The group moved swiftly through the dimly lit streets, their footsteps muffled by the chaotic sounds of explosions and shouting that echoed in the distance. Kaede led the way, her eyes on the virtual map ahead of her as she guided the liberated prisooward the sewer entrance. Kirara stayed close, her own gaze darting nervously to her bracelet which held her own virtual map.

  “Keep moving,” Kaede urged, her voice low but firm. She gnced back at the group, a mix htened men and women, some limping, others barely keeping pace. Most were too stuo speak, their faces pale and drawn.

  The sewers were only a few streets away, but Kaede khey had to stay vigint. The drones might have been decoys, but they were bound to attrawatention. Falmuth’s forces wouldn’t stay scattered forever, and the temprs were likely already anizing a terattack.

  As they reached the sewer grate, Kaede k and began w on the lock, her fingers moving with practiced efficy. Kirara stood guard, her eyes sing the street for any signs of pursuit.

  “Hurry up,” Kirara urged. “I don’t think we’ve got much time.”

  “Oh foodness sake,” Kaede muttered, her hands grabbing at the bars of the gate . She swung the grate, pulling it off its hinges, aured for the prisoo enter. “Go, quickly!”

  The group of people were sck jawed for a moment before resuming their trek as they rushed in. Kirara simply smirked at Kaede who blushed. "What?"

  One by ohe prisoners climbed down into the sewer, their movements hurried but careful. Kaede waited until the st of them had desded before following, with Kirara close behind.

  The air in the sewer was damp and heavy, the faint sound of dripping water eg through the tunnels. Kaede led the way, her footsteps spshing softly against the slick stone floor. She had memorized the map of the underground system, and bined with the virtual map provided by Artificia, her fidence reassured the group as they pressed forward.

  After several minutes of navigating the twisting tunnels, a familiar voice called out from the darkness.

  “Kaede!”

  Kaede’s shoulders rexed as she saw Shifu step into the dim light of a torch. The formerly aging warrior looked as young as ever, like he was in his early twenties. His sharp eyes sed the group.

  “You did it,” he said, his tone ced with approval. “And much faster than we'd pnned. Good thing I'm as fast as I am then?”

  Kaede offered a wry smile. "Hehehe.’”

  Shifu chuckled softly, then turned his attention to the prisoners. “You’re safe now,” he assured them. “We’ll get you out of the city and to a secure location.”

  One of the former prisoners stepped forward. A middle aged dy with tanned skin. "Is that really you?" She pced a hand on his face. "You look so different." A little boy of no more than ten years immediately rushed forward, hugging the ogre's legs. "You're ok!"

  Shifu k, pg a reassuring hand on the boy’s shoulder as he gently ruffled the child’s hair. “I’m okay, little one,” he said softly, his voice calm but carrying an undercurrent of emotion. “And you’re safe now. I promised I’d e back for you, didn’t I?”

  The boy sniffled, ging tightly to Shifu’s leg, while the middle-aged woman gazed at him, her eyes wide with disbelief. “You look... you look so young,” she whispered, her hand trembling as it left his face.

  Shifu stood, taking her hand in his with a gentle grip. “It’s me,” he said.

  Kaede, standing a few steps back, smiled faintly at the reunion, her heart warmed by the se. She g Kirara, who was leaning against the damp wall, watg Shifu with wide eyes.

  Kirara tilted her head, squinting slightly as if trying to pieething together. Theuro Kaede, her voice a hushed whisper. “Like, when did the et that hot?"

  Kaede blinked. "Didn't you have a boyfriend?"

  "Had, Kaede, had. He's not here and I'll probably never see him again.” Kirara hissed, leaning clirl, like, look at him, tall, chiseled, all broody with that ‘I’ll protect you’ vibe. It’s like a fantasy poster came to life!”

  Shifu stood tall, his gaze sweeping over the entire group of former prisoners. The damp, dimly lit sewer didn’t dim the awe and relief that spread through the crowd as they reized him. Whispers broke out among them, growing louder with each passing sed.

  “Is it really him?”

