Ralph: “Why did it have to come down to this?” With his back pressed against his room’s door, he tried to hold off the guards, but with their pounding, he slipped—it wasn’t going to last long.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Ralph: “Jade, I can’t hold them any longer!” he shouted desperately.
Jade: “Feld! Feld, come on, wake up! We have to go!” She shook him vigorously.
Feld: “Hmm, five… minutes, Mom, just five…” He drifted back into slumber.
Jade’s face twisted in frustration and guilt. After a brief hesitation, she raised her hand and brought it down hard on his face.
TASH—
Feld: “What the hell! Why would—” He stopped mid-sentence, staring into Jade’s blue eyes, which burned with desperation.
Jade: “Get up! We have to go now!”
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Guard: “Come on, men! Push harder—all together on three!”
Ralph: “Jade!” He threw a desperate glare her way.
Guard: “One!”
Jade grabbed the bedside table and hurled it through the closed window in front of them, shattering the glass completely.
Jade: “Ralph, Feld—we’re jumping!”
Feld: “What?! I can’t run yet!” His legs were still bruised purple from the beating he’d taken.
Guard: “Two!”
Jade scooped up Feld and nodded at Ralph.
Ralph: “I can’t leave Mom’s picture behind!” His gaze darted to the table within reach.
Desperate, he lunged for it, grabbed the framed portrait with trembling hands, and leaped out the window. Jade followed, still carrying Feld.
Guard: “There!”
THUD—!
The door burst open, revealing only the broken window, its curtains flapping wildly.
Click-clack… Click-clack…
Heavy boots echoed ominously through the silence. A figure stepped inside, running his fingers over the empty space where the picture had been.
Edwin: “Ah… he got away again. Men, after them—now.” His voice was cold, almost detached. “My love, your influence remains… even after everything I’ve done.”
In the forest, the group ran for their lives.
Ralph: “Where do we go now? We need somewhere to hide!”
Jade: “We could—”
Feld: “You’re not going anywhere without me! My family first! Here—turn left!”
They dashed sharply, following Feld’s lead.
Feld: “Straight! Right! Straight! After that big tree!”
In the distance, Feld’s house glowed like a safe haven.
Feld: “Come on, let me down!”
Jade: “Oh—yes, sorry.” She gently lowered him.
Feld: (Looking around) “Okay, come in. It’d be bad if they found you here now.”
The room was barely organized, the door patched up as best they could.
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Ralph: “Where are the other two?” He glanced at Feld.
Feld: “People like us have to work, you know. My brother helps my mom. Not all of us are born rich.”
He wobbled to the sofa and sat down.
Feld: “Look, Ralph, I don’t like you—but I hate the Crowswells even more. They’re always meddling in the underbelly of the city.”
Ralph: “Yeah, I get that. But I’m not like them.” He turned to Jade. “You’ve got a lot of explaining to do. How are you so fast? So strong? What were you to my mother?”
Jade: “I told you—I’ll explain everything, but not yet. We need to leave the country as fast as possible. Your father’s already put the word out for our capture.”
Ralph: “We could just go to the guards. They’ll help us.”
Feld giggled to himself.
Feld: “Haha, the guards are in on it too. Are you slow or something?”
Jade: “Do you have a map, Feld?” She extended her hand.
Feld: “Sigh. Yeah, but care to explain why you need to leave?”
Jade: “Edwin has eyes everywhere here. Our safest bet is Sylvoria—they’re used to travelers. We won’t stand out. Now, can I have the map?”
Feld: “Sure. Give me a minute to find it.”
Ralph: “Jade, please—you need to tell me something. You just snapped into action out of nowhere. Where was this before Feld got captured? Why didn’t you say anything?”
Jade: “For now, all I can say is this: Your mother was my best friend. We went through hell together. She entrusted me with her greatest treasure—and that’s you.” She pointed at Ralph.
Ralph: “How long did—”
Feld: “Okay, okay—less talking, more map-searching. I’ve got to get my family out too.”
Ralph: “And where will you go?”
Feld pointed at the map. “Here—Civara. They’re fair there. Starting over will be hard, but it’s better than dying.”
Jade: “We’re close to the border. It won’t be long before we reach Sylvoria—the safest place for now.”
Ralph: “Wait—don’t I get a say in where we’re going?” He looked at Jade, confused.
Jade: “No. You’ve been sheltered your whole life. You don’t know the world beyond these borders.”
Jade: “Again—trust me for now. You’ll get answers as you experience what’s out there.”
Ralph: “Yeah, I get that I don’t know anything. But isn’t this too fast? Do we really have to leave now?”
Feld: “You should wait. Let the dust settle.” He rolled up the map.
Jade: “No. The best time to move is now. Edwin isn’t stupid—we need to cross before he catches up.”
