Rising Shadows: The Fight for Freedom I

Chapter 20: The Kidnapping

If a well-informed individual were present, they would recognize that the intruder in the noble's chamber was a thief, a devotee of shadows and the enigmatic god. This thief, capable of slipping past the countless guards and servants within the inn unnoticed, possessed a skill level of at least seven, marking them as a mid-tier thief!

As a thief, particularly one of considerable prowess among the many warriors of the Isilia continent, infiltrating a noble's room would typically be for the sake of wealth. However, some thieves are occasionally commissioned to play the role of an assassin.

Yet, the thief who entered Darn's room was certainly not motivated by either of these reasons. In a brief span, the thief neither sought Darn's coin purse nor drew a dagger to ensure the unsuspecting youth remained in a deeper slumber. Instead, they deftly removed Darn's outer and inner garments, leaving him clad only in a silk undergarment, before dressing him in a tattered outfit clearly meant for commoners.

Once the clothing change was complete, Darn remained blissfully unaware in his deep sleep. The thief, seemingly aware of this, proceeded to wrap Darn in the bed linens beneath him and hoisted him over their shoulder with a rough motion.

Casting one last glance at the scattered, pristine noble attire in the room, the thief let out a low, rumbling laugh. Then, they opened the window and, carrying Darn like a bundle, leaped into the night, swiftly disappearing into the shadows.

Approximately an hour after the thief departed with their prize-Darn-the now-empty room was pushed open once more. This time, it was the weary Langiro and Bab who entered, having been unable to sleep through the long night. Half an hour after these two noble youths stepped into Darn's room, the previously tranquil town erupted into alarm, with soldiers flooding the streets and alleys.

"What's going on? What happened in the middle of the night?" Just a few alleys away from the Golden Rose, the sleepy siblings, Langiro and Bab, climbed out of bed, their curiosity piqued by the flickering torches outside. Suddenly, a series of urgent knocks echoed at their door.

Upon opening it, a group of fully armed soldiers immediately filled their view, and before the siblings could protest, the soldiers lunged at them with fierce intent.

"What are you doing? Why are you arresting us? We haven't committed any crimes! On what grounds are you taking us?" Struggling desperately, the siblings found themselves firmly grasped by the strong soldiers. As they were escorted to the inn's lobby, they were shocked to see several of their companions also being apprehended.

However, their attention quickly shifted from their companions to a more pressing matter: Langiro and Bab, the noble youths they had encountered earlier that day.

"It's you! Hmph! Dishonorable scoundrels!" the brother shouted angrily, struggling fiercely.

"Dishonorable? Scoundrels? What do you mean!? Never mind that, tell me where you've taken Darn!" Langiro and Bab, blinking in disbelief, filtered out the slanderous remarks and pressed for answers.

"Kidnapping? What kidnapping!?"

"Stop playing dumb! It must be your doing! Where have you hidden the nobleman you fought with earlier?"

Ah!!! Are they referring to that noble youth? He's been kidnapped!? The siblings froze, a sense of dread washing over them, as a shadow cloaked in darkness flickered in their minds...

What a sweet slumber! Hmm, I haven't slept so soundly in ages. Is it because the journey was too exhausting? Hmm, why is the ground so hard beneath me? I remember the bed at the Golden Rose being quite soft!

As the warm sunlight bathed the capital of the Ditlan Province in the Kingdom of Bylins, a hand emerged from a worn, tattered blanket, wrapped like a large caterpillar. The arm was clad in a similarly shabby burlap sleeve, even more ragged than the blanket lying on the hard, muddy ground. Yet, the hand exploring beneath the blanket appeared clean and delicate.

However, that hand quickly lost its cleanliness, as mere seconds of exploration resulted in countless specks of dirt and dust, obscuring its original color.

The person wrapped in the old blanket, none other than Darn, remained oblivious to this fact. The noble youth, cocooned in the blanket, groggily opened his eyes, puzzled by the sudden discomfort he felt.

Darn was perplexed, but his confusion was short-lived. Just as he prepared to call for his attendant, a sharp pain shot through his backside.

"Who! Who kicked my backside? Was it Langiro? Or Bab?" he shouted in anger, abruptly throwing off the blanket and leaping to his feet. To his astonishment, several fully armed soldiers stood before him.

"What are you... eh!?" Just as he was about to unleash a torrent of curses and teach the soldiers a lesson, Darn froze. The reason for his shock was not the soldiers' heavy armor or sharp weapons, but rather the place he found himself in and the clothes he was wearing...

What is this... Am I dreaming? Where am I? Why am I dressed in... hmm, perhaps strange clothing meant for commoners!?

Eyes wide and mouth agape, Darn turned to survey his surroundings. He was no longer in the tidy, comfortable room of the Golden Rose but stood at the entrance of a vast military camp, clad in a filthy burlap garment that reeked of sourness, far removed from the luxurious silk his mother had tailored for him.

Ah! I must be dreaming, a very vivid dream. Hmm, how strange; I usually have such refined dreams! Why am I dreaming about something related to beggars this time!?

Glancing at the expressionless soldiers, Darn felt he had uncovered the reason for this sudden upheaval, and this realization persisted until...

"Damn it! State your name!"

"Darn."

"Where are your enlistment papers? Produce them."

"Uh, what enlistment papers... Hey! What are you doing! Do you dare to assault a noble?"

Startled and enraged, Darn leaped back to evade a soldier's kick, shouting loudly. His outburst caught the soldier off guard, who had been preparing to strike him with a whip, prompting a round of laughter from the others.

"Hahaha, what's this kid doing? By the gods, I haven't seen such an idiot in ages! Can't tell reality from a dream, can you, kid!?"

"Watch your words, soldier! I am a noble, not some kid!" Darn's anger flared, so intense that he failed to notice the many commoners around him, all appearing to be recruits, nor did he notice the officer clad in shining, heavy armor stepping out of the camp.

"Oh, is that so? My good sir, since you claim to be a noble, could you please provide proof of your noble status?" The soldiers chuckled, finding the situation amusing.

"Just wait! I'll make you understand... eh, where's my necklace? My enrollment documents? What... what is this!?"

Frantically searching, Darn found no evidence of his status. Instead, he pulled out a piece of low-quality paper, on which a blooming iris, symbolizing the Bylins royal family, adorned the bottom.

This is... this is... Darn's eyes widened in shock as he recognized his name on the paper! What is happening? Why do I have...

"Hahaha, fool! That's a conscription order! Wake up to reality!" A soldier laughed heartily, snatching the paper from Darn's hands and handing it to the scribe behind him.

"Here, record his details! Such an amusing fellow, it would be a shame not to send him to the circus. Well, this works too; at least we'll have free entertainment in the future!"

The soldiers erupted into laughter, while Darn's face turned pale as he suddenly realized he was not dreaming but truly standing at the entrance of a military camp, mistaken for a commoner seeking enlistment!

No! I am not some lowly commoner! I cannot become an ordinary soldier! This is a conspiracy! I... I must find Count Norman and the others!

In a state of chaotic thoughts, Darn abruptly turned and attempted to walk away, but before he could take two steps, a towering figure blocked his path.