In the lone castle of Valhaimadoscalar, the bell on the tower, made from solid concrete, began to ring loudly like there was an imminent emergency.
The town's people stopped whatever they were doing and rushed toward the castle.
Because when the bell on top of the castle rang, it suggests that everyone stop whatever they are doing and come to the castle.
Among the people rushing toward the castle were Maxwell and Lisa. Maxwell said while running, "Hey, Lisa, do you think what I'm thinking?"
Lisa replied, "Brother, I definitely think what you're thinking. The queen—I think she's given—" She looked to her right, realizing someone was looking and listening to what they were saying.
"What are you looking at?!" Maxwell asked the stranger.
"Oh, sorry, nothing," the stranger replied.
"Okay, then, keep your eyes on the road."
As everyone reached in front of the gate, everyone stopped because there was an inspection going on in front, done by the kingdom's guards.
"Hey! People, calm down! You all will enter, just stay calm! We want this inspection to be over as much as you all want to! Just form 8 lines!" a guard commander shouted out loud.
Maxwell grabbed Lisa's wrist and dragged her.
As Maxwell was dragging Lisa to go into the same queue he was, he bumped into a robed figure in front of him.
"Oh, mister, I apologize for h—"
As Maxwell was apologizing, he froze when he looked into the stranger's eyes. The stranger said nothing and walked away.
Lisa realized something strange about her brother: he wasn't moving.
"Maxwell! Maxwell!" Lisa called out.
Smack!
She slapped him lightly on the cheek.
"–wait, where am I?" as Maxwell came to his senses.
He turned, not remembering what he was supposed to do.
"Lisa, where are we?" he muttered.
"Huh? What do you mean where are we?! Did you just forget they'll announce the birth–" looking at her brother like something's wrong.
"Oh, that– but I think, aargg! I can't seem to remember– I think I bumped into something or someone," he held his head in pain.
"Okay, let's just get in the queue."
Not too far from the queue and the castle, a couple of four robed figures seemed to be waiting for someone important. One was on top of a high tree, crouched on a branch, watching the people at the foot of the castle's gate.
As he watched, he saw someone dressed just like their group. As the individual got closer, the man on the tree gave a signal to the people below.
"Guys! Blue horned lizard is approaching!"
Then, the robed man on the tree jumped down. As he was about to land, he opened his palms, and the ground gave way. His three companions also jumped in quickly with no trace. As they got in, the caving shut closed. A spark of fire lit the space they were in.
The individual that jumped off the tree said, "Hornets, do you have the equipment ready?"
"Yes! Captain White Dove," Red Hornet answered.
"What about the cannons?" White Dove interrogated.
"Sir! Placed opposite where the targets would be, Sir!" Deep Hornet answered.
Above, Blue Horned Lizard got under the high tree, then tapped using his feet while looking right and left.
Below, they got a little weary, then White Dove spoke.
"Blue Lizard! Is that you?"
"Yes! Captain White, now let me in."
White Dove pinched his thumb and index finger together, then opened them up.
At the same time, a hole opened under Blue Horned Lizard, letting him fall in.
"What's the status?" White Dove asked.
"Bad," Blue Horned Lizard spoke out.
"What!–why?" Red Hornet inquired.
"I'm not sure we can get in," Blue Horned Lizard said in a low tone, "and even if we get in… the chances of getting out are low."
The three listened, then an individual that kept quiet spoke up.
"If there's a low chance of getting in and out, then, how about we not turn everything upside down?"
"What do you mean?!" Blue Horned Lizard inquired.
"As captain didn't ever make me perform my role and duty, since they gave us this mission 11 years ago… I've been preparing something in secret."
"Captain, what's he talking about?" Deep Hornet asked White Dove.
"Long ago, about 12 years ago, the higher-ups sent us on a mission to extract important information about this country," White Dove elaborated, while Red and Deep Hornet listened on.
"Back then I was a normal soldier like you. Our captain, a Black Dove, led two groups on the mission. Everything seemed alright in the beginning, but…" White Dove paused.
"But? But what!"
"What happened, did you guys succeed?"
Deep and Red Hornet inquired of Captain White Dove.
"----"
"I don't know!" White Dove continued, clamping his hands together and lowering his head.
"The first group was eliminated when they—"
There was a pause, then Red Hornet told White Dove to "spill the beans already, Captain!"
White Dove lowered his head more, then said,
"When they went to investigate the queen's quarters!"
As White Dove continued, the Hornet exclaimed, "No!"
"That's impossible! One of our own!"
UP ABOVE AT THE CASTLE GATESMaxwell turned. "Hey, Lisa, it's our turn."
As he stepped forward in front of the guard:
"How are you, mister guard knight, Sir!" both siblings putting on that childlike smile even though both are children.
"Ah! These kids again! Comrade Justice, do you remember these kids?"
"Yes, I do! You're the kids that came early this morning, am I right?"
"Yes, mister guard knight!"
The guard leaned in and told them to, "Get in!"
The heavy wooden gates creaked open, and Maxwell and Lisa ran inside like their boots were on fire. The castle courtyard was huge! It had big stone walls that looked like they could touch the clouds, and there were so many people that it felt like a jar full of marbles.
Everyone was whispering and looking up at the big balcony.
"Maxwell, look!" Lisa pointed her finger.
Up there, the curtains moved. Then, a man with a shiny gold chestplate and a red cape walked out.
BELOW IN THE CELLAR
Cold winds blew, making the stone floors chilly.