You live in the castle town of Capegard City, the capital of the Elvard Kingdom. You are just a simple commoner and live a simple life.

Times have been weird lately, nobles and men have been found bound, gagged, robbed and stripped in the city streets and left in humiliating positions with writings on them. Rumours have spread around of someone called The Nightbird, which is supposedly responsible for humiliating these people.

King Aethelred has posted many bounties throughout the city for the capture of this Nightbird for 5,000 gold coins.

This all seems crazy and you don't know what to make of it

---

A new day starts and you wake up in your meager home. You hear a sudden knock at your door

Courier: Delivery sir!

You get out of bed, stretching lazily, before going over to the door and opening it. The courier is standing there with an envelope in hand, and seems rather nervous. You take the envelope and pay the courier, then close the door again and examine the package. It has your name on it, written neatly in flowing script. Curious now, you tear open the envelope and remove a small note within.

The words are almost unintelligible at first, scratched messily across the parchment with an unfamiliar hand. But after some effort, you manage to make out what appears to be a message: "Meet me tonight in the abandoned warehouse district at midnight. The Nightbird."

You blink, and feel your heart skip a beat. Could this possibly be from The Nightbird herself? You've always been fascinated by their exploits, and the idea of meeting them... well, it fills you with equal parts excitement and fear.

You hesitate for a moment, uncertain whether or not this is wise. But curiosity gets the better of you, and eventually you decide that there's no harm in following up on the note. After all, The Nightbird has never been caught before; perhaps they have good reason to believe that their secret is safe with you.

With time slowly ticking away, you find yourself making your way through the twisting alleyways and deserted streets of the abandoned warehouse district. The moon hangs low in the sky, casting eerie shadows across the cobblestones as you approach the agreed upon meeting place. You can't help but feel a bit nervous, even though you know that The Nightbird is supposedly incredibly skilled and stealthy.

Finally, you reach an old, run-down warehouse with boarded up windows. Peering around carefully to make sure no one is watching, you knock three times on the rotting wooden door. There's a moment of silence before you hear footsteps approaching from within. The door creaks open just enough for someone - or something - to peer out at you.

In the dim light spilling from the warehouse, you see the unmistakable figure of a woman dressed all in black leather. Her face is hidden beneath a featureless mask, and she holds what appears to be a small dagger loosely at her side. You can't help but feel your heart race as you gaze up into those dark, unreadable eyes.

The Nightbird motions for you to enter, then slowly swings the door wider to allow you access. As you step inside, she closes it behind you and locks it, plunging the warehouse into near darkness. After a moment, she lifts her arm, revealing what appears to be an oil lantern hanging from one of her many belt pouches. She flicks it on, illuminating the room with its warm, flickering light.

The Nightbird turns back to face you, finally lowering her guard somewhat. "Well?" she asks coolly, regarding you with appraising eyes.

"I received your note," you reply, making no attempt to hide the excitement in your voice. "You wanted to meet me here... why? What do you want from me?" You've heard stories about how clever and cunning The Nightbird is; it makes sense that they wouldn't just choose any old stranger off the street to help them with whatever plan they might have brewing.

The Nightbird laughs, a soft and eerie sound that echoes through the empty warehouse. "Oh, you flatter yourself," she says mockingly. "I didn't choose you out of some misguided sense of loyalty or admiration." She paces around for a moment before stopping directly in front of you.

"I wanted to see if you were who you claimed to be," she continues, looking into your eyes intently. "And from what I can tell... yes, you are indeed the commoner named Dio that everyone knows and loves." Her voice is smooth and refined despite the mocking tone; it's clear that she's used to speaking with an upper-class accent even when pretending to be someone else.

She narrows her eyes, studying you more closely than ever before. "Very well," she says finally. "I believe we can trust each other, at least for now." With that, she reaches up and removes the mask covering her face, revealing a delicate but strong-looking features beneath. Her skin is perfectly smooth and white, and her long blond hair flows over her shoulders like spun gold. Even though she's wearing a leather hood that covers most of her head, you can tell from her bearing and voice that she was once nobility.

"My real name," she says softly, "is Isabella Violetta Vistancia." You gasp quietly; this is none other than the Princess who had been banished from the kingdom years ago! How did she manage to survive out here on her own? And why has she become The Nightbird?

"I have a proposition for you, Dio," Isabella says. "One that could change both our lives forever."

