March 8th, 1810
Only a few days had passed since the last incident, and now the scene opened in a bleaker, far more treacherous corner of London. The kind of place where the shadows didn't just hide people—they swallowed them whole. Robberies, kidnappings, murders... none of it was rare here. And no one would bat an eye.
Criminals skulked through the streets like rats in a sewer—unbothered, unafraid.
Among them, cloaked and blending in as best they could, moved several members of the Lantern Society. Their steps were cautious, calculated. Their goal: infiltrate a secret government facility, one they recently discovered had ties to Percival himself.
But what none of them realized was that they weren't alone. Trailing from a distance, trying and failing to look inconspicuous, was none other than Teslaine.
She wore an outfit that screamed "I'm definitely not supposed to be here" to anyone with eyes—an awkward mash-up of street clothes and a tattered cloak. Still, her grin was so wide, so genuine, it was almost hard to scold her for it.
I finally get to go on a mission! she thought, her heart pounding in her chest like a drum. Her excitement was almost impossible to contain. Though... this isn't exactly how I pictured it. And the fact I'm secretly following them... Auntie Victoria's definitely going to kill me. But maybe... maybe she'll understand.
Her expression faltered for a moment.
I hope she does... Because I need to prove to myself—and to my father—that I'm worthy.
Time slipped by, and the undercover Lantern agents reached the entrance to a run-down, lifeless facility. Its boarded-up windows and rusted metal gate gave it the look of a place long abandoned—but the truth behind its walls was anything but.
Teslaine crouched behind a tree at a distance, her eyes locked onto the scene. She whispered breathlessly to herself, "This is so exciting! It's like one of those scary stories they used to tell us as kids!"
She was right, in a way.
The atmosphere held that same eerie suspense, the kind that made your skin crawl and breath hitch. But what Teslaine didn't realize... was that this wasn't a tale told around a campfire. It wasn't make-believe.
It was real.
And it was about to turn bloody.
Just as she began to edge forward, intent on sneaking in, a heavy, chilling presence loomed behind her.
Teslaine's instincts screamed.
She turned, heart stopping in her chest—and met the eyes of a man she didn't recognize. His face was a roadmap of old scars, each one a silent testament to the lives he'd stolen. He towered over her like a specter from a nightmare.
"Well, well," he drawled, a cruel smirk twisting his lips. "Looks like a pretty little girl wandered where she shouldn't be. Out here all alone... without her parents."
He extended a hand toward her, mockingly polite.
"Come. Let me help you find them."
Teslaine froze. Her breath caught in her throat, body unwilling to move.
Then—instinct.
She slapped his hand away and bolted.
But she didn't get far.
With a guttural laugh, the man lunged and grabbed her by the hair, yanking her backward with brute force. Her scream was cut short as her body hit the ground, hard.
Everything went black.
The sound of her fall echoed through the silent district. The agents inside froze.
And then all hell broke loose.
Criminals poured out from the shadows like ants from a disturbed nest. The Lantern Society's cover had been blown.
Outnumbered. Surrounded.
The same scarred man sauntered forward, gripping Teslaine's unconscious body by the hair as though she were nothing more than a broken doll.
"Teslaine!" one of the agents cried out in panic.
The man sneered. His voice, slick with malice, cut through the tension like a blade.
"Looks like we found ourselves a pack of nosy little spies," he said. "Let's teach these bastards what happens when you step into our territory."
His grin widened, bloodlust in his eyes.
"Make sure none of 'em walk out alive."
-------
The Next Morning - Lantern Society Headquarters
The morning light barely crept through the stained glass windows of the buildings above, and beneath, was the Lantern Society's main hall. The air was heavy with tension, silence pressing down like a storm about to break.
Xavier sat beside Anastasia and Victoria, his hand gently resting on Alcmena, who lay curled up in his lap, half-asleep but sensing the unease in the room. Around them, members of the Lantern Society stood or sat in tight clusters, worry etched across their faces. Even Adam, usually calm and carefree, stood alone by the wall. His arms were crossed, and his eyes were cold, distant—a storm brewing behind them.
Something was wrong.
They all knew it.
