Chapter 12: Assault.

The sun had been up for a while when Armand opened his eyes. Memories of the previous day mixed with his thoughts. He stretched for a long moment before getting out of bed, still feeling the tiredness of yesterday's training in his muscles. He passed his hand over the magic gourd, still in the hood of his sweatshirt on the chair, which seemed to be glued to it, remembering with a touch of pride his success of the previous day.

He went downstairs to the kitchen, where he found Master Kaka standing, preparing an infusion of herbs and sunflowers straight from his garden. The comforting aroma filled the room.

" Did you sleep well, Armand?" he asked.

Armand nodded, stretching slightly. "Yes, although I'm still a little tired from yesterday's training."

The master nodded and handed him a cup of the infusion. "Drink this, it'll make you feel better. And tell me, how was your evening in Auroria?"

Armand took a sip, enjoying the warmth of the drink and its floral scent.

"It was interesting. I saw a lot, and the restaurant where I ate was perfect. But... there's something I need to talk to you about."

He then told in detail about his evening, what had happened after the restaurant, and what he had seen with the imperial guard, the arrest of the red-haired man, and his discreet pursuit to the Silver Fortress. Master Kaka listened attentively, his face betraying a slight concern.

"The Silver Fortress, you say... It's a dangerous place, even for someone with your abilities. You did well not to venture any further, my boy."

Armand nodded, remembering the woman with the axe and the oppressive atmosphere of the fortress surrounded by numerous guards. "But why would the Imperial Guard be so interested in this man? And why take him there?"

"This fortress is a place of detention for those considered particularly dangerous or important to the kingdom. It's possible that this man is involved in something serious," he explained.

"He had a strange tattoo on his face, a sort of inverted 'L'."

Master Kaka frowned. "Hmm... I've seen symbols like this before in ancient texts, when I was visiting the library at Ravinia in the north of Primis. It could be a symbol used by former rebel groups in the north or on the islands. If he's indeed affiliated with one of them, that would explain the Imperial Guard's interest. Now that you mention it, lately I've often seen a poster that looks like the person you're describing."

Armand was silent for a moment, reflecting on what he had just learned. The situation seemed more complex than he had imagined. Master Kaka then rose and headed for the door leading to the garden, inviting Armand to follow him as soon as he felt rested to continue training. Having finished his infusion, Armand felt invigorated and promptly joined his master.

The day passed quickly, and night fell just as quickly. After a well-deserved shower, Armand, a towel over his wet hair, headed for his room. He noticed his first tunic, the one he'd worn on arrival, lying on his desk. Although quite battered, it looked as if it had been washed with care.

"Why did he wash it?" he wondered aloud.

He picked up the tunic and realized that all his other tunics had also been washed. A smile played on his lips, as he thought that his master needn't have gone to so much effort for him. Armand sat on his bed, looking out of the window as he pondered this world he still knew so little about.

Then he looked at the back of his right hand, where his four-pointed star was tattooed, symbolizing his destiny as a "legend" charged with saving Primis. He closed his fist, thinking back to the Silver Fortress and the horrible merchant who sold criminals into slavery to nobles.

"If I have to protect this world, does that mean I have to protect these scum too? What's the point of being a hero if I have to turn a blind eye to this?" he thought.

He looked out the window again, the moonlight and the few glimmers of Auroria illuminating his room. He clenched his fist and turned his gaze to his hand, which still held the damaged tunic. Suddenly, an idea struck him. He got up from the bed, pulled on his hoodie, a pair of worn-out training pants and the mittens that hid his tattoo. He then tore his worn tunic into a scarf and wrapped it around his head, leaving only his eyes visible.

Bending down, he placed a hand on the ground, coating it with his indigo aura. He channeled magic through the floor to create a light indigo portal that stopped just above where his shoes should be. He created a second portal beside him, reached through to retrieve his shoes, and closed the portals. He also took a small bag containing three flasks of the greenish liquid in case of need, which he put in his belt.

After putting on his shoes, he walked over to the window, opened it and placed one foot on the sill. He took one last look at his room and the closed door.

"Sorry, master."

He jumped out the window and landed on the floor. The night was cool and calm, his eyes lit up blue while his whole body was enveloped in magic. He ran at full speed towards the city. The streets were empty and silent, the clocks showing that it was already one o'clock in the morning. In the middle of his run, he made a jump, surrounding his foot with a red aura to land on the rooftops without attracting attention, then resumed his path towards the northern quarter.

Meanwhile, inside the fortress, Octavia emerged from the basement through a large door leading to a long corridor on the prison's first floor. Her heels echoed in the empty corridor. She was heading for her rooms to rest when she spotted Saukel waiting in front of the door to the warden's office.

"Why this annoying habit of coming so late?" Octavia emerged behind him, startling Saukel, who turned hastily.

"Oh, what an unexpected joy to run into you, Octavia!" Saukel tried to relax the atmosphere.

"Don't bother me. I'm exhausted."

"It's past midnight, which means the transaction will take place tomorrow. The excitement's getting to me! Besides, I hear you've finally captured the thief, that miserable Florean."

A heavy silence fell, with Octavia staring intently at him. Saukel realized at once that he'd made a mistake, but she spoke up before he could apologize, continuing on his way.

"Indeed, he is incarcerated in the purgatory. But he's only a criminal, nothing more."

