The echo of the crowd still lingered in the air as David stood, his eyes narrowing. His team, Aleph, was frozen in shock. Ruth was already galloping out of the stadium gates, David's necklace clutched tightly in her hand.
"After her!" David barked, his voice slicing through the air like a whip.
The team scrambled. Jezer yelled at the stablemen to bring horses. David didn't wait. With a simple flick of his fingers, golden strands of light wrapped around the air, condensing into a majestic horse. He mounted it swiftly.
Mary, not one to be left behind, dashed to the fountain and mounted a horse that had been drinking water. "Let's go!" she shouted.
Gideon, Jezer, and Aaron mounted the horses brought by the stable hands and galloped after them.
---
The Chase Begins
Ruth's men, already anticipating pursuit, began toppling carts, spilling logs, and releasing powder bombs into the path behind them. The road became a mess of smoke, fire, and collapsing trees.
Mary wasn't fazed. She formed a bow out of light and conjured glowing arrows, letting them fly one after another. Each shot knocked enemies off their horses. "Clear the path!" she yelled, her eyes fierce.
Aaron and Gideon rode close together, their blades drawn. They slashed through the fallen logs and hacked at enemy riders who dared turn back.
David raced ahead, weaving through the chaos like a phantom. He caught up to Ruth just as she rounded a bend, where a quiet stream shimmered under the morning sun. There, on the dock, stood Zinco — waiting.
---
The Turn at the Dock
Zinco hadn't gone to the game. Mariah had sent him on a simple errand, but something felt strange all morning. He had just returned when Ruth snatched him onto her horse in a fluid motion and rode across the stream. Two men in black veils followed close behind.
"Zinco!" David shouted, veering toward the dock. Mary's eyes widened as she saw the boy's confusion.
"Sister Ruth, what's happening? Why are we running?" Zinco asked, holding tightly to her, his voice unsure.
"You're going to help me, little brother," Ruth said softly, not meeting his eyes.
Zinco looked over her shoulder, spotting Mary galloping fast. "Help you do what?"
She didn't reply.
The moment Ruth grabbed Zinco, lifting him onto her horse, Mary screamed, "Zinco! Get down—she's dangerous!"
Zinco hesitated, his young face tightening in panic. "Dangerous? It's Ruth—she's our sister… she used to care for me. Why would she—?"
---
As the chase intensified, Mary's horse nearly collided with Ruth's. Without hesitation, Mary leaned over and yanked Zinco off, both of them tumbling into the tall grass. Zinco rolled, scraping his arms, stunned.
A shout tore through the forest—David!
David crashed into Ruth's horse, knocking her and her mount sideways. He rolled to his feet, sword now glowing with a faint blue edge.
"I warned you," he said, voice cold.
Ruth flipped up, landing gracefully. She tossed a handful of silver darts toward David, forcing him to spin and dodge. One dart grazed his arm, sending a jolt of energy through his nerves—poison.
The two veiled men flanked David. The first lunged; David parried, spun low, and sliced the man's knee. The attacker crumpled. The second struck from behind, but David back-kicked him into a tree.
Meanwhile, the rest of Aleph fought the remaining veiled soldiers. Aaron drove his spear through one's chest, only to be tackled by another. He rolled, grabbed the attacker's wrist, and snapped it, reclaiming his weapon.
Gideon fought beside Jezer, their blades weaving together in practiced coordination.
"You take high, I take low!" Jezer shouted.
Gideon vaulted off his horse and over Jezer's shoulders, coming down with both blades into an enemy's chest. Jezer swept low, slicing through two more legs.
Zinco, watching all this, stood frozen behind a fallen log.
"Fight back… Fight back… but how?" he whispered. His hands trembled.
Back at the center of the clash, Ruth shouted, "Step back or the boy dies!"
She moved to where was Zinco was, grabbed him from behind, one blade at his throat, another hidden behind his ribs.
The team halted. Mary aimed her bow, hands shaking.
"Let him go!" she screamed.
"Or what?" Ruth smirked. "I know what he is. I need him. He is the key. Key to waking the Founders. Key to destroying the control they hold over us."
As she held on tightly to Zinco, she smiled and laughed
"You wouldn't dare hit me with him this close."
Zinco's eyes widened. "Need me? Why? What's going on?"
But Ruth didn't respond.
A tense silence filled the forest. Everyone waited, breaths held.
Then—a flicker of movement behind Ruth.
A shadow with no face, darker than night, lunged from the woods. Silent. Swift.
It struck Ruth in the back, sending her tumbling forward. She shrieked as her blades flew from her hands. Zinco stumbled free, landing on his feet. Dusting off, he stepped toward the team.
"Sorry, Sister," he said quietly. The faceless shadow stepped beside him, then melted into his body like smoke.
Zinco blinked, his eyes glowing faintly.
David and the rest of team Aleph stood shocked as the stared at Zinco.
Jezer stared "How... did you do that?"
Zinco didn't reply. He just looked out into the trees, where Ruth and her men lay motionless.
The battle was over.
Team Aleph slowly regrouped, bruised and panting. Zinco was safe, but nothing felt like a victory.
David retrieved his necklace from Ruth's pocket. He looked at Zinco, eyes still glowing faintly.
"You're stronger than you think."
Zinco looked away, uncertain.
Mary stepped forward. "Why did she want you, Zinco?"
"I don't know… but I think it has something to do with what I'm becoming."
They all stood in silence, the forest still humming with the echoes of the fight.
David then broke the slience "Ok, it's time to tie them up".