Chapter 2: Into the Trap
1586 Words
Nighttime, Eagle Fortress.
As the bright moonlight shone upon the entire castle, everyone had drifted into slumber, except for the patrolling soldiers who were carrying lanterns, vigilantly surveying the surroundings.
At this moment, a shadow swiftly slipped into the castle during a gap in the soldier's patrol. He looked up towards the bedroom where Kane resided and stealthily climbed up.
Inside the bedroom, Kane appeared to be fast asleep, with faint breathing sounds escaping his lips.
Suddenly, a slight noise came from the window.
"Creak."
Followed by a soft thud.
"Thunk..."
A shadow silently approached Kane's bedside.
Looking at the sleeping Kane, the shadow felt puzzled.
Just last night, he had shot a crossbow bolt into Kane's heart, even witnessing him die with his own eyes.
How could it be that a day later, he was training at the castle as if nothing happened? If he hadn’t been cautious, he wouldn’t know how to explain to that esteemed person.
Fortunately, Kane seemed intent on keeping the incident quiet, providing the shadow with another opportunity to assassinate him.
This time, the shadow vowed to ensure Kane's death was final.
Thinking this, the shadow drew his long knife from his back.
He simply didn't believe it. Would cutting off the head still not finish him off?
Without hesitation, the long knife swiftly swung towards Kane. However, instead of the expected sleeping figure, Kane opened his eyes and rolled to the side, causing the knife to strike the pillow behind him.
"Phew..."
"How could..." The shadow murmured in disbelief.
"How could you be awake?" Kane, who had rolled off the bed, had already picked up his longsword and stood up.
Realizing something was amiss, the shadow stopped speaking and, with a swift motion, swung his blade towards Kane again.
"Action!" Kane shouted loudly to his surroundings.
Immediately, he raised his longsword, clashing it against the opponent's long knife.
"Clang."
Kane, overpowered by his opponent's strength, was quickly suppressed by the onslaught.
More and more cuts appeared on his body.
However, this did not deter Kane; instead, it ignited the beastly nature hidden within his blood.
He let out a furious roar.
"Roar!!!"
Gradually, he began to match his opponent's strength.
Just then, the bedroom door burst open.
Two figures clad in leather armor rushed in, swiftly coordinating with Kane to overpower the shadow.
In less than half a minute, the tables had completely turned. The shadow, who had still harbored thoughts of escape, gave up all hope.
Knocking the opponent's knife away, Kane immediately ordered the other two to restrain him.
Retrieving a thick and sturdy rope from the room, with the help of the two, Kane tightly bound the shadow.
Only then did Kane notice something off about his body. He approached the window, illuminated by the moonlight, to inspect himself.
Nighttime, Eagle Fortress.
As the bright moonlight shone upon the entire castle, everyone had drifted into slumber, except for the patrolling soldiers who were carrying lanterns, vigilantly surveying the surroundings.
At this moment, a shadow swiftly slipped into the castle during a gap in the soldier's patrol. He looked up towards the bedroom where Kane resided and stealthily climbed up.
Inside the bedroom, Kane appeared to be fast asleep, with faint breathing sounds escaping his lips.
Suddenly, a slight noise came from the window.
"Creak."
Followed by a soft thud.
"Thunk..."
A shadow silently approached Kane's bedside.
Looking at the sleeping Kane, the shadow felt puzzled.
Just last night, he had shot a crossbow bolt into Kane's heart, even witnessing him die with his own eyes.
How could it be that a day later, he was training at the castle as if nothing happened? If he hadn’t been cautious, he wouldn’t know how to explain to that esteemed person.
Fortunately, Kane seemed intent on keeping the incident quiet, providing the shadow with another opportunity to assassinate him.
This time, the shadow vowed to ensure Kane's death was final.
Thinking this, the shadow drew his long knife from his back.
He simply didn't believe it. Would cutting off the head still not finish him off?
Without hesitation, the long knife swiftly swung towards Kane. However, instead of the expected sleeping figure, Kane opened his eyes and rolled to the side, causing the knife to strike the pillow behind him.
"Phew..."
"How could..." The shadow murmured in disbelief.
"How could you be awake?" Kane, who had rolled off the bed, had already picked up his longsword and stood up.
Realizing something was amiss, the shadow stopped speaking and, with a swift motion, swung his blade towards Kane again.
"Action!" Kane shouted loudly to his surroundings.
