Chapter 53: The Emperor's Garden

In the vast hall, I stood before the statue of Emperor Alexander, with Sarah by my side. She gazed at the statue with a longing expression.

"You ready?" Sarah glanced at me, seeking confirmation.

"Always," I replied, my answer unwavering.

We locked eyes and nodded in unison. Sarah retrieved the key she had used earlier to open the gate when we first entered the hall.

With the key in hand, she approached the statue of Emperor Alexander. As the key neared, the statue began to glow. The glow intensified over time until it reached its peak, becoming so bright that I had to close my eyes for a moment.

When I reopened my eyes, I found myself facing a massive garden gateway adorned with the inscription "Emperor Garden."

"Wow! When I imagined a secret room, I pictured a large chamber, not a garden. Can we even call this a room?" Anna couldn't contain her surprise, her voice resonating in the hall.

"You're right. I didn't expect it to be like this either," Sarah responded, her brow furrowed, which shocked me.

The appearance of the secret room didn't faze me as much since it differed from my expectations. However, Sarah's statement revealed that there were gaps in her ancestor's recorded knowledge. Her lack of familiarity with the destination she was about to enter hinted at the risks she was undertaking.

I worried for her, but when I glanced at her determined expression, all my concerns faded away. "Are you sure about this? It's different from before when you knew what to expect," I asked, seeking reassurance.

She didn't need to answer with words—her resolute gaze said it all.

Seeing her conviction, I swiftly retrieved my shield and sword from my spatial ring. Since we wouldn't be able to use magic inside, we had to retrieve all our equipment before entering.

At the same time, Sarah also prepared her equipment. Unlike mine, her gear resembled a full-body armor, covering her chest, hands, legs, and other vital areas. She hadn't brought any magical items, knowing they would be useless in a place where magic was prohibited. Instead, she opted for a lightweight armor reminiscent of the knights of old.

In addition to her armor, she wielded a rapier, which seemed to be her primary weapon. Finally, she took out a handful of healing potions, ensuring she was prepared for any adversity.

"Miss, make sure you return safely," Captain Garz expressed his concern one last time before we ventured into the garden.

"Sarah, make sure you succeed because I'll be waiting. And William, if anything happens to her, I won't go easy on you when you return," Anna encouraged Sarah, her voice filled with determination.

"I'll be here," Thomas, who usually remained silent, added his support before we embarked on our journey.

With the farewells exchanged, we settled into a determined silence, and together, Sarah and I entered the secret room—the Emperor's Garden.

The moment William and Sarah stepped into the secret room, the entrance, which resembled a portal, closed abruptly.

Upon witnessing the portal closing, Anna panicked. "What! It closed? What do we do now?"

"Stay calm, Miss Anna. Miss Sarah anticipated this and instructed us to wait here," Captain Garz calmly explained, his voice tinged with understanding. As someone with more experience, he was capable of making rational judgments. However, in the presence of Sarah, he often allowed her to lead and make decisions, as she was his master.

"He's right," Thomas chimed in, supporting Captain Garz's words.

Unsatisfied with their responses, Anna continued to voice her distress, raising her voice even louder. "But don't you feel worried at all?"

"Of course, we do. However, at this point, all we can do is believe in her and wait," Captain Garz replied before turning away and joining his soldiers. Thomas followed suit, leaving Anna alone with her frustration.

Feeling abandoned and lacking an outlet for her anger, Anna clutched her fists, her face turning red. Determined, she stood her ground, choosing to ignore everyone else.

As I set foot in the Emperor's Garden, all I saw was an expanse of lush greenery. Honestly, this place felt eerily familiar, resembling the Thousand Trees Forest. If Sarah hadn't been at my side, informing me of our location, I might have mistaken it for the outside world.

While I marveled at our surroundings, Sarah remained unusually quiet since we arrived. Even when the entrance closed behind us, she only furrowed her brows slightly.

Observing her demeanor, I felt compelled to break the silence. Just as I was about to speak, the ground beneath us began to tremble.

"William, look ahead!" Sarah's urgent voice caught my attention.

As I followed her gaze, I saw what she was referring to—the first obstacle in our path.