Roy moved swiftly in the direction where Kevin had gone, his muscles coiled and released with immense force, propelled him onto the nearby rooftops, leaving cracks on the stone floor beneath him. The night was cold, but Roy's fury kept him burning. As he landed silently on a rooftop, his sharp eyes caught sight of Kevin coming back towards him, leaping gracefully from one roof to another.
Kevin gave him a curt nod, a determined expression on his face. "It's done," he said, his voice steady. Roy returned the nod. "Mine too," he replied simply, though his eyes spoke volumes—filled with an intense resolve.
They both knew what came next. "Let's go back to Lila," Roy said. "The children need to be taken to safety." They made their way back through the streets, their movements silent and precise. They approached the safe house where Lila was waiting with the children. Roy stepped inside, his expression softening slightly when he saw Lila comforting the frightened kids.
"Are they okay?" Kevin asked, his senses scanning the group. Lila nodded, her face showing exhaustion but also relief. "They're fine, but we need to get them out of here," she said. Roy gestured towards the door. "Kevin and I think his aunt would be willing to take them in. It's the safest place for now."
Lila gathered the children, her voice gentle as she reassured them. Roy and Kevin led the way, keeping watch as they escorted the children through the dark streets. They moved quickly but cautiously, avoiding any patrols or wandering eyes. Kevin's aunt lived on the outskirts of the city, in a modest home, nestled in a quiet area surrounded by tall trees. When they finally arrived, Kevin knocked on the door, and his aunt opened it, her eyes widening in surprise at the sight of the children.
She searched the small group, her gaze frantic as she realized Maya wasn't among them. Tears welled in her eyes, and she turned to Kevin, her voice breaking. "Where's Maya? What happened to her?" Kevin took a deep breath, his expression somber. "It's a long story, Auntie. Maya's been taken to a place called the Shadow Enclave. We're going to get her back, but we need your help to keep the others safe.""
"Please, come in," she said, her voice trembling as she ushered everyone inside. The children huddled together, their eyes wide with a mixture of fear and curiosity. Kevin's aunt knelt down, her voice soothing as she spoke to them. "You're safe here. No one will hurt you.""
Roy and Kevin exchanged a glance before turning to Lila. "We need you with us," Roy said. "Once we find the children, it's your job to get them out of there and bring them back to Kevin's aunt." Lila nodded, her expression resolute. "I'll get them out safely," she promised.
Roy looked at Kevin, his jaw set. "It's time," he said, and Kevin nodded in agreement. The three of them left the home, their pace steady but controlled. They couldn't run at their usual incredible speed, as Lila was with them. Though she was a cultivator, she was at the 6th stage of Bone Forging—strong, but not fast enough to keep up with Roy and Kevin if they moved at full speed. Instead, they moved together, their footsteps fading into the night as they made their way towards the Shadow Enclave.
Leaving the city had been no easy task—they had navigated through the streets and avoided every patrol by timing their movements perfectly, using the cover of night to their advantage. At one point, Roy picked Lila up, his powerful legs bulging as he jumped onto the wall surrounding the city. The wall was high, nearly impossible for most people to scale, but Roy's strength made it seem effortless. Lila gasped in shock as they landed, her eyes wide as she realized the extent of Roy's power. Kevin quickly followed, landing beside them with the same ease. Roy put Lila down, and she steadied herself, still in awe of what she'd just experienced.
After clearing the city, Roy, Kevin, and Lila made their way through the dense forest that lay between them and the Shadow Enclave. The journey was slow but necessary—they couldn't afford to be seen or heard. They used the cover of the tall trees and the darkness of the night to conceal their approach. Eventually, the fortress loomed ahead, a dark silhouette against the starlit sky. The Shadow Enclave was an imposing structure, surrounded by towering stone walls that seemed to stretch endlessly into the night sky. The walls were made of rough, dark stone, and ivy crept up their surface, giving the fortress an ancient and foreboding appearance. Sharp spikes protruded from the top of the walls, deterring any attempt to scale them.
Massive iron gates marked the main entrance, guarded by heavily armed sentries. Roy could see the sentries patrolling the outer walls, their movements methodical and precise. Torches lined the walls, their flickering light casting eerie shadows across the courtyard. The fortress itself was built in multiple layers, with towers rising from different corners, providing vantage points for archers and sentries to keep watch over the surrounding forest.
The outer courtyard was lined with barracks and small outbuildings, which Roy inferred were used by the guards for rest and storage. He could see the faint glow of small fires flickering beyond the wall, and he imagined guards gathered around them, their voices likely kept low and alert.
Roy knew they couldn't afford any mistakes—one wrong move, and the entire enclave would be alerted. The atmosphere was tense, and the air was filled with a sense of impending danger. They would have to navigate through the layers of defenses without raising any alarms if they hoped to rescue Maya and the other children.
