Chapter 22 : Infiltration
Hey guys, Agithos here for the first part of the chapter that was too long to be posted in only one chapter, so I had to divide it in two. Without further ado, enjoy.
Present time, Blazette's castle, Blazette POV
Boredom, that was the only thing I was feeling right now. I finished my castle yesterday and, I had nothing to do. Sure, my castle was big but it was also pretty empty : no maids, no butlers, no family...no one. Normally, Menos and Charloette would pass by every few days to see how I was doing, but, since they were on a diplomatic mission, I was left on my own.
"That felt really good !" I thought as I stepped out of my lava pool. I have always liked to take a bath after a hard day. It helps relax all the muscles in your body, that is, if you are immune to fire. Otherwise, you would just burn to death.
I put my clothes back on and begun to walk toward my room. I walked next to the portal Mickael and his friends created to go into the Nether. However, instead of passing by like I would do any other day, I stopped and found myself staring at the purple portal.
"You know...instead of sitting here, doing nothing, why not pass by and say hi ?" I asked myself with a smile as I began to advance toward the portal "It will nice be to see them again !"
I went through the portal. The first thing I felt when I arrived into the overworld was a cold breeze going across my body.
"I really should stop coming here with just a bra and a panty !" I thought as I vigorously rubbed my skin with my hands to warm me up.
After a minute, I looked around. The sky was black, meaning it was night time in the overworld. At first, It sounded strange to have a day/night cycle. In the Nether, we don't have any of that, the sky is always covered by a unbreakable bedrock ceiling.
"Maybe, I should come back when the day comes !" I whispered to myself before hearing some voice coming from around the corner. They were just whispers. I couldn't distinguish what they were saying though. However, as I was getting closer to the voices, they became clear.
"Do you think Mickael come from one of these ?" A girl's voice asked.
"I don't know, Cupa. You will be able to ask him as soon as he comes back !" A man's voice answered.
I turned around the corner to see Cupa and Hayden looking at the darkness of the night above their head . Hayden was sitting against the wall of the house, his arm wrapped around Cupa who was on his laps.
"Hey there, cold ones !" I called for them.
They turned around to face me. I could tell by the look on their face they were quite surprised to see me.
"Hi Blazette !" Cupa smiled before asking "What are you doing here ?"
"Well, I was bored and I had nothing better to do, so I decided to say hi !" I answered "What are you doing ?"
"Cupa wanted to watch the stars with me so that's what we are doing right now !" Hayden replied "Do you want to join us ?" He then asked.
I simply nodded and sat on the ground next to them
"Do you have any news concerning our friends ?" I asked.
"You shouldn't be worrying for them !" Cupa responded "I am sure they are all alright !"
"I sure hope so too !" I thought as I turned toward the stars.
Meanwhile, The castle, Charloette's POV
I woke up as I felt something poking me on my side. When I opened my eyes, I saw one of the guards from earlier pushing me with his boots made of iron. As soon as he saw I was awake, he spoke up :
"Hey, you, the 'Son and heir of the Gods' wants you in your room, right now !"
I tried to create a fireball in my hand but all hope were shattered as I noticed that my hands were in some sort of blacks gloves. They were quite heavy and I was also wearing the same kind of handcuffs as the maid I saw in the throne room. The guard in front of me probably figured out what I was trying to do because he began to laugh.
"Hahaha. It's no use, the gloves you are wearing right are made of obsidian. No matter how powerful your fireballs are, they won't be able to break those gloves. Now get up, let's not keep the noble wait. He really hates when someone is he waiting for is late !"
He lifted me of the ground and we exited the cell. I tried to remember what happened after Jade left. Although some parts remained blurry, I remember fighting the guards and one of them just sent me back my own fireball. Then I collided with the wall behind me and everything went dark. Next thing I know, I am waking up in a cell. At least, I was still alive.
