"Faradol? Hey! This is interesting," Akira said, awestruck as he gazed at the magnificent citadel before them. His eyes sparkled with excitement, as if he could already imagine all the possibilities this advanced technology offered. His mind began racing, thinking about how he could use these advancements to improve his weapons. He felt naked without his usual tools and knew it would be useless to attempt anything meaningful without access to proper technology.
Before entering the city, Ronter interrupted their thoughts with a practical warning.
"Before we go in, you'd better put these on," he said, pulling simple robes from his gear.
Lania frowned, visibly annoyed.
"What's wrong with our clothes?"
Galao chuckled lightly, though his tone was serious.
"You don't want to draw attention with those strange outfits you're wearing. Here, anything out of the ordinary can raise suspicions."
Everyone complied, covering their school uniforms with the robes they were given. Though not particularly comfortable, the garments served their purpose of camouflage. Once ready, they approached the city entrance, where a towering guard in full armor greeted them with a booming voice that echoed through the air.
"Welcome to Faradol," the guard said, his imposing stance and scrutinizing gaze sweeping over the group.
Galao presented his merchant identification without hesitation, though the guards asked several questions about the young agents accompanying them. After a few tense minutes, they were finally allowed to pass.
Upon entering, everyone was astounded by the enormous buildings rising majestically before them. The futuristic towers glowed with pulsating lights, and the architecture seemed to defy the laws of physics. Akira and the Rightyard brothers were especially ecstatic, their eyes darting back and forth as they analyzed every detail.
"This is incredible," Liam, one of the Rightyard brothers, murmured, his voice filled with admiration. "I've never seen anything like this."
Akira nodded, completely absorbed.
"I could spend days here just studying technology."
Josh, ever mindful of their mission, stopped them before they got too distracted.
"Wait. We're here for a mission, remember? Plus, we need to find a way to get back home. We can't waste time sightseeing."
Meanwhile, Rayna and Arryn were also marveling, but in a more aesthetic way. They admired the beauty of the city, its vibrant colors, and the almost magical atmosphere emanating from every corner. Megumi, however, urged them forward firmly.
"Come on, girls. We can't fall behind."
Ronter and Galao watched the group with a mix of admiration and concern. They knew these kids were special, but they also understood the risks they faced.
"We wish you the best of luck in your search," Galao finally said, his tone sincere but laced with warning. "But remember, you can't trust just anyone here. And certainly not the higher-ups of the city."
With no further words, the traders bid them farewell, leaving the agents alone amidst the bustling city. They had much to do and didn't want to get involved more than necessary.
A small memory crossed the minds of the young agents. Galao had briefly mentioned the second option for entering the castle: a place called Deathtrear. According to him, it was extremely dangerous, but he saw something special in them.
"Though it's the hardest path, I see that you'll manage it without any trouble," Galao had said with an ambiguous tone.
With that information in mind, Piti was sent to search for the location. His speed would allow him to move quickly and remain unnoticed among the inhabitants and guards. However, the traders had specifically warned them about the castle: it was protected by a barrier that made it practically impenetrable. For now, Piti was tasked with locating Deathtrear.
While Piti searched for clues, Aiden and the others scoured the nearby area for information about the place. Suddenly, someone rushed past at full speed and stumbled into Aiden. Instead of apologizing, the figure ignored him completely and kept running, disappearing into the crowd.
Aiden, surprised, barely had time to process what had happened. The only thing he managed to catch was a flash of purple hair peeking out from under the hood the mysterious person was wearing.
"Who was that?" Aiden murmured, watching as the figure vanished into the throng of people.
The rest of the group quickly gathered around him, curious about what had just occurred. Their eyes darted between Aiden and the path where the mysterious individual had disappeared, trying to make sense of the situation.
"What happened?" Megumi asked, noticing Aiden's bewildered expression as he processed the incident.
Before he could respond, the sound of raised voices echoed from the same direction. They were hurried shouts, as if someone were chasing the purple-haired figure with urgency. Without warning, several guards rushed past them, shoving them aside without stopping.
