Alex walked together with the ladies toward a place close to his secret lab.
Once there, Alex stopped and stepped slightly closer to them.
"What?" Vanessa asked.
"Nothing. We're teleporting from here," Alex said, and was about to move to Sylvana's side when she suddenly shifted, leaving him space in the middle instead.
"Here," she said, gesturing casually, as if simply making room.
In reality, she was setting into motion the plan she had discussed with Alicia.
Yesterday…
When Sylvana left, she teleported directly to her sister's chambers.
There, she explained everything—Alex's growing value, the secret lab, the potion, and the subtle tension between him and Vanessa.
Alicia listened carefully, fingers steepled.
"Hmm. Certainly, his worth keeps growing. First healing magic, then a potion to heal MLS, and on top of that, an information network," she said.
Alicia was growing increasingly interested in Alex— he seemed to be a prospect that kept on giving.
"I say we push him to fall for Vanessa," Sylvana said calmly. "There's nothing that breeds loyalty faster than love."
"Yes, but what if Vanessa ends up with another person? Where would that loyalty go then?" Alicia countered. "You know I won't force her to marry anyone. She must choose her partner herself."
"That's precisely the point," Sylvana replied. "She doesn't realize it yet, but she's already interested in him."
Alicia leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand. "And how do you know that?"
"The way she behaves when he's around—and when he's not."
Alicia straightened slightly, listening more intently.
"Vanessa likes earning what she wants through her own effort. I'd wager my arm she's the same in love," Sylvana said.
"Yes, she loses interest the moment someone dances in the palm of her hand to please her." Alicia agreed. "I've seen it countless times at parties."
"And Alex is the complete opposite. He's rebellious, secretive, and despises nobles. He refuses her requests, questions her authority, and doesn't bend," Sylvana continued. "That triggers the response in her that she likes."
She paused before adding, "And I've seen Alex dodge her sight or smile a few times already— it seems to me that he finds her attractive—but he's actively resisting it."
Alicia nodded slowly, needing no more words to understand what Sylvana meant.
'So one fears falling in love, and the other doesn't realize she already has.'
She sighed.
"We'll go along with your suggestion for now, but don't force anything— if they like each other, it should be out of their own will, not by manipulation."
Sylvana smiled faintly.
'That doesn't mean I can't arrange circumstances.'
Today…
Alex glanced at Sylvana with mild suspicion.
'She's acting strange.'
Still, he dismissed it and began channeling the teleport spell.
Just as the spell was about to activate—
"Oh, I dropped something," Sylvana said suddenly, bending down.
She "accidentally" bumped into Alex.
"Shit!" he exclaimed, losing balance.
Vanessa yelped as Alex stumbled into her, and in the next instant, all three vanished.
They reappeared underground.
Sylvana stood upright.
Alex and Vanessa, however, crashed onto the stone floor—Alex landing squarely on top of her.
"What the fuck was that…?" Alex muttered, then froze as he felt something soft beneath him.
"Hey—can you get off me?" Vanessa said, mortified.
She instinctively tried to push him away, but the contract prevented any intentional harm. Her face flushed slightly red.
Alex looked down and saw Vanessa looking at him with a subtle flush in her face
He scrambled back like a startled cat. "Sorry! I didn't mean to!"
He immediately offered his hand.
"It's fine," Vanessa said, taking it. "I know."
Sylvana watched the exchange with a pleased smile.
Alex turned to look at her, which prompted her to put on a straight face.
"What's wrong with you?" he asked flatly.
"Sorry. I dropped something. I didn't mean to bump into you," she replied innocently.
Alex said nothing, but his suspicion deepened.
"So this is your secret lab?" Vanessa asked, regaining composure. "Where are we?"
"Technically, outside the capital, and underground, there is no entrance anymore, so one can only access via teleport," Alex replied.
"And I suppose you won't tell us where it is," Sylvana said carefully, "so we can't come whenever we want." It was a premeditated wording— she wanted to trigger Vanessa's curiosity.
"No," Alex replied simply.
Sylvana glanced at Vanessa, expecting a reaction.
Vanessa was clearly curious, but she didn't push.
'It seems she is taking seriously her promise not to pry into his personal matters,' Sylvana thought. Still, the mystery was a small win.
As they walked in, the lab revealed itself—bookshelves, scattered tomes, notes, alchemical tools, all the stuff Alex had left prepared beforehand.
"Oh. So you really were researching things here," Vanessa said.
"Of course," Alex replied.
Sylvana studied the walls. "This one looks like it was meant to hold something."
"That's because it is— this wall is the reason I asked you for a world map, I intend to fill it with the places where one can find plants," Alex said.
"Good thinking," Sylvana said, handing him the Aurethian map. "We'll provide the others when possible."
"I appreciate it," Alex said.
Vanessa approached a table and picked up the herbology book.
"This is extremely detailed," she said. "How did you get all this information?"
"Reading plenty of books, tales, and other stuff. The paintings are done by me," Alex replied, not going further.
Sylvana leaned over. "Some of these plants aren't from Tessara or Aurethia. They're from the other continents."
"How did you document them?" she asked.
"Secret," Alex replied.
Vanessa was growing even more interested in the place, but then she remembered something.
"Didn't you say you had a recipe book?" she asked tentatively.
"Yes. But before I show it, Sylvana needs to sign a magic contract," Alex said.
Sylvana nodded. "I guessed you would say do something like this, so I brought one, but it's not like Vanessa's, it's less powerful," Sylvana said, handing Alex the scroll.
Alex filled it, writing with mana, and handed it over to Sylvana.
'No copying. No sharing. No questions.'
"Fair," she said, signing.
Alex felt the contract bind and handed over the recipe book.
Sylvana flipped through it.
Her expression changed page by page.
'There are recipes here that even include Legendary plants!" She thought.
'Vanessa,sweethart, you truly hit the lottery.'
Once finished, Alex's expression hardened.
"Now for the reason I brought you here," he said. "What I'm about to tell you has catastrophic implications."
Both women focused instantly.
"I have information that Dionysus plans to attack the Royal Academy," Alex said. "Within four years. Possibly sooner."
Sylvana's face went pale.
"Holy fuck…" she muttered.
The news was devastating