The train station bustled with activity as workers loaded merchandise into the cargo wagons. Crates were stacked high, voices barked orders, and the sound of heavy machinery filled the air. Hiding behind an idle freight train, Nailah and her group of thieves were waiting for the right moment to make their next move.

  "Hey, Sticky Fingers! Where’s the gold?" Harlow asked, adjusting her thick gloves to complete her train mechanic disguise as she eyed the massive train ahead.

  Zeke smirked and pointed. "40th wagon."

  Harlow gave a casual salute, turning on her heel. "I’ll be going now!"

  "Don’t mess this up, Carrot Top!" Nailah warned, arms crossed. "We’re not bailing you out."

  Harlow waved dismissively, confidence oozing from her grin. "Please. Worry about yourself, Bad Weather Hair."

  As she strode toward the train, a voice cut through the din. "Hey!"

  Harlow stopped, heart skipping a beat before she smoothly turned her head. An employee stood nearby, suspicion laced in his gaze.

  "What’s up?" she asked, lowering her voice into a pitch that mimicked a young man.

  The man gestured toward her. "What are you doing? They’re about to leave!"

  Harlow feigned concern, pointing at the tracks. "I’m going to check the rails! Pretty sure I saw something off… Dangerous stuff."

  From a distance, Nailah, Zeke, and Damon watched with barely concealed anxiety.

  "My money! She’s gonna get caught, and we’ll lose it all!" Damon fretted, gnawing his nails.

  Nailah elbowed him. "Shut up! Don’t bring bad karma!"

  The worker frowned but relented. "Alright, did you tell the conductor?"

  "I did! He told me to hurry and that he wouldn’t wait for me to start the train!"

  The man sighed, waving her off. "He’s right! We have a schedule to respect! Well, go on then!"

  Harlow wasted no time, striding toward the train with a victorious smirk.

  Easy.

  As the train began to move, Harlow hoisted herself into the wagon, turning to wave frantically. "Hurry!!"

  Nailah, Zeke, and Damon bolted forward, running alongside the train before managing to scramble inside, breathless but exhilarated.

  They stood among the stacked crates, adrenaline buzzing in their veins. Damon scanned the wagon. "So, where’s the gold?" Damon demanded.

  Zeke knelt beside the crates, already working the locks. "Right here. Just need a moment."

  Nearby, Harlow peeled off her disguise, revealing a sleek leather suit—built for movement in case things went south.

  Nailah scowled. "You almost got caught, Carrot Top!"

  "Shut up! That was easy, idiot!"

  As Zeke worked, Harlow stuffed gold into a sack while Nailah replaced the stolen goods with carefully chosen rocks. Their glares clashed like dueling swords, but their hands moved in perfect sync. They were all working like gears in a well-oiled machine.

  Zeke chuckled as he cracked another lock. "Hey, boss, you’re awfully quiet. Has the gold left you… speechless?"

  Silence.

  Zeke turned—and froze.

  Damon stood at the edge of the wagon, arms overloaded with four full boxes of gold, his greedy eyes still darting for more. He was barely holding them, but that didn’t stop him from wanting more.

  "Bye, bitches!!" he cackled before leaping out of the moving train and into the night.

  "No!!" Nailah screamed, lunging forward.

  "Tch!" Harlow clicked her tongue, eyes narrowing.

  Before Damon could land, a light bronze streak flashed through the air, piercing straight through him with a sickening speed. The force sent him tumbling, blood spraying as he coughed violently.

  What happened!?!? Damon’s mind reeled in panic as he was losing consciousness.

  A heavy silhouette landed inside the wagon with a resounding thud.

  Zeke’s eyes widened. "What did he do?"

  Harlow’s fingers twitched toward her weapons. "This is bad."

  Nailah took a slow step back, breath catching in her throat. "That’s a..."

  The figure stepped forward, the dim lantern light reflecting off polished bronze armor. A massive sword rested on his back, and in his arms, the stolen gold sat untouched. His dark brown hair, medium-length and swept back at the bangs, revealed a sharp forehead, while the sides framed his face down to his cheeks.

  "Knight!!" Nailah whispered in dread.

  The armored figure, Bors, glanced at them with mild amusement. "That’s weird... nothing usually happens on these types of patrol."

