Don't tell me I have to save your ass again."
Ren's voice echoed through the chamber as he rushed inside.
The young recruit looked irritated, though the urgency in his movements betrayed something deeper.
Poison immediately stepped forward.
"What happened?"
Ren pointed back toward the exit.
"Old man Saijew sent me."
The room fell silent.
Ren swallowed.
"Sous is on a rampage."
"What?!"
Sofia's voice cracked.
For a moment she simply stood there.
Then tears began to gather in her eyes.
Amelia moved beside her and gently wiped them away.
"Hey."
Her voice softened.
"We'll get him back."
She squeezed Sofia's shoulder.
"But we need your help too."
Sofia lowered her head.
Slowly, she nodded.
Luna stepped forward.
Her eyes moved across the room before settling on Emma.
The girl remained near the back wall, half-hidden in shadow.
"Well?"
Luna tilted her head.
"You coming, Emma?"
Emma looked up.
For a brief moment she hesitated.
Then she pushed herself away from the wall.
"Y-yeah."
Her voice was quiet.
Too quiet.
Poison noticed the tension in her shoulders.
She was worried.
All of them were.
Ren folded his arms.
"So what's the plan?"
He looked between the group.
"We run in there and pray Sous doesn't cave our skulls in?"
Poison shook his head.
His expression darkened.
"Sous isn't himself."
The room grew still.
"If we rush in unprepared…"
He glanced toward the doorway.
"We die."
No one argued.
Because everyone knew he was right.
Sofia clenched her fists.
Her nails dug into her palms.
"We need to stop this."
Her voice trembled.
"But I won't leave him like that."
The determination in her eyes surprised even Poison.
For several seconds nobody spoke.
Then Luna stepped forward.
"Then we're done talking."
Her gaze sharpened.
"Let's move."
The group nodded.
Moments later, they disappeared through the portal.
Far from the others, Magnolia was fighting for his life.
Sous charged across the shattered battlefield like a wild beast.
Blood covered his skin.
His eyes were unfocused.
Violent.
Unnatural.
Magnolia barely managed to dodge as Sous crashed into the earth beside him.
The impact shattered stone.
"Magnolia!"
General Saijew's voice thundered across the battlefield.
"Stop matching his strength!"
Magnolia glanced toward him.
"What?!"
"Use his momentum!"
Saijew barked.
"He's stronger than you!"
Sous roared.
The ground cracked beneath his feet as he lunged again.
Magnolia's eyes widened.
Right.
This wasn't a duel.
This was survival.
At the last possible second, Magnolia stepped aside.
Sous flew past him.
Magnolia planted his foot.
Sous stumbled.
His body crashed into the ground.
The battlefield shook.
For a moment Magnolia thought it was over.
It wasn't.
Sous sprang back up instantly.
Before Magnolia could react, Sous slammed his forehead into his face.
The impact sent Magnolia skidding across the dirt.
Pain exploded through his skull.
His vision blurred.
Sous leapt into the air.
High.
Far higher than any human should.
Magnolia's heart dropped.
He's trying to kill me.
The realization hit instantly.
Sous descended like a meteor.
Magnolia forced himself upright.
Move.
MOVE!
His muscles obeyed.
He launched himself sideways.
The earth exploded where Sous landed.
Dust swallowed everything.
Magnolia burst through the cloud.
Without hesitation he jumped.
Higher.
Higher.
Until he reached Sous.
For a brief moment they hung together in the air.
Magnolia grabbed him.
Twisted.
Then drove him downward.
The battlefield erupted.
A deafening explosion echoed across the valley.
Stone shattered.
A crater formed beneath them.
Dust rolled outward in every direction.
Silence followed.
General Saijew stared into the settling debris.
Then he exhaled.
"That should be the end of whatever that was."
Magnolia slowly climbed from the crater.
Breathing heavily.
Sweat mixed with blood across his face.
"General…"
He looked down at Sous's unconscious body.
"What was that?"
Saijew's expression hardened.
For once, the veteran commander looked uncertain.
"Truthfully?"
He shook his head.
"I have no idea."
