. . .

    Aqueo sprinted the moment his stalker tried to grab him. He couldn't count how many food and products he had ruined and broken from running around. The other three stalkers had joined the other. He tried shouting for help but the people didn't seem to care. The most baffling about it was that they were saying things like:

    "They're after someone again?"

    "They're catching someone again!"

    "They're hunting someone again!"

    And other words related to hunting people, 'again'. But Aqueo was even more baffled, and disturbed for this matter, when somebody shouted "cage him" and "catch him" repeatedly and were echoed by other bystanders.

    As the chase went on, the disturbing cheers seemed to pull up Aqueo's horrible past even though some people gave him a sympathetic look.

    It felt like he was back on Earth again, being shunned by almost everyone around him. Repeatedly calling him delinquent, thug, addict, and other unspeakable things that weren't even true, or things he was just forced by the human traffickers to do. He felt like crying. Did his past follow him here? No. There must be a reason for this. He steeled his heart and said he'd get through this. He just needed to get back to Hermina. They were a noble family and must be holding some kind of authority he could count on. Maybe. He wasn't sure because they kept saying that no one should discover him.

    Aqueo ran and ran. He felt like he was running in circles. There were four of them and when one tried to block his way he would change direction. Aqueo couldn't keep track of how many times he almost got caught, they grabbed him, tackled him, trapped him, but he fought back over and over again and still managed to escape. He felt hopeless until he finally managed to outpace them.

    The stone road pathway widened even more and the merchant stands became fewer. Aqueo could slightly see something bright behind the merchant stands in front of him. With Aquifer's memories, he knew what was beyond there: the Hyndrel Port, where ships dwell. He also remembered the chanting of the people almost every time Aquifer visited here—or more likely lost while randomly following people.

    When he got past the last shop, as he anticipated, he was greeted by the mesmerizing bright blue sky and glittering sea which seemed to cast even more hope inside his heart. He had reached the port of Hyndrel Town.

    It was such a beautiful view. Aqueo was awestruck and everything seemed to slow down. And since it was a port and the dead end was the sea, Aqueo had to turn left, while making the mistake of not parting his gaze away from the shining sea. He bumped into someone and his momentum made it impossible for them not to fall hard on a fruit crate. There were a few screams, the crate crashed, loud ,and the fruits and wood planks splattered on the stone ground. Some even rolled further towards the edge of the stone road and fell in the sea where a number of large boats and ships were lined up in front of the whole port.

    Someone spoke, "It-it hurts. What in the—" The voice trailed off.

    Aqueo opened his eyes and pushed the ground to stand, but he was stunned halfway when he found himself looking at a beautiful maiden with pink hair under him with the most beautiful eyes he had ever seen. The irises of her eyes, shined by the bright light of the sun, sparkled a beautiful pattern of bright shades of yellows. He couldn't move for a moment and just stared at her eyes. And then it became even more beautiful and mesmerizing when the irises of her eyes started glowing with sparkles of bluish light. Then she spoke in a soft voice, "So pretty!" Aqueo was awoken from his current trance. The maiden was looking at Aquifer that was floating beside their faces, seemingly unaware of him. And it dawned on him that the sparkles of blue light on her irises was Aquifer's reflection and most importantly, there was finally another person who could see the spirit aside from him.

    A shout from behind the corner reminded Aqueo that he was being chased. He continued to push himself up but was astounded when he further realized that his hands were actually pressing the maiden's slightly large breasts, as he described how they felt. Accidentally squeezing it in the process of getting himself up, the maiden looked at him. Aqueo was startled so he said, "Y-you can see my spirit!" She just looked at him, still had not regained her senses after seeing Aquifer. "S-sorry!" Aqueo completely stood up and started to run.

    He kept his eyes on her as he ran and saw that her gaze followed Aquifer who danced around on top of her first before floating toward him. He saw that his pursuers finally managed to reach the corner and started to gain on him. He looked forward and continued running. But it was only for a few distance when he stopped dead because one of his stalkers was in front of him. He looked behind and realized it was a new one, there were five of them trying to catch him now.

    Aqueo had no choice but to turn to another street. He was sure this one led to the stadium. He sprinted because they were so near him already. And the hope that he just gained seemed to diminish because of the new addition to his stalkers.

    There were only two lines of merchant stands in the middle of the street and several people were blocking the middle pathway. He thought of taking down the first merchant stand to block their way but hesitated. But his stalkers were going to catch him if he didn't do it.

    He decided to do it. He'd pay later.

    When he reached the first merchant stand he gripped one of the poles and yanked it. The merchant stand dangled to the side but it wasn't enough to block the way and his pursuers were now just a few yards from him.

    Mildly panicking, Aqueo desperately grabbed the crates of fruits from another merchant stand and threw them to the ground. It did little to stop them.

    He scrambled when he saw that one of them was now holding a rope. It brought up a terrifying memory from his past and started to actually panic.

    No. He didn't want to experience that again.

    He started to just throw whatever he could reach to them and to the ground while running, occasionally turning when one of them would block his path. And nervously did he feel when choosing which corner to turn to since he couldn't see where one would appear.

    The chase went on and on until a stalker suddenly appeared from his side and tried to grab him but Aqueo, now fully panicking, was quick to punch him in the face.

    He ran again. And this time he was so close to breaking down. He had already considered flying earlier with Aquifer but it would make him weak eventually and they would catch him while he was weak. And he wasn't exactly sure if they could fly faster than him. And where would he go? He wasn't sure if he would be able to find Hermina immediately. And now he was hesitating that it might put them in danger because of the shoutings of the bystanders. As a last resort, he considered flying.

    After a few yards of running, he stopped dead again. Two stalkers just blocked his way and one was holding a rope. He felt trapped and even more desperate. Everything seemed to slow down when they lunged at him. If he only knew magic just like the mages in Aquifer's memories—that's right! Aquifer. At that moment, he remembered that he had Aquifer by his side this whole time. It was a spirit that had been consuming magical energies for a thousand years. Aquifer was his last hope. Feeling the spirit's warmth, even deeper than ever, he reached for its consciousness in their connection, and betting all of his trust on the spirit, he placed his hands in front of him and shouted with everything he got, "AQUIFEEEER!" The spirit felt Aqueo's overwhelming will and emotion and swiftly moved in front of him, a giant ball of water immediately formed in front of it and blasted at the two pursuers that had no time to evade. The giant ball of water slammed onto them and they flew dozens of yards away toward the straight pathway.

    Aqueo had no time to digest what just happened when he saw another pursuer in his peripheral vision that was just standing there as surprised as he was. He took advantage of his surprised state and immediately ran forward.

    "Aquifer!" he joyfully called the spirit while smiling widely even though it was already following him. The despair he was feeling a while ago was replaced by hope and joy, which were echoed by the dancing Aquifer. He felt so proud just now. He just did some magic. They just did some magic.