On that evening, before the night where I will be heading to the dungeon. I was having a nice dinner with Claude.

  The dishes were as usual; with mushroom-stews, high quality spaghettis, roasted turkey and desserts like apple pies. Forks and spoons of different sizes were arranged neatly next to our plates.

  Just when I was about to have my first sip of mushroom stew, Claude decided to use that moment to ask a question that almost made me drop my spoon.

  "Edward, you're not planning on sneaking out at night to stop the intruder, right?"

  I turned my gaze toward him, his face was filled with concern. I know that Claude cares for me, but I refuse to step aside and let that intruder get their hands on something that has the power to grant any wish that the wielder wishes for.

  I not a fan of lying to someone that I trust, but this is very serious business, someone, or something wants the Orb for their own benefits, and I don't think those benefits are good ones...

  "Well, I'm not that rebellious." I lied, "And even if I were to get up, and if it was to defend the Orb. I would probably stand in front of the door, and guard it with my life." I then gave him a smile.

  Claude's eyes narrowed, as if he's trying to detect any suspicious words in my sentence. "I appreciate your offer to help, brother." He replied. "And you know that I wouldn't want you to sacrifice your life just for a door."

  I managed to let out a sarcastic laugh, "Bro, I'm serious about this." Claude added. "You will not get up in the middle of the night to help us." My smile faded, I nodded. "Alright brother, I promise, that I won't play a hero and will count everything on you guys." "I hope that isn't a false promise." We went back into eating our meals after that short conversation.

  Sorry Claude, but I have to do this.

  I pretended to go to my bedroom when it is my bedtime. I closed the door, and sat on my bed for a few minutes, and watched the clock on my wall.

  Tick, tick, tick.

  I waited until it was time for me to start my operation to catch the intruder. Every time when I heard some footsteps outside my door, I pretended to cover my face with my pillow to make it look like I was asleep in case one of the servants or guards came to open my door to check on me.

  I stared at my clock again, now, it read: 10:20. It is time to get up, quietly of course. I placed a huge pillow under the blankets to make it look like that I am still there, I tiptoed to get my stuff, I wore my top hat to let the intruder to take me more seriously (since I am in my pyjamas right now), I grabbed my staff, and walked slowly towards the door.

  I opened a small gap and peeked out from it, I looked to the left and to the right, no one was there. I opened the door wider so that I can get out. I remembered where the dungeons are, I remembered that Father had told us that the dungeons are used to keep our secrets and everyone in this palace is forbidden to enter the dungeons, unless they were given permission.

  The dungeons were located at the first floor of our palace, since the dungeons will lead us underground. I tried to find the staircase that leads to the first floor. Don't worry, some minor staircases won't hurt. I still have to watch out for the guards and servants. This does sound stupid, that I am actually hiding from the people that are loyal to me.

  I am now at the first floor. I bet that there will be lots of people down here to protect the dungeons, so I will have to be extra careful when wandering around here. I think the dungeons are located at the west side of the palace, and that's where I'm heading to.

  On multiple occasions, I almost got caught when I tripped over the floor tiles. I sprinted towards the dark corners when that got the guards attention. I peeked out to check to make sure that I am safe. I hope that no one will spot me when I am at the door, I am almost there.

  Now, currently in front of my sight, stood a open courtyard with an iron door, with two guards in front of it. And that door, leads to the dungeons. I decided to hide behind a statue of a eagle at the corner, watching every move of the guards in the surrounding area.

  I will require a plan to distract those guards so that I can get to the dungeons, even though I am having lots of remorse over this plan, these guys are also trying to help to catch the culprit. But I don't think that they understand on how high the stakes are right now.

  Okay, what can get these fellows attention instead of me tripping over?

  Should I throw something at one of them? But if it is a snowball, they will know that I am here. And I don't want to injure one of these guys. Wait, I can use something else, and I don't have to throw it at the guards for their safety.

  I tiptoed and hid in the bushes in the open space that leads to the door. I picked up a stone nearby and waited for the right moment. The guards are still circling around the area, and I'm not sure how am I not caught yet...

  Now, is the moment of faith.

  I tossed the stone, and it flew towards another eagle statue, but it didn't hit the target. The guards turned to the statue. "What was that?" One of them asked, "Something must had hit the statue!" Another replied. One by one, they rushed over to the statue, to check on any scratches on the statue. Now's my chance to rush into the dungeons.

  I sprinted, most of the guards are now occupied on the statue. I opened and closed the door, which made a creak that is drowned in the worrying chattering of the guards. "The statue is fine." I heard a guard spoke just as I closed the door.

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  I am surrounded by darkness, I raised my staff, and whispered the third position, I had now created a torchlight to illuminate the dark. I tiptoed downstairs, I am sure that the guards had now went back to scout the place and guard the doors. The stairs kept going, to be point that it felt like going to the library by using the stairs. I resisted my urge to collapse and make a loud noise.

  Once I had reached the bottom, my first obstacle was waiting for me.

  I felt relieved after I had finished walking down the stairs, but a snowball flung right past me. I almost yelped out of shock, I turned to the direction where the snowball had come from. A mini crossbow, filled with snowballs, fired again. But the aim of the crossbow is really poor.

  Someone must had fiddled around with their circuits.

  This is what Kano had meant, the intruder had messed around with the traps, and they don't work well now. That will give me an advantage, I sprinted past the crossbow, which is still firing in the same direction.

  As I went deeper into the dungeons, with more obstacles and traps in the way, but they are all malfunctioning, making it easier to get through. The intruder must had done this, to be able to sneak in. I also had noticed that all of these traps and obstacles are not designed to kill, but to injure the intruder until the guards arrive.

