The Ancient Illusion

  After a few minutes, I found myself standing before a massive castle, not too far away—perhaps a thirty-minute walk. A few randomly selected classmates were with me. The area surrounding us was an open plain with patches of grass. To the north, just a few dozen meters away, a forest of icy trees stood, as if the weather had been split into two distinct regions.

  On the castle’s side, the landscape was full of life—valleys, rivers, lush green trees, and many fruit-bearing trees near the castle. But to the north, snow fell steadily, trees were either half-burnt or completely frozen and lifeless.

  I heard the sounds of hooves and footsteps approaching. A young man, around fifteen or sixteen years old, appeared, dressed in finely crafted attire. His armor was pure white, adorned with golden-yellow engravings. A sword in a red scabbard hung from his waist. He greeted us, saying:

  "I am Prince Fabian. What are you doing here? This place is dangerous! I was patrolling the area, and it’s fortunate that I found you—otherwise, you would have become food for the monsters of the northern forest. Come, let’s return to the castle."

  The students whispered among themselves and quickly agreed to trust Fabian.

  After some time, we arrived at the castle, where a young girl, no older than six or eight, welcomed us. Her name was Mary, Prince Fabian’s younger sister. He lifted her into his arms as we followed him inside.

  The castle was filled with paintings depicting former kings and princes, along with stunningly colorful vases. A grand, wide gate stood before us, which two knights opened. The floor was made of polished black onyx, while the walls were constructed from obsidian stone, giving them an elegant and majestic appearance.

  Massive chandeliers hung from the ceiling, adding to the castle’s noble ambiance. Guards stood on either side of the hall, divided into two types: those wielding swords and shields, and those carrying axes.

  At the end of the hall sat the king and queen, with Prince Fabian and little Mary standing before them.

  The prince spoke first, "Greetings, Your Majesty."

  The king replied, "There’s no need for such formality. You are my son."

  A conversation followed, though it wasn’t of much importance.

  The real reason we were here was that everything—the land, the world, the king, and everyone except the students—was an illusion.

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  Suddenly, a voice echoed in all the students' minds. It was unmistakably our professor’s voice from the academy.

  She said:

  "Protect the royal family from the monsters."

  Ilarion smirked and said, "The mission is simple and clear."

  After some time, I realized I could move freely. Most of the soldiers were stationed near the royal hall, allowing us to explore as long as we didn't act suspiciously.

  Several minor events took place, but the most noteworthy discovery was that every knight and royal family member had not surpassed the rank of Mana Observer. That was strange. A few other unrelated things happened, but they were irrelevant to our mission.

  Prince Fabian led us to some rooms where we could rest. It was fortunate that he was cooperative and easy to talk to. I asked him about the region and the number of monsters nearby.

  He told me, "The frozen forest you were near is home to dangerous beasts. There are two orcs—one of flame, the other of ice. They have always been a problem for us. We’ve tried to fight them, but it wasn’t as easy as we thought."

  He added, "They usually attack at night, after midnight. Every night, they emerge from the forest. We’ve injured them multiple times, but not without cost—we’ve lost many brave soldiers."

  Thaid spoke confidently, "Don’t worry. We’ll take them down for the mission."

  I glanced at Prince Fabian, noticing his unease. We shouldn’t have mentioned the mission—it might make him suspicious. Thaid’s ever-present grin only made things worse.

  After thinking for a moment, I decided to reassure the prince another way.

  I said, "Yes, Your Highness. We’re adventurers who came to help you eliminate this threat."

  He remained skeptical, so I pulled out my first-rank adventurer badge as a Mana Observer. Upon seeing it, he seemed more convinced. His surprised expression confirmed something: no one in this world had surpassed the rank of Mana Observer.

  The reason was obvious—this world was an illusion, a perfect scenario for the students.

  Still, I was certain the instructors had provided a way for us to prove our identities. If trouble arose, we would have had to deal with the guards. Fortunately, I managed to ease the prince’s doubts.

  Thaid then asked a good question:

  "When is the next attack expected?"

  The prince replied, "It will be tonight, in about three hours."

  I thanked him, then entered a large room with a group of students. The room was spacious, accommodating many people, making it perfect for strategizing and dividing tasks.

  I gathered everyone and said, "Alright. Thaid and I will handle the battle. The rest of you stay here and protect the royal family in case of an attack."

  A deep, confident voice spoke up:

  "Did you forget about me? Just put me in the vanguard, and I’ll crush their bones."

  I turned toward the speaker.

  A young man stood there, his hood covering his head and hair, wearing a long cloak draped from his shoulders to his lower back. His muscular build was evident, his hands were covered in scars, wrapped in bandages, and adorned with metal rings. A belt around his waist carried daggers, a water flask, and some stored food.

  But his eyes—they were the eyes of someone who had lived a harsh, battle-filled life.

  With unwavering confidence, he said, "You can call me Stone."

  Ilarion and Thaid introduced themselves, and we began organizing our roles.

  Stone would take the frontline, focusing on dealing damage and protecting the others.

  Ilarion would also be on the offensive, killing enemies and assisting Thaid in finding the best opportunity to strike.

  Thaid would be our assassin, moving through the shadows.

  Ilarion unsheathed his twin swords, Thaid revealed his daggers, and Stone... held a metal rod.

  Thaid smirked and teased, "How do you plan to fight with a metal stick?"

  Stone activated his earth magic, and his weapon’s true form emerged—a hybrid between a massive warhammer and a deadly battle axe, forged from black stone radiating power and durability.

  With pride, he declared, "This is my special weapon—the Ruin Hammer."

  Ilarion nodded. "Alright. Welcome to the team."

  Stone smirked, while Thaid just observed.

  Time passed, and everyone prepared to move out.

  Prince Fabian arrived and asked, "Are you all ready?"

  Thaid and the others smiled, replying in unison, "Of course."

  The prince said, "First, I will provide you with horses, just like our knights. Unfortunately, I can’t bring too many soldiers—the rest must stay behind to defend the castle. I will take five swordsmen and three archers. The strategy will be simple…"

  ---

  Questions:

  1. What are the names of the prince and princess?

  2. What is the name of Stone’s hammer?