Then they began to make their way toward the Azov capital.
The journey was long and grueling, and after half a day of traveling without any rest, they finally reached the capital. As they saw the familiar city, relief couldn't help but spread across everyone's faces.
"We've made it, Your Highness," one of the guards murmured, a sense of accomplishment evident in his voice.
Luis nodded, his eyes scanning the city before them.
The towering walls brought a sense of comfort, but he knew that the safety they felt was fragile.
Khazak who was vigilant, couldn't shake the sense of unease that had been growing within him.
"Your Highness, there might be some people from the Kano Kingdom controlling the capital," Khazak said, his eyes narrowing as he looked toward the city.
"How do we get rid of them?"
Hearing Khazak's question, a wave of sadness washed over Luis. The arrangement of his kingdom—its strengths and vulnerabilities—came to his mind, and with it, the weight of responsibility he carried as its prince.
"Everyone," Luis began, his voice firm but tinged with melancholy,
"what I am about to show you is the deepest secret of the Azov Kingdom. You must not reveal it to anyone."
The seriousness in his tone made everyone stand a little straighter, their expressions growing solemn.
Luis had led them through many dangers, and they trusted him completely. But the gravity of his words made them realize that this was something extraordinary.
"You have all been with me in the most dangerous situations," Luis continued, looking each of his guards in the eye,
"so I am sharing this with you. But do not betray my trust."
With those words, Luis began to lead them in a different direction, away from the main roads and deeper into the less-traveled parts of the city. The guards followed closely, curiosity and tension mingling in their minds.
"What I am going to show you now," Luis said solemnly,
"is the hidden power of the Azov royal family. Its name is the Shadow Army."
The words hung in the air, heavy with mystery. The guards exchanged glances, their curiosity piqued.
"I won't tell you much about it because even I don't know all the details," Luis admitted.
"But it is a secret spy organization, directly controlled by the king. Its existence is known only to the royal family."
The revelation stunned the guards. Luis continued, his voice steady,
"You may not know this, but if I had died and the entire royal family had been exterminated, the Shadow Army would have remained dormant for years, like a hunter waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike. When the time was right, they would cause chaos and attempt to destroy the kano kingdom's royal family."
As the implications of Luis's words sank in, the guards could only gulp. The thought that even in the event of their kingdom's fall, the Azov royal family would have left a ticking time bomb in the Kano Kingdom was both terrifying and awe-inspiring.
But one guard, Thomas, who was known for his sharp mind and insightful questions, was not entirely convinced. His brows furrowed in thought as he stepped forward.
"But Your Highness," Thomas began carefully,
"when we were being chased by the Kano Kingdom, why didn't the Shadow Guards help us?"
Luis's lips curled into a smile, his eyes gleaming with approval.
'This Thomas is really a talent,' he thought, pleased by the guard's willingness to seek the truth, even at the risk of questioning his prince.
'If someone like him can be kept close, it will be beneficial for the kingdom.'
"Haha, who said the Shadow Guards didn't help?" Luis replied, his tone light, but with a hint of mystery.
He looked around at the group, their faces full of anticipation.
"Look around you. Among the hundreds of guards with me, dozens of them are Shadow Guards."
Shock rippled through the group. The guards began to eye each other warily, searching for signs of who among them might be one of these mysterious warriors.
"As for who among you are Shadow Guards," Luis added with a teasing pause,
"I won't tell you. Just guess."
The tension in the air thickened as everyone tried to fathom who might be one of these secretive and powerful soldiers.
---
After some time, Luis and his team of guards reached a hidden tunnel, concealed from the casual observer. It was clear that this passage was not well-known.
"From here, we can reach the city directly," Luis explained, his voice echoing slightly in the dark, narrow space.
"This tunnel will also lead us to the Shadow Guards' gathering area."
The guards followed him into the tunnel, their minds racing with everything they had learned. The more Luis revealed, the more they realized just how much they didn't know about their own kingdom.
"As for why the Shadow Guards didn't save me in full force when we were chased," Luis continued, his voice growing more serious,
"it was because I didn't allow them to. The Azov Kingdom was on the brink of destruction, and I knew that even with their help, I might still have died."
"so it was better for them to stay in dark rather than show them to light"
He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in.
"So, my father and I jointly ordered them to stay dormant, to grow stronger in the shadows, and to wait for the right moment to cause trouble for Kano years later."
His tone shifted, becoming lighter, almost gleeful.
"But now, hahahaha, there is no need! My kingdom has the support of a god, and Kano is no more on this continent."
His laughter echoed in the tunnel, a sound of triumph and relief. The guards shared in his joy, their spirits lifting as they continued forward.
---
Some moments later, the darkness of the tunnel began to fade as they reached the surface. When Luis and his guards emerged, they were immediately surrounded by dozens of people, all of whom looked murderous.
Khazak and the others were taken aback by the sight.
The newcomers were fully wrapped in black clothing, with masks covering their faces completely, leaving no skin and hair visible. The aura they exuded was unmistakably that of silver warriors—elite fighters of unparalleled skill.
And as the seconds ticked by, more and more Shadow Guards appeared, surrounding the group in a protective, yet intimidating circle.