"What do you mean the town's been declared close?"

"Like I said. It's either official business only. Merchants with licenses are an exception. People who wants to be recruited as soldiers for the revolution are welcome. Now move along. I don't want anyone meddling with this momentous event."

They retreated back to the outskirts of the town after having been denied entrance.

Exhausted and worn out from the journey so far, they slumped on the ground.

"We need to find another way through, soon. We're off schedule, but we'll make it if we try for an alternative instead of hoping to wait this out."

Remuil argued, being the only one who's braving the exhaustion in an optimistic manner.

The sun shone brightly above along with the clouds, and the day was approaching its zenith.

The group had accounted for the time they were trapped inside the forest which was not bound by the laws of time, originally making them think that a day had already passed when it had not.

"Give it a rest, alright? I'm tired..."

Zafra negated his leader's optimism, lying flat on the ground with his hands behind his head.

"The caravan on the request was said to pass by the city-state of civil a day and a half from now. We might still make it, but I'll have to agree with Zafra, Remuil. I'm a bit tired as well."

Claire responded, leaning on a tree as she closed her eyes and relaxed her body.

Remuil decided not to respond anymore, knowing the terrain beside the city-state of Rade.

It was surrounded by a mountain range, which would prove a challenge if they were to pass through it in their current state. Yet it was not entirely impossible.

"We could go through."

Laruse suggested, taking Remuil's attention.

"What do you mean, Laruse?"

"I have heard of a rumor in the past about how there's a secret cave near Rade that's been used as a shortcut. I don't know about the credibility, but It won't hurt to check it out, right?"

He looked at Cecil, who was passed out beside Claire and Robin.

"Well, it seems it's just you and me, Remuil."

The two nodded in agreement, saying a brief farewell for the sleeping group, and heading out once again to the town in hopes of finding information about the secret cave's location.

Remuil had left much of his arms back with the group, donning a simple cloak that made him look like a simple villager.

Laruse left his sword, leaving him defenseless.

Upon reaching the gates, they again saw the same soldier who had stopped them earlier.

This time, Laruse had planned in advance for something that will, hopefully, allow them passage.

The soldier quickly noticed them, taking his spear and alerting the other soldiers to stand in attention.

"What are your occupations, and what brings you here?"

Taking the lead, Laruse took a step forward, making sure that the man could not see under his cloak in case he would remember their faces by any chance.

"We are simple farmers looking to join the recruitment. My brother and I came from a village east of Rade, and times have been hard."

The soldier eyed him tenaciously, giving up as he stepped aside to let them through.

"There are soldiers lined up to the side when you enter. Go to the town square and you'll find the recuitment effort there. Goodspeed to you, our new allies."

Quickly they strode through the gates, removing the hood of their cloaks as to see better.

"What's with the revolution? It's the first I've heard of it. Any idea, Laruse?"

"Only guesses. It's happened before anyway, but I could be wrong."

"What do you mean?"

"Back in the past, there was someone ambitious enough to try and truly unite the city-states, creating a solid nation instead of a divided one. He tried to fight against the nation of Farron, to the north of Independence, but lost too many battles, leading to a large scale betrayal. Those who were still loyal to him fought their last battle, resulting in the man's death, and the end of a revolutional attempt."

"That's interesting. How come you know so much about its history?"

"I just heard of it. Now, let's move and find what we need."

"Right."

The town was tidy, and there were crowds of people lined up were soldiers stood.

There were three paths, one leading to the recruitment plaza, and the other to the market area, and the last is what seemed to be the government's office area.

"I say we take the government's."

Laruse suggested with a whisper, so that no one would get the wrong idea from them.

"Why are you whispering, Laruse?"

"Better to be safe than sorry. It seems that everything here is on strict lockdown."

Remuil nodded, following Laruse, who strode down the shadow covered alleyways of the various establishments after reaching a district.

The number of people became smaller and smaller the farther they got.

"Uhm, Laruse?"

"Yes?"

"I thought we were going to ask around for the secret cave entrance. What are we doing here? There are less people here than there are at the town square."

"Naturally. Think about it. I've heard how some of those people are. They're patriotic for a nation that's not even united. And now they're ecstatic about creating a union of city-states that'll rival another nation. I wouldn't want to get in the way of those people. I'll save myself the trouble and let them be."

"I don't understand what you're saying."

Remuil replied with a dumbfounded face.

"What I’m saying is, that they're planning a revolution."

"A revolution?! Why? And how do you know that?"

Laruse turned around and handed Remuil a paper.

"It's written there. Read the front page and you'll know what I mean."

"Wait, is that the paper that I saw you take from that stand?"

"It doesn't matter. Just read it."

He did as he was told, lightly skimming through some of the pages, reading aloud the line that caught his attention.

"Influential nobleman's son raises the banner for revolution to fight the terror of Farron... Wait, does that mean the free city-states will become a nation?"

"That's what they aspire to be at least."

"You told me about how a revolution started in the past and how it failed. What do you think will happen to this one?"

"Who knows. I can't see into the future after all. Only thing I know is that it'll get bloody if it goes through."

Laruse proceeded through the alleyways, emerging through a lightly populated commercial street.

"Is that where we're going?"