Teslaine was missing.
Victoria's niece. A member of the Lantern Society. Gone without a trace.
Along with her, the agents sent to infiltrate Percival's secret government facility had vanished too. No word. No message. No return. And that silence—that unnatural silence—was a sound louder than any explosion.
Xavier turned to Victoria, her pacing back and forth making the wooden floor creak with every step. She gnawed at her fingernails, whispering thoughts too quiet for anyone to hear.
"Where do you think Teslaine might've gone, Miss Victoria?" Xavier asked gently, concern weighing heavy in his voice.
Victoria froze mid-step.
Her eyes were wide, unfocused.
"I don't know," she admitted, the words catching in her throat. "I checked everywhere. Her room, that little candy shop she loves... even the playground where she talks to the other kids. Nothing. Not even a single clue."
The weight of her words settled across the room like a dark fog.
Everyone thought the same thing, though no one dared say it.
Where could she have gone?
Then—
BANG!
The doors to the Lantern Society burst open, slamming against the walls. A lone figure stumbled inside.
Bloodied. Barely standing. Covered in gashes and bruises. A ghost of a man.
One of the agents from the mission.
Every head turned in shock as he limped forward, gasping for breath like a drowning man. His eyes were wide with fear. His body trembled.
"Everyone!" he shouted. "Bad news! The mission—the mission has failed!"
Panic surged.
Adam moved instantly, vanishing into shadows and reappearing beside the agent, catching him before he collapsed to the floor.
"Stay with me," Adam said firmly, voice laced with urgency but calm. "Breathe. Slowly. In and out."
The man tried. But he was fading fast.
His eyes fluttered, blood dripping from his lips as he turned to face Victoria.
"Tes... Teslaine... she was taken. Kidnapped..."
Silence.
Shock cracked across every face like a thunderbolt.
Victoria stepped forward, trembling.
"What? What do you mean? What happened to my niece?!"
The agent coughed, blood staining his teeth. His voice was barely a whisper now.
"She followed us... she wasn't supposed to be there... but she followed... they took her. Because of that... we were spotted..."
He choked, eyes glazing.
"My partners... all dead... I barely made it out..."
And then he collapsed, unconscious.
The room fell into a haunting silence.
Xavier turned slowly, his eyes landing on Victoria.
She stood frozen, her hands shaking uncontrollably. Her face—a pale canvas of horror, disbelief, and overwhelming dread.
The fear of a woman who had just realized her beloved niece was in the hands of monsters.
And they didn't know if she was still alive.
-------
Hours flew, and the Lantern Society was in a state of panic following the devastating news: their agents had failed their mission and were killed by the criminals protecting the secret base, which had been full of vital information. But the most shocking revelation of all—Teslaine's abduction.
In a quiet hallway, Xavier walked with a heavy heart. Alcmena rested on his right shoulder, silent but attentive, while Xavier's thoughts raced.
Why did Teslaine follow the agents by herself? What did she think she would gain by doing something so reckless? he wondered, his worry growing more intense with every step. Where are they keeping her? Is she alright? Is she even alive?
Alcmena interrupted his spiraling thoughts, calmly stating, "There's no point in stressing over it, Xavier."
"But—" Xavier began, but Alcmena cut him off.
"I'm worried too, Xavier. But I'm not panicking and doing nothing like everyone else. I'm already thinking of ways to find and save her. You should be doing the same if you truly want to change what happened."
Alcmena's words struck Xavier deep, grounding him. He nodded slowly. "You're right, Master. I should be taking action instead of worrying."
With a smirk of pride, Alcmena responded playfully, "That's my boy."
Soon, Xavier arrived at a quiet room where Victoria sat, crying in distress. Anastasia was beside her, arms around her shoulders in comfort.
"Miss Victoria," Xavier said gently, stepping forward. "I'd like to have a word with you, if I may."
Victoria wiped away her tears, looking up at him with a faint, forced smile. Her makeup had smudged, darkening her eyes. "What would you like to talk about, Xavier?"
Xavier nodded to Anastasia, who gave him a subtle nod back before he knelt calmly before Victoria.
