They waited for the sun to set fully before they advanced to the cave.
With a few discreet hand signals, the sergeant directed them to charge forward, single file and silent as a mouse. Before they set off, Fate asked a question that had bothered him.
"If this is detention, what's happening to those two nobles in suspension?"
"Holy hell, someone was suspended on their first day at the Academy?" one of the Guards in red exclaimed. He appeared to be in his late twenties, with brown hair and eyes. "They can say goodbye to a bright future, then."
"Suspension is that serious?" Fate asked.
"It is," said the sergeant. "Not only do you lose the chance to become a Guard after graduation, but you are also forced to sit around when you could be learning invaluable information at school. The only chance those stupid kids have after doing such a daft thing to get them suspended is to act like saints for the rest of their years at the Academy. Then, *maybe*, they can apply for the Guard normally."
"Hm." Fate suddenly felt very grateful for receiving detention.
At least this way, he might learn something in combat. At that moment, another question popped into his mind. "Why are we moving on the imps under the cover of night? They live in caves, so they must be able to see in the dark, or at least have some other sense to help them."
"Aye, which is why they wouldn't expect it. They also won't expect us to see as well as they do, and they'll be counting on the shadows to save them."
"How are we going to do that?"
"We're the Empress' Guard, boy," one of the green-armored Guards said. He was an older man, his blading scalp and slight wrinkles suggesting he was in his late fifties or early sixties, although with Mages, he could easily be three times that age. "We prepare for everything. If you knew what Facets we have, you'd know that we're the perfect team to kill those red 'uns."
"Don't be too hard on him, Brent. The kid wasn't here when we went over the plan," the sergeant admonished. "Now all of you shut up and get ready for some spelunking. Kid, you just follow along and stay quiet. Remember, no offensive Mana, got it? Not unless it's indirect, like a thrown rock or something."
Fate nodded, lifting his sword. The sergeant gave the command, and they rushed down the hill toward the Golden Caves, staying low to reduce the chances of being spotted.
Even the power and coercion of the shaman couldn't force the imps to stay at their post, it seemed. The Guards and Fate entered the cave without issue, their steel-clad steps making no sound against the cave floor. One of the Guards had the Sound Facet, his Skill allowing him to cast a Spell to stop the sound from exiting a fifty-foot bubble around him, giving them the advantage of surprise.
When they swept through the cavern, spreading out to check the three tunnels leading deeper into the mountain, Fate spotted the assigned guard of the cave's mouth, passed out and leaning against the stone wall. The creature was nude, with cloven hooves for feet and a forked tail that wrapped around its waist like a belt.
Its eyes were closed, and two straight goat horns protruded from its forehead. It had a long goatee that fell from its face like a small waterfall, its face wrinkled and shaped like the animal whose beard it borrowed the style of. Next to its open hand was an empty bottle of alcohol, the trail of liquid indicating that it had rolled away, most likely when the imp went to sleep.
Fate looked over his shoulder at the Guards, who were still looking down the other three tunnels, before turning back to the sleeping imp. Thanks to the sergeant's Skill, he could see in the dark as easily as if it were broad daylight. Taking a breath, he hefted his sword, bringing it up to his shoulder before he narrowed his eyes.
With a quiet grunt of exertion, he swung the sword like a baseball bat. Unfortunately, he misjudged the length of his sword, and it clanged against the cavern wall. The recoil sent shockwaves through his arm, and he dropped the sword with a curse.
The Guards looked over as the imp woke up, yellow goat eyes snapping open as it let out a screech. It launched itself forward, aiming to skewer Fate with its horns, but Fate caught them deftly and gave them a fierce yank.
He tossed the imp to the side, using his Mage Reach to fly his discarded sword back into his hand before he raised it above his head, bringing it down in an executioner's chop.
The imp rolled to the side, grabbing its bottle and throwing it at Fate. It realized too late that it had cornered itself, its back pressed against the cavern wall. A quick flick of his Mage Reach sent it flying past his face, and he stepped forward, slicing at the creature.
It ducked, but Fate simply nudged his sword with his Mage Grasp, changing the trajectory, and it buried itself into the imp's neck. The creature's yellow eyes glared hatefully at Fate as blood spilled out of its mouth.
Fate returned the gaze with a placid stare, pressing his foot into the imp's chest as he tugged his sword out. The imp fell to the side with a thump, its blood continuing to flow and paint the floor crimson. He turned to find the Guards staring at him.
"What?"
"I thought you said you didn't know how to use a sword," the sergeant said accusingly.
"I don't."
"Then what was that? I've only ever heard of master swordsmen redirecting their blades with such a precise Mage Reach application."
"I don't know what to tell you," Fate shrugged, wiping the blood off of his blade. "I've never touched a sword before today."
"And I'm the Empress," snorted the Sound Guard, Gus. "You're from some secret noble sword family, I bet."
"Nonsense," griped Brent. "A noble, even a sheltered one, would know about fully grown imps. Also, he told us before that he comes from a small village. Nobles wouldn't miss a chance to brag about their background."
"You'd know, wouldn't you, mister disowned heir?"
"You little punk – ! "
"Both of you shut your traps!" ordered the sergeant. The Guards, trained to listen to their superiors above all else, clamped their mouths shut.
The sergeant stared deeply at the imp's corpse, his foot tapping anxiously. "Gus' Skill should have stopped this thing's screams, but if this shaman learned how to Tether, we have some trouble on our hands."