They approached the hidden entrance Elias had told them about—a small, almost invisible door built into the side of the stone wall. Roy inspected it, his fingers brushing against the edges, feeling for any traps. After a moment, he nodded to Kevin, and they carefully opened the door, slipping inside.
The passageway was narrow and dark, the air damp and musty. As they moved closer to the main parts of the fortress, however, the lighting improved, with more torches properly illuminating the way. Roy led the way, his senses heightened as they moved deeper into the underground tunnels. The walls were lined with old, rusted torches, their flames flickering weakly. Roy's eyes scanned the shadows, every nerve in his body on high alert.
Suddenly, Kevin raised a hand, signaling for Roy to stop. He pointed ahead, where a faint glimmer of a tripwire was barely visible in the dim light. Roy nodded, carefully stepping over it, followed by Kevin. Roy had sensed the tripwire as well and was about to signal Kevin, but Kevin had already noticed it first. They continued through the maze of tunnels, avoiding traps and staying as silent as possible.
As they neared the exit of the tunnel, Roy could hear voices—muffled and distant, but growing closer. He signaled to Kevin, and they both pressed themselves against the wall, listening. The voices belonged to a group of guards, their footsteps echoing down the corridor.
"...I heard they're bringing in more kids," one of the guards said, his voice filled with disdain. "What are they doing with them, anyway?"
"Don't ask questions," another guard replied sharply. "You know what happens to those who get too curious."
Roy's jaw clenched, his anger simmering beneath the surface. He exchanged a glance with Kevin, who gave a slight nod. As the guards approached, Roy and Kevin moved swiftly, striking with precision. The guards had no time to react before they were silenced, their bodies crumpling to the ground.
Roy and Kevin emerged from the tunnel into the main chamber of the Shadow Enclave. The room was large, properly lit with numerous torches mounted along the walls, casting a bright glow across the entire space. The ample lighting made it easy to see every corner of the room. Roy's eyes scanned the area, and he spotted a door on the far side of the room, which led deeper into the fortress. He signaled to Kevin, and the two moved cautiously towards it. They opened the door, revealing a long corridor that stretched ahead, well-lit with torches along the walls. Following the directions Elias had given them, they made their way down the corridor, staying alert for any guards.
At the end of the corridor, they found a heavily guarded room with an iron-barred jail inside. Roy and Kevin exchanged a glance, nodding at each other as they prepared to take down the guards. They moved swiftly, taking the guards by surprise and dispatching them with efficiency. Once the guards were down, Roy approached the jail and saw the children inside, their faces pale with fear, just as Elias had described. Among them was Maya—her eyes wide with terror, but hope flickered in her gaze when she saw Roy and Kevin.
Roy gestured for Kevin to cover him as he moved towards the children. "It's okay," he whispered, his voice gentle. "We're here to get you out." The children nodded, their fear slowly giving way to a glimmer of hope.
Roy's eyes softened as he spotted Maya among the children. He remembered her portrait hanging in Kevin's aunt's house—her bright smile and sparkling eyes in the painting were now replaced with fear and exhaustion, a stark contrast that fueled Roy's determination even more. She looked at Kevin, her eyes widening with a mix of relief and tears. "Kevin!" she whispered, her voice trembling. Kevin moved closer, kneeling in front of her. "Maya, we're here now," he said, his voice filled with emotion. He reached out, gently touching her shoulder. "I promise, we'll get you out of here and you'll be safe."
Maya's tears began to fall, and she threw her arms around Kevin, holding him tightly. Kevin closed his eyes for a moment, his expression a mixture of pain and determination. "I won't let anything happen to you," he whispered. After a moment, he gently pulled away. "We need to go, Maya. Lila will take you to safety."
Roy turned to Lila, who had followed them into the chamber. "This is it, Lila. Take them back to Kevin's aunt as fast as you can. Make sure they get there safely," he said.
Lila nodded, her eyes meeting Roy's. "Be careful," she said, her voice filled with concern.
Roy and Kevin positioned themselves near the entrance, keeping their eyes and ears alert for any signs of danger. They guarded the path, ensuring that no one would follow Lila and the children as they made their way out. Kevin's gaze flickered to the children, watching as Lila began leading them towards the corridor.
Every step was deliberate, with Roy and Kevin checking each turn before advancing. Lila led the children swiftly, her eyes constantly darting back to ensure Roy and Kevin were covering them. When they finally reached the exit, Lila glanced back, her eyes momentarily searching for Roy's reassurance. Roy gave her an encouraging nod. "Go," he mouthed, his expression resolute.
Lila nodded once more, her face set in determination as she led the children through the exit, disappearing from view.
Roy turned back to Kevin. "Let's finish this," he said, his voice cold with determination.