The night is quiet, and the dark sky looms above. The windows of Pupillus are as clear to me as the buttons on my cape. Even though it's past the hour when any sane person would be outside, even this late in the night, the heavens is not pitch black. The usual night colour of black is instead a dark blue with grey skies. It's the light times after all. At this time of year, the night never goes black.

My hands hurt from the scratches I got climbing up the stone wall. From the top of the wall, I examine the courtyard on the opposite side. The citadel still looks as magnificent as when I left. Sliding over the wall, letting my body hang off the side, only being held up by my arms. Looking back at the city of Mavahofn from where I hang. I see the shadowy figure of Narin walking back towards our hideout. "I'll see you soon," I say to myself as I let go of the wall.

The silence of the night is broken when I make impact with the ground. It takes me a moment to regain my composure after the fall. My legs sting, and the pain radiates from my feet to my knees. Frustrated, I take a big breath. Taking a look around to make sure I hadn't been discovered. With no sign of trouble, I set into a sprint towards the nearest tree, not stopping before I reached it.

Hidden behind the tree, I start to survey the courtyard. There is a light from a lantern close to where I need to go. Those lanterns are carried by the guards. Patiently, I wait as the light moves slowly over the wall, reflecting in the windows. The perfumed smell of the apple tree's flowers is strong, even though I have a cloth over my mouth, it's still suffocating. When the light reaches the citadel corner. It's time, I need to get moving.

As I reach the building, I slow my pace before stopping in front of a window. One hand resting on the coarse stone wall. Using the other, I pull down the scarf that is covering my face, to regain my breath. Even though I am gasping for air and my chest burns, I don't have time to waste. I need to get in before a guard appears.

Pulling a long iron needle from my pouch, I start to fiddle with the lock on the window. The wooden windows of this old structure are dry and rough, and the crimson paint is breaking and peeling in several spots. After some effort, I managed to lift the latch of the lock. As I open the window, a light flickers in the corner of my eye. A guard is about to walk by. Hurring, I use my arms to pull myself over the window ridge.

My boots barely make contact with the floor before I turn to close the window after me. As soon as I have secured the lock, I drop down on the floor and stay close to the wall. The lantern's light grows over the walls and dances on top of the various desks. The familiar scent of sand enters my nose. I never imagined returning to this classroom. But here I am pressed against the floor, hiding from the people in whom I once had complete trust.

When the light fades, I stand up. Looking down at the desk in front of me, there are sand-filled trays on top of it. Taking a handful of sand in my hand, I let it slip between my fingers back into the tray. I miss the part of my childhood that was spent with this gritty sand stuck to my fingers, writing words and numbers.

As I move across the classroom, the floor squeaks under my boots. Pressing my ear against the door, I heard slight creaks on the other side. While waiting for the person to pass, I adjust my scarf to cover my face. Believing I can no longer hear the footsteps, I open the door. At the end of the hall is a little light from a lantern that keeps getting smaller. Fortunately, it was in the opposite direction of my goal.

I'm only a few doors down from the room I'm looking for. As a guard just passed, there won't be another for some time. But still, the floor makes me worry. Even though I am cautious, the floor creaks with each step. When I finally got to the door, I let out a breath of relief. I don't expect the door to be open, so I won't spend my time trying. Instead, I reach into my pouch and pull out the tools I need to break the lock. It takes a mere moment for me to break it open.

The door creaks as I shut it behind me, immersing me in darkness. I fumbled to retrieve the candle from my pouch. It is so dark I wouldn't know I held the candle if I didn't feel the cold candle wax. Using flint and steel, I soon have a flame glowing. The little flame doesn't illuminate much of the room but it's enough for me.

In the dim light, I can make out the shelf with records. Everything is alphabetical. My search begins under the letter L, Lasse, Luke, male names. Moving lower on the shelf, I get female names, Lana, Lisa, Lucielle. But I did not see my own name there "That can't be right?" Searching again for the name Lorelei. But there is nothing even close to my name. "Maybe it's under S for Shawty," I say to myself, but no luck there either "They can not have gotten rid of it?"

There is no use in continuing to look for my missing file. Moving on to N, I search for the names Neary and Narin. Narin's file is missing too, but Neary's folder is in its spot. Relief washes over me as I pick it up. This has not been in vain. The candle makes a low thud as I place it on the shelf. With the same hand that held the candle, I open the folder.

