The revelation hit Rain like a hammer, the weight of it sinking deep. Lin Feng wasn't just the chosen hero—he was one of the chosen. The word lingered in his mind like a bad omen.
'One?' His fingers tightened around the paper, his frustration mounting. So, there's more?
His thoughts raced as he scanned the document again, hoping to find more, but the pages revealed nothing. No further details. No location. Just the name and that ominous line.
'Great. I can't even sneak in and kill the guy. This is going to be a problem.'
Time passed swiftly, and before he knew it, the fortieth day arrived. They were preparing for their first mission. Their destination: the Glacial Empire in the north.
Kephela had been meticulous, ensuring that everything was in place. Rain's cover identity was ready, down to the finest detail.
He admired her precision, but something still nagged at him. She knows too much. There's no way she could've gathered all this from normal intel.
"Are we ready?" Kephela's voice pulled Rain from his thoughts.
He nodded, his eyes narrowing as she handed him a new set of clothes. "Disguised as adventurers, right?"
"Correct." Kephela smiled, her expression calm but holding that strange, familiar warmth again. "We'll blend in. The Glacial Empire is no place for mistakes."
Rain grunted, adjusting the outfit. He couldn't shake the feeling that she was always a step ahead. I wonder who's feeding her this info. A 'reliable source'? Sure.
He kept his suspicions to himself, knowing he'd get no straight answer from her.
With a snap of her fingers, the teleportation circle beneath their feet activated, and in an instant, they were transported north. The cold hit Rain like a wall, the biting chill sinking into his bones as they arrived in the snowy wasteland.
The Glacial Empire spread out before them, its icy plains and towering mountains a stark contrast to the lands of Elshire.
The territory was vast, ruled by a Duke, and the walls surrounding the empire reached only 200 meters high—a weak defense compared to the magic-laden fortresses Rain had seen in Elshire.
"The walls aren't impressive," Rain muttered under his breath, glancing at the towering snow-covered structures in the distance.
Kephela turned to him, her red eyes gleaming. "This isn't Elshire. The strength here lies in the people, not the walls. The aura users and ice mages control the power here. It's a different kind of strength."
Rain's gaze swept across the landscape, noticing the subtle details. Women everywhere.
The men-to-women ratio was striking, almost 1 to 20. Most of the mages, he noticed, were women, and the energy in the air was thick with Yin and cold.
'Makes sense. Yin and cold energy would thrive in a place like this, just like in those cultivation novels I've read.'
Kephela's voice broke the silence as they began moving toward the city. "Our target is John Lucas, a local figure here. He's... dangerous in ways that aren't immediately obvious."
Rain glanced at her, raising an eyebrow. "Dangerous? Why is he the first target?"
Kephela hesitated, her voice lowering as she explained. "There are... signs. Unfavorable energy surrounds him. I sensed it the moment I learned of his name. He's a key figure, and if left unchecked, he'll strengthen the very forces we seek to weaken."
Rain felt a shiver—not from the cold, but from her words. She spoke as if she already knew what would happen. 'She's hiding something. No doubt about it. But what?'
As they approached the city's gates, Rain watched Kephela closely.
She moved with purpose, leading the group with such familiarity that it unnerved him.
'No map? No hesitation? She weaved through the city streets effortlessly, avoiding guards, slipping through alleyways like she had done this a thousand times before.'
His eyes narrowed. He couldn't ignore it any longer. "Kephela," Rain began, his voice low, "you seem to know your way around this city pretty well. Have you been here before?"
Kephela's lips curled into a playful smile, her red eyes flicking back at him.
"What can I say? I have my ways, Gandolf. You of all people should know that information is my specialty."
Rain's suspicion deepened. 'Dodging the question, huh?'
He pressed on, his tone casual but pointed. "You seem too familiar with this place. Almost like you've walked these streets before."
Kephela let out a soft chuckle, turning to face him fully. Her eyes sparkled with mischief.
"Curious, aren't you? Let's just say... I've got good instincts."
Rain frowned, watching her closely. She's definitely hiding something.
'There's no way someone can navigate an unfamiliar city like this without a map.'
His thoughts raced as they slipped past another guard, making their way toward the castle where John Lucas resided.
As they moved deeper into the city, Rain couldn't shake the feeling that Kephela knew far more than she was letting on. 'Instincts, my ass.'
She's practically walking us straight to the target without a second thought.
His mind wandered back to her earlier words.
The way she spoke to him, the warmth in her eyes—it was too familiar, too personal for someone who had just met him.
'What are you hiding, Kephela?'
As they neared the castle's outer walls, Rain's suspicions grew.
He needed answers, but Kephela wasn't going to give them willingly. Not yet, at least.
Their infiltration began as Kephela quickly led them through a series of hidden passages, avoiding detection with ease.
Rain followed closely behind, his mind whirling with questions.
He couldn't shake the feeling that this mission was more personal for Kephela than she was letting on.
Finally, they reached a secluded area within the castle grounds.
Kephela gestured for them to stop, her gaze fixed on the looming structure ahead. "We're close. John Lucas is inside, but we need to move carefully."
Rain stepped closer, his voice barely above a whisper.
"You've been avoiding my questions. How do you know this place so well?"
Kephela smiled again, but this time there was something deeper in her eyes—something sad.
"I have my reasons, Gandolf. Trust me. I'm doing this for all of us."
Rain frowned, sensing the layers behind her words. 'She's not going to give me a straight answer, is she?'
He sighed inwardly, deciding to drop the matter for now. But his suspicions lingered.
'I'll figure it out eventually. You can't keep dodging me forever.'
Just as they were about to proceed, Kephela placed a hand on Rain's arm, her expression suddenly serious.
"We need to be extra cautious from here on. John Lucas may seem like a minor threat, but his influence runs deep. If we make a mistake, it could set off a chain reaction that will be impossible to control."
Rain nodded, his mind still fixated on Lin Feng. One of the chosen.
'If John Lucas is this dangerous, what does that make Lin Feng?'
As they pressed on, a chilling realization struck him.
Kephela's hiding something big. And it's tied to the heroes.