We ran towards the palace, leaping over the rooftops in our all-black attire, keeping ourselves hidden from prying eyes, especially when the moon was no longer visible above, enveloping everything in darkness, as if granting us the opportunity to carry out this seemingly crazy mission.
Why you said?
Because if all of this is just speculation, we could very well lose our lives based on a planned betrayal against the kingdom.
However, my gut feeling tells me that we will find something inside, within the grand and imposing palace that now appears so dark and ominous.
We are not many in number, only 15 individuals. Each of us carries a sword, as that is the only form of defense we will rely on. We refrain from using any armor or chainmail that could create noise.
Therefore, the main forces are already positioned in Anderson Mansion, waiting for the command to launch an attack, which we hope will not be necessary as it would cause great chaos within the city.
Of course, we will make every effort to avoid involving the civilians by evacuating them first, which is one of the reasons the camp was set up.
However, it is inevitable that there will be casualties. All we can do is minimize them, and we will dedicate all our efforts to ensuring their safety.
The journey to the palace did not take too long, especially since we used rooftops as our path and then descended, taking refuge in a small room in a narrow alley where all the members had gathered, ready to execute the second plan: infiltrating the palace.
Two individuals were assigned to gather intelligence on the palace while we devised our plan.
The palace sits atop the highest peak of the hill, leaving us with only two options for entry: through the main gate or climbing up the cliffs and entering through the back courtyard of the palace. Both options carry their own risks.
Upon their return, the two individuals reported that there was no one guarding the palace gate. There was not even anyone stationed on the walls.
We all felt a growing sense of unease, becoming more convinced that something sinister was indeed happening inside, and that we might have to face it.
"Once again, remember, no matter what happens inside the palace, information is primary. Leave immediately once you have it, and never look back. If there is anything inside, we will handle it," Celine commanded, as she allowed Rio, Rayven, and myself to stand beside her, a decision that was not approved by the other soldiers.
"How can we leave safely while you sacrifice yourselves? We, the Anderson soldiers, will never leave each other behind! That's what you taught us, Lady Celine!" responded one of the soldiers, which was met with agreement from the others.
Celine raised her hand, ordering them to stop, took a deep breath, and continued, "Yes, I am the one who taught you that. But have you forgotten?" She stared sharply at the soldiers.
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"Sacrifice is still necessary, especially in situations like this, when we have no information about the enemy. To ensure that the information reaches the right hands, we must do whatever it takes, including this.
You are the finest soldiers under Mr. Anderson's command. He surely does not want to lose any of you, including your families who await your safe return home.
As a leader, I must set an example that the Anderson soldiers are not just relying on reputation alone, but we are knights who uphold the kingdom's values! Knights who are ready to sacrifice their lives for the survival of the kingdom! Therefore, let us bring back the information and bring victory to the kingdom!"
Everyone responded enthusiastically and wholeheartedly.
Fortunately, the room had been enchanted with soundproofing magic, so no sound would be heard outside. Otherwise, we might have been discovered from the beginning.
After ensuring the hallway was still empty, we hurriedly moved towards the front gate as the two soldiers had mentioned earlier. The grand and magnificent gate now appeared empty, devoid of any signs of life. There was no one there, as if this place had been abandoned for a long time.
"It's cold, too cold," Rayven remarked as he touched the iron where a torch should have been lit.
We jumped down and made our way towards one of the hidden underground rooms that was supposed to serve as a secret escape route for the royal family members during an attack on the kingdom. But now it became our entrance for infiltration.
How ironic it was.
From there, we emerged into a room that seemed to be a large kitchen. The scene revealed that the kitchen had not been used in a long time, with dust starting to accumulate on the tables.
We briefly searched around, trying to find any signs of activity within the room, but found nothing. We discovered nothing except silence.
From there, we split into two teams. Rio and Rayven paired up, while Celine and I accompanied the remaining soldier who moved on his own, showing remarkable determination.
We dispersed, trying to gather information as quickly as possible without drawing any attention, which only raised more questions.
Attention from whom?
There was no one inside the palace, not even the servants. The place that should have been bustling with people was eerily quiet, resembling a graveyard.
An unsettling feeling began to creep up, dominating our hearts and filling our minds with disturbing images that we tried to suppress in order to stay focused on the mission.
Celine and I entered the peculiarly unlocked office of the king. Inside, Celine hurriedly searched for important documents regarding the golem she had discovered in the forest.
Meanwhile, I searched for documents concerning the birth of the king and queen's child, which had raised suspicions among the soldiers. The baby disappeared the day after its birth, only to be found again in the room as if it had never left.
The incident was indeed strange, but gradually it was forgotten as no culprit was found. The princess grew up normally, like a princess of the kingdom, but there was always a strange feeling whenever we looked into her green eyes.
The soldiers always felt that the princess's gaze lacked any life, as if she were merely a puppet.
The princess rarely left the palace, spending most of her time confined to her chambers, except on important occasions when she was accompanied by Mr. Anderson. The king had directly instructed him to protect their daughter, as Mr. Anderson was the strongest knight in the kingdom and a long-time friend of the king.
This was one of the reasons why Mr. Anderson felt that something was amiss and decided to secretly investigate. However, he couldn't move freely as he always felt watched by something, causing him to abandon his plans.
It was better to keep a close watch than to have no access to information at all.
Unfortunately, he didn't find anything while guarding the princess, as if everything had been meticulously planned.
"I found it," Celine exclaimed suddenly, holding a plain document without the kingdom's insignia. "I don't know why, but this document emits the same energy as the green light I encountered while inside the cave."
Hastily, she opened it and discovered a picture of the same creature as the golem. She then noticed the writing beside the image, saying, "This... I don't know what this writing is."
"That writing is Geotran, the language of our ancestors," came the voice.
"Mr. Anderson!"