Ryker, stop!" Yumi shouted, stepping forward as Ryker raised his blade.
But before she could say more, one of the thugs smirked and stepped in front of Ryker, cracking his knuckles.
"Hey, kid... how about you fight me instead?"
Ryker's eyes narrowed. "Gladly," he said, calm but dangerous.
"No! Big brother, don't!" the little girl cried, clutching Yumi's leg tightly.
Another thug stepped up behind the first, gripping Ryker's sword without fear.
"Alright, alright... we'll play your little game," he sneered. "But once we're done, we're taking that pretty little girl with us. She'll fetch a high price."
He didn't even finish his sentence.
Crack!
Ryker's fist smashed into the thug's face, sending him flying backwards.
In the same motion, Ryker spun and landed a brutal kick into the first man's stomach, doubling him over with a gasp.
Two more thugs rushed in from the alley, weapons drawn, roaring in rage.
Ryker didn't even flinch.
He raised his hand—and the wind obeyed.
"Wind Pulse."
A sudden gust burst from Ryker's palm, slamming into the men and sending them flying into the walls with bone-cracking force.
Dust settled. Silence fell.
The little girl trembled behind Yumi, wide-eyed.
Ryker lowered his hand, his voice like steel.
"Touch her again... and I'll end you."
"Thank you, big sister..." the little girl said, still trembling but holding onto Yumi tightly.
Yumi knelt down and gently brushed the girl's hair aside. "Who are you? Why were those men after you?"
The girl looked up, her eyes wide with fear but also trust. "My name is... Aira," she said softly. "They... they took me from my village. I ran away, but they kept chasing me..."
Yumi's expression darkened, and she glanced back at Ryker.
"Human trafficking," Ryker muttered coldly. "They've spread even into the kingdom's heart..."
Aira clung to Yumi's hand tightly. Her voice was small, almost a whisper.
"My mom... she borrowed money. We couldn't pay it back. That's why they took me."
Yumi's eyes widened. "Where is your mother now?"
"A room... they locked her in a room," Aira replied, pointing back toward the narrow alley they had come from.
"Which room exactly?" Yumi asked urgently.
Before Aira could answer, Ryker stepped forward, his tone cold and sharp.
"Yumi... who is peon —" he paused, choosing his words carefully in front of the child. "—were gathered. She might still be there."
Yumi's fists clenched. "Then we're going back. Now."
Ryker narrowed his eyes toward the alleyway and stepped back.
"No. I have a plan," he said calmly, his voice layered with intent.
Before Yumi could respond, the little girl tugged her sleeve.
"Sis... I'm hungry," she said with wide, innocent eyes.
Yumi's expression softened instantly. She knelt down and brushed Aira's hair gently.
"Okay, sweetie. We'll get you something to eat soon."
Ryker glanced at them both, then turned away slightly, deep in thought.
"Feed her first. We move after that," he said.
They found a quiet corner in the market, away from the crowd. Yumi bought a small bowl of warm rice and vegetables from a local vendor and handed it to the girl.
The little one's eyes lit up.
"Thank you, sis!" she said, beginning to eat eagerly, barely pausing to breathe.
Yumi sat beside her, watching with a gentle smile.
"She must've been starving..." she whispered.
Ryker leaned against a wall nearby, arms crossed. His eyes were sharp, scanning their surroundings. He hadn't touched any food.
"Yumi," he said quietly.
She looked up.
"Yeah?"
"I said I have a plan. But it's better if you don't know yet. Just follow my lead once we leave this place."
Yumi's brows furrowed.
"You always hide things..."
"For a reason." His tone was calm, yet unreadable.
He looked toward the sky, then back at the girl.
"Let her finish. Then we start moving."
After the girl finished eating, she clutched Yumi's hand tightly.
"Can you take us to your house now?" Yumi asked gently.
The girl nodded.
"It's not far... but don't tell anyone. They watch."
Ryker narrowed his eyes at that.
They followed her through winding alleys, past crumbling buildings and suspicious stares. Finally, they stopped at a small, broken-down room barely standing between two larger stone houses.
The girl pointed.
"Mama's inside."
Yumi approached first and gently opened the wooden door.
What she saw made her stop cold.
Inside, a woman lay on a pile of rags. Pale. Breathing, but weak. Bruises marked her arms. Her eyes opened slowly when she heard them.
"Are... you the ones who helped my daughter?" she whispered.
Yumi nodded and knelt beside her, already using healing magic.
"Don't speak too much. Let me help."
Ryker stepped in and stood in the corner.
"This place..." he muttered. "Something's not right."
Yumi looked back at him.
"You feel it too?"
Ryker didn't respond. He was already staring at a strange symbol carved faintly on the wall—one he'd seen before, connected to the darker side of the kingdom.
He turned slowly, his voice low and dangerous.
"This isn't just a loan... This house is marked. Someone used this family for something else."
Ryker stepped closer to the carved symbol on the wall. His eyes narrowed as he traced it with his finger.
"This mark... it belongs to a secret group inside the Kingdom," he said. "A trafficking ring—disguised under fake loans. They take those who can't pay... and sell them."
Yumi's face turned pale.
"And this girl... her mother... they were targeted."
The woman coughed weakly.
"They came at night... said if I didn't pay, they'd take my daughter. I tried to hide her... but they always find us."
The girl hugged Yumi tighter, scared.
"They said they'd come again today..."
Ryker stood up and walked to the door.
"They will."
His voice was cold.
"But this time, they'll leave in pieces."
Yumi stood as well.
"Ryker... are you serious about stopping them?"
He glanced over his shoulder, eyes glowing faintly.
"This kingdom allowed it. I'll burn down every part of it until no child has to beg for help again."
Suddenly, they heard footsteps outside—many of them.
Yumi held the girl protectively.
Ryker unsheathed his sword.
"Showtime," he said.
Lunara looked up as Ryker entered her room, his presence like a storm breaking through silence.
"We're going to do this," Ryker said, voice sharp and resolute.
Lunara stood slowly. "What do you mean… do what?"
"Destroy the filth hiding inside your Kingdom." He tossed a bloodstained cloth onto her table. "Trafficking. Children. Your people are being hunted like animals. And your so-called leaders are covering it up."
Lunara's face tensed. Yumi stepped in behind Ryker, holding the little girl gently in her arms.
"This child was next," Yumi said softly. "And her mother might still be dying."
Lunara's hands clenched into fists. "I knew corruption existed, but... not this far."
Ryker stepped closer.
"We end this now. Not just expose it—burn it down. But I need your authority. I need your magic."
Lunara looked between them. Then she reached for her necklace.
"Then let's burn the system together."