Following a week straight of constant flight, the magic cart finally reached the outskirts of Wunderdum. Cygnus landed it in Astolat, a small town about two hours from the actual city, and hid it well in an abandoned stable on the outskirts belonging to an old friend. The group hastily found their way to an inn and huddled in a small room as they plotted their course through the capital. They dressed themselves in shrouds and cloaks to keep their faces hidden, and sprayed themselves with a special perfume, a product of Vera's own, which served as an inhibitor to various tracking magics.
"Are these disguises truly necessary?" Samson asked.
"We're already being tailed," Cygnus said, peeking out the window's drab curtains. They all spoke in low voices, trying not to be heard by ears that could have been hiding in the walls.
"They've been watching our every move since we got here," Cygnus said. "And they know precisely who we are. Whether or not the Agents of Darkness are our enemies remains to be determined."
"Shouldn't the city be under martial law enforced by the guilds?" Epsilon asked. "Even if the Agents of Darkness are under Lionel, they won't make any bold moves under the top guilds' watch."
"That's what we were told, but we must remain ever vigilant," Cygnus said. "I've got a horrid feeling things aren't going to go quite as smoothly as we'd hoped. The best thing we can do for now is keep our heads low until we meet up with Lancelot."
"What good will hiding our faces do if they're already watching our every move?" Kofi asked.
"It's so they can't easily distinguish our faces from each other, should we have to split up," Cygnus said. "It won't stave them off for long, but it may buy us precious moments."
"Then maybe we should separate in the first place-" Ada suggested. As soon as those words left her mouth, there was a knock at the door. She hadn't even finished her full thought.
Cygnus put his finger to his lips to shush the others and slowly got up, followed by Kofi. As silent as crawling lizards and methodical as mice, they crept to the door, each hair stiffening on their arms and legs as they prepared for the worst. When Cygnus peeked through the crack, he saw black cloaks– ones belonging to the group they were most concerned about. He knew they were around, but he didn't think they'd make the brazen move of confronting them directly. Before he could react or think of what they should do next, a low voice spoke from the other side.
"At ease, Cygnus and his loyal comrades," one of them said. "We come in peace."
Cygnus took in a deep breath as he skeptically placed his hand on the doorknob. "I suppose there's no other choice..."
Upon opening it, a few darkly dressed figures walked forcefully into the room, covered so completely that only their eyes were visible. Their body shapes couldn't be concisely determined due to their crinkled drapes, and the daggers and poisoned vials attached to their sides demanded respect as they could be turned against their foes at any time.
"We come with the kingdom's best interest in mind," the frontal figure said. Cygnus couldn't tell if the voice belonged to a man or a woman, as a vocal distortion spell was being cast on their mouth.
"Somehow I doubt that," Cygnus muttered, crossing his arms. "From what I heard, you attempted to assassinate Arthur just a few weeks back."
"I don't deny that we're against Arthur and his ideals, but I'll admit our superiors may have acted hastily when a peaceful resolution was a possibility," the figure said. "The guild masters are concurrently gathering for a meeting to discuss this kingdom's future. We shall meet them at their convention right now. I'm sure they'll wish to hear the input of the one who commands the scholars and academics of the Westlands."
"And what of your organization? What will the Agents of Darkness be doing since Lionel's not around?" Cygnus asked. "I don't think you'll simply be standing by and awaiting a verdict."
"Our leader will be taking an active role in this debate in Lionel's stead," the figure said. "We are more than just assassins of the underground. We've got ideals just like the rest of you."
"Skewed ideals," Epsilon grumbled.
"That's your point of view, not ours," the figure said. "We're trying to handle this with as little bloodshed as possible. If you're willing to cooperate, we'll ensure safe passage through the underground of the city."
"And why must we traverse that wretched place?" Cygnus asked. "That seems more dangerous than going through the main gates or even flying over with the cart."
"Our organization is split just like yours," the figure said. "We've got radicals swarming the city, and I cannot guarantee your safety if we don't go through the underground. Additionally, the political situation in Wunderdum has been in chaos since word of Arthur's leaving got out. Having one of his top supporters waltzing through as if nothing happened will only add to the chaos."
"Supporter? I don't recall ever being involved in politics," Cygnus said. "I'm just a simple guy who likes magic and science. I won't pretend I know anything of the sort when I couldn't be more naive."
"Regardless of where you stood before, that's how the public views you," the agent said. "And perhaps you weren't directly involved with the state's affairs before, but it seems you are now, no? I should also add that the further we pursue this trivial matter, the worse the situation gets."
"Who precisely sent you to get us?" Cygnus asked, glaring at them suspiciously.
"None other than Lancelot himself."
