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The Secret
A group of two men in black leather armor followed the convoy after Aery's cries had subsided. When the convoy reached the city's entrance checkpoint, there was a delay as the guards inspected the carts.
"Why are they inspecting it?" the girl in leather armor asked her superior from a distance, watching the convoy intently. They carefully monitored and analyzed the guards' movements.
The senior man, who was standing by the girl's shoulder, began advising her. "It's very well protected. Every convoy attracts attention when it has few people inside, so this is quite normal. For now, let's not worry about this. We need to focus on our real task."
The girl nodded confidently, and the two began to progress gradually. After the convoy passed smoothly through the city gates, the senior man turned to the girl and moved towards the blind spot on the right side of the door. He pointed to the wall and started bowing.
Once they were out of view from the gate, he handed her a dagger and began speaking before issuing her orders. "This is a welcome gift from us to you. This dagger is now yours; it will be with you through all your endeavors—whether you fall, rise, sleep, or even die. You may lose any other item given by us, but not these three things." The man's tone turned serious, causing the girl to swallow nervously and break into a sweat.
"Our flag and our emblem are items you must never lose and must protect at all costs," the man said. "But beyond these, the most important thing is this dagger. It cannot fight without it, and it is essential for both combat and concealment. In short, this dagger will teach you to fight and hide."
The girl accepted the dagger, hanging it at her waist, and continued to listen. "Our flag is never insignificant. To protect our flag, you must first safeguard this dagger. Remember that."
The man then grabbed the girl's hand and quickly hid behind a stone. She pressed against it, closing her mouth and whispering, "It's commendable to show loyalty, but now is not the time. You can demonstrate your loyalty after you report that you've completed your mission."
The girl nodded shamefully, trying to peer at the guards through the corner of her eye. "It's my fault I didn't tell you this sooner. Regardless of what happens, we must conceal the queen's existence. We've been doing this for thousands of years, and you know what's at stake if this secret is revealed."
Angrily, the man slapped the girl's face and removed his hand from her mouth. They waited silently as the guards moved away.
Once the guards had left, the man stood up, approached the wall, and threw a rope over it, beginning to climb. "Now, let's return to our main objective. Follow me."
As the man climbed the wall, the girl took her own rope from her waist, threw it over the wall, and started climbing. Upon reaching the top, they donned masks bearing the man's mark and carefully descended the other side of the wall. After surveying the city, they jumped down.
The scene outside the city resembled a grand coliseum, where a public convoy was processed through the city gates. A platform stood in the middle of the bustling area, and soon, horse-drawn carts began to enter the building one by one. As the last cart made its way inside, two masked men took advantage of the commotion and discreetly threw a letter wrapped around a small dagger onto a column next to the white-haired girl. They quickly vanished into the crowd.
The white-haired girl, deeply saddened by her fate, noticed the dagger lodged into the column. Her eyes widened as she saw it, but she swiftly hid it in her outfit, ensuring the guards did not notice. She began to read the letter in secret.
Upon seeing the seal on the letter, a few tears involuntarily fell from her eyes. As she read the letter, her emotions overwhelmed her. Despite her initial inability to control her tears, she quickly wiped her eyes and regained her composure before the horse carriage entered the building.
After the last convoy had completely entered, three individuals approached the front door and began speaking with the attendant present. One of the attendants, who was aged, short, and had an irregular body structure, resembled a nobleman dressed in stylish purple fabric. Another man, adorned in beautiful armor that suited him well, appeared visibly pleased and went to speak with the two.
With a joyful and welcoming demeanor, the armored man addressed the noble-looking man. "Welcome again, sir. What brings you here today?" He continued, gesturing with his hands, "I don't have anyone worthy of you at the moment, but I'll inform you when someone fitting arrives."
The man, who appeared before the noble, waited for the conversation to conclude before speaking up. "No, I didn't come here today to purchase any goods," the old man said with a confused expression. "What could our lord be here for?"
The nobleman chuckled, "Of course, I didn't come empty-handed to such a distant place. You remember the last cart, don't you?"
The old man nodded and asked curiously, "If I didn't see incorrectly, there were five people in it."
The old man's eyes lit up as he paced thoughtfully. "After a few days... After a few days... " He paused and turned to the nobleman. "You're referring to the big auction where kings and lords will participate. Don't worry; I'll take care of it as if it were my own child—"
The nobleman interrupted with a serious tone. "The commodity must remain as goods."
The old man nodded and headed inside. "See you in a few days, my lord. I hope I won't have to take drastic measures to remove you."
As the nobleman and his bodyguard turned and rode away, they disappeared from the crowd.
Ash and Aery arrived at the city gates, their entrance momentarily delayed by Aery's armor, but they soon managed to cross. Ash began to explore the city to understand the situation. As they walked down the main street, they observed people setting up stalls and selling goods to meet their daily needs. The bustling streets were crowded, with soldiers frequently patrolling and inspecting the merchandise being sold.
"The easiest way to make money… is selling to a noble or a direct soldier," Aery said confidently with a sigh. Amidst the commotion, the shouting of people trying to earn a bit more today could be heard.
