The Night of Justice

  Beside him stood Queen Mia and the elder Eldran. Moris raised his voice, looking around at everyone: “Are all the warriors and mages here?” he asked. “Yes, everyone is here,” said the guard commander Allen, bowing. Moris took a deep breath and began to speak calmly. “We have an army ready for attack. Now the most important thing is to find out where the enslaved elves are being held,” he said with a measured tone, though there was a chilling heaviness in his voice. Silence fell over the square. 

   The elves’ faces filled with sorrow. Then the white-bearded elder Eldran stepped forward. “Most of the time, humans sell elves for very high prices,” he said, his voice trembling with anger. “Especially our daughters… because elves never grow old. That’s why aristocrats buy them for their harems. It’s disgusting!” he struck his staff on the ground. Murmurs spread among the warriors. Some clenched their fists, others looked down.

    Then Allen spoke up: “Then how can we find the elves?” he asked in a steady voice. Moris unrolled a map from his hand. “I think we need to send spies to the slave markets. Our goal is to get the slave trader’s journal. He always records the number of slaves sold and his earnings. That means the information about who was sold and where is written there,” he said, pointing at the map. 

  Allen paused for a moment, thinking. “But we’ve tried to infiltrate those places before. The security is too tight. Sneaking in is very difficult,” he said. Moris nodded. “Then we’ll need soldiers skilled in close combat, because this mission will be extremely difficult,” he said. Allen sighed heavily. “But most elves specialize in magic or archery. Few are trained for close combat,” he replied. Moris was silent for a moment, then said firmly: “I know two individuals with high combat skills — Kail and Talion. We’ll send them. This mission requires stealth and precision. If fighting breaks out, you’ll draw their attention,” he said. 

  Then Queen Mia stepped forward. Her face showed both composure and concern. “That’s not the hardest part, Mr. Moris,” she said calmly. “At slave markets, surveillance magic is used. Special mages monitor the area. If Kail and Talion get caught in that magic net, everything will be exposed.” Moris smiled slightly and replied confidently, “Don’t worry, I have a defense against surveillance magic.” Mia nodded. “Then let Kail and Talion prepare for reconnaissance,” she said solemnly. Moris said, “I’ll deliver it to them myself.” A while later, Moris entered his laboratory, opening the door to reveal flickering lights from various devices inside. Metal tables were covered with drones and tools. Moris greeted Kail and Talion. 

  “Do you know why I’ve called you?” he asked. Kail said, “We’ve heard, but honestly, this mission sounds very difficult, Moris,” a hint of worry in his tone. Talion stood beside him, his hand on his hip. “Yeah, I was going to say the same. Sounds more like war than reconnaissance,” he said with a faint smirk. Moris replied calmly, “No one else is more suitable than you two. I’ll give you devices that protect against surveillance magic. So, don’t be afraid.” Talion looked down, slightly embarrassed. 

  “But I don’t have a powerful weapon like Kail,” he said. Moris smiled. “You won’t be using those weapons. Just take short swords.” Kail looked surprised. “Why?” Moris replied, “This isn’t an open assault. You must infiltrate the slave trader’s room and obtain information about where the elves were sold. You’ll need to stay hidden,” he said. 

   Kail and Talion exchanged looks, then together said, “Understood. When do we leave?” Moris said, “Now. But first, come into the lab.” When they entered, Moris took two heavy bags from the metal table and placed them before them. Kail touched the bag’s surface. “What’s this?” he asked. Moris smiled slightly. “It’s a device that protects you from surveillance magic.” Talion and Kail stood silently for a moment. “Then we’re off, master,” said Kail, bowing. 

   Moris watched them leave and whispered to himself, “The surveillance magic here works like a radar... and the device on your backs is an anti-radar. It makes you invisible to their eyes. Just complete the mission successfully…” Night. The sky was gloomy, and the faint light of the moon peeked through the clouds. Outside the slave market — at the forest’s edge — Kail and Talion clung silently to the tree branches, their black clothes blending into the night. 

