The streets were bathed in silver moonlight, a ghostly silence hanging over the city. Only two types of people remained awake at this hour—the watchers, and the hunted.
And the guards of POL—Protection of Lunaris.
"Jun, get down!" Akito hissed, yanking him by the collar and shoving him behind the rooftop wall. Below, the trio watched as guards patrolled the worn-down streets, escorting a large cargo truck under the dim streetlamps.
"What is that?" Jun whispered, eyes narrowing at the odd, sealed containers.
"Shh!" I warned, pressing a finger to my lips. We strained our ears, trying to catch the guards' conversation.
"Aragon Hunter's orders, sir. He wants this section of Lunaris adapted into a base for council members. This cargo—it's laced with anti-Fallen chemicals. Designed to neutralize their abilities."
A woman in uniform delivered the news with practiced precision. All three of us froze.
Akito stumbled back. "No way... that's not possible," he muttered, his voice cracking with disbelief.
"Who's Aragon Hunter?" Jun asked, brows furrowed.
I shook my head. "No idea... but nothing about that guy sounds good."
"If what she said is true, we can't let that cargo reach the other side of the city," I added, urgency creeping into my voice. "If the Fallen City gets wind of this... or worse, if these chemicals are used there—it's game over."
"We can't let panic spread," Akito agreed, exhaling deeply. "They look up to the Fallen Liberators. To us."
Jun remained silent, gaze distant.
"I heard something today," he finally said. "People in the Fallen City… they're talking about us."
Akito raised an eyebrow. "Let me guess. Ren?"
"Of course," Jun nodded. "Three years we've been doing this. You think a new recruit isn't gonna get noticed?"
"You guys are loud."
We all jumped.
Kenji Hayashi.
Completely forgotten. Again.
"When the hell did you get here?!" Jun gasped, clutching his chest dramatically.
Akito exhaled hard, visibly annoyed but trying to act cool in front of our team leader. Kenji, as always, looked entirely unfazed—dark purple hair dancing in the breeze, expression cool, like he didn't just appear out of thin air.
"So, we're stealing the cargo?" he asked, tone deadpan.
"We can explain," Akito began. "We had a plan—non-violent. I know you hate mess—"
"If we're stealing it," Kenji interrupted, "I call dibs on the guards."
We all stared.
"...No offense, but you sure you're up for that?" I asked cautiously.
Jun and Akito slowly turned toward me, eyes wide as if I had just summoned a death wish.
"Ren."
"Yeah?" "I taught you how fight, remember?"
"...Right."
Kenji gave a faint smile, then shifted tone.
"You want to know who Aragon Hunter is?"
We leaned in, eyes wide like kids awaiting Storytime.
"Aragon Hunter is bad news. He's the head of the council. Also runs POL. Possibly high up in the Rebellion. If this is his doing—if he's the one behind our people suffering—then we return the favour."
Akito clenched a stone in his hand, flipping it in the air like a coin of vengeance.
"I'm in," he muttered. "Time to even the score."
Jun hesitated. "Are we seriously about to steal from—?"
The stone went flying.
Thunk.
One of the guards crumpled to the ground.
"Who's there?!" the second guard shouted, raising his weapon toward the rooftop.
"Jun, Kenji—cargo."
"Akito, you're with me."
I nodded at Akito. He drew his bow, and I touched the arrow tip—igniting it in a swirl of orange flame.
Fwip!
The arrow hit its mark. The guard screamed, dropping his weapon as fire raced along his coat.
We moved.
I vaulted from the rooftop, landing with a skid across the ledge, flipping off the balcony rail and landing with a thud on the street. Akito remained above, raining cover fire as Kenji and Jun rushed the truck.
Jun unstrapped the containers while Kenji, surprisingly agile, moved to flank.
I drew my blade, flame curling around the steel like a viper. Across the street, more guards poured in.
I smiled.
"I hope you're watching, Aragon Hunter."
"Because this is only the beginning.