---

  

Reyn and Maria finished their meal.  

**Reyn:** *"You can wait outside if you’d like."*  

Maria stepped out of the restaurant and stood on the bustling street, soaking in the night’s beauty—the shimmering lights, the aroma of grilled food, the haze of smoke hanging in the air. Reyn followed and called out to her:  

**Reyn:** *"Hey... Maria, shall we keep moving to get there faster?"*  

Maria turned to him, her eyes bright as if they were the only two people in the world.  

**Maria:** *"Yes. We’ll make it by dawn—or close to it."*  

They mounted their horses and rode through the crowds, past markets where onlookers stared at their towering steeds, the wind brushing against their faces. Maria pulled ahead, Reyn trailing behind, his thoughts dull with annoyance:  

*"This mission is tedious. I’d have preferred something less exhausting."*  

Maria’s gaze lingered on him, her eyes gleaming with unspoken intensity. When Reyn glanced back, their eyes met—only for Maria to quickly avert hers, flushed with embarrassment. They pressed on in silence.  

---  

**Meanwhile, in the palace...**  

King Altair spoke to Karl in his office:  

**Altair:** *"Reyn is a Stormborn—yes, it’s concerning. It makes him a figure of fear for the kingdom. But he’s vowed to wield his power for its people."*  

Karl clenched his fists, voice sharp:  

**Karl:** *"And you trust his word, Father?"*  

The king remained calm:  

**Altair:** *"Do not forget—he saved the queen. Had he not been with our army, she’d be dead or worse."*  

Karl’s jaw tightened:  

**Karl:** *"I know, but we can’t rely on him just for a few acts of goodwill!"*  

Altair’s tone turned firm:  

**Altair:** *"I assure you, Karl, he won’t betray us. I’ll personally vouch for him."*  

Karl’s thoughts frayed as he sat with Altair and Rose at the table. His voice wavered:  

**Karl:** *"Father, how could you let him go after Zayn, Mina, and Selena? If they learn the truth—it’s a massive risk! And why do you trust him so much?"*  

The king recalled fragments of his interrogation with Reyn, then sighed:  

**Altair:** *"Don’t worry. Reyn is a good lad. Time will prove it."*  

The meal continued in tense silence, Altair’s mind whispering:  

*"Even as I say this... I’m still uneasy. Don’t disappoint me, Reyn."*  

---  

**Hours later, at the outskirts of Prague...**  

Reyn and Maria reached the border, finding the guard post unmanned.  

**Reyn (frowning):** *"Why no guards? The place is unsecured."*  

Maria shrugged:  

**Maria:** *"No idea. But it’s our luck."*  

Reyn matched her indifference:  

**Reyn:** *"Good. No problems so far."*  

Maria gestured ahead:  

**Maria:** *"After Prague, we’ll take the mountain path. The main road’s too risky—Sifar’s military forces are swarming there."*  

They rode on, ascending the rugged trail...  

---  

**By dawn**, they arrived at the gates of the mountain city where Zayn and his group were stationed. Leading their horses on foot, Reyn eyed the deserted streets skeptically:  

**Reyn (dryly):** *"This place looks abandoned."*  

Maria shielded her eyes from the rising sun:  

**Maria:** *"It’s just early. No one’s awake yet."*  

Reyn groaned:  

**Reyn:** *"We don’t even have Zayn’s contact info. I forgot to ask the king for their exact location."*  

Maria grinned, pulling out her phone:  

**Maria:** *"Relax. I have Mina and Selena’s numbers."*  

Reyn’s eyebrow arched as she dialed:  

**Reyn (sarcastic):** *"Marvelous. What luck. Though they’re probably asleep—"*  

The line connected instantly. A lively voice chirped through:  

**Selena:** *"Maria! It’s me, Selena!"*  

Reyn blinked:  

**Reyn:** *"That was... suspiciously fast."*  

Maria cut to the chase:  

**Maria:** *"Selena, skip the chatter—where are you and the others?"*  

Selena’s reply was breathless:  

**Selena:** *"We’re not in Ilvard anymore! Surprise! I’m actually in Sifar—the king sent me with an elite soldier to find you!"*  

Maria’s grip on the phone slackened in shock:  

**Maria:** *"Wait—you’re the one Father sent with Reyn?!"*  

Selena’s squeal made Maria hold the phone away:  

**Maria (flatly):** *"Anyway. Where are you? We need to regroup."*  

Selena fumbled:  

**Selena:** *"Right! We’re at a hotel in a mountain town—"*  

Maria interrupted:  

**Maria:** *"What? We’re at the entrance of a mountain town too! Took the back route."*  

Selena gasped:  

**Selena:** *"No way! Okay, I’ll wake the others. Stay put!"*  

The call ended. Reyn smirked:  

