Daichi stood up, stretching his stiff limbs and wincing as his sore muscles protested. He glanced around the forest, noting the towering trees and the brushwood. They were somewhere in the Terravolt Kingdom, miles away from the Rendil Temple and the site of their battle with Kahless and Poahf.

He recalled the harrowing events of the previous day - the escape from Nathor Prison Camp, the destruction of the Cloud Portal, the battle against the Titan Avatars, and the... the death of Duke Theodore.

He couldn't believe that he had actually shot the Duke. He had been aiming for his shoulder, hoping to wound him and prevent him from attacking the portal, but the pistol had dropped from his hand, and the bullet had struck the Duke's chest instead.

'It was an accident,' he thought, trying to convince himself. 'I didn't mean to kill him.'

But even as he spoke the words, he knew that it was a lie. He had been filled with rage and hatred in that moment, a desire for vengeance that had clouded his judgment. He had wanted the Duke to suffer, to pay for the pain and suffering he had inflicted on the Aerithrans and the Terravoltians.

And now, because of his actions, he was a fugitive, a murderer, with a bounty on his head.

'I have to get out of here,' he thought, feeling a surge of panic rising in his throat. 'I have to find a way to escape the Terravolt Kingdom before they catch me.'

But where would he go? He was alone, stranded in a hostile land, with no allies and nowhere to hide.

'I have to find the others,' he thought, remembering the Terravoltians who had escaped with him. 'They're my only hope.'

But how would he find them? They had been scattered during the chaos of the escape, and he had no idea where they had gone.

He closed his eyes and focused his intent, trying to sense their presence, their connection to the wind. But all he could feel was the emptiness of the forest around him.

'Damn it,' he cursed under his breath. 'I'm lost.'

“GRRRRRR…”

Suddenly, a loud growl echoed through the forest, and Daichi's eyes snapped open. He glanced around, searching for the source of the sound.

"What was that?" he whispered fearfully.

“GRRRRRR…”

The growl came again, closer this time, and Daichi could hear the sound of heavy footsteps approaching. He quickly hid behind a large tree, peering cautiously through the undergrowth.

'Sand Devils?' he thought, his body tensing as he prepared for a fight.

But as the creature emerged from the thicket, Daichi let out a sigh of relief. It was just a Geoderor, a large, reptilian beast with a rocky hide and powerful legs. It was grazing on a patch of ferns, its massive jaws chomping down on the leaves with a satisfying crunch.

Daichi watched the Geoderor for a moment, his fear giving way to a grudging admiration. The creature was strong and powerful, and it moved with a grace that belied its size.

'I wish I could ride one of those,' he thought. 'It would make escaping this forest a whole lot easier.'

“GRRRRR…”

This time around, it was his stomach that growled loudly, a reminder that he hadn't eaten since the previous day. He had consumed a large portion of the Rice Guru's delicious meal, but now, his belly was empty, and he was starting to feel the pangs of hunger.

He glanced around the forest, searching for any sign of edible plants or berries. But there was nothing. The bushes was dense and tangled, and the trees were bare of fruit.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

'Damn it,' he cursed under his breath. 'I'm starving.'

He continued walking through the forest, following a narrow path that wound its way through the trees. The path was well-worn, indicating that it was frequently used by travellers or perhaps... patrols.

'I need to be careful,' Daichi thought, his senses on high alert. 'I can't afford to run into any Sand Devils or Pyro Warriors.'

As he walked, he noticed a series of tracks in the dirt. They were the marks of a carriage, its wheels leaving deep grooves in the soft earth.

'A carriage?' Daichi frowned, his curiosity piqued. 'What's a carriage doing out here, in the middle of nowhere?'

He decided to follow the tracks, hoping they might lead him to a settlement or perhaps... a source of food.

…

Rattle!

Daichi's ears perked up as he heard a sound in the distance. It was the sound of a carriage, its wheels rattling and bumping as it traversed the rugged terrain.

He quickly hid behind a large tree, peering cautiously around its trunk. He could see the carriage approaching, its form silhouetted against the backdrop of the setting sun. It was a large, covered wagon, drawn by two Geoderors, and its back was piled high with crates and barrels.

Beside the carriage, two men rode on smaller Geoderors. They were clad in leather armour and armed with Aether Sabres. Daichi noticed the earth affinity brands on their foreheads, marking them as citizens of the Terravolt Kingdom.