A few moments later, I found myself climbing up some stairs, the guard pushing me in the back with the palm of his hand. Then, we arrived into the throne room, we passed through another door and I found myself into a corridor with a dozen wooden door on each side. At the end of the corridor was a golden door. As we were walking, we bumped into some other maids. They all wore sad looks on their faces and I even saw one crying as she was exiting one if the small room.
When we arrive in front of the golden room, I managed to hear a conversation going on inside the room.
"...I swear, this man blew up one of my storage building, killed most of my men and almost got me ruined !"
"I see. It's a shame he put you in so much trouble. If I find him, I'll have him executed. Can you tell me his name ?" A voice I recognized as the noble's asked.
"Well...His..."
Just as it was about to get interesting, the guard behind me knocked on the golden door, interrupting the conversation between the two man. Soon after the noble ordered us to enter and the guard pushed me into the room.
"About time !" The king said as he saw us, a glass of wine in his hand.
"Sorry, your majesty. She was...kinda slow to wake up !" The guard explained.
While the guard explained himself, I took the opportunity to take a good look around the room. It was pretty luxurious I have to admit, typically the kind of room you would expect for a king's bedroom. It had a giant bed, carpet, a giant closet and also a table where the king was actually sitting at. I noticed there was another man at the table with him. He had blonde hair and green eyes. He also seemed quite muscular. If we expect the helmet which was on the table next to him, he was wearing a full set of golden armor.
"So, that's your latest catch. You managed to capture a mob without my help for once and a ghast on the top of that. I must say, I am quite impressed. How did you managed to do it ?" The other man said as he looked at me from head to toes.
"I'll explain to you but first..." The 'Son and heir of the Gods' began as he took a small bell and rang it. Not long after, the maid with red hair opened the door.
"Did you call me master ?" She bowed.
"Yes, take our friend to the maids room to get her a more...appropriate dress. As soon as she is dressed, come back here. You have ten minutes !"
"Yes master !" The maid replied before taking my hand and exiting the room with me.
After we left the king's bedroom, I followed the maid for several minutes until we arrived in front of a room with a wooden door. When she opened the door, I saw that the room was filled with beds as well as some closet. Some other maids were helping one another getting dressed. Once we we were in the room, my guide closed the door and turned toward me.
"Hi, I am Snowy. What's your name ?" She asked.
"Charloette !" I replied.
"You are new here, I am right ?" She continued her questions as she searched for a maid dress in a closest. After she found one that could fit me, she returned to me.
"Well, yes..." I responded with a sad voice.
Hearin the tone in my voice, Snowy quickly hugged me for a moment.
"I am sorry you got captured. I really hopped you would have escaped this afternoon. But don't worry, my friend is going to save us and we are going to be free once again !" Snowy said with a bright smile on her face.
As soon as she finished her sentence, another voice was heard within the dormitory.
"Cut your crap, Snowy. Nobody is going to come for us. We are mobs, we are hated and we will always be hated !"
I looked at the source of the voice to see a zombie girl lying on her nearby bed. She had short green hair and a grey eye, yes, I said A grey eye because the other was hidden underneath an eye patch. She also had a bandage around her left arm.
"That's not true, Mira. I know my friend will come, I..."
"Then, where are they ?" The zombie girl known as Mira interrupted her before sighing "Listen Snowy. You have been here for only two months. You still have a bit of hope within you and it's perfectly normal. I have been his slave for two years and no one ever came to try and save me. No one cares for us, the sooner you will realize that, the sooner you will accept your new life !"
Then, Mira pulled her blanket up to her shoulder and turned her back to us. I looked toward Snowy. She was looking at the floor with sad eyes. I tried to cheer her up.
"Hey, Snowy. Don't lose hope. I am sure my friends will come and get us out of here !" I said.
"Do you really think so ?" She asked after sniffing one time.
"Yes. Don't worry !"
"Thank you, Charloette !" She said happily as she hugged my arm for a second. Then she placed the maid uniform in my hands. After getting dressed, we exited the dormitory and walked toward the king's bedroom.
