As I finished speaking, a fierce sound echoed from the outside.

“What’s with all that racket, you scumbags?”

The voice boomed louder and louder, each step of its owner reverberating against the creaky floor. The door to the hut slammed open with a deafening bang, and the figure that entered made the dim light seem even darker—a raider.

He had a rugged, scarred face twisted in disdain, his greasy black hair falling unevenly across his forehead. A large tray of what could barely be called food was balanced in his calloused hands.

“Geez, kids these days talk too much,” he muttered as he slammed the tray down, making the children flinch. “Eat up, or you’ll die. Can’t let these precious slaves starve to death. You lot are worth a good pile of gold.”

The sinister grin that followed made my stomach churn. I eyed the so-called food: a foul mixture of what looked like pig bran, moldy scraps, and something unidentifiable that gave off a sour stench.

Disgusted, I muttered under my breath, “I’d rather starve.”

As I instinctively reached for my hips, the familiar weight of my daggers was missing. My heart sank.

No weapons.

I clenched my fists, anger, and vulnerability washing over me. Those daggers were more than just tools—they were my lifeline. Without them, I felt exposed, defenseless. I glanced around at the others. Sylas sat nearby, her green eyes usually so lively now dulled with unease. Her blonde hair was tangled and wild, and she looked smaller than I’d ever seen her. The rest of the children weren’t faring much better.

“Sylas,” I whispered, keeping my voice low. “Do you have your weapons?”

She shook her head, frustration evident in her tight jaw. “No… they took everything.”

A sigh escaped my lips, and I scanned the dimly lit hut. My gaze landed on Elyndor, the quiet boy sitting near the corner. His dark, curly hair fell over his face, but his sharp features hinted at hidden strength.

“Elyndor,” I asked softly, “what about you? Did you have a weapon?”

He nodded, his shoulders slumping slightly. “I used to. A blade. But they took it when they captured us.”

Kaldor, his massive figure taking up a significant portion of the room, growled in frustration. His fur-covered arms tensed as he spoke, “They took my hammer and shield too. If I had them, I’d have smashed my way out of here by now.” His booming voice softened as he clenched his fists. “I could’ve taken a few of them down.”

From the other side of the room, a small voice interrupted. “I’m Lily,” the red-haired girl said hesitantly, gesturing to the younger girl by her side. “And this is my sister, Lara.”

Lily’s bright red hair was tied in two braids, while Lara’s was swept into a messy ponytail. The younger girl, barely older than five, eyed us warily.

“I’ve never used a weapon,” Lily admitted, her voice steady but tinged with sadness. “When we were dragged here, I saw some people, scars all over their faces, holding some weapons and brought them outside. When we were thrown here, we were the last since there were already six others. But they didn’t seem to care about us. They just… threw us in here.”

Lara tugged at her sister’s sleeve, her small voice trembling. “Lily’s right. She wouldn’t lie, so don’t hurt us.”

Lily gently ruffled Lara’s hair, giving her a reassuring smile. “Now, now, Lara. They’re trying to help. Don’t be so hostile.”

Lara muttered a soft, “Yes…” and looked away, still clutching her sister’s arm.

I turned my attention to Mira, who was deep in thought. Her silver hair shimmered faintly in the low light, and her pale skin was almost ghostly in the dark hut.

“Mira,” I asked, “what about you? Did you have a weapon?”

She raised her hand, the delicate rings on her fingers catching the faint glow. “I had a magic wand. But… they took that too.” Her voice trembled slightly, but she straightened her back, determination flickering in her violet eyes. “I can still use magic without it. It won’t be as strong, but I can manage healing and barrier spells.”

Sylas perked up at the mention of magic, scooting closer to Mira. “You can use magic too? That’s amazing! What kind of spells? How did you learn? Can you do all elements like me?”

Mira’s eyes widened at the barrage of questions, and I couldn’t help but chuckle softly. Sylas’s excitement was contagious. Mira managed a smile, her confidence growing. “I’ve studied magic for years, but I’m not as versatile as you. My focus has always been on supportive spells.”

As they chatted, my attention shifted to a figure in the shadows. A boy, around my age, stood silently, watching us. His dark hair fell in soft waves, partially obscuring his face. There was something about his quiet intensity that drew me in.

I approached him, offering my hand. “Hey, I’m Duke Hevas Caddel. Just call me Duke. Haven’t seen you talk much—what’s your name?”

The boy hesitated before responding, “Kael. Kael Fritz.”

“Nice to meet you, Kael,” I said with a friendly smile. “Why haven’t you joined us? You don’t have to be alone.”

