Inside the camp, things were unbelievable. Everyone had heard the news about Sabrina and was in total shock. Just yesterday, the spy had been exposed, then quickly vanished before they could catch her. Now, everyone was still stunned—but at least a great burden had been lifted. They no longer had to worry about plans being leaked. Still, that didn't erase the possibility that there could be another spy.
Inside the largest tent, Vinnel and his aides were gathered: analysts, strategists, commanders, and heroes. Their next goal was clear—retake the palace. Abandoning it and refusing to fight for it would only show weakness to the enemy, and make them look incapable of making wartime decisions, especially after the fort was destroyed.
"As you all know, we've lost the palace, and the fort was destroyed. We're now living in unprotected tents and could be attacked at any moment. Four days have passed since the palace fell, and we haven't launched even a single counterattack. That ends today. Our goal is to take it back," Vinnel said seriously.
"How are we attacking?" Tom asked.
"I prefer a direct attack. We're striking a place we know very well, and it's just a single location—so without any complex tactics, it'll be easier, simpler, and faster," said one of the analysts.
"We still need some essential tactics—like the initial number of troops we'll attack with, and so on," added one of the strategists.
"Yes, yes. But nothing overly complicated."
"I'll lead the first wave," said a young man, clad in silver armor, his wet black hair dangling between his ears.
"Good… Oh, right—I forgot to introduce him," Vinnel said.
"This is Venior. He arrived with the reinforcements. He's one of the youngest commanding knights in the kingdom, which makes him someone special around here."
"Commander Vinnel, you're embarrassing me," Venior mumbled.
"Back to the first attack. I think five hundred soldiers, along with eighty mages and the heroes, should be enough to breach the palace," one of the strategists proposed.
"Alright. Any objections?" Vinnel asked.
"If I find Sabrina, am I allowed to kill her?" Laos asked, raising his hand.
"If you can, yes. But it would be better to bring her in alive. She's not just a spy—she's a traitor."
"What?" Laos replied in surprise.
"Sabrina was one of the oldest officials in Yarum. She's worked for the royal palace for over twenty years. At first, she was the head librarian in the royal palace. Princess Tiana was very attached to her, like an older sister. When Tiana grew up and the war started, Sabrina moved with her to the palace."
"Oh, I see. It all makes sense now. This isn't some ordinary betrayal."
"By the way, Laos, can you tell us how you suspected her? You didn't tell me anything—as if she were the one who told you herself. That makes me suspicious, especially since you were once in the Dark Eye party."
"Hmm... I guess you don't know," Laos said.
"Know what?"
"I used to be a servant in Princess Tiana's palace. I saw some strange things about her."
"Strange? Like what?"
"Uhhh... She always spoke about Yarum like it was the bad side whenever she talked about the wars. And she used to read weird books—like Yarum's Military Strategies. I mean, why would the head servant of the princess be reading something like that?"
After that, everyone left the tent. The soldiers were organized, and Laos and Tom prepared themselves. Soon, the long-awaited battle would begin—the battle to retake the palace. The palace that had been seized by the enemy, and was considered one of the most important places in the east—if not the most important. Now, the time had come to fight for it.
"Soldiers! Today, you march into a very special battle. You're not protecting borders or defending a post. You're retaking a piece of your homeland—the same land where you were born and raised. You march today to take it back. With your courage and determination, you will be remembered as heroes."
"Sure, your names might not all make it into the history books, but you'll be remembered as the brave—not just some soldiers. And I don't think anyone here would mind being part of 'the brave warriors who reclaimed the palace in the year 954 of the Elder Calendar,' right? Before you head into battle, remember this—you're not just marching into a fight, you're marching to write new history. More than that, you're fighting for your homeland—the great kingdom of Yarum!!"
"Now show me what you're made of! Move forward, showing your courage, your patriotism, and above all—your strength. Go, brave warriors!!" Vinnel delivered his speech.
After that, the soldiers raised their weapons into the air. It was clear that Vinnel's speech had fired them up exactly as he intended. Their faces were filled with intensity and resolve, a solid will and burning determination. Their armor, their weapons, their prayers, and their bravery—all of it surged through the soldiers of Yarum like a swarm of ants. All of it for the sake of retaking the palace and the territories of their kingdom.
"Now show me what you've got. I'll lead the second wave. Until then, don't let me find you losing when I arrive," Vinnel said as he placed his hand on Venior's shoulder.
"Leave it to me. I've led countless battles in the far west—I won't have any trouble with a bunch of humans, especially those filthy ones… the Deryalians," Venior said with a wide grin.
"Move out, soldiers!!!" the young knight shouted.
The soldiers advanced toward the palace, the banners of Yarum raised high. Swords and weapons were in place, shields strapped on, armor secured. Everything was ready. As the warriors moved forward, the mages followed from behind. Their long robes stood out, and some wore tall pointed hats—sharp like their determination. They gripped long staffs or short wands, heading toward the battlefield.
And of course, we can't forget our two heroes—Laos and Tom—who marched forward with strength. Laos, with his pure white hair and blue eyes, wore light armor. Hanging at his waist was the Astral Sword, and his resolve burned bright. In front of him, Tom was just as ready, his blonde hair swaying with the breeze as he marched ahead. He wore shining silver-white armor, wielding his black-bladed sword—the one known as the Dark Lord's Blade.
