Chapter 316: The Three-Way Battlefield

“This place is…”

“…exactly as we left it. Except the door.”

Leah and Treya stepped inside, taking in the unchanged interior—the same furniture, the same familiar scent lingering in the air.

Eir propped the shattered door back into its frame, though a jagged gap remained, letting the evening sun slice through in harsh, blinding streaks.

“Eir kept everything as Young Master left it. So that if he returned… it would still feel like home.”

Her fingers traced the edge of the dining table—the same one where they’d all once gathered. Dust coated the untouched dishes.

Just like in the Hysterm estate.

Back then, Will had wanted Eir to remain unchanged—a beautiful relic of the past.

But now…

Her shield scraped across the floor, producing a sound like a poorly tuned violin.

“But it doesn’t matter. Maybe… he never wanted to return to that past in the first place.”

The dust on her fingertips told her enough.

Will wasn’t here.

“Since you’re so keen on keeping things familiar, why not serve dinner like before?”

Leah plopped into her usual seat, tossing her hat onto the chair.

“I don’t need it. I’ve already eaten.”

Treya’s mismatched eyes skimmed the furniture, searching for clues—but in the dim light, she saw no traces of Will’s presence.

“Eir only cooks for Young Master. You two were just… extras.”

With a flick of her tail, Eir deliberately brushed against Leah’s hat, leaving a tuft of wolf fur behind. Then, she set a water jug on the far end of the table—just out of Leah’s reach.

“Right. Without Will… we can’t even hold a conversation.”

Leah stretched for the jug, but Treya smoothly intercepted it, pouring herself a glass before pushing it back—just far enough that Leah still had to stand.

Eir took her seat between them, where no dust had gathered.

Silence.

Their gazes clashed in midair, sharp as blades.

Even with their temporary truce, they were still rivals.

The empty chair at the head of the table loomed between them—where Will should have been sitting.

“Let’s start from the beginning.” Treya set her glass down, staring at the vacant spot.

“Eir saw Shuna take him from the train. That’s where it started.”

“I chased north but found nothing, so I returned to the capital.”

She turned to Leah.

“You went south. You met Shuna, didn’t you?”

Two pairs of eyes pinned Leah in place, demanding answers.

For a moment, Leah hesitated.

Then—

Her lips curled into a smirk.

“Ah~ How unfortunate for you both~”

She leaned back, twirling a lock of hair between her fingers.

“I found Will in Yavik City. Used my magic to rescue him from the dungeon’s Witch’s Box all by myself~”

Her crimson eyes gleamed with mischief.

“He was so grateful. Said things like, ‘Teacher, I love you the most~’ and ‘Without you, I’d have died here~’ So I took him to my little witch’s hut and kept him safe~”

Her pupils shimmered with tiny hearts.

Just recalling it sent a thrill through her.

The way Will had surrendered to her witch’s blood.

The way his breath hitched as the Bloodmint Essence took hold.

The way his rebellious smirk had returned—after.

“Mmm~ His first time was so energetic~”

She sighed dreamily.

“If Shuna hadn’t interrupted… we could’ve gone even further~”

A beat.

Then—

CRACK!

Ice crawled up Leah’s legs, freezing her in place as Treya’s sword tip hovered at her nose.

“Tell the truth!”

“Cut the theatrics!”

Eir’s tail bristled.

Their temporary alliance?

Gone.

The cottage was now a battlefield of shattered egos.