The state of the Esverita kingdom grew increasingly dire. Citizens' screams, the marching steps of knights under the charm spell, and the echo of battles created a stifling atmosphere. Nina, usually full of confidence, looked panicked. Without care for her surroundings, she sprinted toward the royal palace, repeatedly calling Prince Claudius' name, her voice growing hoarse.
"Prince Claudius! Please hold on!" she cried, her eyes filled with worry. Nearly tripping over rubble, she kept moving without hesitation.
Pierre watched Nina dash away, his expression bewildered. "What is she doing? She can't go there alone!" he exclaimed, ready to follow, but the navigator's voice echoed in his mind.
"Pierre, stay here. Jeanne and Pharnaces need your help evacuating the citizens. Let the others handle Nina," said the cold, steady voice of the navigator.
Pierre exhaled heavily, discomfort evident in his demeanor as he left Nina behind. Jeanne touched his arm. "We need to focus on saving the citizens. Trust them to handle this."
Meanwhile, Catherine and Thomas ran after Nina, with Virginia trailing behind, visibly exhausted. The navigator gave clear, firm instructions. "Catherine, Virginia, Thomas, you must stop Nina before she worsens the situation. Prince Claudius is a strategic priority, but the palace could be the most dangerous place right now."
Thomas muttered under his breath, unable to hide his frustration. "This feels like walking straight into the lion's den," he grumbled. "Navigator, if we fail to stop Nina, it's on you."
Virginia, running beside them, tried to stay composed despite the mounting tension. "What is Nina thinking? Does she truly believe she can save the prince on her own?" she murmured to herself.
Catherine, maintaining her calm yet commanding demeanor, finally spoke. "Nina is following her conscience. Not every decision is based on logic, Thomas." Her gaze stayed fixed ahead, seemingly tracking Nina by her footsteps and voice. "But that doesn't mean she's right. We need to protect her."
The trio arrived at the crumbled gates of the palace. Charmed knights wandered nearby, adding to the peril. Nina had already slipped inside through the ruins.
"Nina! Wait!" Catherine shouted, but the call went unheard. She turned to Thomas and Virginia. "We have no choice. We must go in."
Thomas pulled out his magic tome, his face tense. "Let's hope this is worth it."
Inside the palace, Nina's voice echoed through the empty halls, almost like a trap waiting to spring. "Prince Claudius! Where are you?" Her cries were desperate and filled the eerie silence.
When Catherine, Thomas, and Virginia finally caught up to her, they found Nina standing in the middle of the grand hall, panting. Her face showed relief mixed with confusion. "I heard something… like the prince's voice," she said, pointing to a dark corridor at the far end.
Thomas squinted at the corridor suspiciously. "Are you sure? It could be a trap."
The navigator's voice interrupted their thoughts. "Stay cautious. Many charmed guards remain in the palace."
Catherine approached Nina and fixed her with a sharp gaze. "If there's danger here, we must work together. Don't act impulsively again."
Nina lowered her head, guilt-ridden but resolute. "I need to ensure he's safe. Prince Claudius is Esverita's hope."
Catherine restrained her criticism, turning to Thomas and Virginia. "We'll proceed. But stay in formation. No recklessness."
The corridors of Esverita's royal palace grew darker and more oppressive with each step. The grand murals once lining the walls were now cracked and stained with dirt and blood. Flickering torchlight cast monstrous shadows, heightening the sense of unease.
"Still no sign of Claudius," muttered Virginia, clutching her staff tightly. Her eyes darted toward Catherine, who strode confidently ahead despite the difficulty.
From behind them, Nina softly called out again, "Prince Claudius… are you here?" Her voice trembled, more hopeful than certain.
Suddenly, the clash of metal interrupted their steps. A group of charmed knights appeared at the end of the hallway, their eyes vacant and movements aggressive. Their swords gleamed menacingly in the dim light.
"More knights," Thomas hissed, raising his hand. A pale blue magic circle appeared beneath him. "We're stunning them, not killing, right?" he asked Catherine.
Catherine raised an eyebrow, her icy stare sharp. "If it helps you sleep better, think of it that way." With a wave of her hand, a mist of purple-green vapor enveloped the room. The knights hesitated momentarily before collapsing to their knees, coughing violently until they slumped unconscious.
Virginia stood frozen, staring at the knights now sprawled across the floor. "Poison? You're actually using poison on them?" she asked, her voice laced with disbelief.
