In the midst of this awe-inspiring silence, a dark gate opened between the trunks of a massive tree whose roots stretched deep into the earth.
Saruto emerged first, followed by Lucien, their faces bathed in the soft light reflected from the shimmering leaves.
Lucien paused, mesmerized, his eyes taking in the unique scene before him. "I've never seen anything like this," he said in a low, awestruck voice. "This kingdom is like a living painting."
But Saruto didn't share his admiration for long. Looking up at the horizon, as the gate closed behind them, he said firmly, "No time for awe. What we came for is more important than the scenery."
Then, he slowly raised his hand, and dark shadows crept from beneath his feet, wrapping around his and Lucien's bodies, flowing like black smoke before settling upon them, changing their clothes.
Lucien retreated into a side alley and said softly, "Good, no one has noticed us yet."
Then he looked at Saruto and added, "Now let's release our energy, not too much… just enough for Ryan and Kyle to sense our presence, while the soldiers think it's just a magical disturbance to avoid suspicion."
Saruto nodded, then slowly closed his eyes. Auras began to rise from their bodies, and elsewhere in the palace, Ryan suddenly lifted his head from his bed, while Kyle turned quickly, saying, "It's his energy… Saruto and Lucien!"
"Yes, I can't mistake it… they're here!" Ryan replied with equal surprise.
At that moment, the soldiers in the Forest Kingdom sensed the surge of energy coming from the outskirts of the city. Orders were shouted, and patrols began moving in groups, searching for the source of the strange energy that had momentarily shaken the forest.
On the other side, Lucien smiled faintly and said, "It seems our plan has worked even better than we expected… the guards have moved."
He raised his right hand and placed it on his forehead, searching for Kyle and Ryan. Unable to detect their energy, as they were concealing it, he decided to follow the energy of his two soldiers, who were in their shadow. Saruto smiled and said with quiet confidence, "I've found them… They're in the palace."
Lucian looked at him and said, "Excellent. Then let's move on immediately."
Saruto reached out and placed his hand on Lucian's shoulder. The two vanished down the alley, leaving behind a faint trail like a black flash fading into thin air.
In the heart of the palace, inside the room where Ryan and Kyle were, they felt a slight tremor in the air around them, as if the place itself held its breath for a moment. Then suddenly… Saruto and Lucian appeared before them.
Ryan took a step back in utter astonishment, while Kyle gasped, "Impossible… How? How did you find us so quickly?"
Saruto looked at them sharply, a faint smile playing on his lips.
Silence fell over the room for a moment as the four exchanged heavy glances. A strange feeling hung in the air, a mixture of relief and unease.
Lucien took a step closer and said with a quiet exhalation, "We arrived just in time, it seems… Now, tell me, what happened while we were gone?"
Ryan and Kyle exchanged glances, then Kyle replied with a faint smile, "It's a long story…"
Saruto raised an eyebrow and said, crossing his arms, "Tell us. We're listening."
Ryan chuckled softly, trying to avoid telling Saruto what had happened with the two princesses.