  “He looks so young… s…”

  “I thought we’d never see him again…”

  A wiry old man with sunken eyes pushed his way to the front, his breath hitg as he stared up at Shifu. “You… you saved us, d,” he said, his voice trembling. “I didn’t think I’d live to see the day.”

  Shifu stepped forward, pg a steadying hand on the man’s frail shoulder. “I saved no one alone,” he said humbly. “I had help. And I wouldn’t have let them take any of you, not if I could stop it.”

  Another prisoner, a young woman with short-cropped hair and a bruised face, stepped forward hesitantly. “You… you came back for us,” she said, her voice crag. “Even after everything.”

  Shifu’s jaw tightened, a flicker of pain crossing his features before he forced a smile. “Of course I did. You’re my people. I swore to protect you, and I’ll keep that promise, no matter what.”

  A burly man with a bandaged leg limped forward, his voice gruff but warm. “You’ve always had heart. Always been the oo stand up when no one else could.” He extended a calloused hand. “Thank you… for not giving up on us.”

  Shifu csped the man’s hand firmly. “It’s not just me anymore,” he said, gng back at Kaede. “It’s because of her, and the people who’ve helped me, that I could e back for all of you.”

  The crowd turheir attention to Kaede, a mix of curiosity and gratitude in their expressions. She shifted awkwardly, scratg the back of her neck. “I, uh, just gave him a he rest is all him.”

  Kirara, standing beside her, whispered under her breath, “And made him hot, don’t fet that part.”

  Kaede elbowed her sharply, but Kirara didn’t relent. “I mean, look at them, Kaede! You’ve got half of them swooning over him already.”

  Shifu, oblivious to the exge, turned back to the group. “And there’s one more thing you all should know.” He stood tall, his voice resonating through the tunnel. “I’m no longer just a nameless warrior. Kaede gave me something I didn’t realize I needed, a name. From now on, I am Shifu, and I carry that h pride.”

  A wave of murmurs spread through the group, followed by scattered appuse. The young boy grinned. “Shifu! That’s a cool name!”

  The older woman from earlier ears streaming down her face. “It suits you, d. You’ve bee someoruly remarkable.”

  Kaede watched the se unfold, her heart swellie herself.

  Kirara, meanwhile, leaned closer, her voice a low whisper. “I’m just saying, if you don’t want him, Kaede, I’ll—”

  “Kirara,” Kaede hissed, cutting her off as her blush deepened. “I have a girlfriend.”

  Kirara smirked but backed off, though the mischievous glint in her eyes remained. “Oh, so you're one of those types.”

  Kaede sighed as a sudden sense of dread enveloped her, her eyes quickly darting around. 'Artificia?'

  "Wait,” Shifu muttered, his voice low but firm. His gaze darted between the men and women huddled together, his brow furrowing. “Where’s… where’s Old Man Jarred?”

  The question hung in the damp air, heavy and den with dread. A few prisoners exged uneasy gheir expressions falling. One of the younger men, a gaunt figure with a bandaged arm, stepped forward hesitantly. "A few days ago, some guards took about thirty of us. For what reason, I'm not sure. The mines maybe?"

  "There!!" A sudden shout had everyone fling as Kaede flung her round shield towards the ceiling. The shield flew straight into the ceiling, but instead of crashing into it, it cshed with a blue barrier before rebounding onto Kaede's arm.

  The blue light subsided and the entire group as oook a breath. "And here I was hoping to catch you by surprise." A smirking Razen looked down on the group as he hovered in the air.

  Kaede smirked as well though her eyes betrayed her emotions. "Sorry not sorry."

  "Just out of curiosity, what gave me away?" Razen asked. 'She's a shielder a how did she sense me?' He floated above them, his smirk widening as his pierg gaze sed the group below. His presence pressive, and the faint hum of magical energy around him made the air feel heavier. The prisoners instinctively huddled clether, their fear palpable.

