"Don't stress too much. Feeling tired is normal," Gabby assured Elsie gently, as she sat beside him, pressing a damp cloth against his forehead.
"Where did you get all these things from?" Skyler asked, curiosity dancing in her voice as she poked through some of the items stacked nearby —maps, golden artifacts, scrolls,shiny emeralds , a diamond ring,folded linen, a sealed water flask, a pouch of herbs.
"They're from inheritance. I inherited them," Gabby replied calmly, not looking up.
"I should believe that?" Skyler narrowed her eyes, clearly unconvinced. "No, you're lying . "Are you also a bandit,.. I guess not"?
"I'm not," she insisted firmly. "I've already told you—I inherited them."
.....
Gabby then turned to Yamin. "You didn't go this time. What happened?"
Yamin lowered her gaze. "There was no need," she said slowly. "They were already gone."Yamin explained everything that happened.
"What?" Galley snapped, stunned. "Even those girls are not here? No doubt — they helped the prisoners escape." She stood up, frustrated. "I saw that coming from the start. She's a troublemaker. They both are. No wonder they're siblings."
Galley rubbed her temple, pacing for a second before looking at Yamin again. "What do you think? Will those troops actually pull it off?"
Yamin hesitated, unsure how to answer.
"I mean the troops — do you think they'll catch them?" Galley clarified.
"Oh… right." Yamin blinked, thinking. "I don't think they'll succeed. But who knows… We'll wait for a new day. Maybe something good will come out of all this."
She sounded like a motivational speaker, but even she wasn't convinced.
After their conversation about the troops, Yamin and Galley stepped outside into the afternoon light. The sun wasn't too harsh — just warm enough to make the stones beneath their feet feel alive.
They walked side by side, their boots brushing against the dusty path.
"Still think they'll fail?" Galley asked, her tone casual.
Yamin glanced at her. "Maybe. But part of me hopes they don't."
Galley gave a small nod, folding her arms. "It's kind of strange… we talk like we're not even involved."
Yamin looked ahead. "We are. We just haven't decided who we're really standing with."
The wind picked up slightly, brushing through their hair. Neither of them said anything after that. They just kept walking — quiet steps, quiet thoughts — as the day stretched on around them.
But not too far away, trouble was beginning to rise.
A loud knock shattered the silence of the hallway. Jasmine turned from her window just as a guard burst in, his breathing quick.
"Your Grace… a prisoner has just woken up. And now, soldiers too," he said, nearly stumbling over his words. "They're confused — like they don't remember anything."
Jasmine's expression darkened. "Send guards to question them. I want answers."
Soon, soldiers flooded the prison. The cold, dark hall was lit by flickering torches. The air was thick, like something unseen was still lurking. Inside, prisoners and soldiers were sitting up slowly, confused and disoriented. Many rubbed their temples or blinked at their surroundings like they were waking from a long nightmare.
A guard stepped forward. "Tell us what happened," he demanded.
One man in chains spoke weakly. "It… it was just like any other day."
Another prisoner echoed him. "Same thing. I remember nothing strange. Just… waking up."
A third repeated the same.
When Jasmine arrived, her cloak dragging across the stone floor, she moved slowly, eyes scanning every face. They all looked the same: empty, dazed, and lost.
She turned to a servant nearby. "Did you hear anything useful?"
The young girl nodded. "Yes, Your Grace. One of the men said he finished his duties and returned late. Then he paused… and said, 'I just woke up now. That's all I remember.'"
Jasmine raised an eyebrow. That answer again.
She looked across the prison. Not a single person could give a full account of the day before.
"This isn't just memory loss," she said at last. "Something happened to all of them. All at once."
"Do you think it's poison… or magic?" one of the guards asked cautiously.
Jasmine shook her head. "No. It's like a disease. But not one we understand. It touched them — all at once. A force that doesn't leave marks."
The prison was quiet. Not even the prisoners were speaking now. Only the distant sound of a mockingbird filled the air.
Whoever did this had the power to erase time — or steal it.
From Todemel, Officer of the Guard:
A misunderstanding has been reported in our court regarding the recent interrogations of both soldiers and prisoners.
We therefore appeal to you, with all due respect, to grant permission for a full investigation beyond our current area of control.
...
"Yeah, take that one from me," Gabby said, handing over the sword with a slight smirk. "Skyler passed it on — she wants it polished."
From outside, the sound of swords clashing rang sharply. It cut through the air like a warning, but none of them flinched. They were used to it now.
"I would say something," Elsie said, clearly holding back, "but I'm still angry."
"Yeah… me too," Skyler added, crossing her arms.
Their eyes turned to Gabby — like it or not, she had become the leader. The one who held everything together when things fell apart.
"Sorry," Gabby said dryly, nodding toward the cave. "But I'm not responsible for your hunger. If you want food, go get it yourself."
Elsie and Skyler glanced at each other. Gabby didn't have time for moods or drama today.
Skyler raised a hand slightly, signaling she was done arguing. Elsie didn't say a word. She didn't even know how they'd been preparing their meals, still net to the tradition.Buh she helped in passing ingredients and some stuff.
"Please, make it quick with her," Skyler mumbled. She put on a sad face.
Yeah, that was a favor.
Silence filled the cave as the girls sat quietly. Tired. A little tense.
They're still on patrol
Let's just see what happens..