A lone man is nothing more than a grain of sand in the vastness of the map. He can move like the wind, unpredictable, but in the grand scheme of things, far too insignificant to warrant the slightest interest. It's only when he gathers that he resembles a stone in the path, one that might be noticed for a fleeting moment, ephemeral. But when the number surpasses ten thousand, it becomes hard not to attract attention, and therefore, difficult to conceal one's movements.
A city deserted in a few hours without the slightest turbulence is no trivial matter. What caught my attention the most was the reason behind such an action, and I could see only one that made sense: the Calamities had simply finished with this city and were preparing to advance their pieces. I had to understand their objectives, and their movements could offer me a glimpse.
I fixed Victor with a smile.
"Could you tell me which direction they're heading?"
The rat before me paused for a moment, then resumed its movements.
"As soon as they crossed the city walls, they headed north."
I furrowed my brow.
North… What could be up there? They shouldn't find anything, unless they hope…
I sprang to my feet and headed for a cabinet, which startled the rat.
When I returned, I threw a map on the table. It was old, worn with the passage of time, but still clear enough to be useful.
It depicted the northern territories of the Empire, all the way to the border. I placed a cross on Astoria and scanned the map. My eyes searched for an answer, a detail that would allow me to understand.
"What exactly are you looking for?" Victor asked, a curious expression on his face.
"Well, I'm trying to figure out their destination. If we go by their direction, they shouldn't find anything… unless they intend to leave the Empire and head into the Calamities' territory. But that would be impossible. They'd have to pass through the military base. And that base… it's always been..."
I suddenly stopped talking. Heat rose in me, and a cold sweat beaded on my forehead. I murmured, almost to myself:
"Condemned..."
The rat raised its tail, visibly waiting for an explanation.
"By the look on your face, you've found something," Victor remarked.
I remained silent for a moment, trying to comprehend the magnitude of what was unfolding. A certainty overtook me, and it frightened me.
"I might have preferred not knowing," I finally said. "I fear what's happening in Astoria is just the beginning of a greater scheme."
I tapped the map, drawing Victor's attention to a small symbol.
"The Northern Wall? What's that got to do with all this?" he wondered aloud.
I responded with another question.
"What do you know about it?"
He stared at me for a moment, his eyes wide, as only rats could manage, before answering:
"It's a military base located at the border of the Empire's territory, known to be impregnable. It's withstood relentless attacks from the Calamities for decades. It's thanks to it that the northern inhabitants don't face the threat of the Calamities. It's called the Invictus Fortress."
I took a deep breath before continuing:
"If we put ourselves in the Calamities' shoes, and we're facing an impregnable wall, a wall that, from the outside, appears flawless, the only option would be to destroy it from the inside. And for that, nothing works better than a strategy that has already proven itself."
I stared at Victor, waiting for him to understand.
"Do you know the story of the Trojan Horse?"
Victor nodded, his questioning look urging me to continue.
"An army found itself at an impasse, facing an impregnable city. Unable to break through by force, they pretended to give up the war. They left behind a massive wooden horse at the gates. The inhabitants, thinking it was a gift, brought it inside the city. That night, the soldiers hidden inside emerged and opened the gates to the rest of the troops."
There was silence as Victor processed the deductions before muttering:
"So, what would be their Trojan Horse?"
I smiled, a touch cynical.
"We are the Trojan Horse."