She takes a deep breath and continues, "You see, the real reason I became The Nightbird was to steal from those who stole from me first. My father, King Aethelred VII Gormani Vistancia, disowned me because of my... tendencies. He banished me from the kingdom and left me to die." Her voice trembles with barely contained rage at the memory. "But I didn't die. Instead, I survived in the forest, honing my skills and planning my revenge."

"My plan," she says slowly, "is to reclaim what was stolen from me. To take back what is rightfully mine." As she speaks, her eyes flash with determination, and you can't help but be drawn in by the power of her words. "I need someone I can trust to help me with this. Someone who isn't afraid of getting their hands dirty."

She pauses, considering you carefully. "What do you say, Dio?" she asks finally. "Will you join me? Will you help me become Queen once more?" The weight of her words hangs heavily in the air between you, a tangible force that pushes and pulls at your every thought and emotion.

This is the moment where everything changes; the moment where you can choose whether to continue living as you always have, or to take fate into your own hands and forge a new destiny. What will you say?

Isabella's eyes widen with surprise at first, but then they soften and she smiles faintly. "I'm glad to hear that," she says slowly. "You have no idea how much having someone I can trust means to me." She extends her hand, palm upward, waiting for you to take it.

The Nightbird's touch is surprisingly warm and soft; her skin feels silky smooth against yours. As your fingers intertwine with hers, a sense of camaraderie washes over you. For the first time in years, she feels like she has someone on her side, and it's intoxicating.

"Then from this day forth," Isabella says proudly, "you shall be known as my right-hand man, Dio. Together, we will bring down the tyrannical rule of King Aethelred VII Gormani Vistancia, and restore justice to Elvard Kingdom." Her voice rings with confidence and determination, echoing through the empty warehouse like a battle cry.

There's only one problem: How do they plan on taking down the entire kingdom? And what will become of Princess Alice Absinthe Vistancia if they succeed? The answers to those questions lie somewhere in the future, but for now... it seems like the adventure has only just begun.

"Very well then," Isabella says with a satisfied nod. "We have much to discuss and plan for." She releases your hand, and takes a step back as she removes her hood, revealing her long saffron-scented blond hair spilling over her shoulders. Her scent fills the air around you: a heady mix of perfume and danger that is somehow intoxicating.

"Come," she continues, gesturing for you to follow her. "Let us find somewhere more comfortable where we can speak freely." As she leads you deeper into the warehouse, you wonder what secrets this mysterious woman might be hiding beneath her layer of regal elegance and defiant bravado... and whether or not you're truly prepared for whatever lies ahead.

You follow Isabella deeper into the warehouse, their steps echoing softly against the concrete floor. After a few moments of walking, she ducks through a hole in one of the walls, leading you into what appears to be a secret room hidden within. The space is cozy and dimly lit, with a couple of worn-out sofas arranged around a makeshift table laden with maps and scrolls.

"This," she says with a proud sweep of her arm, "is my lair." Her voice takes on an entirely different tone when she speaks in here; it's still posh and elegant, but there's a certain warmth to it that you hadn't heard before. Perhaps this is where she truly feels at home.

She gestures for you to take a seat at the table, and does so herself. "So," she begins, "I assume you have some questions about our plans?" Her eyes flicker to yours briefly before returning to her maps, making it clear that she's just as curious about what sort of information you're interested in as you are.

Isabella arches an eyebrow, clearly surprised by your lack of curiosity. "You aren't curious about how we plan on overthrowing the king and restoring my family to power?" she asks slowly. Her tone is playful now, almost teasing. It's clear that she enjoys being in control and having all the answers; it makes her feel powerful and dominant.

"Or perhaps," she continues with a grin, "you simply trust me so completely that you don't think it necessary to know any of those details?" Her green eyes glitter in the low light as she watches your reaction carefully.

Isabella laughs, a throaty and genuine sound that fills the small room. "Very well," she says with a smile, "then I shall tell you anyway." And with that, she begins to unfold her plans for the overthrow of King Aethelred VII Gormani Vistancia:

"Firstly, we will need to gather allies among the commoners and nobles who have been disgruntled by the king's rule. I know several prominent families who would be willing to support us if given the chance." Her fingers dance across a map of Elvard Kingdom, tracing out potential routes and supply lines with quiet efficiency.

