Her stomach rolled and twisted in a knot. A cold breath blew over her neck; it sent a shiver down her spine. Her hands on the rein tightened. She didn't look back.

What should I do?

The horse went on, leaving behind Sera. The other hand held onto the lance tightly. The church was in sight. Atop the grassy hill—a serene paradise.

Did Sera die? No, she cannot. She will be fine.

From the roof of a shabby-looking building, an archer aimed at her horse. Arrow left his crossbow, humming in the air.

Aeryth hurled the rein. The horse moved to the side. The arrow snapped against the ground.

Letting out a sigh of relief, Aeryth trotted forward. The archer reloaded the bow.

The lance hummed in her clench as if refusing to stay with her. Not you too!

Aeryth let go of the rein, thighs tightly held to the horse's sides.

He shot another arrow. Aeryth spun the lance, knocking it off with ease. It was fast, but she had seen faster arrows.

She could feel the hundreds of eyes at her, though invisible if she looked. They were weak. But, the slightly open doors, the peeking from the windows, indicated they awaited an opening, and once she showed it, they would swarm her.

The lance quivered even harder in her hand.

He shot another arrow. It stabbed her shoulder, she had been too distracted by the lance. But the pain knocked off the effect.

Aeryth kicked the horse's side. The horse strode faster. Aeryth withdrew the knife hidden under her sleeve and flung it. It flipped in the air and sank into his arm. Blood sprayed on his greyish-white shirt. He growled.

"Shh!" She hissed, breathing sharply through her nose.

The crossbowman's eye flicked to where Sera was. Aeryth felt the rising heat and took the cue to dash toward the alley.

She looked up at the archer. He desperately tried to slot in the next arrow, but with one hand, it proved to be a far more difficult task.

Shifting her attention back to the road, she noticed more people piling up. She looked back as the flames demanded everyone's attention.

The world thrummed. Air expanded. She stepped into the alley. The crossbowman scrambled for his escape.

Then, the heat rushed past the alley. Her head snapped back at the majestic flames in shock. The horse dashed faster in fear. Her face burned like scalded from boiling hot water, but it was unhurt. That was just the feeling these flames gave off.

Even now, she helps me. And I am still too weak to do anything.

Her fist gripped the lance tighter. Why couldn't she be in Sera's place? Able to use magic and destroy the whole lanes and melt buildings.

She shook off her thoughts.

Did Sera have a way to find her?

No. She has already done enough. I can handle myself. I just need to focus.

"We are on the last stretch. Dash as if your life depends on it, buddy," Aeryth whispered, patting the stallion's neck.

The anxiousness grew, a foreboding sensation like the one that stopped Sera grasped her heart as the horse stepped out and sprinted for the church.

I cannot win against someone like that. They are more than just the thugs I've been fighting.

After about a minute, she finally met the culprit. A woman stood on the road, carrying what seemed like a ring. No. A cartwheel made out of steel.

Aeryth pulled the reins. If that girl was the reason for this foreboding feeling, then running at her was a foolish thing to do.

"Pretty girl," the black-haired girl smiled. "You're smart, I assume. So, how about this—you drop the lance, and I let you live?"

What does that thing do?

That was the biggest reason to stop. Her eyes took in the vicinity, scanning for any spot to take advantage of.

The wheel spun, humming a strident hymn.

"Na-ah, cheating is not allowed. When I talk to you... you only focus on me and me alone, understood?"

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Aeryth stared, biting her lips beneath her mask. "Are you sure you want to show your face and try to steal? I can promise you your fate will not be a pretty sight by the end of this day."

"Call me, Finlay," the girl waved the spinning wheel, "If stealing and not stealing leads to the same result, I'll take my chance!'

Curved blades shot out the wheel. Finlay flung it at her.

Aeryth haphazardly tried to move away the horse. But it was too slow. Aeryth jumped away, barely managing to stand on her own two feet. The blood splattered across the street. The stallion managed a cry before its inevitable death. Head fell with a thump. Aeryth looked away.

