4 Hours Before the Mission
Is it bad that I want it to fail, in some ways?
At the end of the day, my goal is to harvest souls.
If we get spotted, well, that opens the window to kill.
Aiden moved quietly between the buildings. Light brushed against him as he cut through the sleeping village. The night felt heavy and silent. Ahead, the gate slowly came into view.
I had three free days.
And I did practically nothing with them.
I thought I would use the time to ask basic questions and fill my knowledge. But when I tried, people gave me odd looks and walked away.
My reputation is dropping.
Maybe I should just make my amnesia public.
It would explain things. People would stop wondering why I ask so much. But no, that would only exclude me from climbing higher later.
Even if we succeed, this mission will stay classified. No public praise, no recognition.
This rebellion really is a pain.
Most of them are refugees from Runaria, the closest kingdom to this place. At least that much was easy to figure out.
But why did they rebel in the first place?
And what role do Zane and Lyanna really play?
Royals at the head of a rebellion. Hardly typical.
I still don't know enough.
Aiden's gaze shifted upward as he approached the gate. Figures stood beneath a lantern, shadows stretching across the dirt.
Zane turned as Aiden drew near, his cloak pulled tight against the night's chill.
"Aiden. Good, we're only waiting for Lyanna now," he said.
Beside him stood Thara, the towering warrior, and Garron, the survivalist. Both were quiet and unreadable.
Only Lyanna remained, filling the space left by the injured member.
Aiden said nothing as he joined them, his mind turning quietly.
He hadn't collected much on them yet. Not enough to make real judgments.
But soon, he would need to. Somewhere among this group, a traitor was watching too.
After a few minutes, Aiden glanced at Zane.
"Isn't the masked guy supposed to be with us?" he asked quietly.
Zane's expression stiffened slightly.
"He isn't needed right now," Zane answered quickly. "Better not talk about that."
Aiden let it drop, but his mind sharpened.
Another thing to keep track of.
Zane acted carefully when it came to the masked man. Was he an outsider? Or was this rebellion itself just contracted, playing mercenaries in someone else's game?
The prisoner they were after held important information, that much was clear.
But then, what was the masked man's role in all of this?
Before Aiden could think further, footsteps broke the silence.
Lyanna arrived, steady but slightly rushed.
"Lyanna, why so long?" Zane asked, his tone sharper than usual.
"Private matter," she answered flatly.
Zane did not press. The way he fell silent made it clear he understood enough not to push.
Thara's voice cut in, low and impatient.
"Can we go now?"
"Yes. We're stopping by a cabin near the outpost," Zane said as he turned toward the gate.
I don't even know where the outpost is. That part was probably on me.
3 Hours Before Mission Start
"How did you even manage to survive until now?"
Lyanna's voice carried frustration and disbelief as she pulled hard on Aiden's arm.
His left foot was completely stuck in the dirt.
Near a nearby tree, Thara sat watching after being firmly reprimanded earlier. She had nearly torn Aiden's clothes while trying to help.
'Plop!'
Finally, his foot came free as Garron poured a greenish liquid at the base, loosening the packed mud.
Aiden stumbled but caught his balance.
"Don't look at me like that," Aiden said to Zane. "Nobody said anything about this kind of dirt."
"Just move it already," Lyanna said as she stepped forward.
2 Hours Before Mission Start
"Finally... something nice in this life," Aiden said as he dropped near the cabin's fireplace.
The glow gave off much-needed warmth. He stretched out his hands, ready to enjoy it.
Before he could, Garron gently pushed his hands back.
"You probably shouldn't do that," Garron warned calmly.
"Why? I'm not that close."
Garron gave him a sidelong look. "We're still in the Evershades. Fires burn differently here. Sometimes hotter, sometimes faster. You wouldn't notice until it was too late. Best not to push your luck."
Aiden stayed quiet.
"...Noted," he said, pulling his hands back.
Garron eyed him, then spoke with curiosity rather than scolding.
"How are you even suited for this mission?"
