Chapter 5: Shadows Within

The imperial palace was a sight to behold at night, with stunning beauty. Its imposing towering columns perched high above the moon, and their marble facades shone with the light of the day. Despite its grandeur, a sense of unease filled its corridors. Arian felt a sense of urgency in the whispered words of the servants, their gaze drawn to darker shadows.

He was haunted by the ominous impression of the Forbidden Archives in his mind. Aldenor had already established itself as the Hollows. Trust no one. The whispered warnings echoed in his mind as he made his way through the maze-like hallways to his rooms.

But something was wrong tonight. Arian could perceive it, a slight change in the atmosphere. The palace seemed to be letting go without any apparent break.

The initial danger arose when Arian approached the hallway that led to his room. He noted the lack of guards at their regular locations. The pair's hinges, commonly sparkling in torchlight, leaned down against the wall.

Then Arian frozen as he hand-raped the hilt of his ceremonial dagger. Although it served as a symbol of status, it was not the most valuable tool. It justifies his actions.

"Something is off", he whispered to himself.

The hallway proceeded behind, its lines obscure. He heard a slight noise from the soft movement of boots against stone. Arian's heartbeat quickened. Someone was there.

Against the cold stone wall, he held his head against it, waiting to hear more. The swaying intensified, along with the faint creak of metal.' The individuals, regardless of their identity, were not attempting to hide their activity.

His dagger was in Arian's hands tightly. He glanced around the corner and witnessed a figure covered in black, their face concealed by mutilation.

A Hollow assassin.

The whispered screams of the Forbidden Archives trickled down his throat. The Hollows were here.

The Pursuit.

Taking deep breaths, Arian held back his nerves. He failed to confront the assassin directly. His combat training was basic, and this wasn't a typical adversary.)

He took a step back carefully, not trying to sound. The killer with an almost murderous quality, his hand movements were fluid and deliberate. They were in pursuit of something or someone.

Arian's pulse raced. They are looking for me.

Suddenly, he turned around and ran away. In the quiet hall, he could hear his boots rubbing against the stone floor and cursed himself for that.

He observed the assassin's speed increase behind him, their pursuit unrelenting. Despite his knowledge of the palace, Arian's thoughts quickly drifted through the twisting corridors.

He sprinted down an alley, its walls draped with ancient tapestries that depicted the splendor of Aldenor's history. He noticed a small door leading to the servants' quarters at the end of the passage.

Arian threw the door open and went inside, closing it with as much silence as he could. With his back against the door, he let out gasping for air and gave a blurry look.

In contrast to the main palace's grandness, the servants' quarters were typically cramped and dark. As Arian crawled down the narrow hallways, he was desperately trying to avoid any sounds of pursuit.

In an instant, he had his mouth closed by having a hand grab him and pulled him into the small alcove. Arian's commotion was inexplicable, but his attacker had the upper hand.

The words "Sorry, Your Highness," were spoken by a familiar voice.

Despite his efforts, Arian's eyes shone as they caught sight of Solenne. She let go and backed away, her green eyes flickering in the dark.

"What's your job?" Arian questioned in an audible manner.

"You may be the target of a hunt," Solenne said with resolute tone. "We are searching for you.".

"I noticed, " Arian muttered.

The expression of Solenne wore off. "The Hollows have made their way into the palace.". They are searching for more than just the archives.

Arian's stomach churned. The Hollows would face a disastrous outcome if they were granted access to the Forbidden Archives.

He stated that it was necessary to put an end to them.

Solenne arched an eyebrow. "We? Despite your bravery, you may be vulnerable to an assassin'd blade.

Arian was irate at her tone but realized she was correct. "What do you have in mind?".

Solenne navigated Arian through the scheming of the servant' attic, her feet touching the floor. The story was told in seconds. She presented him with a small sword as they emerged in secluded confinement. Additionally,

She said: 'It's better than that decorative blade you carry.

With the weapon in hand, Arian asked. "What do you think I should do now?".

The trap was set by us, as Solenne explained.

It was not a lengthy period of time. A silhouette of the killer appeared in the doorway, their movements judicious yet intentional. ".

Solenne was the first to react, throwing a small vial at the target's feet. Smoke billowed from the shattered vial and caused it to.

Arian lunged, his heart pounding. His clumsy strike caused the assassin to avoid harm, which gave Solenne enough time for her to draw her own blade.

There was an intense, chaotic fight and the tight spaces made every move a gamble. Despite being new to the situation, Arian maintained his composure and desperation.

Solenne's swift and precise action resulted in the assassin' escaping. The masked person stumbled, their posture uncertain.?

Solenne pushed her blade into the chest of the assassin before Arian could respond. After falling to the floor, they were masked and their face was revealed by strange symbols.

The dead body caught Arian's gaze, his hands shaking.

"The beginning of it," Solenne declared, wiping her blade clean. "Thunderbirds won't be stopping until they have accomplished their goal.".

With a low pitched question in his voice, Arian asked what they wanted.

Solenne's expression was grim. "Power. Control. Chaos. If we allow them, they will dismantle this empire.

Arian's resolve hardened. He had experienced enough death and destruction in his past life to realize that he could not remain unaided.

Solenne shook her head. "Not yet. We don't know how deep their infiltration goes. For now, we stay vigilant and gather information."

Arian nodded, though the weight of their task pressed heavily on his shoulders. The Hollows were a shadowy, insidious threat, and he was just beginning to understand the magnitude of their danger.

As they left the storage room, Arian couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the start of a much larger conflict. The whispers from the Forbidden Archives echoed in his mind once more.

Trust no one.