Chapter 89: Sneak In

In the darkness of the night, even with only a faint moonlight filtering through the clouds, the Glory Fortress still emitted a subtle glow, resembling a massive pearl sitting atop the plains of Celeste.

Hundreds of years ago, when it was first constructed, Glory Fortress was already the largest and most magnificent building on the continent, and it had never ceased expanding over the years. The sprawling, towering buildings had grown to the size of a mountain. Within several miles, the high and low spires, grand halls, and church-like structures resembled small mountains. Though it might not match the legendary architecture of the ancient elven empire, it was undeniably a miracle of human craftsmanship.

In the eyes of the faithful, this place was even more of a holy site. According to legend, when the Glory Fortress was completed, a divine light descended from the heavens, enveloping the entire castle, and a great angel was seen flying above it. From that moment on, the castle emitted a sacred white light year-round, an undeniable miracle. Countless pilgrims often traveled great distances to worship this visible trace of divine presence, bowing in reverence before the massive white walls. It was the embodiment of their faith on earth.

Ayime stood by the window, staring blankly at the scene outside. The white walls of the distant Glory Hall reflected the faint moonlight, appearing as pure and majestic as a sanctified place untouched by mortal concerns. But Ayime knew that inside, dozens of Holy Warrior lay in ambush. These were elite soldiers drawn from various regions, filled with murderous intent, waiting for someone to walk right into their trap. The entire Glory Fortress, with its thousands of clerics, possessed enough white magic to turn the night into day in an instant, ensuring that not even a fly could escape. High towers were scattered throughout the castle, each one equipped with mages casting magical surveillance spells. Though such magic placed a significant strain on the caster, with the manpower available in Glory Fortress, it was hardly a problem.

Her dream had once been to enter this Glory Fortress. More precisely, it was the dream instilled in her by her grandpa Relas. To the devout Relas, simply being able to enter here was an honor akin to touching the very light of the gods.

That dream had long been shattered by reality. Old Relas died at the hands of the Cardinal, and Yabin was killed by the Temple Knights' swords, both innocent victims caught in an unavoidable whirlpool. Celeste, the once holy place in her heart, had long since become no different from a den that housed malevolent demons.

Now, even standing here, witnessing with her own eyes the holy and magnificent architecture her grandfather had told her about since childhood, her feelings of disgust and fear only deepened. She didn't know what Talice had said to Lancelote, but Lancelote had brought both her and Talice back to Glory Fortress from Nigen. Lancelote seemed greatly angered by Talice, and upon their return to Glory Fortress, he confined her immediately. As for Ayime, she wasn't thrown into the dungeons, but she was placed under house arrest, effectively imprisoned.

Ayime was clever, and not only clever, but after enduring so many hardships, her intelligence had transformed into resilience and shrewdness. When she saw the three Temple Knights, she didn't show any panic. Even when she saw the small pouch in Lancelote's hand, her expression remained unchanged. When Lancelote gently invited her to return to Celeste with him, she hesitated for just a moment before testing his sincerity. Seeing that his smile remained unchanged, she immediately agreed.

With no strength to resist, the best choice was not to even show the slightest intention of defiance. In such circumstances, following the Temple Knights to Celeste was the only option.

From Lancelote's and the Temple Knights' hurried expressions, she knew that Asa hadn't encountered any trouble. The small pouch was undoubtedly taken from Asa's hands. After arriving at Glory Fortress, large numbers of Holy Warriors gathered around the Glory Hall. Ayime had been observing the surrounding movements closely for the past few days, and she understood what was about to happen, but she was completely powerless to do anything but wait. Unknowingly, a month had passed since her arrival.

She waited patiently and obediently, even earning praise from the priests and swordsmen guarding her, who found the young girl sweet and well-behaved, and so their vigilance toward her lessened. They occasionally chatted with her, and although they kept their mouths sealed tight, Ayime still learned from them that things were indeed as she had feared. Aside from the Pope and Lancelote, no one else was allowed entry into the Glory Hall. It was said that important items were stored there.

At first, she had been anxious, but being in the heart of Glory Fortress, she knew there was no chance for her to act and sank into despair, helpless and full of worry. However, after fully realizing her inability to change anything, that despair slowly transformed into a sense of determination.

"If he truly arrives, I will definitely help him."

