Chapter 10 – Escaped

Alex surged through the darkness, his breath ragged, the forest's shadows clawing at him like specters. Moonlight bled weakly through the canopy, painting the world in fractured silver. His boots crushed twigs and leaves, the noise reckless, but stealth no longer mattered—only the drumming of his heart, the burn in his lungs.

*Jol. Metha.*

Their names throbbed in his skull, a mantra of guilt.

"Anything?" he barked, skidding to a halt.

Sir Krow materialized beside him, sword glinting. "Gone. No tracks, no blood. Like ghosts."

Alex's fists clenched. The icy dread in his gut coiled tighter. *They were right there—*

A soft rustle broke his spiral. Alice stepped forward, her presence a quiet storm. Her silver hair glowed faintly in the gloom, eyes like twilight—reddish-purple and impossibly deep. She reached for him, her voice a gentle tremor. "Alex…"

He turned away, the rawness in her tone scraping at walls he couldn't afford to lower. "WHAT!."

Her hand lingered in the air before falling. "You'll find them," she murmured, but he was already moving, golden eyes scanning the void.

A flicker of firelight ahead. Bandits.

Five men guarded a huddle of slaves—villagers bound and broken. A child's whimper cut the night. Alex's jaw tightened. *Not Jol. Not Metha.* But still, lives to save.

"Fast. Quiet," he ordered, voice steel.

Krow nodded, blade thirsting. Alice hovered, uncertainty in her stance.

"Stay back," Alex snapped, harsher than he meant. Her flinch was a blade to his ribs, but he buried the guilt. *Focus.*

They struck like twin tempests. Alex's sword pierced a bandit's chest before the man could blink. Krow's shout was a dark hymn as he carved through two more. The remaining pair scrambled—

*Magic hummed.*

Alex froze. The air shimmered, alive and singing, as Alice raised her hands. Her eyes blazed, not with fear, but with a ferocity that stole his breath. Spirit energy—pale and iridescent—swirled around her, weaving into the wind. A gust erupted, hurling a bandit into Alex's waiting blade.

"Since when…?" he breathed, stunned.

She met his gaze, unflinching. "You're not the only one with secrets."

The last bandit fled. Krow's dagger found his spine.

Silence fell, heavy and thick. The freed slaves wept, but Alex barely heard them. His pulse roared as he stared at Alice—her magic still dancing at her fingertips, ethereal and *alive*. She was no fragile thing to shield; she was starlight and storm.

"They took the others deeper into the mountains," a slave stammered.

Alex's hope splintered. *Further away.* He pivoted, desperation clawing—

A hand seized his wrist. Alice's touch was fire and frost, her spirit magic seeping into his skin, calming the chaos in his veins. "*Breathe,*" she whispered. Her thumb brushed his pulse, deliberate, lingering. "You're shaking."

He swallowed. Her face was inches from his, moonlight tracing the curve of her lips, the worry in her eyes. For a heartbeat, the world narrowed to her—the scent of pine and wildflowers, the warmth of her magic mingling with his ragged breaths.

He tore away. "I can't stop."

"I they are dear to you but anymore and You'll collapse," she pleaded, stepping closer. Her voice softened, a secret meant only for him. "Let me help you"

His resolve wavered. Her gaze held him, fierce and tender, and something in his chest cracked—a fissure where light spilled through.

Sir Krow cleared his throat. "The trail won't stay cold forever. Move now, or mourn later."

Alex hesitated, then gave a curt nod. But as they plunged back into the shadows, he lingered, glancing at Alice. Her spirit magic glowed faintly, guiding their path like a beacon.

"You hid this power," he muttered, falling into step beside her.

Her smile was rueful. "i had a slave seal on my mana, one that was bounded to the bandit leader after they took me from the merchant. But because of you… i can use mana again"

he said suspiciously " you could have hidden this for us, maybe I will get greedy for a mage slave" 

She hesitated, her shoulder brushing his. "I don't think you are such person , I felt like I could trust you, because you felt…familiar ."

