ShadowBound: The Need For Power

As the first golden light of dawn crept over the city of Heyh, Serah stirred from her few precious hours of rest. Her eyes blinked open slowly, adjusting to the soft glow filtering through the window. Pushing herself upright, she let the lingering haze of sleep fall away before making her way to the small adjoining bathroom.

The cool water splashing against her skin chased away the last traces of fatigue, and she took a moment to run her fingers through her damp, fiery-red waves, letting them fall freely down her back. Dressing simply, she chose a plain pair of pants and a fitted shirt—functional, unadorned, and easy to move in.

Once ready, she stepped out of her quarters, her boots whispering against the floor as she made her way toward the main room. The faint smell of wood and lingering smoke from last night's lanterns hung in the air.

When she reached the common space, the sight that greeted her made her pause. Jorin was sprawled comfortably on one of the couches, head tilted slightly to the side in sleep. In his arms, Myla rested with her head against his chest, her body curled into him as though the rest of the world didn't exist. The two of them clung to each other with a quiet intimacy, like nothing could touch them—like the dangerous mission waiting for them was nothing more than a distant thought.

Serah's crimson eyes narrowed slightly, a faint twitch pulling at the corner of her gaze. She wasn't entirely sure what to make of the emotion that flickered in her chest. Annoyance? Irritation? Or… something else entirely?

Before she could decide, a voice floated over from the war table. Elira was there, hunched slightly forward with her face partially buried in the open pages of her journal, pen moving in neat, precise strokes.

"They take the smallest chance they can get to turn it into a honeymoon scene," Elira remarked without lifting her eyes.

Serah's brow arched, and she turned her head slightly to give the mage a side glance. "What do you mean by that?"

Elira finally lifted her gaze, meeting Serah's sharp crimson stare with a calm, almost amused look. "Not what you're thinking, princess. For all their recklessness, they're not insane enough to try and have sex with people around."

Serah let out a short breath, part sigh and part relief. "Thank the gods, then."

She crossed her arms loosely. "Where's Kael?"

"Roof," Elira answered simply, her attention already drifting back to her journal. "Keeping watch for anyone suspicious lingering nearby."

"I see."

"And the prisoners?" Serah asked next, her tone as casual as if she were asking about the weather.

"Haven't had any word from Watcher, so I'm guessing they're in the same condition we left them in," Elira replied without looking up this time.

"Alright," Serah murmured, stepping toward the door. "I'm heading out to get them some food." She reached for her coat, pulling it over her shoulders in one fluid motion. With no further words, she opened the door and stepped out into the cool morning air, the sound of it closing behind her echoing faintly in the quiet room.

***

Minutes later, Serah returned to the hideout, the weight of the morning's purchase in her hands. Without heading to the main room, she descended the narrow staircase that led to the underground prison.

At the very bottom, the soft, melodic chirp of the mystical falcon greeted her. The creature tilted its head in acknowledgment, the runic markings along its feathers glowing faintly in the dim light.

"Hey there, Watcher," Serah murmured as she moved past the falcon toward the corner where Ubbe and the other two prisoners sat.

Reaching them, she crouched and set down three rough wooden bowls along with matching cups, placing each one in front of a prisoner. From the small leather satchel she carried, she unpacked the food—steaming rice accompanied by a fragrant sauce—and divided it evenly between the bowls. Then she poured cool water into each cup.

Once the portions were set, Serah circled behind them. Without hesitation, she knelt and began cutting through the ropes binding their wrists—Ubbe first, then the mute man, and lastly the smirker. The gentle scrape of her blade against the fibers roused them from their light dozes.

"Princess?" Ubbe's voice was groggy, confusion lacing his tone as the bonds fell away from his wrists.

"I'm not letting you go," Serah replied evenly, already moving on to cut the smirker's restraints. "This is just so you can eat. When you're finished, you'll be tied up again."

Her eyes narrowed as she fixed them directly on the smirker. "And for your information—try anything stupid like last night, and I'll kill you on the spot."

With that, she moved to a nearby wooden chair, sitting down with a posture that was both relaxed and watchful.

Ubbe and the mute man wasted no time in picking up their bowls, eating quietly. The smirker, however, merely stared at his portion with visible disgust. His lips curled, and he spat into the food.

"I'd rather starve than eat from the hands of a fraud who dares claim she's the princess of our kingdom."

Ubbe froze mid-bite, shock flickering in his eyes. The mute man didn't even glance up, calmly continuing his meal. Serah's face remained utterly expressionless.

"Very well," she said softly.

A moment later, her eyes flared—an intense, bright light that vanished in a blink. In the same instant, the smirker's food and drink erupted in sudden, controlled flames. The fire devoured both rice and water in seconds, leaving nothing but smoldering ash in the wooden bowl and a faint curl of smoke in the air.

