Kyrena..
The streets bustled with people, the morning sun as bright as ever. Two hooded figures moved seamlessly through the crowd, heading toward a sharply cleared, empty path.
Lynx pressed his back against a brick wall, scanning the street ahead. His gaze narrowed at what appeared to be a restricted zone—a towering fortress looming in the distance.
He raised his arm, activating his wristband to run a quick scan of the area. After a few taps on the screen, he lowered his arm while Rowynn edged closer.
Moments later, the President's aide appeared on the display.
"Commander," Lynx said. "I've just shared a record of our current location."
The screen flickered, going blank for a few seconds before the officer reappeared.
"You're on the right path," he said. "The road ahead leads to a fortress acting as a confinement area for the aliens."
"Understood," Lynx replied with a nod.
"Be on guard," the officer continued. "The entire area is heavily secured with special forces, aided by the council."
"Noted," Lynx said before ending the call.
He turned to Rowynn. "Are you ready?"
She nodded. "It's now or never."
They moved forward, soon spotting an array of soldiers stationed ahead. Warning signs and strips of tape marked the boundary of the restricted zone.
Rowynn glanced at Lynx, her voice low with anxiety. "And if they recognize us?"
"We stick to the plan—no matter what," he replied, a faint, reassuring smile lining his face.
Up ahead, an officer narrowed his gaze and leaned toward his colleague. "Trespassers," he muttered.
The second officer immediately turned, approaching the incoming figures with his hands firmly gripping his weapon.
He stopped midway. "This is a restricted area," he announced. "You are instructed to turn around."
They ignored the command and continued forward.
In response, the officer raised his gun. "Not one more step," he ordered. "Turn around. This is your final warning."
The duo halted. Lynx slowly reached up and pulled back his hood, lifting his head to meet the officer's stare.
The armed man frowned. "Who are you?" he demanded.
"You're about to find out," Lynx replied, his hazel eyes flashing blue.
The officer's expression tightened, his fingers brushing the trigger. "You've been warned," he continued. "Any action taken against you is as ordered by the regional council."
"Perfect," Lynx retorted, stepping forward.
A sharp gust of ice surged the instant the officer reached for the trigger, freezing his hand to the weapon. His eyes widened in shock—shock which slowly grew into realization.
"It's them," he muttered.
He spun toward his colleagues, shouting, "The runaways are here!"
As if on cue, the entire troop surged forward.
With full confidence, Lynx brushed past the officer in front, casually freezing his feet to the low-cut grass beneath him.
Now in close proximity, the soldiers raised their weapons, aiming directly at the duo.
"Stand down," one of them ordered. "By decree of the council, and no harm will come to you."
Lynx turned to Rowynn with a smirk. She nodded in understanding.
Facing the troops, she stretched her palms toward the ground, a bright green flash igniting in her eyes.
"Fire!" one of the soldiers yelled.
At once, weapons lowered toward the duo—but just as swiftly, a wall of ice formed in front of them, absorbing the shots. In the same moment, the ground trembled. The short grass surged upward, growing rapidly, coiling around the soldiers' legs before yanking them violently to the earth.
Shouts erupted as bodies hit the ground, most officers losing their grip on their weapons.
The duo stepped out from behind the ice barrier, moving forward. Rowynn summoned more tendrils, tightening their hold, while Lynx spread frost across the area, sealing the soldiers to the ground.
Suddenly, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed from behind.
The first officer had broken free of the ice.
"There goes an informant straight to the council", Rowynn said. Do we follow him?
No, "It's exactly what we want," Lynx replied. "Enough news to keep them distracted."
He turned his gaze toward the looming fortress ahead.
"Meanwhile, we still have a mission."
Rowynn followed his stare.
"It's just us versus those monsters."