A Few Seconds Later
Still In the Underground Base
Still Inside Level 0
Above a closed establishment due to the time, in one of the highest parts of the city's structures,
the young Lilian was seen calmly landing with a smooth movement onto the ceiling of the establishment.
She sat delicately on the edge, looking ahead at the beautiful panoramic view of the entire base before her.
All the city's night lights, scattered throughout the city, were still off, as it was clear above the ceiling of the wall that encompassed the entire city underground.
It contained a generative lighting system that simulated the sun, from its rise to its perfect sunset.
It was evident that the moment for the system to shut down was approaching, due to the arrival of the night and the complete end of the afternoon.
Lilian could see this gentle change occurring, as the soft yellow light over all the structures
gave way to the soft blue of the night. Lilian was nearly 150 meters away from Urius and the Count, who were in the more open part below, at the center of the base.
Urius and the Count were conversing casually, occasionally laughing in a fun manner.
At the same time, Urius pointed to certain directions, telling the Count what was happening in the city at that exact moment.
Lilian, with her Oculi abilities deactivated, observed the park from an elevated yet distant point of view.
Behind her, completely silently, two young individuals appeared. They were both wearing black outfits, implying they were part of Lilian's secret team, which operated completely unnoticed by the intelligence of the Reginae faction.
Although Lilian was the current queen, she had Urius's help when needed in relation to her leadership duties.
The two young individuals, showing deep respect, were already kneeling, one hand over their chest, heads bowed.
They appeared to be of the same age as Lilian, but compared to their training and combat skills, they were far more proficient.
These two young individuals were, in fact, the true protectors of Queen Lilian, always watching over her, whether they were in the underground base or above ground.
While the royal guard, with their excellent security measures, didn't even notice that they were being watched by the true duo who protected Queen Lilian every day.
They were completely hidden from the radars, even from the most skilled individuals, like Urius and the Count, who were also extremely talented.
Lilian seemed to smile in a comforting and nostalgic way when noticing Urius's happiness alongside the Count.
But that smile soon turned into a more serious yet still gentle expression.
[Lilian - Serene & Assertive Voice] "...Are the data I asked you to analyze accurate?"
One of the young individuals, still in the same position of total respect, kneeling nearly two meters behind Lilian, sitting on the edge, responded:
"...We've confirmed it twice to be absolutely sure. They are truly trustworthy, Queen Lilian."
Lilian took a deep breath, keeping her smile on her lips, as she could still see Urius and the Count side by side, smiling after not having seen each other for almost five years.
[Lilian – Calm & Gentle Voice] "So, once again, the 'heart' of Reginae is in danger." [Subtle, Fearful Breath]
At the end of this phrase from Lilian, she could finally see Urius and the Count walking side by side, leaving her line of sight, still within the central park.
The two of them entered deeper into the city/underground base, walking down one of its many streets, where some other people were doing the same.
[Lilian – Calm & Confident Voice] "I will not allow any more innocent lives to be taken." [Deep Breath]
Immediately, the two young figures stood up simultaneously, keeping their heads and faces lowered in absolute respect.
It was evident that these two young individuals were not only the same age as Queen Lilian, who was fifteen years old, but they were also fraternal twins. One of them was a handsome young man with short white hair.
While his sister was a young girl of refined beauty and presence, also with hair as white as snow.
[Lilian – Calm & Attentive Voice] "I wish for you to prevent these Inanis reconnaissance teams from getting any closer to the border."
The twins were dressed in black combat attire that resembled casual clothing.
Despite their young age, the attire seemed like a gift from Lilian to them, now a cherished uniform that gave them the feeling of wearing something so refined and at the same time, incredibly delicate with its soft and comfortable fabric.
The twins did not follow the orders from the leadership of Reginae, as they were like ghosts to the system that classified them as non-combatants.
However, the twins followed orders exclusively from Lilian, who knew they were extremely strong and skilled in stealth.
[Lilian – Calm & Reassuring Voice] "Use as little suffering as possible in your lives."
The twins quickly felt the intense sense of duty placed upon them by Lilian, both caught off guard.
It was the moment Lilian, who had been sitting on the ledge, stood up, still facing away from them.
She seemed to admire the entire underground base, where the heart of Reginae was located, along with all those who trusted her and dreamed of peace, not perpetual war.
The young Lilian, with her garments gently swaying, seemed to look up toward the stone ceiling above the entire underground base.
She was standing almost 200 meters below the ceiling, which displayed a beautiful, realistic hologram of a starry night sky with clouds.
[Lilian – Calm & Commanding Voice] "Everyone has placed their hopes in me, and I will do the same with both of you for this current mission." [Deep Breath]
The entire environment seemed to fall silent at the end of that loving, yet nostalgic, phrase.
The scene was so powerful that the twins looked forward, feeling a subtle tightening in their hearts.
They could see the beautiful sight of young Lilian turning toward them, smiling in such a sweet and attentive way.
At the same time, she exuded such an imposing presence in the environment, which made the twins shiver for a moment, taken by the deeply kind gaze Lilian directed toward each of them.