After some time, the sounds reached the palace, and word of the Yarum soldiers' arrival spread quickly. At that moment, the allied soldiers rushed to the palace garden entrance, weapons drawn, waiting for the enemy to arrive so the clash could begin. Suddenly, Yarum's mages started launching volleys of fireballs. But just then, Lumis appeared and swiftly raised his hand high.
"Oh no, he doesn't!" Laos muttered, dashing forward and pulling his sword back.
"Waven!!"
A small wave formed across the ground and sped forward, slamming into Lumis' legs. He collapsed and couldn't cast any defensive spells. The fireballs hit the allied soldiers—some tried to dodge, but several were struck. Thanks to their armor, there weren't any major casualties, but there were still some injuries.
"Attack!!!" Venior shouted.
And with that, the usual chaos broke loose—blood, stabs, and the clash of blades ringing out. Tom moved through the battlefield like usual, darting through the shadows and going for clean beheadings. But this time, he was surprised—his blade wasn't slicing heads like it used to. He backed off, staring for a moment, then noticed something around the soldiers' necks.
"Oh… you came prepared," Tom muttered with a grin.
Near him, Laos unleashed his abilities at breakneck speed. Anyone nearby either died, lost a limb, or went flying. But Laos had his sights on someone else entirely—Lumis, who was trying to hide among the crowd. When Lumis noticed him, he launched a stone spear, but Laos shattered it with Ground Wave.
"We meet again," Lumis said.
"Show me what you've got this time."
The glasses-wearing mage began casting earth-element spells as usual, but this time he was slower—and weaker. Laos blocked every attack with his sword. The reason? A blue moon hovered above Laos, weakening Lumis' magic.
"You heroes really are strange… You have powers that aren't even written in the books about the gods," the blue-haired mage muttered, already thinking of his next move.
"Water Ball!!" Laos shouted, activating the fourth form.
The ball surged forward, but Lumis quickly summoned a stone wall. However, the water ball broke through it—thanks to the immense weight enhanced by the fourth form. By the time the wall was shattered, Lumis had already retreated to a safer distance. As Laos tried to chase him, a large group of knights stood in his way, surrounding him and blocking his advance.
Meanwhile, Tom was still trying to behead enemies, and all he needed was to add more force to his swings. Yet even then, he wasn't getting clean kills like before. Suddenly, as he darted through the battlefield like a shadow, a tall knight appeared in front of him—muscular, wearing heavy armor and a red cloak. His skin was dark, and strands of white streaked through his black hair. It was Oxort, commander of the warriors.
"Let's have some fun, Mister Hero," Oxort said as he stood in Tom's path.
◆ ◆ ◆
Far to the east, inside one of the royal palace's rooms—specifically, the council room—everyone was in shock. Word about Sabrina's true identity had reached them. Adalos' eyes were wide open, and the council members were completely silent. This wasn't just a matter of a spy—this was a massive betrayal. After all, Sabrina had been the primary contact between the council and the eastern front.
"Oh my goddess! She knows all our plans!" Migller exclaimed.
"This is a devastating blow dealt by Deryal… but the strange part is that it's Sabrina. I heard she used to be the palace's librarian."
"Yes, that's what shocked me. I never expected it at all. It's absolutely insane—I couldn't have even imagined it. It's impossible… it feels like a dream," said Adalos.
"Well, all we can do now is change the plans. I'll work overtime to come up with new strategies. Don't worry, Your Majesty—this is a war we all share," Migller reassured him.
"We won't rest either—not until we repair the damage caused by that traitor."
"Don't you think she might've been a spy from the very beginning? Since the time she started working in the royal palace?"
"No… Sabrina is a woman from Yarum. She was born here and studied here. It seems her thinking changed somewhere along the way, and she ended up joining the enemy," Adalos said.
Far from the council and its shock, in one of the palace's rooms—a spacious room with a bed big enough for two—the sunlight streamed in through open windows. The furniture was luxurious, with vases and statues decorating the space. On the bed sat a young woman with long blonde hair and an elegant dress, reading reports about the war. It was Tiana, and she seemed focused on her task.
After a while, the door to the room suddenly knocked. Tiana allowed the visitor to enter. It was a man in a long mage's robe—black with red embroidery. His eyes were green, and he looked to be in his thirties. He was Beltum, now serving as Tiana's only bodyguard. Upon entering, he gave a slight bow and said: "I bring bad… and shocking news."
"Goddess!! What is it?" Tiana asked, her expression serious.
"Sabrina… is a spy for Deryal," Beltum replied calmly.
"W-what? Impossible!!!"
"Vinnel exposed her. And it seems she's already escaped to another location."
"Unbelievable…" Tiana muttered.
Sabrina? The same woman I had loved since childhood? The woman who tried so hard to get me to enjoy reading… but I would always refuse and run off to play in the garden. Then she'd try to catch me… That smile… those wise words of hers… No. This can't be real. These memories won't let me believe this news. It's impossible… Sabrina… Impossible… Sabrina???