…
Beneath the resplendent city of Wunderdum lay a hidden underground passage full of branching tunnels, black-market squares, and shabby buildings used to conduct shady deals. It was among this vast city beneath a city where a majority of Wunderdum's crime hid, and why the main city itself had so few criminals dwelling within. It was also where the Agents of Darkness operated, a place well away from the Round Table's eyes. It might have been expected for an official government organization to crack down on the slummy underbelly of Westland's capital, but they instead decided to use it to their advantage. Networks connecting them far beyond what a formal investigation could, black-market trinkets with great power, a place too dangerous for anyone to dwell openly: it was the perfect base of operations for the organization in charge of the kingdom's darkest processes.
Many orphaned rats from this desolate land of outlaws were abducted by the Agents of Darkness and trained to be their own. Such is why there was never a shortage of recruits despite the lack of appeal, unlike with Arthur's guard. With no other guiding factors in their lives, these forsaken children each become cold, unfeeling weapons to handle the tasks they were given without question. It was because they were rewired at such a young and malleable age that the agents could work effectively as a hive mind and kill without emotion, remaining unfeeling even when their comrades died. In the end, few, if any, were immune to the brainwashing tactics devised by the agents and thus made for a legion of perfect soldiers. It was a much different world from Arthur's Guard, which promoted camaraderie and independent resolve amongst its numerous military facilities.
The city's higher-ups, more specifically Lionel, were very meticulous in covering up this side of the West, and it helped that the underground and its inhabitants wanted to remain hidden in turn. It was this agreement between illegal and legal criminals to scratch each other's back when their interests aligned, and stay out of each other's way when they didn't. That was the unspoken rule of the underground.
A lawless, formidable land below the most prosperous one.
"This place is making me uncomfortable," Ada whispered while the group was led through the broken houses and shops that comprised the underground. The rancid smells made their noses wretch back, and every once in a while, they'd stumble past a maggot-infested body that could have been dead or close to dead.
"I don't like this place either," Kofi said, making sure to stand as close to his sister as possible while they walked. "All the folks down here have their faces and hands covered. I can tell that there is no honor among the thieves and murderers who dwell in this darkness."
"Oh, there's honor, alright," Cygnus said. "It's just a much different definition from yours or mine. I understand this side of the kingdom isn't pretty, but if we keep avoiding their point of view, we'll only make things worse. If we truly wish to see eye-to-eye, then we must-"
"Hush," the agent leading them said. They had cold blue eyes and a low, but unmistakably female voice. "You don't want to draw attention down here. Information travels fast."
As they hurriedly tried to make their way through the toothless, rotting crowds of the black market, the other accompanying Agents of Darkness made a suffocating circle around them to ensure no one was separated from the group. Like shepherds herding a bunch of sheep, the party was meticulously pushed through alleys and tunnels along a hidden path known only to a select few.
Even if they wished to go back, it was impossible in the darkness without proper guidance. Unlike the surface of Wunderdum, which had glowing, magic-powered lanterns to illuminate the night, the underground city only had dimly lit candles to give some semblance of light in the eternal night. Few dwellers down there ever left for the surface, and thus had grown acclimated to the darkness in which they swam. Light was not necessary for them to see because their other senses could compensate. In fact, light made them quite uncomfortable, almost as much as it did the molemen, who weren't actually men, of the Southland's undergrounds.
After stumbling around blindly for what felt like ages, the group eventually reached a large opening to a tunnel where they were immediately pushed through. Only the lead agent entered with Cygnus's party while the others waited behind at the cave's entrance.
Without the dim light of the gas lantern the guiding agent held, it would have been pitch black. Fortunately, it was just bright enough to faintly illuminate the rough cavern walls, which had clearly been altered by hand to make it traversable.
"Keep walking," the blue-eyed agent said. "This will take us straight to where we need to be."
"T-there aren't giant spiders crawling around in there, are there?" Ada asked, frozen at the entrance. When the others looked back, they saw she was shaking, and her eyes were growing wet. None of them had realized in the darkness of the underground, but she'd been on the verge of breaking down the entire journey. Kofi walked forward, but Cygnus gently grabbed his shoulder to stop him.
"We don't have such arachnids in this part of the Westlands," Cygnus reassured, trying to give Ada a gentle smile. "I'd almost forgotten, but it's your first time in the Westlands, right?"
"Y-yeah. It is," Ada murmured.
"Then I humbly welcome you to our home," Cygnus said, placing his hand on his stomach and bowing graciously, his face lit by the dim lantern light in the cave. "When this is all over, I'd love to give you a tour of the surface. I think you'll absolutely adore the library we've built, though I suppose we'll have to teach you to read first. How does that sound?"
