Observed City

Geno Takeda, standing at a high point with a great view of the city. Geno stood still, his shoulders squared against the vastness of Unitas below. The ancient stone beneath his feet was like a silent guard carrying a burden that Shen could only begin to understand. The only sound that broke the silence was the soft scrape of Shen's boots as he moved closer. He got to his brother's side, and they stood there in a comfortable silence, taking in the wide view. Shen was always amazed by how big and well-planned Unitas was. The shining skyscrapers and well-kept streets were very different from the homeland he was used to.

Geno could feel Shen's presence without turning around, so he kept looking at the city. His voice was a low growl, with a mix of cynicism and hard-earned wisdom that everyone knew.

"This city is really cool, isn't it? Unitas rules because it is strong, smart, and technologically advanced. But it's all a front, a cage that was very well thought out. Geno looked down at the busy streets. "The people here trust that their leader will always make the right choice, keep them safe, and do the right thing." It seems to me that faith doesn't make sense.

Shen looked up at him with a wrinkled forehead. But what about the kingdom, Brother? Isn't it the same thing that we serve the King?

Finally, when Geno turned his head, his dark eyes met Shen's. As he thought about it, a thick silence fell between them. His eyes went back to the horizon, as if he were weighing the whole world. "Listen, kid," he said, his voice heavy with meaning. "If I've learned anything, it's that you'll fight to the death for something you think is yours." But if you only borrow it and it doesn't belong to your soul, its protection is only temporary.

Shen felt the weight of Geno's words come down on him like a real burden in the cool air.

We serve our land and our people in our hearts, even if we say we serve the King, his brother said. The King is the symbol and flag of our battle. We are really protecting our home, our way of life, and the families that depend on us. And trust me, Shen, the King knows this better than anyone else.

This connection gave him the push he needed to finally deal with the problem that had been bothering him. "Brother, I need to say I'm sorry for what happened earlier. You were right; I should have told you everything right away.

Geno's lips made a rare, small smile to chase away the darkness from his normally grim face. "It's okay, Shen," he said in a softer voice. Based on what you said about her, it's clear that you trust her. If you trust her, I will too.

Shen let out a deep breath; he didn't know he was holding in a wave of relief. He said, "Thank you, Brother," with a strong and renewed sense of brotherhood warming his chest.

Geno's smile turned into a lighthearted smirk when he put a hand on Shen's shoulder. "The Takeda family seems to be growing."

Before Shen could think of an answer, a loud klaxon rang out from deep inside the pyramid. It was a real force, a deep, resonant cry that echoed through the whole space and shook the stone under their feet. Both brothers quickly got ready for battle. Soldiers all around them started moving in a frenzy. Their orderly lines turned into a flurry of activity as they looked up at the top of the pyramid. There was a big problem.

People were worried about the King's safety.

Shen's mind raced as he tried to find anything that didn't belong in the chaos, where commanders were yelling orders and soldiers were running toward the main entrance of the pyramid. In the middle of the rising panic, he saw a small mistake. Lina's jewelry began to softly and rhythmically shine against his chest. The pendant was now a beacon, even though it was just a simple memento from a shared history. It wasn't just swaying as he moved; Shen felt a small, constant pull from an unseen force.

He pushed through the noise and chaos and focused on himself. That's when he noticed something else: tiny, invisible currents of energy moving through the air. It was a system of magnetic devices that were carefully placed and whose purpose was hidden.

Shen focused his will and began to follow the magnetic energy's hidden path. It led him deeper into the dark corners of the pyramid, away from the noise at the entrance. The passage got smaller and darker, and a cold calm fell over it that was very different from the noise outside. He felt like he was being pulled toward a threat he didn't know about.

A shadow broke away from the darker darkness ahead. Shen squinted and carefully moved forward, his hand on the hilt of his weapon. The figure turned and ran away when it saw him. Without thinking twice, Shen ran after him. He ran after the shape that was disappearing, his feet hitting the cold stone and his heart pounding against his ribs.

The chase was a dizzying blur as we raced through narrow passages and around sudden, blind turns. Each turn revealed new parts of the pyramid's complicated layout. The shadowy creature moved much faster than Shen thought it would, but his pure will kept him right behind it. Shen pushed his body to its limits against a scary, strobing background of icy stone walls and the desperate, flickering lights of emergency sconces.

He finally saw his chance in a longer part of the hallway. Shen ran forward quickly, closing the gap and putting all of his remaining strength into his legs. As he reached out, the figure's flowing robe was only a few inches away from his fingers, but it suddenly turned a corner and vanished.

Shen's chest was pounding as he skidded to a stop and looked around the empty intersection. It was too late. But then, with his sharp eyes, he saw a small, dark piece of cloth on the ground.

Shen bent down and carefully picked up the ripped piece, which was probably from the intruder's cloak and had been ripped off in a hurry. The weight of the moment and the rough material felt heavy in his hands. He wasn't sure who the dark figure was, but he knew they were a serious threat to the King. This small clue was all he had to go on.