"Please forgive my impertinence. May I go and see the White Wick? After all, it's thanks to me that you're going to make a great deal. I've earned the privilege, haven't I?" Saukel rubbed his hands together, flashing a forced smile, and moved towards the central staircase. Octavia turned back, ready to pull out her axe, her hand brushing the handle.

" There's no way."

"Very well... I'll simply walk among the cells, don't worry, I fear you far too much to attempt anything." Saukel raised his hands in pacification, and Octavia released her axe. Without another word, she went on her way, slamming the door behind her as she rushed into her rooms, leaving Saukel alone in the hall.

He climbed the steps, passing cells where sleeping, miserable prisoners lay, some without beds.

"Between a warden who'd rather doze than fulfill his duties and that whore who thinks she can get away with anything... This prison is nothing but an asylum for fools." Saukel mumbled as he strolled through the corridors of the fortress. He noticed that there were fewer guards than usual, probably due to the recent capture of the thief who had kept them busy.

"Such a relaxation of vigilance inspires me little confidence." When he reached the end of the main corridor, he saw the staircase leading to the special cells holding Baring's two future slaves. Although he was forbidden to go up there, his curiosity was aroused.

He checked around him to see if any guards were watching him, and hurried up the stairs, closing the door behind him to avoid attracting attention. He climbed them quickly despite his plump body and arrived in front of the cells, the only one of which wasn't empty was that of the two prisoners.

"What does this mean?!" he shouted.

He woke Bojan, who was dozing on the floor of his cell. Saukel was furious and confused: Carolina was gone. Rage rose within him as he strode to the bars, gripping them firmly.

"You! The Arubaean! Where's the girl?"

The prisoner straightened slightly, glaring at Saukel.

"That woman took her. She hasn't been here for a long time," Bojan replied in a calm tone, which irritated Saukel even more.

"Octavia?" he wondered.

He remembered seeing Octavia coming back from the basement earlier. That explained why she hadn't insisted further when he'd said he was going up to visit the cells. She knew he'd come up here in the end.

"I hope she didn't put her in the purgatory," Saukel muttered, releasing the bars in frustration at being duped.

His gaze returned to Bojan, still shackled despite his cell. He could barely move in this confined space. An idea occurred to him. He passed his hand in front of the cell's lock, the magic activating the opening mechanism. The door opened, but Bojan's bonds tightened further, a safety device implanted to prevent escape.

Saukel created a whip with the surrounding magic and approached Bojan. Bojan quickly realized what was about to happen: Saukel wanted to take his anger out on him. He cowered on the ground as the merchant began to hit him with violence. Bojan bit his lips to stifle his cries of pain, refusing to give Saukel the satisfaction of seeing him suffer.

Saukel's blows, however, became more and more intense. Although physically weak, he took sadistic pleasure in abusing the prisoners, who, because of their magical handcuffs, were powerless.

" It's the girl that Baring absolutely wants! You'll be just another brainless lump of muscle to him! He won't notice if you're a bit damaged!" said Saukel, enjoying the situation.

The blows rained down, leaving Bojan covered in bruises, but his will remained intact. However, he finally cracked, groaning in pain as the whip came down hard on his bare back, already marked by ancient scars. Suddenly, a faint, distant voice called out to him.

"Hold on," the voice seemed to say.

Opening his eyes, Bojan saw a slight dark smoke moving beneath his legs. He couldn't understand what was happening as the blows continued to land.

After a while, Saukel also noticed the smoke, which was becoming increasingly dense. Intrigued and worried, he stopped his blows and tried to figure out where it was coming from. The cell, located at the very top of the fortress tower, was normally totally airtight, with no windows whatsoever.

"What's that black smoke? No, blue? Where's it coming from?" murmured Saukel.

Bojan looked up, and his eyes widened as he saw a huge mass of dark smoke above him and Saukel. He, noticing Bojan's gaze, also looked up and saw the same thing. The smoke was swirling above them.

"What the...?!" began Saukel.

Before he could say anything else, a silhouette emerged from the smoke. The indigo haze obscured his view, but suddenly the figure fell on Saukel, tackling him to the ground. A reddish glow shone through the smoke and smashed Saukel in the face, crushing him to the ground with such force that the tower shook slightly.

Bojan, panic-stricken, backed up against the wall, trying to understand what was happening. The smoke and the crack in the ceiling gradually disappeared, revealing the figure. It was a man in his early twenties, wearing modest pants and a hoodie, his face hidden by the torn tissue surrounding him. Saukel lay unconscious on the floor, his face bloody and almost crushed against the floor of the cell he himself had opened.

"Don't worry, I'm here to put an end to all this," he declared in a firm voice.

He aimed his fingers at Bojan's chains and handcuffs, positioning them as if he were holding a pistol, and fired small beams of red energy. The chains and handcuffs gave way immediately under the effect of the shock and the heat. Bojan, stunned, slowly got to his feet, not believing his eyes.

"Who... who are you? Why are you... ?" stammered Bojan, stunned by the sudden release.

Armand removed his right mitten and revealed his tattoo to Bojan. He immediately recognized the symbol, and looked at the picture book on the floor, then at Armand again, understanding immediately what it was. Armand smiled, put his mitten back on and turned, speaking to Bojan over his shoulder.

"I'm simply someone with nothing left to lose!" exclaimed Armand.

End of chapter 12.