Escape (5)

Erik burst out of the building, the chill of March and of the mountain air greeting him.

Before him lay an expansive clearing, a vast stretch of open space encircling the city.

Beyond this clearing, at the edge where the wilderness began, stood the dense forest he aimed to reach.

While heading there, he watched at his surroundings. Erik's eyes landed on a colossal bird perched at the forest's threshold.

The creature seemed to watch him intently.

The moment Erik gave his orders, June launched himself into the air, heading towards him with remarkable speed. Erik broke into a sprint.

The ground beneath the young man's feet was uneven, the terrain a mixture of grass and patches of mud, remnants of recent rains.

With each stride, he got closer to the bird, but the Blackguards were likely coming out at any moment. The distance between him and June wasn't small.