ShadowBound: The Need For Power

Within mere moments, the two ladies had stripped completely out of their elegant garments. Though their faces burned with shame and humiliation, they valued survival far above pride, and thus allowed themselves to be reduced to nothing but their thin undergarments—delicate fabrics that clung only to the most private parts of their bodies.

Serah and Elira wasted no time. Taking the noblewomen's fine attire, they dressed themselves swiftly, the transformation striking as the disguises took shape. Now clad in the exact likeness of their captives, they stood poised, adjusting every detail until their resemblance was uncanny. Once clothed, they turned their attention to questioning the women. Their interrogation was efficient: names, houses, and standings. The blonde was revealed to be Judith Kondell, a noblewoman from the influential Kondell household in a city of Zone 17. She was the one with authority, the "boss." Her companion, the redhead, was Esther Jamond, her personal assistant.

With further questioning, Serah and Elira pried out every detail they needed—the way Judith held herself, her importance at the auction, and the regard others would have for her. Piece by piece, the two women pieced together the perfect roles to play. When satisfied, they rendered Judith and Esther unconscious.

Meanwhile, Kael had stripped the coachman, whose name was Hekel, and donned his attire. Now dressed in plain but functional clothing, he took on the coachman's role with practiced ease. Serah instructed him to drag the unconscious women into Jorin's tunnel, and he did so without hesitation, tossing the noblewoman, her assistant, and the real coachman into the hidden passage. With them secured, Elira sealed the tunnel shut with her earth magic, trapping their captives safely within.

Kael returned, brushing his hands off as he eyed his comrades. "You two look quite different," he remarked dryly.

"Same can be said for you," Serah replied, smirking faintly at his appearance.

"Alright, enough with the compliments," Elira cut in, her voice sharp—yet it was not her voice at all. It was Judith's, perfectly mimicked with the aid of her spell. "What about the guards? We can't just shove them away like the others."

Serah raised a brow, impressed at the accuracy of Elira's mimicry. Then, in the soft, calm tone of Esther—again thanks to the mimic spell—she spoke. "We wake them up."

Kael frowned, his skepticism clear. "And how is that supposed to work?"

Before Serah could explain, Elira's eyes glinted with understanding. "I get it. Since I'm the boss, Judith Kondell, I'm the only one who can scold them back into place." Her words came without a smile, her performance steady and convincing. Then she turned to Kael with a commanding gesture. "Now, go sit in your coachman's seat, Hekel."

Kael's frown lingered, but he sighed in resignation and made his way toward the front, pulling the full-faced mask of the coachman into place. "You two better not complicate this," he muttered.

By then, Serah and Elira had secured their own masks as well. Elira strode purposefully toward the two unconscious guards sprawled on the ground. Without hesitation, she kicked at them, her voice sharp and filled with irritation.

"Wake up, you good-for-nothing fools!" she barked in Judith's voice. Her tone was biting, commanding, dripping with disdain. Another kick brought groans from the guards, and soon they stirred. As their bleary eyes opened, they saw their "Lady," masked but unmistakable. Panic surged through them as they scrambled upright, swords drawn and pointed outward in frantic defense.

"What are you doing?" Elira snapped, her irritation mounting with every syllable.

"There's a threat, my Lady!" one of the guards blurted. "You must return inside the carriage immediately."

"A threat?" she repeated icily.

"Yes, my Lady," the man said, eyes darting around. "We were struck from behind—someone attacked us, they may still be near. Please, you must go inside at once!"

Hearing his desperate tone, Elira smirked—hidden beneath her mask, unseen by the guards.

"Is that the excuse you dare feed me?" she thundered suddenly, her voice cutting through the air like a whip. "That you simply fell asleep at your post, tumbled from the carriage like drunken fools, and then concocted this pitiful lie?" Her voice rose, her fury crafted with perfect precision. "Let us say your story is true. Does that not mean you left me exposed? That I might have been taken while you lay unconscious?"

The guards paled, their bravado collapsing as guilt gnawed at them. They remembered the sharp pain at the backs of their heads before they had blacked out—but had they seen anyone? No. And with no proof, their own words sounded hollow even to themselves.

"Forgive us for our complacency, my Lady," they said in unison, dropping to their knees.

Elira allowed a small smirk to creep across her lips, invisible beneath her mask. "Hmph. Save your groveling for later. Get on the carriage. Now."

