Samuel slowly opened his eyes, feeling a hard wooden floor. It was dark with only four rays of light coming into wherever he was. After he finally got to his knees he realized he couldn’t stand up, his hands were bound by rope. 

“Hello,” 

He looked up to see Jackson trying to reach a chest in the front of the strange box they found themselves in. 

“They put our stuff in there, and I can’t reach it.” Jackson seemed exhausted, he must have woken up long before Samuel. Samuel looked around to see only two windows above Jackson and himself. Nobody else was in the box, but he could hear people around them talking. 

“Are you ok?” Samuel asked Jackson. 

“Ya, i'm just trying to reach the box.” Jackson said “Our stuff is in it.” 

Samuel felt what his hands were tied with, it seemed like rope. Samuel snapped his fingers creating a spark on the rope, and it made a fire burning him and the rope. He reached his hands out from behind his back, and moved over to Jackson. Samuel was able to burn the ropes off of him as well doing minor damage to Jackson, 

“Now what?” Jackson asked. 

“We find out where we are.” Samuel responded. Samuel looked out the window and only saw forest and other carriages. “Did you see where the others went?” Samuel asked, 

Jackson only looked down. 

“Well we’ll find out soon won't we?” 

“But how are we going to get out?” Samuel started feeling around and found a lock on the back of the carriage. 

“Over here, I found the lock.” Jackson shuffled over to where Samuel was, 

“It's the doors I think, Like in the movies.” Jackson said. Samuel felt around the floor and found a small piece of metal scraps, 

“Can you pick locks?” Samuel asked Jackson. 

“I can try,” Jackson said, Samuel gave Jackson the piece of metal.

Samuel moved over to the chest to examine it as well.

“I got it.” Jackson exclaimed, 

“Great, don't open it yet.” 

“Why?” 

“First we have to take down these guys.” 

“How?” 

“Come on, you can pick locks, can you open the chest.” 

“I can try.” before Jackson could slide over a window opened to the front, and Samuel put his hands behind his back as did Jackson. 

“Good they're awake.” Then they closed the window. 

“Come on.” Samuel said in a hushed voice. Jackson slid over to the chest, and picked the lock to the chest. 

“Yes.” Samuel said, and gave Jackson a high five. Then the window opened again, 

“Hey they unbound themselves!” Samuel was able to grab his wand, 

“Abolilicric!” A blast of energy hit the person opening the window. 

“Jeff!!” The driver yelled. Jackson efficiently jumped straight through the window, and stabbed the driver. Samuel climbed through the window with less efficiency than Jackson's attempt. Samuel snapped his fingers over the driver's clothes, and it immediately caught on fire. The driver was able to put out the fire, and was now letting go of the wheel. Jackson grabbed the reins, and was now officially driving. Samuel pulled out his short sword and attempted to stab the driver, but the driver jumped into the back of the carriage. 

“Jackson drive, I’ll take care of this guy.” Samuel jumped into the back of the carriage successfully this time, and pulled out his longsword. The driver pulled out a curved knife, and swung it at Samuel. Samuel jumped back trying to defend himself with his forearm, because of this Samuel was cut badly. Samuel swung his longsword only for the Driver to dodge, then the driver cut Samuel again on the shoulder. Samuel pulled out his wand, 

“Abovilicric!” and cast star blast. The Driver dodged the blast, but the door was now open. 

“Ha, you think you can attack me with a simple wand spell like that?” 

“No, I was just trying to distract you from this.” Samuel ducked down right as Jackson shot his shortbow at the Driver, which pushed him out of the vehicle.

“Alright Jackson, where are the others?” Samuel asked Jackson from the back of the carriage.

“Well, I kinda have no idea.” 

“What, you said they were in one of these carriages!” 

“They are, but I don't know which one.” Samuel couldn’t blame Jackson for that, but they still needed to find where their friends were. 

“Let’s just follow them for a bit, and wherever they stop we stop with them ok?” Samuel said to Jackson, 

“Got it!” 

After about 30 minutes the first carriages stopped, Samuel had stolen the cape and mask of the other Driver whose name was assumed to be Jeff. Samuel would sneak around the carriages and try to find their friends. When Samuel got out of the vehicle, there were a bunch of other soldiers. He went through the crowd with ease, but he still had to find their friends. He saw the commander that he had met when in the shield. He carefully approached him walking at a regular pace. 

