The battle was over. The king's army had surrendered. Joy filled the village. Refugees returned, tears of relief mixed with the sound of laughter that hadn't been heard in years.
But something was different – the soldiers who had once served the feared king now looked at Unutay with reverence. To them, it was clear: he should be their new king.
Confused by their reaction, Unutay took a step back.
"I am no king," he said calmly. "I'm not here to rule."
He looked at Jarul.
"If someone should take on this task, it's you."
Jarul looked up in surprise. Still marked by battle, he leaned heavily on his spear.
"I... I don't know if I can," he stammered.
But then Keal stepped forward and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"You spoke for your people in their darkest hour. You stood against the king. You are the leader they need – even if you don't believe it yourself."
The king's soldiers knelt – one by one.
"Jarul! Jarul! Jarul!" echoed through the valley.
The resistance had triumphed – and the people had a new king.
Mika, now back on her feet, smiled quietly. It was over. For now.
Keal stepped up to Jarul.
"It's time for us to leave."
Jarul looked at him sadly.
"Stay a while longer. You are heroes – friends."
"We've been here too long," Keal replied. "Our mission continues. We must not get more involved."
Jarul nodded slowly.
"What you've done for us… it will never be forgotten. You are always welcome here."
Keal turned to Nerion.
"Prepare the portal."
The group gathered. The farewell was brief but full of warmth.
The little girl whose father Mika had rescued ran up again. She threw herself into Mika's arms and held her tightly.
"Thank you..." she whispered.
Mika gently stroked her head, her eyes slightly glistening.
"Take good care of yourself. Maybe we'll see each other again."
The portal opened with a hum. One last look back – then they stepped through. A New World
Lights. Skyscrapers. Glowing signs. Floating vehicles.
The world they now entered looked like something from another time – from another reality.
Torgul stared in disbelief.
"Where the hell... did we just land?"
Kiro stepped beside him.
"It looks like... the future."
The group stood in the middle of a wide street. Neon lights reflected on the gleaming asphalt. Everything was quiet – almost too quiet.
But the awe didn't last long.
A swarm of small, round drones floated in silently, surrounding them. Spotlights locked onto them – blindingly bright.
Then a sharp voice rang out:
"Do not move."
Everyone instinctively reached for their weapons – but before they could react, a beam of light struck the ground. Their bodies went rigid.
"I... I can't move," groaned Torgul.
"What kind of magic is this?" Kiro asked, panicking.
Nerion clenched his teeth.
"It's not magic. Something... is blocking my powers."
From the cones of light rising from the ground, dark figures emerged – soldiers in futuristic armor, holding staffs. One of them spoke:
"By what authorization have you entered this planet?"
Keal tried to stay calm.
"We're just passing through. We don't want any trouble."
"Unauthorized entry into a protected sector zone – that alone warrants arrest. Take them into custody."
Before anyone could react, the soldiers' staffs struck down – a blast of light hit each of them.
Darkness.
One by one, the heroes collapsed, unconscious.
Confinement
A sharp throbbing pain pulsed through Keal's skull as he slowly opened his eyes. Cold, gray steel walls surrounded him. Left, right – bare metal. In front of him: an open gap in the wall – a passageway?
He rose carefully, dragging himself toward the opening. But the moment he reached the edge, a blinding flash burst out. A crackling sound, metallic screech – and Keal was hurled backward with full force.
"Ouch!"
"Keal, you thick-headed idiot!" came a voice from the neighboring cell. "You're not getting through. That invisible barrier is harder than your ego."
"Kiro...?" Keal wheezed.
"Who else? Welcome to the club."
"Keal!" Torgul called out, relieved. "You're awake!"
"Where are we? Who else is here?"
They couldn't see each other, but their voices echoed through the narrow chambers. Each of them was locked in a separate room – isolated by shimmering electric fields.
"I'm here," said Kiro. "Torgul too. And I can hear Nerion breathing. The others are either still unconscious... or elsewhere."
Then another voice, raspy and strained:
"Urgh... my head... what happened?"
"Mika!" Keal shouted. "You alright?"
"I'll live... feels like a troll danced on my skull, though."
Nerion finally spoke, his voice calm but tense:
"We're imprisoned. Clearly. No magic, no escape. Someone really wanted to lock us down."
"What now, Keal?" Kiro asked.
Keal took a deep breath.
"Nothing yet. If they didn't kill us, they must have other plans. Stay alert. As soon as we get a chance... we take it."
He paused.
"Unutay? Elandra? Has anyone heard them?"
"I'm here," Elandra answered calmly.
Silence.
Then Nerion muttered: "Unutay's the only one missing."
the unknown room
deep beneath the facility, far from the others, unutay slowly opened his eyes. his arms were suspended in the air by glowing electric restraints, his feet locked to the floor. the room was small, cold – and had no visible door. above him, metallic spikes protruded from the ceiling, and in front of him: cannons aimed directly at his chest.
a mechanical voice echoed from a hidden speaker:
"remain calm. no trouble. he will be with you shortly."
"where are my friends? who are you? why the chains?" unutay shouted.
"all in due time," the voice replied.
moments later, a wall silently slid open. an old man entered the room, accompanied by five bulky guards clad in black armor, masked and armed.
the old man stepped closer, speaking with a calm voice:
"what are you doing here, stranger?"
unutay smirked dryly.
"that's exactly what i wanted to ask you. why did you imprison me?"
the man examined him with curiosity.
"what's your name?"
"unutay."
"unutay..." he repeated, stroking his beard.
"where are you from, unutay?"
"from earth."
he nodded, still observing unutay closely.
"how old are you?"
unutay hesitated.
"i... don't know. why are you asking me this? i just want to know where my friends are."
the old man stepped closer. the guards tensed.
"don't get too close!" one of them warned.
but the man raised a hand.
"i know what i'm doing."
he came face to face with unutay, eyes locked on his.
"so, you come from earth... and don't know your age. interesting."
he paused.
"what are you doing on our planet?"
unutay answered steadily:
"we're searching for those who attacked our world. if they're not here – we'll move on."
"hmm... and what is the name of your enemy?"
"i don't know. but keal does."
suddenly, the man's tone changed.
"where is xarion?"
unutay blinked. "who?"
the old man stared at him, watching for the slightest reaction.
"and saelen? where is he?"
unutay shook his head. "i don't know anyone by those names. i swear."
silence.
the old man stepped back and sighed.
"you're telling the truth... i can feel it. if i release you – will you leave immediately?"
"if nerion can open the portal – yes."
"nerion... the mage," the man murmured.
unutay looked at him, puzzled.
"are my friends okay?"
"they're alive. don't worry."
he then turned to the guards.
"release his restraints. and prepare to free the others."
the guards hesitated.
"but... he could be dangerous."
"i've made my decision," the man interrupted. "now do it."
with a subtle gesture of his hand, the glowing cuffs around unutay's wrists fell away. the ankle locks disengaged.
the guards instinctively reached for their weapons, but again the old man raised his hand.
"thank you," unutay said plainly. "may i see my friends?"
"i'll accompany you."
together they left the room. the guards followed – tense, yet silent.
unutay's steps were calm, composed – but his eyes were already scanning the halls, searching for answers.