*WHOOSH!*
Three men suddenly appeared around Caleb, forming a tight triangle. Without hesitation, they cast a spell, summoning binding chains that coiled around him like serpents. The chains tightened as the knights pulled them taut, their intent unmistakable.
"Caleb?" Jess whispered, her voice laced with confusion. She froze, unsure of what to do. While she was curious, she knew better than to interfere with the knights' affairs.
"Stay put," Caleb instructed, his tone calm and unshaken. He didn't bother glancing back at her.
Even as the chains restrained him, there wasn't a trace of panic in his demeanour. His expression remained composed, his presence unnervingly steady.
Around them, the crowd stirred. Spectators edged away, unsure of what might unfold, yet they lingered nearby, eager to witness the spectacle.
No one seemed to know why the man was being arrested, but one detail stood out: his utter lack of presence.
Jess had wondered about it before. When she'd asked, Caleb simply said he used a spell to conceal himself.
"You're not even going to resist?" a voice called out.
The speaker stepped into view—the knight Caleb had spoken to earlier. He was a tall, well-built man, his dark hair streaked with white, his auburn eyes sharp and unwavering.
The man was clad in a knight's uniform rather than armour and his sword still hung at his side, giving a silent promise of authority and power.
When he received word of the fugitive's presence, he wasted no time deploying his men to track Caleb's movements and corner him.
That was how he knew to wait for Caleb here. But the realization that Caleb had seen through their surveillance without even directly confronting them confirmed one thing—this man was no ordinary target.
'He might be as dangerous as the reports claim,' The man mused silently, his expression unreadable.
[Name: Fred Seylar]
[Rank: Knight Commander]
Caleb glanced at the information briefly but chose not to reveal any indication that he could appraise others. For now, he preferred to keep his abilities under wraps.
"Why would I resist?" Caleb replied with a nonchalant shrug. "I knew this was coming and still walked in here. Besides, you've already surrounded the city. Running would've been pointless."
Fred narrowed his eyes, his auburn gaze scrutinizing Caleb's every move. He didn't like how calm and self-assured the man seemed despite being restrained.
'His confidence might be misplaced,' Fred thought, though aloud, he said, "Hm. You're a strange one."
Taking a step closer, Fred locked eyes with Caleb, his voice cold and deliberate. "For the crime of harming a noble of this kingdom, you are hereby under arrest."
A collective gasp rippled through the crowd. The accusation clarified the situation for the spectators, who had been in the dark until now.
Harming a noble was a grave offence, often punishable by death, depending on the severity of the act.
Caleb raised an eyebrow, his calm demeanour unshaken. "And if I refuse to go with you?"
Fred's jaw tightened, but before he could respond, Caleb added with a slight smirk, "Tell me, Commander, do you really believe any sane man would harm one of your precious nobles without a reason? What do you think they might've done to deserve it?"
"Be that as it may, the truth will come to light," Fred said firmly, showing no reaction to Caleb's words. He gestured subtly, and his men responded by pulling the chains tighter.
Caleb winced slightly, the strain finally eliciting a small reaction. Fred noticed but didn't gloat. Instead, he leaned in, his voice dropping to a low, menacing tone. "And should you refuse…"
The chains creaked ominously as they tightened further, cutting into Caleb's movements. Fred offered a faint smile, one devoid of humour, as he stepped past.
"Take him." He instructed.
"Yes, sir!"
The three knights responded sharply before moving in to complete their task. The chains coiled further around Caleb, binding him from the waist to his shoulders in unyielding steel.
Each link shimmered faintly and was meant to suppress magic, ensuring no easy escape.
At least, that was what they believed.
'I could break these chains without much effort,' Caleb mused as he allowed himself to be pushed forward. 'But that would only make things worse.'
Jess watched silently, her expression darkening with worry as Caleb was escorted out of the guild. When he reached the entrance, their eyes briefly met. She saw his lips move, forming a simple, silent message.
"Don't interfere."
Her frown deepened, but she obeyed, standing rooted in place as the knights led him away.
With that, Caleb was escorted away, leaving the once lively guild in stunned silence. The air of excitement and chatter dissipated, replaced by an uneasy tension that hung over the remaining adventurers.
"Did anyone recognize that guy?" one of them finally asked, breaking the silence.
"We were all here when they walked in, right? If anyone knows him, it'd be Jess and her teamma—"
The adventurers turned toward Jess, expecting answers, but were met with her visibly perplexed expression. What caught their attention even more was the absence of several familiar faces around her.
"Uh… Jess?"
Their unease grew. Something was clearly wrong, but they couldn't quite piece it together.
Jess ignored their questioning stares, her thoughts consumed by Caleb's parting words.
She glanced briefly toward the direction the knights had taken him before turning away and heading back inside the guild.
'He told me not to interfere, and that's exactly what I'll do—for now,' she thought.
But her resolve didn't mean she was done. She intended to keep an eye on the trial and learn more about the situation. First, however, she needed to complete her current mission and return home.
Without addressing the murmurs around her, Jess made her way to the counter, brushing off the adventurers' prying questions.
Their attention shifted to Max and Selene, the only two of Jess's teammates present.
Their downcast expressions and the noticeable absence of their other companions spoke volumes.
"You don't think...?" someone muttered, leaving the sentence unfinished. The others exchanged uneasy glances, the implication clear to everyone.
"Probably best to leave them alone for now," another adventurer suggested.
Though curiosity buzzed among the crowd, most were perceptive enough to understand it wasn't the right time to press for answers.
Once Jess finished her explanation to the guild worker at the counter, she gave a subtle nod to Max and Selene.
Without another word, the three left the guild together, leaving the other adventurers to wonder what had truly transpired.
...…
Caleb was transported to the Knight's garrison in a reinforced carriage, surrounded by tight security.
Despite the magical bindings that restricted his movements, the knights didn't let their guard down for even a moment.
The man was an enigma, shrouded in too many mysteries. His calm demeanour only heightened their unease. They would be fools to underestimate him.
Inside the carriage, Caleb's gaze shifted to the knights seated across from him. "So, how's this going to play out?" he asked casually. "Will I get a fair trial, or are you planning to prosecute me without a chance to defend myself?"
The knights remained silent, their expressions unreadable. It was as if they hadn't even heard him.
Caleb chuckled softly, shaking his head as he turned his attention to the scenery outside the window.
'Hopefully, they don't try to silence me,' he thought, his expression growing serious. 'If they do, things will get messy.'
He had anticipated some form of retaliation when he decided to target the Baron. But while he was prepared for the consequences, dying for it had never been part of the plan.
His plan in all honesty was a simple one.