As the first light of dawn appeared, a profound stillness enveloped the square in front of the academy. The air was cold, and the sun had barely risen, casting a faint golden glow at the edges of the sky. Saruto, Lucien, Ryan, and Kyle stood lined up before the Headmaster, their expressions a mixture of excitement and anticipation.
Dressed in long gray robes, his gaze sharp, the Headmaster scrutinized them one by one before speaking in a low but commanding voice that made their hearts pound. "I will give you no instructions," he said. "This mission is a true test of your strength, your intelligence, and your ability to think in unfamiliar territory. You will rely solely on yourselves."
A moment of silence followed before the Headmaster added, his gaze drifting towards the horizon, "But there is one thing you must never forget... In the Sand Kingdom and the Forest Kingdom, do not meet with the princesses. No matter the reason. If they recognize you, the consequences will be dire for you and the academy."
The four exchanged glances, each knowing these weren't mere warnings, but genuine threats. "Don't worry," Saruto said confidently, crossing his arms. "We won't let anyone discover who we are."
The Master smiled faintly. "I hope you'll prove my trust in you is well-placed."
He raised his hand, and two massive energy gates appeared before them. One glowed a golden-brown—the Gate of the Sand Kingdom—and the other was a dark green, like a midnight forest—the Gate of the Forest Kingdom. The wind echoed through the courtyard as the gates swung open, emitting a blinding, overwhelming light.
Before they entered, the gatekeeper placed a Dark Soldier in the shadows of Ryan and Kyle. He stepped forward, turned to face them, and said with a confident smile, "Don't forget the challenge… whoever loses will admit to everyone that the founders of his family are weak."
Ryan chuckled briefly. "I promise you, Saruto, I'll make you say it yourself."
Lucien raised his hand. "Enough talk, Saroto. Let's go."
Each pair entered their respective gates, bathed in light.
When the light faded, Saroto and Lucien found themselves in the heart of a strange city. The sun was intense, even though it was still early morning, and the sky was thick with darkness. The Sand Kingdom stretched before them like a sea of golden dunes, dotted with tall, ancient stone buildings, their windows draped with fabric to ward off sandstorms.
"It seems we've arrived, Saroto," Lucien said, glancing around. "The Sand Kingdom. Let's go retrieve our families' treasures."
"Then we must disappear first," Saroto replied softly, peering into a narrow alley between the houses. "We can't move around in our academy clothes; it'll only draw attention."
They hurried down a dark alley, between mud walls that smelled of ancient dust. Saruto raised his right hand, and thick black shadows began to gather around him, wrapping themselves around his body like living fabrics moving at his command. In moments, their clothing transformed completely into the garb of local merchants: long, sand-colored cloaks and hoods that concealed their features.
"A useful skill," Lucian said, looking at himself with slight surprise. "I didn't know your shadows could do this kind of camouflage."
Saruto smiled and said quietly, "Now we can roam freely in the kingdom."
The two began to move through the crowded alleyways, observing the markets and listening to the conversations of passersby. At every turn, words like "Golden Palace," "Sand Guards," and "Princess Siren" were mentioned.
Saruto carefully noted these names, then turned to Lucian. "The palace seems well-fortified," he said. "We'll need information about who goes in and out."
"Then we must steal the information from one of the guards," Lucian replied with a smirk.
Saruto walked through the crowds, whispering to Lucien, "Perhaps we should leave this as a last resort and send a way."
Lucien agreed with Saruto, and they gradually disappeared into the alleyways of the Sand Kingdom, gathering as much information as possible to infiltrate the palace and recover their families' treasures.