The towering castle gate looms behind us as we hurry into the woods adjacent to the royal fortress. We choose the woods instead of the nearby city, because it will be easier to hide in there. These woods, according to Sophia, are known as the Whispering Pines. The atmosphere is cloaked in an eerie silence, interrupted only by the occasional rustling of leaves and the soft coos of hidden nocturnal creatures. The moonlight pierces through the dense canopy, creating patches of pale light that guide our path. There is no monster here since the knights usually patrol this area, so even at night, it’s quite safe.
However, the short-lived tranquility is soon interrupted. Faint at first, but growing increasingly clearer, I hear the distant shouts of men, the frantic barking of dogs, and the unmistakable sound of horses' hooves pounding against the ground. Seems like someone has discovered the scene we left behind in the castle, and now they are hot on our trail.
Sophia, clearly aware of our precarious situation, signals for me to move quickly. "We need to get as far as possible," she whispers.
I nod in agreement, following Sophia deeper into the forest. The foliage grows denser with every step, the path narrower. I'm carrying Yumi and Hana, both of whom are sleeping, not because of Sophia's spell, but due to the sleeping drugs I administered. Sophia must refrain from using her magic for now. Since her spells primarily rely on scents, the hunting dogs our pursuers have could easily track us down if she doesn’t dispel her magic. And meanwhile, I don't believe it's the right time to wake them up either.
An hour later, we reach a small brook. I gently lay the two girls down on a smooth pebble patch. Nearby, Sophia collapses on the ground. She pants, sweat coats her forehead and her hair is messy.
“Master," the woman gasps, "are you even human? How are you not exhausted? You are not even sweating after carrying those two girls for an hour!”
Well, I can’t disclose my personal information to Sophia just yet, but the truth is, I’m an ‘enhanced human’. My entire body has been modified to become much stronger and faster before coming here, all thanks to modern technology. I’m also very capable of fighting, but since I don’t actually know how strong people really are in this world, I just prefer to avoid any direct confrontation for now.
Then, with the moonlight streaming through the gaps in the trees, I survey our surroundings. The brook's gentle ripples and the distant calls of nocturnal creatures are the only sounds that punctuate the night's silence. Gently, I drape my jacket over Yumi and Hana to shield them from the night's chill. With them settled, I turn my attention to Sophia to plan our next steps.
"We can't stay here long," Sophia murmurs, "They have trackers, and these woods, while vast, are well-known to the King's men."
"I'm aware," I reply, "but we need a plan, and some rest. What do you suggest?"
Sophia thinks for a moment, "There's a place, an old hideout that some of the rebels used in the past. It's hidden and fortified. It should offer us some shelter, at least for a little while."
I nod, appreciating the intel. "Alright, let's head there at first light. For now, we need to set up a watch. They might be close."
Taking turns, Sophia and I keep a vigilant watch. Hours pass in tense silence. At one point, the distant howls of wolves reach our ears, but nothing comes too close. The enhanced capabilities within me allow for a heightened sense of hearing, and I can discern the distant gallops and conversations. They're looking, but they haven't found our trail yet.
As dawn begins to light up the horizon, I gently shake Sophia awake from her short nap. "Time to move," I whisper.
With the two girls still asleep in my arms, we delve deeper into the woods. Sophia's knowledge of the terrain proves invaluable. The entrance is masterfully hidden, appearing as nothing more than a massive boulder encased in moss and draped with vines.
Sophia steps forward, placing her hand on the boulder and murmuring a password.
“The white rabbit dances under the moonlight.”
A deep rumble resonates.
The boulder shifts, unveiling the dark maw of the underground cave.
The towering castle gate looms behind us as we hurry into the woods adjacent to the royal fortress. We choose the woods instead of the nearby city, because it will be easier to hide in there. These woods, according to Sophia, are known as the Whispering Pines. The atmosphere is cloaked in an eerie silence, interrupted only by the occasional rustling of leaves and the soft coos of hidden nocturnal creatures. The moonlight pierces through the dense canopy, creating patches of pale light that guide our path. There is no monster here since the knights usually patrol this area, so even at night, it’s quite safe.
However, the short-lived tranquility is soon interrupted. Faint at first, but growing increasingly clearer, I hear the distant shouts of men, the frantic barking of dogs, and the unmistakable sound of horses' hooves pounding against the ground. Seems like someone has discovered the scene we left behind in the castle, and now they are hot on our trail.
Sophia, clearly aware of our precarious situation, signals for me to move quickly. "We need to get as far as possible," she whispers.
I nod in agreement, following Sophia deeper into the forest. The foliage grows denser with every step, the path narrower. I'm carrying Yumi and Hana, both of whom are sleeping, not because of Sophia's spell, but due to the sleeping drugs I administered. Sophia must refrain from using her magic for now. Since her spells primarily rely on scents, the hunting dogs our pursuers have could easily track us down if she doesn’t dispel her magic. And meanwhile, I don't believe it's the right time to wake them up either.
An hour later, we reach a small brook. I gently lay the two girls down on a smooth pebble patch. Nearby, Sophia collapses on the ground. She pants, sweat coats her forehead and her hair is messy.
“Master," the woman gasps, "are you even human? How are you not exhausted? You are not even sweating after carrying those two girls for an hour!”
Well, I can’t disclose my personal information to Sophia just yet, but the truth is, I’m an ‘enhanced human’. My entire body has been modified to become much stronger and faster before coming here, all thanks to modern technology. I’m also very capable of fighting, but since I don’t actually know how strong people really are in this world, I just prefer to avoid any direct confrontation for now.
Then, with the moonlight streaming through the gaps in the trees, I survey our surroundings. The brook's gentle ripples and the distant calls of nocturnal creatures are the only sounds that punctuate the night's silence. Gently, I drape my jacket over Yumi and Hana to shield them from the night's chill. With them settled, I turn my attention to Sophia to plan our next steps.
"We can't stay here long," Sophia murmurs, "They have trackers, and these woods, while vast, are well-known to the King's men."
"I'm aware," I reply, "but we need a plan, and some rest. What do you suggest?"
Sophia thinks for a moment, "There's a place, an old hideout that some of the rebels used in the past. It's hidden and fortified. It should offer us some shelter, at least for a little while."
I nod, appreciating the intel. "Alright, let's head there at first light. For now, we need to set up a watch. They might be close."
Taking turns, Sophia and I keep a vigilant watch. Hours pass in tense silence. At one point, the distant howls of wolves reach our ears, but nothing comes too close. The enhanced capabilities within me allow for a heightened sense of hearing, and I can discern the distant gallops and conversations. They're looking, but they haven't found our trail yet.
As dawn begins to light up the horizon, I gently shake Sophia awake from her short nap. "Time to move," I whisper.
With the two girls still asleep in my arms, we delve deeper into the woods. Sophia's knowledge of the terrain proves invaluable. The entrance is masterfully hidden, appearing as nothing more than a massive boulder encased in moss and draped with vines.
Sophia steps forward, placing her hand on the boulder and murmuring a password.
“The white rabbit dances under the moonlight.”
A deep rumble resonates.
The boulder shifts, unveiling the dark maw of the underground cave.