Remuil pointed to the public library, a three-story, stone built structure decorated with a plain sign of a pile of books on it.

"Are you sure we have the time to read all those? I'd guess we'd need at least three days to skin through the information. Plus, we'd probably argue about it being true or not. What we're heading for is the governor's office."

Sneaking about, they came to a large plot of land, paved for the luxurious building that is the governor's office.

It looked to be more like a nobleman's mansion rather than a place for affairs concerning the city.

"Is this the place?"

The front section of the building had soldiers guarding the doors, and some were making their rounds.

"Yeah. Follow me, and try not to stand out. There's bound to be something in here about a cave. If not... Then maybe we'll force our way through."

"I don't think that'd be a great idea, Laruse. We'll be dead by that time. Plus, I don't really think we could go against those experienced fighters, save for you and Cecil."

"Not if you think that you can't. Now in here. I doubt anyone goes through here."

They snuck through the side of the building where it created a shadow for them to hide under.

Laruse gently propped a window on the lowest floor open, signaling Remuil to come inside as he kept it open.

"I think this is a bad idea, but I'll trust you."

He came in after reassuring himself of Laruse's abilities.

They came into a corner of a regally decorated hallway, furnished with potted plants and expensive looking tables and ornaments.

"Is this really a governor's office?"

"It doesn't really matter now. All we need to do is find what we came for and leave, simple as that."

They took the hallway to their right, aimlessly taking any direction, deciding on if Laruse felt that it was the right way to take.

There were countless doors on each side of the hallway, making their task of finding that one specific room rather complicated and difficult.

They climbed the stairs, reaching the top floor of the three-story structure.

"Are you sure that it's right here?"

"I have a feeling."

The two of them reached a hallway leading them to a polished double-door without any signs of guards or security.

"Easy enough, right, Remuil?"

Laruse dashed to the door, creeping silently upon reaching it, trying to discern whether there were sounds coming from inside of not.

he felt for the doorknob, turning it gently, opening the door that creaked open.

The room was well decorated, having statues here and there, a glass door leading to the veranda, and a neatly placed bookshelf on the side.

And what stood on the middle was the governor's desk, the mist likely place to contain the much needed information.

They started rummaging through the desk and other containers, trying to find documents about Rade's surroundings.

Upon searching, Laruse found a document different from what they needed to find.

"What's this? 'We will be annexing the city-states that have refused to join our union. I want you to gather as many soldiers as you can and have them trained and ready. I will be sending a general who will be leading the troops. Attached on another document are the cities that we will subjugate. Do not fail me, otherwise you'll know what's coming to you,' what the heck is this about?"

Laruse read out the message on the letter, mumbling to himself as he processed the information.

"Laruse, I found a map of Rade. I think it's right here, the cave."

Remuil approached the desk where Laruse searched, laying the map down flat.

Laruse returned the letter to the drawer and faced Remuil.

"Good. Then that's where we'll need to go. Great work, Remuil."

"Still, it's pretty well hidden. As if it's become somewhat of a secret passage used by the very people living here."

Tidying up, they prepared to leave through the same door that they entered from.

After exiting the building, not making any noise, they quickly ran back through the alleys, trying to avoid the streets where the sun illuminated them.

They wore their hoods once more and left the gates, but not without being suspected by the very same man that interrogated them.

But, they sprinted before the guards could mobilize, forcing them to let the two go without any form of resistance.

Filled with adrenaline, they continued running until they reached the spot where they had left their group, now awake and relaxing by the same spot.

"Where have you two been?"

Asked the annoyed Zafra, opening one eye.

"We can ask them later. Here, sit anywhere. I prepared something to eat for everyone."

Cecil ushered them back, making things look normal, as if they never left at all.

The two of them also noticed the guest that they had.

An old, bearded man wearing a long gray robe with a tall pointy hat.

"Greetings. My name is Alesis, a scholar from Sor. I thank you once more for allowing me to join you."

He bowed his head slightly as a form of introduction.

"He wanted to pass through the city but was denied as well. So we asked him if he wanted to join us, seeing as you two already planned on finding some way through."

Cecil elaborated on the various reasons.

After the meal, the two of them explained why they left and for what purpose they did that.

"That was reckless! You were lucky that security was focused on another part of the city."

Claire began scolding the two.

"Now, now. I think it's alright. They came back safe and sound after all. Why not let them go?"

"You're too lenient, Cecil. I know Laruse is an exceptional talent, but it leads him into thinking that nothing's impossible."

Claire retorted.

"Don't worry about me too much. I can get by easily."

Laruse replied to the vexed young woman of the group.

They passed the time explaining what they found and figuring out how things should go once they pass through the cave.

From inside the room where the two trespassers rummaged appeared a tall, pale, handsome looking man, who wore a long black robe concealing his arms, smiling menacingly.

"It seems that there are meddlesome pests roaming about now. Interesting. Let us then amuse ourselves for a bit."

He combed back his silver hair, taking in a deep breath.

The room was filled with an eerie, bloodcurdling atmosphere, one that could very well terrify and petrify any nearby person.

But, that presence disappeared once he left the room, bringing with him his devious guise in which masked something even greater and far more terrifying than one could even begin to imagine.