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As the air grew tense, the group remained frozen in place, their breath hitching as the general took a deliberate step forward. His head tilted slightly as if to assess them—but his eyes, pale and clouded, revealed the truth.
He was blind.
Yet despite his sightless gaze, an unsettling aura of control surrounded him. With a mere flick of his fingers, he signaled to the soldiers behind him.
Without hesitation, Yu Xuan moved. In a swift, fluid motion, he shoved Nai's back—firm enough to propel her forward but not enough to cause pain. "Go! Go! Don't look back!" he urged, his voice fierce and commanding.
Nai gasped, stumbling slightly before catching herself. Without questioning, she bolted into the narrow passage. Lucius, gritting his teeth, followed close behind, their footsteps fading as the darkness swallowed them.
"Stop or we'll shoot! Hands in the air—now!" one of the soldiers barked, their rifles leveling toward the remaining two.
Harriet and Yu Xuan exchanged a glance. With no other option, they slowly raised their hands behind their heads. Heavy boots thudded against the ground as the guards advanced, their movements swift and aggressive. One of them slammed a knee into the back of Yu Xuan's legs, forcing him to the ground. Another did the same to Harriet, her jaw clenching as she fell to her knees.
The general—Rook, as the guards addressed him—approached with an eerie calm. Despite his blindness, there was no hesitation in his steps. His head tilted slightly as he faced the narrow alley where Lucius and Nai had disappeared. A wry smile curved his lips.
"They won't get far," he murmured, running a gloved hand along the rough wall. "Not through this city."
One of the guards stepped forward, bowing his head slightly. "General Rook, the other two escaped. Orders?"
Rook let out a quiet chuckle—a sound that sent a chill through the air. "I know where that passage leads," he said, his tone laced with certainty. "They've merely given us a head start. Let them run."
Turning his attention back to Yu Xuan and Harriet, he clicked his tongue softly. "As for these two…" His expression darkened as he motioned toward them. "Return them to the labor camp. We'll deal with the others soon enough."
"Yes, General!" the soldiers barked in unison.
Yu Xuan clenched his jaw as rough hands seized his arms, forcing him to his feet. Harriet, though silent, glared fiercely at the general, her pride refusing to bend even as she was dragged away.
As they were led back into the depths of the labor camp, the cold realization settled in—Lucius and Nai may have escaped for now, but they were far from free. And Rook was not the type to let his prey slip away so easily.
Lucius and Nai dashed through the narrow alley, the sound of their hurried footsteps echoing against the cold, metallic walls. The air grew thick with the scent of oil and rust as they reached a junction where a network of pipes stretched upward. Above them, a jagged crack in the structure let through a sliver of pale, artificial light—an opening to the upper city.
Lucius cast a glance toward Nai, his expression hardening as he grasped the nearest pipe and began to climb. Without hesitation, Nai followed, her fingers trembling against the cold metal.
"Lucius," her voice wavered as she climbed higher. "Shouldn't we go back? Yu Xuan and Harriet are still behind!"
Lucius exhaled sharply through his nose, irritation flaring beneath his exhaustion. "Can't you think clearly for once, Nai?" he snapped, his voice low but fierce. "Yu Xuan wanted us to go first—that was the only choice we had. Even if we return, what can we possibly do? We're no match for the soldiers." He pulled himself up to the next pipe, his muscles straining beneath the weight of fatigue.
"But what if—" Nai's breath hitched as her voice trembled. "We can't just leave them behind. What if…what if they end up like Elias… Zara… Orson?" The names of their lost companions hung heavy in the air, unfinished but undeniable.
Lucius froze mid-climb, his jaw tightening. For a brief moment, the memories resurfaced—faces he could no longer protect, voices silenced forever. A flash of anger surged through him.
"If we go back," he hissed through gritted teeth, "we'll end up like them too!" The sharpness of his tone cut through the air like a blade, making Nai flinch below him.
A tense silence followed, broken only by the distant hum of the moving city's machinery. Lucius closed his eyes briefly, forcing down the bitterness curling in his chest. When he spoke again, his voice softened.
"We won't lose them," he said, quieter now, though no less resolute. "I promise. But we need to get into the city first. That's the only way we'll stand a chance."
He paused, stretching his hand down toward her. "You're the strongest fighter we have. I need you to focus—stop dwelling on the past."
Nai hesitated only a moment before grasping his hand. His grip was firm, steadying her both physically and emotionally. With his help, she climbed higher, her earlier fear giving way to a quiet, burning determination.
Together, they pressed on, the opening above growing larger—an elusive promise of freedom. But beneath that promise lay the weight of those they had left behind—and the hope that this time, they would not fail the ones still counting on them.
As they climbed through the narrow crack, Lucius finally emerged onto the upper floor, pulling himself into a shadowed alley. The air was warmer here, thick with the faint scent of perfumed oils and something sweet—so unlike the harsh, metallic tang below. He turned and reached down, gripping Nai's wrist firmly as he helped her through the opening. With a soft grunt, she slid onto the smooth stone floor, brushing the dust from her rough trousers.
Lucius gave her a brief nod, and she returned it, their usual bickering momentarily replaced by quiet understanding. Just then, a distant murmur swelled into a cacophony of sound—the bustle of a city in motion. The clang of bells echoed faintly, followed by the lively chatter of merchants calling their wares, laughter ringing through the air like music. Nai's ears perked at the unfamiliar liveliness, and she crept toward the alley's edge, motioning for Lucius to follow.
Together, they peeked out beneath the pale light of the perpetual eclipse. Nai's breath caught in her throat.
The city sprawled before them, a dazzling labyrinth of grandeur and elegance. Tall, ornate buildings lined the streets, their facades carved with intricate floral patterns and gilded embellishments that shimmered faintly under the dim light. Spiraling towers with polished stone columns stretched skyward, their delicate iron balconies overflowing with blooms of crimson and ivory. Silken banners of deep blue and gold swayed gently in the artificial breeze, their edges embroidered with symbols that hinted at power and wealth.
The streets were paved with polished marble, reflecting the glow of hundreds of lanterns strung between the buildings. People dressed in extravagant finery strolled the boulevards—women in flowing gowns of silk and velvet, their skirts layered with lace and delicate beadwork. Some wore elaborate masks adorned with feathers and jewels, their laughter soft and musical as they walked arm in arm. The men were no less adorned, wearing tailored coats with high collars and polished boots that gleamed under the lights, the fine fabrics of their attire whispering of privilege.
Carriages with gilded wheels rolled smoothly along the streets, drawn by mechanical beasts shaped like horses, their brass joints gleaming. In the distance, a towering clockwork spire stood sentinel over the city, its hands ticking forward in slow, deliberate motion, as though marking the rhythm of life within these walls.
"So this is the beauty of the moving city..." Nai murmured, her voice barely above a whisper, filled with awe and disbelief.
Lucius, watching her wide-eyed wonder, felt a rare smile tug at his lips. For all the hardship and pain they had endured, this fleeting moment—seeing Nai's face alight with something other than fear—was a reminder that there was still a world worth fighting for.
"Yeah," he said quietly, his voice softer than usual. "It's something else."