Kingdom of Darcus, city of Tânoa, April 4th.
The sun was slowly retreating behind the horizon, painting the sky in shades of burning orange like distant embers. The streets still hummed with footsteps of townsfolk and beasts, but the inn on the corner breathed the silence of secret hours.
One rented room remained with its windows shuttered. A lone candle flickered atop the center table, casting light on four figures gathered around a rough-drawn map. The air carried the scents of leather, oiled steel, and aged parchment.
Brown eyes restless, shoulder-length dark hair framing her face, the woman at the center leaned back in her chair, boots on the table, sharpening a double-edged dagger. Impatience radiated from her posture. Across from her, a young man chewed on a strip of dried meat, eyes the color of emeralds fixed on the scattered notes — far too attentive to match his feigned indifference.
On the bed by the wall, a girl sat cross-legged, adjusting the lid of a small vial. The fourth figure leaned silently against the doorframe, arms crossed, watching.
The flutter of wings sliced the quiet. A raven landed on the windowsill with a harsh caw; a message tube tied to its claw.
The dagger-wielding woman strode to the window, took the scroll, and scanned it in silence. Her eyes raced across the words as though searching for something she didn't want to find.
The dagger clattered onto the wood with a sharp thud.
"Damn it," she muttered through clenched teeth, forcing down the anger rising in her chest. Pressing the paper to the candle flame, she inhaled deeply, then turned to the others.
"What's wrong?" the young man asked, pulling his gaze from his meal.
She hesitated a heartbeat before answering.
"Our target may have changed."
"Captain Laylla, what do you mean 'may'?" the girl on the bed pressed, eyes narrowed.
Laylla picked up her dagger and slid it into the leather sheath at her hip.
"There's no time to explain. It's new intel — and if it's true, everything changes. But it's still only a possibility."
The man by the door pushed away from the frame, stepping toward the table.
"Then do we abort?"
"No. The three of you stick to the original plan." She pointed at the map. "If the intel's wrong, Princess Emily is still the target, and someone needs to keep her alive until we sort this out. Splitting up is our only chance to cover everything."
Swallowing the last bite of his meat, the green-eyed youth rose to his feet.
"And where are you going?" His brow arched.
"I'll check on what Jay mentioned in the raven's message. You'll lead while I'm gone, Malivor."
Malivor smirked faintly, stepping closer.
"Fine. But if you're gonna die, give me a heads-up. I've got money riding on who goes first." His palms brushed together with mock glee.
"If you're the first to die, at least we'll save on food." Laylla shot back with a crooked smile. "Now move. You've got a princess to 'catch.'"
The three nodded in silence. The mission hadn't even begun, and already it was veering off-script.
When Laylla opened the door, the city echoed with a sound.
A bell.
Slow. Deep.
The captain quickened her pace, vanishing into the streets. Malivor and the others gathered their things and slipped out the opposite way, toward the stables where their horses waited.
…
"Potion ready, Akeno?" Malivor asked, dusting off his clothes.
"Of course." The girl held up the small vial she'd been working on earlier.
"And you, Kenji? Gonna need those invisible steps of yours."
Kenji brushed the hilt of his sheathed katana with his fingertips and nodded, silent.
"Perfect. Then all we need is the plan… minus Laylla. We're almost —" Malivor cut himself off, eyes narrowing. Soldiers were moving near the city gate.
"There." Akeno whispered.
"We've got an opening!" Kenji grabbed her shoulder and darted toward the wall.
Malivor raised his hands. In a subtle motion, the trio floated silently over the wall, landing among the trees. The foliage concealed them from the guards above—most of whom had already rushed toward the commotion at the gates. Step by step, they crossed the small grove until they reached a back door of the castle.
Malivor tested the latch carefully and pushed the door open with a soft creak. The inside was quiet. Empty.
"This place's security is a joke. It's basically an invitation," Akeno scoffed.
"Less work for us." Malivor shut the door gently. "We're in. You two grab the princess, I'll stir up a distraction."