Ada paused, breathing in deeply to alleviate the fear that had been eating away at her. She resolved herself and took a step forward. "I eagerly await that day. Sorry to have held you back. This fear is unbecoming of a Southerner such as myself."
"No one is immune to fear," Cygnus said. "I've learned this the hard way. It's nothing to be ashamed of, just as long as you learn something from the experience."
"I'd hate to interrupt this touching moment, but we must get going," the agent said. "You've held us up long enough."
"Well, shall we get going?" Cygnus asked.
The burrow was large, yet ominously lonely. Only the resounding echo of footsteps could be heard as Cygnus and the others were methodically rushed through at a much faster pace than before. Each of them grew increasingly worried the further they went, but in the totality of darkness, they had no choice but to keep moving.
After about thirty minutes of ceaseless walking, the agent who was leading them stopped without a word, forcing everyone to abruptly halt in their tracks.
Before they could catch their breath, a group of other agents emerged from erupting holes in the walls and quickly shuffled around them until they surrounded them. Their daggers were already drawn, with their bodies unmistakably poised to pounce.
"Hey, what's your deal?" Samson shouted as Cygnus put his hand to his chest.
"Are you surprised? This was completely expected," Cygnus said. "We didn't really have a choice, even knowing this was a deliberate trap."
"I can't believe they'd betray us so promptly," Epsilon said.
"If you think treachery is beyond the Agents of Darkness, then you're horrifyingly naive," the blue-eyed agent who'd been leading them said as she blew out the lamp, encapsulating all of them in utter darkness.
The sounds of metal pounding flesh and heavy weights dropping on the bedrock floor could be heard all around. With them came echoes of many deathly screeches which quickly turned to wispy breaths fading in and out, and then finally, to silence. None of them could comprehend what occurred in those several seconds; just that there had been a battle that ended almost the moment it began.
With the sound of his voice's song, Musique's body began to glow and light up the scene. When the darkness fully shimmered away, the party quickly realized not a single one of them had been harmed, and the bodies of their assailants lay all around, dead. None of those who had attacked remained, save for the perpetrator whose black garments were stained even blacker with blood, and whose distant blue eyes were averting their gaze.
"And who… might you be?" Cygnus asked, walking closer to the agent who had been leading them the whole time.
"Perhaps the only ally in the Agents of Darkness you've got," she said as she removed her mask. It was Lily, the sister of the late Leila.
"Lily! What in blazes are you doing?" Cygnus asked.
"Protecting what my sister held dear," Lily said.
"Hey, I remember you!" Brax said.
"Mm, and I you," Lily said with an impish smirk. "I'm glad to see you're still alive, hero. Though the same can't be said about your arrogant friend."
"I suppose not," Brax lamented. He remembered that those two had argued before– that they couldn't see eye-to-eye in the short time they spoke. It wasn't the most devastating of topics, merely a clash of ideals, yet they both spoke so intensely about it.
"She did as said and died as she pleased," Lily said. "Fitting for someone like her."
"I s'pose," Brax said.
"Anyway, what's going on?" Cygnus asked. "And why didn't you say anything?"
"If I'd revealed myself too early, we would have been swarmed," Lily said. "You've been betrayed."
"Really now? I had no idea!" Eclipse said. "Was it the murderous intent of your allies that tipped you off?"
"It's worse than you think," Lily said. "The other guilds have sided with Lionel and turned their swords to Avalon."
"So the kingdom's already been lost from our grasp, has it now?" Cygnus asked.
"No, but it's about to enter a war within itself, one between Avalon and its supporters and the rest of the nation," Lily said. "I'm sure you know Avalon hasn't a chance of winning as it is, but they're going to fight nonetheless."
"They don't need to win; they just need to ensure the city doesn't fall into Lionel's power until Arthur returns," Cygnus said.
"So I take it you've got a plan?" Lily asked.
"Roughly, but the main concern right now is the North. Any word of their advances?" Cygnus asked.
"They haven't been able to step foot in the Westlands, which is odd to me," Lily said. "To my knowledge, the borders aren't equipped to defend an all-out attack."
"It isn't, but I've got an inkling of what's keeping them," Cygnus said. "That said, where is Lancelot?"
"What I relayed earlier was true. He's in a meeting with the other guilds," Lily said. "Of course, I doubt their talks are peaceful. Actually, we might already be too late. They're planning on assassinating him."
"I highly doubt they can easily take down Arthur's right-hand man so easily," Cygnus said.
"Perhaps not on their own, but several forces of the top four guilds with their masters at the helm are closing in on him," Lily said. "Reinforced by the Agents of Darkness and the traitors of Arthur's guard, and they might just have enough to put him down."
"Doubtful," Cygnus muttered under his breath as they hurriedly departed.