Night is falling, it's Sanryu's group, they're waiting for the sun to disappear from the sky so they can start their mission. Sanryu's group has devised a plan, but with the numbers they have at their disposal, and the lack of variety in the classes that make up the party, they can devise very little. They are all melee attackers, leaving Zaria, who is the only ranger among all, and is still a beginner in using her power, she needs a good master to learn.
Sanryu is sitting on a rock, alone, waiting for the sun to go down, pondering his thoughts in his mind. 'After defeating the Marquis, I am sure we will succeed, we will have to evaluate our next actions... we cannot remain in Strath.' Sanryu is already planning his next moves, and is confident of beating the Marquis.
"Sanryu, can I steal a few moments from you?" Sanryu's thoughts are interrupted by Zaria's voice. Sanryu turns and sees the girl wearing her sorceress clothing, he has a troubled expression on her face.
"Sure Zaria, come along." Sanryu makes space on the rock, indicating to Zaria where she can sit, the latter follows the boy's advice and makes herself comfortable, as comfortable as a rock can be.
"Sanryu, I was thinking about what to do after the fight." Apparently not only Sanryu was thinking about the future. "I advise you not to kill the Marquis, we need him alive. And the living proof of his misdeeds, he must answer to justice... and must pay for what he did to my father." Zaria clasps her hands, on the hem of her skirt. Fenrya informed Zaria, it is the two captains, the one she heard from the Marquis's conversation is the mysterious woman. "I can't believe that you let those rats pass through our territory, and you showed them the way to reach the sewers of Deria."
"I'm sorry, Zaria." Sanryu places his hand on the girl's shoulder, making him feel her solidarity. "If this is what you want, then so be it. We will capture the Marquis, so he can answer for your crimes...but what do you intend to do after that?" Sanryu is curious about Zaria's future plans.
"I still don't know, my family is in the balance, we no longer have a patriarch, and most of our relatives died in the invasion. I haven't been able to contact my sister, because of the marquis, and I don't know if the entire kingdom is aware of the fall of Deria." Zaria has confused ideas, she would like to do something for his family, but he doesn't have the power to change things.
"How about traveling with us?" Sanryu proposes an idea to Zaria, the latter looks away from the sky, she is looking at Sanryu's face. "It's true that you need a master, it's after this battle, I'll talk to Lurue. I'll convince her to wait a little longer, before keeping that promise, so we can head towards my village, it's asking my father if he knows anyone able to teach you, what do you think?" Sanryu remembers what he said to Zaria, that is, to find a master who is able to teach the girl.
"But by doing so, I'll cause trouble for Lurue, I don't think I would feel comfortable." Zaria is not very convinced to accept Sanryu's proposal.
"Don't worry, Lurue is not that kind of person, you won't cause any trouble, you'll see." Sanryu smiles at Zaria, reassuring her that she won't cause any trouble, neither to Lurue nor to her group.
"Mhh if you are so convinced...then I think I will accept your proposal, but first I have to think about it one last time." Zaria would like to accept immediately, but she still has to think about some questions first, to try to be 100% certain. "Ah! Sanryu, one last thing." Zaria gets Sanryu's attention.
"Yes, tell me everything." As soon as Sanryu asks what Zaria wants, the latter brings her face closer, she gives a quick kiss on the boy's cheek, shocking the latter, making him freeze.
"T-this is just to thank you! D-don't think about anything else, okay?" Zaria has completely red cheeks, she is haughty, she warns the boy not to get strange looks. "S-see you later!" Before Sanryu can say anything, Zaria flees the place, leaving the boy alone again.
"I was stunned, I didn't believe Zaria could have these initiatives." Sanryu touches the cheek where he was kissed, it's a small smile, it escapes her lips. 'Damn! I risk being attracted to that girl.' Oh maybe Sanryu, he's already attracted to Zaria, but she doesn't know it yet.
In recent days, Sanryu's group has been training and has also designed various access plans, the most plausible is certainly the one through the sewers. Fenrya has scouted a few times, looking for an entrance to the sewers, outside the walls of Strath, she's at the end, she's found one. She also ventured inside, to inspect them, in order to find Walter's men, also succeeding in that aim, even if it was not an easy task.
And just as Lysandra said, the guards changed the access to the underground cell corridors. The entrance is guarded, but it's not a big problem, there aren't many guards, it's for the group, it will be a breeze to get rid of them.
Once inside, they will begin by freeing the prisoners, in order to save as many lives as possible, and at the same time, deprive them of sacrifices for that crystal. Leaving the civilians in the hands of the captains, Sanryu's group will advance into the area of tunnels they were unable to explore last time. Surely those prisons are connected in some way to that room with the crystal, and Sanryu and companions, they will find a way to get there.
