The soldier managed to unlock the shackles, and Mani slumped forward. As she closed her eyes, bracing herself for a rough landing on the cold, hard floor, she was met with the warmth of strong arms. The immense relief that surged through her was palpable as he cradled her in a bridal embrace. He stood and made his way out.

"Let's move," he ordered, and the other two nodded, "You're safe now, Mani."

In the dungeon's eerie silence, no other soldiers approached. The only sounds that pierced the quiet corridors were the synchronized footsteps of the three intruders as they hurried toward the exit. Mani looked up at the one carrying her, his silver mask concealing his face, but his voice...

"Vex, go ahead of us and assist Xavier," the silver-masked figure directed the one in the green mask.

Vex nodded and moved ahead swiftly, his imposing physique surprisingly agile.

"Estes," Mani murmured weakly.

Estes tightened his grip as they turned a corner. "Do not fret, I've got you."

The one disguised as a soldier took the lead, occasionally glancing back to check on them.

"Estes, give me a sec," the disguised soldier said as she sprinted ahead. Estes didn't question her, waiting for her return. He watched as she turned a corner and entered a room, curiosity in his eyes. Estes glanced down at Mani., she was passed out; despite her injuries, her expression was calm and even serene. There were no more nightmares.

The disguised soldier returned with a black bag then motioned for them to continue towards the exit. Estes raised his brow, but the disguised soldier gave him a quick, 'you'll see later.'

Reaching the base of the stairs, they began to climb, and as they drew nearer, they could hear the heated bickering of Xavier and Vex amid the thundering sounds of battle.

"Are they havin' a party down there?! What the fuck is takin' so damn long?" Xavier yelled, firing his gun at an approaching elven soldier.

Vex summoned a powerful gust of wind that sent a group of soldiers reeling. "They're coming; we need to clear a path!"

Xavier grumbled, "G'damnit I'm TRYIN'. Ain't you an incarnation? You're so damn weak!" He shot down an elven soldier attempting to sneak up on Vex. Their ‘conversation’ was abruptly halted as Estes's group burst through the doors.

Xavier parted his lips­—probably to insult them—but Estes gave him no chance, "Haul your ass, we're leaving."

Xavier's gaze fell on Mani, tucked in Estes's arms. He nodded, taking the lead.

"How's she, Sasha?" Xavier inquired as he and Vex fought off the elven soldiers.

"Not good," Sasha, the disguised soldier, responded, "best case scenario is she doesn't die."

Xavier cursed, "Shit." He held the door open for Estes and the others.

As the group stepped outside, chaos reigned. Elven guards encircled the building, with an imposing elf named Galad at the center, their weapons pointed at the fugitives. Meanwhile, citizens fled the area in panic.

"Uh..." Xavier glanced at Estes through his dark blue mask, and Estes carefully assessed the situation, gears turning in his mind.

"Criminals! You will face severe punishment if you continue to resist!" Galad bellowed, "Surrender now, and you won't be executed!"

Estes protectively held Mani closer to himself. He subtly turned to Vex then at Xavier, and even through their mask, they could understand each other.

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Vex was the first to raise his hands up in surrender. Xavier and Sasha watched him before they promptly followed his example. Estes didn't, shifting Mani slightly so one of his hands were partly free.

The elven guards were visibly confused at their quick surrender. Galad was also confused as he furrowed his white eyebrows. He didn't hesitate any longer than he already had, ordering the guards to subdue them.

"You are wise to surrender," Galad pointed at the group, "guards, surround the criminals with great care. Do not allow them a chance to flee."

Vex stayed quiet as he watched the guards approach. They were careful not to fall for any trickery from the group's part. Then, in a split second, he unleashed gusts of wind that knocked the guards off their feet. Estes followed, casting lightning bolts at the guards, creating chaos as the elven soldiers attempted to counter their magic but found themselves unable to do so.

