Hidden Pathways (BOOK 1)

Sins Unveiled - Chapter 6

Swiftly departing, Leeani readied herself to shoot another arrow, but Zach gestured for her to cease.

"It appears the world is closing in on us. Our location is no longer a secret," Zach muttered, his gaze distant and contemplative.

Lost in thoughts about the repercussions of the encounter with an assassin allied with Ybael, the Core's Protector commander, Zach was temporarily ensnared in the web of his own reflections.

"Captain! Hey, Captain! Snap out of it," Jiighual shouted, giving his captain a gentle shake to pull him back from the labyrinth of his thoughts.

Gradually, Zach's focus returned, as if emerging from a mental haze.

"Wha-- Oh, right. We just tangled with those unwanted assassins a moment ago. I got lost in my thoughts," Zach admitted, a furrow of concern etched across his face.

Observing his captain's troubled expression, Jiighual refrained from prying and shifted the conversation.

"Captain, about those three injured men that I just sent airborne--" Jiighual began, but Leeani interjected.

"Hey! Are you guys alright?" Leeani inquired with genuine concern.

"Captain's fine. I've got a bit of a bleed on my arm because that man managed to catch me off guard, making me think it was just Nert playing with me out of the blue. Speaking of Nert, he was unresponsive to my words before the attack," Jiighual explained.

"Oh, hey, everyone. I got knocked out from that guy who was here a while ago," Nert explained, his voice slightly disoriented from the impact.

Zach pondered the circumstances. He found it perplexing that both Jiighual and Nert emerged with non-lethal injuries from the encounter with the man. Nert, known for his incredible speed among the Renaissance members, had been knocked out. Additionally, Jiighual, the towering frontline force of the group, had a noticeable wound, courtesy of the man's attack. Zach couldn't help but wonder how their assailant managed to inflict such injuries on these formidable members of their band.

Zach stood amidst his comrades, a lingering question hanging in the air like an unresolved tension. "Was the quest devised to eradicate the entire Renaissance, or was it a singular pursuit aimed solely at my demise?" Zach's eyes reflected the intricate web of thoughts weaving through his mind. The encounter replayed vividly, each moment dissected for clues and motives. With a furrowed brow, he shared his contemplation with the assembled trio, their faces reflecting a mix of curiosity and concern. "He had the chance to seize Nert when he lay vulnerable, incapacitated by the clash, but he refrained. Why?" The enigma deepened, leaving the Renaissance band on the precipice of an unfolding mystery.

"The quest might have been centered around you, Captain," Nert speculated, his words hanging in the charged atmosphere.

Zach remained silent in response to Nert's insight. "Let's return to our hideout and convene with the others. We'll wait for everyone to gather before we delve into the details," Zach declared, his gaze fixed on the uncertain horizon. The weight of the revelation lingered, casting a shadow over their journey, as they made their way back to the familiar sanctuary of their hideout.

As they advanced toward their hideout, an unspoken tension lingered in the air. Zach's mind raced with contemplation, grappling with the myriad possibilities of the perilous path ahead. The revelation that their enemies had discovered the precise location of their sanctuary weighed heavily on his thoughts, casting a foreboding shadow over their journey.

The crunch of leaves beneath their boots echoed in harmony with the subdued atmosphere. Leeani, noticing Zach's deep contemplation, broke the silence. "Captain, what's going through your mind?"

Zach paused, his eyes fixed on the distant horizon. "They have discovered the location of our hideout. We need to be prepared for what comes next. We'll gather the others, fortify our defenses, and strategize. The storm is coming, and we'll face it head-on." Determination flashed in his eyes as they pressed forward, the journey fraught with uncertainty but united by the resolve to confront whatever awaited them.

"Let the storm come; we shall stand unwavering, for our resolve is the thunder that echoes in the face of adversity, and our unity, the lightning that pierces through the darkest of tempests."