"So Snowy..." I began, wanting to know a little more about my new friend "How did you end up in this place ?".
Snowy stopped dead in her tracks.
"I-I wished to protect a little girl I really care about. I managed to fulfill this whish, at the cost of my own freedom. We were playing together while her brother was away. That's when they appeared, I told her to run while I was keeping them occupied. I was brought in front if this king and he told me that I would make a great maid. It has been two months since I have seen them both. I really hope they are okay !"
By the time she finished telling her story, we finally arrived in front of the king's bedroom. When we knocked on the door, the guards opened and we found ourselves face to face with a very pissed off king.
"You are thirty minutes late, Snowy !" He said as he pointed at his clock "You know how much I hate when it happens..."
I looked at Snowy. Her eyes had widdened in fear, as if she knew what was going to happen to her. I could even see her body shivering. The king snapped his fingers and the two guards behind us took Snowy by the arm and began dragging her toward the door.
I tried to interrupt what was happening in front of me but, before I could say anything, I was slapped across the face by the noble. He wiped his hand on his clothes before saying :
"That also counts for you too. You are lucky it's your first day and that I am quite indulgent !"
I could only just watch Snowy exiting the king's bedroom with the two guards at her side. I was filled with hate toward this man. The *Son and heir of the Gods' began to walk in circle around me.
"As I thought, you are indeed very beautiful in a maid dress. Now, just returned to your room. I will call you in a few hours !"
Having nothing better to do, and also, wanting to get away from him as fast as possible, I followed his advice and left the room.
"You make me sick, you heartless monster !" I thought as I was walking through the corridor.
When I rejoined the dormitory, I saw that only the zombie girl known as Mira was still in the room, lying on her bed. Upon seeing me enter into the room, she didn't turn her eyes toward me and continued to stare at the ceiling. I sighed and sat on a nearby bed. I tried to think of a way to save Snowy but I didn't know the layout of this castle and with these gloves, I was powerless.
"It doesn't matter, I have to try !" Then I tried to get Mira's attention "Hey...Mira !"
"Hmm ?" She responded.
"I need your help, Snowy has been taken away by guards to receive some kind of punishment. Where do you think she could be ?" I asked.
"Don't even try to help her !" She simply answered.
"So what ?" I frowned " Are you implying I should leave a friend like that ?"
Mira sighed before sitting up on her bed, then she turned to face me.
"Look, since you are new in this castle, you obviously don't know how things work around here. I was like you once, I was at your place, trying to help someone in need. I was discovered infiltrating the dungeon and look at what it cost me !"
The zombie girl removed her eyepatch over her left eye and I gasped at what I saw. She didn't have any eyeball in her eye, leaving only a empty eye socket.
"I am not saying that because I don't like Snowy !" She continued "I am telling you that because I don't want you to suffer the same fate as me !"
I didn't respond to that. I could only stare at the darkness of her empty eye socket.
"Honey, Mickael, Ari...where are you ?"
Meanwhile, The camp, Mickael POV
"EVERYONE, GRAB YOUR EQUIPEMENT. FIVE MINUTES UNTIL DEPARTURE !" Sandra shouted through the camp.
While we waited for the signal, Ari, Menos, Jade and I just stayed next to a fireplace. Ari took the opportunity to eat a fish during that time. We were all ready for the mission. Ready to save Charloette and bring down this god wannabe.
"Hey, you three !" Sandra said in our direction "Go and get Ben, I want you four here by five minutes !" Then she walked away.
We looked at each other before I got up on my feets.
"I'll go look for him, you three, stay here !" I said.
"Can I go with you ?" Ari pleading while doing her most cute puppy dog eyes.
"No, Ari especially you, should stay here !" Ari began to pout "I'll be back soon !"
I walked away from the group and went further into the camp. A minute of walking later, I found the black armored swordsman next to a campfire. As I approached him, I noticed he was holding his little sister, sleeping peacefully, in his arms, a small cover over her body.