Kael shrugged, his expression guarded. “I didn’t find the right moment to speak, I guess.”

After a pause, he added, “I use daggers too. I’ve trained in the Shadow Fang style.”

My interest was piqued. “Shadow Fang? That’s impressive. Can you really move undetected? How does it work?”

Kael’s lips twitched into a faint smile. “It’s about limiting your battle aura. If you can control it, you can move unnoticed for a short time. But it’s not easy. You need precision and quick reflexes.”

“Sounds incredible,” I remarked, a plan already forming in my mind. “Think you could teach me some of those moves? Stealth isn’t exactly my strong suit.”

Kael’s expression softened slightly, and he nodded. “Sure. But you have to stay sharp. Shadow Fang isn’t just about stealth—it’s about anticipation. You have to predict your enemy’s every move.”

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

I nodded, appreciating his expertise. Turning to the group, I outlined my plan.

As the group huddled closer in the dimly lit hut, I laid out my plan carefully. The tension in the room was thick, but there was a spark of determination in everyone’s eyes.

“Here’s how we do it,” I began, keeping my voice low to avoid alerting any nearby raiders. “Kael, you’ll be our key player. When the raiders come to deliver food, we’ll create a distraction to draw their attention. That’s when you’ll use your Shadow Fang technique to slip out unnoticed.”

Kael crossed his arms, leaning against the rough wooden wall. “I can get out easily enough, but once I’m outside, how do I find our weapons without being spotted?”

“When the raider opened the door, I caught a glance outside,” Sylas interjected, her green eyes sharp with focus. “Opposite to this hut, i could see small moving figures gathering at a building that looks like another but bigger. And I doubt that they have another place for slaves like us. It’s probably where they’re keeping the important stuff—our weapons included.”

Kael nodded, the beginnings of a plan forming in his expression. “Alright. If that’s the case, I’ll scout it out first. But sneaking in will take time. What happens if they notice I’m gone?”

“That’s where Sylas comes in,” I said, gesturing toward her. “She’ll create a small hole at the back of the hut. When you’re ready to return, she’ll seal it behind you using magic. As for the weapons, we’ll need decoys to replace them.”

Sylas grinned, her confidence shining through. “Leave that to me. I can make replicas using earth magic. They won’t hold up to close inspection, but they’ll look convincing enough to fool them for a while.”

Mira tilted her head, curious. “Earth magic? I didn’t know you could use it for something like that.”

Sylas shrugged with a small smirk. “When I was younger, I found this old book about carving with earth magic. The author called himself RG—kind of mysterious, but the techniques were fascinating. I practiced making statues and small items for fun, and I guess it’s paying off now.”

Kael raised an eyebrow. “And you just happened to pick up something this useful?”

“Hey, you never know when weird hobbies will save the day,” Sylas shot back, crossing her arms. “Now, leave it to me. I’ll whip up some fake weapons they won’t even question.”

“But still, it is risky,” Kaldor rumbled, his deep voice tinged with concern. “If they know that the weapons are fake, we’ll lose the element of surprise.”

“That’s why we need a backup plan,” Mira chimed in, her silver hair glinting faintly in the dim light. “I can create barriers to slow them down if we’re discovered. It won’t last long, but it might give us enough time to regroup.”

Elyndor, who had been quiet up until now, leaned forward. “What about the distraction? If we need to draw their attention, we’ll need something believable.”

I glanced at Lily and Lara, who were sitting close together, their red hair catching the faint flicker of light from the lantern. “Lily, Lara,” I said gently, “I need you two to create a commotion. You’re small and quick—they won’t suspect you as much. Maybe knock over something, spill the food, or pretend to fight.”

Lily nodded, her expression serious despite her young age. “We can do that. Right, Lara?”

Lara hesitated for a moment before nodding firmly. “We’ll do it. But what if they try to hurt us?”

“They won’t get the chance,” Kaldor said, his massive frame exuding quiet strength. “I’ll stay near the door. If anything goes wrong, I’ll step in.”

“Good,” I said, glancing at everyone. “Kael, once you’ve located the weapons, take only what you can carry without being noticed. We’ll retrieve them piece by piece over the next few days. That way, we won’t raise suspicion too quickly.”

Kael’s brows furrowed as he considered the plan. “And if we’re caught?”

“Then we’ll fight,” I said firmly, my voice steady despite the weight of the situation. “But only as a last resort. The goal is to get everyone out safely, not to start a battle we can’t win.”

Mira added, “If it comes to that, I’ll use my magic to shield us, and Kaldor can hold them off while we make our escape.”

