Once the lesson is concluded, we all return to the cave. The sun has started to set, casting long shadows across the rocky landscape. As we step inside, I see Ryu has set up a makeshift worktable out of stones and planks. On it lies the body of DP-7, disassembled, with its parts scattered around the table. Open beside it is a book filled with notes and detailed drawings of what looks like DP-7, with annotations surrounding the sketches.

  In the center of the table is a metal frame that matches the drawing in the book, and beside it are various tools. Ryu is using one of the tools—a small device that emits sparks when it touches metal—to work on the frame. The air smells of burning metal as sparks fly, and I can't help but feel a sense of awe at his skill.

  Curious, I approach him. "How'd it go?" Ryu asks, his focus still on the mechanical body in front of him.

  "She's a natural," Talia answers before I can speak. I glance over at her, noticing a hint of something in her tone—jealousy, perhaps—but I decide not to pry.

  "Is she now?" Ryu asks, his tone distracted as he points to my satchel by the sleeping canvas. "Those are for you," he says, gesturing to a belt with two sheaths sewn into it that perfectly fit my blasters.

  "Thank you," I say, genuinely grateful, as I walk over to retrieve the belt and fasten it around my waist. The blasters slide into the sheaths effortlessly, and the whole setup feels just right.

  Nikko is now standing beside Ryu, watching him work with a curious expression. "Can DP-7 be fixed?" she asks, her voice tinged with concern.

  Ryu shakes his head, letting out a heavy sigh. "His processors are fried. All I can do is strip it for spare parts."

  Nikko's ears droop slightly, and her tail stops swishing. She looks down, clearly saddened by the news.

  "But," Ryu continues, "I have enough parts to build a new droid using DP-7's components. It won't be exactly DP-7, but it will be similar."

  Nikko brightens up a little, her tail swishing again, but there's still a hint of sadness in her eyes.

  Talia, standing behind us with her arms crossed, asks, "What about our next course of action?" Her voice is steady, but I can sense the determination behind it.

  Ryu puts down the tool he was using and lets out a heavy sigh. He turns to us and gestures for everyone to follow him. We move towards the fireplace, and with a simple point of his finger, Ryu reignites the fire. The warm glow fills the cave, casting flickering shadows on the walls as we all sit around it.

  Ryu messes with his glove, and suddenly, a detailed image of the elven capital appears, hovering above us like a projection. The city is massive, sprawling out in all directions with an ethereal beauty that takes my breath away. From this bird's-eye view, I can see the city's elegant architecture, a blend of towering spires and graceful arches, all intricately designed with a touch of the natural world woven into every structure.

  The buildings are arranged in a circular pattern, radiating outwards from a central point where an enormous tree stands. Its vast branches stretch high into the sky, its leaves shimmering with a golden hue as they catch the last light of the setting sun. The tree itself seems to be part of the city, its roots intertwining with the foundations of the castle that surrounds it. The castle, built directly into the tree, is a marvel of elven craftsmanship, with its turrets and towers seamlessly integrated into the living wood.

  The city is a perfect blend of nature and civilization, with cascading waterfalls, hanging gardens, and pathways that wind through lush greenery. It feels ancient and wise, a place where time moves differently, where every stone and leaf holds a story of its own. The sight of it fills me with both awe and a deep sense of urgency.

  I watch as Ryu manipulates the image projected by his glove, the view zooming in closer to Inyeth Themar, the breathtaking elven capital, until it halts before what seems to be a large, weathered flyer board. My eyes scan the various notices, but then they land on something that sends a chill down my spine—wanted posters. Six of them, each showing detailed, drawn images of Ryu, Talia, Nikko, Apollo, IG-22, and... me. My heart skips a beat as I stare at my own face on the poster, the words "Wanted: Dead or Alive" emblazoned across the top with a staggering bounty of 2,000 gold coins beneath. It feels surreal, almost like I'm looking at someone else.

  "Wait..." I stammer, barely able to find my voice. "Why am I wanted?"

  Ryu doesn't turn, his eyes still fixed on the glowing image. "The Shadowfell, of course," he says, his tone controlled but carrying an unmistakable weight. "With its followers so widespread, it was only a matter of time before you and IG-22 were added to the bounty list." He sighs, glancing my way. "This is their way of tightening their grip, making sure we have nowhere to hide."

  My mind races as I try to make sense of it all. "But... I've only just... I mean, I'm not..." The realization hits me like a punch. "I didn't even do anything!" My voice rises in pitch, a tremor of anger and fear slipping in.

  Ryu's face remains calm, shadowed as always, his tone firm yet steady. "You're with us. That's enough reason for them," he says, his words quiet yet somehow chilling. "It doesn't matter to them whether you chose this willingly or not. As long as you're involved, you're a target."