After a while, Ash spotted a blacksmith shop that caught her eye and quickly headed in that direction. She examined a sword displayed on a stand outside the shop, noticing it was clearly made by an apprentice or a novice. As she placed the sword back and moved away from the shopfront, she peered through the open door and observed the interior. "And this looks like one of ours."
Aery pointed to an emblem on a blue flag inside the shop, featuring a wave-like shape resembling a bear. After seeing the emblem, Ash changed direction and entered the shop. "Interesting. I wouldn't have expected to find this here."
To his surprise, the shop owner was nowhere to be seen. The quality of the weapons and armor inside was notably better than what was displayed outside. Aery muttered to herself, "This is quite similar to the armor I used before. I need a shield, but why is there not even one shield here? It's quite suspicious."
Ash went behind the counter and opened a door leading to the back room. As he stepped inside, a voice from outside yelled, "Hey, don't think you can steal anything from here!" A twelve-year-old boy, who had seen Aery and yelled at him, grabbed a sword from a nearby stand and pointed it at Aery.
Aery approached the boy, bent down, and calmly took the sword from his hands. He looked at the boy with a curious gaze. "What's the admirable name for your ability to hold a sword, boy?" He then handed the boy a smaller sword from the stand. "This should suit you."
The boy gripped the new sword tightly and looked up at Aery with determination rather than fear. "Now… why did you come to our shop to steal?" the boy demanded.
Aery stood up and glanced around. "I'm just looking for a weapon that interests me." The boy then noticed the door to the back room was open and dashed toward it. "I knew you were a thief! Take one more step and I'll—"
While all this was happening, Ash had already walked through the door into the back room. The clanging sound of metal fighting against metal led him to a space where an elderly man, dressed in ordinary clothes but with well-defined muscles, was working. Another man, assisting him, looked to be in his twenties and sat near the forge. The blacksmith, noticing Ash and Aery, continued his work but spoke calmly.
"Welcome," the blacksmith said as he worked. "What brings you to my shop?"
As the clanging of metal filled the air, Ash sampled a cake from a nearby table and munched on it. He then addressed the blacksmith, his tone menacing. "I'm just going to ask one question," he said, his gaze piercing. "Who are you really?"
The blacksmith, startled, put down his tools and approached Ash. "I'm just one of hundreds of blacksmiths trying to support his family with metalwork," he explained nervously. The young man behind him, looking to be in his twenties, stood by, while the boy, Dow, burst into the room, shouting. "Thief! Father, thief! A thief came here and ran away!"
Aery entered the room behind Dow, blocking the door. Ash, having finished his cake, got up and examined the pennant on the wall, the emblem of a blue flag with a bear-like wave design. He pointed to it, then to the door. "If you're brave enough to hang this, you shouldn't be cowardly enough to lie to me. I'm going to ask again. Who are you really?"
The old man and the young man exchanged worried glances. As the old man frantically searched for something to defend himself, he grabbed a half-finished sword and charged toward Aery. The young man took the opportunity to flee, dragging the boy with him.
Aery intercepted the old man, blocking a potentially fatal blow with a swift move. He then struck the old man's hand, causing him to drop the sword. Ash, quickly moving, pursued the fleeing young man and boy. He struck them both with the sword's hilt, incapacitating them.
Before closing the shop's door, Ash addressed the crowd outside. "We apologize, but today we have to close early for some reason. We apologize again."
Aery, having restrained everyone in the room, dragged them to a study area. Ash set up a chair and prepared a bucket of water to revive the unconscious figures. After several attempts, the old man finally stirred.
As the old man groggily came to, Ash leaned in, his expression stern. "Now, let's try this again. Who are you really?"
Lich, seeing the intensity in Ash's eyes, realized the gravity of his situation. As he knelt, he spoke with a deep sense of regret and desperation. "We are the last surviving elders of the Last Moon Clan. My name is Lich, and this is my family. Our clan has sought this opportunity for generations, but it has never come to us."
Tears streamed down Lich's face as he continued, his voice trembling. "We are deeply sorry for our mistakes. We held onto hope for so long, believing in a miracle that seemed so distant. My son, Hill, and I have been the last keepers of this hope."
Hill, still stunned by his father's revelation and the unfolding events, struggled to understand. "Father, what is this about? What are they talking about?"
Lich, unable to contain his emotions, turned to Ash. "I can now die in peace, knowing that the chance we waited for has finally arrived. Seeing this with my own eyes is the greatest reward of my life."
Ash, still calm and composed, smiled slightly. She then focused on the torch hanging from the ceiling. As she spoke, the light from the torch began to dim and eventually extinguished completely. "You have waited for so long and remained loyal. Now you have a new purpose. Assist me in whatever way you can. Remember, the Enclave is back."
Lich, understanding the significance of Ash's words, nodded solemnly. "We will serve you, as our clan has always been meant to. What would you have us do?"
Ash's eyes were fixed on the now-dark room. "First, we need to gather information. The Enclave's return must be kept a secret until we are ready. Help us navigate this city and uncover any threats or allies."
Lich and Hill, now fully aware of their new roles, began to make preparations to assist Ash and Aery in their quest. Their faces reflected a mixture of determination and relief, as they were finally given a purpose after years of waiting.
Chapter 2 End