   The anti-radar devices on their shoulders flickered with a soft blue glow. Only the quiet rustle of the wind and the distant footsteps of guards disturbed the silence. Kail looked down and whispered, “I’ll watch the surroundings of the slave market…” After a short silence, he looked at Talion and said, “There are too many guards; we need to find a less-patrolled area. Let’s move.” They leapt from tree to tree, moving with lightning speed. The leaves barely rustled as their shadows slipped forward. 

  Minutes later, they reached the right side of the slave market, where the guards were scarce. They climbed over the fence and hid among the roadside bushes. Inside the market, voices of guards chatting and the clinking of metal armor echoed. The dim light of torches cast long, flickering shadows on the ground. Kail and Talion crouched among the bushes, holding their breath. When the guards walked away, they crawled quietly toward a window. Suddenly, footsteps came from behind. “Quiet!” whispered Kail. They quickly climbed onto the roof. 

  One of the guards below stopped, looking around. “I thought I heard something on the roof…” he said. “Probably just a cat. Who’d be walking around at this hour?” his companion laughed, and they walked away. Kail took a deep breath and noticed a window on the roof. “There’s our entry,” he whispered. Talion nodded. They carefully entered.

   The room was an old storage area filled with shadows and dust. The only light came from the moon through the window. Chains, weapons, and heavy crates were stacked around. From beyond a door came the sound of footsteps. “Someone’s coming,” said Talion. They quickly hid behind wooden crates. The door creaked open, and a guard entered holding a lamp. Kail’s eyes flashed coldly as he drew his knife without a sound. 

  When the guard came close, Kail moved like lightning, plunging the knife into his chest and catching his body before it fell. The guard’s breath ceased. Talion stared for a moment, shaken, but the coldness in Kail’s eyes brought him back to focus. “Let’s go down,” said Kail briefly. They descended a metal ladder and entered a wide corridor. Lanterns hung on the walls, but the hallway was empty.

   They checked each room as they moved. Suddenly, a fat man dressed in fine clothes came out of one of the rooms, jingling his coin pouch as he strolled arrogantly down the hall. Kail and Talion quickly hid in the shadows. “That must be the trader,” whispered Talion. After he passed, they entered the room. It was locked. Kail looked at Talion and nodded. Talion stepped back and kicked the door open. 

  The room was lavishly decorated, with golden cups and leather-bound books on the desk. Kail and Talion began searching. After a moment, Talion exclaimed, “Look at this!” He held up a book. The writing was strange, but full of numbers. “Can you read it?” he asked. Kail took the book and frowned. “I don’t know the Ostanian language well, but I’ll try…” After a moment, his eyes widened. “The first line says ‘List of Sold Elf Slaves,’” he said heavily. Talion’s heart pounded. 

  “Then this is proof,” said Kail. “Let’s bring it to the master. We’re leaving now!” They moved to the window and peered outside. Four or five guards were passing by. “Wait,” said Kail. When the guards were gone, they leapt through the window into the bushes. But more guards were approaching ahead. “Do these guys ever end…” muttered Talion through his teeth. In the distance, towers of mages could be seen.

   Floating images like maps hovered before them — they were monitoring the area with magic. Kail and Talion exchanged a glance, then vaulted over the fence and ran into the forest. They pulled down their hoods, letting the moonlight fall on their faces as they caught their breath. Talion laughed, “We did it…” Kail nodded. “Yeah, back to the village!” 

  Later that night, Moris sat in his lab. The faint hum of machines and soft light filled the stillness. Suddenly, the door opened, and Kail and Talion entered with bright faces. “It went perfectly,” said Talion. Moris stood up. “What did you find?” he asked. Kail replied, “We couldn’t read it well since it’s in Ostanian, but we brought the book,” handing it over. 

  Moris opened it and flipped through the pages quickly. His expression turned grim with anger. “Forty-five elf girls sold to aristocrats in one month…” he said through clenched teeth. The room went silent. Moris stood, his voice heavy. “We move out now. Gather the troops,” he ordered. 

  Kail and Talion stared in surprise. “Now? Do we even know where those aristocrats live?” asked Kail. Moris nodded. “Yes, I know the locations of every aristocrat listed here. We leave immediately. Prepare the soldiers.” 

  Kail and Talion straightened their shoulders. “Understood!” they said and left. Watching them go, Moris whispered to himself, “This time, no one will escape…”