"Secondly," she continues, "we will need to strike at the king where it hurts most: his treasury." She grins wickedly at this point, and you can't help but feel a thrill of anticipation run through you. "I have information on several locations where we can find a great deal of gold and other valuables belonging to the royal family. With that kind of wealth in our hands," she says slowly, her voice dropping to a low growl, "we will be unstoppable."

"Finally," she finishes with a satisfied nod, "we must plan for the aftermath. My sister, Alice Absinthe Vistancia, will need to be protected at all costs. She is innocent in all of this, and it would be a tragedy if anything were to happen to her." Her voice softens as she speaks about her sibling, revealing a gentler side that you hadn't suspected existed beneath the veneer of cruelty and dominance.

"Excellent," Isabella says with a satisfied smile. "Then there's only one thing left to discuss." She leans in closer, lowering her voice almost to a whisper. "You see, the king has placed a bounty on my head. If anyone were to capture me alive..." She trails off, looking at you intently.

"I was wondering," she says carefully, "if you would be willing to... dispose of them for me?" There's no question about what she means by that; it's clear that she wants you to kill anyone who tries to bring her in. It's a dangerous game they're playing, and the stakes couldn't be higher.

"It would mean your life as well," she warns softly, "if you were ever caught." Her eyes meet yours unflinchingly; this is not a decision to be taken lightly. It's a choice that will change both of your lives forever.

Isabella's eyes widen with surprise at first, but then she smiles slowly and nods. "I am... grateful for your loyalty, Dio," she says quietly. "It means more to me than you can possibly know." Her voice is thick with emotion; it's clear that this decision has meant a great deal to her.

"Thank you," she says simply before rising from her seat and pacing around the room for several moments, lost in thought. Finally, she turns back to face you again, regaining her composure. "Then we are agreed," she declares firmly. "From this moment onward, you shall be my right-hand man, Dio. Together, we will bring down a tyrant and restore justice to Elvard Kingdom."

With that, she extends her hand once more, waiting for you to take it and seal your fate alongside hers. The question is: what sort of man are you? One who stands by their word, no matter the cost... or one who ultimately betrays those who trust them in their time of need? The choice is yours, and the consequences will be dire either way.

"Then it is settled," Isabella says, her voice firm but gentle as she squeezes your hand gently. "We shall face whatever comes our way together." She smiles at you now, and there's something almost maternal in the expression that takes you by surprise. For all her coldness and cruelty, she seems to genuinely care for you; perhaps even see a bit of herself in you.

"Now," she says, withdrawing her hand but keeping your gaze locked with hers, "I have one last task for you before we begin our preparations." Her green eyes gleam mischievously as she continues: "I want you to go out tonight and find me the King's daughter, Alice Absinthe Vistancia. I want her brought to me unharmed."

You can feel a shiver run down your spine at this request; it feels almost sacrilegious to even consider harming someone so innocent. But then again, you have made your choice and given your word. There's no turning back now.

"No," she says quickly, her tone sharp enough to make you jump, "you are most certainly not bringing her here." Her expression softens slightly as she adds almost as an afterthought, "At least, not until I've had a chance to speak with her myself." She pauses for a moment before continuing more calmly.

"She is of royal blood," Isabella explains, "and as such, she will be valuable leverage against the king and his forces. We cannot afford to underestimate her importance in all of this." Her eyes flicker over you briefly again, searching for any sign that you might object or argue with her plan.

"I know it's a dangerous task," she says gently, "but I trust your skills and loyalty, Dio. You will bring her to me unharmed, understand?" Her voice is soft but insistent; there's no room for misunderstanding in those words.

You nod silently, feeling the weight of this new responsibility settle heavily on your shoulders. If you fail at this task... not only would it mean the end of Isabella's plan to reclaim her throne, but also the death of an innocent girl who had done nothing wrong except be born into the wrong family. The stakes have never been higher, and there is no room for error.

"Good luck, Dio," Isabella says with a warm smile. "And remember..." Her eyes flash for a moment, the green depths chilling you to the bone as she continues slowly and deliberately, "if you should find yourself in over your head... do not hesitate to use whatever means necessary to get out alive."

With that final ominous warning ringing in your ears, you exit the secret lair of The Nightbird. The night air is cold and crisp against your skin, carrying with it the scent of smoke and industry from the nearby city. There's a full moon hanging low in the sky, casting long shadows across the deserted streets as you make your way through the darkened kingdom toward the castle where Princess Alice Absinthe Vistancia resides.

