The night air in Greece was crisp, a stark contrast to the Egyptian desert heat. Shadows curled and twisted as Valerie and Calix stepped through the veil separating the Shadow from the physical world. They emerged into Chloe's domain, a secluded, ancient temple nestled deep within the Greek wilderness. The stone walls bore carvings of forgotten stories, illuminated by the soft glow of enchanted torches. A small waterfall cascaded into a crystal-clear spring, its waters shimmering with unnatural clarity.
Chloe was already waiting. Her sharp, lioness-like purple eyes flickered with recognition as she took in Valerie and Calix, along with the three captured children, Valentina, Kibo, and Abraham. Despite the situation, Chloe carried herself with her usual grace, her golden hair folding elegantly at the ends as she stepped forward.
"You never bring trouble without a purpose. What happened?"
Calix exhaled, rolling his shoulders as if shaking off the weight of their journey. "They were taken. Egyptians. We intercepted them before worse could happen, but we don't know who was behind it. They need care, training, and a safe place."
Chloe's gaze drifted to the three children. Valentina was tense, her dark eyes filled with suspicion. Kibo, though clearly shaken, stood firm, as if trying to prove he wasn't afraid. Abraham, the oldest of the group, kept glancing between his captors-turned-saviors, still uncertain of their intentions.
"You expect me to take them in?" Chloe asked.
"We need them safe while we go back to the crash site. If there's anything left to find, it's there," Valerie said.
Chloe studied the children for a long moment before letting out a sigh, crossing her arms. "They'll stay. But if they get in my way, I won't be gentle."
Valentina stiffened. "We don't need you to be gentle."
Chloe smirked, the hint of a challenge in her gaze. "Good. Then maybe you'll survive this."
Valerie placed a reassuring hand on Kibo's shoulder before stepping back toward Calix. "Keep them safe. We'll return as soon as we can."
Without another word, she and Calix turned, slipping once more into the darkness of the Shadow. Their mission wasn't over… not yet.
As Valerie and Calix vanished into the Shadow, Chloe turned back to the children. They stared at her, tense and uncertain. She could see the remnants of fear in their expressions, the kind that came from being stolen away, from facing the unknown, from feeling powerless.
She had no patience for weakness.
"You're standing in my domain now. Whatever you were before, whatever you thought you knew, it doesn't matter here. If you want to survive, you listen. If you want to be strong, you obey. And if you waste my time, you'll regret it."
Valentina's glare sharpened, her fists clenching at her sides. "We didn't ask for your help."
"And I didn't ask for your attitude, yet here we are."
A brief silence. Then Abraham hesitantly stepped forward, looking between them. His voice was quiet but steady. "What are you going to do with us?"
Chloe studied him, her expression unreadable. "Train you. Teach you. Strengthen you. Whatever comes next, you'll be ready for it."
Kibo, who had remained silent up until now, narrowed his eyes. "And if we refuse?"
Chloe let out a soft laugh, shaking her head. "You're free to walk out of here if you want. See how long you last in a land that isn't yours, with no allies, no direction, and whoever took you still out there."
The weight of her words settled over them like a cold wind. Valentina shifted uneasily, glancing at Abraham, then Kibo. They all understood the truth, whatever had taken them was still a threat. They couldn't go back, and they couldn't move forward without something changing.
"Fine," Valentina said.
Chloe smirked. "Then let's begin."
The Shadow parted once more as Valerie and Calix stepped out onto the battlefield. The remnants of destruction still lay scattered across the sand, charred wreckage, deep scars in the earth where battle had once raged. The air was thick with the scent of ash and blood.
Calix knelt, running his fingers over the sand, feeling the disturbances beneath the surface. "Someone came through here after us."
Valerie's eyes flickered with calculation. "Then we're not the only ones looking for answers."
Around a hidden, still-standing pillar, General Saijew meticulously watched the two figures from afar. "My lord, we have company," he spoke through the intercom.
Neitiqerty Siptah's voice came through the other side, calm but attentive. "What's the matter, General?"
"A woman and a man are searching the area, looking for something."
"A man and a woman, you say?"
"Yes, my lord. Is that an issue?"
"Not inherently. These two emotional creatures are of no concern as long as you and the boy keep your guards up."
General Saijew glanced at Magnolia before signaling for him to follow. Without a word, they moved to another vantage point, watching the two figures continue their search.
