The visit to the castle had begun as expected. The official transport, silent and elegant, soared through the sky toward the royal citadel, where glass towers rose among hanging gardens and immaculate avenues. The structure, a fusion of ancient heritage and modern innovation, stood as a testament to the kingdom's new face.
Yuli, accompanying the Aunt, stepped down from the vehicle with no idea of what would unfold in the coming hours.
Contrary to expectation, the king's guard wore no combat uniforms inside the palace. Instead, they donned sleek executive suits, elegant, functional. These women, all with eyes sharp from countless battles, escorted the young king like diplomats. And yet, they were former Guardians, always ready to act.
The Aunt was received with deference, though some veterans allowed themselves warm smiles. To them, she was more than a legend, she was a mentor, a second mother. Yuli, meanwhile, watched intently, doing her best to remain composed in this place of power and memory.
While the Aunt entered a private room to speak with the young monarch, Yuli remained in one of the grand halls alongside a few castle aides. Surrounded by polished marble, smart glass panels, and cutting-edge tech, she couldn't help but feel out of place. And yet, something told her to stay alert.
Then she felt it. A prickling at the nape of her neck. The unmistakable sense of danger.
Her gaze locked on a figure approaching down the corridor, a man with an emotionless face, partially hidden behind a visor. One arm was clearly cybernetic, and though clad in heavy armor, his steps were swift, light, and utterly silent. Too calculated.
Yuli didn't hesitate.
"Intruder! Guards!" she shouted, drawing her Bō.
The silence shattered like glass.
The man moved with lethal precision, knocking down two executive-clad guards who rushed to intercept him. He didn't kill them, but he rendered them useless. He was heading straight for the king.
He threw the door open, and the Aunt placed herself between him and the monarch.
"Not another step!" the old woman roared. "You won't reach him while I still breathe. Girl, get the king out of here!"
The enemy lunged, but the Aunt was no ordinary protector. Her small frame became a storm of strength, movements fluid, exact, a martial dance honed through decades of discipline. She moved with the reflexes of someone who could still split stone with her bare fists.
Yuli grabbed the king's arm without a second thought.
"With me, Your Majesty! This way!"
He nodded, trusting her completely. Together they raced through a hidden corridor known only to the Guardians. Behind them, the Aunt held her ground, facing an opponent now showing signs of fatigue.
"Do you even have a name?" she asked between dodges. "What do you want? Who sent you?"
The attacker landed a blow that shattered part of the floor, but the Aunt countered with a punch that hurled him against the wall. Damaged and outmatched, he fled, leaping through a stained-glass window into a waiting airship that vanished with a deafening roar.
In the center of the ruined chamber, a black sphere remained.
Yuli picked it up. The king and the Aunt, along with several Guardians, gathered around her.
"He breached our defenses. Took out several of our own," one of them reported grimly.
Suddenly, the sphere lit up and projected a hologram.
At first, only a message:
"To the king: PROTECT THEM."
Then, lines of glowing text filled the air:
"I am no longer a person. I am only a machine, programmed to obey. Please… protect these children. When the time comes… destroy me."
The projection shifted, revealing lists. Hundreds of names. Children from orphanages across the kingdom. Dates, ages, conditions, and at the end… a video file.
A woman sang gently, cradling a toddler in her arms. They laughed. Birds chirped in the background. The footage ended with a note:
"I want to see her again."
The room fell into silence. The young king, now composed, ordered immediate medical care for the wounded Guardians. No word of the attack was to leave the palace.
"This wasn't an assassination attempt," he said quietly but firmly. "What's really going on? Did he come only to deliver this?"
The Aunt crossed her arms, her expression harder than ever.
"What have they done? Who are the people in that video?" she said darkly. "Whoever did this… they have no idea who they're dealing with. If that thing is asking for help… then help it we shall."