Chapter 4: The Price of Defiance

Raine's heart pounded like a war drum as steel clashed against steel. The morning sun cast long shadows across the ridge, illuminating the deadly dance between Sylara and the bounty hunters. Her silver hair flowed like liquid moonlight as she weaved between her attackers, her blade striking with deadly precision.

But there were too many of them.

Four, five—no, six men surrounded her, all wielding jagged weapons and ruthless grins. The leader stood off to the side, arms crossed, watching with an air of amusement. His golden eyes glinted in the light, like a predator toying with its prey.

Raine clenched his fists. He didn't know how to fight—at least, not like this. His world had been one of classrooms, late-night gaming, and rushing to catch the last train home. Yet here he was, standing in the middle of a battlefield where hesitation meant death.

Sylara had told him to run. But something inside him refused.

One of the bounty hunters, a brute of a man with a jagged scar across his forehead, turned toward him, brandishing a curved dagger.

"Stay right there, boy," the man sneered.

Raine's survival instincts kicked in. He dodged to the side, just barely avoiding the swipe aimed at his gut. His foot caught on a loose rock, and he stumbled backward, barely regaining his balance before he tumbled down the steep ridge.

The bounty hunter advanced.

"Damn it," Raine muttered. His eyes darted around, searching for anything he could use as a weapon. His gaze landed on a thick branch lying nearby, half-buried in the dirt.

It wasn't much, but it was better than nothing.

He dove for it, gripping the makeshift weapon just as the bounty hunter lunged. With sheer desperation, Raine swung. The wood connected with a sickening crack against the man's knee.

The hunter howled in pain and staggered.

Raine didn't hesitate—he swung again, this time aiming for the man's head. The impact sent the bounty hunter crumpling to the ground, unconscious.

His breath came in ragged gasps.

Did he just… win?

No time to think about it.

Sylara was still outnumbered.

She fought like a storm, her blade dancing through the air, but even she was beginning to slow. A shallow cut on her arm dripped crimson onto the ground.

The leader of the bounty hunters, the scar-faced man with golden eyes, observed the fight with an almost amused expression.

"You're quite the warrior, princess," he mused, tilting his head. "But you know how this ends."

Sylara didn't respond. She tightened her grip on her sword, her emerald eyes burning with defiance.

The leader sighed. "Very well."

With unnatural speed, he closed the distance between them. Sylara barely had time to react before his blade clashed against hers. The force of the blow sent her skidding backward.

She recovered quickly, but the shift in momentum was clear. This man was stronger. Faster.

Raine watched, helplessness clawing at his chest.

He had to do something.

Then, a flicker of blue light caught his eye.

It was faint, barely noticeable, but he could feel it—the same strange energy that had surged through him when he first arrived in this world.

Magic.

The realization hit him like a bolt of lightning.

He had magic.

And he was going to use it.

Instinct took over. He focused on the energy, reaching out to it. It was wild, untamed, like a river threatening to overflow.

But he didn't fight it.

He embraced it.

A sudden gust of wind howled through the clearing. The ground beneath Raine trembled as blue arcs of energy crackled around his fingers. The air itself felt charged, heavy with an unseen force.

Everyone turned to him—Sylara, the bounty hunters, even the leader.

"What the—?" the scar-faced man started, but Raine didn't give him time to finish.

He thrust his hand forward.

A burst of energy shot from his palm, striking the ground between Sylara and the leader. The impact sent a shockwave rippling through the area, forcing them apart. Dust and debris exploded into the air.

The bounty hunters reeled, disoriented.

Sylara's eyes widened in shock as she turned to Raine. "You… used magic?"

Raine stared at his own hand, electricity still crackling between his fingertips. His mind was racing. He had no idea how he did that—he just felt it.

The leader of the bounty hunters snarled, regaining his footing. "You damn brat…!"

But he didn't get a chance to retaliate.

Sylara, seizing the opening, lunged forward. Her blade found its mark, slicing across the man's side. He stumbled back, cursing.

"We're leaving," Sylara commanded, grabbing Raine's wrist.

They didn't wait for the bounty hunters to recover.

Raine's legs moved on their own, adrenaline fueling every step as they sprinted toward the river. The roar of rushing water grew louder, the scent of damp earth filling the air.

Behind them, the bounty hunters shouted in frustration, but they didn't give chase.

Not yet.

Sylara and Raine reached the riverbank, breathless.

Raine bent over, hands on his knees, still reeling from what had just happened. His heart hammered in his chest, but not from fear. From excitement. From possibility.

He had magic.

Sylara studied him, her expression unreadable. Then, finally, she spoke.

"This changes everything."

Raine swallowed. He didn't know exactly what she meant by that.

But he had a feeling he was about to find out.

They didn't stop moving until the river stretched wide before them, its rushing current too fast to cross by foot. The only option was a fallen log stretching across to the other side.

Sylara hesitated. "The current is strong. If we fall in, we won't come back up."

Raine glanced back. No sign of the bounty hunters yet, but he knew they weren't far behind.

"I'd rather take my chances with a log than a bunch of guys who want to kill us," he said.

Sylara nodded, stepping onto the log first. Her balance was flawless, barely making a sound as she crossed.

Raine followed, arms out for balance. The water raged below, and for a moment, panic bubbled up in his chest.

Then—

A snap.

The log shifted beneath his foot. His weight tilted.

"Oh, hell no—"

He fell.

Cold water swallowed him whole. The force of the river yanked him under, spinning him like a ragdoll.

Sylara's voice called out, but he couldn't tell where she was. He kicked desperately, fighting to surface.

Then, suddenly—

A hand.

Sylara's fingers gripped his wrist with impossible strength, yanking him from the water with one powerful pull.

They collapsed onto the opposite riverbank, coughing and gasping for breath.

Sylara glared at him. "You are a disaster."

Raine coughed again. "You're welcome for the entertainment."

She huffed but didn't argue.

They had escaped. For now.

But Raine knew the bounty hunters weren't done.

And neither was he.