He said with a made up smirk "maybe cause i saved you"

She said with a blush "That wasn't enough for me to feel…close to you"

The words hung between them, a promise—or a confession. Alex's throat tightened. Ahead, the forest loomed, treacherous and endless. But for the first time, the darkness felt less alone.

The Forgotten Path

The mountain air clawed at their lungs, sharp and merciless. Alex marched ahead, his shoulders rigid, eyes fixed on the path as if sheer will could bend the horizon closer. *Jol. Metha.* Their names pulsed in his veins like a dirge, drowning out the crunch of frost beneath his boots, the rasp of his own breath.

Sir Krow paused abruptly, kneeling to trace a hand over weathered stone. Runes flickered beneath his fingers—a ghostly sigil that made Alice's breath hitch.

"A transport circle," Krow muttered, his voice graveled with unease. "Used within the hour."

Alex's sword hand twitched. "Then they're—"

"Gone." Krow stood, brushing dirt from his palms. His gaze cut to Alice, lingering a beat too long. "Marked with House Veyra's crest."

The name hung like poison in the air.

Alice wrapped her arms around herself, the cold suddenly sharper. "They don't trade in gold," she said quietly. "They collect *rarities*. Magical bloodlines. Elven…" She trailed off, the unspoken *"like me"* louder than the wind.

Alex turned on her, eyes blazing. "How would you know that?"

Her laugh was brittle. "Elves make prized slaves. House Veyra has hunted my kind for decades." She met his stare, chin lifted, but her fingers dug into her sleeves—knuckles white, trembling.

For a heartbeat, Alex's mask slipped. Something like guilt flickered across his face before he hardened again. "Then we go to their estate. Now."

Krow blocked his path. "You'll die at the gates without a plan."

"We'll *make* a plan—"

"They'll expect brute force." Krow's gaze slid meaningfully to Alice. "But not a bait."

Alice stepped forward, the words rushing out before fear could stop her. "If I let them capture me, I could—"

"*Enough.*" Alex's roar startled a bird from the trees. He loomed over her, golden eyes wild, yet she didn't retreat. His scent—iron and pine—flooded her senses as he hissed, "I didn't drag you out of hell to toss you back."

she felt a warm sensation, someone who cares about her wellbeing...

Sir Krow cleared his throat. "The girl's right. It's the smart play."

"Since when do you care about *smart*?" Alex spat, but Krow didn't flinch.

He said angrily "Wasn't it smart to stay behind and fight with my parents maybe my Father would be still alive by now"

He looked at him with guilt then The knight's voice softened as he glanced at Alice. "She's stronger than you think."

Alex recoiled as though struck. But his eyes shuttered,"We will find another way."

He stormed ahead, leaving them standing.

Krow sighed, moving past her. His hand briefly grazed her shoulder—a silent gratitude.

She stared after Alex, his broad back a fortress she couldn't breach. Every step he took without looking back carved deeper into her chest. *Stupid*, she cursed herself. Stupid why do i feel like this when i look at him , why he looks so familiar.

Yet when he stumbled, exhaustion finally buckling his knees, it was Alice who lunged to steady him. Her hands glowed faintly, spirit magic seeping into his skin he could feel her energy refilling his empty mana heart and core , the feeling was reassuring, he loved it, but before he could shove her away.

"thank you but Stop—" he growled, but his protest died as her energy curled through him, mending frayed edges.

"You'll kill yourself before you save anyone," she whispered, her thumbs brushing his pulse. A forbidden intimacy.

He wrenched free, avoiding her eyes. "I don't need coddling."

Alice said determent "yes but you NEED rest" 

For a heartbeat, his gaze flickered to her and Then he turned, voice hollow. "I. Need. My. Family."

Krow watched from the shadows, jaw tight. When Alice trudged past, he fell into step beside her, voice low. "Leave him be... he will realize everything on his own way."

She smiled, bitter and bright. "In his way."

Ahead, Alex scanned the cliffs, his silhouette sharp against the moon. Alice memorized the lines of him—the stubborn set of his shoulders, the way moonlight gilded his hair like a crown. *Foolish heart*, she thought. why are you still beating like this.