One of the guards pushed Aiden roughly, barely sparing him an annoyed glance.
"Out of the way!" the guard growled before continuing after the others, leaving the boy confused and slightly irritated.
Aiden stood there for a moment, watching as the guards disappeared into the distance. His mind tried to process what had just happened, but he couldn't make sense of it.
"What the…? What's his problem?" Aiden muttered, frowning as chaos seemed to spread around him.
The majestic, futuristic beauty of Faradol, which had left them awestruck just moments ago, now seemed to conceal something darker and more dangerous. The contrast between the city's impeccable appearance and the hostile attitudes of its inhabitants was becoming glaringly obvious.
"What the hell is going on here?" Aiden wondered aloud, his tone laced with frustration and disbelief.
Meanwhile, the others exchanged worried glances. The atmosphere, once fascinating, now felt tense and oppressive, as if the city itself were playing games with them.
Podbe, who would normally be alert and ready to defend his friend, remained strangely calm. It was as though something had affected him, or he simply didn't perceive the situation as a threat.
"Everyone here is so rude," María said, crossing her arms and shooting a disgruntled look at Billy, seeking some kind of support.
At that moment, an elegant young man appeared behind the guards. He wore an immaculate white suit, and his face was so perfect it looked like it belonged in a painting. However, his arrogant and disdainful attitude shattered any illusion of charm.
"Is there a school convention around here? Because those robes make you all look like low-class riffraff," the man commented with contempt, gesturing toward the group. His tone was so pompous that even Sonia had to restrain herself from snapping back.
"You'd better get out of the way. This is royal business," he added, shoving Aiden aside with a brusque gesture, as if he were an insignificant obstacle.
Lita, furious at the treatment, opened her mouth to protest, but Megumi was faster. She grabbed her from behind and firmly covered her mouth, whispering in her ear:
"We don't know who they are or what kind of power they have. It's better to keep a low profile."
Though visibly upset, Lita nodded and swallowed her anger.
Billy and Maria helped Aiden to his feet, exchanging worried glances.
"Something's wrong with Podbe," Riota said, observing the canine with curiosity. "He's unusually quiet, and he didn't even defend you."
"Now that you mention it…" Aiden paused to think, brushing dust off his clothes. "It's strange. He's never been like this before."
The golden and silver girls, Rayna and Arryn, exchanged an annoyed glance.
"What a great welcome to this supposedly dreamlike place," Rayna commented sarcastically, crossing her arms.
Elena, ever practical, tried to calm everyone down.
"It seems that, just like on Earth, there are people like that on this planet too. We shouldn't be so surprised."
Abigail, for her part, remained on the outskirts of the group, observing everything from afar with a worried expression. Being new, she hadn't fully integrated yet and rarely spoke to the others. Riota, noticing her discomfort, approached her with kind intentions.
"Do you need anything?" he asked, trying to sound casual.
However, Abigail completely ignored him, as if she hadn't even heard him. Riota stood there stunned, unable to understand her attitude.
"What bug bit her?" Riota thought to himself, scratching his head in confusion.
Gat, who had been watching the scene, let out a mocking chuckle.
"Man, that girl is sharp. What did you do to her?"
Riota just shook his head, unsure how to respond.
After the altercation, Piti returned to deliver his report.
"I found the place!" he announced, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Deathtrear is nearby!"
The group quickly forgot the previous incident and followed Piti to a peculiar location. From the outside, the place looked almost abandoned, with old boards covering parts of the structure and a holographic screen displaying ads that resembled quests or missions of some sort.
Upon entering, they found themselves in a large room filled with all kinds of individuals. Some looked rough and dangerous, others seemed more laid-back, and still others had faces that clearly screamed, "Stay away."
At the main counter, a young woman with long, shiny pink hair greeted them with a warm smile. Her proportions were striking, but her kindness felt genuine.
"Welcome to Deathtrear! The grand dungeon," she said enthusiastically, bowing slightly.