Bone let out a deep sigh, shaking his head in disappointment. He turned back toward the window, the dim lights of Dream City reflecting in his sharp, calcuting eyes. “I guess Lady Luck is on their side today,” he muttered, a smirk creeping onto his lips.

  Then, without looking, he snapped his fingers and gestured to one of his underlings standing nearby. “Go call back those five.” His voice was casual, but there was an unmistakable edge to it.

  The underling hesitated, his brows furrowing in confusion. “Which five, boss?” he asked cautiously.

  Bone’s smirk vanished instantly. His head slowly turned toward the man, eyes dark with irritation. The room seemed to grow colder as silence stretched uncomfortably.

  With a disappointed sigh, Bone shook his head. “You see what I have to deal with?” he said, gncing at another underling nearby. “This one here doesn’t even know who I’m talking about.”

  The second underling stiffened and nodded quickly. “I’ll get them right away, boss.”

  “Good. And while you’re at it,” Bone added, his voice suddenly pyful yet ced with menace, “take him with you—” he pointed at the confused underling, “—and deal with him. Can you believe this? He dared to question me!”

  The confused man paled. “W-wait, boss, I didn’t mean—”

  “Shhh.” Bone pressed a finger to his lips. “It’s already been decided.”

  Two of the men fnked the unfortunate underling, grabbing him by the arms. He didn’t resist, knowing it would only make things worse. His face was drained of all color as they dragged him out of the room.

  Bone sighed dramatically, straightened his coat, and adjusted his blood-red tie. “Now that’s taken care of, let’s get back to business.” He turned toward the rest of the room, his grin returning.

  The five were dragged back into the room, their faces still bearing the weight of what had nearly been their fate. Vex and Nyx exchanged a quick gnce, their expressions unreadable, while Tess’s jaw was clenched tight with anger. Jasper and Orin, the most visibly shaken, stood at the back, silent and wary.

  Bone leaned back in his chair, his feet propped up on the edge of the long table. A cigar smoldered zily between his fingers, the smoke curling around his grin. He looked them over with a pyful glint in his eye. “Well, well, my favorite little thieves. How was your short trip?”

  Nobody answered.

  “Oh, come now, don’t be so grim. I’m in a good mood,” he continued, rolling his shoulders. “And lucky for you, I’ve decided to be generous. You all get a chance to repent for your… misdeeds.”

  Vex’s eyes narrowed. “What do you want?” she asked, voice ced with suspicion.

  Bone’s grin widened. He took a slow drag of his cigar before exhaling and leaning forward. “I have a job for you,” he said smoothly. “One simple little task, and all your debts? Wiped clean. No more fun house, no more mines, no more… well, any of the unpleasant things I had pnned for you.”

  Nyx frowned. “And what’s the catch?”

  Bone chuckled, wagging a finger at him. “No catch, my dear boy. You just have to do what you do best—grab something and bring it back here. A simple retrieval job. And then… you’re free to go.”

  Orin, still gagged, let out a muffled grunt of disbelief.

  Tess’s arms crossed over her chest. “And what exactly are we ‘retrieving’?” she asked.

  Bone tapped his cigar against an ashtray, flicking away the embers. His grin never wavered. “Oh, just a vase,” he said lightly.

  The old man tilted his head slightly, studying Melissa with an amused glint in his ancient eyes. "Tell me, child, how much do you truly know about the world?"

  Melissa hesitated for a moment before answering. "Apart from the creation story, I know very little. I only just learned about the borders at the meeting today."

  The old man chuckled softly, his expression both knowing and distant. "Ah, the borders… a mere fraction of the truth." He turned away, gazing at the sky as if searching for something lost in time.

  "There is more to the world than you can even imagine," he said, his voice carrying the weight of centuries.

  And with those words, the conversation fell into silence, the air around them thick with the unspoken mysteries yet to be unraveled

  Vex’s eyebrows shot up. “A vase?”

  “A very special vase,” Bone crified. “And it happens to be in a pce no one’s ever heard of before.”

  Silence fell over the group. Even Tess, who had been fuming moments ago, now looked uncertain.

  Jasper, still shaken but ever the practical one, spoke up. “And where exactly is this pce?”

  Bone chuckled again, his grin turning sharp. “Oh, you’ll find out soon enough,” he said. “Pack your bags, my dear thieves. You’re going on a little trip.”

  Two days ter, under the cover of a heavy fog rolling in from the sea, the five were taken to the south coast. The docks there were mostly abandoned, save for a few scattered figures moving in the shadows. A rge airship was docked at the far end, its sleek, bck frame giving off an ominous presence.

  As they approached, they spotted a familiar figure standing near the edge of the pier, his bck-cloaked robes blending almost seamlessly into the mist. Adrak.

  He turned as they arrived, his hood concealing most of his face, save for the faint glow of his eyes beneath the shadow. “You’re here,” he said simply. His voice was calm, but there was an eerie weight to it that made the five uneasy.

  Vex was the first to speak. “So, what’s the pn?”

  Adrak studied them for a moment before nodding. “The pce where the item is located is not on any map you’ve seen,” he expined. “It lies on a continent unknown to the people of this world, hidden beyond the borders you know.”

  The group exchanged uneasy gnces. Even Nyx, who prided himself on knowing every major ndmass, frowned in confusion. “A hidden continent?”