  Bors stood at the entrance of the wagon, his towering frame blocking the only exit. The greatsword strapped to his back cast a long, menacing shadow over the trio.

  His bronze armor gleamed under the flickering lantern light, the emblem of the Golden Retrievers shining on his chest.

  "How dare you steal from the Empire’s elite?" His voice was steady, carrying the weight of authority. His sharp gaze swept over the thieves, assessing them with cold efficiency.

  Nailah’s heart pounded.

  She recognized him instantly.

  Bors Young.

  One of the Brilliant Six.

  This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

  Memories surged—seeing him at the academy alongside Gawain. He had been formidable then. Now, standing before them in full knightly regalia, he was even more dangerous.

  Her eyes flicked to the crest on his armor. The Golden Retrievers… Of course.

  They handled property crimes.

  No wonder he was here.

  She turned to Zeke and Harlow, keeping her voice low.

  "Looks like we’re leaving that last box behind."

  Zeke frowned. "Yes, but at this rate, we might have to forget about all of them."

  Harlow sighed. "Unless you’ve got a plan."

  Nailah’s gaze hardened. "I do. I’ll push him out of the train. Then we escape from the other side by getting on the roof."

  Harlow arched an eyebrow. "And how exactly will you push a knight out of a moving train?"

  "Don’t worry about that," Nailah said, adjusting her gloves. "Just be ready to run with the bags."

  She took a deep breath. "We do it on three."

  Bors took a step forward, hands open, his voice calm but firm. "I don’t know what you’re whispering about, but I’m placing you under arrest. Don’t worry—I wouldn’t draw my sword on ladies or a man not resisting arrest."

  Nailah clenched her fists.

  "Three!"

  Harlow inhaled sharply, steadying herself.

  "Two!"

  Zeke’s fingers twitched, ready to move.

  "One!"

  All three of them launched forward, charging straight at Bors. His eyes widened in surprise at their sudden aggression.

  Nailah struck first. Her speed was unnatural, her fist cloaked in crackling Vistra. She drove a powerful hook toward his temple.

  "What?!"

  Bors barely had time to react. He threw up his arms in defense, bracing for impact. Her blow crashed into him, sending a shockwave through the metal floor. His muscles strained against the sheer force. She’s fast!

  Then—BOOM.

  The impact sent him hurtling out of the train.

  Without hesitation, Nailah turned and sprinted for the door. Zeke and Harlow were already climbing onto the roof, reaching their hands down to her.

  "People are full of surprises, aren’t they?" Zeke mused, a hint of admiration in his voice. "To think she’s gotten that strong!"

  Harlow scoffed. "Tch. It wasn’t that impressive."

  They pulled Nailah up, the wind whipping against them as the train barreled forward. The plan was simple now—jump off and flee.

  "Now we just have to jump and—"

  Before she could finish, something heavy crashed onto the roof in front of them…

  It was Bors.

  Blood trickled down his forehead, but his stance was unshaken. His glare burned with determination. "Sorry, but you are not going anywhere."

  Zeke pulled his scarf over his mouth, his expression darkening. "Looks like we’re going to have to fight."

  With a flick of his wrist, he unsheathed a knife, the blade glinting under the moonlight.

  Harlow pressed a button on a stick at her hip. It extended into a sleek bo staff with a metallic click.

  Nailah cracked her knuckles, her stance firm and unwavering.

  The three of them stood ready, eyes locked on the knight before them. The night air was tense with the promise of battle.

  Bors stood firm, his bronze armor gleaming under the moonlight as the train sped through the night. He planted his feet, radiating confidence.

  "I am Bors Young, knight of the Golden Retriever. By the laws of the Ether Empire, you are under arrest! Worry not. I won’t even need my sword to handle the likes of you."

  Nailah, Zeke, and Harlow exchanged quick glances. Then, as if a silent signal passed between them, they charged.

  Zeke struck first, lunging forward with his knife aimed at Bors’s throat. The knight tilted his head, dodging with minimal effort. As Zeke’s attack missed, Harlow swung her bo staff, attempting to catch Bors off guard.

  A flicker of sadness crossed Bors’s face. "Apologies, Lady." He sidestepped, then drove his elbow into her stomach with calculated force.

