How to Find your Way in the Incomplete Archives

Twelve

Rolling grasslands defined the western outskirts of Shadow Fortress. Wild blooms tainted patches of the undulating land in varying shades of yellow and white.

The feathery grass bowed in gentle deference to the southern breeze. A warm scent of sun-kissed greenery wafted through the air. These uninhabited lands had escaped the geopolitical conflicts of its neighbouring city.

"Here it is ," Fremont pointed at an innocuous hillock not too far from them. At a glance, it was an oddly barren spot in the life-laden surroundings. On one side of it was a rocky, bare part. All the other sides were covered in herbs.

The young man had led the Boglanders to these grasslands with the promise of revealing the hidden path to Umbrapolis Castle.

"Are you sure there's a tunnel under there?" Archaea cocked her head to the side. The grass-less wall was about half the size of an average person and showed no signs of a supposed entryway, "It looks like a collapsed animal burrow,"

"Yes, it is here. This is what we call 'hidden in plain sight' ,"

"It does look well hidden. So well, in fact, I don't see how anything could enter it without having to dig up a burrow themselves."

Arlan tried to hide a smile.

"Do you two want to go through it or not?"

"If it will get us to the Holy Maiden , I will believe you,"

"As long as the Maiden is in the castle, we can reach her through here. This tunnel connects to a secret chamber in my private study. If the enemy have not discovered the room yet, we should be able to enter and safely hide in it till nightfall,"

"But we saw how battered the castle was. Will your study still be intact?"

"My study was in a much deeper layer of the castle," he stepped into the clearing near the hillock, "As long as the inner circle of the castle remains standing, we can expect it to be safe. Now, are you ready to face the Labyrinth of Despair?"

A heavy peace hung over the wilderness, smothering the ambience with its weighted quiet.

"Fremont, we gave it some thought," Arlan was quieter than usual, "Your followers fought hard to protect you. They were willing to pay with their lives to keep you alive. In good conscience, I cannot ask you to come with us any further. I can say both Archaea and I are of the same opinion on this matter,"

"What? We had a deal!" he was quick to protest, "I agreed to show you the way as long as you help me reach the inside of the castle. Besides, the tunnels are tricky, only I know the way through."

"Even so, as subjects of the Shadow Kingdom, we cannot risk the life of our King to fulfil our ambition. You can create a map of the path for us and we will go find our way,"

"I refuse," the man sunk down cross-legged on the ground, "We're going together or good luck entering the tunnel!"

Archaea tried to reason with him, "Think of your people. You said that the contingency teleport point was activated as a last resort when Archmage Juvela failed to hold the lines. Aster sent you to the escape shelter because your life matters that much more to all of them. Do you want to let their sacrifices be in vain?"

"My people?" His clouded expression was a mix of fury and frustration, "I have done nothing but think of my people. Not a day has gone by when I did not think of how I had abandoned them. The escape spell sent me to a sheltered cave in the south. I lost all means of contacting them. I had no way of knowing what fate befell my subjects in Umbrapolis when I, myself, was unharmed. In truth, as their King, I should have been first and foremost in shouldering that cruel fate alongside them."