A Journey Unwanted-Chapter 441 - 430: Arrival

[Realm: Álfheimr]

[Location: Quadling Country]

[Glinda’s Castle]

The castle stood proudly atop the crest of a wide, high hill, its position making it stand out even more. From such a height, it could no doubt be seen from far across the land, rising above the surrounding terrain majestically. Even at a distance, it commanded attention through its almost serene grandeur that set it apart from the rough landscape surrounding it.

The path leading toward the hill was a gentle one, climbing upward and winding its way through bright gardens that had clearly been arranged with great care. Rows of flowering trees lined portions of the path, their branches heavy with blossoms that swayed whenever the wind passed through.

The colors of the gardens were vibrant—reds and golds scattered across carefully tended beds of flowers, making the castle appear even more welcoming and majestic.

Perhaps more striking still was how sharply that beauty clashed with the land beyond the gardens. Much of the surrounding region lacked vegetation. The reddish rocky terrain stretched outward with dry hills and weathered stone formations, making the sudden burst of greenery around the castle stand out even more.

The castle itself was as large as it was graceful, built from pale stone that seemed to glow slightly under the sky. Tall towers rose from the structure, stretching upward with elegant proportions. Each of them was topped with steep red roofs that seemed to gleam, their surfaces polished enough to scatter any light that touched them.

Long banners of red and gold hung from various points along the castle walls, moving steadily with the wind. Wide balconies wrapped around several of the towers, their railings carved with beautiful floral motifs found throughout the castle’s design. Large windows made from colored red glass reflected the sky and the gardens below.

The main gates stood at the front of the structure, tall and elegant, constructed from a white alloy shaped into flowing designs resembling twisting flowers and scattered stars. The craftsmanship was remarkable, seemingly impossible for a normal person to craft.

From the outside, the castle was not as massive as many royal fortresses, somewhat smaller than average, yet it remained imposing all the same.

Its scale was still grand, and its exterior was still undeniably beautiful.

And now standing before those tall white gates was an odd trio.

The Cowardly Lion’s mane had become particularly wild by this point, with several sections sticking out wildly after the journey they had just endured.

Puck took one look at him and quietly chuckled to herself.

"I-it wasn’t that funny," the lion protested immediately, though his voice still carried a small wobble of lingering embarrassment.

Puck grinned without the slightest hint of guilt.

"Seeing Grimm drag you here at that speed was kind of funny," she replied with clear amusement. "I mean, you have to admit the whole thing looked ridiculous from my perspective." Her grin widened slightly. "And honestly, it doesn’t help that you’re so big. Watching someone your size get hauled along like that just makes the whole thing even more memorable."

The lion sighed heavily.

Unfortunately, she wasn’t entirely wrong.

True to his earlier words, Grimm had eventually increased their pace once the journey had grown uneventful. There had been little left to observe along the rocky path, and the General had evidently decided there was no reason to continue moving slowly.

The result had been unpleasant.

The Cowardly Lion had found himself unable to keep up with Grimm’s relentless stride. And rather than slowing down, Grimm had simply grabbed him and dragged him along the path like a sack of potatoes to prevent him from falling behind.

It had been a rough experience.

Quite literally. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

Grimm, however, seemed entirely unconcerned by the matter now.

His attention was fixed on the gate before them.

("Hm...") His hidden gaze moved across the structure slowly as he analyzed it. ("Mana is woven through nearly every section of this place, not merely the gates, but the surrounding stonework as well.") The energy was small but constant, flowing like an invisible current through the structure. ("A practical design...") Grimm noted inwardly. ("Maintaining a constant field like this would allow the castle’s inhabitants to detect the presence of anyone walking across the grounds. A good method for keeping one’s senses sharp against intruders.")

"So," Puck said after a moment, drifting upward slightly until she hovered beside Grimm’s shoulder. "Do you feel anything yet? Any anticipation?" She tilted her head as she studied him. "Or maybe even excitement?" she continued with a small smile. "After all, we’re about to meet one of the most powerful witches in the world."

Grimm remained silent for a moment.

"Whether she will prove worth the effort remains to be seen," he replied calmly.

Puck rolled her eyes immediately.

"There you go again," she sighed. "Always being so pessimistic." She folded her small armored arms. "You really could stand to have a little more hope every now and then, you know."

Grimm responded evenly.

"Hm. Hope would also mean expectation." He paused briefly. "And holding high expectations for most things tends to lead to bitter disappointment."

Puck looked thoughtful at that.

"...I suppose you’re not completely wrong," she admitted slowly. "Getting your hopes up too much does make things hurt more when they don’t turn out the way you expected." She shrugged lightly. "But still, a little optimism probably wouldn’t hurt you."