A narrow staircase rose nearby. The three crept upward, their footsteps feather-light.
The second floor stretched wide with white stone halls, dark woven carpets across the floors. A handful of guards lingered, their shifts changing—alertness dulled by routine. None suspected what moved right beneath their noses.
With a hand gesture, the trio split — Akeno and Kenji left, Malivor right.
The castle wrapped around a colossal tree, its trunk and branches breaching even the higher parapets. Malivor floated onto a branch, vanishing into its dense leaves.
"Drop this tree and chaos follows," he muttered.
But before he could act, the sky caught his eye.
It was glowing. Green.
An ethereal hue bled across the horizon, swallowing the orange dusk.
A shout broke the air.
"Fire in corridor three! Bring water!"
A soldier sprinted the opposite way, tossing aside helmet and chestplate. Beneath the common armor, a navy-blue uniform emerged.
"SYNC?!" Malivor choked on his breath. "What the hell are they doing here?"
The tree shuddered, a rumble shook the castle walls, and guards scrambled.
Too calm. Too deliberate. Kenji and Akeno must still be hidden.
Scanning the corridors, Malivor spotted a room at the far end, the only one above the second floor. A woman's silhouette slipped inside, shutting the door.
Without pause, he glided toward the stairs. Five seconds later, he stood before the door.
"Intruder!" a guard bellowed below.
Malivor shoved the door open. A beautiful blonde girl stared at him in shock.
"A! INTRUDER!" Her scream echoed through the halls.
"Calm down. I'm not here to hurt you…"
Her cry drew a guard to the entrance. Malivor slammed the door shut, thrusting out a hand to keep it sealed. The soldier hammered against it, shield crashing against wood.
"Princess Emily, listen. I'm not here to harm you. You just have to come with me." He tried to keep calm.
"You're… a mage?" she asked, recoiling.
He ignored the question, eyes darting to the balcony. The drop was steep. Manageable.
Steel burst through the door, a spear tip splintering wood.
He turned his hand toward her. Emily was pulled forward, tumbling into his arms.
"Hold tight!" He winked.
"What… AHHHH!"
They plummeted together, the guard bursting in just in time to watch them vanish. Through the air, Malivor glimpsed Kenji and Akeno smashing through a window, leaping down themselves. Now he was the one stunned.
No time. Sweat prickled his back as he flung both palms at the ground. The fall slowed barely. Enough.
Chaos ignited. Soldiers flooded the garden, twenty at least. Two more figures in blue cut through the ranks.
Kenji unsheathed his katana. The SYNC pair lunged for Emily, and a three-way clash erupted—steel, spears, arrows flying.
Malivor struck down two soldiers with raw force, retreating.
"MALIVOR!" Akeno shouted.
"What?!" he barked, breath ragged.
"The road there!" She pointed.
A lone man rode into the fray astride a creature Malivor couldn't name, charging straight toward Emily and the SYNC pursuers.
"No… It's already gone to hell. We're pulling out!"
He thrust his hands, dragging Kenji and Akeno with him into the trees. A handful of soldiers gave chase but quickly broke off, sprinting after the fleeing princess instead. At the stone wall, the trio floated over to safety.
"Everyone in one piece?"
"Kenji's out cold, but I've got him." Akeno pressed glowing hands to his wounds, closing them.
"Then we move. Reinforcements will be here any second."
A sudden gale made them glance back.
Atop the gate, a man in black had just felled the last guard.
"He tore down the gate and wiped out the wall guards just for a distraction?" Akeno frowned.
The stranger seized two fallen spears, hurled them at blinding speed, then leapt from the wall, landing lightly. Ahead, Emily had collapsed on the ground. And beside her, him.
"That bastard's gonna take her." Malivor's voice quaked with fury and disbelief.
"If we take the horses, we can intercept before they're too far!" Akeno wiped blood from her cheek.
He drew a sharp breath.
"Fine… not a bad plan. Think Laylla's back yet?"
Neither Akeno nor Kenji answered.