SUPREME AWAKANED SENSE-Chapter 60: Memories: Betrayal (19)

"You were looking for the escort, weren't you?" Jack whispered in his ear.

With a quick and precise movement, Jack used a non-lethal, yet extremely painful neutralization technique, breaking a key pressure point. The Guardian collapsed, screaming in agony.

"Perfect," Jack breathed out, wiping the sweat from his brow. "Now, to the Guardian Command Room! Johan and the others must not leave without knowing what's going on."

He rushed down the corridor, his heart pounding against his chest. He knew time was running out and that other Kyralian guards would soon arrive.

"Soon, their Captain, Sirius, will realize something is wrong and he'll send more people after me," he thought.

...

"Well, he asked me to kill you."

Silence fell, heavy and chilling, broken only by the ragged breath of the immobilized assassin on the floor.

Tilda and Tiffa froze, disbelief painting their faces. Lyra, however, displayed a serene, almost benevolent smile.

"Is this a joke?" Tiffa demanded, the mana in her fists intensifying. "Explain yourself, Lyra, or I'll throw you out the window!"

Lyra ignored Tiffa's warning, his eyes fixed on Tilda.

"The password was a test, Princess. Nox would never abandon you. He knew you would be suspicious and would test anyone claiming to come from him. He asked me to tell you that I was supposed to kill you, because if there's one thing Nox won't accept, it's an easy lie. If I had simply said, 'I'm here to help,' you would have doubted me. By presenting you with the worst possible betrayal, he ensures you are ready to defend yourselves against anyone, even his friends."

Tilda released the tension she had built up. She now understood the complexity of Nox's message. It was a twisted, but effective, way to confirm Lyra's authenticity while keeping them on their guard.

"That's a... peculiar method," Tilda conceded, a thin smile appearing. She then pointed at the assassin on the floor. "Now, what do we do with him?"

"Kill him," Lyra repeated without hesitation. "He is one of the Emperor's Shadows. If we let him go or even question him further, command will be alerted. His death will pass as a failure with no immediate consequences."

Tiffa, still wary but convinced by Lyra's reasoning, struck the assassin's nape with the heel of her hand, ending him instantly. Tilda released the grip of her vines.

"What next?" Tilda asked Lyra. "You said my family wants me dead. What does Nox want us to do?"

"We are going to grant their wish. Nox said the only way to survive and save the rest of your family is to leave Erian immediately. To do that, we will have to fabricate evidence proving your death," Lyra replied. "Don't worry. After finding a way to pre-explain the situation to your parents, they will know you are alive and safe."

Tilda gripped the communication orb she had taken from her room. Memories of her parents flashed through her mind for a moment.

Lyra looked at Tiffa. "I already have Guardian uniforms ready for both of you. We will exit through the underground tunnels. But first..."

He approached the assassin's body and pulled out a small badge concealed beneath his tunic. Then, with a swift movement, hundreds of dagger strikes assailed and mutilated the assassin's corpse. The goal was to transform the assassin's body into one that should resemble Tilda's.

The body was now unrecognizable, and Lyra took some of Tilda's accessories and clothes to stage the scene, completing his work. Tilda, though outwardly calm, felt like vomiting at the cruelty Lyra displayed.

"Who is this man?" she wondered internally.

"... there is something else. The true person responsible for tonight's failed assassination is not your uncle. It is the matriarch of your family, or rather the Empress of Erian. She is the mastermind behind the plot. Your uncle, the Emperor, is just a... pawn."

Tilda felt a wave of nausea. The Empress was her mother's closest friend.

"That's not true..." she whispered, but she caught herself, remembering Lyra's words: Nox won't accept an easy lie. Lyra had no reason to lie about the mastermind.

"We need to move," Lyra urged, his gaze piercing. "We have a narrow window to escape. The palace's underground tunnels open in five minutes."

...

Meanwhile, Nox was dragged to the throne room, his arms bound behind his back. He looked around, his gaze sweeping over the hall filled with guards and nobles. The Emperor, seated on his throne, looked at him with a cold smile. The twelve Kyralian Guardian Captains were lined up beside him, their eyes fixed on Nox.

