Lily gulped. "I… I sold some items in the shop. The buyer… he was strange. He wore a black robe with silver engravings, had a compass, and he picked the strangest things. But… but look!" She opened her palms, revealing the coins.
Danny stepped forward, his crimson eyes widening as he examined the coins.
"Where did these come from?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
"I just told you," the girl said, her words tumbling out in a rush. "The man… he wore a black robe, and his voice was… strange. He used a glowing compass to choose the items."
"He didn't even flinch. Looked like he was heading toward the bridge just now." She said.
"What?" Others are bewildered at the mention of the bridge.
Seeing their reaction Lily's lips curled into a sly grin, her silver eyes gleaming.
She tilted her head, her tone teasing as she added, "If you hurry, maybe you can rob him. I mean, wouldn't it be nice to have more of these?"
Her enthusiasm for the idea of theft was palpable.
Zach and Danny exchanged uneasy glances, while the two girls beside Danny had a different reaction.
The plump girl, Matilda, crossed her arms and smirked. "Zach, what are we waiting for? Let's go!"
The skinnier girl, Tia, nodded eagerly. "Exactly, Zach. We shouldn't waste time. He's probably halfway to the bridge already!"
But Danny, furrowed his brows and stepped forward. "But Bro, Dad always said stealing is wrong. It's against the law."
Tia scoffed, her expression a mix of amusement and exasperation.
"Danny, are you serious right now? Where do you think you're living?" She gestured dramatically to the dilapidated surroundings.
"This is Vargath—the city of criminals."
"Laws? Rules? They don't mean anything here."
Her voice turned sharper, her words carrying a dangerous edge. "And don't forget, your father—Robert—is the uncrowned king of this city. The strongest man in Vargath. Strength rules here, Danny. That's the real law."
Danny flinched at her words but stayed quiet, unsure how to respond.
Zach's hand landed gently on Danny's head, ruffling his hair in a reassuring gesture. His voice softened, but it held a firm undertone. "Danny, she's right about one thing. This is Vargath. You've got to learn to fight, to stand your ground. That's the only way to survive here."
Danny hesitated but eventually gave a reluctant nod, trusting his brother's judgment.
Zach turned back to Lily, his dark eyes narrowing. "Are you sure he's alone?"
Lily's grin widened, her confidence unshaken. "Of course he is. I saw no one else with him."
With that, Zach's expression hardened, and he motioned for the group to move.
"Then let's go. If the people of Valthar think they can just stroll into our city and get away that easily, it's time we remind them where they really are. If he resists…" Zach clenched his fist, his knuckles cracking ominously. "…we'll teach him the rules of Vargath."
Zach stepped outside, the cool air brushing against his face as he scanned the crumbling walls ahead.
Without hesitation, he leaped onto one, his movements swift and precise. His hands gripped the jagged edges with practiced ease, his strength and agility on full display.
Danny hesitated for a beat, staring at his brother's fearless ascent.
The confidence in Zach's stride seemed like second nature, but for Danny, it was a reminder of his own weakness.
Clenching his fists, he steeled himself.
His smaller hands fumbled as he climbed but he was determined to keep up despite the aching protest of his muscles.
Behind him, Tia and Matilda exchanged a glance.
Tia smirked, her sharp features glinting with mischief.
"Come on, slowpoke," she taunted Matilda before grabbing hold of the wall. Matilda huffed, rolling her eyes, but followed suit, her movements slower but steady.
Meanwhile, after arriving at her shop, Lily watched them farther away with glittering eyes, her excitement palpable.
Her fingers trembled as she rummaged through the cluttered shelves, finally piecing together a jagged assortment of glass shards inside an old bottle.
She held the makeshift bottle tightly, her small hands trembling as she peered through the grimy window with it.
Through the bottle, she saw Zach leap effortlessly onto the rooftop, his figure silhouetted against the dim glow of distant city lights. The others followed, their movements less refined but equally determined.
Lily's heart raced as she whispered to herself, "They're really doing it…"
...
Zach and the others moved like shadows across the rooftops, their breath blending with the wind.
Their eyes scanned the labyrinthine alleys below, searching for the figure cloaked in silver engravings.
Then they saw him—a black-robed figure adorned with intricate silver engravings, standing out amidst the sea of wandering vagrants and shadowy shapes.
He moved purposefully, his stride steady, heading toward the bridge that marked the border of their world and Valthar.
Zach's heart quickened, his sharp eyes narrowing.
"Hurry!" he barked, his voice cutting through the place. Without hesitation, he vaulted from one rooftop to the next, each leap precise and powerful, until the city's chaos gave way to the edge of a small forest.
The others followed, but their movements were less fluid, their breaths labored.
Danny pushed himself harder, his younger frame straining to keep up.
When they finally reached the bridge, Zach was already there, crouched at its edge.
His sharp gaze tracked the figure, now halfway across the bridge.
Danny and the others stumbled to Zach's side, their chests heaving, their earlier determination dimmed by exhaustion.
Zach stood, his expression unreadable as he muttered, "We're too late. He's already across."
Turning on his heel, Zach began to walk away. "Let's go. It's over." His voice carried a finality that made Danny inwardly sigh with relief.
But Matilda and Tia lingered, their eyes fixed on the figure vanishing into the distance.
Matilda's voice broke the silence. "Zach, why can't we just cross the bridge? It's not like we can't catch up."