Raka and Ayra walked back to the castle with the scroll they had managed to retrieve. The night was getting deeper, and the stars were starting to fill the sky. Although his body was tired, Raka felt his adventurous spirit ignite. This was much more exciting than just playing in front of the computer.
In the middle of the journey, Ayra stopped for a moment by a small river that meandered through the forest. She took a deep breath and stared at the scroll in her hand with a serious look.
"We have to open it," Ayra said in a softer tone than usual.
"Are you sure?" Raka asked, feeling doubtful. "What if there's a trap inside?"
Ayra smiled thinly. "As a princess, I'm used to dealing with traps. Besides, this could give us a clue about the enemy's plan."
Slowly, Ayra opened the scroll. Inside, there was a map showing several important points around the Ayurea kingdom, complete with signs indicating a secret entrance to the castle.
Raka stared at the map with furrowed brows. "They know the weakness of your defenses."
Ayra nodded, her face looking worried. "Yes… And worse, they seem to be planning an attack soon. We should alert the guards to reinforce these areas."
Raka thought for a moment. "If they know all of our defense points, there must be someone inside who leaked this information. Maybe they have a spy in the castle."
Ayra looked at him, and for the first time, Raka saw fear in her eyes. "If that's true… then we're in more danger than we thought."
They immediately continued their journey to the castle, but this time in heavy silence. Ayra seemed lost in thought, while Raka tried to digest this new reality. If there really was a traitor among them, then the threat they faced was not only from outside, but also from within.
Upon arriving at the castle, Ayra ordered the guards to tighten surveillance at the points indicated on the map. After that, she invited Raka to her private room inside the castle. There, they could talk without interruption.
"Raka, I need your help," Ayra said as she sat on a wooden chair near the window, looking up at the moon shining brightly in the night sky.
Raka nodded. "Whatever you need, I will help you."
"I want you to investigate the nobles and soldiers in this castle. Find out who could potentially be a spy," he said firmly. "You are an outsider, so no one will suspect you. You can move more freely than I can."
Raka felt a little surprised by this request. Becoming a spy in a foreign kingdom, even in conditions like this, was not something he had imagined before. However, he nodded, feeling challenged.
"Okay, I will do it. But I need access to be able to move freely."
Ayra smiled faintly. "You will have special permission from the kingdom. Just say that you are my guest of honor. And remember, Raka, I trust you to keep this secret."
Raka smiled. "You don't need to worry."
For the next few days, Raka carried out his mission in the castle. He pretended to be a guest who was only admiring the beauty of the castle while listening to the whispers of the guards and nobles. Raka began to take note of anyone who looked suspicious, who often left without a reason, or who seemed too concerned with the details of the kingdom's defenses.
One night, Raka decided to observe the castle's audience room, where the higher-ups often gathered. He hid behind a large curtain, trying to eavesdrop on the conversation inside the room. Soon, he heard familiar footsteps. It was Sir Galen, a senior knight who often stayed by Ayra's side.
"Everything is according to plan. The information you provided really helped us infiltrate their defenses," Sir Galen whispered to someone Raka couldn't see.
Raka was shocked. The knight who had always seemed loyal turned out to be a traitor. But who was the person talking to him?
Before he could see who was talking, the door to the audience room opened and people began to come out. Raka quickly slipped out of hiding, and returned to his room with his mind in turmoil.
He knew that Ayra had to find out about this soon. However, he also realized that he was now in great danger. If Sir Galen knew that his secret was out, he would not stay silent.
Raka pondered all night, trying to find the best way to reveal this information to Ayra without suspecting Sir Galen. One thing was for sure: his adventure in this world had just begun to show a dark side that he had never imagined before.