"Please, follow me," Blaget said with a courteous gesture as he removed his helmet, revealing silky blonde hair that contrasted with his grayish skin. He extended a hand to Paltio and helped him up from the ground. "I apologize for how my men treated you, but we're in the middle of a conflict with those masked individuals. I received explicit orders from my lord: if a carriage accompanied by a Red Shadows soldier arrived, we were to grant them passage." He paused, smiling slightly. "Though, to be honest, it wasn't hard to guess, considering you were traveling with a golden avocado… And there aren't many of them around."
"Thank you," Paltio replied, accepting the help while brushing the dust off his clothes. He observed the general with curiosity, noticing a certain warmth in his demeanor that belied his initially stern appearance.
"I see you're a strong young man," Blaget commented approvingly. "Most would have needed first aid after that blow."
"Well, the journey made me stronger," Paltio responded with a light laugh, though his eyes remained alert, not fully letting his guard down.
"What are you waiting for? Get back into your vehicle," Blaget said, gesturing toward the peculiar tank-carriage with a mix of curiosity and respect. "Though I must admit, this carriage is quite... unusual. Follow me."
Paltio and his team quickly climbed back into the carriage and followed the general, who ordered the main gates to be opened to allow them passage.
Inside the carriage, Paltio broke the silence: "He seems considerate."
"Yes, but don't let your guard down," Lukeandria warned from her position, arms crossed and expression serious. "I've never directly interacted with these Black Shadow individuals, but what I've heard is that they can be extremely cruel."
"Well, the general seemed like a nice guy to me," Paltio reflected, looking out the window. "Besides, he didn't emanate any darkness."
"Master, don't be fooled by appearances," Mok interrupted firmly. "Lukeandria is right. This place could hide more than it seems."
"Understood," Paltio nodded, adopting a more serious posture.
Upon arriving at the heart of the city, Blaget stopped his horse in front of an imposing three-story castle built entirely of gleaming silver. Its structure sparkled under the dim light of day, as if made of solidified stars.
"It's here," Blaget announced, returning to Paltio's carriage. The three disembarked and followed the general, who also dismounted from his horse.
As they walked toward the castle, Mok let out a nostalgic murmur: "Wow... I never thought I'd see this castle again in my life."
"Ah! I see, you're a resident of Reedalia," Blaget deduced with interest, looking at the butler with renewed curiosity.
"No, I left this village long ago," Mok corrected calmly. "Now I'm part of the royal family and the people of Avocadalia."
"That's good," Blaget replied with a slight smile. "Because otherwise, you'd be a thrall in this kingdom. There are many here whose warrior spirit has already been crushed by harsh conditions."
Upon entering the castle, an enormous celestial ruby door slowly opened before them, emitting an ethereal glow that illuminated the grand hall. As they advanced, they noticed torches lit with purple flames placed on every wall, casting dancing shadows that gave the place a mystical and slightly unsettling air.
Finally, they arrived at a vast and majestic chamber. At the far end, seated on an elevated throne, was a figure shrouded in a kind of dark tulle that made it difficult to distinguish its face.
"Thank you for coming," said a deep and resonant voice from behind the veil. "You must be Lord Paltio."
Blaget bowed his head respectfully. "My lord, I have brought those whom Tejod indicated to you."
"Very well, Blaget. You may withdraw and continue with your duties."
"Yes, my lord," the general replied, bowing before leaving the chamber, leaving Paltio and his team facing the mysterious ruler.
The tulle covering the ruler slowly parted, as if it were a curtain revealing a stage. From behind emerged a humanoid badger, thin and with fur as dark as obsidian. A red patch covered his right eye, while his hair, styled in an Elvis Presley-like pompadour—a striking quiff—gave him an unsettling yet peculiar air. His single visible eye, an intense orange color, observed them without wavering, as if he could see beyond their appearances.
"Welcome," the badger said in a soft but authoritative voice. "I thought you would come to my kingdom first, but you decided to go in reverse order. That disappoints me a bit because of being left for last, though it also pleases me because I'll be the first to see the complete scepter." A sly smile crossed his face as he spoke.
"Oh! Where are my manners?" he continued, making a theatrical gesture with his hands. "Allow me to introduce myself: I am the leader of the Black Shadows. My name is Blajon, and I will be your humble host during your stay here." He paused briefly before adding in a more serious tone: "Though I don't think it will be for long. From what I see, you only have seven days left to find the piece and return to our great Tejod."
Blajon walked toward them with elegant steps, stopping a few meters away. "So, if I were you, I'd get started right away," he said, fixing his orange eye on Paltio. "Feel free to ask for whatever you need to find the piece, but..." His voice took on a more threatening tone, though veiled by a thin layer of courtesy. "...don't forget to show me the complete scepter before you leave."
Before he could continue speaking, a guard approached Blajon stealthily and whispered something in his ear. The badger's expression changed drastically: his smile vanished, replaced by a look of seriousness and anger. After listening attentively, he turned his gaze back to Paltio, who still maintained an alert posture.
"I hope you'll excuse me," Blajon said, now in a colder and more distant tone. "I have matters to attend to. Feel free to investigate whatever you need to investigate." Without another word, he turned around and left the chamber, leaving Paltio and his team alone in the majestic hall.
"What? Just like that and he's gone?" Paltio murmured, slightly confused. "I thought he'd give me some excuse or set up a trap like the other leaders."
"I don't know, young master," Mok replied cautiously, adjusting his gloves as he observed the empty space where Blajon had stood. "Something smells very fishy here. But well, we don't have much time, so you'd better do what you need to do to search for the missing piece."
"Alright, let's get started," Paltio said with determination, though his thoughts revolved around Blajon's words and the badger's demeanor.
At that moment, a maid approached the group. It was evident she belonged to the people of Reedalia, with her simple clothing and kind but nervous expression. "Lord Blajon sent me to escort you to a house in the area," she explained in a soft voice. "You can stay there. A soldier assigned by my lord will be waiting for you, ready to assist you with whatever you need."
Meanwhile, in the mental link connected by Golden, Paltio shared his thoughts with Lukeandria, Mok, Lucca, and Rykaru. "I already knew something was up," he reflected mentally. "Blajon seems too friendly to be real."
"Master, remember what I told you: don't let your guard down," Mok interrupted firmly. "Also, remember that the person who sold us out and made the Shadow invasion possible is here."
"Yes, I understand, Mok," Paltio responded, though his mind remained filled with doubts. "But something tells me this won't be as easy as it seems."
Without further words, Paltio and his team decided to follow the young maid, whose ankle chains clanked with every step she took. The metallic sounds seemed to echo through the desolate streets of Reedalia, marking a slow but steady rhythm that contrasted with the growing tension in the air.
Upon arriving at a luxurious house, the girl opened the door with trembling hands before announcing in a barely audible voice: "Please, come in. This will be your lodging." However, upon entering, they found a man standing with his back to them in the middle of the main hall, gazing distractedly out a window.
"You may leave now," the man said without even looking at her, his cold and authoritative voice resonating through the space. The young woman nodded quickly, though her movements were clumsy due to the chains she dragged. She ran off, stumbling several times as she fled, as if afraid to stay a second longer in that place.
"Very well," the man began in a neutral tone, though laced with confidence. "You must be the ones my lord entrusted to me. I will be your guide in this kingdom." He paused briefly before bowing slightly in a formal gesture. "My name is Aresus."