Alec hurled his fan for the final time, its sharp edges slicing through the creature’s hide as if it were butter.

Following suit, Jaycee leaped forward and struck at its legs. They watched as the wild wolf fell, its limbs twisted and its mouth foaming at the edges. A few seconds passed before either moved to inspect the monster. They exchanged a look of understanding and sheathed their weapons. The beast, now subdued, wasn’t a threat anymore.

As Alec knelt beside it, Jaycee surveyed the vicinity for additional signs of beasts or humans. The night had returned to its previous calmness, making the recent events seem like an anomaly.

It appeared that their pursuers had lost track, as there were no indications of them being nearby. The only sounds were the chirps of insects emanating from the depths of the forest.

“Jaycee, come look at this.” Alec was hunched over the wolf, his fingers spreading apart its fur near the base of its ear. “It’s festering.”

Intrigued, Jaycee knelt down. He leaned in, examining the space near Alec’s fingers. Driven by curiosity, he checked out the area behind its other ear, finding another large black patch that extended down its back. The adjacent hair had turned white, and the flesh, rough to the touch, resembled the thorns of a rose. The odor arising from the corpse had intensified.

“This looks different from before. It’s progressing faster than expected," Alec said, rising to his feet, his gaze fixed on the indistinct shapes in the distance. “We need to hurry.”

Before Jaycee could question his meaning, his companion paused and studied his face, staring longer than what was comfortable. Alec’s eyebrows furrowed as his hand reached Jaycee’s forehead. His calloused fingers brushed lightly against his skin, sending a sharp surge of pain coursing through him.

“This is a significant gash; it likely happened when you fell. Come, let me look at it.” Alec delved into his robe and retrieved a small, inconspicuous silver bottle. He removed the cap and tapped a small amount of powder into his palm.

Jaycee had never been fond of medicine. It had made him ill as a child, and in his line of work, there was always the risk it could be laced with poison. His self-reliance had been his lifeline.

Instinctively, he recoiled when Alec approached his wound with powdered fingers. His cautious nature betrayed him, causing Alec to pause.

“Ah, I understand. Here,” Alec dipped his finger in and tasted it. The bitterness made his lips pucker and his nose wrinkle. “I need you alive. My intention isn’t to harm you. I won’t force you to take it, but just in case you change your mind.”

He extended the medicine towards Jaycee, leaving the choice to him.

He hesitated for a moment before finally accepting it.

“Thanks,” he said, his voice muffled yet audible enough for Alec to hear.

“Anyway, we should keep moving.” Alec cast another glance at the dead wolf.

Jaycee, having been caged, had much to learn about the world, yet he sensed that something wasn’t right. How could the world have changed so drastically during his brief stint in the slammer?

Under the veil of night, the pair ventured once more into the depths of the forest, using its foliage as yet another disguise.

Hours flew by in an instant. The sky, clouded by thick orange clouds, revealed the morning light only through slender crevices. Birds soared overhead, their wings outstretched, weaving through the tree branches with grace and agility. Wildlife flourished in regions that appeared inhospitable at first glance.

They journeyed in silence, not once crossing paths with the military. Jaycee couldn’t tell if it was fate or luck that seemed to empathize with their predicament.

Weary from the constant rush, yearning for a break from the new norm seemed too extravagant a wish. Glancing at Alec revealed no sign of weariness; he strode with a vigor as if recently awakened from a restful slumber. The source of his boundless energy remained an enigma, one that he figured would always confuse him.

Minutes ticked by, and Jaycee felt the throbbing in his legs intensify. His body sweat under the stress he was riding out. Just as he was on the verge of telling his companion what he really thought, Alec came to an abrupt stop in front of him. His arm shot out, stopping Jaycee in his tracks.

“What—” Alec pressed his palm over Jaycee’s mouth and urged him to kneel. The bushes concealed them from sight while still allowing a crack for them to peer through.

Before them, a cadre of soldiers navigated the rugged road, encircling a man at the center. With his head bowed, rendering his identity was impossible.

The man at the front, clearly the leader of the group, was a tall, slender figure clad in an identical uniform to those around him. A bandana wrapped around his forehead with tufts of ashy-blonde hair protruding out. A medium-sized bow rested on his shoulder. The emblem of Fioma, a mark of pride, adorned his chest.

Jaycee carefully withdrew Alec’s hand. “How did they get this far in?” He whispered it, careful not to draw their attention. The sound of their heavy footsteps echoed over the rocky terrain, clearly unconcerned about being detected.

“They’ve captured Leon,” Alec stated, devoid of concern, as if he were merely stating a fact with no personal connection. His indifference to his subordinate’s safety suggested he either cared very little or his trust in his friend was just that high. “That man—I believe I’ve seen him before.”

Jaycee took another look at the blonde, but he had already gone too far ahead. If the person they were escorting was indeed Leon, it implied that their leader was formidable. It seemed that the mercenaries serving under Alec were not the type to be easily defeated.

Once they had disappeared from view, Alec rose, his red robes undulating in the abrupt gust of wind that flowed forward, rushing against their skin.

Jaycee’s open wound pulsed with pain, and he fumbled with the vial in his pocket, absentmindedly tumbling it between his fingers as he thought.

“Let’s follow them,” Alec said.

His gaze fixed intently on the deserted spot where the others had vanished.