6 On the Run

As dawn broke, Reid waited patiently by the town gates, his back pressed against the rough stone wall. His eyes scanned the horizon, catching the first rays of sunlight peeking over the distant hills. He had expected this waiting game. Elena was cautious—rightfully so—but Reid had a gut feeling she wouldn't let this opportunity slip away.

The town was still asleep, and the streets were empty save for the occasional stray cat darting between shadows. The chill of the early morning air brushed against Reid's skin, but he barely noticed. His focus was entirely on the gate and the path leading up to it.

And then, she appeared.

Elena moved with the grace of a seasoned warrior. Her steps were soundless on the cobblestone path. She was clad in leather armor, dark and unadorned, with a cowl pulled low over her face. But it was the weapon at her side that caught Reid's attention— it was a sleek and deadly katana, with its hilt wrapped in worn leather. The sight of it stirred something in Reid, a brief flash of nostalgia from another time and another world.

Reid's lips curled into a faint smile. He hadn't expected to see a weapon like that in this world, and for a moment, it made him feel strangely connected to his old life. He watched as Elena approached with a tense posture. Her eyes scanned the area for any signs of danger. When she was close enough, she stopped and turned to face him with a guarded expression.

"So, I came," Elena said, her voice steady though laced with a hint of uncertainty.

Reid pushed himself off the wall, stepping closer to her with a grin that softened his usually sharp features. "You came," he echoed, his tone light but with an undercurrent of something deeper—satisfaction, perhaps, that she had chosen to trust him, even if only a little.

For a moment, they stood there in silence, the weight of the decision hanging between them. Then, without another word, Elena turned and started walking towards the forest path that led out of town. Reid followed her, keeping a respectful distance, allowing her the space she needed.

They walked in silence for a while, the only sounds being the crunch of leaves underfoot and the distant calls of morning birds. The tension from the previous night still lingered, but there was also something else.

When they reached a clearing in the forest, Elena stopped and finally pulled back her cowl, letting the cool breeze touch her face.

"You have violet hair," observed Reid.

"Of course I do, I dyed them, this is my natural color," she off-handedly remarked. "So, what now?"

Reid looked at her for a moment, then smiled. "Now, we start planning," he said simply. "If we're going to survive, we need a strategy—"

Elena cut Reid off abruptly, her gaze focusing on him. "Tell me you didn't kill a big guy—very tall, carried a hammer, and could teleport."

Reid blinked, taken aback by the sudden shift in the conversation. "Hmmm… I think I did," he said slowly, trying to recall the details. "Ah, it's the Foehammer!"

"Foehammer?" Elena repeated in a flabbergasted tone.

"It's a nickname I briefly gave him after he jumped me out of nowhere," Reid explained, shrugging as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

"And did you kill him?" Elena's voice was tense, her gaze locked onto his.

"Of course I did," Reid replied casually as though dispatching a teleporting giant with a hammer was just another day in the life. "No offense to big people, but he started it first, so I had to take him down."

Elena's expression darkened, and without a word, she reached into her pack and flung a crumpled piece of paper at him. Reid caught it, unfolding it to reveal a rough sketch of his face, surrounded by strange scribbles. Underneath, bold letters spelled out something he couldn't quite decipher. The letters could either be his bounty reward or the 'Dead or Alive' equivalent in a wanted poster.

"Congratulations," Elena said with a grim edge to her voice. "You're wanted in the Empire for killing the vice-commander of the Order of Black."

Reid stared at the paper, squinting at the unfamiliar writing. His grasp of the local language was decent enough for conversation, but reading was another matter entirely. He could make out the shape of his own face though.

"What does it say?" Reid asked, handing the paper back to Elena with a look of mild annoyance.

"Dead or Alive," she replied, her tone flat. "And a hefty price on your head."

Reid would have called it, 'I knew it' he would say, but this was a serious matter.

 "Great, just what I needed." He glanced at Elena, noting the tension in her posture. "So, you're telling me I took out a big shot, huh? That's why you've been so cautious?"

"That's one way to put it," Elena muttered, stuffing the wanted poster back into her pack. "The wanted poster just came up very recently. If not for my contacts, I wouldn't have known of this. You've stirred up a hornet's nest, Reid. The Order won't stop until they've hunted you down."

