The Cells

The four of them walked in silence, flanked by a formation of shadows—one on each side, another leading the way, and a sixth and seventh behind them, holding their weapons bundled in cloth.

No one spoke. No one dared.

The crowd from before had marched ahead, keeping their distance as if afraid to share the same space with the four. The echo of celebration was still faintly audible—laughter, jingling coin purses, and the hollow congratulations for those who’d profited from the blood spilled.

After a ten-minute walk through winding dirt paths and low brush, the terrain evened out. Before them stood a tall wooden wall, its surface rough and weather-worn. Guard towers flanked a open gate, the crowed walked thru as the shadows stopped with the group.

Some time passed Sai started to look around his patience running out. Just then foot steps were heard from behind, as Sai tried ti turn his face a shadow grabbed the back of his hair and held his head still.

“No moving”

“you could have just said so.. gah”

The grip tightens as the shadow pulled his hair slightly

“No talking either”

The steps came up beside them en eventually Gladius walked up in front of the group and continued walking, the shadows followed leading the group towards the open gates and passed the towers.

They passed into the heart of the settlement without much happening, but still the entire group was in awe as this was the first time they had seen civilization in awhile.

The village was small, as expected—humble homes of thatched roofs and timber frames. Chickens pecked near the road. A stone well sat in the middle of the plaza. Vendors stood in stalls holding a large variety of items, thee vendors started glancing over at the strange group being marched through their midst.

People whispered. Some recognized Gladius, bowing their heads respectfully. Others simply looked on, faces wary, expressions unreadable.

As they reached a broader street that curved toward the eastern side of the town Gladius stopped.

He raised a hand, signaling the group to halt.

The shadows obeyed immediately.

The villagers kept their distance.

“You four,” Gladius began, his tone even but commanding, “will be placed in holding cells until the trial.”

Mira’s lips curled, but she said nothing.

“You’ll be seen by the village’s appointed judge within the next day. The owner of the mill you infiltrated will testify, and the judge—along with myself—will determine what happens next.”

“You mean what punishment to give us,” Sai muttered, scowling.

Gladius gave a humorless smile. “Perhaps. Or perhaps mercy, if you earn it. But make no mistake, your actions have consequences, regardless of intentions.”

Corvin stared at him, still visibly furious, but Mira was the one to speak “You paraded us in front of a crowd like animals. Let them cheer while our friend bled out in the river. And you talk about justice?”

Gladius turned towards her, eyes narrowed. “I talk about process. What happened at the river was combat. This—” he gestured toward the village—“is what comes after.”

As he finished speaking, he looked past them toward the shadows. His gaze landed on the one standing behind Mira—in the far back carrying the axe and sword.

“Shadow Five,” he said coldly.

The shadow straightened.

“You disappointed me,” Gladius continued as the walked towards the group. “You let that scythe user throw you away liek a toy, putting me in danger”

Shadow Five flinched. “I—”

Gladius swiped his hand in the air and the four shadows holding the group stepped aside allowing him to pass by.

He halted in front of the stuttering shadow, and without hesitation, reached out and tore the mask from her face.

“You’re done.”

There was a collective breath from the others—shadows included. The girl’s face was pale, expression blank. She said nothing as Gladius tossed the mask to the dirt.

“You’ll return to the barracks. From now until i dicide, you’re back in training. No fieldwork. No contact.”

She bowed deeply, fists clenched.

“Understood, sir.”

She handed the weapons to the other shadow next to her and turned without another word, she walked away, head low. No one stopped her, no one said anything.

Gladius looked back to the four captives, his face unreadable once more.

“Now then. Move.”

The shadows resumed their escort, leading the group down a side street toward a squat stone building reinforced with iron bars. As they passed a leather worker’s shop and a quiet herbal stall, Eira’s eyes scanned the village.

Children peeked out from windows. An old man shook his head grimly as they walked by. This wasn’t a place of cruelty, she realized—but it seemed hardened under Gladius’s rule.

The holding cells were damp and dimly lit. One by one they got processed and locked up, they were locked in four different cells. Mira sat on a rotten bench and leaned her head back against the wall, closed eyes as she took deep breaths through her nose. Sai paced back and fourth. Eira sat in silence hugging her legs in a corner. Corvin gripped the bars head resting on a horizontal metal bar, he was staring out into the hallway.

“You really think he’s dead?” Sai finally asked, voice cracking slightly.

No one answered.

“I don’t know,” Corvin said at last. “But i…. i don’t even know what to think”

“If he is alive,” Mira whispered, “I doubt he will find his way back here.”

“Even if he don’t come back i just hope he is okay” Eira said before pressing her head against her knees.

“Thinking of his injuries, i wouldn’t call the state if he now is alive as okay, i wouldn’t even say a human would withstand something like that” Corvin sounded exhausted, not of tiredness but of everything.

They all fell silent again.

Outside, the sun dipped toward the horizon, casting orange light across the village.

“Hey do you guys think we have time traveled?” Sai asked out of nowhere

“Don’t tell me you’ve gone crazy after just half a day in jail”

“No seriously Corvin think about it”

They all thought in silence “Well the town seemed very old time to say the least” Mira said as she stared out the small bared window in her cell

“Yea and the people, seemed straight out of a fairy tale” Eira continued “Like what town has a sword master that challenges teens to a fight”

“No no i am ruling out time travel, id rather believe that we got sent to some other universe then believe in time manipulation” Corvin said harshly

“I mean that is also a possibility” Sai agreed

Corvins scream in protest echoed outside the house they were in, casting some new sound to an otherwise calm evening.