Encounter [Outside the Treasury…] Guard: ........... Gtri Dactyla: You there... Guard: Ah...! Your Majesty...! Gtri Dactyla: I haven't been able to sleep well lately... Would you keep me company for a drink? Guard: S-someone like me, sharing a drink with Your Majesty…? Th-that would be completely out of line! Gtri Dactyla: Shh. Keep your voice down... Guard: M-my deepest apologies! Let me hand off watch duty to another guard and summon Your Majesty's attendant. Gtri Dactyla: You'll do just fine. Just for a little while... Here, take this cup. Guard: Ngah...! Such an honor is far beyond a simple guard, to drink fine wine from His Majesty's own cup... Gtri Dactyla: Never mind that, here. Guard: Uwoh...! I am truly, deeply grateful. I'll never forget this night for the rest of my life. Gtri Dactyla: Alright, alright. Hurry up before anyone notices... Guard: Ah...! Well then...! Guard: Gulp, gulp, gulp... Gtri Dactyla: Gh........... Guard: Pahh...! Delicious... I've never in my life tasted wine this good... Gtri Dactyla: I-is that so…? So, how are you feeling? Your body, I mean... Guard: My whole body feels warm thanks to you, I feel like I'm dreaming...Yaawn... Gtri Dactyla: Hm... Guard: M-my apologies. I feel like I'm dreamin’... [The guard collapses.] Guard: Zzz... Zzz...Snore… Gtri Dactyla: Gh...! Forgive me... Gtri Dactyla: (Ah...........No one else around...) Gtri Dactyla: (Hah...........Now's the moment...!) [Gtri runs inside the treasury.] Gtri Dactyla: (If I stay in this palace, Umarit will kill me eventually!) Gtri Dactyla: (I’ll take whatever's valuable from the treasure vault and flee from this place...!) Gtri Dactyla: (The people who fought for my sake will surely never forgive me for abandoning the kingdom and running away...) Gtri Dactyla: (But I'd rather live even a single day in freedom than spend the rest of my life trembling in fear, waiting to be murdered!) Sentry: Halt! Don't move...! Gtri Dactyla: Ah...! Gtri Dactyla: (I've been caught!) Gtri Dactyla: (...Wait, not me? He's talking to someone else...) [CLASH!] Rao Nyx: Guh...........! Sentry: ...Ugh...! [The sentry collapses to the ground.] Xin Dicus: Sorry about that. Rao Nyx: Did you open the lock? [Click] Xin Dicus: Yeah. Ah...........! Rao Nyx: ...Someone's there! Tch... he saw us. Well, if it's come to this... Gtri Dactyla: W-wait...! Gtri Dactyla: (Ah...! If he figures out who I am, he might kill me!) Gtri Dactyla: (The only choice is to bluff my way out of this...) Xin Dicus: Hurry up and grab him! He'll call for help! Rao Nyx: Got i- Gtri Dactyla: W-wait, I'm a thief too! Xin & Rao: Wuh........... Xin Dicus: A thief? Rao Nyx: Seriously? Gtri Dactyla: Why would I lie about this? On the honor of the Empire, I- Xin Dicus: The honor of the Empire? As a thief? Gtri Dactyla: T-the Thief Empire... Xin Dicus: The Thief Empiiiiiiire? Rao Nyx: Ohhh? Never heard of that country. You must be pretty confident in your skills then, huh? Gtri Dactyla: P-probably. By the way, did you unlock that treasure vault? Xin Dicus: Yeah. Gtri Dactyla: W-would you mind if I slipped in with you? Xin Dicus: Whoa, hold on. You wanna freeload on our stake? Hmm? Gtri Dactyla: ...Wh-what are you doing?! Xin Dicus: Pretty fancy clothes you're wearing there. Not exactly thief attire. Don't tell me you're... Gtri Dactyla: ...Th-th-that is... Rao Nyx: A wardrobe specialist thief, I’ll take it. Xin Dicus: Quite the fashionista too. Gtri Dactyla: ...I-I suppose there's no point in hiding it now! I'm a wardrobe specialist thief. I stole this very outfit from the Emperor's bedchambers just a moment ago! Rao & Xin: The Emperor's bedchambers?! Did you steal anything else? Gtri Dactyla: Of course not. Rao Nyx: What a waste. Ah, oops. I probably shouldn't be endorsing burglary like that. Gtri Dactyla: Aren't you a thief yourself? Rao Nyx: I'm still in training. Xin Dicus: He's my apprentice. Cute guy, isn't he? Xin Dicus: I'll tell you what, I'll take you on as an apprentice for tonight. Follow me. Gtri Dactyla: I'm much obliged. Xin Dicus: Man, I almost feel bad for the Emperor, though. I heard someone nearly assassinated him recently, you'd think the guards could at least do their jobs. Gtri Dactyla: ........... Xin Dicus: No wonder he can't sleep peacefully at night when his security is so ass. Rao Nyx: I couldn't agree more. They can't even protect their own lord's peace of mind, they’re so pathetic. Rao Nyx: What are the Empire's people even swearing loyalty to at this point? Rao Nyx: ...Hm? What's wrong? Something in your eye? Gtri Dactyla: ...Sniff... It's nothing... Xin Dicus: All right then, newbie. Stick behind me. Rao, keep watch. Rao Nyx: Got it. [Door opens…] Court Lady: ...I apologize for calling you in so late, Lord Suncia... Suncia Panthera: It's fine. I heard a strange noise near the treasure vault... Rao Nyx: ...........! Rao Nyx: (An imperial Echo Knight! Did they hear us already? Should I warn Xin and make a run for it?!) Rao Nyx: (Or do I take him out myself... But I'd risk dragging that woman into it...) Rao Nyx: (What do I do...?) Suncia Panthera: How odd... There should be a sentry posted here, but I don't see him. Rao Nyx: (...Should I kill him? Should I strike him down the moment he steps into view...) Court Lady: Lord Suncia... Suncia Panthera: ...Let me go check things out. Rao Nyx: (...........) Suncia Panthera: Hm........... Rao Nyx: (Now's my chance!) Umarit Imuse: Suncia. Suncia Panthera: Lord Umarit…! Court Lady: Lord Umarit! Rao Nyx: (Umarit...?! The War Consul... The one who shadow-rules the entire Empire?!) To be continued...