That evening, after dinner, at Will's home.
"Will, where are you going?" Sophia asked curiously. Will was dressed as he had been the day before, in a black outfit, but what was even more peculiar was that he wore a black eye patch, giving him an absurd appearance.
"Oh, Mother, I'm off to a masquerade ball, with Eddie," Will replied, offering a sheepish smile.
"A masquerade ball? You two idiots can dance?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Don't say it like that," Will chuckled awkwardly.
Sophia said nothing, but her skeptical gaze lingered on him. Still, she knew her son well enough to trust that he wouldn't do anything reckless, so she let it slide.
"Alright, I'm off then," Will said quickly, darting out the door.
"Come back soon!" Sophia called after him, her voice carrying as he disappeared down the street.
...
I wonder if Mary is still here? Will stood atop the roof across from the Warriors' Rest Inn, his mind racing. His gaze settled on the inn, now a source of worry. He wanted to confirm Mary's safety, but he also knew that if Donald had discovered he was the one eavesdropping the previous night, a trap had likely already been set inside the inn, awaiting his arrival.
"I can't afford to keep overthinking this. Saving her comes first," he muttered to himself.
Drawing his short sword, he jumped from the rooftop and sprinted toward the inn's entrance.
Inside, ten men were already lying in wait, weapons in hand, preparing for Will's arrival.
"Do you really think someone's coming?" one of them whispered nervously.
"Donald said someone would come today. He's sure of it," another replied.
"Shh, quiet! I think I hear footsteps." One man pressed his ear against the door.
Suddenly, with a deafening crash, Will kicked the door off its hinges, sending the man behind it flying into the opposite wall. The man crumpled to the floor, unconscious.
"Hmph, as expected. A trap," Will observed, scanning the room, noting the remaining nine men closing in around him.
"One, two, three, four... nine? Hmm? Where's Donald?" Will questioned aloud, puzzled.
"What? You're strong... Who are you?" one of the men, trembling with fear, asked, his knife raised.
"Who I am isn't important. Tell me where Donald is, and I'll spare you," Will said, his voice icy.
"Tch, you're just a kid. How dare you speak like that?" the man sneered.
"I said, tell me where Donald is! I don't want to waste time with you," Will's tone became sharp and commanding.
"Big words! Die!" Two men behind Will suddenly lunged at him with their knives raised.
Will spun around swiftly, blocking their attacks with his short sword. In the same motion, he swung his left fist, knocking one of the men out of the inn and sending him crashing to the ground outside.
"Ah?" the remaining man gasped in surprise.
"Hmph, child's play," Will said with a confident grin.
His left hand grabbed the man's wrist, squeezing it with crushing force.
"Ah! Ahhh! It hurts! Let go!" the man screamed in agony.
"It's not over," Will replied coldly, tightening his grip.
"Ah! Ahhh! Please, let go! Please, it's broken!"
Will ignored his pleas, tightening his grip further until a sickening crack echoed through the air, and the man's hand was crushed, the bones shattered.
"Oops, my bad. It's already broken," Will said casually, releasing him.
"Ah! Ahh! Damn it!" The man clutched his mangled hand, writhing in pain on the floor.
"Seven left," Will said, turning his steely gaze on the remaining seven.
"What? You little brat!" one of them shouted.
"Die!" Three men with axes charged at Will.
With calm precision, Will raised his short sword to block their attack. But at that moment, two more men from either side of him rushed forward, knives drawn, ready to strike.
"Damn, too many of them."
"Hmph, you finally understand my strength, don't you? Hahahaha," one of the men taunted.
"Tch, not really," Will muttered dismissively. With a swift motion, he thrust his sword forward, pushing the three attackers back.
In the same instant, Will reached behind him, grabbed a nearby table, and hurled it to the left. It slammed into one of the oncoming men, knocking him down. Will then lifted his right leg and kicked another attacker flying into the air.
"Yah!" the remaining three men shouted, charging once more.
"This is a waste of time!" Will shouted, his patience wearing thin. He tightened his grip on his short sword and made a decisive horizontal slash.
Boom! The three men collapsed in a bloody heap, their chests spurting blood.
"Two left," Will muttered, turning to face the final pair.
"Hmph, didn't expect such a powerful kid. We underestimated you," one of them said.
"Alright, if you say so, then tell me where Donald is, and I'll let you live."
"Tch, little brat," the other scoffed.
Suddenly, both men's hands began to glow with white light. Will, unable to comprehend what they were doing, quickly assumed a defensive stance, wary of their next move.
"Goodbye, kid!" One of them shouted, lifting his hand high above his head. In an instant, both men vanished in a flash of white light.
"They... they disappeared?" Will gasped in shock.
Confused, Will scanned the room. Among the remaining seven men, only the one whose hand he had broken was still conscious. Slowly, Will approached him, grabbing him by the collar and lifting him off the ground.
"Hey, you must know where Donald is, right?" Will pressed the tip of his short sword against the man's throat.
"In... in the basement of the kitchen," the man stammered.
"Good. Thank you for your cooperation," Will said, lowering him gently before heading toward the kitchen.
...
Meanwhile, at Will's home.
"Will, Will, are you home?" Eddie called loudly from outside the door.
"Eddie, isn't Will with you?" Sophia asked, opening the door with a puzzled expression.
"What? Me?"
"Yes, he said he was going to the masquerade ball with you, dressed in black and wearing a black eye patch."
"Oh no!" Eddie suddenly realized, his heart sinking. He now knew Will must be off doing something dangerous. Without a second thought, he bolted out the door, racing to save his friend.