I got reincarnated once again

Chapter 1-2

They arrived at the citadel as the sun descended below the horizon, casting long shadows over the stone walls. There, Edmund saw the once-mighty fortress that was supposed to protect its people from attacks. Despite some of its structures being reduced to rubble, the main structure stood resiliently against the twilight sky. The air was thick with the smell of smoke and dust, remnants of recent battles.

Edmund's senses sharpened before they could enter the citadel, and he felt a prickle of unease. The eerie silence was broken only by the distant roaring of the dragons and the faint rustle of wind through the shattered windows. He decided to scan the area for potential threats, every muscle in his body tense with vigilance while he readied his rifle.

Gently, he put the girl down, her eyes wide with fear and awe at the sight before her. "Find a place to hide," he whispered, his voice firm yet gentle. "Somewhere a bit farther away." She nodded, her small figure quickly disappearing into the shadows as Edmund continued to survey the surroundings, ready for whatever might come next.

He then slowly walked towards the large wooden gate of the fortress, each step echoing on the cobblestone path. As he approached, he could see the intricate carvings and deep scars on the weathered wood, suggesting there might have been some recent battle inside the citadel. Once he was close enough, he cautiously pushed the door open, its heavy creak breaking the silence.

He was greeted by a dark and empty hall, the shadows dancing in the faint light that slipped through cracks in the stone walls. The air was thick and stale, carrying the scent of dampness and decay. It slowly flowed out of the castle, gently brushing against Edmund's face like a cold, ghostly breath.

He then checked the hall's surroundings, finding no danger in sight. Relieved, he returned and signaled to the girl hiding behind a statue. She quickly ran to him, and together they entered the citadel. Once inside, Edmund closed the gate securely behind them.

"Alright, kid. Do you know where the entrance to the secret place could be?" Edmund asked gently. Now that she'd calmed a little, she gave him an answer, though it wasn't what he hoped for.

"I... don't know... I haven't been in the citadel before," she replied, her face clouded with worry. Edmund didn't blame her. He patted her head reassuringly.

"It's fine; I'll go look for it," he said, offering a comforting smile.

He then starts searching for any hidden path inside the citadel while being cautious; who knows what danger could lurk inside the building? Although it looked like the building had been ransacked by enemy soldiers, as seen from several signs that Edmund noticed, they were probably looking for the townsfolk hiding inside. Still, to no avail, they didn't find them.

Together, they search for the hidden path to the underground place, but after minutes of searching, they come up empty-handed. Time is precious, and Edmund can't afford to waste it just trying to find the path to the underground.

He sighed in frustration. It looked like he would have to change the plan, but before he could think of anything, Syster chimed in."Sir, it appears I have found something strange with the stairs leading to the second floor," Syster said.

Edmund then began to investigate the stairs. He noticed that they did indeed look strange; there was some sort of scratch on the stairs

Edmund then began to investigate the stairs. He noticed that they did indeed look strange; there was some sort of scratch on the stairs that seemed out of place. Kneeling down, he examined the scratches more closely. They were not random; they formed a pattern almost like symbols.

"Syster, do you recognize these symbols?" Edmund asked, tracing the lines with his finger.

"Analyzing," Syster responded. After a moment, she continued, "These appear to be part of a locking mechanism, likely protecting a hidden passage."