"What I wanted to ask," he began, "is why Teslaine followed those agents. Was she ordered to go with them?"
Victoria shook her head. "No. She wasn't told to go. But I blame myself."
"Why?"
"Because Teslaine has always begged to go on missions. And this time, she must have secretly decided to follow them without telling anyone."
Xavier's brows furrowed. "What was so important about going on a mission that she'd risk her life?"
Victoria looked down at her hands, took a deep breath, and began. "Teslaine is a special child, Xavier. Just like you. She was born 'gifted.' Her power allows her to forge technology into life straight from her imagination."
That revelation stunned Xavier, Alcmena, and Anastasia.
"She's a gifted?" Xavier echoed.
"Yes," Victoria confirmed. "But it wasn't just her power that made her special. It's her mind. Teslaine was born a genius—beyond genius. Her intelligence surpasses mine, and likely that of any known prodigy in history."
Victoria's voice trembled slightly as she continued. "But she was always neglected by her father, especially after her mother's death. And so, she's always tried to prove herself. To her father. To herself. Even to me. She's always sought love. Validation. A reason for her existence. She's done many dangerous things in the past to get it. And now... this."
Xavier's heart ached for his friend. She's just like me, he thought. She searches for love. For purpose.
"I never knew Teslaine suffered so much…" he murmured. "May I ask… who is Teslaine's father?"
Victoria froze. Beads of sweat formed as the question hung in the air. Should I tell him? Would Teslaine forgive me if I did?
Seeing her discomfort, Xavier smiled gently. "Forgive me. You don't have to answer if you're not ready."
He knelt down and gently held Victoria's hand. "Miss Victoria, I understand what you're going through. But please don't blame yourself. You've done your best to raise and protect Teslaine. Keep doing that."
Their eyes met—Xavier's cosmic blue eyes shining with sincerity. "I promise you—I'll find Teslaine. I'll rescue her before dawn. You have my word."
The room fell silent at his vow. Anastasia smiled faintly, touched by his words. Alcmena beamed proudly.
You never fail to surprise me, Master, Anastasia thought.
But Xavier's promise stirred guilt deep inside him. I'm such a hypocrite… I abandoned my own family without a word.
Still, he pushed those thoughts aside. Right now, Teslaine needed him.
He stood and walked to the door, ready to set his plan in motion. But as he opened it, he paused—surprised to find many members of the Lantern Society waiting for him.
"We want to help you save Teslaine, Xavier!" one of them declared.
One by one, others chimed in, pledging their support. Teslaine was family to them, too.
Xavier smiled, humbled. "Of course. I have no objections."
Cheers erupted in the hallway.
Far away, within the shadows of his domain, Adam watched silently, having listened to everything.
A small, proud smirk curled on his lips. "I never doubted you for a second, child. I knew you'd do just that."
-------
As day faded into night, the agents of the Lantern Society moved silently, slipping between buildings and shadows to avoid detection. Meanwhile, Xavier and Anastasia leapt across rooftops, their silhouettes sharp against the moonlit skyline. Strangely, Alcmena was nowhere in sight.
Trailing behind Anastasia, Xavier found himself straining to keep pace. Her movements were eerily silent and impossibly smooth—so much so that it seemed she floated rather than stepped.
"Miss Anastasia," Xavier whispered between breaths, "how are you able to move like that—so quietly, so fast?"
Anastasia halted without a sound, turning her head slightly with a faint smirk. "Did you forget I was raised as an assassin in the Empire of Japan before Lord Graviil adopted me?"
"No, I didn't," Xavier replied sheepishly. "I may forget small things, but never something as important as that. It's just... your movements feel unreal. I'd like to learn how."
Her smirk softened as she knelt down, motioning for him to come closer. "If you're serious, then listen carefully."
She pointed to his feet. "Close your eyes. Channel a balanced stream of ethereal energy from your core into your heart. Once you've stabilized that flow, extend it to the parts of your body you want enhanced—in this case, your feet and hands."
Xavier obeyed, shutting his eyes. Drawing energy from his core was something he'd done many times, but this was different. Instead of empowering his entire body, like with the use of aura. He funneled the energy only to select areas. Slowly, carefully, he pushed the essence into his limbs.
