Chapter 485: The Witch’s Gaze

Luke sat inside the tent, his posture relaxed as he watched through Officer Peter’s eyes using Soul Infiltration. The officer was inside the massive temple which, from what Luke could see, had been converted into a military camp and operations base. Only authorized personnel were allowed up the steps. The place functioned like a fortress, housing the army’s most trusted forces.

“I knew it. The moment everything went wrong in this place, I knew something wasn’t right. This is your fault, you bastard!” Layla snapped.

She had arrived about ten minutes earlier and hadn’t stopped complaining since, furious about being trapped inside the dimension.

“Why would Eleanor think I’d be happy to see you again?” she demanded. “Why?”

“I’m asking myself the exact same thing,” Luke replied calmly. “Why would she say something that stupid to you?”

He studied her for a moment. “And the plant. Did you bring the plant?”

“What?”

“Katarina. Did you bring Katarina with you?”

That did it.

“That explains everything,” Layla muttered, mostly to herself. “How did I not see it before? It was right in front of me the whole time.”

Luke sighed.

“And you’re just sitting there like the world isn’t falling apart,” she continued. “Do you have any idea what kind of hell I’ve been through these past few days because of you?”

“Because of me?” Luke raised an eyebrow. “I don’t control the world, Layla. Speaking of which, how’s Katarina? Have you been watering her properly?”

“You’re worried about a damn plant, you idiot?”

“Yes, Layla. If I wasn’t worried, why would I ask?”

“I’m trapped in this place, you idiot! I was the only one from the team who stayed behind. Everyone else left to relax or do whatever they wanted, and I stayed here doing my job like a professional. And in the end, it all involved you. I should’ve known. Everything that goes wrong in my life is your fault, you bastard!”

“Everything?” Luke scoffed. “Layla, you think far too highly of yourself. My emotional investment in you would barely register above zero.”

“You don’t remember, you jerk? I got locked up because of you when you picked a fight with Bartholomew while pretending to be James. Then I got locked up again when Jonathan attacked the fortress. And now I’m stuck in this place. You attract disasters and problems like it’s a talent!”

“There’s nothing to be done about that now,” Luke said evenly. “But answer me this. Where is Katarina?”

“She stayed at the inn outside the dimension.”

“She stayed outside?” Luke straightened. “Damn it, Layla. Do you have any idea how irresponsible that is? Who’s watering her while you’re gone?”

“I’m stuck in a brand-new HELL. Stop talking about the plant! But fine, since you won’t shut up. She’s better off than both of us. The girl at the front desk loves plants and is taking care of her.”

Luke relaxed. “Good. That’s a relief. Now give me everything you’ve learned. When the time is right, I’ll get you out of here and take you to Camlann safely. Deal? Consider it my way of making up for something I didn’t even do.”

“You’re getting me out of here?”

“Yes. Me.”

Layla burst out laughing. “You’d have to get past two massive enemy armies and every monster between here and there. I seriously doubt it. You? Getting me out?”

She laughed again. “If it were Lord Mason, I might believe it. He’s handsome, strong, powerful. And polite to women. Not a sleazy flirt like you.”

“Are you going to hand over the information or not?”

“Of course, oh mighty hero,” she shot back. “So when are we leaving, since you’re so confident in your abilities?”

“I still have unfinished business here,” Luke replied. “Now that Katarina’s safe, it could be one year. Or ten.”

She grabbed him by the collar. “You miserable bastard. I’m not in the mood for jokes. We’re trapped in this damn place.”

“You were literally laughing a few seconds ago.”

She let go and shoved him back. “You just irritate me. My life was fine, and somehow you always manage to cause trouble again. You’re the most annoying person I’ve ever met.”

“I feel exactly the same about you, Layla.”

“And on top of that, there’s your smug attitude. The way you talk like you don’t care about anyone except yourself and your own problems.”

“That’s a very accurate assessment,” Luke replied calmly. “I don’t care about anyone but myself and my problems. Why would I care about you and yours, Layla?”

He watched her face turn red with rage.

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In the end, though, he managed to get her to explain everything. They walked through the camp together, since that tent could not be used for long.

“Tent regulations?” Luke asked.

“Yes, asshole. The closer you get to the temple, the more expensive it is to set up a tent. You also need authorization. Most people are stuck on the outskirts of the village.”

It was all about security. The closer to the center, the safer you were from attacks, whether from beasts or humans.

“I don’t care. I won’t be using this place often. The farther from everyone else, the better,” he said, already moving.

“And where do you think you’re going, idiot?”

“To set up my tent.”

Luke assembled it quickly. While he worked, he took the opportunity to observe the area, mapping out how the terrain functioned around what was essentially a temple-fortress. Mercenaries, miners, gatherers, and soldiers occupied different zones. The village had layered defenses, almost like walls dividing certain sections. He set his tent on the outer edge, while the military guards remained closer to the center.

As he walked, he passed blacksmiths, people fletching arrows, others chopping wood. From what he gathered, Cassandra Weiss, the one in charge, was mobilizing an army toward the exit. A massive camp had been established nearby in an attempt to retake it. Still, she regularly returned to this place, either to check on the situation or to recruit more people to her cause.

It had been ten days since any soldier managed to leave the rift. Those on the outside had no idea what was happening inside, so the military response was to seize control of every entrance. An emergency measure, most likely. Being here made it easier to understand the logic behind it.