Parker looked at Kael seriously, as if he already knew what was coming. "Behind the palace, there's a secret bridge. It's the only path leading to a gate outside the kingdom, to territories far beyond. Not many know about it, only certain trusted people can pass through there."
Kael grinned mischievously, his eyes lighting up. "So, if we sneak through there, we can break out of the wall, right?"
Parker nodded. "Exactly. But it's not that simple. That bridge is heavily guarded, and only those who are trusted are allowed to pass without suspicion. We'll have to be careful and move quickly. If we get caught, it's not just us who'll be hunted down—it's anyone involved."
Teren stared at Kael, his gaze cautious. "So, you're planning to break into the palace? And find the secret bridge?"
Kael nodded confidently. "I can't back out now. This is our chance. If we get out, we can learn more about what's really going on in this world."
Mira sighed heavily. "And you're sure we'll make it out alive after that? It's not that easy to go up against the kingdom."
Kael chuckled softly, as though he had everything planned. "Well, of course, it won't be that easy. But we have the advantage—we haven't been caught so far, right? They don't know who we are, and they don't know what we've seen."
Parker pulled out a small map from his pocket, unfolding it carefully. "This is a map I took from the old archives. Here, there's a red mark showing the route to the secret bridge. But take note... the path is blocked by guard posts and hidden caves. We'll have to be cautious."
Kael studied the map, inspecting it closely. "We'll start preparing tonight. Tomorrow morning, we head out."
Teren nodded, although his face was still tense. "But if they already know we're sneaking in, we won't have a place to hide. We'll only have our speed to rely on."
Kael smiled widely, full of determination. "That's the challenge, Teren. If we want to learn more, we have to take risks. But don't worry, we're not alone. We'll have each other's backs."
Mira furrowed her brows. "And we have to be ready for anything. If they know, we'll have to run faster than we've ever run before."
The atmosphere in the room became more serious. The decision was made, and the plan was starting to take shape. Kael looked at each of his friends, confident that they were all ready for whatever was coming.
Suddenly, a strange sound echoed in the air. Everyone in the shed froze for a moment. The sound grew louder, as if something massive was flying overhead.
Kael, Teren, Mira, and Parker ran outside to the backyard of Elro's house. They all looked up at the sky, their eyes wide as they saw a large object speeding across the sky. A bright blue light streamed from the sides of the aircraft, and the roar of its powerful engines made their ears ring.
"What is that?" Mira asked, her voice trembling.
Parker, who had an inkling of what it was, took a deep breath. "That's a fighter jet... from humanity, from Earth. It's not from Ticonic. That's not something we have."
Kael stared at him, confused. "A jet from Earth? So... there are humans from Earth here?"
Parker nodded slowly. "That's a military jet, typically used for patrols or attacks. They've probably known about us for a while. We're being watched."
Teren swallowed hard, feeling a rising tension. "So, we're not just fighting the kingdom? We're fighting them too?"
Parker didn't answer directly, but his gaze gave enough of an answer. "They've probably been monitoring us for a long time. This isn't a coincidence. They've been keeping us in the dark for a reason."
Kael stood still for a moment, processing all of this. "If they've come, then we don't have much time. We need to move faster."
Mira looked at Kael. "But we can't just take down that jet, Kael. They're far stronger than we are."
Kael furrowed his brow. "I know. But we can't back down now. The answers are beyond that wall. We have to keep moving forward before they figure out what we're planning."
Teren added, "We need to move faster now. We can't get trapped here. They're going to be looking for us more intensively."
The tension in the air was palpable. The jet had already passed far overhead, leaving behind a fading trail of light in the night sky. But that trail signified one thing: the war was not just against the kingdom but also an external threat from outside their world.
Kael looked at his friends with newfound determination. "We can't stop now. Let's start preparing for tomorrow."
Parker stared at Kael with a worried look. "Why are you so reckless, Kael? You could have sacrificed Teren and Mira's lives. We don't even know what we'll be up against out there."
Kael lowered his head, silent for a moment. The weight he had carried for so long was now coming to light. He lifted his head and met Parker's gaze with a determined look in his eyes.
"I know the risks," Kael said, his voice low but firm. "But I have to do this. I want to find my father."
Mira and Teren exchanged glances, both surprised by Kael's response.
"Your father?" Mira asked, confused. "But... hasn't he been gone for so long? What does your father have to do with all of this?"
Kael sighed deeply. "I don't know much about my father, Mira. He was in the military... and he probably knows more about this world than we could ever imagine. I've always felt there was something off about the story of his disappearance. They said he disappeared while fishing, but I don't believe that. There's something bigger they're hiding. And I think the wall... Earth... all of this connects to my father."
Teren looked at Kael with a mixture of concern and understanding. "Kael, we all know how hard it is to lose someone we love. But we can't just act on emotion. If we're reckless, we could all disappear without ever knowing what's really going on."
Kael looked at Teren and Mira one by one before nodding slowly. "I know. But I can't stay silent anymore. My father might still be alive. And if he's on Earth... I have to find him. This is the only way to get answers."
Teren sighed, clearly conflicted. "Kael, I understand, but this isn't just about your father. It's about all of us. We can't just think about one person. If we want to survive, we have to work together and be careful."
Kael nodded, his eyes still full of determination. "I know. But I have to do this. And if you guys want to come with me, we'll do it together."
There was a brief silence before Mira spoke. "We all have our reasons to fight. If this is important to you, Kael, we'll follow. But we'll do it carefully, okay?"
Teren nodded as well. "We'll look out for each other. Let's make sure no one loses their life again."
Kael smiled slightly, feeling lighter after revealing his feelings. "Thank you, guys. I promise, we'll do this together. We'll find the answers... and we'll make sure everything turns out okay."
With renewed determination, they continued their preparations for the journey ahead. Though the path before them was filled with dangers, Kael knew one thing for sure—he wouldn't stop until he found his father and uncovered the secrets hidden behind the wall.