The smoke of scorched cloth and burnt wood hadn't yet settled when the sharp ring of metal echoed through the inn's courtyard. The once-bustling place, filled with laughter and chatter, now stood scorched, chaotic, and broken. Flames crackled in broken lanterns and overturned furniture, casting eerie shadows across the walls. The scent of fear mingled with smoke and sweat, creating a haze of dread.
Solis stepped in front of Ada and Maglina, his stance firm despite the storm of tension rising within him. Ada, her chest rising and falling rapidly, gripped her cracked wooden sword tightly. She is a skilled combatant, but even she could feel the overwhelming odds stacking against them. The cloaked attackers, silent and menacing, began closing in — blades drawn, intentions clear.
Solis took a sharp breath. He could feel his aura building, like fire coiling around his core, ready to explode outward. His body tensed, his arms slightly aglow with flickers of light, signaling the energy just beneath the surface. "Stay close," he muttered to Ada and Maglina.
Just as Solis prepared to strike, a sudden breeze swept through the courtyard. Then, like shadows dancing in the moonlight, several figures dropped from the rooftops — silent, swift, and deadly. Their movement was almost spectral, precise and flowing like water. They struck with coordinated finesse, using daggers and short swords to disarm and incapacitate the cloaked attackers. Their uniforms — dark tunics, gear belts, and light armor — were unmistakable.
Postknights? No the Elite Postknights.
On-duty variants, but clearly part of the same force Solis had come to admire.
Not a single movement was wasted. The new arrivals struck pressure points, slashed at tendons, and brought down the assailants with swift justice. Within moments, the courtyard was still again, the attackers groaning in pain or lying unconscious on the cracked stone.
One figure stepped forward and removed his hood.
"Captain Colins?" Solis blinked, disbelief and relief flashing across his face.
Ada exhaled in a mixture of surprise and joy. "That's a relief. You're here!"
Colins's sharp eyes scanned the damage before settling on Solis. A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.
"It hasn't even been a month since your Rank D exam," he said. "And you're already wrapped in trouble, huh?"
Solis raised both hands slightly, half-smiling. "It's not like I go around looking for it. Trouble just... finds me."
Colins chuckled. "You better work on that magnet of yours, kid. Trouble's got you on speed dial."
Before more could be said, the side entrance burst open. Vaidya and Razille entered, flanked by a few more Postknights assisting the last of the villagers to safety. Their faces were tight with urgency and fatigue. The moment they saw Colins, they dropped to one knee, heads bowed in respect.
"No need for the customs," Colins said, brushing off the formality. "Time's short. Just tell me — Phill. Is the child safe?"
Vaidya stood up quickly. "Yes. He's with Leader Hamad. He took him somewhere secure before the attack began."
The name struck like a whip.
Colins's expression darkened. "Who did you say?"
"Hamad," Maglina said from behind. "He's one of the volunteers from the village's rebuilding effort. He has been helping us out since Pompom was attacked by the dragon."
Colins's jaw clenched. "Hamad... that name showed up in a recent intelligence report." He looked over his shoulder at one of his men, who gave a subtle nod in confirmation.
"What report?" Razille asked, her voice unsteady.
"There's a terrorist cell operating along the Border Forest," Colins said. "The leader's name... is Hamad. He's been working under false identities. Using public goodwill to mask his movements."
A shiver ran through the group. Maglina gasped and covered her mouth, her eyes brimming with fear.
Razille stepped forward, pale. "You're saying Phill is with... a terrorist?"
Colins didn't answer immediately. The weight of the possibility was enough.
"Possibly," he said at last. "Or with someone pretending to be an ally. Either way, we can't take chances."
He turned to his squad. "Gear up. We move to the Border Forest immediately. The longer we wait, the more ground we lose."
"I'm coming," Solis said without hesitation. "Phill is my friend. I can't just sit here."
Colins turned to him, eyes stern. "No. You're needed here. The village is vulnerable. We don't know if that was the end of the attack or just the beginning. They need you to protect them."
"But—"
Colins stepped forward. "Solis, I know how you feel. I do. But your strength is needed right here. You have people here to defend."
Solis clenched his jaw but didn't argue further. The captain's words, though harsh, were right.
As Colins and his squad prepared for departure, disappearing into the shadows of the village outskirts, Solis stood silently under the stars. The air was colder now. Heavy.
"You're not staying behind, are you?" Razille's voice came from behind him.
Solis turned. "What?"
"I know where the veil is." She stepped closer, her eyes lit with quiet resolve. "If that veil connected to Phill, then we don't have time to wait. Larielle told me about it a long time ago. She gave me the coordinates."
Solis stared at her. "Why didn't you say this earlier?"
Razille looked down. "Because I didn't think it mattered. Until now."
Before Solis could answer, two more figures stepped forward from the nearby archway.
"We heard everything," Vaidya said.
Ada nodded, stepping beside Solis. "You're not going without us."
"This could be a wild chase," Solis said. "We don't know what's out there."
Ada cracked a smile. "That has never stopped us before."
"We will leave tonight," Vaidya added, adjusting the strap of his satchel.
Solis looked at them, heart warmed by their unwavering resolve. This may become more than a rescue.
It is a vow.
Together, they will find Phill.
Together, they will face whatever troubles they will face in their way to that veil.