the Game's Rules

Elize's Perspective

I decided to step out to buy a drink when suddenly, I felt an eerie sensation of being watched. My instincts sharpened immediately. I glanced around, unsure whether to look right or left, and just as I looked up, someone jumped down from the roof. It was an assassin! By the time I realized it, it was almost too late. I thought a knife was about to plunge into my neck when suddenly another figure appeared and kicked the assassin away. Both the assassin and I were thrown in opposite directions.

Regaining my composure, I quickly cast a slicing wind spell to escape and followed it up with a defensive spell. Facing me was a familiar face—Wagner, the assassin whose life I once saved with emergency magic. Realizing he couldn't win, he fled from Wagner and me.

"Elize, you're being targeted by Amadeus. He knows everything, including your trip to the library and your search for the secretary," Wagner informed me after saving me.

"Thanks for the help," I said, grateful for his intervention.

"It's nothing. Just repaying a debt. We're even now. If you’re going to sniff around the councilman, make sure you go all the way. Attack is the best defense. Being half-hearted increases your risk, just like what happened. Make sure to find the secretary and rush to the press," he advised.

"So, Amadeus knows my moves," I realized, feeling the weight of his words.

"Yep, that's right. Take care," he said before leaving.

I relayed the incident to Akira, who coolly replied, "If you've eaten the poison, you might as well lick the plate clean. If he knows, he knows. We just have to do our best under these circumstances."

Encouraged by his words, I was about to gather more information when two familiar faces popped from behind the door.

"Hey, how have you been, Elize?"

"You've grown up, haven’t you? It’s nice to see you both so close," greeted Allegro and Sonata, former classmates.

"Is it okay to be involved, despite the danger?" I asked.

"What, and just do nothing when a friend is in crisis?" they responded energetically.

Right then, I realized how wonderful my friends were.

Akira spread out a map, marking our town and Miravenia, connecting them with a line.

"The rules of the game are simple," he explained. "We rescue Secretary Kraise from the castle and escort her to the newspaper's office in Miravenia using a magical carriage."

"So, if the secretary is killed before that, we fail the mission," I noted.

"Exactly. And to succeed, we’ll need more than just the four of us."