[Lilian – Sweet & Calm Voice] "...Could you do this for me? My dear friend, Solon? And my dear friend, Selene?"
The twins gazed in awe at such beauty, feeling the pure essence of Lilian's presence enveloping them.
In that moment, they felt a warm sensation in their hearts, watching their young queen, Lilian, smile.
Her long black hair, with white strands at the ends, danced in the gentle breeze inside the base.
[Selene & Solon – Honored & Confident Voices] "...Yes, our beloved Queen Lilian!" [Subtle, Proud Laughter]
Some Moments Later
Above the Surface
Outside the Territory of the Oculi Capital
Near the Spring of Lake Lari
The young Selene and her twin brother, Salon, after finishing their communication with Queen Lilian, which had not been in person but through a distance connection, deep underground in the capital.
They place their black hoods back over their heads, hiding their white hair—short in Salon's case, and long in Selene's.
[Selene – Calm & Bored Voice] Let's be quick this time, little brother... [Sighing Deeply & Tiredly] -
Becoming mere shadows to anyone who might see them in that moment, as the darkness of the forest around them stretched for a 10-kilometer radius.
Selene calmly activated her Oculi abilities, creating a subtle pulse of energy to the sides, hiding all of her translucent flames.
These flames were a direct result of using her essence for enhanced combat, preparing her to engage in effective combat.
Simultaneously, her brother, Salon, did the same, enveloping his body in translucent flames after fully activating his Oculi abilities.
[Salon – Serious & Confident Voice] Yes, little sister. There aren't as many as last time. [Subtle Serene Sigh] -
They were ready to take action, as very few people could sense their subtle presence, which felt like the lightest breeze.
[Selene & Salon – Calm & Confident Voices] Then... Let's be more careful this time! [Deep, Determined Sigh] -
The two of them simultaneously leapt with high speed between the tree trunks of the vast forest, passing by part of the spring.
The beautiful Lake Larius lay amidst the trees, and with a single subtle blink of an eye, they covered a long distance.
In their leaps, they appeared as shadows dancing in the darkness between the trees and the foliage of the tall branches.
Their perspective rose, revealing the spot where they had been speaking with Lilian, giving them an expansive view of the forest.
As night fully descended, at the end of that afternoon, they could see in the distance, through the foliage, the reconnaissance unit of the Inanis forces encamped.
Several flashes of light illuminated the place like "random" flashes of light.
Then, something was finally launched into the sky at high speed.
It was something like an energy cut fragmenting after nearly 20 meters above the trees, briefly lighting up a portion of the forest in that dark region.
The quick light show ended with the sway of the forest in the area, followed by what appeared to be a more intense cut launched into the sky, creating an explosion of light.
It released a pulse in all directions, shaking the leaves in the area and causing ripples in the vegetation for nearly a kilometer around.
Finally, the explosion seemed to soften and cease entirely, with not a single sound being heard from the explosion or the first light cuts sent into the sky.
A Few Minutes Later
Near the Spring of Lake Lari
Inside Inanis' Mobile Camp
Amidst the white smoke and particles of energy gradually dissipating in the air throughout the camp, the young Selene emerges, holding her shimmering blade with glowing edges in her left hand.
This very blade, formed by the manipulation of her own essence, exudes a serene calmness. Beside her, walking alongside, is her twin brother, Salon.
He, too, disintegrates his shimmering blade, crafted from his own essence, with his right hand. Calmly, he removes his hood from his head, allowing his short, white hair to be seen, dancing with the breeze, which helps dissipate the smoke.
The young Salon forms a serene and tranquil smile on his lips, while Selene, by his side, keeps her hood on her head.
But just like him, she dissolves her own blade from her left hand, walking calmly beside him with a deeply confident gaze.
As the smoke, which was more dust than the result of flames burning somewhere in the mobile Inanis base, begins to dissipate, it becomes evident that the entire base had been destroyed in the middle of the forest. No longer could the campfires or the light of lanterns be seen across the base.
The only light that illuminated the place now was the arrival of moonlight, after a large cloud passed in front of the moon, allowing its light to once again shine over the region.
It was clear that all the members of Inanis at that base were dead. Some had tried to fight, while others had never even considered the idea.
Their bodies bore the marks of cuts so surgical that no pain or suffering was evident in their elimination.
With the graceful movements of Selene and Salon's blades during their attacks, fully concealed within the darkness of the dense forest, it was obvious they had carried out the orders of their queen, Lilian, to eliminate the threat posed by the forces of Inanis from that mobile base, which had been home to 250 highly trained soldiers.
This had been done before the Reginae's intelligence and surveillance network could even learn of those soldiers' presence in the region.
The perception range of Reginae's central surveillance was several kilometers ahead, covering a five-kilometer radius from where the mobile base had been stationed that night.
The following day, their mission would take them to the ruins of the Oculi capital, where the Reginae base was installed nearly ten kilometers underground, beyond the reach of Inanis' radar.