Clang!
An incredibly sharp, ear-splitting screech of clashing metal suddenly resonated right beside Calverd's ear, the youth who just a moment before, had completely resigned himself to the cold embrace of death.
All three of them instinctively whipped their heads in unison toward the exact point where the fatal strike had been intercepted with absolute, uncanny precision. Kaydan, Calverd, and Prince Wiltan himself, every single one of them gasped, staring wide-eyed at the figure now standing tall beside them.
A mysterious man, clad in pitch-black attire with a full-head mask obscuring his entire countenance, had slipped between them. Clutching a golden dagger that gleamed sharply beneath the dim moonlight, he blocked the prince's sword without yielding even a single inch.
[A Short While Earlier]
High atop the crest of the palace entrance wall, Arvin stood quietly in his invisible form. From his elevated vantage point, he observed the movement of Kaydan's escaping group as they fought desperately to break through the dense blockade of the Victoriaz Kingdom's infantry and cavalry.
His gaze swept over the surrounding perimeter outside the palace, meticulously identifying which gate stood closest and held the greatest tactical advantage from their current location.
Once his eyes locked onto the exact coordinates of the gate he sought, Arvin wasted no more time. Quickly, he open a gate linked directly to his mansion and stepped into it.
The moment Arvin's feet touched the floor of the second-floor lounge inside the mansion, the sudden presence of the head of the household instantly shattered the silence.
All the youths gathered in the lounge awaiting his arrival were instantly taken aback to see their husband returning completely on his own, with no one trailing behind him.
"My Husband, why have you returned here alone?" Allen asked, his face etched with confusion as he stepped forward to greet him. "Where is the boy named Kaydan?"
"It was a complete mess!" Arvin answered, getting straight to the point, causing the atmosphere in the room to turn heavy and tense in an instant. "Right now, he and the other prisoners are locked in a fierce battle against a dense blockade of the Victoriaz Kingdom's forces. The situation is growing even more perilous because two of the kingdom's princes have personally descended onto the battlefield."
Hearing those words fall from their husband's lips, the ten youths in the room were profoundly shaken. They had never anticipated that the mission to bring home the tenth would spiral into such absolute chaos.
Arvin refused to let precious seconds slip away to panic. He looked at Alvein and Davin in turn, his gaze sharp and heavy with emphasis. "I need the two of you to help me right now!"
"What can we do for you, Honey?" Alvein asked, his tone laced with intense curiosity, ready to take any order to assist his husband.
"Before I explain further, can you render Davin invisible and carry him on your back while you fly?"
"Of course I can!" the silver-haired fairy answered swiftly, his voice brimming with unshakeable confidence. "So, is that all I need to do?"
"Yes, your main task is to keep Davin invisible and carry him on your back." Arvin replied, laying out the core of his plan calmly so it could be easily grasped. "Once the two of you arrive at the forest, stay on high alert and await the arrival of those who will soon emerge from the destroyed capital gate."
Alvein nodded firmly, locking every detail of the command into his memory. "Understood. I will execute it flawlessly."
Arvin then shifted his gaze, looking directly at the face of his eighth spouse, who had been listening intently.
"And as for you, Davin..." Arvin continued, delivering his specific instructions. "You must wait inside the forest! The moment you see Alvein guiding them toward the trees and catch sight of the group, don't waste a single second. Immediately open a gate leading straight into this mansion's living room!"
He looked at the faces of both his spouses to ensure there was no misunderstanding in their respective duties. "Do you both understand?"
"I understand, Honey / My King!" they answered in unison with dutiful compliance.
"What about you?" Alrain interjected suddenly, cutting into their conversation.
"I am going to fashion a set of pitch-black clothes like an assassin and wear it just in case." Arvin answered as he extended his hand forward, instantly summoning a roll of high-quality black fabric from his spatial storage. "I cannot show my face out there, let alone be seen openly fighting against the forces of that kingdom."
The ten youths in the room fell silent all at once. They understood all too well the profound weight behind their husband's decision to avoid intervening directly without a disguise.
If Arvin's true identity were to be discovered by the enemy, the political fallout that followed would be catastrophic for inter-regional relations. It was a certainty that the full brunt of the Victoriaz Kingdom's wrath and military might would be directed entirely at the Astoria Kingdom, specifically targeting the Vedegra region.
Channeling his alchemy magic, Arvin began to manipulate the fabric before him. The black cloth sliced itself automatically with immaculate precision, and the loose threads began weaving and stitching themselves together at an incredible speed in mid-air.
It took only a matter of moments for the process to conclude, forming a set of solid black garments complete with a full cowl-mask and a pair of thick gloves.
Without wasting any precious time, Arvin quickly stripped out of his current attire and slipped into the assassin garb he had just crafted.
Once the dark clothes were fitted securely to his body, Arvin turned back toward Alvein and Davin.
"Alvein, let's go now!" Arvin commanded them. "And Davin, get onto his back immediately!"
Upon receiving the order, Davin stepped closer to Alvein, who had already shifted into his fairy form, and climbed onto the silver-haired youth's back.
"Can you flap your wings comfortably like this?" Davin asked, ensuring their balance before they departed.
"Yes, of course I can!" Alvein replied casually, yet filled with utter confidence. "Just hold on tight to my body!"
The moment Davin tightened his grip around Alvein's chest, the presence of both youths vanished entirely from the sight of everyone in the room.
"We're ready, Honey!" Alvein's voice echoed from the empty air.
Before departing, Arvin cast a look at the rest of his spouses who would remain behind to guard the mansion.
"We're leaving now." he said, his tone softening slightly as his right hand tore open a gate leading back to the crest of the palace entrance wall. "Please prepare a warm dinner to welcome them when they arrive!"
"Yes, My Husband, we will get it ready right away!" Allen answered on behalf of the other nine youths, offering a supportive, genuine smile. "Return quickly! We'll all be waiting for you here!"
Arvin nodded gently, then immediately activated his own invisibility magic, causing his form to bleed away into nothingness.
In their completely unseen states, the three of them walked side by side through the rift before the gate snapped shut, vanishing entirely from the eyes of everyone left in the second-floor lounge.