  Harlow dropped to her knees, gasping for air, her hands clutching her abdomen. "I... I can’t breathe!"

  Bors barely had time to register her struggle before Nailah leaped in, her foot cutting through the air. He lifted his forearm to block, but in doing so, left himself vulnerable.

  Zeke saw the opening. His heart pounded. This is my chance! He moved in, knife flashing under the moonlight, but Bors twisted at the last moment, barely evading the blade.

  Zeke growled in frustration and attacked again, stabbing relentlessly. Bors, calm and methodical, parried each strike with his bare hands before snatching Zeke’s wrist in an iron grip. In one swift motion, he yanked Zeke forward and drove a brutal knee into his stomach.

  Zeke's body recoiled from the impact. Blood spilled from his lips as his vision blurred. A moment later, he was airborne, crashing onto the next train car.

  “Zeke!” Nailah’s voice was sharp with urgency, but she had no time to check on him. She threw herself at Bors again, launching a series of punches and kicks, each blocked or dodged in return. Neither was able to land a blow, each move countered with precise timing. But then, with a quick shift in rhythm, she struck—her foot slammed into his ribs. He barely dodged, but he wasn’t going to be able to dodge Nailah’s second kick.

  However, with a swift motion, he caught Nailah’s leg instead of evading.

  Her eyes widened. "What?!"

  Bors yanked her forward and slammed her onto the train car’s roof. The impact sent a shockwave of pain through her body. She coughed, blood dripping from her lips.

  Bors hesitated for a fraction of a second, his expression clouded with conflict. "A knight should never strike a woman... but she’s stronger than most men. I can’t afford to hold back too much."

  Steeling himself, he pressed her face into the metal surface. "Now, I shall arrest you."

  Before he could fasten the cuffs, a battle cry tore through the wind.

  "Don’t underestimate me!!"

  Harlow lunged, her staff descending toward him. Bors reacted instantly, jumping back, just evading the strike.

  "So much fire... but you’ll only burn yourself out." He spread his arms, palms open. "Why don’t you just stay down and avoid all this pain?"

  Harlow ignored him, attacking in a flurry of thrusts and sweeps, but Bors dodged them all. His footwork was effortless, his movements precise.

  Then, a new presence loomed behind him.

  Zeke, his eyes dark with bloodlust, appeared out of the shadows. His knife was aimed at Bors’s neck. Die! he thought, heart pounding.

  Bors sensed it too late.

  The blade scraped his cheek as he twisted away at the last second. "That was too close!"

  His focus on Zeke cost him. Harlow’s staff connected with his face, snapping his head to the side. His gaze shifted just in time to see Nailah coming. Her fist, cloaked in shimmering Vistra, barreled toward him.

  "Clench your teeth!"

  The impact was devastating.

  Bors’s head snapped back. His body lifted from the train, sent flying into the next car with thunderous force.

  Harlow pumped her fist in the air. "That’s what you get, bastard!"

  For a moment, silence reigned. Then, the knight stirred.

  Blood trickled down his face as he stood, eyes dark with fury. "How dare you... filthy criminals... strike me in the face!"

  With an explosion of force, he leaped.

  In the blink of an eye, he reappeared in front of Zeke.

  Before Zeke could react, Bors’s fist crashed into his face, sending him reeling. The knight followed up with a ruthless kick, launching Zeke’s limp body off the train.

  "Zeke!" Harlow screamed.

  She attacked from the side, but Bors countered effortlessly, slamming her down with bone-crushing force. Despite her injuries, she refused to give up, swinging her staff in a desperate attempt to hurt him. The blows landed, but they lacked strength.

  Bors sighed. "You poor thing..."

  He raised his fist, ready to end the fight.

  Then, something changed.

  Zeke, who had been flung from the train, suddenly stopped midair. An invisible force pulled him back onto the car.

  Bors’s body tensed. His muscles locked up. His arm would not move.

  "What?! My arm won’t move!"

  Then, he saw her.

  Nailah, her icy blue eyes glowing like twin stars, stood tall, her gaze sharp with fury.

  Her voice, cold and commanding, cut through the night.

  "You left me no choice… I had to use my Arcane Ability!"