Looking around, Jessica could do nothing but listen to the surroundings. She could hear whispering. It appeared they believed she had left. With no light in sight. It was impossible to do much.

As the voices came from a single place, they had grouped up. By now they must know that two of their own are dead. As it was possible to still hear them, Jessica knew they had decided to stay in this place.

Without light, it could mean they didn’t have the confidence. Either they believed she was waiting, or moving back to the valley was too dangerous. That or, they were waiting for her to make another move.

She, herself, was in a similar position. It was too dark to move. Knowing that the more light there was, the harder it would be to escape. With little confidence that her hide would allow her to escape their vigilance.

Thoughts continued to fill her mind. The only plausible escape she could find was an ambush, which would fail as the person she suspected to be an elf was there. It wasn’t worth taking that risk.

As an ambush was an option, because she knew this terrain. That also meant she could use that to advantage to make a move while it was still dark. Instead, of this move being against them. What Jessica had in mind was to move further away.

When light started to rain down from the covered sky, everyone would be at their absolute most alert state. They were in an unknown part of the forest, she was currently sitting not 50 feet away from a group of people that by now would want to kill her.

Neither had the option of letting go. She didn’t know why they were so aggressive. What ever the case, she refused to become passive. Placing her life into a strangers hands was something she had experienced and didn’t want to feel it again.

As time continued to go by, her mind wondered as the whispering came and went in ebbs and flows. Finally coming to a decision, Jessica started to move. If she had to guess, there was at most another hour or two before the first rays of the sun gave them enough to use mana to start to see.

Using movement so slow that it was similar to a sloth. At the moment, she couldn’t afford another mistake like before. Getting into position, she could no longer hear any whispering. Trying to calm her nerves for what was to come.

It was time.

Jessica could feel it. Opening her eyes she started to gather her mana. Moving with the same slow movements as before. Shadows were dancing in front of her eyes. At this point, she could finally see the outlines of her hands.

Distancing herself, with utmost caution. As the first rays of light started to descend, she gritted her teeth and made a break for it. Having created distance between them, she had no idea if they would be able to catch up if she did this.

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

Using all the speed she could without tripping or falling. Trees blurred in her vision as she kicked off the ground. Following her original path, taking a minute to find. Now that she had found it, her goal had been achieved.

Landing on a branch, the all familiar path greeted her as a loud explosion of earth and fire. Glancing back as she started to run, a man with a blood-red head was staring at her with hate. Mana exploded from his hands as a spark was produced between his fingers as he threw the bundle in his hands.

As a booming echoed behind, her expression dropped as she had to jump, grabbing onto a branch above her. Unable to handle her weight with this speed, a cracking followed as it snapped cleanly.

Having achieved the goal, the bark under her feet exploded as a black blur shot through the spot she was going to step next.

Following the trajectory, she made eye contact with a set of green emotionless eyes. Purple hair hung down the front of her face. It wasn’t possible to see much of her face, however, it was enough information to know. The being that she feared most had appeared.

Having planned ahead, her pathing became chaotic as she hopped up and down from trees to the ground. After a few attacks, the bombings stopped. Now all her worries were vague senses of danger that exploded out as the next moment, the spot she was at, or was about to be exploded as an arrow flashed past.

This continued for hours, what had originally taken a month, was a trek the two traveled in a manner of hours. Jessica was someone that had explored this route for a month. Committing it to memory in case she needed to make a quick escape.

She had no idea how the elf behind her was able to keep up, she continued to fire arrow after arrow without pause. Ducking behind a trunk, she stopped. Her breath was extensively out of rhythm.

Fortunately, she wasn’t alone. Even though it was suppressed she could still hear the woman breathing from a distance. The two had pushed themselves, one dodged while the other followed while letting out attack after attack.

Not 30 feet away, a purple haired woman in leather armor had her bow drawn. An arrow ready, she frowned as the breathing of the woman she had been chasing had disappeared.

A slight frown was on her lips. The entire time she had been chasing, she had felt something was off. Even with her natural gifts, using her talents to memorize forest terrain. Before coming, she had gone through a majority of the second layer.

She could physically follow, but she didn’t know about the path this woman would take. This caused her to grow even more alert. By now, she had realized, her opponent was leading her away from the others.

With enough confidence, she didn’t care. So long as she killed the woman in front of her. It would be the end.

Her ears twitched slightly, making a complete turn, her hands never dropping her ready stance. Unable to see everything, she released the first arrow, her arm blurred as a second arrow appeared ready.

Taking in the sight, a black traveling cloak was nailed, center mass, to a tree. However, the cloak was floating. There was nobody inside. With narrow eyes she suddenly drew back. The ground beneath her feet came up.

There was slight shock as a dagger came first, following which was Jessica. She had an expression of slight disappointment. Without delay, she closed the distance. Slicing at the bow, doubting rightfully so, her dagger only created a slight crease.

The arrow never released. Having applied pressure, it was pushed off course. As she pushed, the force that met her own, disappeared. Pulling back, a leg sweep came as it swept at Jessica’s face.

Ducking back, she couldn’t use her weapon, using what she could. Her elbow knocked the blow up and over. Watching as the elf twirled on a single leg, with impeccable balance. The bow still slotted, was brought back as Jessica was forced to follow her to displace it once more.