  So far, no sign of anyone here yet. Is the intruder not here? Or did they succeed in stealing the Orb of Wishes? I have to pray that the second one doesn't happen.

  Then, I found my first 'perfect' obstacle.

  There was a slide, a long one, about twenty meters long, leading downwards, and a statue with an unfriendly smile stood there, with its head staring right at me, its eyes following me wherever I moved. It was about four meters tall, its design similar to a knight's armor from the 1400s (I know my history), and it held a war hammer, about half the size of the statue in its right hand.

  Something feels creepy about this statue, especially about its' eyes following me wherever I go. The only thing that I know is that it must have been stationed to guard the Orb, and I bet that its war hammer isn't for display.

  I started to think on how to get past this statue. However, I don't want to deactivate it, what if the intruder hasn't made their move yet? This statue can give them a good fight when they arrive to this section. Now, back to the question: How do I get past it?

  Should I make it slip and fall? Or can I sneak past it? Although I don't see any blind spots around here. How about I-

  I realized I made the mistake of not paying attention to the statue. It was gone from its position. I blinked with disbelief, how could something that large just disappear without me noticing? It should have made a lot of noise when it moves...

  But wait, what if it has detected an intruder? And it is now leaving to find them? Wait, does that make me an intruder too?

  A sudden gasp caused me to shriek and fall onto the ground.

  I turned to the location of the gasp, and I found myself staring at the surprised face of the statue before. "A new playmate?" The statue said, in a feminine voice. "Goody! It's been a few days since someone came down here!" I blinked in confusion and relief; I was expecting it to strike me down with its war hammer, instead of being excited of a 'playmate' coming down here.

  "Do you want to play?" The statue asked as it started to tap its feet. "Um..." I muttered, still confused on the statue's child-like behavior. "I know a lot of games we can play! Hopscotch, tag, Simon says, creeper-"

  "Aw man." I interrupted. The statue stared at me with confusion and minor annoyance, "Sorry, it's a habit whenever someone says creeper." I apologized. "That's okay." The statue cooed, "Where was I? Oh yes! The games! Which one do you want to play?" I took a deep breath, I'm not here to play games with some statue-child, I'm here to stop the robber from stealing the Orb of Wishes. But I don't want to hurt its feelings.

  Wait, it mentioned that a few days ago, someone came down here, the dungeons... Could this mean that, the intruder was already here?

  "Excuse me!" I spoke. "Um, Young Mister Statue?" "Miss." The statue corrected. "And I'm not a statue, I'm a golem." I blinked, golems, I've heard of them somewhere before, they were actually human souls attached to a body made out of clay, though bodies of stone and iron will work too. And that also means that, she was a human once.

  "May I ask for your name?" The golem blinked. "My name is Luna. What's your name, Mister?" "Edward Clifford, The First." I replied and bowed. "The prince of this palace." The golem, Luna, stared at me with amazement. "Cool." She muttered in awe.

  "Back to the question. You said that someone came down here... a few days ago." Luna scratched her head, as if she were trying to recall on what she had said, or she might feel itchy (do golems feel itchy too?). "Yes! Mister Edward. There was a short boy, with sharp ears and weird eyes. He was so rude! He doesn't want to play at all! When I tried to ask him to play with me, he just told me to shut up and called me a freak! He then turned into fire and disappeared!"

  My heart dropped, a short boy... No one in this palace is as short as a young boy. This would mean that, the robber has been here before, and they might have been one step closer to getting their hands on the Orb of Wishes.

  The stakes are much higher now. I must stop the robber once and for all, and to force them to apologize for the hurtful things they said to Luna. But first, I have to convince her to let me pass.

  "Luna. I'm here to catch the guy who hurt your feelings." Luna's eyes widened. "You will, Mister Edward?" I nodded. The golem giggled and clapped, "Thank you, Mister! However, Uncle Kano said that I shouldn't let anyone pass me." I sighed, but thankfully, she made a deal with me.

  "Hey, if Mister Edward can play a game with me, I might consider letting him pass." How could I not turn down a opportunity like this? Even if I have to play a kiddish game with a golem way taller than me, it's worth it if I want to stop the robber. I bowed again, "Luna, I accept your deal." The golem clapped her hands. "Yes! Now, let me explain the rules."

  I gulped as she finished the only rule. "If I win the game," She raised her war hammer and slammed it to the ground, creating a dent on it. "You'll be getting this." My eyes widened as I stared at the dent, if Luna can do that, who knows what it would do to me... And also, why would she do that to me anyways?

  Is it because even though I promised to get payback for her, she still doesn't trust me? Or she's too loyal to the General and is still technically following his orders?

  But I have to risk it.

  "So... what game are we playing?" I asked. Luna scratched her chin, "Hmm..." She then snapped her fingers. "I know! Let's play... Red Light, Green Light!"

  I slowly closed my eyes, trying to process the information. By the time I opened them, Luna slid down the slide and returned to her spot. But this time, she was facing the wall. "Ready, Mister Edward?" I think everyone knows what Red Light, Green Light is, so I don't think you readers won't need any explanations for the game.

  But I'll make a quick recap for those who don't know. It's a kid's game where one fellow has to stand at the end of a field, and the players will have to cross the field, only stopping when the fellow shouts "Red light", and they can move when they shout, "Green light".

  Now, I'm about to play that game. Which is, going to be more terrifying after hearing Luna's threat to the loser, and since I'm going to be stand on a slide (which is slippery), there will be a lot of moments where I could accidentally move when Luna shouts "Red light".

  Unfortunately, I had already accepted to play with Luna. There's no turning back now.

  I took a deep breath and responded. "Ready!"