Even though she knew that her magic would be but a drop in the ocean compared to the hundreds or thousands of priests and mages around her, Ayime was still determined that if there was even a one in a thousand chance of helping him, she would throw herself into it without hesitation. Her waiting here, obediently, was for this reason alone. These days, she had been waiting with an unusually calm heart, anticipating the sudden explosion and chaos from the Glory Hall, or perhaps the sight of someone riding a wyvern, descending from the sky amid the astonished cries of countless people below.

Women are often seen as fragile, so fragile that they fail to see the broader choices before them, focusing instead on one or two simple thoughts to sustain themselves. But it is because of this fragility that they can sometimes be surprisingly strong when it matters.

The knock on the door came, likely the swordfighter on duty bringing her food. He was a young man with a face full of freckles, often blushing when he smiled, and he would occasionally sneak her little treats or chat with her. It was rare in Celeste to see a young, cute girl like her.

But when she opened the door, standing outside wasn't the swordfighter—it was an old man dressed in servant's clothes.

"Do you need anything?" Ayime asked, peering out. The guards were nowhere in sight, and she was a bit confused. Despite how sacred and exalted the clergy were, or how deep their mastery of white magic, they were not immune to the mundane tasks of life. It was impossible to think that priests and Holy Warriors would cook meals for the pope or the bishops themselves, so there were quite a few servants within the Glory Hall.

"I do need something. I'm here to take you away," the old man said with a slight smile. But his voice was not that of an elderly man.

Ayime covered her mouth, and with all her strength, she held back a scream, her tears already welling up in her eyes. She recognized the voice—it was Asa's.

"Asa... How did you come? It's so dangerous here... They're all waiting for you! When did you get here? You have to leave quickly..." Ayime spoke frantically, confused about whether she should push him away or leap into his arms.

The surrounding guards had not relaxed their vigilance. After all, this was Celeste, and the person she was being held here for was none other than Lancelote. Just moments ago, when Ayime stepped out of the tower that had been her prison, she saw the swordfighters and priests lying unconscious on the floor.

"Asa, your sword hilt is kept in the Glory Hall, but you mustn't go there. I saw at least dozens of Holy Warriors guarding it..." Ayime said softly, her heart racing, her face flushed as Asa held her in his arms.

"Tonight there are thirty-two Holy Warriors, with around one hundred and twenty high-ranking priests on guard. However, the magical traps inside haven't been triggered," Asa whispered, carrying the petite Ayime through the halls with the silence of a large black cat. He paused momentarily to hide in the shadows, waiting for a patrol of soldiers to pass, then moved on again with careful steps. He smiled and continued in a low voice, "I've figured everything out here, so don't worry. Since Lancelote invited me, I can't let him down... But it seems he only anticipated me trying to forcefully seize the sword hilt. He never imagined I'd find an inside ally to help me slip in. This time, I have to thank Theodorus."

During his time working for Theodorus in Orford, Asa had been in charge of covert operations. Although he hadn't directly worked with informants in Celeste, he was well aware of the situation here. This time, he had relied on the priests who had been bribed by Theodorus, using their help to gain entry. Disguised as an elderly servant, he had been able to sneak into the castle.

Of course, Asa carried out this operation under Orford's name, which was the only way to convince these well-hidden informants to take the risk of helping him. The people working undercover had no idea that Asa had only agreed to work for Orford for a year— in their eyes, he was still the special operations captain of Orford.

The spies had already mapped out Celeste for him, including patrol schedules and security arrangements, down to the last detail. Even the timing of the operation had been meticulously planned—this exact moment was when the mages responsible for surveillance were changing shifts. Some seemingly minor and coincidental factors would delay them from activating their Magic Eye surveillance for at least half an hour.

"Plan before you act—success comes from meticulous preparation." This was something Asa had learned from Theodorus, and so he had taken advantage of the groundwork Theodorus had painstakingly laid in Celeste. He had to once again acknowledge the Orford lord's intricate mind and thorough methods—among the informants here, there was even a bishop. To bribe someone of that level took far more than just money.

If one were to rely solely on personal skills to infiltrate this place directly, Asa admitted that it would be nearly impossible. However, with such a detailed plan in place, he could now easily escape with Ayime in his arms. Strategy and tactics were often far more effective than brute force.

"They even went to the trouble of gathering elite swordsmen from all over. With such tight security, it really seems like there's no chance to get the sword hilt. But unfortunately, I'm not that interested in it anymore… At least, I won't risk taking it by force. I suppose Lord Lancelote will be disappointed..."

"Then, Asa big brother, you came here..."

"Of course, to take you all away... and, incidentally, deliver a little gift to them..."