Halting outside the airship docks, they observed the bustling activity. Families clasped hands, gesturing excitedly in all directions, their faces lit with smiles and children’s laughter filling the air. A towering steel barrier encircled the area, patrolled by soldiers marching back and forth.

They paused intermittently to converse, clustering together with hushed tones. The cerulean blue of their uniforms made them a vivid presence amongst the crowd. On their chests, a golden fox pin caught the rays of the sun, displaying the emblem of Fioma for everyone to witness.

“Do you guys have a plan?” Jaycee inquired. With the multitude of guards on patrol, a single misstep could spell disaster. The docks loomed over them; the buildings were enormous compared to the houses they had encountered in the city. Grey edifices rose up, seemingly reaching for the clouds.

Leon brushed his brown hair aside, the lengthy strands settling back smoothly. “Kyla will distract most of them while I slip you inside. We have allies within who can get us on board. The real challenge is preventing the others from identifying you. By now, the military likely issued a warrant for your arrest.”

“If we’re fortunate, the news hasn’t spread to this area yet,” Kyla said, her voice betraying a carefree demeanor, as though she hadn’t a single concern.

It wasn’t as though one misstep would cost them their heads or anything.

“Are you ready, Leon?”

He gave a nod, and Kyla was on her way. They watched her as she made her way through the front gate and approached a nearby soldier. She draped her arms over his shoulders and murmured something into his ear. The soldier swiftly pushed her away, his face contorted with rage.

“Will she be okay?” The outlook was grim. Fioma’s military, notorious for detaining individuals with or without just cause, had escalated their aggression over the past few years. Near the jail, tales circulated among its occupants about others who had endured similar fates.

Leon disregarded the question. If he wasn’t concerned about Kyla, then there was no point for him to be. Jaycee dismissed the faint voice in his head that suggested otherwise.

“Are you ready?” Leon asked.

“As ready as I’ll ever be.” Would it have mattered if he had said no?

The coward within him yearned to become a nomad, to live out his days in the wild. Being captured by Fioma’s military meant certain death—a fate he had fortuitously evaded once. Asking for that same favor twice wasn’t possible.

“Let’s move.” He grabbed Jaycee’s hand and propelled him forward.

Leon hurried them through the gates, bypassing the guards and directly into the building.

Out of the corner of Jaycee’s eye, he noticed Kyla encircled by soldiers, her hands gesturing rapidly. A crowd was gathering around them. Would she really be alright?

Upon entry, a blast of cool air greeted them. The doors slammed shut, echoing through the space, while several fans hummed overhead. The interior featured high ceilings and a lengthy queue that snaked around steel pillars before vanishing behind a wall. Soldiers, their emblems glistening in the light, patrolled the vicinity.

“You can let go of my hand now,” Jaycee said, discomfort clear in his voice. The sweat from his palm was embarrassing enough without the indifferent man beside him noticing his uneasiness. He was certain that if anyone discovered his true self, they would swiftly change his name from Sicarii to Ignavus.

“Not yet.”

What could that possibly mean? Jaycee felt certain his face had flushed a few shades redder. Had he overlooked something? And how could his companion remain so unperturbed? There was nothing ordinary about this situation!

“Hey, you two,” came a deep voice, halting them in their tracks. “What are you doing?”

Jaycee was paralyzed as the soldier neared. The courage to meet the man’s gaze escaped him. Ignorant of their own actions, how could he possibly offer an explanation? Besides, he was a terrible liar. The dead didn’t talk, after all, so it wasn’t a skill he had perfected over the years.

“Isn’t it obvious?” Leon said as he interlaced their fingers and lifted their hands. “We’re going to miss our flight if we don’t hurry. Is that all?”

Jaycee looked over at Leon, dumbstruck. What did he just say? Was this really their grand plan? Fioma might be the wealthiest city, but it was hardly the most accepting.

After this antic, they would be fortunate to leave with their lives intact.