With lightning speed, Loden swiftly draws the sword from his back sheath, aiming to take on the soldier. In a heartbeat, he lunges forward, his blade clashing violently with the soldier's, sparks flying as steel meets steel. Kaiden and the crowd observe intently as the two combatants clash swords, the sound of metal colliding reverberating through the air, accompanied by the flying sparks from the relentless exchange. Both men display their skill and determination, each one nearly landing a blow on the other, only to be deflected at the last moment. Kaiden keenly observant of the ongoing duel, can't help but notice the impressive skills and intense energy exuded by both combatants. He silently acknowledges that the two fighters appear evenly matched, each displaying exceptional talent and determination.

The soldier holding Kaiden’s arm, a hint of envy in his voice, murmurs to the other soldier, "I wish he would reveal how he does that." The other soldier responds with a whisper, "They don't call him Silver Shield for nothing - he is our captain."

Kaiden's blue eyes widen as a sudden realization dawns upon him. The person dueling Loden is none other than the celestial warrior they had been seeking. Filled with a sense of urgency, Kaiden contemplates how to convey this information to Loden in the midst of the intense battle.

Kaiden absorbed in his thoughts, experiences a shift as the soldier beside him prepares to take action. In a low tone, the soldier says, "Let's take this one away. The captain will bring the other once he's done, if he survives." Hearing this, the two soldiers gripping Kaiden's arms tighten their hold, attempting to lead him away from the scene.

Kaiden determined to remain present and reach Loden, protests, "No! Stop! I have to stay here. Loden needs to know!" As he struggles against the soldiers' grip, he feels a subtle surge of power slipping through, manifesting as a small but distinct discharge in the area where the men's hands grip his arms.

The two soldiers, taken aback by the unexpected electric charge that courses through their hands, release their grip on Kaiden. Seizing the opportunity, Kaiden swiftly moves closer to Loden and the soldier, attempting to reach them and gain their attention amidst the ongoing battle. Kaiden pauses for a moment, considering his options for capturing Loden's attention without compromising his safety or creating an opening for the enemy. He weighs the risk and the potential consequences of his actions, trying to find a way to reach Loden without causing any harm in the fierce ongoing battle.

The soldier, exuding arrogance, declares, "Give up, you worthless dog." The clash of swords resonates as his blade glances off Loden's, but Loden remains undeterred, a smirk playing on his lips as he retorts, "Never. You should get off your high horse, soldier boy."

The soldier, fueled by irritation at Loden's words and skill, executes a swift move, closing the gap and drawing a dagger from his waist. Loden swiftly attempts to sidestep the attack, but in the process, sustains a minor cut to his side, a testament to the relentless intensity of the fight. Kaiden witnessing the slow trickle of blood from Loden's side and incensed by the soldier's underhanded tactics, exclaims, "That's cheating!" Frustration and concern well up within him as he contemplates how to halt the altercation before it escalates further. Loden, displaying unwavering determination despite the cut, adjusts his position to keep a slight distance from the soldier. In a seamless action, he rolls away from the solider and swiftly moves to stand beside Kaiden, their proximity now affording an opportunity to communicate.

Loden taking a moment to catch his breath, directs a question to Kaiden, "Are you alright? How did you manage to break free from the soldiers?"

“I don’t know how exactly.” Kaiden says, “But listen, the solider you are fighting is the..”

Kaiden attempts to speak, trying to communicate something important to Loden, but before he can finish his sentence, a sharp pain pierces his side as the soldier’s sword strikes him. The soldier sneers, grumbling, "I hate when people interrupt and leave in the middle of a fight," before swiftly withdrawing the blade.

Loden witnessing the blood slowly seeping from Kaiden’s wound, swiftly catches him as Kaiden crumples to his knees. Concern and alarm etched on his face, Loden exclaims, "Kaiden!"

Kaiden struggles to speak through the pain, his voice filled with distress. Loden gently places his hands on Kaiden’s wounded side, pleading, "Hold on, Kaiden. Please, heal." Despite their desperation, no visible healing occurs. Loden's desperation mounts as he implores, "Please, it worked before."

The soldier strides forward, brandishing his bloodied sword, positioning the blade menacingly in front of Loden. His tone laced with threat, he utters, "You are next.”

Loden seething with anger, attempts to reach for his sword, ready to retaliate, but is suddenly paralyzed, his energy being drained from him. Confusion flickers across his face as he gasps, "What? What is happening?"

Suddenly, Kaiden’s body begins to radiate a silvery glow, and the area under Loden’s hand, where the wound is located, glows even brighter. In a blinding flash of light, energy explodes outward from Kaiden's body, only to subside as quickly as it appeared. Loden feeling drained and weakened, withdraws his hand from Kaiden's side. However, he notices that the wound has miraculously vanished, with only a torn hole in Kaiden's shirt indicating any previous injury. The pain from Loden’s wound on his side as seized as well.

Kaiden blinks open his eyes, his energy depleted, but finding himself feeling better. He gingerly touches his side, puzzled to discover the absence of the wound. Turning to Loden, he inquires, "Loden, what just happened?"

The crowd surrounding them bursts into a frenzy of chatter and astonishment, their voices blending together in a cacophony of exclamations. Words fill the air, capturing the shock and awe of what they've witnessed.

"The Silver Shield attacked the young man," whispers one. "The young man was healed," murmurs another. "The deity has blessed them," someone else declares.

The soldier, frozen in place, remains unresponsive until a booming voice echoes from the direction of the palace key. “Bring those two to the palace. Unharmed,” commands the emperor. Without hesitation, the soldier bows in acknowledgement, “Yes, Your Majesty.”

The soldier stands at attention, directing his men with a firm command, "Men, you heard the emperor. Bring these two to the palace." With a purposeful stride, the soldier turns and heads back toward the palace key, leaving the rest of the soldiers to carry out his orders.

As the other soldiers encircle Loden and Kaiden, Kaiden whispers anxiously, "What are we going to do?" Loden responds in a hushed tone, "I don't know yet, but I'll figure out a plan."

As Kaiden and Loden are compelled to stand up and follow the soldiers, Kaiden steals a glance beyond them, spotting Grom and his men concealed in an alleyway. Grom raises a hand in a discreet salute, and as the crowd dissipates, the soldiers and the palace-bound entourage proceed towards the palace gate.

Kaiden, as he walks, feels his body growing increasingly sluggish. Worried, he glances over at Loden and questions, "Loden, are you alright?"

Loden attempting to maintain a confident facade, puffs his chest out and responds, "Of course I am. That was weird, my pain and wound are gone. Did you do that, or was it me? " He then shakes his head, casting doubt on the last part with uncertainty.

Kaiden nods in agreement, confirming his own puzzlement at the event. "I don't know either," he replies. "The energy definitely felt different." With a mixture of concern and curiosity, he remains unsure of what has just occurred.