Zabo Kiakor stood on the rooftop of a sleek, high-rise building, surveying the sprawling expanse of Tetra City below. The vast jungle of towering skyscrapers, modern in design, created with steel and glass, created an urban maze. A maze that he knew like the back of his hand. With the sun hanging low in the sky, the intricate network of streets and alleys bathed in a golden hue. Yet Zabo’s wasn’t up in such a high vantage point for the scenery.

People were up to no good in his city. Dangerous people.

The Voltaires were running amok in the name of their guild. Rumors of their presence had spread like wildfire, and Zabo made it his business to know everything that had happened in this city. A summer breeze blew against his bronze skin, as he perched himself at the very top of a gargoyle, shaped like a dragon, balancing on it using the tips of his toes. His hair, a crown of dreadlocks, shaved close on the sides and gathered into a topknot that cascaded across his forehead, billowed in the wind.

Zabo readjusted his clothing, tattered cream colored robes, tied with brown rope, readying himself for his next move, he could see them, men in long, blue coats with white trimmings, moving in and out of houses, their presence an unwelcome intrusion. The sight made his blood boil. He knew who they were, of course, their uniform a clear sign, members of Zeus, one of the top five guilds in Havana, and known enforcers for the Voltaires. These weren’t just random thugs; they were well-trained and dangerous.

He had no personal vendetta against the nobles of Havana, the powerful Voltaires among them. But the stories of his people’s suffering since the nobles’ arrival had etched themselves into his soul. The oppression, the exploitation, generations of it had left a mark on him, a mark that wouldn’t fade, no matter how much time passed. The nobles lived in their ivory towers, untouched by the struggles of those below. Zabo, however, lived in the reality of the backwaters of Tetra City, where every day was a struggle to survive.

These men were clearly on an errand for the great Voltaire family, otherwise why ransack the city? Surely there was a dungeon or something else, more important. They were looking for something. What? Zabo wasn’t sure yet. To his side lay his satchel, tied around his shoulder. From it, he pulled out his pair of binoculars. Adjusting the focus, he zeroed in on one of the men as he harassed an older woman. The man was holding a photograph, flashing it in the faces of the people he accosted.

He focused the binoculars on the photograph, and his breath hitched. It was a picture of a little girl, her smile wide, her short hair a striking shade of cyan. Zabo’s mind raced. A missing child? But why would Zeus be interested in something like that? It didn’t add up. “Looking for someone, eh?” Zabo muttered to himself, a smirk playing on his lips. “This just got a whole lot more interesting.”

Stuffing the binoculars into his bag, he took a deep breath. He stood on top of the gargoyle, extending to his fairly tall stature. He took a single step right towards the edge of the gargoyle and threw himself off, diving headfirst. As he plummeted down, he landed effortlessly on the roof of another smaller skyscraper, rolling, killing of any lethal momentum. Using his hands, he flipped back to his feet. Zabo wasn’t just a resident of Tetra City; he was its ghost, moving through its streets and rooftops with an agility that few could match. His acrobatic skills were legendary among those who knew him. He was a shadow, a whisper on the wind. With a practiced ease, he leaped from rooftop to rooftop, jumping across narrow gaps as if he were weightless. Zabo had done this his whole life. It was his way of getting his mind off of life.

His path took him across the city, towards the heart of the commotion. As he moved, he kept his eyes peeled for any sign of the girl from the photograph. It wasn’t long before he spotted them, a woman clutching the hand of a little girl with cyan hair. Zabo slowed his pace, dropping into a crouch as he watched them from the shadows. “Bingo,” he whispered to himself, a feeling of satisfaction washing over him.

The woman looked scared, glancing over her shoulder as she hurried down the alley. The little girl, Mia, clung to her, looking around with wide, fearful eyes. Zabo decided it was time to make his move before Zeus turned the city upside down. With a swift leap, he descended from the rooftop, performing a graceful somersault that brought him to the ground directly in front of them.

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The woman’s eyes widened in terror as she instinctively pushed the little girl behind her. Zabo straightened up, his presence imposing, with his fairly tall build and wild hairstyle. He studied the woman and the child, his eyebrows raised in curiosity.

