Griffin

As I stood, a rush of adrenaline flooded my veins, mingling with the cool breeze that tousled my hair. The scenery sprawled out before me, an expansive canvas painted with hues of azure and emerald. Far below, waves crashed against the rocky shore, their echoes reverberating through the canyon.

Meanwhile, Alexa beside me hummed as if everything was perfectly normal and serene. I, on the other hand, was terrified of heights and falling.

As I gazed at the marvelous waterfalls to my left, dizziness and nausea swept over me. I couldn't even see both the top and the bottom, but the glittering rainbows somehow offered a bit of solace amidst the fear.

"Get on," Alexa ordered from her broomstick, pointing at something.

My eyes widened when I saw she was indicating the unicorn. "I'll ride there?"

He neighed.

"Where else?" Alexa chuckled and nodded sincerely. "I'm using minimal power to stay low and unnoticed, so I can't let you ride with me. Your weight on my broomstick would require more energy from me. We could use that energy to better our situation, you know."

"What about the clouds?" I asked. "Can you just make one again?"

"Not gonna happen, not this time." Alexa shook her head firmly. "Such a waste…"

I sighed. I wanted to assure Alexa that I wasn't heavy at all. Despite being over five feet and five inches tall, I was skinny. Our financial situation meant we often lacked staples, so it wasn't surprising for me to be thin.

There were even days when I couldn't eat at all because my uncle's money was drained by treating Elizabeth's illness.

Additionally, the creature didn't appear to like me very much. However, upon reconsideration, I thought it might be preferable for me to ride the unicorn instead of Alexa's broomstick. She tended to race with the wind, a speed I couldn't handle.

At first glance, the unicorn appeared to be a typical horse, but upon closer inspection, its significant differences became apparent. It was double the size and strength of an ordinary horse.

I estimated that it could comfortably carry even five people. Its skin differed as well, shimmering when touched by sunlight. Its single horn also appeared to be very sensitive to any sound.

I attempted to ride the creature but failed. By the fifth attempt and fifth fall, I felt as though my tailbone had fractured.

"You're doing it wrong," Alexa said, laughing with a hint of shame, while the creature snorted innocently.

Was it just me, or did I feel like I was being mocked by these two?

I was familiar with horseback riding. I had participated in races before to earn money and help my uncle, but this experience was very different. It seemed like the creature was intentionally trying to unseat me.

"What's your problem?" I asked, unsure if it could understand me at all.

Alexa didn't offer any assistance. She simply sat on her broomstick, eating another bunch of fruits while watching me struggle, evidently amused by my failed attempts.

As I stared at her, silently pleading for assistance, she returned my gaze with a blank expression. "I'm sorry, but I can't help you," she said. "The last time I rode on him, we collided into a tree, and since then, he hasn't wanted anything to do with me. He'd probably kick me if I dared to approach him again."

As I stood beside the creature, anticipation filled me with determined resolve. With a deep breath, I firmly grasped the reins. Stepping closer to the stirrup, I felt the warmth of the unicorn's flank against my leg.

With a swift motion, I swung myself up into the saddle, sensing the supple leather beneath me and the sturdy frame of the creature beneath it. In that moment, as we stood poised and ready, it felt as though the world held its breath. A surge of exhilaration washed over me. I had never felt such happiness in accomplishing a task before.

I tightened my grip on the rope as the unicorn obediently walked in the direction I indicated.

"Whoa," exclaimed Alexa, her gaze fixed on us. "Griffin seems to favor you over all of us, even more than his owner."

"Who?" I asked.

"Ludwig," replied Alexa.

We trailed behind Alexa in silence for a full hour as we journeyed across the endless dunes and vast horizons. My mind began to formulate plans for another escape.

With Alexa being the only one with me at the moment, and her not even glancing behind, the likelihood of success seemed higher. However, I eventually dismissed the idea from my mind.

Unfortunately, my little stunt from last night made me realize a lot of things. While I had initially planned to escape and return home, I understood that if I truly wanted to survive in this cruel world, I needed to be cautious and strategic. I had to sharpen my mind and be vigilant. If I were to escape, I needed a foolproof plan and not simply dash off at the first opportunity.

I needed to plan where to go, to find a safe haven for myself. I required water, food, and perhaps even weapons to defend myself. Most importantly, I needed to figure out how to return to my world as soon and as safely as possible. I didn't want to be imprisoned here forever.

Another hour passed, and we remained silent, beads of sweat forming on my temples. I could sense Griffin's apparent exhaustion as well. Alexa was now scanning the surroundings with a magical map in her hand, all the while eating once again.

I wanted to speak up and ask who she was referring to as 'they,' the ones she didn't want to know we were coming. I also wanted to inquire about the whereabouts of Liam and Ludwig.

"Ludwig…" I whispered softly out of nowhere. Griffin neighed in response to his owner's name.

I couldn't shake the feeling of anxiety, especially around him among the three of them. There was something about him that felt unsettling, though I couldn't quite pinpoint what it was. It was just a gut instinct, an uneasiness without words.

Despite him saving me last night, I still harbored a fear of him and his presence. While I believed he didn't intend harm, as I had thought before, I couldn't shake this unknown fear. Whenever Ludwig was near, I felt dizzy, as if a heavy weight was pressing down on my chest, making it hard to breathe and draining my strength.

If I wanted to survive and maintain my sanity, I knew I had to keep my distance from him.