‘So, it’s confirmed then? There are manush here?’ an uninterested Skilshar twizzled his bangs.

‘Yes,’ Ant nodded, water dripping onto the wooden planks of the ship.

‘How do you this exactly?’ a sceptical Jack raised a brow.

‘Trust me when I say I’ve known a manush for a long time,’ Ant took a moment to breathe, ‘and besides, you fought him yourself.’

‘That guy really is one, huh?’ the stealth bestial crouched down into deep thought.

‘Mhm.’

The trio soon heard a knock below them. Jack went ahead to the opposite side of the room and rapped on the flooring twice back. When they heard the same knock again, he went ahead and opened up the boards. Out popped Rob who smelt (and looked) like a wet dog.

‘We’re all sorted. Have you guys decided on the final plan?’ he asked as he brushed the water off his body.

‘Yeah,’ Jack responded, fixing up the boards again. ‘Since the king wants a manush, and they do exist, we’ll just have to go get him one. Otherwise, he’ll probably kill us all for not trying.’

The room filled with nervous laughter. They all knew what needed to be done.

‘What about you then?’ Rob broke the chorus, peering over Ant.

‘I’ll go back,’ Ant replied with confidence.

‘Ha! They’ll kill you if they find out. You can’t fool them forever. Can’t believe I got injured because of you…’

‘Well, unlike you, I have some leverage…and connections,’ another pause to catch her breath. ‘I can eas –’

‘Shush!’ Jack did an emphatic whisper. He put his finger to his lip and activated his invisibility powers.

Skilshar went round, handing out a pill for all to swallow. He then lifted his bangs and reached for the uncovered eye. He grimaced as he pulled the organ out, revealing an empty void that made sizzling sounds. He, too, put his finger on his mouth while he and Rob took their positions near the sole staircase in the room. Sounds of battle permeated through the boards. So did slow footsteps that grew louder and louder.

‘What’s taking so long?’ a voice hollered. Ant recognised it to be a Eurasian one.

No one responded.

‘Hugo? Can you hear me?’ the voice echoed, stopped for a moment to cough, then added a muffled, ‘We probably have trouble. Report to High-Command ASAP.’

The footsteps resumed, followed by several more. A whole platoon of Eurasian mages stepped onto their floor. Some coughed. Others examined the room. However, they did nothing more. Not when they passed Skilshar and Rob. Not when they saw Ant in broad torchlight. Not even when they walked over the corpses lying all over the deck.

Scary, Ant chuckled as she watched Skilshar make a move towards the men. His hair almost levitated and his breath caressed the necks of squadron O. Then, in one swift movement, his hair splintered in all directions. His enemies cried in agony as they all turned to face him. At last, they all saw him and pounced on the African. But they couldn’t reach him. Their expressions convulsed in terror. Their shouts became whimpers. Bits of tissue hardened. All movement slowed down. Before anyone knew it, the platoon stood frozen like statues.

‘That was easy. Didn’t even need Rob or Jack,’ Ant admired the spectacle.

‘That’s uncalled for,’ Jack came out of his stealth.

‘Can we not do this?’ Skilshar interrupted, putting back the eye in his socket. ‘They were alerted so let’s just finish this and go home.’

‘Right,’ Rob led the way up. ‘Let’s inform our allies of the plan and then make our move.’

‘And that is?’ Ant brought up, still unaware of her role in the operation.

Skilshar turned back and spoke a simple word, ‘Distraction.’