  Adrak nodded. “It is a nd untouched by your kind. No merchants, no explorers, no kings have ever set foot there.” His gaze lingered on them. “And yet, you will.”

  Jasper rubbed the back of his neck. “And all we have to do is steal a vase?” His tone was skeptical.

  “Yes,” Adrak confirmed. “When I take you there, all you need to do is wait. I will create an opportunity for you.”

  Tess, ever the sharp one, narrowed her eyes. “And how exactly do we get back?”

  Adrak’s expression remained unreadable. “When the job is done, I will return for you.”

  Vex let out a slow breath. “This is sounding less and less like a simple job.”

  Adrak didn’t respond. Instead, he stepped aside, gesturing to the airship. “We leave now. The longer we wait, the more complicated things become.”

  With no other choice, the five boarded the ship, the hum of its engines growing louder as the vessel prepared for departure. As the ship lifted into the sky, leaving the familiar coastline behind, an unsettling realization settled over them.

  They weren’t just leaving the city.

  They were leaving everything they knew.

  Melissa looked up at the old man, her expression calm despite the sudden shift in location. The wind carried the scent of blooming flowers, and the soft chirping of birds filled the tranquil garden. Sunlight filtered through the lush canopy, casting shifting patterns over the cobblestone path beneath them.

  The old man observed her closely, his golden eyes glimmering with something akin to amusement. He nodded approvingly. “To think, you just experienced space travel for the first time and didn’t even flinch. Quite impressive.”

  Melissa tilted her head slightly. “Should I have?”

  The old man chuckled. “Even the first priestess, Iskaria, had a reaction her first time. She nearly fell over from the shock.” His gaze drifted into the distance, lost in the echoes of the past. A wistful expression crossed his face, and for a long moment, he said nothing, as though reliving memories that had long faded from history.

  Melissa studied him in silence. Whoever this old man was, he wasn’t ordinary—not just in power, but in existence itself. He spoke of figures from legends as if he had known them personally, yet his presence didn’t carry the weight of someone desperate to cling to the past. Instead, he seemed… detached, as though time itself had long since lost its grip on him.

  He blinked, as if remembering she was still there, and turned back to her. “Melissa, was it?”

  She nodded. “And you?”

  The old man stroked his beard thoughtfully, as if searching for an answer. Then, he let out a small ugh, shaking his head. “It’s been so long… I can’t even remember.”

  Melissa frowned. “You don’t remember your own name?”

  He shrugged. “Names come and go. I’ve had many over the years. But if you need one, call me whatever you wish.”

  Melissa crossed her arms, narrowing her eyes slightly. “That’s not how names work.”

  The old man grinned. “Isn’t it?”

  She huffed. “Then I’ll just call you ‘Old Man.’”

  His ughter rang through the garden. “Fair enough.” He turned and began walking down the path, motioning for her to follow. “Come, let’s continue our walk. There is much to discuss.”

  Melissa hesitated for only a moment before stepping forward, matching his pace

  NOTE

  Profile: Nyx and Vex BckneNyx BckneAge: 21

  Appearance: Nyx is a strikingly handsome man with sharp, well-defined features, a strong jawline, and piercing silver eyes—at least the one he has left. His other eye is covered by a sleek bck eyepatch, a trophy from a heist gone wrong. His jet-bck hair is slightly tousled, giving him a roguish charm. His athletic build speaks of agility and strength, though his left hand is missing three fingers, a constant reminder of the price of failure.

  Skills: Nyx is a master strategist, an expert at infiltration, and a skilled lockpicker. Despite his injuries, he wields a dagger with precision and moves with ghost-like silence. His ability to talk his way out of trouble is nearly as legendary as his talent for getting into it.

  Personality: Despite his cunning and sharp mind, Nyx’s greatest trait is his unwavering loyalty to his sister, Vex. He puts her above everything—even himself. Every heist, every risk he takes, is calcuted with her safety in mind. Though he maintains a confident and charismatic exterior, his true motivation is ensuring that Vex never has to struggle or suffer. He is fiercely protective, always watching her back, and would sacrifice anything to keep her safe. Unlike Vex, who thrives on the thrill of the job, Nyx sees their criminal life as a necessary means to secure her future.

  Vex BckneAge: 19

  Appearance: Vex is a vision of effortless beauty, with long raven-bck hair cascading down her back and eyes as sharp as a dagger. Her slender yet athletic frame makes her both alluring and deadly. She carries herself with a confidence that draws attention, but most who admire her don’t realize they’ve lost their coin pouch until it's too te.

  Skills: A master of deception, disguise, and acrobatics, Vex is the more nimble of the two. She can slip into pces no one else can and vanish without a trace. Her pickpocketing skills are unmatched, and she has a near supernatural sense for danger. She is also an expert with throwing knives, striking targets with deadly precision.

  Personality: Pyful yet ruthless, Vex enjoys toying with people—whether it's maniputing guards or teasing her brother. She thrives in the shadows, finding excitement in every heist. Unlike Nyx, she has little patience for noble causes; for her, it’s all about the thrill and the profit.

  Together, the Bckne siblings are legendary in the underworld, known as the best thieves alive. Whether it’s high-stakes heists, priceless artifacts, or breaking into impossible fortresses, they always leave their mark—though never a trace of their presence.