Ubbe and the mute man didn't comment. They simply kept eating, their silence speaking volumes.

The smirker's eyes widened before he scowled and turned away.

Shifting her attention, Serah looked at Ubbe. "Ubbe," she said, making his head lift toward her.

"Hm?"

"Tell me—do you have any idea when Drosmir's next auction will be held?"

Ubbe hesitated, his expression tightening as if weighing his words. "Uh—"

He didn't get far before the smirker cut in. "He doesn't know, and neither does any of—"

A sharp thunk interrupted him. His head jerked forward, pain flashing across his face before his body slumped to the side, unconscious. A small rock rolled to the floor beside him.

"Go on," Serah said, her voice calm but carrying an unspoken command.

Ubbe swallowed, glancing at the smirker's limp form before continuing. "About a week from now. Drosmir said he planned to hold an auction."

At that, the corner of Serah's mouth lifted into a faint smirk. "Thank you for that. Now—finish eating, both of you. I have something I'd like to discuss with my team."

***

After tending to Ubbe and the mute man once they had finished their meal, Serah made her way back to the main room, where she found Jorin and Myla finally awake, looking rested and alert. Kael had also returned from his watch dutym

Seeing them all gathered, she called for a meeting and gestured for them to take their seats.

Once everyone had settled, Serah positioned herself in front of the table where the map Ubbe had drawn was spread out.

"Before I begin, I'd like to know if any of you have a plan for how to deal with Drosmir?" she asked calmly, her gaze sweeping over each of them.

Silence answered her.

"Very well," she said, her eyes lowering to the map. "First of all, Ubbe informed me that Drosmir has planned an auction a week from now. If that is indeed the case, I believe that would be the perfect time to strike—raid the auction chamber and bring every person present there to justice."

"Don't you think that would be more trouble than it's worth, considering we're only five people?" Kael said, idly flipping a coin between his fingers.

"He's not wrong," Jorin added. "If Drosmir already knows some of his men are missing, he might cancel the auction entirely. Or, worse, he might still hold it but with double the security we see on that map."

"Either way, this won't end well for us," he concluded.

"Perhaps we could ask the King to send more men to reinforce us," Elira suggested.

"That would not be wise," Serah replied, her voice calm yet carrying a firm edge. "Yes, it would make the raid less dangerous in terms of manpower, but it would also make our entry far more difficult. We must be subtle, no matter the cost. And remember—each of us here has been trained in both the art of subtlety and the discipline of knighthood. I trust no one else to carry out this task as effectively as the five of us."

Serah let the murmurs fade before she spoke again, her voice steady, her posture unshakable.

"I know what you're thinking," she began, her gaze lingering on each of them long enough to make them hold it. "Five against a fortress of criminals is madness. On paper, this plan shouldn't work. But war, politics, and survival… they don't happen on paper. They happen in the minds of those who dare to make the impossible possible."

She tapped the map with two fingers, drawing their attention. "Drosmir's strength is not his numbers—it's the illusion of control. He thrives because his enemies believe the walls around him are impenetrable. But if we strike exactly where he feels safest, that illusion will shatter… and when it does, the rest will crumble with it."

Her hand moved across the map, outlining routes and choke points with swift, precise gestures. "Here, this corridor—this is the artery that connects the auction hall to his private quarters. The guards stationed here won't be expecting an attack from within; they'll be looking outward, toward the city. We'll use that. Two will slip in as buyers. Two more as captured goods. The last, our shadow in the dark, will move unseen until the signal is given."

Kael's brows furrowed. "You're telling me we let them take two of us in chains? That's—"

"—insane?" Serah cut in smoothly, a faint smirk playing on her lips. "Yes. Which is exactly why it will work. Drosmir believes in his control so completely, he won't imagine his prize merchandise could be his executioners."

Myla crossed her arms, skeptical. "And if something goes wrong?"

Serah's expression didn't falter. "Then we adapt. This team is more than muscle and steel. Each of you knows how to read a room, slip past suspicion, and strike when the moment is right. That is why I trust this to us—and only us. Because where an army would be loud and clumsy, we will be quiet… and devastating."

She leaned in, her voice dropping just enough to draw them closer. "Make no mistake—this will be dangerous. But danger is the only language men like Drosmir understand. When we're done, he will not just lose his auction… he will lose his hold on this city. And the name of every person in this room will be the reason why."

For a moment, silence hung over the table.

Then Kael set down his coin with a dry chuckle. "Damn it, Serah… I hate how much you make sense."

One by one, nods followed. Doubt was still there, but it had been pushed aside by something stronger—belief.

Serah only straightened and said, "Good. Then let's begin."