The night air was crisp as Nikos stepped forward, boots pressing softly against the damp earth. Moonlight sliced through the trees, scattering silver shards across the forest floor. Shadows twisted and danced with the wind, flickering like living things. Nikos inhaled slowly, memories brushing against the edges of his mind. Tonight, he could no longer ignore them.
A knight approached, footsteps careful. "We just need to deliver this paper. Then the patrol ends—I'll have dinner with my friends. Work stretches late tomorrow."
Nikos smiled, calm and commanding. "Go ahead. Enjoy yourself. We've done enough today. Tomorrow is a rest day."
The knight's eyes glowed softly, reverent, like he was staring at an angel.
Dinos leaned toward another knight. "And that case—did you report it to the Sages?"
Confusion flickered in the knight's voice. "I… I don't know what you mean, Mister Dinos."
Dinos waved him off. "Forget it. Just me. I need rest—we've done plenty today."
Nikos muttered to himself, boots crunching on dry leaves. Now that the patrol is over… it's time to begin.
He signaled to Adonis and Dinos. "Come. We still have unfinished business in the forest."
The other knights hesitated. "Shall we accompany you, sir?"
Nikos shook his head. "No. You've worked hard enough. Adonis and Dinos will come with me."
Respectful nods followed. Without another word, the three slipped into the dark forest, swallowed instantly by shadows.
---
A Bandit's Misfortune
Branches snapped softly under their boots as they moved, silent predators. Moonlight barely pierced the thick canopy above, leaving only fragmented patches of light. Every rustle, every whisper of wind, set their senses on edge.
Faint voices reached them. Nikos crouched low behind a cluster of bushes, hand on his sword hilt. Dinos and Adonis mirrored him.
"Bandits," Dinos whispered, eyes glinting.
Through leaves, Nikos spotted a dying campfire, shadows writhing over ragged figures huddled around it. Crude weapons clinked, whispered curses cut the night.
Before the bandits could react, Nikos, Adonis, and Dinos exploded from the shadows like striking hawks. Adonis' grin sliced through the darkness. "Hello… did you miss us, bandits?"
One bandit groaned, stumbling backward. "Damn our luck! We run into high-ranking knights… of all nights!"
Another rubbed his temples. "Yeah, yeah! Let's just—"
A third sneered, stepping forward with defiance. "This isn't fair! Normal bandits fight normal knights. Not Nikos, Adonis, and Dinos! Where's the balance?"
Dinos' eyebrow arched. "Interesting. And how do you know our names?"
The bandit's laugh was nervous. "Any fool who wants to survive knows who to avoid."
Adonis' grin widened. "I like it. Smart."
Then chaos erupted. Adonis' blade flashed, slicing through the moonlit night, catching the glint of a crude axe mid-swing. Dinos spun, delivering precise kicks that sent weapons flying. Bandits scrambled, but the knights moved like a single, fluid entity—fast, deliberate, unstoppable.
Bodies pinned, weapons scattered, the campfire's last sparks danced like embers in a storm. Adonis pulled rope from his pack, binding the bandits with swift efficiency.
Dinos laughed softly, voice laced with amusement. "You brought us here just to watch? This made my night."
A bandit offered a weak smile. "Glad to help…"
Nikos moved closer, drawing a small, glowing paper. Murmuring a spell, he placed it on each bandit. In seconds, they collapsed into deep, peaceful sleep, bodies relaxed like children after play.
Adonis' sharp look silenced any lingering jest. "Don't be foolish. That's why you sent the others away."
The playful air vanished. Nikos finally spoke, voice low, almost a whisper. "You both know my skill. Only you two know of the Eyes of the Eagle—my ability to see through a person's true nature."
Dinos frowned. "That skill never really worked, right? You never told anyone because it seemed useless."
A cold wind rustled overhead. Nikos exhaled sharply. "It worked. A few weeks ago, in the presence of the Sages… it activated."
Adonis and Dinos exchanged uneasy glances.
"I didn't see them as people," Nikos continued, voice tense. "I saw shadows—faceless, shapeless. Their identities hidden. And the worst part? I can't remember their faces, even if I try."
Silence fell like a heavy curtain.
Dinos' playful tone vanished. "You're serious?"
Nikos met his gaze, unflinching. "Would I lie about this?"
Adonis rubbed his chin, contemplative. "If true… the Sages are unnatural. Maybe they hide behind magic."
Dinos hesitated. "I… I noticed too. But I didn't dare investigate."
"When reporting in the briefing room," Dinos continued, voice tight, "one Sage ignored every mention of missing people or the caves near the city. And any knight who brought it up… forgot entirely. Even I… forget. It takes energy just to remember."
Adonis' expression darkened. "Not normal."
Dinos sank to the cold ground, fists clenched. "I didn't dare push. His gaze… it warned me. And me? I just wanted peace."
Nikos knelt, hand firm on Dinos' shoulder. "Fear was natural. But we can't ignore this anymore."
Dinos' eyes searched Nikos'. "Then what do we do?"
Nikos rose, sword in hand, aura radiating resolve. "We stand together. Knights uncover the truth. If it's hidden, we will find it."
---
A Silent Oath
The forest held its breath. Distant hoots echoed through the darkness, the only sound in the heavy silence.
The weight of truth pressed on them—danger lurking, lives at risk if they failed.
But knights do not retreat.
Nikos' grip tightened. The Eyes of the Eagle had revealed the shadows behind the Sages. Now it was time to act.
No matter the cost.