A few minutes later, the group returned through the portal.
Victory and exhaustion mixed throughout the room.
Saijew carried Sous over one shoulder before lowering him onto a nearby table.
The unconscious boy didn't move.
The General looked around.
Then frowned.
"Where's Matthew?"
Everyone paused.
Luna blinked.
"He was just here."
The room immediately became uneasy.
Then the doors opened.
Every head turned.
Matthew stepped inside.
Beside him walked Pharaoh Neitiqerty Siptah.
Instantly the room dropped to one knee.
The atmosphere changed.
The Pharaoh didn't raise his voice.
He didn't need to.
A simple lift of his finger was enough.
Everyone stood.
Golden eyes swept across the room.
Then landed on Sous.
A small smile appeared.
"Now."
His voice was calm.
Controlled.
"Dare I ask who managed this?"
Saijew folded his arms.
A faint grin tugged at his face.
"Magnolia."
He pointed.
"And Poison."
The room became silent.
The Pharaoh's gaze moved toward them.
Slowly.
Deliberately.
Magnolia felt his stomach tighten.
Even Poison looked uncomfortable.
The Pharaoh approached.
His eyes lingered on Sous.
Then returned to the two boys.
"Impressive."
Neither responded.
The Pharaoh studied them for several seconds.
Then spoke again.
"But tell me."
His gaze sharpened.
"Was this victory earned through skill…"
A pause.
"Or luck?"
Magnolia straightened.
Every instinct told him to look away.
He didn't.
"Skill."
The answer came instantly.
Poison nodded beside him.
The Pharaoh chuckled.
A quiet sound.
Yet somehow more intimidating than shouting.
"A dangerous answer."
He turned away.
"One I hope you're capable of proving again."
The room remained silent.
The Pharaoh raised his hand.
Several royal guards stepped forward immediately.
"Take Sous to the healers."
His voice hardened.
"And keep him restrained until we understand what happened."
The guards nodded.
They carefully lifted Sous and carried him away.
No one relaxed after they left.
If anything, the tension only grew worse.
Luna crossed her arms.
"So what now?"
The Pharaoh watched the doorway.
"We wait."
His answer was immediate.
"And while we wait…"
His eyes narrowed.
"We prepare."
The room listened carefully.
"If whatever took hold of Sous still exists…"
A pause.
"It will come for us again."
A chill ran through the room.
Nobody doubted him.
Not after today.
Sofia stepped forward.
"I want to see him."
The Pharaoh studied her.
The silence stretched.
Then he nodded.
"Fine."
Relief flashed across her face.
"But you won't go alone."
Sofia's expression immediately soured.
"He's my own kin."
She stepped forward.
Without waiting for permission, she disappeared into the medical tent.
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Ren finally exhaled.
"So that's it?"
He ran a hand through his hair.
"We nearly die, Sous loses his mind, and now we're supposed to sit around waiting?"
"If you'd rather fight whatever that was again right now, be my guest."
Poison leaned against a nearby pillar.
Ren shot him a glare.
Poison didn't blink.
Matthew broke the silence.
"It wasn't normal."
Everyone looked toward him.
Matthew's expression had grown unusually serious.
"What happened to Sous…"
He looked toward the medical tent.
"It wasn't just rage."
The room grew quiet.
"There was something else inside him."
A chill settled over the gathering.
Even Ren stopped talking.
The Pharaoh slowly folded his arms.
"Then we will discover what it was."
His voice left no room for argument.
…
Elsewhere.
Far beyond Egypt's borders.
Alexander grabbed Baron by the arm and pulled him away from the others.
The massive doors of the throne room slammed shut behind them.
The sound echoed through the marble halls.
Baron stumbled.
Pain shot through his body.
Nero's punishment still lingered.
Every breath hurt.
Alexander dragged him into a secluded alcove before finally letting go.
"What happened out there?"
His voice was low.
Dangerously low.
Baron looked away.
Alexander stepped closer.
"Answer me."
Still silence.
"You hesitated."
His lone molten eye narrowed.
"That's not like you."
Baron's jaw tightened.
