While Aether was busy tricking someone, meanwhile, on the borders of two great Empires that had recently merged, a few hooded figures suddenly emerged from the shadows.
“Hmm… Look at that border… it doesn’t even look like one,” one of the hooded figures muttered, it’s voice carrying a hint of disbelief. The border, which should have been marred by destruction—cracks, chaos, the inevitable scars of two Empires colliding—looked eerily seamless, as if it had always been a single, unbroken land.
It was unnatural!!
“What should we do now? I see soldiers patrolling everywhere,” another figure asked.
“What else? Use that damn horn already,” the first hooded figure snapped.
They moved forward cautiously, but just as they were about to take another step—
“Halt! Who are you?” A soldier from Pyra’s side stepped forward, blocking their path with a sharp glare. His grip on his weapon tightened instinctively, sensing something off about the strangers.
The first hooded figure didn’t flinch. Instead, It tilted it’s head slightly before responding in a blank tone, “We’d like to have a word with the ruler of your Empire.”
“Talk?” The soldier’s brows furrowed. “Do you have a permit?”
“Hmm… of course,” the figure replied, feigning nonchalance as it casually searched through the folds of its cloak.
The soldier’s expression darkened as unease crawled up his spine. Something wasn’t right. “What’s taking you so long?” he pressed, his voice laced with suspicion.
“Hmm… hmm… why the rush?” The hooded figure let out a slow chuckle. “I’m just searching… searching… ah, now where did I put it? Oh! Here it is!” It suddenly pulled out an ice-blue horn and raised it slightly. Then, lowering its voice, it whispered, “Let us through without causing trouble. We’re friends of your ruler, after all.”
The soldier’s gaze locked onto the blue horn, and almost instantly, his pupils dilated, his body stiffening as if trapped in a trance. His lips parted, and in a monotone voice, he muttered, “Yes, you are ou—”
But before he could finish, a sudden flicker of purple light flared in his eyes, as though something inside him snapped. “W-Wait, wha—” His breath hitched as clarity returned, but before he could fully process what had just happened—
“What’s going on here?” A commanding voice rang out, sharp and authoritative.
Thalia.
She strode toward them… The hooded figures stiffened momentarily before quickly concealing the horn beneath their cloaks.
Thalia’s gaze swept over them with a hard, assessing stare. “Who are you? And why are you hiding your faces?”
The first hooded figure clicked its tongue, as if annoyed by the interruption. “We are here to se—” Explore stories at My Virtual Library Empire
Before it could finish, another hooded figure stepped forward and interjected smoothly, “Perhaps we could speak in private?”
Thalia arched a brow, her suspicion deepening. She glanced at the rest of the group, then at her soldiers, who seemed oddly unsettled… Something wasn’t adding up.
After a pause, she exhaled through her nose and nodded. “Fine.”
She allowed herself to be led a few steps away while the rest of the group waited in tense silence.
Meanwhile—
‘What the hell just happened?’ The soldier, still shaken, rubbed his temples as if something had been forcibly erased from his memory. His eyes narrowed on the first hooded figure, his gut screaming that something wasn’t right. “Did you just show me something?” he asked, his voice hesitant yet demanding.
The hooded figure feigned innocence,
“What are you talking about? I didn’t show you anything.”
But in its mind, it cursed, ‘Tsk, that damn woman had to interfere. If she hadn’t shown up, we would’ve slipped in without a hitch.’
Suddenly—
“Oh my God! It’s yo—”
Sshh!!
A sharp hush sliced through the air.
The group’s heads whipped toward Thalia and the hooded figure she was speaking to. Something had just been said—something significant.
“Calm down,” the hooded figure whispered in a hushed but urgent tone. “I came here secretly because I need to speak with your ruler, Thalia. This isn’t an official visit.” its voice was smooth, controlled, and dangerously persuasive as it lowered its hood for just a fraction of a second.
Thalia’s breath hitched. Her eyes widened, and for a split second, an almost childlike gleam of excitement flickered in them. “Oh? O-Okay!” She quickly covered her mouth, trying to suppress a grin.
She looked as though she had just met her idol.
“I need an unofficial meeting with your ruler due to certain pressing matters in my Empire,” he continued, his voice trailing off meaningfully.
