The forest stretched out endlessly before them, a labyrinth of trees and shadows. The group trudged on, the silence only broken by the occasional rustle of leaves beneath them.
Sara dragged her feet, her voice a mix of exhaustion and complaint. "Ugh, I'm so tired."
Without missing a beat, Sam swooped in, lifting her effortlessly into his arms.
Sara's eyes widened in surprise, her cheeks flushing. "What are you doing?"
Sam grinned down at her, his tone playful yet firm. "You're tired, and as your boyfriend, it's my job to take care of you."
Sara's face turned a deeper shade of red, a mixture of surprise and embarrassment flickering in her eyes. "I didn't mean you had to carry me!"
Sam chuckled, continuing forward with her in his arms. "Too late for that."
Mark, walking ahead, abruptly held up a hand. "Shhh. Quiet."
The group immediately fell silent as distant voices floated toward them, carried by the breeze.
Voice 1: "Hey, did you hear about Lukas from the Gale family?"
Voice 2: "Of course. He was this close to becoming the next captain. Dude's a legend."
Voice 1: "Such a waste though. I heard he up and vanished."
Alan's eyes narrowed. "That's impossible."
Sam raised an eyebrow. "You know him?"
Alan's expression hardened. "Better than anyone. He's the one I hate most in this world... and, unfortunately, the second hottest guy in the Shade Society."
Sam nearly stumbled. "Wait... second hottest?"
Sara groaned, exasperated, trying to wriggle out of Sam's arms. "Seriously, can you two stop? And Mark, why are we even hiding?"
Mark shrugged, a playful smirk tugging at his lips. "No real reason. It just adds a certain... dramatic flair. Essential in any good action story, don't you think?"
Sam and Alan exchanged a look, then nodded in agreement. "Absolutely."
Sara threw her hands up in defeat. "What are you even talking about?"
Mark's grin faded, his tone suddenly serious. "Doesn't matter. The only thing that matters is that we're going to find Lukas."
Sam's brow furrowed. "Why?"
Mark's face turned deadpan. "Did you forget? We're broke. If we find Lukas, the Gale family will shower us with gold."
Sam sighed, rubbing his temples. "Okay, but why the hell does every noble kid around here run away?"
Alan shot him a sidelong glance. "Don't look at me. I had my reasons, and you know them. But Lukas? He was spoiled rotten, one of the strongest in his family. His relationship with them was great. None of this makes any sense."
[Deep in the Forest]
A campfire flickered in the heart of the forest, casting eerie shadows on the group huddled around it. Among them sat a figure, hooded and masked, silent and still.
One of the men around the fire pointed at the hooded figure, sneering. "Hey, newbie. You did good today."
The figure didn't respond, remaining as still as a statue.
The man's sneer deepened. "Too much attitude ain't good for business, you know? End of the day, you're just a thief like the rest of us."
Laughter erupted from the group, the firelight dancing in their mocking eyes.
The hooded figure's voice cut through the laughter, cold and sharp. "Wrong."
The laughter died instantly, replaced by tense silence.
The figure rose slowly, his hand resting on the hilt of a sword. "Is it theft if I take what was never yours, only to return it to its rightful place?"
The leader of the group narrowed his eyes, his hand inching toward his own weapon. "Kid, don't even think about it."
The figure lifted his head, pulling back his hood and removing his mask in one fluid motion. "Thinking about it? I live for it."
The firelight revealed Lukas's face, his eyes gleaming with a terrifying resolve.
The leader's face drained of color. "It's... it's Lukas... Run!"
But it was too late.
The leader lunged at Lukas, sword raised, but Lukas moved like a shadow, sidestepping the attack and bringing his blade down in a swift, deadly arc. The leader's head hit the ground with a dull thud, his body crumpling beside it.
Lukas stood over the fallen leader, his voice low and menacing. "One down."
He turned his gaze to the remaining five men, his eyes burning with cold fury. "Five left."
The men trembled, their bravado evaporating as they realized the monster they had unwittingly invited into their midst.