The forest was alive with tension. Kael crouched behind a thicket, his senses sharpened by the demon's essence now fused within him. Through the night air, he caught snippets of urgent radio chatter from the special force operatives:
"Subject 201 and 223 secured. Repeat, subjects secured."
"Mission 0300220 ongoing. Extraction to Base 7 in progress. Over."
Kael's eyes narrowed. These weren't just random orphans—they were targets, part of something much larger. He watched as the armed squad herded the children toward a camouflaged transport. The operatives moved with cold efficiency, their gear and tactics unlike anything Kael had seen before.
He waited for the right moment. When a guard stepped away to check his communicator, Kael sprang into action. His body moved with a speed and force that surprised even him. In a blur, he closed the distance, disarming the first operative with a swift strike to the wrist. The weapon clattered to the ground.
Shouts erupted. The squad turned, raising their rifles, but Kael was already among them. He ducked beneath a barrage of stun rounds, weaving through the chaos. His fist connected with another guard's chest, sending him flying into a tree. Two more operatives tried to flank him, but Kael spun, using the demon-turtle's energy to create a shimmering shield. Bullets ricocheted harmlessly off the barrier.
He swept the legs out from under one attacker, then twisted, grabbing another by the collar and slamming him into the ground. In seconds, the entire squad was down, their weapons scattered and their bodies pinned. Kael worked quickly, using their own restraints to tie each operative to the thick trunks of nearby trees.
Panting, Kael glanced at the orphans—two siblings, a boy and a girl, wide-eyed and trembling. He crouched beside them, lowering his hood just enough to show his face. "You're safe. I'm not here to hurt you."
The boy, barely older than ten, stared at Kael with a mixture of awe and suspicion. "Why did you help us?"
Kael hesitated. He wasn't sure himself. He'd always kept to his own path, but something about these two felt different. He could sense a faint psychic energy radiating from them, a potential that resonated with the power inside him. Maybe it was fate. Maybe it was responsibility. Or maybe, deep down, he just didn't want to see anyone else become a victim of the world's darkness.
He glanced at Lirael, who had silently joined him. She nodded, understanding his unspoken thoughts. "Let's get them out of here," she whispered.
Kael led the siblings away from the scene, weaving through the forest until the sounds of the captured operatives faded behind them. As they reached the edge of the woods, Kael heard more radio chatter in the distance—search parties, code words, and encrypted orders. But he knew this country was vast, and these forces would never trace him if he didn't want to be found.
In the nearest town, Kael ducked into a quiet alley and paused to think. The children's appearance was too distinctive; if the special force wanted them, they'd be looking everywhere. Kael needed to change their look—and fast.
He guided them to a late-night hair salon, where the owner barely glanced up as Kael handed over a few coins. "Two quick cuts. Make it different," he said simply.
The stylist worked quickly, trimming the girl's long hair into a short, choppy bob and giving the boy a spiky, modern style. Lirael, ever resourceful, slipped out and returned with a small makeup kit. In the back room, she worked her magic, darkening their eyebrows, adding freckles, and even changing the shape of their lips with clever shading. By the time they stepped outside, the siblings looked nothing like the frightened orphans from the forest.
Kael bought them new jackets and hats from a street vendor. "You're both going to need new names," he said, glancing at Lirael. "Any ideas?"
The girl grinned shyly. "Can I be Mira?"
The boy nodded. "Call me Ren."
Kael smiled. "Mira and Ren it is. Welcome to the team."
As they made their way through the city's winding streets, Kael felt a strange sense of hope. He didn't know what the future held, or why these children had been targeted, but he was sure of one thing—they were safer with him. And maybe, just maybe, together they could become something more.
He glanced at Lirael. "I think they have potential. I can feel it. If we train them, they might be able to help us—and themselves."
Lirael nodded, her eyes warm.