  My heart hammers as I stare at my own likeness on the screen, the implications settling in like a weight pressing down on my chest. "So that's it, then?" I say, my voice barely a whisper. "I'm just... marked?" I swallow, my mouth dry. "A bounty like that... people are going to come after me. I'll be hunted. I... I'm not a fighter like you or Talia."

  Ryu turns to me, and though his expression is hidden, his presence feels steadying. "We'll protect you," he says firmly. "And I'm going to train you, remember? You won't be alone."

  "But that's just it," I murmur, fear gnawing at me. "I never signed up for this... this whole Shadowfell, dark magic, and bounty thing. I just wanted to explore, not... not survive on the run." The idea of constant pursuit, danger lurking around every corner, makes my skin crawl. "I didn't expect to be wanted for... for nothing."

  Talia steps closer, her hand resting lightly on my shoulder. "Rebecca," she says softly, her voice a blend of understanding and resolve. "I know you didn't ask for this. None of us did, really. But you're stronger than you realize. You already proved that with Nikko."

  Nikko, who had been watching silently, takes my hand, her small fingers gripping mine tightly. "I'm glad you're here, Rebecca," she says, her gaze earnest. "You saved me." Her words, innocent yet filled with gratitude, make something in me soften. Her tiny, comforting presence grounds me, even amid all this chaos.

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  I take a deep breath, squeezing Nikko's hand. "It's just... a lot to take in," I murmur, my gaze falling to the swirling image of Inyeth Themar, the wanted posters hovering over us like dark omens.

  Ryu nods, a shadow of sympathy in his voice. "Believe me, I understand. But the Shadowfell has set its sights on all of us, and anyone connected to us. That's their tactic—fear, division, mistrust. But as long as we stay together, they won't break us."

  I nod slowly, the initial panic beginning to ease as I hold onto his words. There's a certain strength in his tone, a quiet determination that's infectious, even comforting.

  Ryu's projection hangs in the dim cave, casting a ghostly glow on his shrouded face as he speaks. "I've been observing Inyeth Themar all night and the last couple of days," he says, his tone laced with gravity.

  Talia crosses her arms, shooting him a pointed glare. "Did you even sleep?"

  Ryu raises a hand, a faint chuckle in his voice as he reassures her, "I got some sleep, I swear."

  A chuckle escapes my lips, a small relief amid the tension, and I catch the hint of a smirk on Talia's face before Ryu clears his throat, refocusing on the projection. "Barely any activity near the castle. Lord Y'msari was right. People have been turned away from the gates all the time. This isolation isn't just rumor."

  Talia's brow furrows, the worry in her voice evident. "Do you think King Alduin is under the Shadowfell's influence?"

  Ryu sighs, gaze fixed on the projection. "I don't know. But that's not the worst of it."

  With a swift motion, he shifts the view outward, zooming across the lush, sprawling landscape of Eldoria, only to settle on a dark, moving line that makes my stomach drop. Slowly, the projection focuses, revealing a massive Eldorian army stretching as far as the eye can see, ranks upon ranks of soldiers marching in perfect formation. My breath catches, awe and fear mingling as the sheer scale of it sinks in.

  The soldiers look imposing, each clad in dark, polished armor that gleams under the faint morning sun. Rows of infantrymen advance, their shields interlocked to form an unbreakable wall of metal, while archers march behind, their quivers brimming with arrows faintly glowing with enchanted energy. Behind them, in eerie synchronization, march mages dressed in dark green robes, hands crackling with elemental magic as they fall into line with the troops. Towering siege engines rumble across the ground—massive catapults, reinforced battering rams, their iron and wooden frames designed to bring cities to ruin. Even through the projection, I can almost feel the ground trembling beneath their weight.

  Talia's voice breaks the heavy silence, a tremor of disbelief coloring her tone. "That must be thousands of soldiers..."

  Ryu's voice, solemn and steady, replies, "Tens of thousands. And they'll reach Inyeth Themar in four days."

  A knot tightens in my stomach, dread pulsing through me as I take in the sheer enormity of the threat. Nikko, who has been quietly observing, instinctively curls closer to Ryu, her small hands gripping his arm, seeking the protection and comfort only he can offer.

  "Shouldn't Inyeth Themar's forces already know?" Talia asks, urgency lacing her words. "The city needs to be evacuated. They have to be ready."

  Ryu's face, concealed in shadow, tilts toward her, his tone laden with concern. "And yet, they aren't. The walls are sparsely manned. Most of the city's defenses seem concentrated in the heart—the tree."

  With a gesture, the image shifts once more, centering on the ancient, towering tree that dominates Inyeth Themar. Its colossal branches stretch toward the heavens, laden with silvery-green leaves, and now, amid the branches, I catch sight of elven soldiers—gleaming silver armor catching glimpses of light as they move in seamless unity across the vast limbs of the tree, preparing for battle. Yet, the sight only serves to heighten the anxiety pressing down on us. They're woefully outnumbered, and the realization that the tree, the heart of the elven capital, might serve as their final line of defense chills me to the bone.