"Hey Ben. We are leaving in a few minutes !" I spoke up next to him.
"I am coming, just a second !" He replied.
Ben kissed his sister's forehead before gently putting her on the ground, next to the campfire. Ricka emitted a small moan as she didn't feel her brother's arm anymore.
"Shh Ricka. Don't worry, I am going to come back soon !" Ben whispered as he passed a hand in her hair. Then he got up and faced me.
"I am ready !"
I nodded and led him toward the meeting point where I left Ari and the others. When we arrived, I saw at least a group of hundred people at the place. There were man, woman and, I think, a few mobs. They were wearing leather armor as well as swords and bows. Sandra was standing trunk to make higher than the rest of the crowd. Upon noticing Ben and I arriving, she smiled and began to speak.
"My friends, for two years, we have suffered greatly. We all have lost husbands, wives, friends and childrens. Tonight will be the most important one of your entire life. Tonight, we either bring down the king or we will die trying. Whatever happens from now on, we won't be the slaves we were. If some of you happen to die during this fight, you will die free. Who is with me ?"
A loud war cry was heard from the crowd in front of her. Some were raising their fists and weapons in the air to show they were ready to die for what they believe in.
"Now then, follow me !" Sandra finished as she jumped down the trunk.
"That's it, no turning back now !" I thought.
"I am afraid not !" Notch agreed.
The group began to enter the forest into the direction of the city. Ben and I made our way though this massive crowd to find Menos, Ari and Jade walking right behind the leader of the resistance. When I rejoined them, I have to say, I was rather afraid of Ari starting up a fight with Ben. Fortunately, my fear didn't come true, my spider friend just shot a glare at the black armored man before turning her head in the opposite direction. I don't think Ben even noticed that because he kept staring in front of him and nowhere else.
The march toward the city was pretty silent. While Ari and Ben didn't speak a word, Jade and Sandra talked about politics, and what could happen to the city after the downfall of the king. As for the revolutionaries, I guess they didn't want to be spotted too quickly by making too much noises.
When we arrived in front of the city, I immediately noticed two guards standing in front of the front gates. As I was preparing myself to fight, I was surprise to see Sandra calmly walking toward the guard who just handed her a piece of paper.
"I see you have managed to rally quite a lot of people. And if this is just one of your many groups, the king stand no chance against us !" The guard spoke up.
"Thanks. What are the news ?" Sandra asked as she opened the paper.
I looked over her shoulder to see it a map of the city, some streets were highlighted in red and there was even a big red circle.
"That's the night patrol tour. If you avoid these streets, you shouldn't be detected too quickly. I also recommend you to avoid the residential district, the security had been renforced after patrol discovered five dead guards !" The guards explained.
After hearing the last part, I shot a glance at Ben who just rolled his eyes when he noticed as I was looking at him.
"What ? I told them to step out of my way. They didn't listen !" He said afterwards.
Sandra turned toward us.
"Mickael, you, Ari, Menos and Ben will go to the castle !"
"Wait a minute...Jade isn't coming with us ?" Ari asked.
"No, I am sorry !" Jade answered "If I am badly injured or worse, killed, there wouldn't be anyone to manage the village !"
"I understand !" The spider girl replied before facing us, grinning and raising her fist in the air "So, are we going to kick that noble's butt ot what ?"
"I...I think someone has already got ahead of you on this question !" Menos answered as he pointed toward the interior of the city.
"Huh ?" Ari turned around to see Ben already making his way toward the castle.
"And I was hoping everything would go well..." I thought as us three runned to Ben.
"Hey, you could wait for us !" I spoke up when we arrived at his side "Wether you like it or not, we are a group in this mission !"
Ben turned around and put his face close to mine
"Listen, I don't like you and you certainly don't like me. We can't form a group in this condition. On the top of that, I certainly don't want a criminal working with me !" He replied.
I frowned at him. I really hopped he was just kidding with me even though he sounded serious.