"We'll see when the moment comes," Aiden replied simply.
The door creaked open.
Lyanna and Thara entered, now dressed in identical dull gray uniforms.
The fabric looked simple, but Aiden could not place the material. It did not match anything from the village.
His gaze lingered too long.
Lyanna noticed.
"What are you staring at?" she asked.
Before Aiden answered, Thara grumbled.
"Who designed this thing!" She tugged at her sleeves, clearly annoyed.
Aiden's eyes drifted back to the uniforms. Full suits, tight fitting, pockets aligned.
At the center, zippers.
Zippers?
That was something he had never seen here.
Zane stepped through the door.
"Aiden. Garron. You're next."
Aiden and Garron stood and moved to the changing room.
Two uniforms lay ready. Garron hesitated, unsure where to begin.
Aiden moved without hesitation. He stepped into the uniform feet first.
"It's that moment you talked about?" Garron asked.
"Just wear it and zip it up," Aiden said casually.
Garron grumbled but copied him.
As Aiden finished, something bothered him.
Jumpsuit. That was the word.
Why is that here?
His mind raced. This world had dirt roads and hand tools. No advanced tech.
Yet they were wearing jumpsuits with zippers.
His head ached faintly.
"You alright?" Garron asked.
Aiden nodded, pushing the discomfort down.
They stepped out together.
Lyanna crossed her arms and watched them.
"You could have tried to be faster," she said dryly.
Aiden frowned slightly but said nothing.
Zane stood up.
"Tools ready?" he asked.
"Everything ready," Garron confirmed.
20 Minutes Before Mission Start
As they moved through the woods toward the outpost, Lyanna broke the silence.
"Aiden, nobody asked, but why did you even name yourself Po?"
Aiden paused.
That's right. She does not know the details.
Selina figured out he was not really Po, but nobody knew the full truth.
"Aiden?" Lyanna pressed.
"Sorry, lost in thought. It was a one-time nickname. Nothing important."
Lyanna looked unconvinced but let it go.
Soon they reached their destination, a low cliff overlooking the outpost.
Two archer towers guarded the gate. Beyond them were barracks and a tavern.
At the center, a stone platform stood alone.
It looked too much like the portal he had used before.
"The stone platform is our goal," Aiden said confidently.
Thara frowned.
"And how do you know that?"
Before he could answer, Zane spoke from behind.
"He's right. That platform activates the portal."
Zane held a parchment in his hand.
Garron leaned in.
"Fine, but how do we activate it?"
"Aiden will take care of it," Zane said firmly.
Aiden's expression tightened slightly.
I will?
Still, he forced it down.
Zane stepped closer and placed a firm hand on Aiden's shoulder.
"Just read the words around the platform. Only you can do it."
Without waiting, Zane turned away.
"I'll stay here and observe. Good luck."
The team shared a glance and began their descent.
10 Minutes Before Mission Start
They stood silently at the outer gate.
Finally, the gates creaked open.
A lone guard stepped out.
"You are the cleaning team," he said briskly. "These are the rules."
"No communication unless necessary."
"Everything you see stays inside."
"Do not use uncommon words."
Aiden listened carefully.
No uncommon words?
The soldier gestured. They moved forward onto the stone platform.
Aiden felt eyes on them. Thara glanced at him. They were waiting.
He read the carvings aloud.
"Sealed gate, bound by duty... show me the way beyond."
The moment the words left his mouth, something clicked.
Wait. That is English.
No time to think.
Light sparked and a portal formed.
Lyanna stared in amazement. Garron stepped closer, excitement shining.
Thara looked confused. Her eyes stayed on Aiden.
Nearby soldiers looked over but remained indifferent.
Without hesitation, Aiden stepped onto the platform.
"We don't have the whole day," he said, moving ahead.
Garron followed. He ran his fingers across the portal and vanished instantly.
Thara and Lyanna watched, slightly horrified.
"See you on the other side," Aiden called back calmly.
Without waiting, he stepped into the portal and disappeared.