BXBX NOVEL Chapter 152: Breaking In
As Ty and Nana turned to make a quick escape, Ty suddenly felt the fabric of his cloak being tugged. In an instant, he was pulled into a headlock by Bracken. "It is you!" she exclaimed, her grip firm. "What are you doing all the way out here? Aren\'t you supposed to be fighting some creatures or something? I heard rumors about a structure appearing and monsters threatening the capital."
Caught in Bracken\'s grip, Ty quickly conjured up a response. "That\'s right, I\'ve been busy. Took down about 340 monsters, from gooey skeletons to all sorts of bizarre creatures. And now, I\'m just exploring the city with my friend here," he said, trying to normalize the situation.
Bracken, still a bit perplexed, looked at Nana. "Your friend?" she inquired, her gaze shifting between Ty and Nana.
Nana, momentarily distracted by Bracken\'s drink, asked innocently, "What is that? Can I have one?" Her curiosity seemed genuine, but she quickly composed herself as Bracken\'s attention turned fully to her.
"Who are you?" Bracken asked, her tone a mix of curiosity and surprise.
"Oh, I\'m Nanako, the lady Ty guided back to the kingdom. I\'m also the daughter of Lady Amaris," Nana introduced herself with a hint of pride.
Bracken\'s reaction was immediate and dramatic. The glass in her hand slipped, shattering on the ground as realization dawned on her. "Wait, you\'re a royal?!" she exclaimed, her voice tinged with disbelief. In a swift motion, Bracken dropped to one knee, an act of respect and apology. "I—I am so sorry, Lady Nanako. Please forgive me and the others.
It\'s rare to see nobility this far into the districts."
Nana, regaining her composure from Bracken\'s abrupt show of respect, tried to ease the situation. "Oh, please, stand up. Between you and me, we\'re just friends meeting for the first time, so just be yourself," she said with a friendly tone. Her curiosity then piqued. "But, is it true you fly that train in the sky? The one on the magical blue tracks?"
At the mention of the train, Bracken\'s demeanor instantly brightened. She shot back up to her feet, her cheeks flushed rosy red from the alcohol. "Yes, it\'s the funnest job ever!" she exclaimed, her enthusiasm palpable. Her white T-shirt with cut-off sleeves and a dark pink bandana over her pink hair fluttered slightly in the night wind, her muscular build contrasting with Nana\'s slender frame.
Nana\'s enthusiasm was evident, her eyes gleaming with the prospect of experiencing something as thrilling as a ride on Bracken\'s flying train. The moment, however, was interrupted by the arrival of a small group, led by a dark-skinned man wearing a blue shirt adorned with water patterns. His tone was one of concern and authority as he inquired, "Is everything okay out here?
You should know fighting isn\'t allowed."
Bracken, quickly regaining her composure, turned to address the man. "Oh, no fighting, just my two friends came to say hello," she explained, gesturing towards where Ty and Nana had been standing. But as she turned around, she found that they had vanished, leaving her puzzled. "Why did they run off so soon? Odd," she mused, her hand resting thoughtfully under her chin.
The man, maintaining his composed demeanor, advised, "Please keep the commotion down. If you want to make party noises, please do it inside so as not to frighten or worry others." With that, he walked back into the building, and the crowd that had gathered began to disperse, the excitement of the moment fading away.
-meanwhile-
As they navigated through the alleyway, Nana voiced a concern, "Should we be worried about Bracken talking about us being away from the camp?"
Ty, deep in thought, considered the implications as they emerged onto a small bridgeway. Before them stood a striking white castle, its grandeur unmistakable, set apart by being surrounded by a moat of water extending 20 feet on all sides.
Catching sight of the impressive structure, Ty couldn\'t help but comment, "Wow, that\'s a nice-looking structure, much different than other buildings we\'ve seen, don\'t you think, Nana?" He then addressed her concern, "As for Bracken, I think she\'ll be fine. If anything, she might keep things to a minimum because she\'s probably worried about how she acted in front of a noble."
