They had no real plan in mind, they would just go with the flow and hope that everything would play out.
They set out through the back entrance. Just as expected, the place was packed with guards parading everywhere looking for the traitor who came in through the passageway.
The night had become darker, no doubt, it was probably midnight already. Carefully, they reached the garden of flowers.
There was a maze just before the entrance. They got there successfully and then scrutinized the gate.
The large gate was guarded by two armed guards, each holding a spear and sword tucked in safely in their belt scabbard.
"Looks like it's our cue," said Derrick to Eiden while watching the gate.
DoHyun nodded at them and whispered a 'goodluck', all their lives solely depended on whether or not Eiden and Derrick could act like proper guards.
Coming out of their hiding place, they straightened their uniform. They needed to cast off the suspicious looks so they acted upright.
Eiden confidently strode ahead, wearing a purposeful expression while Derrick lagged slightly behind, pretending to inspect the surrounding area with a keen eye. His face wore a serious, no-nonsense scowl.
As they neared the gate, Eiden flashed a reassuring smile at the real guard, while Derrick scribbled away on the notebook DoHyun gave to him.
He feigned taking down notes. All the guards were currently on high alert looking for any clues of the intruder, DoHyun offered him a notebook to make their pretense seem real.
Once they approached the guard standing nearest to the walk-through gate, Eiden boldly announced in a grunted voice, "Hello! Fellow guard"
The guard furrowed his brow, "a problem?" He asked
"We're here for uh.... security audit, the uh.... captain sent us to check the perimeter".
Eiden tried his best to sound manly and experienced, he cursed at puberty for stealing his rights to a deeper voice.
Derrick chimed in, gruffly "yes, we need to review the gates access protocols, can't have any more breaches on our watch".
The real guard, slightly hesitant, paused to think.
Did he buy it? Thought Eiden while holding his breath.
The man asked, "Which captain sent you?"
Shit! They both cursed inwardly, their eyes darted about as if seeking an urgent answer.
"Uh..." Eiden stuttered,
Derrick laughed nervously, "ha ha, what do you mean? The captain, our captain...you're asking like you don't know him haha..", the sweat beads forming on his temple were not helping the case.
Luckily, the conical shaped bronze helmets they wore hid their shaky and sweat filled faces.
The guard nodded in realization, "ohhh you mean Captain Orion"
"Yes yes yes" they answered and nodded vigorously.
The man laughed out, in the next instant his face turned serious "you must take me for a fool, we have no captain named Orion here"
They stared at the man helplessly, they've been caught.
The guard pointed his spear at them "who are you!? Where are the real guards" he asked.
He outsmarted them, it made Eiden feel belittled.
The man glared at them.
What could they say? They stood quietly, Eiden thought hard about what to do next and the lie they could give that will be believable
Impatiently, "fuck this!" Derrick, with a swift and forceful motion landed a heavy punch on the man's exposed face. He fell unconscious immediately after.
Derrick flexed his fingers with a smirk.
Eiden, on the other hand, panicked "Derrick what have you done!?"
"What?" He asked.
"Hey! What's going on there?". The guard at the other side of the gate who was originally sleeping was forced awake by a thud sound.
"Ohhhh" Derrick realized what he had done.
The guard, upon seeing his brother on the ground, pulled out his sword by reflex. "Imposters!" He yelled and charged at Eiden and Derrick.
As if being controlled, Eiden impulsively picked up the sword belonging to the unconscious guard and effectively blocked his attack.
Their swords made a clunk sound after colliding with each other.
Both held their stance, each trying to subdue the other with their strength.
"Go! Get DoHyun and the others, we'll leave now!" Eiden said to Derrick and he immediately left.
Eiden couldn't explain his current situation but he had an inkling, it must have had something to do with his system.
In that instant, he felt an unfamiliar force surging throughout his body. The strange energy flowed through his body like a tidal wave, nourishing and balancing each area it touched.
He felt the movement reach his heart and expand, filling his entire body with a thrilling sensation. It created a sense of stability and balance internally and externally.
The guard withdrew his sword, his eyes relentless. He charged forward again, aiming directly at Eiden's chest.
He sidestepped the attack and riposted with a swift thrust aiming for the guard's shoulder. The guard effectively dodged and retaliated with a powerful slash at Eiden's waist.
Eiden lept back, avoiding the blow by mere inches.
While they stood panting, the guard quickly made a conclusion inwardly that he must've been an experienced swordsman. He admitted he hadn't had this kind of adrenaline rush in a long time.
The guard threw his helmet off, some strands of his long hair stuck to his face because of the sweat. He charged at Eiden once again, this time from the top.
In a sudden, light blinding moment, their swords clashed. An ominous force sent the guard flying backwards.
He laid there on the ground, his head spinning. His eyes cleared and he saw Eiden walking closer to him.
What was that power? He asked himself.
He tried to reach out to his sword but it wasn't within his reach.
The man tried to get up, Eiden squatted before him. "Sorry" he apologized before hitting the man unconscious.
Jason, Derrick, DoHyun and Gabbie who were watching at a safe distance immediately left for the gate and got through.
Eiden staggered a bit before standing up straight. He exhaled Into the cold air. He couldn't believe he just physically engaged someone in a sword fight and won.
He was happy that he won, but even more happy that he didn't have to stain the sword with any blood.
His system appeared with a beep sound
[Player used special skill: Reward__2 coins, 5points]
[Congratulations! Level up!]
Something unusual happened next. Eiden gasped as the sword suddenly shimmered, its blade quivering like harp strings.
Blue hues and broken fragments hovered around it. The air vibrates with magical energy as the metal melts away, edges blurring and fading.
The hilt of the sword remained suspended, before dissolving into a misty vapor that swirled around Eiden's hand. The vapor glows softly, then vanishes, leaving his hand empty but still poised as if holding an unseen sword.
[Player has obtained the item JIAN SWORD, check item tab to summon]