Chapter 18.5: The Traitor's Trail!
The night air blanketed Fort Tervaille in a suffocating silence. Through secret corridors built by the kingdom's ancestors, Nanea moved swiftly but soundlessly. Her dull gray cloak made her nearly invisible in the darkness. In her hand, she held a small crystal needle—an ancient artifact that glowed faintly when near demonic aura.
For the past three nights, she had been tracking Lord Athriel Vaun, observing his steps, meetings, and words that sounded normal but carried subtle irregularities. The man was too calm amidst chaos. Too efficient.
Tonight, she had infiltrated Athriel's private quarters. The room inside was pristine—too pristine. Not like a military room—more like a dark place of worship. On the walls, ancient symbols were faintly drawn, only visible under moonlight.
Suddenly, the crystal needle in Nanea's hand glowed red.
"Damn…" she whispered. "You really are hiding something."
She opened the desk drawer—it was sealed with magic. But she had learned from Xebec how to detect magical gaps using mithril dust. With a bit of pressure, the seal snapped open. Inside: letters bearing Baal's three-eyed sigil, strategic maps of the kingdom's defenses… and most shockingly, a royal seal marked with Grand Duke Theral's crest.
"By the gods…" she whispered. "This is more than treason. This is… a conspiracy."
But before she could stash the evidence, footsteps echoed outside. Nanea slipped behind the curtains. Lord Athriel entered, followed by a hooded figure.
"Grand Chamberlain Morven must not interfere further," Vaun's voice rang clear. "He's still too loyal to King Phillipe."
The hooded figure replied in a deep, cold voice. "If he becomes an obstacle, we remove him. A small death is necessary for a new era to be born."
Nanea held her breath, her body tense. But she now knew: this was no longer just about defending the fortress—it was about exposing a network that reached the heart of the palace.
Once the two left, Nanea emerged from hiding. She gripped the traitorous letters tightly. By morning, Xebec had to know.
But as she opened the secret passage to leave… someone stood at the end of the corridor.
Lord Vaun.
"Not as clever as you think, Princess," he said, raising his magic staff.
In an instant, the room exploded with bursts of magic. Nanea ducked, hurling a shard of crystal toward Vaun. In the distance, a small explosion was heard from the northern wall—a warning signal.
The siege had begun. And the traitor had already opened the gates from within.
Magical blasts struck the walls of the underground tunnel. Dust flew, stones crumbled. Nanea rolled to the ground, her shoulder scraped by debris. But she held the letters close to her chest like her life depended on them—and it did.
Lord Vaun stepped forward, his staff now glowing with dark purple runes.
"Why you, of all people, caught my scent?" he asked, a cold smile curling on his face.
Nanea stood, breathing hard. "Because you were too arrogant to hide it properly."
Vaun swung his staff. A burst of energy raced toward Nanea—but before it struck, a silver flash burst between them.
A slash of light!
Xebec appeared from the side of the corridor, his long sword in his remaining right hand, cloaked in holy aura and white flame. In a blink, he stood in front of Nanea, blocking the attack single-handedly.
"Athriel Vaun," Xebec said in a deep, calm voice. "I hope you have a good reason for attacking the sister of the crown prince."
Vaun grinned. "You're too late, Xebec. They've already entered. Blood will flood these halls. And you… can't stop it."
Xebec didn't waste time. With a powerful step forward, he slashed. His sword didn't just move—it cut through space and time. Vaun tried to block, but his magic wasn't fast enough to match Xebec, now one with the power of Spiritual Clarity.
Blood sprayed. Vaun was thrown back, his shoulder torn open. But he chuckled, spitting blood.
"He is coming," he whispered. "Zaar'Thurel is coming… and you will all kneel."
In an instant, he vanished into shadows—fleeing with blood-fueled teleportation magic.
Xebec narrowed his eyes. "Coward."
He turned to Nanea, who was now standing while holding her wounded arm.
"Are you alright?" he asked gently.
Nanea gave a faint smile. "I'm hurt… but I got it. The proof. The names. Who opened the gates."
Xebec took the letters and scanned them quickly. His brow furrowed.
"Theral… Malefic… even Chamberlain Morven is being watched."
He gripped his sword tighter.
"That's enough. It's time to burn this treachery to the ground."
The fortress alarms roared like thunder across the sky. Smoke rose from the eastern tower, and guards' shouts echoed from all directions.
Xebec helped Nanea up. But before he could speak again, heavy footsteps approached from the grand hall.
Two figures emerged from the smoke: Grand Duke Theral, clad in blackened gold armor, and Duke Malefic, in a dark cloak embroidered with the inverted eye of a demon.
Xebec raised his sword. "So it's true… You didn't just watch as betrayal grew. You nurtured it."
Grand Duke Theral sighed, as if lamenting an inevitable truth. "Xebec… you don't understand. The world has changed. The old power is crumbling. Your father, King Phillipe, is too slow… too weak. The new world needs an iron hand. A leader… who knows how to survive."
Duke Malefic smiled, sharp as a dagger. "And who better than Bastian? A boy we will guide. Not you—the crippled prince left behind in a world that no longer exists."
Xebec stepped forward, his aura erupting. Holy white light circled him, a crushing force that made the stones tremble.
"Then," he whispered, "you stand on the wrong side."
Before battle erupted, a deeper, colder rumble echoed.
From the shadows, Athriel Vaun reappeared, kneeling before Theral and Malefic, his body soaked in blood.
"Your Graces," he rasped, "the plan is in motion… but Xebec is stronger than we thought."
Theral stared at Xebec, eyes sharp as blades.
"Good," he muttered. "So when we destroy you… the world will know no one can defy our will."
Duke Malefic grinned, and from beneath his cloak, a blood-red magic surged. "The time has come. The Gate of Hell… will open."
The corridor trembled, and from the depths below, whispers could be heard… the voices of thousands of demons waiting to be unleashed.
Xebec looked at Nanea, then at the enemies before him.
"Then I'll stand alone at this gate to hell," he said quietly, "and seal it shut with my sword."
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To be continued...