“Excuse me sir.” Samuel said, 

“What do you want?” the commander said, while doing multiple other tasks given to him. 

“I need to survey the prisoners… on order of my superiors. Can you point me in the right direction?” 

“Of course, there over there.” He pointed to his right. 

“Be sure to lock them up after.” He threw Samuel some keys. 

“Yes sir!” He walked away, and then went to one of the carriages. 

“Hello? Charles? Carlene?” 

“Samuel? What are you doing here?” It was Charles 

“Shh, they think I'm a scout here for something. I’m unlocking this but you have to get a disguise.” 

“No problem, Ilosioner.” 

“Great.” Samuel grabbed the keys and unlocked the Carriage. “Alright scout, you're here to help me look over the prisoners. Got it?” 

“Yes sir!” Charles said, when he finally came out he was in the exact same uniform Samuel was in. 

“Perfect, now do you know where Eric and Carlene are?” 

“No, all I know is we weren’t put in the same cage.” 

“Why?” 

“So they wouldn’t have a team with an illusioner on their side.” 

They walked past a few more carriages until they found a carriage labeled ‘Danger, Powerful Magics!’ Charles looked into the carriage to see if they were in there. Suddenly another commander came around one of the carriages, Samuel pulled Charles down. Charles immediately Stiffened, 

“Scouts.” the commander said. 

“Yes, Sir!” Samuel said, 

“Have you seen any prisoners on the loose? We believe one of our carriages has been raided.” 

“No, Sir!” Charles and Samuel said in unison. 

“Good on with your duties.” Samuel nodded. When the commander was out of sight Samuel opened the door, and Carlene came running out of the carriage. Hitting Charles in the process. 

“Hands up or you die!” Carlene yelled, 

“Shhhh!” Charles and Samuel said. 

“It's us!” Charles said. 

“Guys? How did you get out?” Eric said from behind them, 

“Me and Jackson took out our drivers and guards, and took their uniforms. Then I came to get you guys only to find Charles, then me and him both came to get you guys.” Samuel said.

“Cool, but what do we do now?” Carlene asked, 

“We find Sylvan, then we get back to Jackson. He has a carriage, and surprisingly knows how to drive it.” Charles put illusions over Carlene and Eric to hide as scouts, and they went to find Sylvan. They snuck around a few scouts and commanders, but they couldn’t find Sylvan. 

“Did they hide him somewhere else?” Carlene asked. 

“I don't know, the commander said all the prisoners were either over here or where me and Jackson were. But I already searched over there.” Samuel said. 

“Could he be in there?” Charles said as he pointed to a building in the front. 

“Let’s check.” Samuel said. 

“Wait.” Eric said “If we're going to the top we're doing it right, only me and Samuel are going.” 

“Why?” Charles and Charlene asked in unison.

 Eric continued “Because my magic is seen right for controllers, and Samuel has no magic so we can get in if I teach him a little magic.” 

“Yes!” Samuel exclaimed, 

“All you need to do is learn how to fly.” Eric said. 

“Already? It’s too soon!” Carlene said. 

“But it's necessary.” Eric said back, “You ready?” 

“Ready as I'll ever be!”

The plan was simple, all we needed to do was cause a distraction, float to the biggest carriage, and save Sylvan, from there they could float to the carriage that Jackson was in and get out of there. The tricky part was putting it into action, and it was time to do exactly that. 

“You ready? Eric said, bringing Samuel out of his head. 

“Ya, I’m just scared it wont work.” Samuel said, and Eric looked like he really was listening. 

“Well, you shouldn't because it will.” That was the first nice thing Eric had ever really said to him, and it made Samuel less scared, 

“Let's do this.” Samuel said,

“Ok, the words are Eliconer. Then you move your wand in the way you want to move.” 

“Alright.” 

Eric and Samuel had climbed onto the top of the carriage; he and Carlene were in for a better vantage point over the camp.

“3, 2, 1, GO!” 

“Eliconer!” They both yelled it at the same time and they both started to float up into the sky and it felt great, if they weren’t on a mission he would have been in the air forever. 

“Quikly, before the illusion gets out of range!” Eric told Samuel,

Samuel floated closer towards the bigger carriage. When they finally got above the carriage, they ended the spell. 