"Criminal ? I am not the one who killed five guards in cold blood !" I responded, angered by his behavior. He seemed pretty pissed off too.
"You know..." Ben began "I think I should have killed you on the spot instead of listening at my little sister. Let's end this, once and for all !"
"I am fine with this ! " I saw his wrist blade coming out of its sheath. In response, I did the same with my arm blade. We were ready to fight each other.
"ENOUGH, YOU TWO !" We heard Ari shout as she punched both of our heads "Mickael, don't you think we have enough problem to deal with at this moment. There is no time to waste, Charloette could be in danger !"
"Alright, alright. I am sorry !" I replied, rubbing my head. Then Ari turned toward the black armored man.
"And you, that was for ignoring me all this time. Plus, you are the one who suggested a truce. You can't broke it now !" She continued.
Ben didn't reply at first, a simple sigh as the only sound leaving his mouth. After a few second, he spoke up.
"Fine, I am sorry. But, if you really want to group up with me, I hope you will be able to keep up. I won't wait for you if you can't !" After saying that, he walked back toward the rich part of the city.
Ari, Menos and I shot a glance at each other before we began to follow him through the streets full of abandoned houses. Without any signs of life to be seen on these roads, it gave off a creepy atmosphere, and the worn out houses were not helping.
Suddenly, Ben stopped and we heard the sound of multiple footsteps walking towards us. Judging by the sounds they made, they were wearing some kind of heavy armor.
"A night patrol !" I thought.
It seemed we all thought the same thing as we rushed into a nearby alley and hid behind some barrel laying around. We saw a dozen guards in full iron armor passing by the alley before disappearing around a corner. We stayed there, waiting in the dark until we were sure the danger was gone.
"Ok, let's go !" Ben suggested as he quickly left the alley "We already lost too much time hiding in here !"
As we were following him, Ari spoke up :
"You really seem in a hurry to receive your money !"
"What ?" Ben asked as he turned to our spider friend "Why do you think this has anything to do with money ?"
"Well, you are a bounty hunter, aren't you ? You are the kind of people who would kill anyone for money, even innocents. You have no moral and you are only loyal to the one who pays the most. So, how much did they pay you ?" Ari replied as she pointed a finger towards him. I could tell Ben was beginning to get annoyed
"First of all : Yes, I am a bounty hunter. Second of all : Yes, I am generally loyal to the one who pays the most but, if I am here now, it is not because of money !"
"Then, why have you insisted so much to take part into this mission, if it is not because of money ? Personal revenge ?" I asked.
"There is some of that, yes !" Ben crossed his arms "But the real reason I took part into this mission is the same as yours. There is also a friend I have to help !" Ben finished.
9 years ago, Unknow location, Unknow POV
Fire, ashes, burned corpses everywhere. Those where the only things remaining from a small peaceful village at the outskirts of a plain. It was once a village full of life and happy inhabitants before it was burned down by a savage clan. Only survivors, a small eight years old child and the baby he was holding in his arms. The young boy could only stare at the ruins of the buildings that composed his village once. As for the baby, smelling the odor of rotting corpse no one should be exposed to, she begins to cry, bringing the boy out of his trance.
"Shhh, Ricka, It's alright. I am here, don't cry !" The boy said as he gently shaked the baby in his arms. It seemed to calm the baby down.
"We can't be the only ones, there must be others. Come on Ben, you can do this !" The little boy thought as he got to his feets.
For about an hour, the young boy walked through the street of the burned village. He really hopped to meet at least one survivor of this massacre, in vain. They were the only ones. When he arrived at the front gate of the village, which was also burned down, leaving a pile of ashes where the doors once were. He shot one last glance at the village before leaving forever.
For the days that followed his departure, he spent his time wandering across the overworld, only stopping to eat or sleep. During that time, he always kept his little sister in his arms, to protect her from any danger.
