Leaving Greystone

Morning came, and after a quick breakfast, Ethan, Greg, Jak, and Amara gathered their things and made their way toward the city gates. Ethan had his pack slung over his shoulder, and Greg carried the bulk of the supplies in his larger pack. As they walked, Ethan continued his Mana Breathing technique, a process he had grown comfortable with—mana in, mana out, all while casually creating coins as they traveled.

The kids were buzzing with excitement, talking about the adventure ahead, while Ethan kept his thoughts focused on the mana well and the days of travel ahead. He had a lot on his mind, but the steady flow of mana kept him grounded.

However, as they approached the gate, a guard stepped forward, his hand raised to stop them. "Hold on there," the guard said, looking between Ethan and the two kids. "We've received word that these two children have been reported missing by their caretaker."

Ethan felt a cold chill run down his spine. "What?" he muttered under his breath, trying to keep his expression neutral. He hadn't expected this. He knew the innkeeper was terrible, but to report the kids missing and accuse him of kidnapping?

The guard frowned, his gaze sharpening as he looked at Ethan. "The innkeeper claimed you kidnapped them. Her name's Murda," he said, his tone flat as if even he felt disgusted saying her name.

Ethan couldn't help but feel a bit of that revulsion himself—Greg, through their mental link, seemed to share that feeling. Even without a face, Ethan could sense Greg's distaste for the situation, his form tensing as if preparing for action.

The guard's hand slowly moved toward the hilt of his sword, suspicion growing in his eyes. "We're going to need you to come with us. The children need to be returned."

Ethan's heart began to race. This looked very bad. He wasn't about to let the kids go back to that woman, but right now, things looked like they were spiraling out of control. He could feel Greg's readiness to act, his connection buzzing with tension.

Think fast.

Ethan's mind raced through options, and suddenly, a wild idea struck him. Teleportation—he had been practicing the space element after all. He had never tried teleporting himself or others, but this was as good a time as any to test it.

"Okay, okay," Ethan said, raising his hands in a gesture of surrender. "Let's... just talk about this..."

But before the guard could react, Ethan concentrated hard, feeling the space element gather around him. He imagined a point just outside the city gates, far enough to give them a head start but close enough to still be able to escape if needed.

"Now!" he shouted mentally to Greg, who immediately grabbed Jak and Amara.

In an instant, Ethan felt the space around them warp, and with a sharp pull, they vanished from their spot at the gate, reappearing just outside the city in the blink of an eye. The sensation was disorienting for a moment, but Ethan quickly regained his bearings.

"We did it!" he said, grinning in disbelief. He had just teleported them!

But there was no time to celebrate. They had barely taken a step when they heard the guards shouting from behind the city walls. They had been spotted, and the guards were already rushing toward them.

"Run!" Ethan yelled, turning on his heel and sprinting away from the gate.

Greg scooped up both Jak and Amara without breaking stride, the two kids holding on tightly as the group booked it away from the city as fast as they could. The sounds of the guards shouting behind them only spurred them on.

They tore through the fields outside the city, their feet pounding against the dirt road as they raced to put as much distance between themselves and the city as possible. Ethan could feel his heart pounding in his chest, adrenaline flooding his system as they sprinted for safety.

"Keep going!" Ethan shouted, glancing back to see the guards falling further behind. They had gotten a head start, but it wasn't over yet. The city wouldn't let this go easily.

They ran for what felt like an eternity, dodging through trees and brush, until finally, the sound of the guards faded into the distance. Ethan slowed, his lungs burning, but he couldn't help the wide grin that spread across his face.

They had escaped. The teleportation worked.

He looked over at Greg, who was still holding the kids as they caught their breath, their faces pale but grinning with the excitement of the chase.

"That," Ethan panted, hands on his knees, "was close."

Jak and Amara looked at him, wide-eyed. "That was amazing! You teleported us!" Jak said, clearly thrilled by the whole experience.

Ethan nodded, still catching his breath. "Yeah... wasn't exactly part of the plan, but... we made it."

Amara looked up at Greg with admiration. "Greg's so strong," she said, still holding tightly to the golem's arm.

Ethan straightened up, feeling the adrenaline begin to fade. "Alright," he said, turning to the group. "We need to keep moving. We're not safe until we're far away from the city."

With that, they resumed their journey, now officially on the run from the city, but free. And while it hadn't gone as planned, Ethan felt a strange sense of pride.

He had teleported, and now, they were heading toward the mana well to become even stronger.

---

As the group kept moving through the open countryside, Ethan couldn't help but feel the rush of mana flowing through him as he continued practicing his Mana Breathing technique. Every step brought him closer to mastering his abilities, but it was also a good distraction from the close call they had just escaped.

As the tension eased a bit, Jak and Amara seemed to relax too. They were no longer looking over their shoulders constantly, though the excitement of the chase still lingered on their faces. Ethan glanced at them, feeling a bit curious about their lives.

"So," Ethan said, breaking the comfortable silence, "you two… what's your story? How did you end up with that awful innkeeper?"

Jak shrugged, looking down at the dirt path. "We've been in Greystone as long as I can remember. My parents left me with Murda when I was little. I never knew them. She took us in, but, well… you know how she is."

Amara nodded in agreement. "Same for me. My family's long gone. I don't remember them either. Murda's been all we had, but we've always wanted to leave." Her voice dropped slightly, a hint of sadness in it. "There's nothing left for us there."

Ethan felt a pang of sympathy for them. He had lost his old world too, in a way, but at least he still had memories of it. These two had nothing but the cold grasp of that horrible innkeeper. It made him feel even better about taking them along. They deserved a fresh start, a chance for something better.