"What do you want me to say?"
His voice cracked with frustration.
"That I lost?"
Alexander remained silent.
Baron's fists clenched.
"That some kid made me look like a joke?"
The words tasted bitter.
Alexander studied him for several seconds.
Then shoved him lightly against the wall.
"You're lucky Nero sent me."
Baron looked up.
"Why?"
"Anyone else would've killed you."
Baron laughed.
A dry, humorless sound.
"And what?"
He lifted his head.
"You wouldn't?"
Alexander's answer came immediately.
"No."
The corridor fell silent.
For the first time all night, Baron looked surprised.
He searched Alexander's face.
Nothing.
No pity.
No sympathy.
No weakness.
Just certainty.
"Why?"
Alexander sighed.
"You're asking stupid questions now."
Baron frowned.
Alexander crossed his arms.
For a long moment neither spoke.
Then Alexander finally broke the silence.
"The boy."
His gaze sharpened.
"Magnolia."
Baron's expression darkened immediately.
"What about him?"
"You said that was his name."
"It is."
Alexander nodded slowly.
His mind was clearly somewhere else.
"The Pharaoh's weapon."
A pause.
"If that's really him…"
His voice trailed off.
Baron didn't care.
"I don't care who he is."
His nails dug into his palms.
"He dies."
Alexander looked at him.
Really looked at him.
Then he shook his head.
"No."
Baron's eyes widened.
Alexander continued.
"Not like this."
His voice remained calm.
"If you chase him now, you'll lose."
The words hit harder than any punch.
"And next time…"
Alexander's gaze hardened.
"There won't be anyone stopping Nero."
Baron looked away.
Because he knew Alexander was right.
That was the worst part.
Magnolia wasn't supposed to be stronger.
He wasn't supposed to survive.
He wasn't supposed to win.
Yet somehow he had.
Alexander turned to leave.
"Get stronger."
His footsteps echoed through the corridor.
"When the time comes…"
He glanced back.
"I'll be watching."
Then he was gone.
Baron stood alone.
The hallway suddenly felt colder.
His fists trembled.
Magnolia.
The name burned itself into his thoughts.
His humiliation.
His failure.
His obsession.
"I swear…"
The whisper barely escaped his lips.
Yet somehow it felt louder than a scream.
"I'll kill you."
The empty corridor offered no response.
Deep within a hidden grotto, beyond a curtain of cascading water, rested a spring unlike any other.
Legends claimed it originated from the River Lethe itself.
A fragment of the underworld.
A forgotten miracle.
Most springs offered healing.
This one offered memory.
One sip.
One day.
Every moment of a person's life returned with perfect clarity.
Every face.
Every word.
Every wound.
Every joy.
For some, it was a gift.
For others, a curse.
At the edge of those waters sat Chloe.
The smallest of Nero's inner circle.
And perhaps the most dangerous.
The spring reflected sharp violet eyes.
Eyes that resembled a lioness watching over her territory.
Her blonde hair curled outward at the ends as the water danced beneath her reflection.
The sound of approaching footsteps disturbed the silence.
She didn't turn.
She already knew who it was.
"Chloe."
Alexander's voice echoed softly through the grotto.
"You came all this way."
Her response was calm.
Expected.
Alexander walked forward.
Water dripped from the cavern ceiling.
The sound filled the silence between them.
Finally, he stopped beside her.
"Selena is dead."
The spring rippled.
Chloe froze.
Not dramatically.
Not visibly.
Just enough.
Her fingertips stopped moving.
The water became still.
"How?"
Alexander told her.
Everything.
The ambush.
The battle.
The end.
Chloe listened without interruption.
Without reaction.
Without blinking.
When he finished, silence returned.
Long.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
Then she finally spoke.
"Selena was reckless."
A faint smile appeared.
Small.
Bittersweet.
"But she was never weak."
For the first time she looked at Alexander.
"Did she die well?"
The question caught him off guard.
He thought about it.
Longer than he expected.
Because death was ugly.
Messy.
Cruel.
Yet when he remembered Selena's final moments…
He nodded.
"She did."
