That Evening...
"Is everyone ready?" Kiko asked quietly. They were now gathered inside his room. It was already past eleven o'clock. The servants were fast asleep in their quarters, and only a few guards remained on duty around the palace.
"We're all set," Shuu replied, tightening the straps of his small travel bag. They had only packed a few clothes—just enough to move quickly and keep a low profile.
"Where are Ran and Rin?" Kasey asked, glancing around.
"They went to scout the other side of the palace," Tohru said. "They'll meet us at the back gate."
"Alright. Let's move out. Be careful—don't get caught," Kiko warned. Everyone nodded silently.
They slowly opened the door and peeked into the hallway. Once they were sure no guards were nearby, they slipped out and made their way cautiously toward the palace's rear exit.
"Shh... there's a guard," Imman whispered, pointing at two sentries stationed nearby, facing opposite directions.
They crept forward, careful not to make a sound. When they reached the back gate, they quickly ducked into the nearby bushes—two more guards stood watch right at the gate.
"Damn. How are we supposed to get past them?" Harusheen muttered under his breath.
"I'll take care of it," Imman said, his voice calm. After spending time with Hikari, he had learned how to move like an assassin.
The others watched in awe as Imman seemed to vanish into the shadows. Moments later, they saw the two guards collapse, silently taken down.
Imman and Kasey dragged the unconscious guards to the side, hiding them in the darkness. The group hurriedly pushed open the gate and ran toward the waiting carriages just beyond the palace grounds.
"How is it?" Kiko asked the man waiting by the lead carriage.
"Everything's ready. Shall we depart now?" the man asked, looking around.
"Not yet. We're waiting for our two brothers. They should be here soon," Kiko replied.
The man gave a nod and signaled his men to remain alert.
"Where the hell are they?" Harusheen murmured, scanning the shadows as they waited for Ran and Rin.
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Jinny finished the last spoonful of soup and swallowed her medicine. Matias, who had been silently watching to ensure she ate everything and took her medicine, finally stood up.
"You should get some rest, Your Majesty. It's already late," Jinny said softly.
Matias gave a small nod. "You too. Make sure you sleep soon—it's not good for the baby if the mother doesn't get enough rest."
"I will, Your Majesty. Good night," she replied.
Matias walked to the door and quietly left the room, followed by the servants. The moment the door clicked shut, Jinny moved. She crept toward the door and slowly opened it, peeking out to make sure Matias was gone. Once she was certain the hallway was empty, she rushed back to her bed and pulled out a small bag hidden underneath. Slinging it over her shoulder, she ran to the window.
Outside, in the shadows below, she saw Ran and Rin waiting.
They motioned for her to hurry.
Without wasting a second, she gathered all the blankets in the room and tied them together, fastening one end securely to the bed frame. Then she threw the makeshift rope out the window. Taking a deep breath, heart pounding, she stared down. It was a long drop, and fear clawed at her—but she had to do this.
With trembling hands, she began her descent. Slowly, carefully, she climbed down, her feet finally touching the ground safely.
"Let's move—everyone's waiting," Rin said.
The three of them took off quietly toward the back gate. Jinny gasped when she saw two unconscious guards slumped to the side.
"Come on," Ran urged, pulling her along.
They reached the line of carriages just beyond the palace walls. Ran quickly stopped her and pointed to the last carriage at the rear of the group.
"This way," he said, grabbing her hand and leading her to it. "Stay out of sight—our brothers must not see you."
The final carriage was meant for their supplies and stuff. Ran helped Jinny climb inside and hide beneath the crates and cloth.
"Stay here until we arrive," he whispered. She nodded silently, and he closed the door gently behind her.
Ran ran back to Rin, and together they approached their waiting brothers.
"What took you so long?" Tohru asked.
"Sorry," Ran said, catching his breath.
"Let's go," Kiko instructed the man leading the convoy.
The man gave a curt nod and signaled his men. One by one, everyone climbed into the carriages, and soon they were off—riding away from the palace.
They all exhaled in collective relief.
"So… where exactly are we heading again?" Harusheen asked, peering out the window.
"To Apomon," Hajee answered. "It's a small village far beyond the empire's borders. Isolated, with only a few inhabitants."
"You sure it's safe? They won't find us there?" Ran asked, concerned.
"Yes. The empire has little interest in that land. It borders a foreign kingdom that isn't part of the alliance, so they tend to avoid it," Hajee explained.
"Good. I hope we get there soon," Ran said.
"It'll take a few days—three to five, depending on conditions. But don't worry. I've installed magic items on the carriages to shorten the journey. Three days should be enough," Hajee reassured them.
