Secretly Following (Part I)

It was unusually still at night, and the only sounds heard were the sound of the trees moving and, sometimes the sound of grasshoppers. The palace felt suffocating. She'd rather go back to the netherworld, but she has something to do.

The female servant who had just served her dinner moved silently. She was about to leave the room, Thana sensed a change the moment the servant walked in, her eyes were nervously peering around the room, and her hands trembled as she set the tray down.

Thana's instincts tingled. She had been around enough deceit and danger to know when someone was hiding something.

As soon as the servant left, Thana stood up, moving quietly to the door. She cracked it open just enough to peer into the hallway, catching a glimpse of the servant's figure retreating into the shadows. There was something about the woman's hurried steps that didn't sit right with Thana.

 Thana quietly slipped out of the room to follow her.

The servant moved quickly through the palace hallways, her pace swift yet cautious, as if she wished to remain unnoticed. Thana kept her distance, using the columns and corners to shield herself from view. The woman was headed toward a section of the palace that Thana had never visited before—a deserted wing. The tapestries in this area were faded, and the formerly shiny marble floors were now covered with a fine layer of dust.

The servant paused briefly in front of a large, door, glancing around with unease. Thana pressed herself against the cool stone wall, her breath shallow as she waited. Finally, the servant pushed the door open and disappeared inside.

Thana's eyes narrowed. Something wasn't right.

Crouching behind a large bush near a cracked window, Thana strained to catch the conversation happening inside. The voices were muffled, but she could understand enough to know that the servant was not alone.

"There was no problem?" a male voice asked. His tone was sharp, impatient.

"No," the servant replied, her voice trembling slightly. "She didn't notice anything. I made sure of it."

The male voice scoffed. "Good. We can't afford any mistakes. The Supreme Heavenly Lord is getting suspicious. We need to move faster."

Thana's grip on the window sill tightened. Who was this man? And what were they planning? The words "Supreme Heavenly Lord" caught her attention immediately. Were they talking about rebellion?

She had heard enough to know that something dangerous was brewing. These weren't just casual whispers of discontent—this was a plot, something dark and hidden beneath the palace's elegant surface.

Thana's mind raced as she crouched behind the bush. She needed to get closer, but bursting in now would only tip them off that she knew something. She needed more information before confronting them or alerting the Supreme Heavenly Lord.

The door creaked again, and the servant re-emerged, her face paler than before. Thana pressed herself deeper into the shadows, holding her breath as the woman walked past her hiding spot. The servant's pace was hurried, her eyes fixed ahead as she made her way back to the main part of the palace.

Thana waited until the servant was out of sight before standing up. She glanced toward the door of the empty palace, debating whether to investigate further. But something told her it wasn't the right time. Not yet.

Alone in her room Thana sighed and sat down by the window still full of suspicion and doubts. Her assignment was to deal with a ghost that haunted one of the palaces; however, it appeared as if something quite darker was about to surface.

Just then, there was a soft tapping at the door.

"Lady Thana," the servant said, her voice soft but formal, "the Supreme Heavenly Lord requests your presence at dawn."

Thana nodded, "I'll be there," she answered.

After the servant left, Thana returned her gaze to the window, staring into the dark gardens below. There was something wrong within the palace, and she was resolved to discover the truth.

But for now, she would wait. Dawn was only a few hours away, and the Supreme Heavenly Lord would want answers.

She knew she had to proceed with caution. One misstep could lead to whatever it was, could come crashing down on her.

Morning came quickly. Thana made her way to the Supreme Heavenly Lord's chamber. Trying to put together the pieces of what she had overheard earlier. The palace was unsettlingly quiet at this hour, with empty corridors.

Upon entering the chamber, Thana found the Supreme Heavenly Lord already waiting, his usual serene demeanor intact. His silver hair shimmered in the soft morning light, and his eyes were as piercing as ever.

"You summoned me," Thana said, bowing slightly.

The Supreme Heavenly Lord nodded, motioning for her to sit.

"There have been rumors," he began, his voice steady, "that more is taking place within these walls than we realize."

Thana's heart raced. He knew something. But how much?

His eyes locked onto hers. "I need you to investigate further."

Thana hesitated for a moment before speaking. "I've already started looking into it," she admitted. "Last night, I overheard a conversation. A servant… she's involved in something dangerous.

I don't have all the specifics yet, but it is more than mere gossip."

Though the Supreme Heavenly Lord's expression remained unchanged, Thana could feel the intensity of his gaze. "Good," he said after a moment. "Continue your investigation, but be cautious. Whoever is behind this is clever, and they won't hesitate to eliminate threats."

Thana nodded, her mind already racing with possibilities. She would have to be careful, but now she had the Supreme Heavenly Lord's backing. She had to avoid making any mistakes.

Later that evening, Thana found herself by the window once more, observing the moon as it rose over the palace. She needed to act quickly, but she could not afford to act too hastily.

As she contemplated, the door to her room creaked open. It was the same female servant from before. The one Thana had followed. The servant appeared, her face pale and hands shaking as she set a tray of food on the table.

"Thank you," Thana replied, maintaining a calm voice.

The servant nodded but didn't meet her eyes. As she turned to leave, Thana stood up, her heart racing. This was her chance to learn more.

The servant slipped out of the room, and Thana followed, staying a few paces behind her. The servant moved quickly, almost in a panic, as she headed towards the abandoned part of the palace again.

The servant looked around nervously before disappearing inside.

Thana waited, her breath shallow. She couldn't risk following too closely. Instead, she crouched by the window again, listening intently.

It was the same male voice she had heard. "We are running out of time. The Supreme Heavenly Lord is getting too close. We need to act."

The servant responded. "I'll do what I can." If they find out—"

"They won't," the man interrupted. "We'll have to deal with the girl first if we have to."

This situation was more dire than she had anticipated. She was in peril, and whoever these individuals were, they would not hesitate to eliminate her.

She would need to confront them, but first, she needed to gather more information.