Zack narrowed his eyes, arms crossed, his tone firm but not hostile. "You two… you're sharp. Not many can sense us like that. Impressive."
Beside him, Sara added, "But judging by your faces, you're new here. You don't know how things work in this rotten capital. You three should leave while you still can."
Lili stepped forward, arms crossed, a sly grin on her lips. "That's cute and all, but before you walk away—mind telling us why you were following us in the first place?"
Zack answered without hesitation. "We wanted to make sure the girl was safe. We've seen too many children disappear in this district. We had to confirm if she was truly in good hands."
Sara nodded. "Seems like she was. So thanks… but this city devours good people. Leave before it devours you."
As the two turned to go, Leo took a step forward. "Wait," he said calmly. "If you don't mind… can I know your names?"
Sara stopped, barely glancing back. "It's none of your business."
"Why?" Leo asked simply.
Zack frowned. "Why do you even care?"
Leo stared at them, unblinking. "Because there's something… off about you. I can feel it."
Zack clenched his fist. "Oh really?" he said, stepping closer. "We don't owe you anything. But fine—you want to know? We're part of the Capital Rebellion. That enough for you?"
"So you're against the capital," Leo said, voice still calm.
Sara met his eyes. "Yes. And if you're with the nobles, say it now."
Leo shook his head. "No, I'm not. But whether you admit it or not… your group is too weak. Just one of the royal heroes—Kael—could wipe you out by himself."
That struck a nerve.
Sara's eyes flared with rage. "You don't need to remind us. We know what he's capable of. But we'll take him down. We don't need some outsider telling us what we already know. Especially not someone who couldn't even save a girl from three thugs!"
There was a moment of silence.
Then—
"Pffft—" Lili broke into laughter.
Leo joined in, shaking his head and patting Lili's back. "They called us weak," he chuckled.
Even Lyra struggled to hold back a laugh, one hand covering her mouth, shoulders shaking.
Zack and Sara blinked, confused… then annoyed.
"What's so funny?" Zack growled. "What do you think you are, huh? You're just regular humans—probably barely strong enough to hold your ground here!"
Leo grinned, wiping a tear from the corner of his eye. His tone turned cold.
"Is that so?"
In the blink of an eye, Leo vanished.
Zack's instincts flared. "Where did he go?!"
Sara spun around, drawing an arrow in panic. "I—I don't see him!"
Before her words finished, a voice echoed just behind them—calm, sharp, and chilling.
"Is that all you've got?"
Sara's heart dropped. Both she and Zack whirled around, only to see Leo standing casually a few steps behind them—unarmed, relaxed… and completely unreadable.
Sara stumbled back. "N-No… no, this is a trap. They're with the capital. They lured us here!"
Zack's eyes narrowed. "But when…? When did he get behind us?"
"Seems like you're turning against me now," Leo said, his voice quiet but suffocating. "Funny. I never said I was your enemy. You're the ones who came at me first."
He took a single step forward, the sound of his boot cracking against the ground louder than it should have been.
"I'm just proving something. That your rebellion… isn't weak—it's too weak."
That was the last straw.
Zack let out a furious yell and charged. His fists moved in a flurry of strikes—jabs, sweeps, spinning kicks—all laced with advanced martial technique. Sara joined in from the side, launching arrow after flaming arrow, each one empowered with her magic, burning the air as they flew.
But none of it mattered.
The arrows shattered in the air before reaching Leo, crumbling into ash like they struck an invisible wall. And Zack—his punches never connected. Leo swayed, shifted, and with just two hands, he countered every move, effortlessly deflecting each attack like a seasoned master toying with a child.
He wasn't even trying.
Then, in a moment too fast to see, Leo's palm slipped past Zack's guard and struck him lightly on the side of the neck.
Zack's eyes widened—and then he collapsed.
Leo caught him gently, laying him on the ground as if tucking a brother into bed. "Sleep. You fought well."
Sara stood frozen in place. Her bow trembled in her hands.
"S-Zack…?" she whispered. "Zack!!"
She panicked and turned to run, only to find Leo standing before her again—blocking the path.
No sound. No movement. Just him… already there.
Sara's legs gave out. She fell to the ground, gasping for air, her bow slipping from her fingers.
Is this it? she thought. Is this how I die?
Leo didn't move. He didn't raise a hand or speak a threat.
And that silence was worse than any attack.
Suddenly, Leo spoke in a soft voice, "Hey, why are you so scared? I'm not going to kill either of you. Why would you think that?"
Sara, still shaken, looked up at him in disbelief. "H-How did you know… what I was thinking?"
Leo tilted his head with a playful grin. "Mmm… telekinesis?"
Sara's eyes widened. "What?! That's—impossible! Yeah, I know people can use different types of magic, but no one can master them all. And… wait. I didn't even sense you using energy."
Leo gave a casual shrug. "Is that so?"
Sara frowned, trying to process what she just witnessed. "You're not just a telekinesis learner… You're a user. A real one. Learners have to channel energy to move things. You? You didn't use anything. It was like… breathing to you."
Leo thought to himself, I can't tell her I have infinite mana and aura… and that I can manipulate both but it's only used for my own but still.
So instead, he gave a sheepish smile and replied, "Maybe your senses were off."
Sara narrowed her eyes but didn't push further. "Whatever. If you didn't come here to kill us, then what do you want?"
Just then, Lili appeared beside her, offering a hand. "We're not enemies," she said softly.
Sara hesitated… then took her hand and stood up.
