Brondin decided to stay behind and guard the workshop, while the rest of us—Da-eun, Asier, and I—set out to find the mage. As we walked through the streets, I couldn’t help but feel a growing sense of frustration as Da-eun explained what had happened.

“So, Brondin gave a spare key to a mage he partnered with?” I asked, incredulous.

“Yeah, apparently he trusted the guy and didn’t want to deal with opening the door every time, especially when he wasn’t around,” Da-eun explained.

“That’s why he gave him a key?” I sighed.

Asier chimed in, “Brondin trusted the mage. That’s …