"Well, we've arrived. Beyond that hill lies the kingdom of Reedalia," Lucca announced, pointing toward the horizon. "I'd better wake up Paltio and the others." "Let me handle it," said Golden.
"Day 23," Paltio murmured as he opened his eyes and looked at the device Tejod had attached to his wrist. Despite everything, his voice carried an unexpected calm.
"Thank you for waking us," Mok said with a slight bow of his head, adjusting his posture in the carriage.
"So, beyond that hill is your home, isn't it, butler?" Lukeandria asked, looking toward where they were pointing.
"That's right. My birthplace lies beyond that hill," Mok replied in a nostalgic tone, though his eyes remained alert.
"Wow, I'm finally going to see where you lived, Mok," Paltio commented curiously. "Yes, what are we waiting for? Let's go!" Lucca exclaimed enthusiastically.
As the carriage began ascending the hill, Paltio turned to Lucca with a question that had been on his mind for a while: "Did anything happen while we were training in the mental plane?"
"Well, I'm glad you asked, Mr. Paltio," Lucca replied, puffing out his chest with pride. "You see, I encountered a fierce enemy: a giant bear. But it was no match for me." Lucca continued recounting his feat with exaggerated gestures, imagining Paltio listening with admiration.
"It can't be…" Paltio muttered, interrupting the story.
"Is it really that surprising?" Lucca asked, blushing slightly as he thought his tale was causing awe. However, Lukeandria, with a mischievous smirk, quickly brought the old man back down to earth by placing a hand on his shoulder and gently turning his head toward where Paltio and Mok were looking.
"I don't think he's referring to that," Lukeandria said with a playful smile.
Lucca followed their gaze and felt the air leave his lungs. What should have been the kingdom of Reedalia was engulfed in purple flames, a devastating sight illuminating the night sky. The horror was palpable.
"But… what happened here?" Lucca stammered, incredulous. "This was supposed to be the kingdom of Reedalia…"
The group watched in shock and fear as the kingdom burned under the purple flames, while a massive battle unfolded on the battlefield. Two clearly distinct sides fought fiercely.
One group consisted of individuals dressed in dark robes and white masks that seemed to have the face of an owl imprinted on them. They wielded their swords with lethal precision, forcing the Shadow soldiers—bearing a dark insignia on their shoulders—to retreat. Though few in number, the masked warriors excelled in skill, effectively repelling their enemies.
"Look out!" Mok shouted, swiftly steering the carriage to the side to avoid a large rock engulfed in purple fire falling from the sky.
"But what's happening here?" Paltio asked, visibly shaken by the scene.
"I don't know, Master Paltio," Mok replied, trying to stay calm. "It seems there's a power struggle between those masked individuals and the Shadows. Though they're few, they manage to push back the Shadow army."
"Free Reedalia!" one of the masked warriors shouted, brandishing their sword with determination as they launched a combined attack against the invaders.
"Sir, there are few of them, but they're forcing us to retreat," reported a Shadow soldier, whose dark hair vaguely resembled a blackberry. His voice was tense, but he maintained a respectful attitude toward his superior.
"Calm down," the man addressed as "Sir" responded confidently with a smile. "Reinforcements will arrive soon, and we'll be able to annihilate these insurgents."
At that moment, the gates of the kingdom burst open violently, and from them emerged a gigantic mechanical creature. It resembled a bull, but it was not a living animal; it was entirely metallic and mechanical. Its eyes glowed with a reddish light, and streams of purple fire began to pour from its nostrils. Large flaming boulders were hurled toward the battlefield, starting to repel the masked warriors with devastating force.
"Sir, we should retreat," said one of the masked figures, whose youthful voice and small stature made him stand out among the others. His white mask gleamed under the purple flames as he pointed toward the horizon with concern.
"No, not when we're this close," replied the leader, whose golden mask distinguished his rank and authority. His voice was firm but tinged with frustration. He knew they were at their limit, but determination still burned within him.
"My lord, if we don't leave now, we'll lose the few men we have left," another masked warrior interjected, a burly and muscular figure, in a more severe tone. "We can't face their tricks. It's better to retreat and return with another plan. Look at how the men are: some are already exhausted, others injured."
The golden-masked leader surveyed the battlefield, quickly assessing the situation. Though it was hard for him to admit, he knew his companion was right. There was no other choice. With a resigned sigh, he gave the order to retreat: "Fall back. Return to the depths of the forest."
The masked warriors obeyed without hesitation, disappearing swiftly into the shadows of the nearby forest, leaving behind only echoes of their hurried steps.