  Kaede, however, didn’t waver. She kept her round shield ready, her stance firm as her eyes locked onto Razen. “You tipped your hand the moment you started stalking us,” she said calmly, though her voice carried a sharp edge. “It wasn’t hard to guess someone was watg when we passed those streets without any patrols suddenly showing up. That was too ve, even with the decoys.” 'Actually, Artificia simply used infrared vision the moment I thought someone might be watg.'

  Razen chuckled, the sound low and mog. “Impressive. I uimated you.” He gestured zily with one hand holding his staff, his other resting behind his back. “It seems you’re not just a strange girl with a shield."

  Kaede’s eyes narrowed, but she didn’t rise to his bait. “Why don’t you save the speeches? You’re not here to chat.”

  “You’re right,” Razen admitted with a shrug, though his smirk didn’t falter. “I’m here to collect what belongs to the kingdom. You, and perhaps a few others. You’ve made quite a mess, and I io it up before anyone else gets ideas.”

  His gaze shifted to Kirara. "Stand down Kirara, aurn to your quarters." He stated with a voice that reeked of power.

  Kirara smirked. "Suck it old man. Your stupid curse ain't w." She raised her two hands, giving him the middle finger with both.

  Razen's smirk faltered and his eyes narrowed. 'The curse, is iive? When did this happen, how did this...' his gaze flickered to Kaede. 'Her?'

  His gaze returo Kirara. "Don't you want to return to your world? I promised to take you home?"

  Kirara's face twisted into that e. "Go fuck yourself. That's like the most clichéd lihere ever was. I get that I was desperate and scared back then, but I 't believe I actually believed you. You probably brainwashed me or something."

  Razen’s smirk twisted into a sneer, his demeanrowing darker as Kirara’s defiance echoed in the damp tunnel. “How disappointing,” he said, his voice cold and ced with venom. “I gave you a purpose, Kirara. Without me, you’re just a lost little girl pying at rebellion.”

  Kaede stepped forward, raising her shield defensively between Razen and the group. “If anyone’s pying games, it’s you,” she shot back, her voice steady despite the tension in the air. “Your time for maniputing people is over.”

  Razen’s eyes flicked to Kaede, his expression unreadable. “You think you protect them? You, who hides behind that shield like a child ging to a toy?” He extended his staff, and a faint hum of energy began to build around him, the air crag with magic.

  Kaede didn’t flinch. Instead, she gnced back at Shifu and Kirara. “Get them out of here,” she said firmly, her gaze unwavering even as Razen’s power intensified. “Take the prisoners and go. Now.”

  Shifu hesitated, his fists ched tightly at his sides. “Kaede, you ’t,”

  “I , and I will,” Kaede interrupted, her tone leaving no room fument. “They need you to guide them. I’ll take him on.”

  Kirara’s jaw dropped, her defiant bravado faltering for a moment. “Are you serious? He’s like… way out of your league!”

  Kaede turned her head just enough to meet Kirara’s wide eyes. “Trust me. I’ve got this. Just head to the extra point.”

  Shifu stepped forward, his hand ing to rest on Kaede’s shoulder. “You’re sure?”

  She nodded, her expression resolute. Her lips curved into a faint, determined smile. “I’m really good at not going down.”

  Shifu’s gaze lingered on her for a moment before he finally nodded. “You better e back,” he said, his voice low but steady. He turo the prisesturing for them to follow. “Let’s move.”

  Kirara lingered, her face flicted as she gnced between Kaede and Razen. “If you die, I’m gonna be so mad,” she muttered, finally turning to follow the group.

  As their footsteps faded dowunnel, Razen’s smirk returned. “Noble, but foolish,” he said, his tone dripping with mockery. “You’ve sent away your only allies. Now you’re alone.”

  Kaede raised her shield, the faint glow of her magic beginning to radiate from its surface. “Alone? Nah,” she said, her voice firm and calm. “I’ve got all I need right here.”

  Razen raised an eyebrow, the hum of his magic growing louder. “Bold words-"

  Kaede’s smile widened, her grip tightening on her shield. “You talk too much.”

  And with that, she charged.

  [Magic Burst]

  SaberGlory