"A coarse sack was ripped from Kyle's head, and a bleak picture opened before his eyes: a dark room without a single window, only a massive iron door visible ahead. Strange, unfamiliar manacles uncomfortably tightened on his wrists. Kyle sat up, feeling their weight, and saw a guy with short, strikingly bright red hair in front of him.

  "Well, hey there," the red-haired guy smirked.

  Kyle discarded his feigned nonchalance, his gaze becoming serious and scrutinizing.

  "So, what do you want from me?" he asked in an even voice, without a trace of fear.

  "My name is Rein," the red-haired guy replied, his gaze fixed intently on Kyle. "I was told to grab you and hand you over to the client, so sit still and don't twitch. You're wearing adamantine manacles, ever heard of them? The strongest metal, you can't even try to take them off."

  "Adamantine, you say?" Kyle chuckled to himself.

  He quickly assessed the situation. It seemed he was really in trouble. But curiosity took over. "I wonder how quickly Ellariel and the others will notice and if they'll even come?" Deciding not to resist, Kyle feigned submission. He slightly waved his bound hands, pretending to accidentally brush against the manacles... and they shattered into pieces with a quiet crack, as if made of brittle glass.

  Rein's reaction was priceless. His smug grin instantly turned into stunned horror. His eyes widened, his jaw dropped. He stared at the fragments of the adamantine manacles, not believing his eyes.

  "You... what are you?!" he croaked, stepping back. The instinct for self-preservation made him act lightning fast. With a movement honed to automatism, Rein unfastened both his swords from the mounts on his back. The blades gleamed menacingly in the dim candlelight, aimed at Kyle.

  Kyle slightly spread his hands, feigning awkwardness. "Sorry," he shrugged innocently.

  Rein, still in shock but not losing his vigilance, growled, "Stay! Don't move! Wait here, I'll go get others... more reliable ones." With these words, he cast a wary glance at Kyle and, backing away, hurried towards the iron door, disappearing behind it.

  Meanwhile, on the city streets, Ellariel, tormented by uneasy premonitions after Kyle's disappearance and the strange coldness of his touch, wasted no time. She raced with all her might not towards the guild, but to the "Merry Goblin" – which served as their temporary haven. Her usually calm face was contorted with worry, and her long silver hair billowed behind her like a banner of misfortune. Genuine concern flickered in her violet eyes. She felt that Kyle was in danger, and every second counted. She needed to inform Gimli, Zara, and Dex as soon as possible.

  Ellariel burst into the noisy "Merry Goblin" tavern, her usually melodious voice sounding agitated and sharply contrasting with the surrounding din. Gimli, habitually grumbling over a mug of ale at his favorite corner table, raised a bushy red eyebrow in surprise. Zara, deftly throwing daggers at a target by the far wall, turned around, her piercing green eyes narrowed, sensing trouble. Dex, polishing his well-worn sword at the bar, smirked smugly, deciding that now was the perfect time for a heroic entrance.

  "Kyle! He's been kidnapped!" Ellariel blurted out, catching her breath.

  Gimli set down his mug, and all his good-natured grumbling vanished instantly, replaced by a stern expression. "What?! Who dared to touch that oaf?"

  Zara put down her daggers and swiftly approached. "What happened? Tell us!"

  Dex, straightening to his full height and proudly throwing back his shoulders, declared, "Don't worry, Ellariel! Sir Dex is already rushing to the rescue! Tell us everything in detail, and we'll immediately go save our... uh... Kyle."

  Ellariel quickly recounted everything she had seen: Kyle's sudden disappearance, the fleeting shadow, the strange icy coldness from his hand.

  Gimli thoughtfully scratched his beard. "A shadow, you say? That doesn't sound like ordinary bandits."

  Dex, however, was full of determination. "No time for riddles! Our comrade is in trouble, and we must act! Ellariel, did you see where they dragged him?"

  "No, only a shadow disappearing into one of the alleys near the flower shop," the elf replied, her voice sounding anxious.

  "Alright," Dex commanded, grabbing his sword. "Zara, your agility will be useful for reconnaissance. Gimli, your strength will help us clear a path if necessary. Ellariel, you... you will be our... moral compass!"

  Zara raised a skeptical eyebrow but remained silent. Gimli grunted, rising from his seat and taking his battle-axe in hand.

  "Where do we start?" the dwarf asked, his gaze expressing readiness for battle.

  Ellariel pondered. "We need to find that alley. Maybe there are some traces left."

  "Then let's go!" Dex proclaimed, heading towards the tavern exit first, full of determination to become the hero of this rescue operation. Zara and Gimli exchanged glances and, sighing, followed him, while Ellariel, despite her anxiety, felt a faint glimmer of hope – together they could save Kyle.

  The company of adventurers burst out of the "Merry Goblin" and quickly headed towards the flower shop where Ellariel had seen Kyle's vanishing shadow. Dex walked ahead, brandishing his sword and looking around with the air of a brave hero ready for any danger. Zara moved with a graceful, cat-like gait, her green eyes carefully scanning the surroundings, noticing the slightest details. Gimli, stomping heavily, held his battle-axe ready, prepared to crush any obstacle. Ellariel walked beside him, her face still showing concern, but a hint of determination had appeared in her eyes.

  Reaching the narrow and dirty alley where, according to Ellariel, the shadow had disappeared, Zara stopped.

  "Here," she said quietly, looking around at the littered walls and cobblestone pavement. "But no obvious signs of a struggle or anything unusual."

  "Means they acted fast and clean," Gimli grumbled, frowning.

  Dex was about to issue some commands when Zara raised her hand, signaling for silence. She closed her eyes and muttered a few words in an unfamiliar language. Her hands formed a complex pattern, and a faint emerald energy glowed at her fingertips.

