Mission Accepted

                                                                                 Chapter 6

Royal Palace of Edinlodge

At the grand entrance of the Royal Palace of Edinlodge, King Charles stood tall, engaged in conversation with his royal guards.

"A forthcoming meeting with Asher of Cliffdecorps is imminent. I entrust both of you with the task of ensuring his safe escort to me," he commanded, his tone firm and authoritative.

"Your Majesty, we will see to it," the guards replied.

With that, King Charles re-entered the palace, his royal advisor, Hugues, falling in step beside him.

"Your Majesty, I presume you have settled upon your approach toward Cliffdecorps?" Hugues inquired, a hint of curiosity in his voice. "Be assured that my unwavering loyalty remains to you, irrespective of the choices you make."

"Your fidelity is valued, Hugues," the king replied, gratitude evident in his voice. "Do you recall the Kingsferry Act of years past?"

"Ah, the act that saw the redistribution of Hogfield land to the struggling families of Kingsferry. What about it, Your Majesty?" Hugues asked.

"It presents a reflection. We were confronted with a dilemma-give the land to them or use it for bigger economic projects.," the king explained.

"Certainly, we chose to pass up the prospects of large-scale development and bestow it upon them, staying true to Edinlodge's core values," Hugues replied.

"Precisely. Despite the economic setbacks that unfolded, we remained true to our principles," the king affirmed.

"And so, we shall continue, forging a path of conciliation with Cliffdecorps this time," Hugues stated, reinforcing the shared vision.

The king fell silent, contemplating the weight of his decisions.

"I am retiring to my chambers for some rest before the meeting. I'll meet you in the throne room later," the King announced, his voice steady.

"Of course, Your Majesty," Hugues replied, bowing deeply.

As the king strode away toward his private chambers, Hugues's thoughts lingered.

In his mind, he vividly recalled a moment from the past.

Before him stood the imposing figure of King Charles, his back turned and framed against the regal balcony of the palace. From this vantage point, the king surveyed the expanse of Edinlodge, his gaze reflecting a blend of authority and deep contemplation, as if he were weighing the fate of the kingdom in his hands.

"King Charles, I remember the aftermath of the Kingsferry Act so clearly. Your unwavering commitment to Edinlodge's values and your dedication to uplifting the impoverished were evident-your satisfaction in making the right choice shone through in that expression."

From that angle, though barely visible, the subtle curve of the king's lips hinted at a happiness and fulfilment that spoke volumes about his decision.

***

In a discreet, enclosed chamber illuminated by flickering torches on the stone walls, a warm, inviting glow fills the space. At its center, a special stone pillar supports the Lantern of Desolation, emitting a soft, eerie light. The room, while dim, possesses enough illumination to reveal its sacredness.

Areus sat on a sturdy wooden bench, his gaze fixed on the lantern, lost in thought. His short, spiky red hair framed a face hardened by war-sharp jawline, furrowed brow, and piercing eyes.

The black and gold chest plate he wore bore intricate engravings, its well-worn surface a testament to countless battles. Resting upon his broad shoulders, lion-headed pauldrons exuded an aura of power, their fierce craftsmanship mirroring the warrior himself.

Gold and leather wraps coiled around his forearms, while a decorated belt secured the layered skirt adorned with ancient motifs. His rugged greaves, forged for both protection and endurance, bore the weight of an unrelenting past.

Tessy approached the chamber's entrance, where vigilant sentinels stood guard. The guards swung the heavy door open, granting him access to the secretive inner chamber. He walked toward the Lantern of Desolation, curiosity driving him closer.

"This is it-the Lantern of Desolation," Tessy remarked, eyes sparkling with curiosity as he bent down for a closer look.

"Though I wouldn't know what to do with it." He stepped back and sank onto the bench beside Areus.

"What did the King say?" Areus inquired.

"He's a bit indecisive. Needs time to contemplate his next move." Tessy replied, glancing back at Areus.

"If he rejects your proposal, I'll have to seek another source of suffering to awaken the lantern." Areus planned.

"Don't worry; I'm confident he'll accept. I've known him for years. His heart lies with the people of Edinlodge and their economic advancement-not some pathetic village." Tessy reassured him.

He added, "The real question is whether he has the guts to get his hands dirty for his country."

"It's the logical path for him. Our world runs on survival of the fittest. The strong must grow stronger, even if it means overshadowing the weak," Areus replied.

"Hahahahaha!" Tessy laughed maniacally. "King Charles could learn a thing or two from you."

"He need not. The instinct for survival is inherent," Areus stated firmly.

"Those words are music to my ears. Well then, we'll wait here for his response," Tessy replied with a satisfied smile.

***

Ludus Gladiatorius

In the corridors of Ludus Gladiatorius of Edinlodge, Klaus and Jean sifted through their now-redundant lockers.

"I just realized this is the last time we'll see this locker. It feels so nostalgic," Klaus said, a hint of melancholy in his voice.

