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Sword of Oaths
CHAPTER 2 - A risk worth taking

CHAPTER 2 - A risk worth taking

The hushed corridors of the Central echo with the urgent whispers of Warin and Bernat, their conversation a mixture of disbelief and tension.

Warin: "You stole a key?!! What do you mean your body moved on its own??"

Bernat: "Exactly as I said! I saw an open door, went in, and there it was on the table. I just took it!"

Warin: "Well, GO PUT IT BACK!!"

Bernat: "I won't. I've got a hunch this key means something... a call of fate!"

Warin: "You sound nuts. It's probably just a key to the room you took it from!"

Bernat: "Just trust me on this one!!!"

Warin, not wanting to doubt his lifelong friend’s words, puts his faith in the story Bernat just told him.

Warin: "...whatever, do what you want. But I'm not part of this mess."

Resigned yet curious, Warin agrees to move on. Together, they rendezvous with their comrades in the main hall, preparing for their journey back to the North Department.

Warin: "Mission's over, fellas. Time to head back, let’s pack up."

Yago: "This place is so HUGE! I never realized…"

Tomor: "You can say that again, I envy the cafeteria they have here, it’s so spacious!”

Valdis: "Warin, please just give us a bit longer, why are we in a rush? We can enjoy our time here a bit longer, right? "

Warin: "You sound like a girl who finally got permission to go out with some friends, quit your yammering and let’s move. "

Valdis: "There we have it, the famous party pooper behavior…”

Warin: "Shut up will you, we’ll visit Central again another time. Promise. "

As they journey home, the recent finding of the mysterious key is filling the conversational space.

Yago: "Maybe it's a key to some epic treasure!"

Valdis: "Or some officer's private bathroom..."

Tomor: "Taking it was a bad idea, regardless."

Warin: "Don't lump me into this. I wanted no part of it!"

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Back at the North Department, Warin delivers the message to Lieutenant Parks, who congratulates him with the unexpected news of a promotion. Yet, the key's mystery continues to gnaw at him.

Warin: "Lieutenant Parks, the message is successfully delivered to the Central, here is the Receive Token[1]. "

Lieutenant Parks: "Thanks, also congratulations, Lieutenant Warin! "

Warin: "Thank you, Sir! But how do you already know of the news?"

Lieutenant Parks: "Well, there was another envelope that arrived during your time at the Central, it was addressed to you. I recognized the stamp used on it, since I received a similar one when I got promoted. "

Warin: "Sharp as ever I see...! "

Lieutenant Parks: "Remember, a good pair of eyes will get you further than any muscle will ever do! "

As Warin is returning to his dorm, he can’t help but wonder about the mysterious key.

Upon entering his dorm, Warin is surprised to find his friends, already deep in speculation about the key's purpose.

Warin: "What the…. WHY IS EVERYONE AND THEIR MOM IN MY ROOM?!"

Bernat: "Shh, keep it down, we're trying to figure out what this key is for."

Yago: "Yeah, stop being a party pooper, Warin, it doesn't mean that you're promoted to First Lieutenant that you have to play boss now. "

Warin: "Huh? How'd you know about the promotion? I haven’t told anyone yet!"

Valdis: "There was a letter addressed to you and we read it, congrats buddy!"

Warin: "You guys are the worst, privacy doesn't exist in your vocabulary or what!?"

Ignoring Warin’s irritation, Tomor shifts the conversation back to the topic of the mysterious key.

Tomor: "So, we all want to know what the key is for, but how do we find that out? "

Warin slightly agitated, outs his honest opinion about the key once again.

Warin: "I still believe our best course of action is to give the key back, really. "

Bernat looks at Warin, with eyes full of determination and a wish to understand why exactly the key magically fell in his possession.

Bernat: "Warin, my body moved on his own, really. "

A sudden silence fills the air.

Yago, Tomor, Valdis: "We believe him, Warin. "

Valdis: "If Bernat really wanted to lie about it, he would have made up a more believable story. "

Warin: "That is true, but still... I really do believe you Bernat, however I still think this is not the best choice. "

Ignoring Warin’s advice, the comrades try to come up with a waterproof plan that will help them unravel the truth of the mysterious key.

After hearing the plan, Warin can’t help but to give some harsh critique.

Warin: "So, this is what you call a waterproof plan? Really guys? Even a pigeon can do better. This is way to reckless. "

Fueled by a worry for his friends’ safety as well as a glimpse of personal intrigue for the mysterious key, Warin proposes a better, well thought out plan.

The plan is straightforward but safe and minimizes the risk. Warin explains how he will use his new status as Lieutenant as part of his recent promotion and his soon-to-be relocation to the Central as an integral part of the plan.

Warin: "Listen very well. I will be re-located to the Central next week, following my promotion to Lieutenant. I will take the key with me and periodically check which doors I am able to open with it, until I find the one door this key leads to…"

Bernat: "…And where do we come in the picture? "”

Warin: "To minimalize risk, you guys will be keeping track of the doors I have already tried. You’ve seen how huge the Central is. I need someone to help me keep count. Also, with only me searching for the door, our chances of getting caught is nearly zero. "

Valdis: "Is there nothing else we can do? It feels like you’re doing the heavy lifting? "”

Warin: "There is actually, you guys can also gather some information about the Central, maybe there are some hidden doors I missed. "

Warin: "As for why only I check for the doors, you guys can’t get away with always asking permission to go to the central to try some doors. You know how tight security is with giving permission to enter Central, especially if you’re not at least a Lieutenant…"

Chatter between the friends about the proposed plan follows Warin’s explanation and reasoning.

After a while, everyone seems to agree with Warin’s well thought out plan. It’s a go sign.

Yago: " As expected of the soon to be First Lieutenant, you know your sneaky planning stuff! "

Warin: "We're literally doing illegal stuff please don't praise me for this... "

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[1] A Receive Token is an official token that confirms the correct delivery of an important classified document