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  "Traces of shadow," she whispered, and her eyes opened again, now glowing with a faint green light. She slowly moved her hands, as if feeling invisible threads in the air.

  After a few moments, Zara confidently pointed deeper into the alley. "The shadow went that way. My spell senses a faint residual energy left behind. It's not an ordinary shadow."

  "So, it was magic!" Dex exclaimed, his hand tightening on his sword. "So much the worse for these villains!"

  Gimli grunted. "The main thing is that this spell leads us straight to the lair of these rats."

  Zara nodded. "It does. But the trace is very weak, we need to hurry."

  Without wasting a second, the adventurers moved in the direction Zara indicated, delving deeper into the labyrinth of city alleys, guided by the faint magical trace left by Kyle's kidnapper.

  The magical trace left by the shadow snaked through narrow alleys and dirty backyards, leading the adventurers further away from the bustling city center. Zara walked confidently, occasionally checking the faint greenish glow emanating from her hands. Dex, though a little bewildered by this method of travel, tried to keep up, remaining vigilant and ready for battle. Gimli grumbled about the stench and narrowness of the passages but followed Zara, his axe inspiring confidence. Ellariel walked silently beside him, her anxiety gradually giving way to determination.

  Soon the alleys became less frequent, giving way to wider but deserted streets on the very outskirts of the city. The houses here looked abandoned or unfinished, and a sense of desolation hung in the air. Zara slowed her pace.

  "It seems the trace leads us here," she whispered, pointing to an unremarkable two-story building surrounded by a dilapidated fence. There was no light in the windows, but a sense of hidden activity lingered.

  Approaching the gate, they noticed several people dressed in rough leather armor and armed with simple weapons. They were clearly not ordinary city guards.

  "Guards," Gimli stated, gripping the handle of his axe. "Looks like we're on the right track."

  Dex drew his sword from its scabbard, and the steel gleamed in the dim light of the setting sun. "Excellent! Now we'll show these thugs what it means to mess with the friends of Sir Dex!"

  Zara cautiously peered from behind the corner of the fence. "Five or six of them. Don't look too strong, but better not to underestimate them."

  Ellariel nocked an arrow to her bowstring, her violet eyes carefully watching the guards' movements. "Do we act stealthily or go in head-on?"

  Dex, with a smile gleaming with anticipation of a heroic battle, puffed out his chest. "Stealthily? Why sneak in the shadows when we can burst in triumphantly?! Forward, my loyal companions! Let these villains witness the wrath of... uh... the 'Merry Goblin' squad!" He swung his sword, almost hitting Zara's nose.

  Zara recoiled, rolling her eyes. "Actually, I just spent quite a bit of energy tracking, and unnecessary noise won't help us. But if you're itching to wave your iron around..."

  Gimli grunted, scratching his beard. "I'm not a fan of sneaking around either, to be honest. And my axe is itching for some action." He looked meaningfully at the flimsy gate.

  Ellariel sighed, realizing that her opinion was unlikely to be considered. "Alright, but at least try not to demolish the entire building. Kyle is still inside."

  Dex, already anticipating the battle, charged towards the gate with a cry that sounded more like a rooster's crow than a battle cry. The guards, who had been chatting peacefully at the entrance, stared in astonishment at the knight in dented armor rushing towards them. One of them, not having time to figure out what was happening, tripped on a stone and dropped his rusty sword.

  Gimli, grinning, followed Dex, swinging his axe and muttering, "Now this will be fun!"

  Zara, sighing again, muttered to herself, "Just hope Kyle is alright after this circus," and, crouching down, quickly moved around the flank, ready to intervene if the situation got out of control. Ellariel, trying to maintain at least a semblance of reason, drew back her bowstring, ready to support her impulsive companions from a distance.

  Dex's foolish cry served as the signal for the chaotic skirmish to begin. The guards, recovering from their initial confusion, rushed at the uninvited guests. To their surprise, despite their unimpressive appearance, their opponents were quite formidable. Dex, encouraging himself with loud shouts, swung his sword left and right, bringing down blows on the enemies with surprising force. Gimli, like an enraged bear, smashed everything around him with his axe, throwing opponents aside. Zara, like a shadow, flitted among the combatants, her daggers finding vulnerable spots in the enemies' armor with astonishing accuracy. Ellariel, keeping her distance, released well-aimed arrows that, enhanced by her magic, pierced even the thickest leather armor.

  Soon it became clear that there were more guards than they had anticipated. Several more warriors ran out of the building, and behind them appeared two figures dressed in simple but clearly magical robes. One of the mages began to weave a spell, and ominous purple lights glowed around him.

  Despite the numerical superiority of the enemy and the emerging magical threat, the adventurers fought cohesively and effectively. Dex, unexpectedly, demonstrated not only bravado but also decent swordsmanship skills, enhanced by his special ability. Gimli held back the onslaught of several enemies at once, while Zara deftly dodged attacks and neutralized the mages with quick throws of her daggers, disrupting their spells. Ellariel, changing tactics, began to rain down arrows, forcing the opponents to retreat.

  At the height of the battle, as the last guards fell and Dex was about to deliver a triumphant speech, a panting man in a tattered leather jacket burst out of the building's doors.

  "Master Rein! We're under attack! Some... some lunatics!" he blurted out hastily.

  From the dark doorway emerged a tall figure with short red hair. Rein, crossing his arms over his chest, disdainfully surveyed the fallen fighters and the three tired but victorious adventurers. His gaze swept over Dex, Gimli, and Zara, and lingered for a moment on Ellariel, who was calmly observing the scene.

  "Damn it," Rein hissed through his teeth, his red eyes narrowing dangerously. "I'll handle this myself."

  He stepped forward, and the adventurers, sensing the threat emanating from him, tensed, preparing for a new fight.