“Wow, flying is cool.” Samuel said, 

“Focus! We need to get Sylvan out of here before they notice we broke out.” Suddenly an alarm sounded, 

“Or maybe they already have.” I said back. 

Eric narrowed his eyes, “More reason to go faster.”

On the top of the giant carriage Samuel grabbed his longsword, 

“Watch out.” Samuel stabbed right through the metal of the Carriage, and opened it up. Samuel jumped in and instantly found himself around 4 guards, and eight cages each with different people in them one with Sylvan. 

“Hey kid, you're alive!” He said, 

“Thanks for the motivation.” Samuel replied. Eric fell face first into the small chamber - tower 

“Ow.” 

Samuel held up his longsword and when Eric got up so did he. All of the guards had spears, but they still seemed afraid of them. 

“Wait, aren't you the guys we beat up in the forest?” Samuel said, all they did was nod. “Perfect! We can have some revenge.” 

The first soldier ran at Samuel and the third at Eric. The first soldier cut Samuels arm, and Samuel repaid the favor by cutting his leg. The Third soldier tried to hit Eric with the back of his spear, but Eric dodged and cut through his side. The second soldier came at Samuel and cut him by the neck, 

“Ow!” Samuel attempted to attack the first soldier at the same time he was attacking the second soldier with his short sword and his longsword. He managed to hit both, but one wasn’t as injured as the other. The third soldier came at Eric again, Eric was hit with intense force but not stabbed. Samuel was about to be attacked by the second soldier, but Samuel used his short sword to disarm the soldier. Then Samuel stabbed the soldier right in the gut. Eric on the other hand, wasn’t doing well and was on the wall gasping for air. Samuel saw this as a soldier was approaching Eric, 

“Abovilicric!” Samuel yelled with his wand in hand. 

The blast did intense force to the soldier, and knocked back the soldier. Eric was able to get up, but he was still injured. Eric tried to stab the third soldier, but the soldier beat his blade away. Eric repaid the soldier by shooting a fireball at the soldier, the soldier was knocked back doing intense damage. Samuel came to Eric who seemed like he was fine for the most part, but there were still two more soldiers left. They both pointed their spears right at the two and started to circle around them. 

“You take one, I take the other.” Samuel whispered to Eric 

“Got it.” Eric whispered back. 

Eric pareyed the blade of one of the soldiers, but failed to stab him directly. Samuel, on the other hand, decided to stab the soldier directly. The soldier stumbled back, just for Eric to turn around and cast a spell. 

“Abovilicric!” The blast of energy hit the man directly in the chest, finishing him off, now there was only one left. Samuel ran at the man, and stabbed him in the back. He was on the ground trying to crawl out of the room, Eric came up and stomped his foot on the man.

“Tell your Captain not to mess with us again, or else.” All the man did was point behind them, 

“Or… Or yo…’Cough Cough’ can…” A blast of energy came running past Eric and Samuel and killed the man. 

“Or you can tell me yourselves.” A masked man came out of the shadows, with a long cape. 

“You killed your own soldier.” Samuel said, 

“Yes, a small sacrifice for the greater good.” The man started pacing  around the room, 

“Greater good? You're trying to kill your own people, my people!” Eric said in disagreement. 

“Well they didn’t listen, so they're not ‘my people.’ The greater good is what is intended to keep the balance within places and realms.” 

“You're insane.” Samuel came from behind Eric “Making people follow you, making people kill, only to destroy the civilization they thought they were helping to create.” 

“No, we are Improving the civilization that HIM created.” Eric came from behind Samuel right by his side, 

“You don't even know who you're serving, do you?” The captain looked down, 

“All I know is I'm helping Marshlake become a better world, one that is controlled.” Eric shot a blast of fire from his wand, but not to hit the man to make the man fear him. “Don’t worry I'm letting you go, with the criminal. HIM has planned for this for years, The great Samuel Knight. HIM has been waiting a long time for you. He then walked into the shadows, and a click was heard from where he was. Samuel looked at Eric, 

“Free Sylvan, I’ll see about this guy.” Eric ran over to the cage that Sylvan was trapped in, and Samuel went over to the darkness. Where he snapped his fingers to create a second of light, there was just a door with the knob broken off.

“Abovilicric!” a giant explosion appeared and out of the explosion came Sylvan.