"Well, that explains why they're after me," Reid said with a hint of amusement in his voice. "But hey, look on the bright side—now we've got a common enemy. Makes our partnership all the more necessary, doesn't it?"

Elena helpfully provided, "I'm not coming with you because you asked me to, but because I just want to improve my chances. Once we reach the nearest non-Empire border territory, we go our separate ways."

Reid didn't argue and merely nodded. But he couldn't help but be curious. The Town of Eton was within Empire territory, and if Elena was as wanted as he was, it made little sense for her to linger in such a dangerous place. Even if it was still near the border, it didn't make sense. What kept her here? The question lingered, but Reid knew better than to push. Elena was as guarded as she was dangerous, and prying could easily end in disaster.

"My bad," Reid said with a pitiful grin, raising his hands in mock surrender. "I won't push my luck, but you've got to love a man for trying."

Elena rolled her eyes, though there was a trace of amusement in her gaze. "I hate clingy guys," she muttered, turning away and leading the way down the path.

Reid followed. His usual swagger was tempered by a newfound caution. He knew better than to take Elena's warning lightly. Despite their uneasy alliance, she was still a mystery to him—one that could easily turn deadly if he wasn't careful.

The forest grew thicker as they walked, the trees towering overhead, their branches intertwining to form a canopy that blocked out the morning sun. The path narrowed, forcing them to walk single file. Reid kept a close eye on Elena's movements, noting how she navigated the terrain with ease. She was clearly no stranger to the wild, and her confidence in this environment only deepened Reid's curiosity.

In a way, it was a learning experience for Reid.

They traveled in silence. The Empire would be relentless in their pursuit, and he knew they couldn't afford to stay in one place for long. The border was their best bet, but the journey would be perilous. They'd need to avoid patrols, navigate treacherous terrain, and deal with whatever other dangers the wilderness threw at them.

Reid had read the atlas, and knew lots of Kingdoms existed just beyond the Empire: each and every one of them ruled by muants.

After what felt like hours, they reached a small clearing where the trees gave way to a patch of open sky. Elena paused, glancing back at Reid.

"We'll rest here for a bit," she said, her tone leaving no room for argument. "We still have a long way to go."

Elena sat cross-legged on the ground, closing her eyes and slipping into a meditative state. Reid watched her for a moment, then yawned, stretching his arms above his head as he leaned back against a nearby tree. The silence between them grew, only broken by the soft rustling of leaves and the distant chirping of birds.

Reid's curiosity got the better of him. "What are you doing?" he asked, tilting his head to the side.

Without opening her eyes, Elena replied, "I'm replenishing my mental strength. My physical strength has recovered, but my sudden use of super speed last night left me mentally exhausted."

Reid raised an eyebrow. "You tire easily. That's inconvenient. From my observation, you seem to be a short-burst speedster with incredible acceleration and explosive power. I swear my wrists still hurt from trying to keep up with you." He paused, studying her closely. "What's the trade-off like?"

Elena remained silent, her focus unwavering.

Reid sighed, then continued, hoping to draw her out. "If it makes you feel better, my power has a trade-off too. It makes me impulsive or berserk if I don't watch over it very carefully."

That caught her attention. Elena's eyes opened slightly, her gaze meeting his, but she didn't say anything.

"I basically lose self-control when my power goes fatigued on me," Reid added with a serious tone.

"Mental strain and decreased cognition," Elena finally shared, her voice softer than before. "Meditation helps."

Reid nodded, absorbing her words. He had always been intrigued by how different people dealt with their powers, and Elena's method of meditation was new to him. It made sense, though—her ability required immense concentration and control, and any slip-up could be catastrophic.

His 'self-mastery' however didn't require control for it was 'self-control' itself.

"How long does it usually take?" Reid asked, genuinely curious.

"It depends," Elena answered, closing her eyes again. "Sometimes a few minutes, sometimes longer. It's not just about resting; it's about re-centering myself, clearing the mental clutter."

Reid thought of something.

Amidst the short quiet and the sound of nature everywhere, Reid had let his intrusive thoughts win. "Hey, I think it will be easier if you let me ride you… if you get what I mean…"