However, one day, everything changed. As Ben was walking through a plain, he heard someone crying from around a small hill. When he approached, he saw a child, sitting against a rock, crying out loud, with their hands covering their eyes. The child had long red hair, going just below their shoulder and was wearing a long white coat. Ben noticed something strange about this child. They had a big pumpkin on their head and there was a small puddle of snow where they were sitting.
"A mob ? What is it doing here, all alone ?" Ben thought as he approched slowly and carefully the child in front of him.
"Hum, hello ? Are you ok ?" He asked to the child who was still unaware of his presence.
The mob child removed their hands from their face and looked up to see Ben staring at them. The young boy finally saw the face of the child he was speaking to. It was a little snow golem girl, barely older than him. Upon seeing him, she closed her eyes and quickly put her arms in front of her.
"Please, don't hurt me !" She pleaded.
Ben found himself unsure of what to do. He had never faced that kind of situation before. I could only think of one thing. He got on one knee and began to stroke the pumpkin on her head. It always worked when he do that to her little sister each time she was crying.
"I am not going to hurt you, don't worry. Are you ok ? What are you doing here, all alone ? Where are your parents ?" He asked.
The snow golem girl looked up to see Ben looking at her with eyes full of care. She quickly resumed her crying.
"I-I don't know where am I. I don't know where are my parents...I-I am scared...I..Huh ?" She asked, surprised as she felt Ben hugging her.
"Shh, It's alright !" Ben replied as he released her "You know, maybe I could help you find them !" He then suggested.
"You would do that ?" The snow golem girl asked.
"Well, I don't want to leave you like this, by yourself. Plus, I got nothing better to do !"
A second after, it was Ben's turn to get hugged by the snow golem girl. He could feel her tears dripping on his upper clothes.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you !" She repeated over and over as she had her arms wrapped around ben.
When she released her grip on him, she noticed the baby Ben was holding in his arms. Ricka was awake and was staring at the snow golem curiously.
"Awww, they are so cute. Is it a boy or a girl ?" She asked as she waved a finger above the baby, making Ricka giggle.
"It's a girl, her name is Ricka. Mine is Ben !" The eight years old boy answered "What about yours ?"
"My name is Snowy !" She smiled.
"Very well, Snowy. Until we find your parents, I swear, I'll be here to protect you !" Ben replied.
Present time, Azlanta, Mickael POV
"Since the day we met, she became my best friend. She is the one of the very few I could trust with my life. She takes care of Ricka when I am not at home. But, three month ago, she got captured. For two months, I searched for her and I finally found where she is held. I am not going to let that chance pass by. I made a promise to her and I don't intend to brake it !"
During the time he was telling how he met Snowy, we continued our infiltration towards the castle. By the time he finished, we were in front of the castle. Ben casted a glance towards the castle's gates before turning to us.
"Two guards, iron armors !" He said
"There should be another entrance !" Menos suggested.
"There is no time for that !" Ben replied as he runned around the corner.
We stood there speechless, and I saw Ari facepalming. We looked past the corner to see Ben rushing toward the guards. Before one of them could call for some reinforcements, the black armored bounty hunter stabbed him in the throat. The other guard raised his sword above Ben's head, but he managed to parry the sword with his wrist blade. Then he he kicked the guard into the chest, making him fall on the ground. Before he could get up again, Ben stabbed him into the heart, killing him on the spot.
Ben got up from the corpse and kicked the gate of the castle, slamming it open.
"So much for an infiltration !" I heard Notch chuckling in my head.
"Say that to him !" I replied.
Following Ben, we runned to the entrance of the castle. When we entered into the castle, we saw the bounty hunter fighting a few guards. We rushed in the battle.
Thus began our attack on the castle
TO BE CONTINUED And, that's the end of the first part of the chapter. What awaits them inside of the castle ? Well, just read the next part. I am not going to spoil it for you. So as always PM or review to tell me what you think of the story : good or bad. And if you have any suggestion for the story, feel free to contact me. See you next time :D
Oh and also, there won't be any CPB for this part.