There was a brief silence as everyone absorbed the plan. Finally, Kael nodded, his dark eyes meeting mine. “It’s risky, but it could work. I’ll do it.”

Sylas smirked, nudging him playfully. “Of course, it’ll work. You’ve got the best team backing you up.”

A small smile tugged at Kael’s lips, and for a moment, the tension in the room eased.

“Alright,” I said, looking around at the determined faces. “We have a plan. Stay sharp and be ready. This won’t be easy, but if we work together, we can get out of here.”

As the group dispersed to prepare, I caught Kael’s gaze. “Thank you for trusting me with this,” he said quietly.

“You’re not just doing this for me,” I replied, gripping my scarf tightly. “We’re doing this for all of us. We’ll make it out—together.”

“This plan of yours is reckless, Duke,” Elyndor interrupted his voice sharp and tinged with frustration. His dark curls fell into his eyes as he leaned forward, his arms crossed tightly over his chest. “You’re putting too much responsibility on Kael. If he gets caught, we’ll all be done for.”

I met his gaze, not backing down. “And what do you suggest we do instead? Sit here and wait for them to sell us off as slaves? We don’t have time to waste.”

Elyndor straightened, his jaw tightening. “We need a safer approach. If we all worked together, we could overwhelm the guards and take our weapons by force. Strength in numbers.”

I frowned, my patience thinning. “You really think we can fight our way out with no weapons and no plan? There’s more of them than there are of us, and they’re armed to the teeth. That’s a suicide mission.”

Elyndor’s eyes narrowed, his frustration bubbling over. “At least it’s better than sending one of us out alone to sneak around and risk everything. You’re gambling with Kael’s life!”

Kael, standing to the side, raised a hand, his tone calm but firm. “I agreed to this plan. I’m willing to take the risk.”

“That doesn’t make it right!” Elyndor snapped, turning his glare back to me. “We need to think this through, Duke. You’re acting like you’re the only one who can lead, but that doesn’t mean your way is the best.”

The tension in the room thickened as the others exchanged uneasy glances. Sylas, who had been animatedly explaining her decoy idea moments ago, now stood silent, her wide green eyes darting between us. Even Kaldor shifted uncomfortably, his massive hands flexing as if unsure whether to intervene.

I stepped closer to Elyndor, my voice low but unwavering. “I’m not saying my plan is perfect, but at least it gives us a chance. Your idea would get us all killed before we even made it to the door.”

Elyndor’s frustration boiled over, and before I could react, he grabbed my collar, yanking me closer until our faces were mere inches apart. “You think you’ve got it all figured out, don’t you?” he growled, his voice rising. “You’re so sure of yourself, but what if you’re wrong? What if your plan fails, and we all pay the price?”

The room went deathly silent. Sylas and Mira gasped, while Kael tensed, his hand instinctively drifting toward his side as if reaching for daggers that weren’t there. Even Lily and Lara, who had been sitting quietly near the corner, froze, their wide eyes fixed on us.

I didn’t flinch, meeting Elyndor’s glare with a calm, steady gaze. “I get it. You’re scared. We all are. But grabbing me like this isn’t going to solve anything.”

Elyndor’s grip loosened as his expression shifted, the anger in his eyes giving way to guilt. He released me abruptly and took a step back, running a hand through his hair. “I… I’m sorry,” he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. “I shouldn’t have done that. I shouldn’t have lost my temper.”

He turned away, his shoulders slumping as he took a deep breath. “I’m supposed to be the oldest here. The one who keeps things together. But I let my fear get the better of me.”

The others remained quiet, the tension slowly easing as Elyndor faced the group again, his gaze meeting mine. “I’ve been thinking about it, and… you’re right, Duke. My plan has too many flaws. I didn’t think it through. If we tried to fight them head-on, we’d all end up dead.”

I crossed my arms, my expression softening. “We’re all under pressure here, Elyndor. I’m not perfect, and I don’t expect everyone to agree with me. But we have to trust each other if we’re going to make it out of this.”

Elyndor nodded, a flicker of respect in his eyes. “I’ll support your plan. And I’ll do whatever I can to make sure it works.”

The room relaxed as the argument dissolved into an unspoken truce. Sylas broke the silence with a hesitant smile, her voice light and teasing. “Good. Now that we’re done with the drama, can we get back to planning? I’ve got some decoys to make, and they’re going to be masterpieces.”

The tension gave way to a small ripple of laughter, easing the weight that had settled over us. For the first time in what felt like hours, there was a glimmer of hope in the air.