Feld: “Fine. Then be my guest. I’ll wait for my family. Here—take these.” He tossed two cloaks onto the table.
Feld: “Just one thing, Ralph—I still don’t like you. But thanks for stepping in for me.”
Ralph: “You’re welcome. I don’t dislike you either, Feld. Be safe.” He donned the black cloak, covering himself head to toe.
Ralph: “Will we go by foot or carriage, Jade?”
Jade put her hands together.
Jade: “Aurelia, bless us with a swift escape.” She stood. “Let’s go, Ralph. Time’s wasting. Feld—good luck.”
Feld: “Good luck. You’ll need it…” He turned his back as the latch clicked shut.
Ralph followed Jade, marveling at her uncanny knowledge of the forest.
Ralph: (Whispering) “Jade, do you even know where we’re going?”
…No answer.
Ralph: “Can you at least—”
Jade clamped a hand over his mouth. A rhythmic thud-thud-thud pulsed through the ground ahead.
Jade: “I’m not talking because I’m focusing on getting us out alive. Come on—move.”
They walked for hours, the moon their only guide.
Jade: “Let’s rest here. We’re deep enough—they can’t bring horses through this terrain. Tomorrow, we push for the border.”
Ralph: “Should we make a fire? Hunt for food?” He looked to her for guidance, then caught himself. “Wait—don’t answer. A fire would give us away. And I’m not hungry anyway.”
The small clearing, bathed in moonlight, offered a deceptively peaceful spot.
Jade smirked. “See? You’re learning. But don’t sleep in the open—too exposed. We’ll take the trees.”
The forest was dominated by massive oaks, their interwoven branches forming natural beds.
Ralph: “I’ll sleep, then. Wake me when it’s time.”
Jade: “Don’t worry—I will.”
As Ralph settled onto the branches, Jade gazed at the stars.
Jade: (Softly) “Don’t worry. He’ll grow into a fine man. I know you’re still with him.”
She stretched. “I need a weapon. Let’s see what I can find.” She leaped down from the tree.
Meanwhile, Ralph fought his own battle in his dreams.
Ralph: “No—please, Father! Don’t! I’ll come back—don’t hurt them!”
In the nightmare, Jade lay pinned under Edwin’s boot, a sword at her throat.
Edwin: “A man learns through loss. Consider this your first lesson.”
Zip—!
Ralph: “Ahhh!” He jolted awake to find Jade sleeping peacefully against the opposite tree.
Dawn had barely broken, dew glistening on the leaves.
Ralph: (Gasping) “Just a dream… I’m safe. Jade’s safe. Breathe, Ralph. Just breathe.”
Jade stirred, rubbing her eyes.
Jade: (Yawning) “Sleep well?”
Ralph’s eyes widened as the nightmare flashed back.
Ralph: “Uh… yeah. You?”
Jade: “Same as always. Come on—we’re close. A few more hours to the border.” She dropped from the tree.
Jade: “You’re unarmed now. Left the hammer at the house.”
Ralph: “Yeah. That’s bad.”
Jade: “Unarmed? But you’re mana-awakened. Every human instinctively knows how to use their magic.”
Ralph: “I have no idea what you’re talking about. I remember that purple… thing… knocking out the mercenary, but I don’t know how to do it again.”
Jade: “Ah. Never mind, then. I’ll teach you after we cross.”
She shook her head. “Honestly, looking at you, anyone would forget.”
Hours later, the dense forest gave way to a towering wall. A line of people waited to enter.
Jade: “Listen—if they ask, we’re adventurers here for work. Say nothing else.”
Guard 1: “Morning. What’s your business in Sylvoria?”
Ralph: “We’re adventurers. Heard there are great opportunities here.”
The guard eyed him up and down.
Guard 1: “Huh. What are you, some kind of mage? You’re too scrawny to be a fighter.”
Ralph: “Hey—”
Jade cut him off, stepping forward.
Jade: “Yes, he’s a mage. I’m an archer. The fee’s two gold per person, right? Here.”
The guard pocketed the coins.
Guard 1: “Remember to register at the guild if you’re taking jobs.”
Once inside, Jade beamed.
Jade: “Finally—free! It’s been too long.” She stretched her arms wide.
Ralph: “So… can he find us here?”
Jade: “Yes, but it’s harder. Only those mercenaries have a lead on us. Beyond that, he’s got nothing.”
Ralph: “Guess we need a place to stay.”
Jade: “I know an inn run by… an interesting family. We’ll start there. Then your training begins.”
Ralph: “Training? I thought we were just living here now.”
Jade: “You need to be stronger. We’ll need coins, and you want the truth, don’t you?”
Ralph met her gaze, resolve hardening.
Ralph: “Yes.”
Jade: “Then get stronger. Because to learn everything, you’ll need to tear your father down—and reclaim your mother’s name.”