'Mercenaries?' Daichi wondered, observing their rugged appearances and their watchful eyes. 'Or perhaps... guards escorting a wealthy merchant?'

He watched as the carriage drew closer, its wheels crunching against the gravel path. He could hear the men talking to each other in low voices, their words indistinct but their tone casual and relaxed.

'Maybe... maybe I could ask them for some food,' Daichi thought, his stomach growling again. 'I'm sure they wouldn't mind sparing a few scraps for a starving boy.'

But as he was about to step out from behind the tree, one of the men suddenly raised his hand and yelled, "Stop!"

The driver of the carriage pulled on the reins, bringing the Geoderors to a halt. The carriage stopped on the path, sheltered by the overhanging branches of the trees.

“What is it, Reklaw?” The other man asked, sounding impatient.

Reklaw dismounted his Geoderor and stepped forward while scanning the surrounding forest. "I sense... something," he said, his voice low and cautious. "Someone is watching us."

“Just get back on your ride, Reklaw. You’ve been spooked too often.”

“Just hear me out for a bit, Fendrel. Someone is out there, I’m sure of it.” Reklaw unsheathed his Aether Sabre and ignited it with a burst of emerald-white energy. He then yelled, "I know you're out there. Show yourself!"

Boom!

Daichi's heart skipped a beat as he heard the man's words. Was he talking to him? Had he been discovered?

'Damn it,' he cursed under his breath. 'I should have stayed hidden.'

He glanced around, searching for an escape route. But there was nowhere to go. He was surrounded by trees and thick undergrowth, and the carriage blocked his path back to the main road.

“What are we going to do now?” he thought desperately.

“There’s no need to yell so much Reklaw.” A voice called out from inside the carriage. “It could have just been a wild Geoderor or perhaps a passing Vaprawr (Mist Panther). No need to be so alarmed.”

Moments later, a portly man poked his head out of the carriage. He had a round face, a receding hairline, and a double chin that wobbled as he spoke. He wore a fine silk robe embroidered with gold thread, and his fingers were adorned with rings that sparkled in the sunlight. He looked like a wealthy merchant, a man of means and status.

Reklaw, the man with the Aether Sabre, bowed his head respectfully. "My apologies, Master Orson. But I can't shake the feeling that we're being watched."

Orson, the man inside the carriage, frowned. "Watched? By whom?"

“I don’t know sir. Could it be bandits? Or perhaps… Sand Devils?”

Orson scoffed and said, "Sand Devils? Out here? In the middle of nowhere? Don't be ridiculous, Reklaw. We're miles away from any settlements or military outposts. Besides, we have you and Fendrel to protect us. And those Aether Sabres of yours… they look rather intimidating. I paid a high price for them."

"Yes, Master Orson," Reklaw replied, though a flicker of doubt crossed his eyes. He had heard tales of bandits and rogue soldiers roaming the wilderness, preying on unsuspecting travellers. And even though he was a skilled swordsman and a TerraFlow Kana user, he couldn't help but feel a sense of unease.

“I’m also alarmed by your sudden outburst.” A woman's voice came from within the carriage, she sounded annoyed.

Moments later, a beautiful woman with long, flowing hair and stunning eyes peeked out of the carriage. She wore a gown of fine silk, and her neck was adorned with a necklace of sparkling gemstones.

Reklaw bowed his head once more. "My apologies, Mistress Lorain. But I assure you, I would not have raised an alarm without cause. I sense... a presence nearby. Someone is watching us."

Lorain’s gazed at her husband inquisitively, "Orson, perhaps we should investigate. It's better to be safe than sorry."

Orson sighed. "Very well," he conceded. "Reklaw, search the area. See if you can find whoever or whatever is out there."

“As you command, Master Orson.” Reklaw turned and strode towards the thicket where Daichi was hiding. He held his Aether Sabre before him.

"Show yourself!" he yelled through the forest. "I know you're out there!"

Daichi's heart pounded as he heard the man approaching. He knew he couldn't stay hidden any longer. He had to show himself, to explain his presence before the situation escalated.

He quickly tied a cloth over his forehead, concealing the air affinity brand that marked him as an Aerithran. Then, with a deep breath, he stepped out from behind the tree.