Valerie and Calix moved carefully through the remnants of the battlefield, their senses sharp. They could feel the weight of unseen eyes watching them. Calix pressed his palm against the ground again, focusing on the energy still lingering beneath the surface. "We're not alone."
Valerie didn't respond immediately. Instead, she exhaled slowly, her fingers grazing the hilt of her blade. "No, we're not. Stay sharp."
They continued forward, their steps precise. Whatever had happened here, whoever was watching them, the pieces were starting to come together. But whether they were walking into a trap or an opportunity was yet to be seen.
General Saijew crouched low behind the pillar, his sharp eyes scanning the area as Magnolia settled beside him. The boy's breathing was steady, but there was an edge of tension in his posture.
"This isn't a game, boy. Stay focused."
Magnolia gave a slight nod, adjusting his stance. "I know. But who do you think they are? Just scavengers, or something else?"
The general exhaled slowly, keeping his gaze locked on the man and woman moving through the ruins. "Scavengers don't move like that. They're searching for something, maybe even someone."
Magnolia furrowed his brow, shifting slightly to get a better view. "Then do we confront them or keep watching?"
The general shot him a sharp look. "Neither. We gather information first. Impatience is what gets men killed, Magnolia. Remember that."
He frowned but said nothing. He knew better than to argue. Slowly, he crept forward, fingers gripping the rough surface of a fallen column as he moved, keeping his weight balanced. His foot struck against a loose rock, sending it tumbling down the side of the rubble. The sharp clatter echoed through the ruins, cutting through the still air like a knife.
Valerie and Calix immediately halted, eyes snapping toward the source of the noise.
"We're not alone," Calix muttered.
Valerie's grip on her weapon tightened. "No, we're not."
General Saijew cursed under his breath, already repositioning himself. Magnolia tensed, realizing his mistake. The game of shadows had just come to an abrupt end.
The ground beneath him shifted unnaturally. Shadows surged up like living tendrils, coiling around his limbs and yanking him downward. He gasped, struggling, but in an instant, he was pulled through the ground, only to reemerge right into Calix's waiting grip.
A hand clenched around Magnolia's collar, holding him in place as more shadows slithered around his arms and legs, locking him in a restrictive bind. He thrashed instinctively, but the shadows flexed, keeping him firmly in place.
"Got you," Calix said, his grip unyielding.
Magnolia glared up at him, purple eyes burning with frustration. "Let me go!"
Valerie studied him with a scrutinizing gaze, noting his youthful features and the defiant fire in his expression. "Well, well. What do we have here?"
Calix tilted his head. "What's a kid like you doing sneaking around?"
Magnolia clenched his jaw, refusing to speak. The shadows tightened slightly, forcing him to stay still.
"Not gonna talk, huh? That's fine." Valerie's tone was cold, but not entirely cruel. She wasn't eager to hurt a child, but she also wasn't about to let him go without answers.
From a distance, General Saijew remained hidden, his expression unreadable. Magnolia had been caught, but this game was far from over.
As Valerie reached for him, a sudden gust of wind howled through the ruins. Before either she or Calix could react, a blur of motion streaked through the air. In the blink of an eye, Magnolia was no longer in Calix's grip. A powerful force slammed into Calix's wrist, disrupting the shadows binding the boy. Then, Magnolia was whisked away in a blur of motion, reappearing a safe distance from his captors.
Calix's eyes narrowed as he clenched his now-empty hand. Valerie instantly turned, daggers in her gaze as she spotted the general standing a short distance away, Magnolia held firmly behind him.
"Tch. I should've known you Egyptians had a few tricks up your sleeve," Valerie muttered.
"You're fast," Calix admitted, watching Saijew closely.
The general didn't dignify them with a response. He placed a firm hand on Magnolia's shoulder, steadying him. "Magnolia, are you hurt?"
He shook his head quickly, still breathing heavily from the sudden rush of events. "No, sir."
Saijew gave a sharp nod before turning his full attention back to Calix and Valerie. His stance radiated authority. "You two. State your purpose here."
Valerie smirked, tilting her head. "Shouldn't we be asking you the same thing? You're the ones snooping around our crash site."
Calix took a slow step forward, shadows coiling at his feet like restless serpents. "That speed of yours is impressive, General. But tell me, can you keep up if we decide to take this further?"
The air between them grew tense, charged with unspoken challenges. Magnolia tightened his fists, readying himself for whatever came next. This encounter was far from over.