????'? ????? ???~ [SkyNani]

Few days later in the palace~

The first rays of dawn spilled over the palace grounds as Sky trudged toward the training fields.

The grandeur of the Hirunkit estate loomed around him, suffocating in its opulence.

Every polished tile, every ornate pillar seemed to mock him as if whispering,

You don't belong here.

But something was unfamiliar about the palace, even if he had spent all his childhood at the foot of this palace never being worthy to enter,
But this felt off, like memory of the palace had been lost from his corner of mind.

He remembered getting a message from that girl mysteriously, telling him to sneak into the archives room in excuse of documents.
Maybe he could find something there...

A solid evidence? Every soldier had their spots and details filled perhaps there is data about soldiers who went completely dead or missing.
Maybe he could find evidence...even of his father...of those dead people who's history this evil family erased.

Sky had spent the past week adapting-or at least trying to-within the palace walls.

Every recruit had been assigned duties, but Sky had subtly manipulated his tasks to allow himself more freedom to explore.

Today was no different.

After a grueling round of sparring drills that left his muscles burning and his body drenched in sweat, Sky excused himself, feigning exhaustion, and wandered into the quieter, less frequented areas of the palace.

He walked through the shadowy corridors, his sharp eyes scanning every detail.

The hidden corners, the barely noticeable doors, and the guards' routines.

It wasn't random wandering. Sky had a purpose.

He needed to understand the layout of the palace, uncover its secrets, and most importantly, find access to places that might lead to answers about the Hirunkits.

The sooner he unraveled their web, the sooner he could fulfill his mission.

I need to get in here...

Sky's footsteps echoed in a deserted hall as he approached the royal archives. His hand reached for the ornate handle when-

"What are you doing here?"

Sky froze. The unmistakable voice of Nani pierced the silence.

He turned slowly to find the prince leaning casually against the wall, his piercing gaze fixed on him. Nani's arms were crossed, a faint smirk playing on his lips.

"I asked you a question," Nani continued, his voice dripping with suspicion.

"Shouldn't you be in training instead of skulking around like some thief?"

Sky turned slowly, his face carefully blank,startled...

"I wasn't aware walking was considered skulking. Is that another royal decree I missed?"

Nani approached him, his hands clasped behind his back, his gaze sharp and calculating. "You're not fooling anyone, Sky. The archives? What must bodyguards have business here? What exactly are you hoping to find?"

Sky rolled his eyes. "Just curiosity."

Nani stopped a few steps away from him, his expression unreadable. "You're a terrible liar," he said, his tone light but his eyes intense.