The royal capital of Aurelis never slept.
Even at midnight, the streets remained illuminated by floating crystal lamps. Marble roads stretched between enormous buildings decorated with gold, while royal banners hung from every tower.
It was beautiful.
Almost painfully so.
Because beneath those streets, beyond the palace walls, thousands of commoners slept in overcrowded slums without enough food to survive the week.
Elias stood on a rooftop overlooking the palace.
The wind pulled at his black coat.
Behind him stood three figures.
Seydric Voss.
Kael Veyron.
Lyra Veyne.
His first three.
Seydric was the youngest of them, but there was something about him that made people listen when he spoke. His ability, Leadership, amplified the strength and coordination of those who willingly followed his command.
Kael stood with his arms crossed, his eyes fixed on the palace.
Lyra leaned against a chimney, watching the guards below.
Elias placed a small black object on the roof.
It looked like an ordinary pill.
It wasn't.
"The king's daughter will attend the Moonlit Gala tomorrow night."
Seydric looked at the object.
"Princess Seraphina?"
Elias nodded.
"She is surrounded by twelve personal guards at all times. Three royal mages will monitor the ballroom. Her food and drink are inspected before reaching her."
Kael frowned.
"And you want us to reach her."
"No."
Elias looked toward the palace.
"I want us to make the palace believe we never reached her."
Silence.
Lyra smiled.
"That's a little harder."
"That's why you're going."
Elias pointed toward the palace.
"Seydric. You're entering through the military quarter."
Seydric nodded.
"Kael. You're entering through the western guard division."
Kael looked at him.
"And Lyra?"
"The servants."
Lyra's smile widened.
"And you?"
Elias looked back toward the palace.
"I'll be somewhere else."
Kael raised an eyebrow.
"Convenient."
Elias ignored him.
"None of you are to improvise unless necessary."
Lyra laughed.
"That's rich coming from you."
Elias looked at her.
"If you think I improvise, then you haven't been paying attention."
He picked up the black object.
"The mission begins tomorrow."
---
The following evening, Aurelis became a sea of gold.
Nobles arrived at the palace in enchanted carriages.
Music filled the streets.
The Moonlit Gala was one of the most important royal events of the year.
And nobody noticed three strangers entering the palace.
Seydric entered first.
He wore the uniform of a newly transferred royal officer.
Kael wore the armor of a western guard.
Lyra carried a servant's tray.
Different entrances.
Different identities.
One objective.
Seydric entered the palace.
The soldier at the gate examined his papers.
"Name?"
"Seydric Voss."
"Unit?"
"Third Royal Division."
The guard frowned.
"I don't have you listed."
Seydric didn't react.
Behind the guard stood six soldiers.
Seydric could feel their attention.
He needed to pass without fighting.
Then a messenger came running through the courtyard.
"Captain! The eastern gates!"
Every soldier turned.
The guard holding Seydric's papers looked away for one second.
Seydric stepped forward.
"Emergency reassignment."
The guard looked back.
"Wait—"
Seydric walked through.
He didn't look behind him.
His hand tightened around the small communication crystal beneath his sleeve.
"Elias."
A voice answered.
"I know."
Seydric smiled.
"You planned that?"
"No."
A pause.
"The messenger was supposed to arrive thirty seconds later."
Seydric stopped.
"What?"
Elias's voice remained calm.
"But this is why plans have contingencies."
Seydric heard footsteps approaching.
"Two guards are coming toward you."
"How do you know?"
"I can see them."
Seydric looked around.
No windows.
No obvious watchers.
"From where?"
"Does it matter?"
Seydric sighed.
"No."
"Good."
The guards approached.
"Officer. Stop."
Seydric turned.
"Problem?"
"Your transfer order."
Seydric handed it over.
The guard studied it.
Then frowned.
"This seal is outdated."
Seydric's eyes narrowed.
For a moment, everything was silent.
Then Elias spoke.
"Tell him the truth."
Seydric almost laughed.
"The truth?"
"Yes."
Seydric looked at the guard.
"You're correct."
The guard blinked.
"The seal is outdated."
"Then why are you carrying it?"
Seydric leaned closer.
"Because the man who issued it is dead."
The guard froze.
Seydric continued.
"And if you want to question his orders, you can explain to the commander why you delayed a royal officer during the king's gala."
The guard hesitated.
Then stepped aside.
Seydric walked past.
Elias's voice came through the crystal.
"See?"
Seydric smiled.
"You could have just told me that."
"No."
"Why?"
"Because you needed to learn something."
"What?"
"People obey confidence before they obey authority."
Seydric looked toward the palace interior.
For the first time, he began to understand why Elias was so dangerous.
Elias wasn't simply giving orders.
He was teaching them how to control people.
And tonight...
The royal palace was going to learn the same lesson.
But none of them knew it yet.
Because the real infiltration had only just begun.