"Well, we all know the plan to be implemented, I don't think there is any need to go over it again. This evening, a marquis will fall, and a stain will be eradicated from this kingdom, making it a little more lucid." Captain Ros seems to have taken command, the group made a unanimous choice. The other option would have been captain Endryu, but the latter immediately took a step back, as he considers Ros to be the most suitable of the two. "Night has fallen, it's time to act, let's move." Ros announces the group's departure, and the rest follows in the captain's footsteps.
"Sanryu, be careful...this marquis is collaborating with beings that go beyond human understanding. Don't underestimate the cunning of those demons, and if they try to enchant you with promises and knowledge, alluring, always refuse, or rather don't listen to them in the slightest, and good luck." Lurue gives warnings to the boy, approaching him, with calm steps, and then giving a loving, but at the same time wild, kiss to Sanryu.
"Thank you for the advice, my dear, but I have to go now, I'll be back soon." Sanryu and Lurue, their hearts are beating wildly, a sign of the love they feel towards both of them.
Zaria not seeing Sanryu with them, turns back, this scene is known. 'He mentioned that they were a couple...but then why do I feel this way?' Zaria feels a sense of unease, mixed with jealousy, not yet understanding what she feels for the boy. 'Now is not the time to think about it, I have to focus on the mission.' Zaria pushes aside these thoughts, turns forward again, and then follows his steps again.
Sanryu moves away from Lurue and follows the group, heading towards the entrance to the sewers. After several minutes, the group reaches the entrance, and without wasting any more time, they enter inside.
"I will go ahead to see if there are no guards on the route." Fenrya advances ahead of the group, preventing nasty surprises from catching the group unawares.
"Okay, but be careful, we don't know if there are any dangers other than the guards." Sanryu warns Fenrya, to be careful, and not to push too far forward.
"I'll be careful." Saying just that, Fenrya sprints forward, separating herself from the rest of the group.
The group advances through the sewers, sometimes encountering wolfrats, but they are not a big problem for the boys, in fact they exterminate them in the blink of an eye. After about twenty minutes have passed, Fenrya returns to the group and warns that there are no problems along the way, and therefore they can safely advance towards the hidden entrance.
"There they are." Captain Ros stops the group, pointing to a couple of guards who appear to be guarding a very normal wall.
"Smart move to place guards in front of a very normal wall..." Endryu begins to think that this marquis is really an idiot, he made discovering the location of the hidden wall so simple.
"Or maybe he's too sure of himself, that he thinks we won't make it to the crystal room." Ros says about him, thinking of something other than Endryu.
"It doesn't matter if he's an idiot or a fool, we still have to move towards those corridors." Sanryu doesn't care how the Marquis has set up his defenses, he just wants to get in and beat him up.
The group launches itself against the guards protecting the wall, catching the men off guard. "Intruders-AGH!" One of the guards doesn't have time to scream before a blade enters her neck, interrupting her sentences.
It doesn't take the group even five minutes to take down a dozen guards, and without wasting any more time, they pass through the wall. "What a scary illusory magic. If we didn't know how to use this spell, it would look like a normal wall." Zaria is impressed by this magic.
After crossing the corridor, guards were stationed near the cells, intent on letting the poor prisoners out. "They want to take them away!" Lysandra says this, as she prepares to lunge at the guards, the rest of the group follows her.
"Intruders! Prepare for battle!" One of the guards notices the advance of the intruders and draws his blade, warning his fellow soldiers of her. The number of these guards is greater than those at the entrance, but this will not stop the group.
Not having the surprise effect, it takes the group longer to eliminate these guards, but they still manage to overwhelm their enemies.
"Let's open the cells." Sanryu tells the rest of the group, the group members take a couple of sets of keys, and begin to open the cells, telling the civilians that everything will be fine.
"Perfect! The first part of the plan has been completed, now the rest of the mission will be up to you, I will stay here to watch over these citizens." Endryu speaks to the rest of the group, he will stay to watch over the civilians, they can't send them into the sewers alone, there are still ratwolves, and they would be easy prey for the latter.
"Good vigil, captain." Ros says this to Endryu, receiving the same greeting from the latter. "Let's get moving, there's still a long way to go." Ros resumes the advance, leading the group of boys.
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"My lord! Intruders have infiltrated the sewers and have liberated the cells full of civilians in that section. The guards stationed in that area have all been eliminated." A captain kneels towards the Marquis, warning of the intrusion of Sanryu's group.
"They have finally arrived, damned rats! Speed up the movement of the prisoners, bring them here immediately! We must open the gate quickly!" The intrusion of Sanryu's group has rushed Walter's plans, putting him in a corner.
"My lord, we do not have enough prisoners. I do not believe the portal can be opened with the remaining prisoners." A hooded man, in azure robes, with golden outlines, warns Walter that they don't have enough sacrifices.
"It doesn't matter! If we wait any longer, we won't have any prisoners to sacrifice. We'll make do with the ones we have." Walter doesn't listen to what one of his subordinates says, and he still has his opinion of him. 'We will open this portal, and I will receive what is rightfully waiting for me.' Walter is obsessed with receiving these mysterious powers from his master.