a flood, packing linens, stacking trays, dragging polished furniture down the halls in a frantic rush. Their eyes barely met mine, and when they did, it was only for a second—just enough time to fill them with unease before quickly looking away.

  They weren't being ordered to leave. That much was clear.

  They were fleeing.

  "This was their wing, wasn't it?" I asked ftly.

  Yuhana gnced at me, her expression unreadable. "It was. Not anymore."

  Right. Because nothing says "welcome" like an entire staff abandoning their posts to avoid sharing a hallway with you.

  The east wing was different from the rest of the castle—less ceremonial, more functional. The architecture here was still beautiful, but practical. Sandstone walls were smooth and cool to the touch, lined with flowing tapestries that depicted Saharan victories, beasts sin by ancient heroes, and great spirits sealed into binding contracts. Intricate tiles covered the floor in symmetrical patterns, every step making it feel like I was walking across some living art piece.

  Yuhana guided me through a rounded archway and into the heart of the wing. She showed me the kitchen first—surprisingly modern for a pce in the middle of a desert kingdom. Cold storage powered by mana crystals hummed silently in the corners, and the shelves were stocked with dried meats, grains, spices, and more fruits than I expected to exist in a pce so dry. There was even a fireless stove, fed by a crystal embedded beneath a copper pte.

  "Everything in this castle is powered by mana?" I asked, poking the blue stone.

  "Yes," Yuhana said. "Mana is the world's life essence. Every crystal here contains it. That one powers the kitchen. The ones in your room regute the temperature. Even your bathwater runs thanks to the water stones."

  So basically, the sink, the cool air, the glowing walls. All of it was made possible by this energy, this... mana.

  She led me next to a bathing hall—vaulted, steam-filled, and decadent. Carved lion heads along the walls spewed water into a sunken marble pool. The floors were inid with mother-of-pearl, and silver sconces lit the room in a gentle, almost ethereal glow. Towels thicker than the ones at any luxury hotel I'd ever been in were folded beside a golden mirror.

  Then came the training grounds.

  A wide, open courtyard with sand floors and high walls that trapped in wind and kept out the sun. Weapon racks lined the edge—spears, swords, bows, and even some oddities I couldn't name. One shed near the far side shimmered faintly, and when I peeked inside, I saw weapons glowing with faint auras—some fiery red, others icy blue, and one that seemed to hum with static.

  "Mana-fused weapons," Yuhana said beside me.

  I whistled low. "They look... expensive."

  "They are. Forged with rare crystals and designed to channel mana. Some increase speed, others strength. Some sharpen themselves with every cut."

  "Fancy." I pointed to a curved dagger pulsing with green energy. "So mana can be absorbed into people too?"

  She nodded. "Humans can draw in mana, store it, and use it to enhance their bodies—speed, strength, reflexes, even sensory perception. If your mana capacity and understanding is high enough, you can do incredible things."

  "What about magic?" I asked. "You know, like... fireballs?"

  Yuhana let out a real ugh this time. "Magic like that? No. Not naturally. Humans need a catalyst. A contract with a spirit."

  "Spirits?" I asked, raising a brow.

  She crossed her arms. "Ancient magical creatures. Elusive. Powerful. If your mana is strong enough, one may take notice. Then comes the real test—forming a contract. They don't serve just anyone."

  She gave me examples. The king had formed a bond with the legendary fme-eating samander—a creature that fed on fire and turned it into raw strength. Princess Amira, meanwhile, had contracted with the wind nymph, giving her mastery over the desert winds.

  "You got one?" I asked, nudging her with an elbow.

  Yuhana looked away. "No. None that I've seen are worth the bond."

  I smirked. "Or maybe your charming personality keeps them away."

  She elbowed me. Hard. Right in the ribs. "Keep talking like that and you'll find out what else I'm capable of."

  "Fair enough". I said chuckling.

  Eventually, she led me to my private quarters—two massive oak doors with brass handles. Inside, the room was... well, impressive. The bed alone looked like it was carved from a cloud, stuffed with feathers and covered in sheepskin and wool. The floors, like the rest of the castle, were tiled to perfection and softly cool beneath my bare feet. Decorative curtains hung from the corners, giving the space an almost regal intimacy. Mana crystals in the walls gave off a soft glow, their coolness humming through the air like an unseen breeze.

  There was a desk, a lounge chair, a full-length mirror, and—thank the gods—a real bathroom with actual plumbing. I noticed a narrow slit in the wall where the cool water flowed out, and for once, I wasn't afraid to use it.

  "This is your space," Yuhana said, arms behind her back. "My room is two halls down. I've been tasked with your protection."

  "Ah," I said, flopping onto the bed, "so 'protection' is code for 'spy on the dangerous sinner.' Got it."

  Yuhana didn't deny it. Just offered a small smile before turning to leave.

  "Don't cause trouble, Kane. And don't leave the east wing without permission."

  I waved her off. "Yeah, yeah. I'm not pnning a coup. Just looking forward to being alone."

  She closed the door behind her.

  And for the first time in... hell, I don't even know how long—I was alone. Not in a cell. Not chained up. Not shoved in some underground dungeon. Just... alone. In a castle room with a soft bed, good air, and an empty mind.

  I stretched out across the mattress, staring up at the smooth ceiling.

  Not bad for a prison.

  Not bad at all.

  An_Ordinary_Writer