Chloe searched his face.
Looking for a lie.
She found none.
Slowly, she knelt beside the spring.
Then she drank.
The magic hit instantly.
Her pupils widened.
The world shattered into memories.
Selena laughing.
Selena training.
Selena arguing.
Selena winning.
Selena losing.
Years flashed through her mind in moments.
Every memory returned.
Every detail.
Every feeling.
Everything.
For the briefest moment, Chloe closed her eyes.
The mask slipped.
And she allowed herself to grieve.
…
Valerie emerged from the Shadow first.
Bright sunlight flooded her vision.
The dry heat of Egypt disappeared instantly.
Cool ocean air replaced it.
Behind her, Calix stepped from the darkness alongside the rescued children.
Several of them gasped.
Others simply stared.
Towering cliffs stretched toward the sky.
Olive trees dotted the landscape.
Far below, waves crashed against distant stone.
Greece.
One of the younger children stepped closer to Valerie.
"Where are we?"
Valerie knelt beside him.
"In a place far from Egypt."
The boy looked nervous.
"Are we safe?"
Valerie hesitated.
Then smiled softly.
"For now."
Calix walked toward the edge of the sanctuary.
His eyes scanned the surrounding mountains.
"We can't stay here long."
Valerie stood.
"The children need rest."
"They do."
Calix nodded.
"But if we're followed, resting won't matter."
The rescued children exchanged worried glances.
Valerie noticed immediately.
She lowered her voice.
"We'll protect you."
Some of the tension faded.
Not much.
But enough.
Calix looked toward the distant horizon.
"We need allies."
His expression darkened.
"And we need them quickly."
The journey through Greece had only just begun.
Valerie looked toward the horizon.
The sea stretched endlessly beneath the cliffs.
Beautiful.
And dangerous.
"We don't have much time."
The rescued children gathered behind her.
"If we stay here too long, the Shadows will eventually expose our position."
Calix remained near the sanctuary entrance.
His eyes never stopped moving.
Scanning.
Watching.
Calculating.
"They need rest."
His voice was calm.
"But we also need allies."
Valerie nodded.
The truth hung heavily between them.
They were strangers in a foreign land.
One wrong decision could cost every child here their life.
A boy no older than twelve stepped forward.
Despite the fear in his eyes, he forced himself to speak.
"Where are we?"
Valerie knelt in front of him.
For a moment she considered lying.
Giving him comfort.
Instead she gave him honesty.
"Greece."
The boy's eyes widened.
"The land of the Olympians?"
A faint smile appeared on Valerie's face.
"One of them."
Her expression soon hardened.
"But don't mistake distance for safety."
The wind shifted.
Carrying the scent of the ocean through the ruins.
"Danger exists here too."
The boy nodded slowly.
Calix finally turned toward the group.
"We move carefully from here."
His gaze swept across the children.
"If the wrong people discover who you are…"
He paused.
"Egypt won't be the only nation at war."
Silence followed.
The children understood enough.
Not everything.
But enough.
Valerie looked toward the mountains.
Somewhere beyond them were answers.
Hopefully allies.
Because they would need both.
Back in Egypt.
The afternoon sun beat down against the camp.
Inside the war tent, however, only silence remained.
Emma stood at the center of the room.
Her eyes closed.
A gentle breeze swirled around her.
The wind slipped through cracks in the tent.
Across the sand.
Beyond the camp.
Beyond Egypt itself.
Searching.
Listening.
Following.
Finally, Emma opened her eyes.
"They crossed our borders."
The room immediately focused on her.
"They entered Greece through the Shadow."
The Pharaoh folded his arms.
His expression remained unreadable.
Yet the tension in his shoulders betrayed his concern.
"Then they've reached Greece."
Emma nodded.
"They're still moving."
Her voice softened.
"But they aren't in immediate danger."
A few people visibly relaxed.
Only a few.
Poison sat nearby sharpening a dagger.
The rhythmic scrape of stone against steel filled the silence.
"And us?"
His mismatched eyes lifted toward the Pharaoh.
"What happens now?"
The blade flashed beneath the light.
