The two went downstairs together. By the time they reached the 1st Floor, lady Helena Green and Mr. Soren Green were already waiting for them at the foot of the stairs.
The innkeepers greeted Audrey, and the witch formally introduced Shade:
"This is my nephew and niece. They are the grandchildren of my aunt, Maria Edwards, the youngest daughter of the fourth generation."
Mr. Soren Green, who had spoken with Shade earlier that morning, winked at him. Shade pretended to have only just understood:
"Oh~ so that's how it is. What a surprise."
"Listen to you. Didn't you guess it long ago?"
The brown-haired girl patted Shade's arm, then said to the siblings:
"Have everyone leave the kitchen for now."
Mr. Soren Green went to notify the chef and kitchen hands to come out for a late night snack. Only after everyone had left the kitchen did Shade enter with Audrey. They passed through the kitchen into the narrow storeroom, opened the trapdoor, and descended into the Underground Storage Room.
The summoned white orb of light guarded them at their side. Shade led the somewhat puzzled witch to the wall at the end of the Underground Storage Room:
"Now summon your Destiny Ring."
Audrey's Eleventh Ring Destiny Ring appeared behind her. More than fifty Spirit Runes adorned the magnificent ring; each of Megan's promotions had surpassed the level of four Spirit Runes per ring:
"Have the radiance of the Spirit Rune Locked Space shine upon the wall before us."
The witch did as instructed, then watched as the wall actually "melted away" in the light, revealing a dark hidden passage:
"I was standing right in front of this wall, yet I couldn't sense any elements or spirits at all! How is that possible?"
"There's a Hidden Wall ahead—this way."
Shade