Leo stepped forward. "If you're fighting against the capital… then I'm with you. I've got my reasons, just like you. You mentioned you have a group—can you take us to your base?"
Sara crossed her arms, still wary. "Why should I trust you?"
Leo smiled calmly. "Do you have another choice?"
She looked at the unconscious Zack, then back at the trio in front of her—Leo, Lyra, and Lili. She could feel their strength. And something deeper. They weren't ordinary.
Sara sighed. "Fine… Follow me."
Leo smiled. "Great. I'm Leo."
"I'm Lyra. I'm an elf," Lyra added cheerfully.
Lili waved lazily. "I'm Lili. Just Lili."
Leo shot her a knowing glance. He understood she didn't want to reveal she was a witch—and Lyra, picking up on it, said nothing either.
Sara nodded slowly. "Okay… but can one of you help me carry Zack?"
"I got him," Leo said.
He casually raised a hand—and Zack's unconscious body lifted gently into the air, hovering with perfect balance.
Sara gasped. "You're using gravity manipulation?! Damn… you've got some really nice skills."
Leo chuckled. "Yeah, I've picked up a few things."
And with that, the group began walking toward the hidden rebel base—united not by trust yet, but by the quiet, dangerous fire of a common enemy.
As they all sat around the table, the air still tense with the weight of what had just happened, Leo leaned forward slightly and asked, "So… what's your plan, Balzock?"
The old man scratched his beard and replied with a calm chuckle, "Don't rush, boy. I'll tell you… but before that, I want to know something."
He locked eyes with Leo. "What are your intentions against the capital?"
Leo's expression turned grim. His voice was low, but firm. "I want to kill Kael. And every noble in the capital who stands behind him."
Murmurs stirred among the rebels.
Leo continued, his eyes darkening, "They took everything from me. My parents are no longer in this world because of them. Kael… he was my father's friend. And still—he killed both my father and my mother. They even burned my village to the ground."
Balzock's eyes narrowed in recognition. "Wait… that village—eight years ago… the one known as the resting place for retired adventurers?"
Leo nodded slowly. "Yeah. That was my home."
Balzock stared at him for a moment, then asked cautiously, "Was your father's name… Caden Vallis?"
Leo's eyes flickered. "How do you know that name?"
Sara's eyes widened in shock. "Wait—Caden Vallis? The Phantom Blade? That was your dad?!"
Leo looked at her, quiet for a moment. Then he said, "Yes. But… how do you all know about him?"
Zack laughed, a bit embarrassed, rubbing his reddening cheeks. "He was a damn legend. My face would go red just hearing his name. We grew up admiring him."
Leo gave a faint, melancholic smile. "Oh… nice to know that."
Balzock chuckled. "I was older than him by a few years, but I still remember the first time I saw him fight. I got surrounded once—and your father, a young adventurer back then, cut them all down before I even noticed. That day I thought, 'Damn… I want to be like him. A man who protects others.'"
Leo's expression softened, pride and pain swirling in his gaze. "I see… Then tell me your plan, Balzock."
The old man leaned back, folding his arms. "Fine. But this isn't just for your ears."
He stood and called out, "Everyone, come closer. We've got a war to plan."
The rebels who had been keeping their distance slowly approached. They were already shaken by the revelation of Leo's identity—son of Caden Vallis—and his overwhelming strength.
Balzock began, voice loud and clear, "One week from now, Hero Kael will host a public execution in the capital. Anyone who hasn't paid the king's new 'life tax'—four thousand gold coins—will be executed."
Gasps and angry mutters spread through the crowd.
"That's our chance," Balzock continued. "While everyone's attention is on the execution, we strike. Leo, Lili, Zack, Sara, Sheron, and I will confront Kael directly."
He nodded to the giant swordsman—Sheron—who stood silently beside him, arms crossed.
"We'll take three healers and two mages for support. The rest of our forces will infiltrate the castle to rescue as many prisoners as we can. That's the plan."
But then Leo raised his hand. "Wait… Can you change my role in that plan?"
Balzock frowned. "Why?"
Leo looked serious. "I didn't tell you everything. When my village was destroyed, I saw my parents' corpses… but my little sister's body wasn't there."
A hush fell across the group.
"There's a slim chance," Leo said, "that she's still alive… and if she is, she might be in the castle. Along with Lyra's mother."
Balzock was silent, thinking deeply. Then he nodded. "Fine. In that case, Zama and Harumi will take your place in the frontline team. But—"
Leo interrupted, voice sharp. "No. Everyone else fights Kael. I'll go into the castle alone. I can handle the guards by myself."
"No," Lyra said, stepping forward. "I'm going too. My mother is in there—I have to go."
Leo turned to her gently. "Lyra… trust me."
She shook her head, eyes starting to water. "Don't ask me that. I need to go—"
Leo took her hand in his, firm but kind. "I promise you. No matter what… I'll bring your mother back. Safe."
Tears shimmered in Lyra's eyes, but she nodded slowly, gripping his hand. "Then promise me."
"I promise," Leo whispered.
Lyra smiled softly, wiping her eyes.
Balzock nodded, looking at the two with approval. "Good. Now let's get back to the plan."
Lili stepped up beside him, helping to finalize the remaining positions and tactics. She adjusted the magical support routes, suggested backup squads, and corrected weak points in the original formation.
As they planned, Leo sat quietly, eyes distant.
Inside his heart, a voice echoed softly.
"I'm coming for you, Lia… just wait a little longer."
The faint sound of footsteps echoes.