The Tragic Fall

Just when Arvad closed his eyes, and gave up all the hope, a contemptuous voice fell beside his ears. "Don't you think you should be thinking about how to survive rather than giving up?"

Arvad opened his single eyes, and peeked at him. "Are you really human, or have you become an angel with me?"

"Don't talk, and keep your body tight. Maintain this position, and spread your hands as if you are flying."

Roy, who was falling beside him, grunted as he proceeded to instruct him.

Arvad did as he said, and turned towards him. "Okay I am ready. Can you quickly start using wind magic please."

Roy nonchalantly looked at the rising smoke not far away, indicating a hustling town, and muttered, "Don't you already know I don't have a shred of wind affinity."

"WHAT!" Arvad felt his throat becoming hoarse. He hadn't shouted so much in his seven years of life. The fresh hope he received was nowhere to find, and he closed his eyes again.

"How are we going to survive now?"

"Don't worry, I can still summon wind for you."

Arvad's heart was beating fast as the vague scenery below him was getting closer and closer. It did not look as beautiful as it looked a minute ago. He could not help but shout out in heart. "Shit"

Roy sharply looked down, and shouted loudly, "It's time. Get ready for the impact."

He dived closer to Arvad, and patted his back, giving him a fierce push towards the ground.

The mana left the shackles of Roy's body through his hand, coursing through the black robe of Arvad, as the runes on its fabric lit up with a blue light.

Arvad felt Roy's hand, and opened his eyes unconsciously. What came in view was the dangerously close net of trees, and looming death around them.

This scared the shit out of him, and he once again closed his eyes. "Die, die, I am really gonna die."

When he was just about to hit the trees, the black robe seemed to be charged with blue runes, as it shone with a deep blue color, and flared up.

Phewsh!

A strong storm of wind wafted out from the robe, decreasing the rapidly increasing momentum of Arvad. His body paused in the mid-air due to sudden opposite force, considerably slowing him down.

Arvad was shocked for a long moment before he reacted, and shook out of his trance. He hurried to grab the tree branch to stop himself from falling to the ground. Stretching his hands to the limit, he was just about to grab the branch when he heard a loud voice.

Phewsh!!

The sound was even stronger than the time when Arvad's robe activated, and the momentary shock made him retreat his hands unconsciously. "Shiaaat! Save me!"

Like a ping pong ball, Arvad's body kissed one branch after another, and his moans echoed louder than a horny milf.

Finally, he found his back hit the hard ground, and he could not help but groan loudly, "This is the first time I come out to adventure, and this is how you treat me world? REALLY?"

Arvad tried to stand up, but found that his back ached from the pain. "It hurts. Father, I won't forgive you for this."

Roy landed in an elegant manner not far away from him, and could not help but show shock upon seeing his disheveled state. He averted his gaze, pretending to be nonchalant. "I see you have had a rough landing, huh."

"Are you just gonna make fun of me or help me?" Arvad blushed in shame. As the Heir of the Great Aeron House, when had he ever suffered such shame.

Roy walked up, and helped him stand.

"So, where are we? What is this thing?" Arvad looked at the robe, which appeared lifeless and exhausted after the use. Even the runes on its surface were faint, and would turn dark anytime.

"We are close to the last town of the Artidus Empire. Beyond this town, the borders of Exiled Land begin." Roy looked at the robe, his expression one that of admiration. "This thing is called Pararobe, one of the genius inventions of His Majesty, your father."

"Ehh, really. Why didn't I know of it before? I will go home and play with it to my heart's content."

Roy gave him a side eye, and sneered. "That's why he didn't tell you."

"Ehh…"

"By the way, you seem like a totally different person. I heard you are quite a serious and sincere kid."

"Well, I was bound by the royal etiquettes. That was the disguise I was forced to wear, not that I liked to," Arvad replied sadly. The fresh outside made him feel unrestrained and free. There were no eyes watching him anymore, and he could not help but want to enjoy most of this newfound freedom.

Roy showed understanding, and sighed. "Okay, let's reach the town before the dusk begins," With that, Roy began to run straight through the forest

"Hey, don't run so fast. Wait for me," Yelled Arvad.

"Don't remove your mask and robe when we reach the town. Stay low. Our identity must not be revealed in any circumstances."

Roy's serious voice reached beside his ear, and he nodded in understanding.

After running continuously for an hour or so, they finally reached close to the borders of the town. They did not encounter any beasts or animals on the way.

The vicinity must have been cleared by the hunters of town, Arvad noted.

As soon as they got close to the town, an arrow suddenly made an ear-piercing noise, and fell few steps away from them.

"Hold your steps!"