Ignoring him, Jean continued cleaning her locker. Suddenly, she pulled out something peculiar.

"This is... a mission scroll!"

Klaus perked up, his curiosity piqued, and quickly checked his own locker. To his surprise, he found an identical scroll.

Jean began to read aloud, "At this moment, a special-grade relic resides in the underground chamber of the Temple of Luminance. You've both heard of it-the Lantern of Desolation."

"What?!" Klaus exclaimed, glancing at his own scroll in disbelief.

Jean continued reading, "This relic houses a spirit that feeds on the suffering of human souls within a ten-kilometre radius. As it senses their agony, it absorbs the emotional turmoil, converting it into Celestia proportional to the intensity of that pain. Once the stored Celestia reaches a critical threshold, the relic activates, granting its wielder otherworldly strength and abilities far beyond mortal limits."

"Currently, the Olympian, Areus, is guarding it in the underground chamber."

Their eyes widened in shock, breath caught in their throats.

"Why would Areus be here?" Klaus asked, his voice shaking.

"To claim the Lantern for himself, obviously," Jean replied.

"I know this mission seems daunting but hear me out. I need you to infiltrate the temple of Luminance and reach the attic of the storeroom on the third floor. There lies a secret pathway that leads to a hidden space above the chamber where the Lantern resides. Stay there and observe Areus for the day. The moment he leaves with the Lantern, send a signal using this transponder device I'll provide you, along with a few other accessories:

Special Accessory:

Grade A Armory: Helm of Invisibility Grade A Potion: Full Celestia Recovery Potion

You'll find these in the special mission locker. After completing the mission, you can keep the helm and potion as your reward.

Special note: Areus is a fire, earth, and force cesletia type user, so he won't detect you while you wear the helm-only sorcery and animal celestia types can."

"I'm not doing this. The risk is too high with Areus involved," Klaus said, shaking his head.

Jean paused, contemplating. "I'm going."

"But why?" Klaus asked, baffled by her decision.

"This mission is sanctioned by our teachers; it should be safe, and it's not like Areus can sense us, so there's nothing to fear," Jean asserted. "Besides, the reward is too great-a Grade A weapon that so many have searched for, and now it's here, within reach. I can't let this opportunity slip away."

With determination, Jean walked toward the special locker.

"Geez..." Klaus sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Now that you put it that way, I guess I'll have to go along with you."

***

Goltude Meadows

"Gosh, it's so boring! Do we really have to wait until nighttime to burn this village?" Prest complained, fidgeting with impatience.

"You probably won't even be involved in the operation," Mea shot back, rolling her eyes. "They'll be doing the burning from afar. There's no role for gifters like us in an attack like that."

"Shut up!" Prest snapped, his frustration boiling over.

"She's right," Mitoko interjected, busy organizing her weapons. "The Celestia technology we have is more than enough for this operation."

Mea flashed a teasing smile at Prest, who glared back in annoyance.

Just then, Bradcular entered the scene, causing Prest to sit up straight.

"Did the King authorize our boss to burn the village?" Mitoko asked, her tone curious.

"The King is still undecided, but our boss believes he'll get the green light. He instructed us to prepare for tonight," Bradcular replied confidently.

"Of course, as expected from my father," Prest said firmly, a hint of pride in his voice.

Mitoko retrieved her Celestia gun from her equipment bag, checking it carefully in preparation for the night ahead.

***

Celestia technology lab

Inside a Celestia technology lab hidden in an undisclosed area of Edinlodge, Margaret, the chief engineer under Tessy's command, supervised maintenance alongside her subordinates. The atmosphere hummed with quiet focus until Dober strode into the room.

"Our boss wants the Celestial Energy Link activated," Dober announced.

"So, the King has approved his proposal?" Margaret asked, pausing mid-task.

"No, but our boss is confident he will," Dober responded.

Margaret nodded and activated the device. The Celestial Energy Link hummed to life, spinning rapidly as it emitted a vibrant azure glow.

"With this online, every Celestia-powered weapon within range will be ready for use," Margaret announced.

At Goltude Meadow, Motoko's Celestia gun flickered with the same radiant glow. Nearby, Bradcular ordered the NebulaTech troops to ready their weapons, which began to pulse with energy.

Meanwhile, back in the lab, the Energy Link spun faster, glowing even brighter.

High above, concealed within a crawl space, a shadowy figure remained perfectly still, watching the engineers below. His gaze lingered on the glowing core of the Energy Link, its brilliant azure light casting flickering reflections across his mask.

Slowly, he reached into his coat and retrieved a small, palm-sized transponder. With a faint click, the device powered on, its dim red light piercing the darkness.

"The link is active," the figure murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "Proceed as planned."

Silence. A pause. Then, with a precise motion, he switched off the transponder and tucked it away.

Below, the engineers remained focused on their work, unaware. Unaware of the eyes watching them. Unaware of the message that had just been sent.

The figure did not move. He simply watched. And waited.