"What?", Alice stared at him as she noticed his reaction. Blushing as if she were an overripe tomato, she displaced her shyness into anger. "I'm wearing shorts underneath your perverted asshole!", she yelled as she threw her skirt to the boy. "Now shut up and don't let that get dirty like that mind of yours!"

She took a deep breath, pointing her finger at Nicolas, who looked like a bewildered child, and folded Alice's skirt.

"Here goes nothing," she whispered to herself, switching her attention back to the real problem. She closed her eyes.

She clasped her hands together as if reaching something over her head. Her feet spread firmly to the ground as she began to pull back her right hand as if pulling something. Engulfed with a warm, bright light, it slowly concentrated on her hands. Then, out of nowhere, a glowing white bow materialized in thin air.

With the reopening of her eyes came a sharp gaze. She took a deep breath before finally releasing a white arrow that swiftly bore itself into one of the wolves. The poor wolf backed away as its cries echoed along with the pack. Its eyes fixed on Alice, angered yet sorry, determined yet begging for forgiveness. The other wolves seemed to waver as Alice pointed the bow at them, until eventually they relinquished their goal to take down the two, sprinting away into the safety of the bushes and trees with their tails between their legs.

"See, I told you there's another way", she proudly celebrated as she picked up the rabbit and hoisting it back at her waist. "Strange though; I never heard that wolves retreat even if they get injured.". She halted when she felt the same heavy feeling she felt a few days ago. "Uhm, Nick, I know this is a stupid thing to ask, but can you feel that?" she inquired as she slowly turned around, only to see Nicolas's eyes glowing blue, holding a luminescent sword that is similar yet so different from her bow.

"Didn't I tell you, I can manage on my own?" he smiled as he swung his sword in the air.

"Ni— Nick?". Alice backed away, "How in the—"

"What about it? Are you now regretting helping my sorry ass?" he smirked. "If only you did not come for my aid, then your secret would not have been revealed."

Alice found herself out of composure. "A blue sword", she thought as she watched it glow from where she stood. "That's why it feels so heavy, like heaven is putting pressure on my very soul. A reaper or at least something close to it, is present", Her eyes widened upon realization as she took a step even farther.

"Don't even think about it", Nicolas shouted. "Move another inch and your dead—not just your body but also your soul. Hide your soul's reflection and stand down."

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

"How about a no", she murmured.

"Pardon me?"

"I said no,"", she said, firing a shot, but Nicolas had no problem cutting it with his sword. The arrow was cut, causing it to burst, emitting disorienting flash to the surroundings.

It rendered Nicolas immobile for a minute, making way for Alice's escape.

"I might have been swayed to my feet back in the tower but this time I won't just stay still and wait for death. I should survive; no, I will live, even for at least until I see my mother again", she thought as she jumped into the bushes.

To the trees they go, through the shrubs, fallen logs and dense vines. They must have scared most of the animals out of their nest and habitats by now, leaving them flustered and agitated. Alice did everything she could to shake the boy off her tail but he is persistent—more persistent than a cheetah chasing a gazelle. She knew she should shake him now before they reach her on a normal day in her favorite place, but in this kind of situation, it would be the last place she'd go.

"No, not in the waterfall", she uttered as she slowed down, In her mind, she seeks a safe place to take a detour, but her time is limited and so are her options. Seconds later, Nicolas also came out of the overgrowth, lively, if not looking deranged.

"Quit running for goodness sake", the boy complained as he caught his breath. "At least answer my questions first", he said, his words echoing down the river below.

"What do you want", Alice pulled the string of her bow, preparing for the worst. Her every step is calculated and minded, for she might slip on the wet, algae-infested boulder.

"What do you know about all these", Nicolas started the interrogation.

"Whatever do you mean?"

"The Blue Moons Tale", Nick cleared, They were just starting but his patience is already running thin.

"That's none of your business", Alice replied louder.

"That's my line. Fine, let me rephrase so your meager brain can understand. What is your connection with that bearded man?"

"Bearded man, who?", Alice's heart started to rise. Why would he want to know about that, She thought, "There must be little to no information about me."

"This is not a knock-knock joke. Don't play dumb with me."

"Well, if you say please, I might tell you", Alice projected a faint smile just to annoy the boy.

"The audacity", Nicolas thought, trying not to get pissed off and push the poor girl down to her death earlier than planned. He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. "Fine, please tell me, what is your connection with the bearded man.", he shouted before adding a bluff, "And don't lie, I can sense your soul, and if it wavers, I'll kill you."

"K— kill me? I thought we we were friends."

"You're people who tried to kill me twice already. Friendship is the last thing I'd give you."

Alice took a deep breath before exhaling slowly. She really had no intention of answering Nick. There's a chance that the boy is lying, but judging by the color of his soul, she can't take chances. They had come in a truce for a second as they exchanged burning gazes before, at last, Alice decided to say, "He's my father."

"Pardon me, what?", Nicolas asked, second-guessing if what he heard was right.

"He's my father, you deaf asshole!", Alice yelled, pulling the string of her bow even more, preparing to shoot.

Nicolas just laughed at what he heard. "You're his daughter? did he send you too to take me hostage? Things had become more interesting" he says, his laughter increase in volume as if he's losing his gears. "If I kill you here, do you think he'll get mad? A life for the life he took seems like a fair deal."