By use of their disguise, they managed to descend the steps without catching any attention, slowly trailing behind their target. It took a while before she began to feel the strain of Tilia on her shoulder. Though she was light herself, her gadgets and devices all weighed and she found herself straining to keep upright. The thick cloak making her sweat furiously.

“Much further?”

“Nah, just up ahead… Our mark is complaining… And being a little ass about it too… Now he’s being shown the file, so just go forward a little bit, and…”

“Hey, what do you think you’re doing?” A voice made her stop, and a moment later she swiftly turned on her heels towards the voice.

“Plan b, take this needle, and when I count to three, just thrust it forwards, he’s within reach.”

“Lost your tongue? Who are you anyway?”

“Three.”

She quickly thrust the small needle out between the fold of the cloak, the metal meeting flesh. Tilia flipped around on her shoulders and two dull thuds followed soon after.

“I don’t think anyone saw that, but let’s hurry up… Could you drag these three in behind that bookcase over there while I look for the file?”

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

The two began their work. A while later, Tilia returned carrying a small paper folder.

“Now we need to get out…”

“Let’s put on the disguise again then…”

“Nah. The mission is accomplished, it’s been way too long since I made something go boom… I have some flash powder here. Let’s disguise ourselves, and then, if we’re spotted, I’ll use the powder… Just remember to completely shield your eyes… It’s pretty bright.”

They hurried back up the steps, using the shadows to keep out of sight. Their progress soon coming to a halt, as about a dozen people had gathered together to eat. Up above, the cooking fires began to be gently fired inside metal stoves, and soon the lovely smell of food began to fill the empty space.

“Don’t think we can get through…”

“Nope, I think so too.”

“You just want to use that powder.”

“Don’t you?”

She looked at Tilia, and smiled. “I do… So, go ahead.”

“First, a diversion…”

Tilia stood up, took out the small cylinder, and pressed a small cork at the top before throwing it out into the empty space of the archive.

“Look! There in the middle!” She shouted, and a moment later a blinding flash bathed the entire archive in a bright light. Even though she had her eyes closely shut, and covered with her hands, her vision momentarily flashed with white.

“Okay, let’s go.”

They hurried up the steps. Around them, scribes and archivists alike were clutching their eyes, and wandering aimlessly around, trying to get their bearings in their blindness. Up above, a few people had stumbled over the edge, and screaming in terror, they fell to the bottom of the archive, finally smashed against the rock bottom.

“Ah well… At least there’s some collateral… No fun otherwise.” Tilia shrugged and pushed the foam key into the lock. After a few seconds, the doors opened, and they hurriedly ran to the rope Ferran threw down to them.

“Yeah Ferran, I got the right file… No, we weren’t recognized… Eh, a few people may just have died… But we should get going.”