Kent reached the royal palace in the early evening. Showing the golden token from Queen Soya, he walked through the palace gates, bypassing every checkpoint.
As he walked through the grand halls, he spotted Queen Soya waiting for him at the entrance of her palace. She was dressed regally, her dark hair tied back, exuding an air of beauty and desire. She acknowledged him with a wide smile and deep look.
“You’ve kept me waiting.” she greeted, her voice carrying a sense of playfulness.
“Let’s go.” Kent said calmly without any greeting.
Queen Soya’s lips curved into a faint smile, but her gaze held a hint of something deeper.
“I prepared everything for our journey. Only you and me. No guards or lookers. Let’s enjoy this journey.” She said with a coquettish smile before leading in the front.
He followed the queen Soya as she led him through the palace garden and out toward a narrow path, one that cut through the dense forest behind the royal grounds.
As they descended a narrow trail, Kent felt a strange sensation — as though someone or something was watching. He cast a quick glance around but saw nothing. Still, he couldn’t shake the feeling, though he continued walking with steady resolve, keeping pace with Queen Soya.
Unbeknownst to Kent, a shadowy lady figure floated high above them, cloaked in a billowing dark shroud that blended with the night sky. The figure was following Kent, maintaining just enough distance to remain undetected but close enough to observe his every move.
After a long journey through rugged paths, the landscape shifted as they neared the fire mountains. The terrain grew jagged, and an orange-red glow lit the horizon, creating an almost supernatural outlook.
Queen Soya led him down a winding staircase into the depths of an underground tunnel, which soon opened into an enormous cavern. Here, a hidden army base lay sprawling out of sight from the mountains above.
Kent’s eyes widened in awe as he took in the sheer scale of it. The cavern of the forbidden army stretched for miles, lined with rows upon rows of soldiers, their faces solemn and focused, moving in perfect synchronisation.
The soldiers wore black armor that glinted dully in the cavern’s low light, and each bore a spirit weapon and an evolved pet at their side.
Kent marvelled at the organisation and discipline. But he couldn’t ignore the problem he was going to face in the future war — this was an army unlike any he had ever seen.
Queen Soya watched him closely, a hint of satisfaction in her eyes. “Impressive, isn’t it?”
Kent nodded, unable to hide his admiration. “This… is beyond what I expected.”
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She smiled. “The Forbidden Army. Every soldier here is a supreme mage, trained to the highest levels. They’re divided into twenty-one units, each with unique abilities. A force of this scale hasn’t been mobilised since it’s formation.”
A tall, muscular commander approached them, bowing respectfully. “Your Majesty, the armoury is ready for viewing.”
Kent’s attention shifted to the entrance of an armoury carved into the stone, barred with magical seals and reinforced with layers of protection. The queen motioned for him to follow, and as they approached, the seals began to unravel, revealing a vault that spanned the length of ten city blocks.
Kent swallowed, feeling a flicker of unease. For the first time, he truly grasped the enormity of the task ahead. Defeating the Quinn family was going to be a monumental challenge.
The armoury is like a treasure trove of immense magnitude — blades, staff’s, bows, and weapons Kent couldn’t even identify. Ancient artefacts and big explosives of unimaginable extent sparked with magical energy, and priceless treasures lay stacked on high shelves, each glimmering with lethal potential. Kent’s eyes widened, his breath catching for a moment as he took in the sheer wealth and power stored in this single vault.
Queen Soya looked at him, her voice low. “You see, Kent, the royal treasury you visited before was merely a glimpse. This is the true might of the Quinn family.”
Kent spent a lot of time reaching every corner of the forbidden army. He kept a note of all details and numbers.
Finally, after leaving the alter of forbidden army, they emerged once more into the fire mountains. Their final destination was the ancestral hall, hidden in the most secluded part of the mountains. The path was dark and silent, the only sound being the crunch of their footsteps against gravel.
By the time they arrived, night had fallen, casting a ghostly glow over the ancestral hall. As they entered, the hall loomed before them, grand and silent, with rows of towering statues lining the walls.
As they walked further, a sudden flutter caught Kent’s attention. A small eagle swooped down from one of the statues, circling around him with curious, sharp eyes. The queen’s brow arched, but she said nothing, merely observing the interaction.
“Why are you circling around me? Do you need anything?” Kent used the beast tongue and asked the small hawk which is the pet of the Old patriarch of Quinn family, Drona.
The eagle looked at him in surprise. “You… do you speak my language? Do you belong to my race?” she chirped, her voice tiny but filled with wonder.
Kent laughed, speaking softly in the beast tongue. “I’m not of your kind, little one, but I know how to speak with spirit beasts.”
“Ohhh… you are really speaking well. But sadly, you don’t belong to my race. Otherwise, I could have made you my partner.” The bird replied with a deep sigh.
Kent couldn’t help but smile and reached into his bag, pulling out a spiritual fruit. The bird’s eyes sparkled, and she chirped again in excitement.
“Here, a treat,” Kent said, offering the fruit.
The eagle swallowed the fruit in one gulp. “Hmm… really tasty. Do you have more?”
Kent nodded. “Yes, I have more. But I saved them for my pets. If you help me, I will give you more fruits.” Kent said with a smile.
The eagle looked at him with suspicion, glancing at Queen Soya and then back at him. “What do you need, human?”
“Show me all the important places around this hall.” Kent asked as he thought of visiting the 5 mountains with the help of this hawk.
The eagle chirped with delight. “Follow me, I know every corner!”
Queen Soya’s voice followed, stern and commanding. “Kent, this is no time to be wandering off with a bird. The ancestral hall is sacred. Also, don’t trust this pet. It is the most cunning one and belonged to my father-in-law. Also, don’t get deceived by its size.”
But Kent flashed her a grin. “For some reason I trust beasts more than humans.”