“Gross, motherly love,” he remarked with a hint of disdain, though there was no real malice in his tone. His eyes, the color of smoldering embers, turned back to the woman. “What’s a girl like you doing with such a high-profile target?” He nodded towards Mia, who peeked from behind her protector, her golden eyes reflecting a mixture of curiosity and fear.

The woman, her voice trembling, demanded, “What do you want?”

Zabo gave a nonchalant shrug, his dreadlocks swaying slightly with the motion. “I was just curious why Zeus has been deployed to look for a little girl.” He flashed a quick smile at Mia, who was now peering at him with a mix of awe and apprehension.

As Zabo looked at the little girl’s distinctive cyan hair, a sudden realization struck him. “Wait a second,” he muttered, his brow furrowing. “You’re a Voltaire, aren’t you?” The hair was a dead giveaway. Zabo’s thoughts flashed back to Elektra Voltaire, whose similar features and hair had always been a stark reminder of the difference in lifestyle while they were living in the academy.

A shiver ran down his spine as he remembered Elektra’s ruthlessness. He mentally shook himself, telling himself it was the summer holidays, and he had nothing to fear from a child and that Elektra wasn’t actually here. It was an awkward comfort, but it helped him stay focused.

The woman, still holding Mia protectively, shot him a fearful glance. “What are you going to do?”

Zabo took a step closer, his movements fluid and precise. The woman edged back, losing her balance for a moment. Zabo seized the opportunity, lowering himself to Mia’s eye level. He wanted to gauge the situation directly, to understand the child’s perspective.

“Hey, kid,” Zabo said softly, his voice gentle. “Do you know this woman? Have you been kidnapped?”

Mia looked up at him, her golden eyes wide and filled with uncertainty. She clung to the woman’s leg, peeking out from behind her, her body shook with fear, but her eyes maintained gaze on the mysterious young man. “I’m scared,” Mia said, her voice small. “I want to go home with Auntie Ell.”

Zabo’s heart sank as he realized his initial judgment had been hasty. He had jumped to conclusions too quickly. The woman, Ell, was clearly Mia’s guardian, not an abductor. He sighed in frustration, cursing himself under his breath. He hated making mistakes, especially ones that put innocent people at risk.

Standing up, he extended a hand to Ell, a gesture of both apology and assistance. “Sorry about that,” he said. “The name’s Zabo. It looks like I- uh, misjudged the situation.” He offered a friendly smile, trying to ease the tension. “Let me help you get to safety.” Before he even thought about the situation, the words left his mouth. Getting involved with the pair would get him into trouble, but he couldn’t just let them die.

Ell hesitated for a moment but then took his hand, allowing Zabo to help her up. “Thank you,” she said, though her voice still held a trace of wariness. “I’m Ell. And this is Mia.”

Mia looked up at Zabo with a bright, trusting smile. “I’m Mia,” she said, her voice gaining a bit more confidence as she clung to Ell.

Zabo patted Mia gently on the head, a gesture of reassurance. “Well, Mia, let’s get you out of here. It’s not safe with those goons around.” For whatever reason the child was being chased, it was nothing good, but his master had told him to always help those in need. So that’s what he would do.

He glanced back in the direction from which he had come, noting that the Zeus operatives seemed to have moved on. He would need to be cautious, but right now, his priority was to ensure the safety of Mia and Ell.

As they made their way through the winding streets of Tetra City, Zabo guided them with a protective air. His keen senses remained alert, scanning for any signs of danger. The cityscape, once a playground of acrobatics and adventure, now seemed fraught with new dangers that demanded vigilance.

Ell, holding Mia’s hand tightly, walked beside Zabo, her steps slightly hesitant but filled with hope. “Where are we going?” she asked, her voice betraying a hint of exhaustion.

“To a safe place,” Zabo replied. “I know a place where we can lay low for a while. It’s secure and should keep you out of sight until things settle down.”

As they continued, Zabo couldn’t shake the feeling of lingering unease. The Voltaires’ interest in Mia disturbed him and felt there was more going on than met the eye. He simply prayed he wouldn’t get himself into deeper trouble. But knowing his luck, he always will.