"Perhaps," Grimm replied simply.

At that exact moment, the tall white gates began to move.

They opened slowly, the motion smooth. There was no grinding of gears or visible mechanism guiding them—only a shift as the two massive halves parted outward as though responding to a command.

Beyond the gate, someone approached.

A young woman stepped forward from the inner courtyard.

She had raven-black hair that fell neatly to her shoulders and calm silver eyes. Her face was strikingly beautiful, though her expression remained composed. She wore a red uniform-like dress adorned with patterns of gold and white threading. The design was elegant without seeming excessive, fitting her perfectly.

Her steps were dignified as she walked toward them.

When she stopped a few paces away, her hands folded politely in front of her.

Despite the unusual sight of the three visitors—a towering armored figure, a floating fairy, and a disheveled lion—the young woman did not appear the least bit startled.

Instead, she offered them a calm, welcoming smile.

"Lady Glinda will see you now," she said politely. "If you would be so kind as to follow me."

Grimm and Puck exchanged a brief glance.

Then Puck smiled.

"Well then," she said lightly, gesturing ahead with one small hand. "Lead the way."

The young woman inclined her head slightly once Puck spoke, acknowledging the response curtly before turning on her heel.

"Please stay close," she said gently. "The grounds can be disorienting to those unfamiliar with them."

With that, she began walking.

Grimm stepped forward first, his sabatons sounding with a metallic noise on the stone as he passed through the now-open gates. Puck drifted beside him without hesitation. The Cowardly Lion lingered for only a second longer, staring up nervously at the towering white alloy before forcing himself to follow.

The moment they crossed the threshold, the atmosphere changed.

The courtyard opened before them in a wide expanse far larger than the entrance had suggested from the outside. The stone pathway extended forward, cutting through carefully cultivated land, branching into paths that led toward different sections of the castle grounds.

And everywhere there was red.

Puck slowed slightly in the air as her eyes moved across the courtyard.

"...Whoa."

The word escaped her quietly before she could stop it.

Gardens spread across the courtyard in wide terraces. Carefully shaped hedges of deep red bordered the paths, trimmed so precisely that their edges looked almost sculpted. Between them bloomed countless flowers—roses, lilies, and other unfamiliar varieties—all sharing shades of red that ranged from bright scarlet to deep wine.

The color spread outward, broken only by patches of green grass and stone walkways.

The scale of it was striking.

"I didn’t expect this much," Puck murmured as she slowly turned her head, taking in the view around them. "The whole courtyard is basically a garden."

Her eyes lingered on one of the far sections where several gardeners in red uniforms were quietly tending the flowerbeds.

"And it’s huge," she added. "I mean really huge."

The guiding woman glanced back over her shoulder, her calm smile unchanged.

"Lady Glinda values beauty," she said simply. "She believes the land should reflect kindness wherever possible."

Puck hummed softly, clearly impressed as she drifted a little lower to get a closer look at one of the flowerbeds they passed.

"Yeah, I can see that."

Behind them, the Cowardly Lion was having a very different experience.

His paws moved stiffly along the stone path as his eyes darted around the courtyard.

("This place has not changed...") he thought uneasily.

The beauty of the garden did little to calm him.

If anything, it made him more nervous.

Every hedge looked carefully placed. Every path too clean and every section too orderly. It felt less like a natural garden and more like a place where everything had been intentionally arranged. ("What if this really is a trap...?")

He swallowed.

His gaze turned toward Grimm walking ahead.

("And he just walked straight in...")

The lion’s mane shifted as he nervously shook his head, trying to settle his thoughts.

Puck glanced back briefly and noticed the tension immediately.

"You’re looking worse again," she remarked.

"I-I’m fine," the lion replied quickly, though his voice betrayed him.

Puck gave him a doubtful look.

"Right."

Ahead of them, Grimm walked without slowing.

The gardens around him might as well not have existed.

His attention moved instead across the structure of the courtyard—the walls, the towers overlooking the space and the positioning of balconies and windows.

("So this is the Good Witch’s domain...") His mind worked as he analyzed the surroundings. ("Elegant design. Clear visibility across the courtyard. Multiple elevated vantage points. Anyone approaching the castle would be exposed long before reaching the inner halls.") His gaze moved briefly toward the distant towers. ("It’s efficient.")

Then his thoughts shifted to the person waiting inside.

("The Good Witch.") His expression remained hidden beneath the helmet. ("We shall see whether she proves interesting...") He paused internally. ("...or whether this entire visit becomes nothing more than a waste of time.")

The guide slowed slightly as the path curved toward the castle entrance ahead.

"Just a little further," she said politely.