Infinite Paths: The Raging Phoenix

When morning came, Rain returned to the throne room using his tunnel. He had to wait for a couple of hours before things began to move around there.

Rain didn't know if he should be relieved or not, but the king was still alive, and after he sat down on the throne, the advisors arrived alongside the royal guard and after an annoying time where they followed some customs, they began to talk, but Rain couldn't see Joanis anywhere.

"Where is that son of a bitch?" Rain wondered.

Rain strained his ears to catch any useful information from their conversation. Despite his hopes, the discussion showed no valuable information. Not a word about Branden or their future plans. Frustration grew within him, and he briefly considered the idea of capturing one of them for interrogation.

However, as the meeting drew to a close, a significant problem emerged. These individuals were not just any castle visitors; they resided within the very heart of the castle, closely guarded at all times. His chances of discreetly capturing them had plummeted drastically.

"I am not sure if this is a countermeasure against me, but it sure is annoying," Rain thought.

Without any other choice, Rain went to talk with Lotto. Since his workshop had a ground made of bricks, Rain had an easy time making them move, and all of a sudden, Lotto just saw Rain standing there.

"What the… kid?" Lotto asked. "You almost gave me a heart attack."

"Sorry for surprising you, but I need some information," Rain said.

"I can tell," Lotto said. "Things got hectic once you left with your friends. Come here. I was lucky since I am not being watched since you bought some things from me, but we have to be careful."

Rain and Lotto moved into a dimly lit storage room, their faces etched with concern and focus. Rain leaned against a stack of crates, casting cautious glances around to ensure their privacy.

Lotto, renowned for his vast network and sharp wit, listened intently to what Rain knew. He understood that this conversation held great importance. Despite Lotto's typically reliable network of informants, an unusual silence had fallen over the castle. It was as though a heavy shroud of secrecy enveloped the royal chambers, concealing any potential leaks or rumors.

This heightened level of caution sent shivers down Lotto's spine.

As Lotto shared his knowledge, Rain's unease deepened. The castle, usually a hotbed of intrigue and gossip, had become ominously silent. The king and Joanis were executing their plans with meticulous care, leaving no room for prying eyes or loose tongues. It was an unprecedented situation, and both Rain and Lotto recognized that unraveling this mystery would require extraordinary.

"Despite that, the king's blade was sent to the border alongside one hundred royal guards two days ago," Lotto said. "Branden wasn't with them, and no one saw anyone suspicious leaving the castle. Even at night, we kept guarding the place."

"Did you recognize the royal guards?" Rain asked. "Some of them seemed different to me."

"When you left, some of them joined their ranks, and they apparently were guards that worked for Joanis," Lotto asked.

Rain couldn't help but notice something peculiar about the royal guards who had accompanied Branden earlier. They exuded an aura that defied easy identification—they didn't seem like typical humans, magic people, or sea folk. Clad in full plate armor that concealed their appearances, these guards remained an enigma.

Their mysterious presence intrigued Rain and raised his suspicions. These guards were anything but ordinary, and their origins and loyalties remained shrouded in mystery. Their unique aura, a blend of intrigue and unease, left Rain wanting to unravel the secrets behind these enigmatic figures within the kingdom.

"What are you going to do now?" Lotto asked. "I am going to look for Branden for a while longer before returning home. I am not going to warn the magic people since I didn't sign the truce with them, and the surprise attack won't be that shocking for them since they must have some informants.

I am a bit concerned about Esmeralda, but I can't invade the castle now until I know what she is thinking about all this."

"She probably won't make an appearance anytime soon," Lotto said. "So, you will have a hard time contacting her. I suppose the best option would be to free her and Branden if she wants that, but that still will make you all look like kidnappers. The kingdom will make sure that many will think that way."

Rain wanted to keep them safe because he could only see Branden as his friend, not because they would need him as a leader and Esmeralda to make them the king and queen of the new kingdom. That would be too much of a pain. Still, that would put everyone around them in a bad spot. Branden's latest family, his siblings, his mother… until now, they were fine, but eventually, his focus will waver.

In the end, Rain left Lotto's storage room, saying that he would come for more news soon. Lotto followed him to the workshop, but Rain disappeared as soon as the door was closed. Lotto also could understand that it would be better if he didn't know much about his skills. If he were to be caught, it would be better if he didn't know anything.

Despite being the most skilled mage in the capital and Branden the second, Rain tried to employ his magical abilities to sense Branden's presence. Typically, detecting someone of Branden's caliber should have proven a straightforward task. Yet, to his surprise, Rain's efforts showed no results. There was no trace of Branden's magical presence in the vicinity.

This surprise absence left Rain with only a couple of unsettling conclusions. Either Branden remained confined within the castle's walls, or he had been relocated to a different, more remote location. The latter possibility gnawed at Rain's mind, as he couldn't help but feel a pang of responsibility for the situation, particularly considering his role in the theft of the potions.