Quasar Impact: Heaven's Sword

Chapter 11: The Peaceaxe Castle

The party got waken up by Silver in midnight. He had been second to stand guard, and had thought that at night, it'd be more effective to attack.

After a few minutes of grumbling and yawning, everyone was ready. The plan was simple: sneak in using the cover of darkness, take out everyone one by one.

Easier said than done. The party had to watch the bandit guards on the walls for a good hour or so, before Sanzinos finally saw a pattern. 

When another patrol had passed, they had 5 minutes to find a way in, until another patrol would come. And either it was luck, or just a coincidence, there was a door on that side of the castle. 

Of course, when the time came, it was locked. And here unravelled some secrets about Isa. It seemed that, before joining the Fraternity, she had been a thief, so was skilled in opening doors. She easily picked the lock. Silver made a mental reminder to tell the Peaceaxes that they need stronger locks.

Once inside, Isa peeked around. Silver suggested Isa to use her magic to sniff around, but she replied that she was not proficient with that. It took an awful lot of time to learn a single ability.

And either way, Silver had discovered that even looking around with his "magic vision" (as he calls it) drains his energy. And now when Sanzinos tried to do it, he couldn't and used up quite a bit of his energy to try and see anything with his magic vision.

-It seems they have something that blocks magic. Possibly, an artefact.- Sanzinos said, panting of exhaustion.

-You didn't have to waste all that energy...- Isa sighed.

-There are weaker artefacts that I can break through.- Sanzinos objected.

-Of course.- Isa sighed, and everyone continued walking.

After a few moments, they heard talking sounds, music, and yelling. Isa peeked through a keyhole, and jumped back, gesturing everyone to be quiet. She, and others, then blocked the room's doors, and walked to the other side, to do the same.

Unluckily for them, there was a drunk guard there, trotting towards the corner where they were. Serenity shushed them, and pulled out a sturdy thread. She then waited for the guard to come closer, knocked him out, and tied up, not forgetting to muffle him. Then she put him into a closet, who they all pushed, with other furniture, in front of the other door. Then they went further, following Isa, who seemed to be leading them somewhere.

-Here it is.- The cat-girl quietly said. 

-Here is what?- Both Silver and Serenity didn't understand.

-Ah, I see.- Sanzinos closed his eyes. -Well, Isa just found the artefact. But I think there should be guards around here too.-

-They're in there.- Isa gestured at the door. -So we raid them or what?-

-There aren't much options, are there?- Serenity asked, pulling out her sword.

Silver also did so. Sanzinos pulled out his shortsword, and Isa... Isa used a whip. And as we know from a very particular treasure hunter that appeared in movies, it's very effective at times.

The party rushed in the room, catching the guards slacking off. They quickly disarmed them, except for one "brave" guy who tried attacking Serenity. After seeing their comrade's head fall to the ground, the rest became peaceful as a bunch of lambs.

Isa had already found the artefact, and threw it at Silver, telling him to chop it up. Silver almost did, before Sanzinos grabbed it and with a few finger movements, rest of the party physically felt as the burden that was suppressing their magic released.

Now Serenity tied up the remaining soldiers, and they left the room. On their way back, Isa put a magic spell lock on one of the doors. Before continuing, Sanzinos took the cube-shaped artefact and did something with it. 

-Why that?- Isa asked.

-Since this was activated, I suppose there were other mages here. Possibly, bandits. And so, I set this cube to suppress THEIR not our magic. So they'll be trapped.- Sanzinos explained.

Isa nodded, and rushed to the other door of the room, to put a magic spell lock on there too. 

-That should trap them for a while.- She said. -At least long enough until the law can get to them.-

They had agreed on calling the police, so the bandits can get arrested.

Serenity estimated there were around five patrols left, each consisting of four people. It would be easy, right?

The party stepped outside the castle. 

And nobody remembered what happened next.

--------------------------------------

I wonder why does this book have less reads than my first one...? I mean, this has already 11 chapters, but the previous has 18. Not much of a difference, is there?