Reyon stood on the outskirts of Duke Callius' grand estate, his crimson eyes narrowing as he surveyed the towering structure. The castle was a masterpiece of architecture, a fortress adorned with intricate carvings, towering spires, and walls reinforced with powerful magical formations. The very air around it was thick with layered defenses, warning any intruder that this was no ordinary noble's residence.
The estate itself was guarded by an elite force of knights, some of the best warriors in the kingdom, trained to perfection. Among them were at least four 6th-circle mages and a single 7th-circle veteran, their mere presence making the castle nearly impenetrable. Yet, Reyon was undeterred. He had planned this mission meticulously, and with his camouflage spell—one that rendered him invisible to any mage below the 8th-circle—he moved like a phantom through the castle grounds.
Slipping past the outer defenses was child's play. The knights patrolled in fixed rotations, their movements predictable to someone with keen observational skills. He slid through the main courtyard, past the towering statue of the founding Duke, and into the administrative wing where Duke Callius kept his personal documents.
The Vault of Secrets
Reyon had already anticipated that the Duke's office itself would be a decoy. In his past life, he had learned that Callius stored his most sensitive documents in a secret vault hidden beneath the office floor. The entrance was protected by a sophisticated 7th-circle formation, a powerful defensive mechanism meant to deter even skilled mages. But Reyon was no ordinary mage.
He activated £, the mana transformation symbol, engraving it into the air as a faint golden glow surrounded his fingers. The formation resisted at first, pulsing with raw magical energy, but Reyon's mastery over vectors allowed him to systematically disrupt its core structure. With a final flick of his wrist, the formation shattered silently, granting him access to the underground chamber.
The vault was filled with chests, shelves lined with documents, and artifacts imbued with protection spells. Reyon's eyes scanned the room swiftly before locating the logs he needed—evidence of the Duke's dealings with Berth. He skimmed through them, his heart pounding as he uncovered detailed records of bribes, illicit transactions, and orders for the elimination of those who threatened their influence. This was it. The proof that could bring them both down.
Tucking the documents into his robe, Reyon retraced his steps carefully, ensuring that his disruption of the formation left no trace. As he slipped back into the shadows, he set his next objective—Princess Julie.
Reyon knew exactly where Julie would be at this hour. She had always been meticulous about her training, and despite her royal status, she never slacked in honing her skills.
Inside the training hall, Julie—disguised as Emily—was in the midst of a sparring session, practicing against a set of enchanted dummies wielding 6th-circle magic weapons. Her movements were fluid, and her precision with Ice Magic was unmatched.
Reyon smirked. Without revealing himself, he stepped forward and whispered, "Princess Julie."
Her body tensed. She spun around instantly, her blue eyes flashing with shock. "Who's there?" she demanded, summoning a dozen Icicle Blades in an instant.
Reyon remained hidden under his Camouflage Veil, circling her like a phantom. "Why hide behind a false name?" he taunted.
Julie's face hardened, and without hesitation, she launched the ice blades toward the direction of the voice. The moment the blades neared him, Reyon activated Vector Field, causing the projectiles to veer off course and shatter against the stone walls.
She gasped. "Vector magic?!"
Before she could react further, Reyon appeared before her in a blur, gripping her wrist and forcing her into submission. With another motion, he cast a minor binding spell, restricting her movements.
"You should be more careful with your identity, Your Highness," he said, smirking. "Wouldn't want the wrong people finding out."
Julie gritted her teeth. "Who are you?"
He let go of her, stepping back just enough to give her space. Then, from his cloak, he revealed the stolen documents, spreading them before her. The papers detailed the Duke's corrupt dealings, as well as Berth's involvement.
Her eyes widened in shock as she skimmed through them. "This… this is…" She clenched her fists. "How did you get these?"
Reyon shrugged. "Trade secret. Just think of it as you owing me one."
Julie's gaze darkened. "Only my father—the king—knew about my mission here. Even within the palace, no one else was supposed to know. I researched you, Reyon. You were nothing but an ordinary orphan. How?"
He smirked. "Looks like your research was incomplete."
Silence stretched between them. Julie studied him intently, searching for any sign of deception, but all she found was unwavering confidence.
Finally, she sighed. "You're a dangerous man."
Reyon chuckled. "And you're just figuring that out?"
Julie stared at the documents again, her expression turning grim. "This is the evidence I needed against Duke Callius." She exhaled deeply. "So what now?"
"You have two choices," Reyon said. "You take these to your father and let justice take its course… or we take matters into our own hands."
Julie's lips pressed into a thin line. "I don't trust Berth. And if he's working with the Duke, that means we have more enemies than we thought."
"Exactly."
Julie folded her arms. "You seem to know a lot about these matters. Tell me, Reyon, why are you really doing this?"
For a moment, his smirk faltered. A flash of memories from his past life resurfaced—the destruction, the betrayal, the helplessness.
"I have my reasons," he said simply.
Julie studied him again, before finally nodding. "Fine. I'll work with you—for now. But if you betray me…" Her voice dropped to a whisper, frost forming around her fingertips.
Reyon only grinned. "I wouldn't dream of it, Your Highness."
A Dangerous Alliance
Julie turned away, staring at the documents once more. "I'll report this to my father, but we must be cautious. If we act too soon, the Duke will realize he's been exposed."
Reyon nodded. "That's why we'll let him believe he's still safe… until it's too late."
As he walked toward the exit, Julie's voice stopped him. "Reyon."
He turned, raising an eyebrow.
"Next time, don't sneak up on me."
He chuckled. "Where's the fun in that?"
With that, he disappeared into the shadows, leaving Julie standing alone in the training hall—holding the fate of Duke Callius in her hands.
To be continued…