Apart from Nox, Kyralia had 12 Guardian Captains who protected the empire. Each of them was considered one of the most powerful men in the empire, second only to the Emperor. They were named in order of merit, and each had a team and a citadel at their disposal, spread throughout the empire.

Their role? To protect the empire from all threats.

"Ah, Nox," the Emperor said, his tone calm. "I see you have finally been brought before me."

Nox did not respond, his gaze fixed on the Emperor.

The Emperor rose from his throne, his eyes scanning the room. "You have been accused of treason, Nox. What do you have to say in your defense?"

Nox smiled, his gaze defiant. "I have nothing to say. I am innocent."

The Emperor smiled in turn, his gaze cold.

"We shall see about that. Captain Lyrien, please read the charges against Nox."

One of the twelve Guardian Captains, a tall, muscular man with a scar on his cheek, stepped forward. "Nox is accused of plotting against the empire, treason against the Emperor, and attempted murder of Princess Tilda."

The hall erupted in murmurs and cries, the nobles and guards reacting to the news. Nox remained silent, his gaze fixed on the Emperor.

"What a fine piece of theater!" he thought. "I am innocent, Your Majesty. I just finished closing an S+ rank portal, and..."

"... and you accuse me of plotting against the empire?" Nox continued in his thoughts, an ironic smile on his lips. "I suppose this is one way to thank me for my services to the empire."

He kept his gaze fixed on the Emperor, his expression impassive. "But I suppose there's no point in protesting. You've already made your decision, haven't you, Your Majesty?"

The Emperor looked back at him, his gaze cold and calculating. "We shall see, Nox. We shall see."

Captain Lyrien, the man with the scar on his cheek, stepped forward again. "Silence, prisoner! You will have the opportunity to defend yourself at your trial."

Nox shrugged, his smile still present on his lips. "I look forward to it, Captain. Truly."

The throne room was once again plunged into silence, eyes fixed on Nox and the Emperor. The air was heavy with tension, and Nox could feel the hostile stares of the nobles and guards on him.

But he did not flinch. He remained standing, his gaze fixed on the Emperor, awaiting the next events. He knew his fate was already sealed, but he was curious to see everything they had prepared against him.

...

Back in Tilda's quarters, Lyra handed them two basic Guardian tunics.

"Put these on," he ordered. "Under this attire, you'll just be two guards in a hurry. The fewer eyes on you, the better."

Tilda and Tiffa quickly complied.

After taking many dark tunnels, Lyra approached a wall behind a large brocade tapestry and discreetly manipulated a carved stone. A faint creaking sound was heard, and a section of the wall moved, revealing a dark, narrow passage.

"This is a maintenance duct that leads directly to the catacombs, then under the port district," Lyra explained. "Follow me. And above all, complete silence."

All three squeezed into the tunnel. Tilda cast a final look at her chamber, knowing this was likely the last time she would see the splendor of the imperial palace. She gripped the communication orb in her hand, full of hope for Nox's help.

The moment Lyra closed the passage behind them, a muffled alarm began to blare throughout the palace, indicating an intrusion.

The alarm, a deep, continuous hum, resonated even through the thick stone walls. Lyra quickened his pace, his muscular silhouette cutting through the darkness of the narrow duct.

"The alarm was triggered earlier than expected!" Lyra whispered, his voice full of urgency. "Jack might have been caught, or the assassin sent a signal before dying. Regardless, we must reach the main catacombs. There, we will have more space to defend ourselves."

Tilda, despite the stress, tried to remain focused. She could feel Tiffa right behind her, both wearing the rudimentary uniforms that made them unrecognizable, at least from a distance. The air in the duct was foul, laden with humidity and an odor of mold and ancient dust.

After a few minutes of crouching run, the duct finally widened, leading them into a sprawling network of vaulted tunnels. These were the catacombs, a maze built by the ancient emperors for the palace's foundations.

Lyra pulled out a small magic lantern that emitted a pale blue glow, just enough to light the way without attracting attention.

"Follow me silently."