Ineah, seated in one of the front carriages, studied the map. "To reach the village, we'll need to pass through two forests and two small towns."
"And the guards I hired can only escort us as far as the entrance to the first forest," Kiko added. "From there, we'll be on our own. Be ready—for wild animals, bandits, or worse."
"Don't worry. We can fight," Ran said confidently.
"Our father always told us not to be afraid," Shuu chimed in with a grin. "Let's treat this like any other mission."
"Heh, I've been itching for a good fistfight," Kasey said, cracking his knuckles.
"My baby's been craving blood," Harusheen added darkly, polishing his sword with a gleam in his eye.
Hajee smiled faintly. Despite the danger ahead, their spirit remained strong.
They had to reach Apomon alive—and together.
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TJ and Tobi finally arrived at the empire's border.
"This is as far as I can go," Tobi said, stopping in his tracks.
"Thank you for everything. I owe you," TJ said, offering a respectful nod.
"No need for thanks. It's an honor to help a foreigner in need," Tobi replied warmly. "Besides, I couldn't just stand by and watch an innocent soul get caught in our empire's war. Now go—leave while you still can. Good luck on your journey, young man. And please, stay safe."
"I will. Thank you again." TJ gave a low bow, then turned and walked toward the border checkpoint.
A row of soldiers stood guard, their eyes sharp and alert.
"Where are you headed?" one of the guards asked, stepping in front of him.
"I'm an adventurer. I'm heading to the next village across the border," TJ explained calmly.
"An adventurer?" The guard's gaze narrowed. "Do you have a pass or a guild plate?"
TJ furrowed his brow. "I'm not part of any guild. I travel alone."
The guard didn't budge, still eyeing him with suspicion.
"Look, I heard this region is at war. I'm just trying to get out and find a safer place," TJ added, trying to reason with him.
"You can't cross just like that. You'll need to be screened and answer a few questions. Once we confirm your identity and purpose, we'll decide whether you can pass," the guard said firmly.
"What?" TJ stared in disbelief.
Before the situation could escalate, the guards' attention shifted as a group of carriages approached the border gate and came to a halt.
"Where are you headed?" another guard asked the driver of one of the lead carriages.
"We're merchants. We're bringing goods to sell in the nearby villages," the driver answered.
At that moment, a man stepped out of one of the carriages and approached the guards to speak with them.
TJ's eyes widened in surprise as he recognized the figure.
"Hajee?" he whispered to himself, stunned.
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The carriage came to a sudden halt.
"What's going on?" Tohru asked, peering out the small window.
"It's the guards—we've reached the border," Ran replied, glancing outside with a cautious look.
"What should we do now?" Kasey asked, tension rising in his voice.
"Leave it to me," Hajee said calmly, stepping out of the carriage.
The driver Kiko had hired was already speaking to the guards. "We're merchants. We're bringing goods to sell in the nearby villages," the man said with practiced ease.
Hajee approached, adjusting his coat as he joined the conversation. As a seasoned businessman, slipping into the role of a merchant came naturally.
"What's going on here?" he asked, his tone casual.
"You said you're merchants?" one of the guards asked, eyeing him closely.
"Yes. Is there a problem?" Hajee replied with a pleasant smile.
"What exactly are you selling?" the guard continued.
"I have a wide variety of goods—jewelry, antiques, food seasonings, fine fabrics," Hajee listed smoothly. "You're welcome to inspect the carriages if you'd like."
Fortunately, Kiko and Imman had prepared well. Each carriage carried different goods as props, enhancing their disguise.
"Here, take a look at my permit," Hajee added, handing over a card.
The guard's eyes widened as he read it. "Y-You're from the black market guild?" he stammered, a bead of sweat forming on his brow.
Unbeknownst to the others, Shuu had stolen the permit from Arthur's guild—one with a powerful reputation. Anyone associated with Arthur's network was rarely questioned, especially at the borders.
Hajee's smile faded as his expression shifted into something colder, more commanding. "So, do we have a problem?"
"N-No, sir. You're clear to pass," the guard said quickly, stepping back. He signaled his fellow soldiers to open the gate.
"Much appreciated," Hajee said, then turned and rejoined the others in the carriage.
The group smiled and exhaled in relief as the convoy rolled forward, officially crossing the border without incident.
None of them noticed the stowaway.
While the guards were distracted and negotiations were underway, TJ had quietly slipped into the last carriage and hidden among the cargo. Even the guard who had been questioning him moments earlier was left confused—TJ had vanished without a trace.