**Reyn:** *"Astounding luck."*  

Maria beamed:  

**Maria:** *"Obviously."*  

---  

**At the hotel...**  

Selena hurled clothes into her bag and shook Mina awake:  

**Selena:** *"Mina! Up, now!"*  

Mina rubbed her eyes, groggy:  

**Mina:** *"What’s the emergency?"*  

Selena’s grin was wild:  

**Selena:** *"Reyn’s here!"*  

Mina shot upright, face burning:  

**Mina (panicked):** *"What?! How’d he get here so fast? I—I need to change!"*  

She scrambled to dress as Selena bolted to Zayn’s room. The door swung open to reveal Zayn rubbing his eyes comically, his two teammates yawning behind him.  

**Zayn:** *"Why the banging?"*  

Selena jabbed a finger outward:  

**Selena:** *"Move it! Their team’s here. We leave NOW."*  

Zayn slammed the door in her face. Selena fumed—only for it to reopen seconds later, the trio fully geared and impeccably dressed.  

**Selena/Mina (stunned):** *"How...? That speed?!"*  

Zayn adjusted his gloves:  

**Zayn:** *"Priorities. Let’s go."*  

They retrieved their horses from a local stable and rode out.  

Mina fretted, touching her hair:  

**Mina:** *"How’d you know he arrived? Do you have his number? And—is my hair messy?"*  

Selena smirked:  

**Selena:** *"One: Maria called. Two: Your hair’s a disaster, but you’re pretty anyway."*  

Mina turned crimson:  

**Mina:** *"MARIA?! And my hair—?!"*  

Selena’s laughter echoed as they galloped ahead.  

---  

**Meanwhile...**  

Reyn leaned against a building, Maria beside him, her cheeks pink. He checked his watch:  

**Reyn:** *"Over half an hour. Are they coming? Are we even in the right—"*  

His words died as Zayn’s group rounded the corner. Reyn nudged Maria:  

**Reyn:** *"They’re here."*  

At the sound of her name, Maria stiffened, then darted toward Mina and Selena, her thoughts a whirlwind:  

*"If I stayed near him any longer, I’d die of embarrassment! Why’d he have to say ‘Maria’ like that?!"*  

Reyn watched her flee, bemused:  

*"She bolted fast. Guess they’re old friends."*  

He approached Zayn, leading his horse. The girls huddled together, Mina’s eyes flicking to Reyn before she blushed furiously.  

Zayn greeted Reyn with a smirk:  

**Zayn:** *"Took you long enough."*  

Reyn shrugged:  

**Reyn:** *"We came nonstop."*  

Zayn crossed his arms:  

**Zayn:** *"Whatever. From here, we push to the port. It won’t be easy."*  

Reyn’s reply was flat:  

**Reyn:** *"Obviously."*  

Nearby, two elite soldiers murmured:  

**Kai:** *"Isn’t that the new recruit?"*  

**Sebastian:** *"Yeah. That’s him."*  

Kai raised a hand:  

**Kai:** *"Reyn! Remember us?"*  

Reyn squinted:  

**Reyn:** *"Oh. Barracks mates."*  

Zayn cut in:  

**Zayn:** *"Save the reunion. We’re on a clock."*  

Reyn yawned:  

**Reyn:** *"Just got here. Thought you’d give us a break, *Shane*."*  

Zayn’s vein bulged:  

**Zayn:** *"IT’S ZAYN!"*  

Reyn shielded his face from the outburst:  

**Reyn:** *"Sorry, sorry—Zayn."*  

The girls caught up, Maria and Mina chatting animatedly. Mina’s gaze lingered on Reyn, her cheeks flushing anew.  

Zayn cleared his throat:  

**Zayn:** *"Listen up! We ride for the port. No delays."*  

Maria groaned:  

**Maria:** *"Seriously? No rest? Reyn, *say something*."*  

Reyn deadpanned:  

**Reyn:** *"Let’s go, *Mr. Zayn*."*  

Zayn’s eye twitched. Maria huffed, scarlet:  

**Maria:** *"At least *ask* for a break, Reyn, you—you *jerk*!"*  

Reyn raised his hands:  

**Reyn:** *"My bad. Won’t happen again."*  

Zayn exhaled sharply:  

**Zayn:** *"Better not."*  

Reyn turned to Maria, tone indifferent:  

**Reyn:** *"We’ll rest when we reach the port. Until then, endure it."*  

Maria’s face burned hotter. Mina seethed silently:  

*"He’s so casual with her! Calling her by name like they’re close?!"*  

Selena muffled a laugh at their reactions.  

With that, the group spurred their horses toward the port, the dawn light stretching their shadows long behind them.  

**End of Chapter.**  

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