  "If we don't stop this," Ryu says, his voice hardening with grim determination, "the city doesn't stand a chance."

  A tight, almost pained look crosses Talia's face as she glances at him. "How in the world can we possibly stop tens of thousands of soldiers from destroying the capital?"

  Ryu's head tilts toward her, his tone steady but unreadable. "I have a plan."

  The image zooms back to the marching Eldorian army, honing in on a figure at its center—a man on horseback whose very presence commands attention. His armor, adorned with gold trim and intricate engravings, shines brighter than the others, a clear mark of his rank. His face, though partially hidden beneath his helmet, reveals strong, steely features, a thick beard framing a mouth set in a hard line, and eyes that exude both power and ruthless ambition.

  Talia's voice drops to a whisper, thick with reverence and fear. "That's King Bjorn. The king of Eldoria... he's leading the charge?"

  "I doubt it," Ryu replies, his voice cold. "He's likely here to witness the fall of Inyeth Themar himself." A pause, and then he adds with chilling calm, "Which is a good thing. It means we can capture him."

  The surprise in Talia's voice is palpable. "Your plan... is to kidnap the king of Eldoria?"

  "And the king of Elaria," Ryu adds, as if it were the simplest solution in the world.

  Talia's shock shifts to a look of incredulity, her brows shooting up. "You're insane," she mutters, though I can see the wheels turning in her mind. "But... if anyone could do it, I suppose it's you."

  I stare at her, astonished that she's even entertaining the idea, yet a part of me finds itself drawn to the audacious plan. It seems impossible—ludicrous, even.

  I gape at Ryu, the weight of his plan settling over me like a dark cloud. My pulse quickens, and a rush of adrenaline sharpens the edges of my nerves. "Are you insane?" I blurt out, my voice louder than I intend. The words tumble out, rapid and incredulous. "You intend to not only kidnap one king, but two? One hiding in his palace—practically a fortress—and the other surrounded by an entire army?"

  Ryu opens his mouth, but I cut him off, the disbelief in my voice rising. "How can you talk about kidnapping two heavily guarded kings like it's a stroll through the woods?" My heart is pounding, and I feel the burn of frustration in my throat. "That's suicide!"

  "Rebecca," Ryu says, his tone steady but firmer, his voice edging into a warning. Still, the shock and dread claw at my chest, and it takes a moment to steady my breath, each exhale barely taming the adrenaline racing through me.

  He holds my gaze, his voice calm but resolute. "I have a plan."

  I glance at Talia, hoping for some reassurance, or perhaps a similar sense of exasperation. "How do you put up with him?" I ask, unable to keep a touch of desperation from creeping into my tone.

  A small smile tugs at Talia's lips, softening her expression despite the gravity of the situation. "Oh, I learned quickly that Ryu does things... his way," she says, her tone teasing, though there's a trace of fond exasperation in her voice. She lets out a slight chuckle. "You should see him when he's truly determined to do something. Stubborn as a mule."

  Her light tone eases some of the tension, and I manage a faint smile, though the doubts still linger. Ryu, however, remains focused, his composure unshaken by my outburst or Talia's teasing.

  "Look," he says, his tone firm but steady, "I don't expect any of you to take part in this lightly. I'm fully aware of the risks. But if we do nothing, the Shadowfell's influence will tear both kingdoms apart. We're running out of options."

  His words hang in the air, resonating with a grim truth that settles heavily in my chest.

  "So what's the plan?" Talia asks, her voice steadying as she prepares herself for whatever madness Ryu has concocted.

  "Talia and I will infiltrate the elven palace tree," Ryu explains, his voice calm and assured. "While IG-22 and Apollo take Bjorn."

  "And what will I do?" Nikko asks, her voice small but determined, looking up at Ryu with a mixture of hope and worry.

  "You, Nikko, will keep this place safe for our return," Ryu says, patting her gently on the head.

  "But I want to come with you," Nikko protests, her disappointment clear as her ears droop slightly.

  "But I need you here, Nikko," Ryu continues, his tone gentle but firm. "You have the most important job of all—protecting this cave for when we return. There's no one else I trust with that task."

  "Really?" Nikko's eyes brighten, her tail swishing back and forth with renewed energy, a mix of excitement and pride evident in her demeanor.

  "And me?" I ask, my voice tinged with concern.

  "You will be assisting Nikko, of course," Ryu replies, his tone leaving no room for doubt.

  I nod, but as I glance over at him, I know what he really means—I'll be the one looking after Nikko while they're out there risking their lives. My heart tightens at the thought, but I nod again, doing my best to appear confident.