Name: Neary

Gender: Female

Mother: Purtri. no family name

Father: unknown,

Orphanage notes: Twins Neary and Narin, 3 years of age at arrival, Mother immigrated from the Sultanate Territories with the twins, got sick on the travel and died shortly after arriving. No other information on the parents.

Neary hasn't said a word since arriving, her brother speaks, but in a foreign language.

This is essentially what I was searching for. But I am disappointed in what is written, it is fundamental information, nothing more. I start reading the text over a couple of times to make sure I won't forget any of the information. Purtri, the twins' mom, is named Purtri, and they are from the Sultanate Territories. Then I start flipping through the file, past all the information from years of being at the orphanage and later Pupillus.

When I finally reached the last page, there has been written on. It does not surprise me to see Basin's handwriting, who else but our ward? I wonder what happened to him after we ran away? Was he punished, or dismissed from duty? The page only has two entries.

Captain Hellvian have made the decision that Neary is not fit for the royal guard. Despite great skill, her lack of speech is problematic, a thing I was aware could become problematic, when I choose to take both of them. Neary will be sent off to a village as one of their protective guards. She took the news well. Unlike her brother who got angry. But after a talk they understood it for the best. 

Last night, Neary deserted with her twin brother Narin, and the royal guard Lorelei.

My disappointment is immense. It's not that I was expecting it to be pages long, but I thought he at least would write more than a line. Putting Neary's file back. I wonder where mine and Narin's are. Could it be in Hellvian's office? It's not far down the hall, and I have plenty of time. But then again, why should it be? 

Blowing out the small candle, the smell of the smoke hits my nose. It would be stupid to search for them in his office. But I have gotten so far, I can't give up yet. Putting my ear to the door, listening for any sign of footsteps. The hall is silent, all I can hear is my own heartbeat. The door creaks as I open it ajar. Peaking through the small gap, searching for a sign of any guards, the hall is completely dark, it's now or never.

The taps of my boots on the creaking wooden floor are the only sound in these empty halls. Not far from the office, an orange glow emerges, sliding across the walls."Hey! Who goes there?" The voice of a male guard echoes in the hall. "Oh shit." Turning around, I sprint back to where I came from. "Stop, in the King's name!" The guard yells out. As he follows in pursuit.

This guard is running fast on my tail. While running, I get my throwing knives out of my belt. Another guard appears as I turn a corner in the hall. Abruptly, I come to a halt. No matter what, I can't be caught. Even if I need to fight my way out, I will. Both guards are wearing the hood on their capes. It does so I can't see their faces, which is to my advantage. I doubt I'd be able to do what I'm going to do if I knew who it was.

The guard is blocking the slim hallway, waiting for me to make a move. That is what we are trained to do. Survey the situation and attack when in reach. The other guard has almost caught up to us, I need to get past fast. Taking aim, I throw the knife with all my force towards his leg, a spot I know is exposed. He screams in pain, falling to the floor.

The hall is slim, I am unable to run past him. Instead, I hurdle over him. Mid jump I feel a pull on my leg. Lifting my arms in front of my face, preparing to hit the ground. The sound of my body smashing into the wood floor echoes in the hall. My hands and body hurt from the impact.

In my attempt to get up, I fumble back on the ground. The guard is still holding onto my leg. I kick back, when my foot makes impact with his face he loses grip on my leg. They can't know I am here, I need to get away. While scrambling to get up. The first guard had caught up.

He launches at me, grabbing my arm. In the hand not holding onto me, he has a dagger. Trying to get him off me, I punch him in the face while kicking at his leg. But he barely flinches. With the hand holding the dagger, he aims for my face. A burning sensation spread across it as the blade cut me. Hot blood started to run down my cheek.

"It would be in your best interest to surrender." No! Not him, anyone but him, I need to get away. I try to push him away, but in the fight, we both lose balance and fall to the floor. Kicking and punching to get away. But the second guard has collected himself. He grabs my arms to pin them down.

The guard on top of me put his hand to my neck, squishing it, my eyes got blurry and my mind foggy. Even though I open my mouth no sound escapes, only gasps for air

Before it fades to black, I feel him pull at the scarf hiding my face and the familiar voice saying "Let's see who hides behind the mask-"A moment of silence, and one last word said before I go out "Lorelei?"