"We've got enemies gathering on every side."
The sharpening stopped.
"Do we keep chasing them?"
The Pharaoh didn't answer immediately.
Before he could, the tent entrance opened.
Sofia stepped inside.
Something in her expression instantly caught everyone's attention.
"Sous is awake."
The room became silent.
The Pharaoh's eyes narrowed.
"And?"
"He wants answers."
Sofia glanced toward the medical tent.
"He doesn't remember everything."
Without another word, the Pharaoh stood.
Everyone followed.
The medical tent was quiet.
Sous sat upright on his cot.
Bandages wrapped around his chest and shoulders.
His face remained pale.
Yet his eyes had regained their focus.
As the group entered, a faint smirk crossed his face.
"So I survived."
Poison leaned against the entrance.
"Barely."
Sous snorted.
"I figured."
His gaze moved across the room.
Then settled on the Pharaoh.
"What did I miss?"
Sofia stepped forward.
"You should be resting."
"I've rested enough."
The answer came immediately.
Sous looked back toward the Pharaoh.
"What happens now?"
The Pharaoh studied him.
Longer than was comfortable.
As if searching for signs of whatever had taken control of him.
Finally, he spoke.
"We move forward."
His voice was calm.
Certain.
"Greece is now involved."
Sous listened carefully.
"The children crossed into its borders."
The room remained silent.
"Our enemies are moving."
The Pharaoh's golden eyes narrowed.
"And so are we."
Sous nodded once.
"Then we don't have time to waste."
A small smile appeared on the Pharaoh's face.
Tiny.
Almost invisible.
Most missed it.
Ren didn't.
His eyes narrowed.
Something about that expression bothered him.
It wasn't relief.
It wasn't pride.
It looked closer to satisfaction.
The thought lingered in the back of his mind.
Then vanished as the Pharaoh turned away.
Later that evening.
The war tent filled once more.
Everyone sat around the central table.
General Saijew stood beside the Pharaoh.
The others gathered nearby.
Emma.
Poison.
Ren.
Luna.
Matthew.
Amelia.
Magnolia.
Children carrying responsibilities far too large for their age.
One thing united all of them.
Three empty seats.
Valentina.
Kibo.
Abraham.
Nobody had forgotten.
The absence was impossible to ignore.
Emma closed her eyes again.
The wind answered immediately.
"The trail still exists."
Everyone looked up.
"But whoever took them knew what they were doing."
Her brow furrowed.
"They covered their tracks well."
The Pharaoh's hand tightened against the table.
"Then we move before those tracks disappear."
His gaze swept across the room.
"We do not abandon our own."
Poison leaned forward.
"They planned this."
His frustration was obvious.
"No clues."
"No witnesses."
"No demands."
He shook his head.
"It's like we're chasing ghosts."
"We're wasting time."
Luna's voice cut through the room.
"If we know they're west, we should already be moving."
"And walk into a trap?"
Ren shot back immediately.
"That's exactly what whoever did this wants."
Amelia nodded.
"For once, Ren's right."
Ren looked offended.
Amelia ignored him.
"We don't know who we're fighting."
"If we rush ahead, we're handing them another victory."
General Saijew crossed his arms.
"Good."
The room turned toward him.
"You're finally thinking like soldiers."
His gaze settled on Emma.
"Keep tracking."
Then the others.
"The rest of you prepare yourselves."
His voice hardened.
"We're bringing them home."
At the edge of the room, Magnolia lowered his head.
"They must be terrified."
His fists clenched.
"Valentina."
"Kibo."
"Abraham."
The names felt heavy.
"They're waiting for us."
Matthew stood.
His usual relaxed attitude was gone.
His eyes burned with determination.
"Then we'll find them."
The room fell silent.
The Pharaoh slowly rose from his seat.
Golden eyes swept across every face.
Not children.
Not anymore.
Warriors.
Future leaders.
Survivors.
"We will find them."
His voice carried through the tent.
"No matter who stands in our way."
Outside, the desert winds continued to howl through the night.
And somewhere far beyond Egypt's borders, three missing children waited.