Nana nodded, reassured by Ty\'s reasoning. The castle\'s unique architecture captivated their attention, its distinct appearance setting it apart from the rest of the city. It stood as a symbol of power and elegance, a stark contrast to the alleyways and streets they had traversed.
Peering cautiously around the corner, Ty and Nana observed the castle structure. The tips of the castle were adorned with blue lights, casting a soft glow on the high points. Guards were stationed at these vantage points, though many of them appeared to be asleep.
Ty remarked with a hint of surprise, "I guess it makes sense that a few would be sleeping at this hour, but with the recent attack by Erebos and the ongoing issues, you\'d think they\'d be on higher alert."
Nana nodded in agreement. "Maybe we could enter from the top and investigate a bit," she suggested, eyeing the castle\'s structure for potential entry points.
Ty, deep in thought, asked, "So, what should our goal be once we get in?" His skeletal hand rested thoughtfully on his chin.
Nana\'s response revealed a mix of adventure-seeking and practicality. "Honestly, I\'ve just been bored, bedridden all this time," she confessed. "But if we find the Cross Link Blade and it\'s in good condition, we could just nab it and head out, right?"
Ty nodded, acknowledging Nana\'s plan. "Well, that is a good place to start, I suppose," he said, pointing towards the moat bridge and the wooden doors of the castle. He noted the guards\' positions: "Two guards at the front, and two more guarding the straight door."
With a hint of jest, Ty asked, "You don\'t think they would just let us walk in, do you?" Nana, unamused by the suggestion, shook her head. "We should fly in at the west wing of the castle, where the guards are sleeping. This way, we can get in easily," she advised with a tactical mindset.
"Agreed," Ty said, preparing for their stealthy entrance. He gently grabbed Nana\'s waist and stepped back about five feet, readying themselves for takeoff. Nana blushed slightly at the contact, whispering, "Don\'t make too much noise, okay?"
"Right," Ty responded, and with a subtle lift, they were off the ground. They weaved around a couple of buildings, making their way to an open area before ascending higher into the air. Soon, they were nearly three miles above the castle. Ty checked with Nana, "I think this should be enough to drop in from above. What do you think?" your m,vle mpyr source
"Yeah, I agree. Just be careful with the descent, not to give off any cues about our location," Nana replied, her voice laced with caution.
Ty, confident in his ability, assured her, "Sure, I haven\'t had a rough landing since crashing back on your planet originally." With that, they began their careful descent towards the stone structure of the castle.
They landed with a soft thud on the castle\'s stone surface, Ty carefully setting Nana down. She observed the sleeping guard with a mix of curiosity and concern. "Wow, he looks really tired. I wonder how long he has been up here," she mused, noting the clutter around him – twelve crushed water cans and a pile of dirty clothes. She wrinkled her nose, slightly repulsed by the odor.
Ty, lacking the ability to smell, remarked playfully, "Well, I guess it\'s a good thing I don\'t have a nose. Let\'s head down to the cellar to get away from this stench." He chuckled softly, pointing towards the cellar door that promised an escape from the unpleasant odor.
Nana, nodding in agreement, followed Ty\'s lead as they approached the cellar entrance. She began to descend the ladder, leading them into a more expansive area. The cellar opened up into a large hallway lined with beds.
As Ty followed Nana into the expansive cellar hallway, he observed the scene with a strategic eye. "They must not get to come home often," he commented, noting the sleeping figures. The hallway, lined with beds, was mostly quiet, save for the soft, rhythmic breathing of the guards in deep slumber.
His attention was then drawn to a guard at the far end of the hallway. Unlike the others, this guard was awake, a small fire lit on his desk casting flickering shadows across his face. A distinctive feather pin adorned his uniform, marking him as potentially more important or of a higher rank than the others.
Ty whispered to Nana, "Looks like most of them are asleep, except for that guard at the end with the feather pin." His voice was low to avoid waking the sleeping guards. The presence of an awake and alert guard added a layer of complexity to their mission. They needed to navigate past him without drawing attention.