Catherine turned, her expression devoid of guilt. "A low dose, enough to incapacitate. If you'd prefer they kill us, I can stop anytime."
Virginia shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. "It just feels wrong to use poison. They're victims, not true enemies."
"They're obstacles," Catherine replied coldly. "And if you want to survive, you'll need to overcome that sentiment. Hesitation is a weakness."
Thomas, having just finished his water magic circle, sent a sharp jet of water at an attacking knight. The knight was hurled against the wall, knocked unconscious. He sighed, then shot Catherine a piercing look. "I guess we have different methods for staying alive, but as long as they don't die, I won't argue too much."
They continued through the long corridors filled with traps and more knights attacking them. Catherine used her poison magic to disable enemies from a distance, while Thomas employed water magic to shield the team from counterattacks. Nina supported with simple protective spells, while Virginia ensured everyone stayed strong with her healing magic.
"We need to find him soon," Nina muttered, mostly to herself. Her mind was consumed with the image of Prince Claudius, possibly alone in one of the castle rooms, frightened or injured. "He's our only hope to save this kingdom."
"You put too much faith in people," Catherine said without turning around. "There's no guarantee Claudius is still alive, let alone useful."
Nina glared at Catherine but held her tongue. She knew arguing would only slow them down.
They entered a vast hall with towering pillars. The space was empty, but something felt like it was lurking in the shadows. Catherine paused, narrowing her eyes toward the dim corner of the hall. "We're getting closer," she said softly. "I can feel it."
Thomas nodded. "Let's keep moving. Hopefully, we're not too late."
The sharp scent of blood lingered in the air. The faint light from large windows in the corner revealed two lifeless knight bodies sprawled on the floor. Near the wall, a young man leaned against it, his breath ragged, blood flowing heavily from a wound in his abdomen. His face was pale, but his eyes remained sharp despite the pain.
"Prince Claudius!" Nina cried, running toward the young man with tears welling in her eyes.
Before she could reach Claudius, a weak cry escaped the prince's lips. "Don't… enter this room!"
Nina froze in shock, but it was too late. From the corner of the room, a knight under the charm spell lunged forward, sword raised to strike her. Instantly, Catherine raised her hand, chanting a spell with a cold, measured tone. A blade of greenish mist shot forward, piercing the knight's chest. The knight staggered before collapsing lifelessly.
Nina fell to the floor, staring wide-eyed at the fallen knight. "He… he's dead?" she stammered.
"Of course," Catherine replied emotionlessly, lowering her hand casually. "He would've killed you if I hadn't. Focus on our mission."
Thomas nodded firmly. "Virginia, help Claudius. We can't afford to lose him."
Virginia quickly rushed to the prince, her staff glowing with warm light. "Please, try not to move too much, Your Highness," she said gently, placing her hands over the prince's wound. Golden light enveloped the injury, and the bleeding began to slow.
Claudius opened his eyes, previously half-closed. "Who… are you?" His voice was weak, but his tone was curious. "Why are you here?"
Nina, still trembling, managed to stand. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she approached. "We're reinforcements, Your Highness," she said hoarsely. "We've come to save you."
Claudius gazed at Nina with a relieved expression. "Thank goodness… you're alive." A faint smile crossed his pale face. "I feared you wouldn't make it out of this chaos."
Nina couldn't hold back her sobs. "And I feared I wouldn't find you again, Your Highness. I thought… I thought you were…"
"We're not done yet," Catherine interjected sharply. Her voice was firm. "We need to get out of here now. This place isn't safe."
Suddenly, a system screen appeared before Catherine, emitting a cold blue light. The text on the screen made her frown.
[Quest Update: Hidden Route. Rescue Prince Claudius and ensure his survival until safely out of the castle.]
She said nothing about the screen, only glancing at it briefly before addressing the group. "We have a clear objective now," she stated flatly. "Virginia, ensure Claudius is strong enough to walk. Nina, stay by his side. Thomas and I will handle anything blocking our path."
Thomas nodded, checking the magical circle glowing in his hand. "I'm ready. Let's hope there are no more surprises."
Though still weak, Claudius tried to stand with Nina's help. "This chaos… Is it already too late?"
"It's not," Catherine replied coldly, leading them toward the door. "As long as you're still breathing, Esverita still has a chance."
Carefully, they stepped out of the room, bracing themselves for whatever awaited them. Every second felt like a race against time, and even the smallest mistake could spell disaster.
***