Reis hadn't lied when he said he had something to do. He had the very important task of strolling around the royal grounds in the name of getting fresh air.
It did cause people to run in a fit of terror, but what could he do?
He needed to get to work before the already hazy memory got even worse. Reis wasn't going to let the perfect escape route go to waste.
An underground passageway connecting the palace all the way to the forest. One that the security didn't know about. And more importantly, one that even the original prince didn't know about. Reis wasn't going to let it slip out of his hand.
He kind of wished he hadn't fainted for those few minutes. Without that memory gap, he could have remembered exactly which way the kidnappers took him. From there, he'd be able to track the whole route without issues. But that shortcut was already unavailable.
So the second option was doing it backwards. But that was also not possible, because the actual path was underground. He'd have to go all the way to the eastern forest to find the other end of it and trace it back. That would definitely get him caught.
The only option left was to search the entire area while avoiding the security.
Or so he had thought until the Great Lord Yvaion came up with an idea that simply made Reis think he was getting dull by the day. Worse, the idea didn't even involve getting help from the lord. At least not the special kind that required begging.
Technically, he didn't expect he'd actually have a mana trace, cause news flash, Ann didn't. Which was probably why it took them so long to find him. Even if Reis did have any after taking that poison slash herb, it would be too faint to trace.
For humans.
The Guardian, who felt every shift of energy even in the food, could point it out easily. Especially because it was Reis's. The human didn't know whether to be thankful or scared that he was too easy to find for this creature.
More than that, Reis didn't expect the trail to actually bring him to his backyard, proving the first thirty minutes of scaling a complete waste of time.
Well, it wasn't his actual backyard.
But rounding up the greenhouse to be his territory since he cleaned it with his own two hands, it was just a few steps away from his backyard.
The small entrance was hidden underneath plants and obscured by the trees nearby. He would have missed it if not for Ann's built-in expertise.
From how the door was built, it was impossible to spot at first glance.
Reis set the basket down and crouched down to observe the door. A simple wooden closing, but when he pulled, it barely moved. He should have expected that.
So the helpless human looked back at the guardian with a pitiful expression, which he didn't realize he was making.
*Click.*
Reis wouldn't say it out loud, but it was actually nice to have some help. Not that he needed to with the amount of privacy he had.
That aside, there were stairs underneath the door. How thoughtful.
Reis stepped into the passageway, basket in hand, and the otherworldly creature right behind him.
The mana lights flickered weakly, just enough to see. Are there traps ahead?
|I will alert you in that case.|
With the assurance from the blue screen, Reis started walking while tracing the mental map of the palace.
A turn left, right under the training grounds. Another left, crossing the roads above. Many twists and turns, avoiding the spots with the most security, exactly following the current security schedule.
They walked and walked until the road met a dead end. Not an actual dead end, but another door. Unlike the weak wooden one, this one was large with an old metal enclosure that had been replaced recently. And a set of stairs at the side.
Reis traced the carvings on the stone wall, one that matched the castle walls awfully well.
|There are traps beyond the door.|
"Then do the stairs lead to the top of the castle boundaries?"
|Yes.|
For a few seconds, Reis simply stared at the door. He knew what it was like beyond it. A high-quality tunnel that was nothing like the one he crossed, with lights and rooms. Like an old underground home.
This was where that path ended. Or from this side, the starting point. Under the walls that were wide enough to live inside.
At least originally, it did.
Reis looked at the man who was standing by the stairs with a bored expression. The man looked at him as if already aware of what he wanted to ask.
"This part is new. The oldest trace of mana is from twenty-four days ago."
Reis couldn't help but smile in disbelief as he looked at the path they took to get here.
How could he not, after finding that someone actually dug a whole underground path to just kidnap him?
Finally, some unexpected stroke of luck. One he was definitely going to exploit. Thanks, Mr. Kidnappers.
–––
But the exploitation had to wait until after lunch, tea, dinner and everything in between. After all, to the rest of the palace, Reis was still someone yet to recover.
So he did what probably would have made the original frown and approve at the same time. The semi-experienced human cleaned the traces and closed the door as it had been with the generous help of the curious guardian.
He then slipped into the renovated greenhouse exactly thirty minutes before lunchtime. Just enough time to water the plants and introduce the cats. Although the furball was still unwilling to leave his side, he had set the scene well enough.
Well enough to fool the butler and guards, speedwalking towards them right now. "...you're actually here, your highness."
Reis feigned ignorance. "Where else would I be?"
Where could he have possibly gone when he still looked so pale, as if sunlight might be too harsh for him?
The butler sighed in relief. "Someone is here to visit you, your highness."
Reis smiled knowingly. He had an idea of who it was. "Who is it?"
"It's Mr. Cyan. He insists he needs to meet you now. Should I–"
"Of course," Reis answered with a bright smile that fully expressed his excitement. "Prepare lunch, Keith. I will meet him there."
Reis was ready to meet the hero from back home. After all, he had to know if the little hero liked his reward.