Immediately, he raised his longsword, clashing it against the opponent's long knife.
"Clang."
Kane, overpowered by his opponent's strength, was quickly suppressed by the onslaught.
More and more cuts appeared on his body.
However, this did not deter Kane; instead, it ignited the beastly nature hidden within his blood.
He let out a furious roar.
"Roar!!!"
Gradually, he began to match his opponent's strength.
Just then, the bedroom door burst open.
Two figures clad in leather armor rushed in, swiftly coordinating with Kane to overpower the shadow.
In less than half a minute, the tables had completely turned. The shadow, who had still harbored thoughts of escape, gave up all hope.
Knocking the opponent's knife away, Kane immediately ordered the other two to restrain him.
Retrieving a thick and sturdy rope from the room, with the help of the two, Kane tightly bound the shadow.
Only then did Kane notice something off about his body. He approached the window, illuminated by the moonlight, to inspect himself.
Sometime during the fight, his arm had sprouted white fur, his nails had grown longer and sharper than before, and two canine teeth protruded prominently.
Just as Kane was bewildered by this transformation, the changes quickly receded, reverting to his original appearance, including the cuts on his body.
"Speak! Who sent you to assassinate Lord Kane?"
While Kane was examining himself, the woman beside him in leather armor began the interrogation.
Her name was Katherine Quest, born in the barony where Kane resided, in the subordinate village of McKo.
From a young age, she displayed exceptional swordsmanship talent, catching the eye of the former baron, Rachel Gerard, who nurtured her.
Katherine lived up to the baron's expectations. At the age of 16, she broke through as an apprentice swordsman to the first rank novice. Two years later, she advanced to the first rank intermediate. It was foreseeable that she would soon reach the second rank, and possibly even the third, in the coming years.
While Katherine began the interrogation impatiently, another man in leather armor beside her, after tying up the shadow, came to Kane's side. He had witnessed Kane's transformation from start to finish.
Yet, he remained silent, standing quietly to the side until Kane had recovered, then he spoke up.
"Lord Kane, are you alright?"
Regaining his composure, Kane glanced deeply at the man, "Marcus, I'm fine. Both you and Katherine, restrain the assassin."
"Yes, my lord."
Watching Marcus leave, memories of Marcus flooded Kane's mind.
Marcus Aymell, the third son of Lord Eupid Aymell, had no inheritance rights as the third son of the baronial family. His future held either serving in a clerical position within the family or becoming a wandering knight.
Coincidentally, Lord Eupid and Kane's father, Rachel Gerard, were good friends. Eupid entrusted his son to Rachel, hoping Marcus could earn a knighthood.
Marcus was indeed ambitious. With the support of his lord, Rachel Gerard, he quickly earned his knighthood and achieved several merits, turning his lifelong knighthood into a hereditary one.
Pushing aside his doubts about his own body, Kane knew it wasn't the right time for introspection.
He stepped out of the room, following Marcus and Katherine as they escorted the shadow to the castle's basement.
Outside the bedroom, the earlier commotion had gathered the castle's servants and guards at the door. Steward Jess was trying to calm them down.
As one of the few who knew Kane's plans, Jess's duty was to explain the situation and pacify the crowd.
The three escorts ignored the curious gazes, walking straight through the crowd and into the castle's basement.
Marcus lit a torch on the wall, bringing a dim light to the dark basement. The three imprisoned the shadow in a cell, tying his hands behind the chair.
After ensuring the shadow was secure, Katherine ripped off the mask covering his face.
The youthful face of an Eosos man appeared before them, with green-blue eyes and short yellow hair.
Looking at the unfamiliar face, Kane said with confusion, "A stranger... I don't recognize you."
In response, the shadow remained silent, just staring at the three of them.
Seeing the uncooperative attitude of the shadow, Katherine punched him in the stomach, causing him to shudder in pain. Still, the shadow remained silent.
"Kid, you're not talking, huh? I have ways to make you." Turning around, Katherine went to retrieve some execution tools.
At this moment, the composed Marcus intervened, "From what I know, Eosos people generally live in the northwest region of the kingdom, not too far but not particularly close to us."
"And an Eosos with exceptional knightly abilities would likely be a noble. However, nobles' children usually wouldn't stoop to being assassins. It could only be a wandering knight or a fallen noble."
The unresponsive eyes of the shadow finally showed a hint of change, confirming that Marcus's observations were correct.
- Writer