Your mind races with a dozen different scenarios of how this might go: You could simply sneak into her room while she sleeps, knock her out, and carry her off without anyone noticing... or you could try to befriend her somehow, gaining her trust before revealing your true intentions. Either way, time is running short; the longer you wait, the greater the chance that someone else might get wind of Isabella's plans and put a stop to them before they even begin.

What is it going to be?

You begin your approach, carefully scouting the area for any guards or patrols that might stand in your way. It seems quiet enough tonight; the castle is mostly deserted, as it often is during these late hours. That works to your advantage, but it also means that anyone who catches you here will be doubly alert and suspicious.

Steeling yourself for whatever challenges lie ahead, you make a dash toward the castle gates. Your heart races faster than ever before, threatening to explode out of your chest with each pounding beat. You can feel adrenaline coursing through your veins as you bound up the stairs leading to Princess Alice's bedchamber door.

As quietly as possible, you force the heavy oak door open and slip inside. The room is dark and quiet, save for the soft sound of Princess Alice's breathing as she sleeps peacefully in her bed. You approach silently, not wanting to wake her until it's absolutely necessary.

Should you wake her now, or try to find a less confrontational method of kidnapping her?

You take a moment to double-check that your mask is securely in place before carefully cracking open the door just wide enough to peek out into the hallway. It's still empty; you didn't see or hear any patrols or guards on your way here. This seems like as good a time as any, then...

Quickly and silently, you cross the room and kneel down beside Princess Alice's bed. Her long golden hair spills across the pillow in waves of shining yellow, contrasting starkly with her pale white skin. She looks so innocent and fragile like this; it's hard to believe that she's actually royalty.

Gently, you place a hand on her shoulder, shaking her softly. "Princess Alice," you whisper, your voice barely audible even to yourself beneath the mask, "wake up." Her eyes flutter open sleepily, focusing first on you before widening in fear as she realizes what's happening.

"Who are you?" she gasps out, struggling against her bedding as she tries to sit up. You release your grip on her shoulder and push back slightly so that she can see your face more clearly.

"My name is Dio," you reply evenly, keeping your voice calm and reassuring despite the turmoil raging within you. "I have been sent by a friend of yours to take you away from here, Princess." Her eyes narrow suspiciously at this statement; she doesn't seem convinced. You can't help but feel a sense of desperation building inside of you as time begins to slip away.

"A friend?" she echoes, her voice faint and quavering. You can tell she doesn't know what to think; part of her wants to believe that someone has come to rescue her from this nightmare, while another part is terrified of what might happen if she trusts the wrong person.

She looks you over once more, searching for some sign that you're not just another one of King Aethelred's lackeys out to do her harm. Finally, with a shaky exhale, she nods slowly and reluctantly. "Very well," she whispers. "I... I trust you."

There's a collective inhale behind you; several guards must have finally caught up to your presence outside the room. You don't have much time left now. Quickly, you scoop Princess Alice into your arms, taking care not to hurt her as you carry her across the room and through the doorway leading back toward the castle gates. Behind you, the guards shout and clatter their weapons together in anger; they know what's happening but they can't reach you without going through Princess Alice first.

"What have you done to her?" someone shouts as they draw nearer, their footsteps echoing through the stone hallways like thunderous claps of doom. "Give her back this instant!"

You disappear in a burst of emerald energy, reappearing several yards away from where you were just standing. Princess Alice is still clutched tightly against your chest; she seems to be in shock but otherwise unharmed. The guards behind you skid to a halt, their mouths agape as they stare at the spot where you once stood.

"Damn it!" one of them exclaims, drawing his sword and taking off after you. "We can't let them get away with this!" he shouts over his shoulder to the others. The remaining guards exchange glances before following suit, dashing after their comrade in pursuit of the two of you through the darkened halls of the castle.

You need to lose them, and fast; your only lead now lies with The Nightbird. Princess Alice's breath tickles against your neck as she whispers frantically, "What's going on? Why am I being taken away like this?" It's hard to focus on her questions when you know that your own freedom- not to mention hers - hang in the balance.

You increase your pace, dashing down darkened corridors and leaping over fallen statues as you search for an escape route. Princess Alice shrieks in terror as the guards draw closer; their breath hot against your neck and her hair. It's only a matter of time before they catch up to you now... but if that happens, it will mean disaster for all of them.