She turned sharply and walked toward the carriage, her every movement commanding. Serah, now playing Esther, opened the door respectfully for her "mistress." Elira glanced over her shoulder one last time at the guards. "Do hope I don't cut your next payment for delaying my journey to the auction."

With that final barb, she stepped inside.

The guards, faces pale and throats tight, swallowed hard. Without hesitation, they leapt onto the rear of the carriage, resuming their positions as Kael—masked and ready—snapped the reins. The horses stirred, and the carriage rolled onward through the tunnel.

"Alright, Jorin, Myla—we're on the move. I wish you both luck in getting inside the chamber," Serah whispered into her comm-rune, her tone hushed but steady as their carriage rolled forward.

The carriage moved on for nearly five miles before reaching the end of the narrow tunnel, where it emerged into the vast grand roadway that Serah and Jorin had previously discovered. The sight that greeted them was staggering—dozens upon dozens of carriages traveling in the same direction, forming a steady stream of traffic. Some of the carriages were extravagant and noble, adorned with lavish insignias and fine paintwork. Others were simpler, military-like with disciplined guards seated at their flanks, while a fair number appeared ordinary, plain, and practical. Clearly, they had come from a multitude of cities and Zones, all converging on one destination.

Serah's team observed silently, their eyes scanning the different vehicles, gauging the sheer scope of the gathering. They refrained from drawing any attention to themselves, keeping their composure—even Kael, who had to suppress his natural unease, focused himself solely on the mission.

After a time, their carriage approached the exit of the roadway. The horses' steady pace transitioned into a gradual climb as the path ascended. The tunnel eventually gave way to the night sky, and the pale glow of the high moon spilled across the caravan of carriages. The silvery light shimmered over wood, steel, and fabric as all the carriages pressed onward, their path now clearly aimed toward the concealed entrance of Drosmir's underground chamber.

From her place inside the carriage, Elira leaned closer to the front window. She narrowed her eyes at the checkpoint ahead, where guards were stationed. Each carriage was stopped in turn, a magical scan conducted upon it before the owners were asked to present a token. Only then were they permitted to continue through the entrance.

Elira turned her masked face toward Serah, her eyes meeting hers with unspoken concern. Serah merely blinked once, calm and deliberate, a silent gesture that conveyed: Everything will proceed just as planned.

Elira released a quiet sigh through her nose and sat back in her seat, maintaining her composure.

Time dragged as their carriage inched forward, moving, pausing, then moving again. Eventually, it was their turn to be examined.

The carriage was halted by a guard clad head to toe in black armor, a sword resting at his side. Two other guards stepped into position—one to the left by the window, the other to the right. The latter placed a firm, armored hand against the side of the carriage. Immediately, a glowing blue sigil bloomed beneath his palm, light pulsing faintly as the spell ran its course.

Moments passed before the guard withdrew his hand. "Clean," he declared curtly.

The guard at the left tapped gently on the carriage window. Elira cracked it open just enough to hand him a gleaming golden token. He examined it closely, the sigils etched upon its surface gleaming faintly under the moonlight. Satisfied, he returned it with a respectful bow of the head.

"Welcome, Lady Kondell," he said.

He then motioned toward the armored guard standing ahead, who stepped aside to clear the path. The horses were urged forward, and the carriage rolled smoothly through the checkpoint.

Beyond the entrance lay a grand staging area, brimming with even more carriages. Noble families, merchants, and guards were disembarking, their entourages forming orderly groups before moving down a wide, torchlit hallway that stretched deep into the earth.

Guided by Jorin's steady hands on the reins, their carriage slowed and pulled to a stop at a suitably spacious corner. Once it settled, Elira and Serah stepped down gracefully from within, their disguises intact and mannerisms perfect. The two guards assigned to "Lady Kondell" quickly dismounted as well—one positioning himself ahead of them, the other falling into step behind.

"Lead the way," Elira commanded smoothly in Judith's imperious voice, her tone sharp with authority. With that, they advanced toward the great hallway.

As they moved, Serah cast a final, subtle glance back toward Jorin, who remained seated at the coachman's place. Their eyes met briefly in silent understanding, and Serah gave him the faintest nod. Jorin returned the gesture, his expression composed and resolute.

Then Serah turned away, stepping into the flow of nobles, merchants, and guards moving toward the depths of the chamber. Elira walked at her side, their performance flawless as the guards led them forward.

The raid had officially begun.