Revelation

The Way Forward

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"Um...Lord Jack. Do you have a moment?"

"Oh, Ian..." Jack said slowly, looking up at the boy where he was currently sitting. Everyone had agreed that it would be best to rest for the time being and Jack had took it upon himself to clear his head a little from everything that had happened so far and spend some time alone. "What's the matter?"

"Everyone is still suspicious of me because of what happened at the bridge," Ian whimpered, prompting Jack to raise a brow. "I'm afraid that if I say I'll guide them to the castle's back entrance, I don't think they'll follow me."

"Ian-"

"So that's why I'll return from the back entrance alone and open the castle gates," Ian said in one breath. "After that, everyone should be able to infiltrate the castle without any issues."

"Ian..." Jack said, sighing. "You can't blame the army for doubting where your loyalty stands. Even I still have conflicting feelings about you. And second, while your plan is noble, it is incredibly foolish. There must be what, hundreds, thousands, of Invisible soldiers in the castle? If you return to the castle alone..."

"No... I'll be fine," Ian said firmly. "I-I want to be everyone's friend. For that, I have to gain their trust with my own hands... However, if I'm defeated by the Invisible soldiers and don't return... Then..." he shivered, looking at anywhere but Jack.

Jack allowed himself to offer a small smile. "Don't worry, Ian. You'll make it back."

"How can you be so sure?"

"I'll follow you," Jack said, already standing up and dusting himself off. "Let's open the castle gate together."

Ian gaped. "Lord Jack... Really?"

"Yes. Of course," Jack said. "Your plan seems to be the best way we can get in with little to no skirmishes, and someone needs to keep an eye on you. We can't be having our only guide deserting us when we're so close," he said a bit harshly, making Ian shrink back. Jack sighed, offering an apologetic smile and ruffling the boy's hair goodnaturedly. "Let me go get some concoctions and elixirs. After that, we can go."

..~..

Traveling to the castle was easy enough. No surprise attacks came to the duo and it was almost peaceful when they reached the back entrance. Weaving through corridors and rooms with ease, Jack followed Ian until they came to a stop in a big, vast hallway with multiple rooms on each side.

"Um...Ian," Jack said, "is this some kind of detour?"

"Yes," Ian said. "This is the only way to make it through without being caught by Invisible soldiers."

Jack raised a brow. "Is that so? Well, I can't argue with you right now since you know more about the layout of this place than I do," he ruffled Ian's hair. "Good work."

Ian giggled. "Thank you so much, Lord Jack. It makes me happy that you trust me..."

"I'm different from my siblings," Jack said. "I give people second chances."

Ian shook his head. "No...it's not that. You're a great leader.

"That's why it's really, really unfortunate that you'll have to die in a place like this."

"Wha-"

Jack blocked a lightning quick strike that narrowly hit his throat. He looked at Ian incredulously. "What the hell, Ian?!"

Ian laughed maniacally, a shadow creeping into his face. "Thank your for trusting me! Thanks to your naïveté, I can easily kill you!"

Four Invisible soldiers circled Jack, Ian still smiling deviously from the back.