Ethan hesitated for a moment, debating whether or not to share his own story. There was so much about him that the kids wouldn't understand—other worlds, reincarnation as a creature of pure mana—but maybe they deserved to know a bit about him too, at least what they could handle.

"I wasn't always... from here, either," Ethan began, carefully choosing his words. "I grew up in a place that's very different from this world. I didn't have any magic or mana where I came from, but... let's just say something happened, and now I'm here." He gave them a small smile. "I've been figuring things out ever since."

Jak looked up at him with wide eyes. "Really? You came from somewhere else? Was it like... a secret village or something?"

Ethan chuckled, deciding not to overwhelm them with the whole "I came from a world without magic" part. "Yeah, something like that. It was a lot simpler where I was from. No magic, no monsters, just... normal stuff. I wasn't anyone special there, but here... I guess I'm learning to be someone different."

Amara glanced up at him, curious. "So that's why you're so strong?"

Ethan shrugged, feeling a bit embarrassed. "I guess you could say I'm still learning. I didn't know how to use magic until I got here. Now, I'm just trying to get stronger, like you guys."

The kids nodded, seeming to understand—or at least accept—what he was saying. Ethan was relieved he didn't have to dive too deep into the more complicated parts of his past. He liked keeping things simple with them.

As they walked, the conversation turned to lighter topics—adventures they'd heard of, stories about mages and monsters, and dreams of what they'd do once they were free to explore the world. It was refreshing for Ethan to just talk about normal things, even if it was with two kids who were looking up to him as their guide.

All the while, Ethan kept Mana Breathing, pulling mana in and pushing it out, letting the technique become second nature as they traveled. He could feel his mana pool continuing to grow, bit by bit, as they made their way further from Greystone.

"Alright," Ethan said after a while, glancing ahead. "We'll keep moving, but I think we're making good progress. Just gotta keep going."

The road ahead stretched out before them, leading toward the mountains where the mana well awaited. They were free now, and with each step, Ethan felt a little more confident that they could handle whatever came their way.

As Ethan walked alongside Jak, Amara, and Greg, his mind circled back to the idea of telling them more about his past. He had already given them a glimpse, but something held him back from revealing too much. After all, if he had been reincarnated from another realm as a creature of pure mana, he couldn't ignore the fact that he might be connected to the creatures now crossing into this world from other realms. It was best to withhold some details for their safety—no need to make them worry or confuse them. The less they knew, the better for now.

The road stretched ahead of them, winding through the countryside. The sounds of birds chirping and the rustling of the forest surrounded them as they moved deeper into the wilderness. They were gradually leaving the more populated areas behind, with Greystone far in the distance. Every now and then, the kids would point out something interesting—like a strange rock formation or a particularly large tree—but the journey was mostly peaceful.

Ethan's senses remained sharp, though, always on alert for anything unusual. After Kaelar's warning about the creatures from other realms, he wasn't about to let his guard down completely. The world seemed calm now, but he knew danger could lurk just out of sight.

As they trekked further, here's what they encountered along the way:

Wide open fields: As they ventured north, they passed through vast fields of tall grass that waved gently in the wind. The sun was high in the sky, casting a warm glow over everything. The openness was a nice contrast to the narrow streets of Greystone, and it gave them a sense of freedom.

A shimmering stream: After a few hours of walking, they came across a clear stream, its water sparkling in the sunlight. The group paused to take a break, refilling their water bottles and splashing their faces. The sound of the water flowing over the rocks was calming, and the kids enjoyed cooling off in the gentle current. Ethan couldn't help but wonder how much mana flowed through the natural elements of this world, even in something as simple as a stream.

Forest paths: As they ventured deeper into the wilds, the terrain shifted from open fields to dense forest paths. The trees stood tall and thick, their canopies forming a natural roof above them, casting long shadows over the ground. The air was cooler here, and the sounds of wildlife echoed all around. Ethan couldn't help but feel a little more on edge in the woods—he knew creatures could be lurking anywhere.

Odd ruins: At one point, they passed by what looked like the remains of an ancient structure, half-buried in the ground and covered in moss. The stone walls were crumbling, and the place had an eerie stillness to it. Jak was fascinated and wanted to explore, but Ethan quickly advised against it. They didn't have time for distractions, and something about the ruins felt... off, like a faint hum of old magic lingered in the air.

Wildlife: Small animals scurried through the underbrush, and birds flitted between the trees. A few times, they saw larger creatures—deer and foxes—darting through the woods. The kids were excited by the sight of the animals, but Ethan stayed cautious, knowing that more dangerous things could be out here too. At one point, a large green bear lumbered by in the distance, but luckily it paid them no attention.

As they moved further north, the terrain began to change, becoming more rugged and mountainous. The air grew cooler, and the distant peaks of the mountains loomed larger with each passing day.

Throughout the journey, Ethan kept up his Mana Breathing, constantly absorbing and releasing mana. He could feel his channels growing stronger with every step, and though it was a slow process, the consistency was paying off. It was becoming a natural rhythm for him now.

"How much further until we get to the mountains?" Jak asked, a little breathless from the day's travel.

Ethan glanced at the horizon, judging their progress. "Probably another few days of walking," he said. "But we're getting closer."

Jak nodded, though he looked a bit tired. Amara seemed to be holding up well, her determined expression showing she was just as eager to reach the mana well as the rest of them.

Ethan smiled to himself as they kept walking. The journey was long, but they were making steady progress, and every step brought them closer to the mana well, where he could train in a place of true power. The mountains ahead promised new challenges, but Ethan felt ready for them.