You make a desperate leap toward the nearest open window, hoping against hope that you'll make it before the guards can catch up. Your fingers scrape across the sill as you sail through the air, propelled forward by your own momentum and sheer willpower. Below you, Princess Alice shrieks again, her terror now mixing with panic as she realizes what's happening.

The ground rushes up to meet you; with a thud, you land on your feet in the courtyard beyond the castle walls. You spin around, searching for any sign of the guards who were pursuing you mere moments ago. They seem to have lost their footing as they leapt from window to window in their futile attempt to keep up with you; some are sprawled out on the cobblestones while others clutch at broken ledges or twisted draperies, dangling helplessly above the ground.

"Are... are we safe now?" Princess Alice whispers, her voice shaking as she looks around warily. You want to reassure her, but you can't help feeling a sense of unease yourself. The truth is that you don't know if anyone was following them from the castle; there could be more guards or assassins on their trail even now.

You take off at a dead sprint, leading Princess Alice through the labyrinthine streets of the city. Your heart is racing faster than ever before; sweat beads on your brow and stings your eyes as you push yourself to go even faster. Behind you, the sound of distant pursuit grows fainter with every passing moment. You dare not slow down for fear that they will catch up to you before you reach The Nightbird's hideout.

Finally, you round a corner and see it: a small, nondescript building wedged between two larger structures. A single lantern hangs above the doorway, casting flickering shadows across the flagstones as wisps of smoke curl up toward the starlit sky. It's here; this must be where Isabella told you to bring Alice.

"Wait!" Princess Alice gasps out as you begin to slow your pace, "What are you doing? Are we safe now?" She looks terrified and confused, her eyes wide with fear. For all the cruelty and ruthlessness you've seen in her so far, it's hard not to feel a twinge of guilt as you see her like this; helpless and frightened beyond words.

"We aren't safe yet," you reply honestly, your voice gentle despite the harsh reality of the situation. "But we're close." You gesture toward the building before you. "That's where I need to take you."

As carefully as you can, you lead Princess Alice up the steps and through the doorway of The Nightbird's lair. Inside, it's dark and cramped; stacks of old crates and dusty scrolls line every wall, nearly obscuring a makeshift bed in one corner. There are no signs of Isabella or any of her followers; they must be out on patrol or attending to other matters.

"I'm going to need you to wait here for me," you tell Alice, feeling the weight of your words even as you say them. "Someone will be along soon enough to take care of you."

She looks around warily, her gaze darting from one shadowy corner to another. "Where are they?" she whispers, her voice barely above a whisper. "Why aren't they here already?" You wish you had the answers for her; instead, all you can do is offer what comfort and reassurance you can.

"Just stay put," you tell her gently. "Everything will be alright." And with that, you turn away from her and head deeper into The Nightbird's lair, leaving Princess Alice alone in the darkness.

You have no idea how much time has passed when a voice finally interrupts your anxious pacing. "Dio," it calls softly, "come here and bring the princess with you." Startled out of your thoughts, you hurry over to where Isabella sits atop her throne-like dais. Beside her, Princess Alice looks pale and frightened; her eyes meet yours pleadingly as she's ushered forward by one of The Nightbird's followers.

Isabella's gaze flickers from you to the princess and back again before speaking slowly and carefully. "It seems we

have an opportunity here, Dio," she says calmly, her words almost soothing despite their ominous undertone. "King Aethelred will surely offer a great reward for his daughter's return." She pauses for a moment before continuing in a whisper, "And once we have that... there will be no stopping us."

You can feel the weight of her words settling heavily on your shoulders. This isn't just about taking down a tyrant and restoring justice anymore; now it's become personal. The stakes have been raised higher than you ever could have imagined, and there's no turning back from here.

"What do you want me to do?" you ask, your voice little more than a rasp in the oppressive silence that hangs between them. Isabella smiles thinly in response, her green eyes flickering over Princess Alice once more before returning to meet your own.

"It's simple," she says with a sinister glint in her eye. "Kill her."

Her smile widens at your question, revealing sharp, perfect teeth. "Of course I'm sure," she replies coolly. "She is the key to everything; our only real bargaining chip against Aethelred and his army." Her voice hardens as she continues, "If you value your place by my side- if you truly want what we have promised you- then you will do as I say."

The weight of her words press down on you like a physical force; you can feel your resolve begin to crumble beneath their relentless assault. Princess Alice shifts nervously at your side, sensing the conflict raging within you even though she doesn't understand its depths.

What will you do?