Thalia inhaled deeply before nodding with exaggerated determination. Puffing out her chest, she declared, “Don’t worry! I’ll take care of it—I’ll guide you myself!”
Moments later, she returned to the group. “Let them in.”
“But they don’t have a permi—”
The soldier barely got a word out before Thalia shot him a sharp glare. His throat went dry, and he stiffly nodded. “Understood.”
“Good.” Thalia turned back to the hooded figures. “Come. Follow me.”
“Hmm? Just like that?” The first hooded figure blinked, momentarily caught off guard. It turned to the second hooded figure, who merely shrugged as if to say, ‘Just go with it.’
‘Hah. Whatever. As long as we get what we came for.’
With that, the first hooded figure smirked slightly before motioning for the rest to follow as they silently trailed behind Thalia, slipping deeper into enemy territory.
….
…..
Finally, they arrived at the palace.
“Come inside,” Thalia said without a hint of hesitation as she welcomed the mysterious hooded group into the grand structure.
As they stepped in, one of the hooded figures let out a quiet chuckle. “Hmm… So it really is the Black Castle, just like I heard,” It mused, Its tone laced with amusement as its eyes roamed over the dark, imposing walls built from rare black stone. “Quite the intimidating place. It has a certain… ominous charm to it.”
Thalia merely smiled, leading them deeper inside before stopping at a spacious chamber adorned with luxurious yet minimal furnishings.
“You guys can sit here,” she said, motioning toward the plush sofa.
Only two of the hooded figures took a seat, while the others remained standing behind them, their rigid postures resembling that of loyal soldiers guarding their superior.
Thalia leaned against a nearby table, tilting her head slightly with a teasing smirk. “Still feel the need to hide your faces?”
One of the hooded figures let out a quiet sigh before finally lowering their hood, revealing her identity—Marisandra Naiadia.
Thalia’s eyes flickered with interest before shifting to the other figure. “And you?”
The first hooded figure scoffed lightly. “Nah, I can’t reveal my face,” they said in a playful yet smug tone, “You see, I’m just too beautiful~ Wouldn’t want to cause a scene. Some things are better left a mystery, don’t you think?”
Sandra’s lips twitched in mild irritation. “Don’t mind her,” she said with a sigh. “She’s my general, and due to… certain circumstances, she can’t show her face. It’s better this way.”
“Oh? Okay!” Thalia cut in, nodding enthusiastically as if whatever her idol said was the absolute truth, her expression bright and trusting. She then glanced at the rest of the hooded figures, who remained still and silent.
Sandra cleared her throat, looking slightly awkward. “Well… them too.”
Thalia’s brows furrowed slightly, her expression growing serious for the first time since they arrived… everyone suddenly tensed up as if something about to happen.
However—
“Well, if you say so~” Thalia suddenly shrugged, brushing it off without a care.
Then, as if remembering something, she straightened up and added dramatically, “Wait here. I’ll go bring our Dragon Emperor. Just so you know… he absolutely hates being disturbed at night, so please—pray for my safety, guys.” as she slowly stepped out of the room, making a show of tiptoeing toward the door before quickly slipping out.
Sandra’s amused expression faded the moment Thalia was gone. Her brows knit together in concern, and her fingers twitched slightly.
“He?” she repeated, her voice suddenly tight. “Victor is still here? I thought you guys baited him away!” Her face paled slightly, her unease growing with every passing second.
The first hooded figure’s smirk disappeared. “Yeah… What’s going on?” Her expression darkened, eyes narrowing. “Jack already called him. I received the notification. Something isn’t right—”
Thud!
Before she could finish, a heavy sound echoed through the room,
“Oh? What do we have here?” A deep, murky voice slithered into the air, carrying a tone of amusement mixed with condescension.
The doors swung open, and an imposing figure stepped inside—Drakhairs.
Draped in regal, extravagant garments befitting an emperor, he carried himself with undeniable arrogance, his every movement exuding power and dominance…. Behind him, another figure followed silently—Raven, his lips curling into an eerily amused grin, eyes gleaming with something unreadable.
/The mouse has entered the trap!/
Aether grinned hearing that, as he replied,
/Then it’s time for Cat vs Mouse~/