Chapter 32: The Special Mouse Ops Team
“ABC! This is so much fun!”
Leona, now a tiny white mouse, spoke directly into Abyss’s mind through their necromantic bond. Not only was her body only half the size of a palm, but her voice was also small and delicate.
“It’s actually not scary anymore… But walking on all fours feels weird…”
Flora’s voice, laced with confusion, also reached him. The mouse she had transformed into was slightly larger than Leona, with beautiful golden fur. She was touching her ears with her tiny paws, trying to get used to her new body.
“We’re much more inconspicuous as mice. Although mice don’t usually come out in winter, I noticed there are still plenty of them in the city,” Abyss said, peering out from a gap at the base of a wall. He had transformed into a lead-grey mouse.
“When we were drinking at the tavern, I saw a few mice scurrying past the wall. Some of them even looked a bit tipsy, probably from stealing wine from the cellar. Although this city is prosperous, no one seems to be controlling the rat population. It seems everyone is well-off and doesn’t care about the little things mice steal or gnaw on. I just hope these rats don’t bring a plague,” Flora said, twitching her whiskers.
“If a plague breaks out, the Church will immediately dispatch priests to prevent it from spreading. As long as the city is quarantined in time, it shouldn’t be a major problem,” she added.
“Given this city’s relationship with the Church, I doubt they’ll intervene promptly,” Abyss shook his head. “The Church has never been a charitable organization. Those who oppose them won’t receive equal treatment.”
“…You’re right about that,” Flora nodded reluctantly. Having been among the highest-ranking figures in the Church, she was aware of their ideology. Obedient, tithe-paying believers were good believers. Often, the Church’s interventions weren’t driven by righteousness but by self-interest.
“But I’m not worried about that now. The Church currently has its most outstanding Divine Arts user out in the world. If needed, I can bring you along to help,” Abyss said, looking at Flora with trust. He then turned to Leona. “Instead of discussing the city’s rodent problem, do you still remember the way to the palace and Empress Siana’s residence?”
“Of course I do. Forty years of sleep haven’t damaged my brain,” Leona said, standing up on her hind legs, her tiny paws crossed over her chest. “Look at the clock tower over there. It’s 9:43. The streets are getting less crowded. Today is February 14th. The palace guards change shifts at 10:06 PM. We can sneak in when the bell rings. The guards will be too busy, one group rushing to their posts and the other rushing back to their barracks, to notice three little mice.”
“You’re quite familiar with the palace guards’ schedule.”
“Of course.”
Leona wagged her tail proudly, seemingly pleased with her current form. She had always been a mischievous and adventurous child. She knew the exact time of the palace guards’ shift changes and would exploit every opportunity to sneak out of the palace and seek entertainment not found within its walls. She would bribe maids with promises of days off and go out to drink, eat street food, watch juggling acts, listen to bards, and even occasionally catch traveling theater troupes. She had even single-handedly taken on a group of thirty thugs—but after turning thirteen, she stopped fighting, afraid of accidentally ripping someone’s head off with her uncontrollable strength.
Under the cover of night, the three mice scurried along walls and gutters, navigating the streets and alleys. They didn’t need to worry about ordinary citizens. Abyss had told them that although their bodies were small, their minds and powers remained the same. Leona, for instance, could potentially punch a hole through Golden Griffin City’s outer wall if she exerted her full strength, and Flora could chant prayers and cast Divine Arts with her squeaky voice.
Golden Griffin City was indeed vast. The three mice ran at incredible speed, twice as fast as an ordinary human, but even so, it was past ten o’clock when they reached the palace gates.
Just as Leona had predicted, the palace guards changed shifts precisely at 10:06 PM. She knew the palace like the back of her hand, leading Abyss and Flora through the gates, across a large garden, and along a rarely used path that led directly to the residential quarters. They stopped before a magnificent palace. Its walls were thick, adorned with gold bricks at the top, and sturdy pillars held blazing braziers. The semi-circular dome was covered in glazed tiles from the East, and numerous statues in various poses surrounded the palace. Flowers bloomed in the flowerbeds, and neatly trimmed trees were lush and green—the royal family had clearly used expensive magic to make them thrive in winter.
“Tsk, they repaired that broken wall in the garden. We could have gotten here even faster,” Leona said, standing up again and pointing with her tiny paw at the luxurious palace behind her. “This fancy house is the residence of the core members of the royal family. The highest-ranking people in the Western Empire all sleep here. The Empress Dowager’s chambers should be on the top floor. The royal family never cares how difficult it is for old people to climb stairs.”
“Leona,” Abyss interrupted, “you’re a mouse now. It’s best to stay low to the ground when you speak. You know the anatomy of a mouse. When you stand up, I can see everything…”
“Squeak!”
A guard stationed at the entrance thought he saw a mouse jump up and down in the flowerbed. He shook his head, regretting not getting enough sleep before his shift.
The entire palace was protected by magic circles. Mages kept watch in the shadows, and there were also detection circles for Transformation magic. Ordinary outsiders couldn’t enter even if they transformed into flies.
However, Abyss’s Transformation and Necromancy magic were of such high level that they bypassed these defenses entirely. The mages guarding the palace didn’t even notice the mice.
Avoiding the sleepy maids, the three mice scurried to the top floor of the palace and stopped before a closed door, guided by Leona.
“Transform back into humans now? And just walk in?” Abyss asked, seeking Leona and Flora’s opinions.
“Let’s see this through to the end,” Leona shook her head. “Let’s think of a better way to get in.”
Flora, now accustomed to being a mouse, looked around and whispered, “Abyss, look, there’s a small gap under the wall over there. We can try to squeeze through.”
“Ah, good eye,” Abyss praised, and the three mice immediately ran to the gap. A faint draft coming from the gap suggested there was space and another exit on the other side.
Just as Leona was about to dive in headfirst, Abyss suddenly bit her tail, stopping her.
“Wait, I’ll go first,” he said, his turquoise mouse eyes alert. “I smell black magic.”
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