Xavier crouched beside his bed, gripping his dagger tightly. His heart raced as he listened to the faint sounds outside his door. Zoro hovered next to him, glowing softly in the dim light of the early morning.
"Zoro," Xavier whispered, "I need you to change your size—make yourself so small that no one can see you. And mask your magical aura."
Zoro blinked, then nodded. "You want me to stay hidden?"
"Exactly. You’re my hidden card. No one except Master Darius and Master Orion knows about you, and I want to keep it that way for now."
A mischievous grin appeared on the tiny puppet's face. "Got it. I’ll be your ace in the hole." In a flash, Zoro shrank, his glowing form becoming almost invisible to the n***d eye. The light dimmed completely as his magical presence vanished. For a moment, i
