Sneaking into the Palace

June and Red were having noodles together.

It was a legionary soldier who spotted June in a tree branch around the Shadow Squad camp, not Gizmo. But he gave the news to Serge as if he was the one who was vigilant enough to catch a spy, interrupting their conversation about the use of shadow energy. That blonde fool with a twisted grin was jealous of her.

When she first met June, she felt a pang in her heart. The pretty girl with dark brown hair was fighting with a sparkling chained knife alone with some legionaries or perhaps just defending herself. It was strange how she felt that she already knew June.

"I came in search of you last night. You weren't in your room."

The girl kept her face nonchalant. She was already in a gloomy mood.

"Don't tell me you were in the bathroom… for two hours." June's voice was polite as ever. "I waited a long time before falling asleep."

Where did she fall asleep? In a tree? June was such a bird.

The girl kept her mouth shut. She was confused about whether it was a good idea to tell her the truth. 

"Red, you can tell me." June never asked what her name was. Probably she heard legionaries calling her Nameless and Redhead. Then she honored her with a name: Red.

"You haven't been clearing your throat about your journey then why should I?"

Her answer put an end to June's questionaries. June felt offended, she could tell by her sad expression. June was a spy. It was quite logical for her to keep secrets.

The girls went to Ling after breakfast. He walked them to the school that was troubling him. It was the Iron Beak's school students were talking about in Galen's dojo after the crude duel with Xiang Tzu.

Ling said nonchalantly, watching a girl with a steely look approach, "You know what? There is no way you can learn to be a Herald. You must be born with the talent."

Red didn't understand what he meant, but she got one thing: this school taught Herald style. Because the girl with two black braids was armed with a katana.

"I disagree," the new girl spoke. "The Dynasty will no longer need the original Herald's help in their every step. My school is already a part of the Dynasty military."

"Great!" June mocked. "What are you playing for, Kibo?"

You know her? June seemed to have a lot of acquaintances in the capital. Why shouldn't she have? She was very open and outgoing. Moreover, kind and warm-hearted.

Before she could be introduced to Kibo, who was probably the head of the school—too young to be—and negotiate like civilized people, she charged her students to attack them.

Red felt no fear in her heart watching a bunch of kids with glaive. Because she had defeated her mentor, her first trainer in her new memory, Serge. She beat up everyone who stood in her way and accepted some cat scratch in return.

"Take all you want and get lost!" Kibo hissed, watching the girl injure her students. If that went on there would be no one left to participate in the tournament.

***

Ling created a Shadow portal immediately in a safe corner. Red was so excited that it almost made her bad day look good. They stepped into it and were teleported straight into the empty throne room.

Red was mesmerized by the interior for a moment and let June slip out of her watch. She heard a familiar male voice who said, "June! It's not the one we need. Shadow essence started to gush from the Sphere as soon as they came into the city."

Who came where? Nothing made any sense to the girl.

"Itu, calm down."

Red recognized him by his voice. He was the invisible man who wanted to check if she was worthy of being June's companion. And he was a Herald with a gorgeous katana. 

"It's all her fault that the Sphere is gone!" Itu pointed at her.

"What? No!" June yelled. "You were supposed to guard it! How could you let it go?"

June knew where the Sphere was the whole time? What else she had been hiding from her? 

"I was knocked out by your friend; she was in shadow form with an ally!"

"Have you been drinking shadow tea, Itu?" Red spoke.

Itu attacked her, pushing June aside. He was no apprentice like the other she beat up today; he was a well-skilled fighter. And today they weren't sparring like before. His attacks were as fast as snakebite. But the girl was with her best weapon and equipped in armor and helmet like a warrior. She managed to neutralize Itu.

"Itu, stop! Stop this nonsense."

"How do you know it was me in the shadow form? Is shadow form like a porcelain makeup on your face?"

"June! Ask your friend where she has been last night."

Last night was…. Fei Yu…. At his thought her heart stung.

Itu attacked her and held his katana straight at her throat. "Now I demand you speak."

"Itu, there's no way she can be involved with this." June's faith in her made her emotional for a moment.

"How could you tell? You were away for some days."

"It wasn't me! Damn it."

"June! The Sphere and the Emperor are missing!"

"What…?" She saw June wobble scantly.

"June, it wasn't me."

"I would like to believe you," June said in a weak voice. "Red… where have you been last night?" She stared at her with watery eyes.

"Believe me or not, I haven't been in the palace. I was banging a boy!"

"What?"

"What?" Itu's grip loosed slightly, and the girl hit his katana with her axe from below. His weapon thudded on the luxurious floor of the throne room.

She put her axes crossed in his throat, ready to slit. Her gaze pierced through his eyes into his soul. "Itu, it wasn't me. And if you don't believe me, you can have a look at my pussy because it's still red," Her voice hissed with grim.

"Guys, let's go to Galen's place. I can't take this anymore. What a bad dream!" Of course, June had her own reasons to be miserable. The Dynast's Emperor had gone missing.

"Sorry, I didn't tell you earlier," the girl said to June on their way back.

"So, it's true! I thought you cracked a joke. Being a gentleman was a weakness of Itu." June paused and said, "Sorry, I misunderstood you."

"It's okay."

"But my heart always tells me to trust you…. By the way, who is he? A student of Galen? Hope not that boy named Xiang Tzu."

Red chuckled. "June, I promised him I won't expose his identity."

Itu stomped by June's side with a grumpy face. The girl could see a blood clot near his black ponytail, which had probably gone unnoticed by him.

June moved through the secret passages as if she had grown up in the palace. She was also well aware of the streets and lanes of the capital.