The harbor was quiet, the waves brushing the wooden edges of the docks like a whisper. Elias stood at the far end, his eyes on the sky. He looked tired, but there was still a spark of control in him. The others Mira, Riven, and Veyra waited nearby, watching him in silence.
A blur cut through the air, sudden and fast, stopping just in front of them. The wind from his halt pushed dust across the ground. A tall figure, dark hair falling over his forehead, leaned back with a grin.
"You are late," Elias said without turning his head.
The man stretched his arms like someone waking up from a nap. "Nah," he replied, his grin wider, "I was there all along. Just a bit lazy."
Mira rolled her eyes. "Lazy? You almost gave me a heart attack running in like that."
The man's smile did not fade. He looked at the group, then shook his head. "You know, you people are smart enough to erase memories from people who saw you, but you forgot something. Cameras. All those little black eyes watching from the walls. Did you forget about them?"
Mira froze. Riven froze too. And then, at the same time, they shouted, "Oh no. Stupid! What will we do now?"
The man crossed his arms and leaned against a post. "Nothing. I handled it."
Mira frowned. "What do you mean you handled it?"
"I cleaned them. No camera saw a thing. You are safe," he said with a shrug, as if he had swatted away a fly.
Riven let out a long breath. "You know, for a second I thought we were done."
Mira tilted her head at him. "And who are you anyway?"
Before the man could answer, Elias spoke. "This is Kieran. He runs faster than anyone you will ever meet. And he is stubborn."
Kieran gave a small bow as if to mock them. "Pleased to meet you."
Mira folded her arms. "How did you even find us?"
Kieran's smile softened. His eyes flicked to Elias. "I know him very well. He is not hard to find, not for me."
"So," Mira said, "what are we doing here?"
"Hiding," Elias replied, his voice calm, "and training."
Kieran raised his brows. "Hiding and training? For what?"
Elias's tone grew heavy. "Because this time we almost lost the war. Next time we cannot only fight, we must destroy them. That is why Kael is creating a team. Later, when the time is right, we can join them."
Kieran crossed his arms, thoughtful. "And where is Kael now?"
"Right now," Elias said, "he is searching for Arin."
Kieran's eyes narrowed. "Arin? A new one?"
"Yes," Elias said.
Kieran let out a low whistle. "New ones are always a problem. They do not know how to stay hidden. Easy to catch. And when they fall, the evil grows stronger. So Kael is walking on thin ice."
There was a silence. Even Mira, always quick to throw words, stayed quiet. The weight of what Kieran said hung over them like smoke.
At last, Dev spoke again. "That is why I tried to protect Arin before. I almost lost my life for it. New ones make mistakes. Until now Arin kept quiet, not using his powers, so no one noticed him. But now his light is already out in the world. He will make a mistake. Or the evil will find him. Kael knows this. That is why he is moving fast."
Kieran nodded slowly. "Then Kael will find him. Or the evil will."
Riven frowned. "And what about us? What do we do until then?"
"You wait," said another voice, calm and steady, from behind them.
The group turned to see a man standing at the edge of the dock. His eyes were pale and calm, like clouds before a storm. His hair was dark, his clothes plain, but there was something about him that made the air feel thick. He walked forward with ease, as if he had always been there, unseen.
Elias allowed a rare smile. "This is Darian. An old friend. The reason no one has found us yet. He bends the world around us so no eyes can see this place. Not even the ones that search from far away."
Darian nodded at the others. "You are safe here, but not forever. Nothing stays hidden forever. The longer you stay, the more cracks appear. So use your time wisely."
Mira whispered, almost in awe, "You mean you made this whole area invisible?"
"yup" Darian said. "Just unnoticeable. People walk past. "
Riven tilted his head. "That is clever. No wonder no one followed us here."
Kieran gave a small laugh. "So the quiet one is the real shield."
Darian's lips curved just a little. "Quiet, but useful."
The group settled on the dock, the air filled with the sound of water and gulls. For a time they sat in silence, each of them weighed by their own thoughts.
Mira broke the silence. "So we are waiting for Kael and Arin. What do we do while waiting?"
"Train," Elias said. His voice was low but sure. "If we are to face the evil again, we cannot be as weak as last time. We must learn, grow, fight harder. Or we will fall."
Kieran stretched his arms. "Fine. Training I can handle. But hiding? Not my style. I move, I run, I fight. Sitting still makes me itch."
Elias looked at him. "Then run. Run until your body and mind burn. Run until you are faster than thought. If you must move, then move with purpose."
Kieran chuckled. "Always the serious one."
Riven leaned back, hands behind his head. "And what about me? I cannot run like him. I cannot bend the world like Darian. What am I supposed to do?"
Elias's gaze sharpened. "You learn control. You have a gift that can erase memories. But you waste it stealing from shops. Power like that needs discipline. I told you before if you stay, you must learn to use it for more than greed."
Riven gave a half smile. "Fine. But if I get hungry, do not blame me."
Mira smacked his arm. "You are hopeless."
The group laughed softly, the sound breaking some of the weight in the air.
Darian spoke again, his voice calm as always. "Kael will not take long. Either he will return with Arin, or he will call for help. Be ready for both."
Elias nodded. He stood, looking over the water. His mind was already far away, thinking of Kael, of Arin, of the three hooded figures who still waited in the dark.
"We almost lost," he said, his voice quiet but clear. "Next time, we do not only fight. We end it."
The others felt the weight of his words. Each of them knew that this place, hidden though it was, was not the end. It was the start.
And as the gulls circled above and the waves touched the dock, the team that would soon rise began to grow stronger in silence.