Many guards were struck by the bolts or swept away by the winds. Those who remained charged with their weapons, the group was about to get overwhelmed until flames erupted from Estes—or more specifically—Mani. She's barely conscious while setting fire to the guards. The group didn't waste the opportunity as they sprinted away from the chaos.

"GET THEM! DON'T LET THEM ESCAPE!" Galad screamed furiously.

The group pushed through the crowds of fleeing civilians, turned a corner into an alley, and kept running. The guards tried to push through the crowd as well; it was much easier for them since the elven civilians made way for them.

"Mani, do not exert yourself!" Estes scolded.

Mani closed her eyes after mumbling something about 'being ungrateful.' The guards were still hot on their heels. Sasha turned back to do a head count.

"Five!" Sasha yelled out cheerily to the group, "Let's see... Our savior Al saves the day again!"

She slowed her pace, pulling out a glass vial from the plethora on her belt. She chucked it toward the elven guards, catching them off-guard.

"What is that—" a guard started, but the vial exploded in flames. Sasha clapped in satisfaction before catching up with the group.

"Al still had those things left?" Xavier asked when he turned to see the guards trying to avoid the flames.

"Yep! He saved them for a special occasion, since Mani wasn't there to replenish the supply," Sasha explained with a grin.

Estes, despite the situation, chuckled. "We will have to thank Al when we get back."

Vex was the first to reach the end of the alley, where an inconspicuous carriage awaited. He swung the door open, and the others quickly climbed inside. The carriage set off with Estes cradling Mani.

"Let's go!" Estes instructed the coachman.

The cloaked coachman quickly drove the carriage away.

The cloaked coachman drove the carriage away, leaving the chaotic scene behind. The commotion continued as guards scoured the city, looking for the fugitives. At one point, a guard tried to stop the carriage to inform the coachman about the escapees. Vex had to restrain Xavier from laughing when the guard bought the coachman's false story. Sasha used the opportunity to hastily tend to Mani's wounds with whatever supplies she had on hand.

The brief journey culminated with the carriage arriving at the city gates. As anticipated, a elven guard approached, his inquisitive eyes fixed upon the coachman.

"Do you have passengers?" the guard inquired; his voice charged with suspicion.

The coachman, a man of few words, nodded curtly. "Aye, nobles who are seeking refuge from the city's upheaval."

The guard's quizzical eyebrow arched further. "Is that the case? Then I shall require a perfunctory examination."

"By all means," the coachman replied, granting a nonchalant wave toward the carriage's entrance.

The guard, his gaze wary, proceeded to the door. As he swung it open, an unexpected sight greeted him—Xavier's shit-eating grin.

"Surprise." Xavier quipped, firing his gun and landing a headshot.

The guard slumped backwards; the gunfire caught the attention of the other guards.

"THEY'RE HERE!" a guard yelled, sprinting toward the carriage with an alarm in his voice.

Without delay, the coachman spurred the horses into motion, leaving the startled guards in their wake. Xavier glanced out the window to see a group of guards following with horses.

"Man, how many guards do they even have?" Xavier grumbled.

Estes followed Xavier's gaze outward. "Perhaps they were preparing to escort Mani somewhere, which explains why there are so many guards congregated here."

Fatigued and drained from their use of magic, Estes and Vex exhaled deeply, slumping back in their seats.

Xavier, meanwhile, contorted his body halfway out of the carriage window, unleashing shots upon their pursuers. The constant movement of the carriage wreaked havoc on his aim, causing his hands to tremble uncontrollably.

"Sashaaaa... Got anymore of those vials? We could really use 'em right now," Xavier implored, wrangling his body back inside with a grunt.

Sasha unbuckled her belt and gingerly arranged a selection of multicolored vials on her lap. She handed them to Xavier, who accepted them with childlike glee. With eagerness, he flung the vials toward the oncoming guards. A few erupted in flames, interspersed with the occasional bolt of lightning or gust of wind.

Estes rested his hand on Mani's forehead while he carried her. It didn't take long before they successfully eluded their pursuers, vanishing into the sheltering embrace of Fejuhn's forests.