“So you truly are from another world where magic is commonplace… and that girl is your Master?” The prince stood with his arms crossed, eyes narrowed as he took in Cleo’s words.

“You believe us now?” Cleo asked, bowing her head in deference. “We simply just want to return to our own home.”

Celeste mirrored the gesture a moment later, though her palms were slick with both fear and a flicker of frustration that the prince would believe Cleo over her.

Silence crawled across the room—slow and thick, like a snail inching toward its destination. Neither Cleo nor Celeste lifted their gaze, determined to show their resolve.

Finally, just as Celeste’s legs began to fall asleep and she considered abandoning her stiff posture, the prince spoke.

“I’ll believe you… for now. But I can’t simply allow you to leave.” His voice turned cold. “A human capable of magic is a rarity the Empire can’t afford to let slip away.”

He turned to walk, but not before adding, almost too casually, “I’ll have you moved to more comfortable quarters—but you’ll be kept under close watch by…” He paused, smirking as if struck by a particularly wicked idea. “My Royal Scholar of Hearts… Tuk.”

Behind him, a figure blinked in visible disbelief. “Me, Your Highness?” Tuk pointed at herself, struggling to keep her composure.

The prince gave a simple nod before striding off, leaving Tuk behind just as a guard arrived to unlock the cell.

“Come with me, you two,” Tuk said, her tone flat but her eyes still processing the news.

The trio made their way through the twisting corridors until they reached Tuk’s quarters.

“I guess… you’ll stay here until we’re told otherwise,” she said after closing the door behind them.

“Can I ask you something, Miss Tuk?” Cleo asked.

Tuk’s eyes widened as she immediately shushed her. “Don’t say that so loudly, please!” she hissed, glancing back towards the door. “The people here think I’m a man—and I’d like to keep it that way.”

Celeste and Cleo exchanged a confused glance.

“They do? But… your voice…” Celeste murmured.

Tuk gave an exasperated sigh, throwing her hands up. “Yeah, well… most of the men around here aren’t exactly the brightest. Either they don’t notice, or they just assume I have a cold all the time. Anyway!” Tuk exclaimed as she moved away from the door towards the bed. 

She sat on the edge of it and patted the spot beside her. “I’m glad to meet another otherworlder,” she said more softly, a rare smile warming her features as Celeste sat down. 

“I thought you seemed different back there. So it wasn’t just because of your gen—” Tuk clamped a hand around Cleo’s snout before she could finish. 

“Yes, I am,” she whispered. “And it seems like you’re both stuck in the same boat I am. Left in this strange world with no clue how to get home.”

“Well… I haven’t exactly tried using magic to return yet,” Celeste said thoughtfully. She reached into her cloak, pulled out her wand, and stood. Closing her eyes, she focused her mana, drawing an oval shape in the air with the wand’s tip.

A blue portal shimmered to life, growing from the size of a coin to nearly her full height.

But just as quickly, it flickered—and dissolved into nothing.

“Ah… so close,” Celeste muttered, sinking back onto the bed in defeat.

“Seems even a wizard can’t just magic their way between worlds,” Tuk said gently, patting her back.

A knock at the door echoed through the room.

Tuk answered the door, finding an armored man on the other side.

“The girl and her dog have been moved two doors down,” he said, then left quickly without waiting for a reply.

“Care to see your room, you two?” Tuk asked, looking back at them.

“Might as well,” Celeste said with a shrug.

Moments later, their jaws dropped.

“Wow…” Tuk breathed.

The room seemed to be little more than a repurposed indoor stable. Straw scattered the stone floor around the bed, and the air reeked faintly of old hay and dust. It was barely an upgrade from their cell.

“Can we just stay in your room, Tuk? I don't think I could sleep in here even if I tried,” Celeste said, scrunching her nose in disgust.

“Sorry, I wish I could help you out too. But Prince Michaelli’s got eyes and ears everywhere. If I go easy on you, I’m the one who’ll hear about it,” Tuk said with a visible shiver.

“Alright then… but can we at least go and do something?” Celeste asked, a spark of curiosity in her eyes. “I mean, how often do you get to explore a literal new world?”

Tuk was quiet, clearly considering it. Then her expression lit up. “We could watch the warriors train.”

Celeste raised an eyebrow. “Okay…”

The walk felt like navigating a maze, but eventually the clash of swords and sharp grunts guided them to the training grounds.

“That’s… quite the sight,” Cleo muttered, breathing heavier than usual as her tongue flopped around out of her mouth.

“Huh? Are you hot, Cleo? You never do that,” Celeste asked with concern.

Cleo shook her head. “You’ll understand when you’re older.”

Tuk snorted a laugh.

Suddenly, a man in black appeared beside Tuk, so quietly it was as if he’d stepped from the shadows themselves. He handed her a scroll, then disappeared just as silently.

Tuk unfurled it, her eyes scanning the contents. A small, almost mischievous smile crept onto her face.

“What is it? I can’t read it,” Celeste asked, trying to peek.

“The prince just informed me of an upcoming hunt,” Tuk said. “Near a place I’ve been researching… somewhere that might be a key to returning home. He wants all of us to join him.”

Both girls lit up.

“Really?! How soon?” Celeste asked, practically bouncing.

“Tomorrow,” Tuk replied.

To be continued in part 3, the finale!