On the other hand, one of the Shadow soldiers approached their general, whose features vaguely resembled a viscacha. "Sir, shall we follow them?" the soldier asked, pointing to where the masked warriors had fled.
"No," the general replied with calculated calm. "Those insurgents… they surely have some trap set up there. It's better to leave them for now. But next time, we won't show mercy."
"Yes, my general," the soldier responded, bowing before calling the forces to regroup.
Once the conflict was resolved, the general ordered a count of casualties, treatment for the wounded, and repairs to begin on the main wall, which had been damaged during the battle.
"Mok, we'd better get down, or they'll see us as enemies," Lucca suggested from inside the tank-carriage, looking toward the battlefield with concern.
"I don't know, but I believe those wearing masks are citizens of Reedalia," Mok reflected thoughtfully.
"And how do you know that?" Paltio asked, curious about the butler's deduction.
"Well, my race has always been warrior people," Mok explained, adjusting his gloves with methodical precision. "Not like those from Fuertelia, but rather experts in fighting with weapons and hiding stealthily, like ninjas, to attack the enemy. Although I don't understand why they aren't using that element of surprise and are just attacking head-on. They must be desperate," he thought aloud.
"Alright, we'd better find out," Lukeandria interrupted, swiftly donning her Red Shadows armor. "Only the three of us are expected, so Lucca and Rykaru need to stay in Paltio's bag, just in case."
"But Daddy!" Rykaru protested, crossing his arms with an obvious pout. "I want to be with you!"
"Don't pout, Rykaru. You'd better obey. Besides, you're too big to pass as a simple stuffed toy now," Lucca retorted as he climbed into Paltio's bag. Rykaru reluctantly followed, though clearly annoyed.
"I'll make it up to you later, little one," Paltio promised with a reassuring smile before closing the bag.
Once the "little problem" was resolved, the group began descending the hill in the tank-carriage. Before reaching the vicinity of the Black Shadow army, a contingent of soldiers surrounded the vehicle with swords drawn, ready to attack.
"Who are you, and why are you riding in this strange thing?" one of the soldiers asked, pointing at the carriage with suspicion.
Paltio lowered what looked like a moon-shaped window of the carriage to reveal himself, raising his hands in a gesture of peace. "It's me…" he tried to say, but before he could finish, the soldier yanked him out of the vehicle, grabbing him by the shoulder and throwing him to the ground.
"What's an avocado doing outside its place? You should be working in the mines extracting Avoreo," the soldier spat rudely, looking at Paltio with disdain.
Paltio rubbed his head after the fall, fortunately suffering no more than a minor scare. However, as he looked up, he saw several spears surrounding him, pointed at him with a silent menace. The soldiers maintained rigid stances, ready to act at any moment.
"Easy now! Why are you doing this?" Pax intervened, stepping forward calmly but firmly. His figure, clad in the Red Shadows armor, drew attention even amid the tension.
"Well, look, it's a red shadow," one of the soldiers responded, eyeing Pax warily. "What are you doing here? Can't you see we're at war with a group of insurgents?"
Mok observed everything from the carriage, irritated by how Paltio had been treated. However, upon noticing that the young man was unharmed and receiving subtle signals from him not to intervene, he decided to restrain himself, though his jaw remained tense.
"I just witnessed it," Pax replied calmly, raising his hands in a peaceful gesture. "But I've come here with this young man," he continued, gesturing toward Paltio, "who is the prince of Avocadalia. We've arrived seeking the missing piece of the scepter for Tejod. So there's no need to be so rough with him."
"Even if he were a prince, avocados aren't allowed to leave!" the soldier exclaimed with disdain, tightening his grip on his spear.
Suddenly, a loud and commanding voice echoed through the air, stopping everyone in their tracks. It was a voice laden with authority, causing the soldier to immediately lower his head and fall silent.
"Fools! That's no way to treat guests," said the newcomer, approaching with firm steps. He was a tall man, with features vaguely resembling a squirrel: grayish skin, large black eyes, and a posture that radiated leadership. His armor was adorned with intricate details, and his cape billowed with every movement, as if designed to command respect.
"My lord..." the soldier murmured, bowing his head further in submission.
"Enough of that, soldier! Return to your ranks," the man ordered in a tone that brooked no argument. The soldier obeyed instantly, stepping back to join the others, who had already formed a perfect line, withdrawing the spears that had previously been pointed at Paltio.
The man then turned his attention to Pax, who was still standing beside Paltio. "You must be Pax," he said, nodding in recognition. "It's a pleasure to see you. My lord awaits you." Then, extending a hand toward them in a cordial gesture, he introduced himself: "I am Blaget, General Blaget."