When he opened his eyes, everything looked the same. He turned toward Anastasia with confusion, but she only nodded. "Now walk."
He did. No sound. Not even the faintest creak from the rooftop beneath him.
Xavier's eyes lit up. "This is amazing!"
Anastasia quickly pressed her hand over his mouth. "Enthusiasm is great. But so is staying alive."
As Xavier nodded, she smiled. "You're a natural. But we've got no time for praise. We need to move, Young Master."
With that, Xavier reached into the pouch on his waist, retrieving his white-fang mask. He slid it over his face, his demeanor shifting. Teslaine was still out there, and danger likely lurked just ahead. He had no time to waste.
Together, he and Anastasia vanished into the shadows, moving faster than ever before—toward the place where Teslaine was being held.
-------
The scene shifted to a massive dungeon hidden beneath the earth, a place reeking of decay and rot. Bugs crawled along the damp stone walls, rats scurried between iron bars, and a putrid stench lingered in the air. But the most disturbing sight wasn't the filth—it was the people. Dozens, maybe more, trapped inside, most of them teens and children.
In one of the darker cells, Teslaine sat chained to the wall by thick, rusted iron ropes. Her skin was dry and cracked, her body weak from dehydration and starvation. Her stomach growled softly, and her eyes—once so sharp—now looked lifeless and dim.
Then, a voice echoed through the silence.
"Teslaine, I finally found you."
Her dull gaze lifted slowly. Standing just outside the cell was Xavier.
Without hesitation, he raised a finger. The air around him sharpened into invisible blades with the use of vectors, slicing through the prison bars as if they were paper. No sound accompanied the motion—only stillness.
"Xavier..." Teslaine murmured, her voice barely audible.
He didn't wait for her to finish. Rushing forward, he wrapped her in a tight embrace. "Don't worry. I'm here to save you. You don't have to be afraid anymore. I'm here..."
Tears slipped from beneath his mask, silently falling.
Teslaine's eyes welled up as well—but behind Xavier's back, a strange, sinister smile curled her lips. Her eyes shimmered red with something unrecognizable.
"I'm so thankful," she whispered sweetly. "I missed you so much..."
"Me too," Xavier replied, his grip tightening protectively.
Yet his cosmic eyes pulsed with faint energy, warning him. Still, he didn't listen. Emotion clouded his thoughts. He was furious—with himself. For letting Teslaine fall into this nightmare. And what made it worse was seeing all the others in equally terrible, or even worse, conditions.
Then it hit.
A sudden force—swift, precise, and violent—came crashing into the cell. A massive explosion followed.
When the dust settled, Xavier stood unscathed, head bowed. A glowing vector shield surrounded him and everyone in the room. He had acted just in time, expanding its range to protect everyone within the blast radius.
"You finally arrived, Xavier!" a booming, arrogant voice declared. The same voice that had kidnapped Teslaine. "Just as He predicted."
Xavier didn't respond. A golden shimmer passed through his hair. Calmly, he reached for the chains binding Teslaine and snapped them effortlessly. Something had changed in him—this strength wasn't natural. It was beyond his usual limits.
He did the same for every other prisoner in the cell, one by one, breaking their chains with ease.
Then, he turned.
The enemy stood before him.
"Were you the one behind this... act?" Xavier asked, voice low.
"What act?" the man grinned mockingly.
"Kidnapping all these people. My friend. Torturing them like this."
The man laughed, now clearly trying Xavier's patience. "I don't know what you're talking about, child. You broke into our home and now accuse us of crimes? That's rich."
Xavier's eyes locked onto the man—cold, red, bloodlusted. Yet... he was still calm. No hatred. Only resolve.
"If you insist on playing dumb... I'll just beat the truth out of you."
He raised his hand.
A small portal opened beside him—glowing, familiar.
"Come forth, Blade of Sovereignier—Calibourne."
From the portal, the hilt of Excalibur rose, glimmering with divine light, and rested in his palm. Xavier's stance shifted.
He was ready.
The fight was about to begin.