"You don't have that luxury," the wheel changed its course, rebounding at her with much more power.

Aeryth held up the lance with both her hands, taking the brunt of the strike. Sparks flew as the wheel spun against the steel staff.

She staggered a few steps back, pushing the wheel to the side.

It smashed into the construction building behind her. Caught in the debris, it faltered.

Aeryth heaved, looking for Finlay. The street was empty.

Instead of wasting time looking for her, she dashed. She was nearly at the hill. Her arms quivering from the impact. She was nowhere near that woman's level.

"Na-ah, you're ignoring me again," The woman said. Aeryth looked at the construction building. Finlay hurled the saw wheel again.

Aeryth stopped and swung the lance with all her might. Pain boiled in the injured shoulder. But she didn't let it stop her. Anger rippling inside her helped. The lance met the saw, tilted it slightly, and smashed it into the ground.

Finlay whistled. Aeryth sprinted again. "Not bad. That's some strength, I gotta say."

Aeryth ignored her, but eyes still trained on Finlay, in case she had another trick up her sleeves. Finlay jogged up the saw leisurely. "I just want to let you know I am not alone. Advisor is waiting at the end of the street."

Aeryth shuddered. Why couldn't she have something without suffering endlessly? She still didn't stop. Once Sera got here, she would have a working chance to escape.

"If you want to survive, the better odds are to deal with me here, y'know. Two one-of-one battles are drastically in your favor than one two-on-ones. What do you say?"

That was a bare-faced lie. That would've been true in an oversimplified scenario without any outside factors, such as tens if not hundreds of people vying to hunt her down. She didn't just need to deal with her. If she was to fight, she must defeat Finlay in a single exchange, which was as impossible as touching the sun.

Finlay flung the saw again.

Aeryth stepped to the side, letting it pass by. She dashed toward the narrow lane. Defending against the wheel was useless. It only wasted her energy, and breaking it didn't seem possible either.

The wheel stopped midway and rebounded at her with increased power. Aeryth had seen it once and had come up with a way to deal with it.

Her feet skidded to a halt. She lowered, and the wheel went above her head. Aeryth stabbed it from below, skewered it through the center where Finlay held it, and began running again. The weight of another heavy weapon slowed her down.

What else can she do?

Aeryth wondered. The lack of haste in Finlay's gait only drowned Aeryth's heart in despair further. Even so, she kept on running.

"You're pretty slow. That's mine!"

Aeryth raised her lance to defend against the incoming kick.

Finlay changed the direction to her knees. Aeryth moved away at the last moment and swung the lance sideways.

Finlay tried to catch it. Aeryth swiveled her wrist, changing the direction slightly, and struck Finlay's thigh. Finlay grin twitched. She grabbed onto Aeryth's collar, yanked her forward, and smashed her forehead against hers.

Aeryth foundered. Hands swayed, but still tightly grasped on the lance. Her vision blacked. Something hard struck her abdomen. She clenched her jaw. Her free hand, injured by the arrow, grasped Finlay's feet.

Aeryth spun, hurling the black-haired monster overhead into the ground. Her entire being froze for a moment in pain that spasmed through her shoulder. She might've added a week to the self-regeneration.

Aeryth's shoulder burned as her eyes cleared. But she held onto Finlay's ankle. Gathering up the strength to do it again.

"Ow. You're bad news." Finlay muttered from the ground. She yanked her leg. Aeryth stumbled forward. Finlay kicked her in the shin with her other leg.

Letting go of the lance, Aeryth clenched the leg with both hands and flung Finlay. As Finlay's body went up, she used her free foot to kick off Aeryth's hold.

Aeryth let go, lowered her knees, and picked up the lance as it bounced back after knocking on the ground. At the same time, she felt like was standing inside the maw of a hungry beast. The clicking sounds of doors opening and snapping shut again echoed. These were civilians who stood no chance, yet they wanted it. Almost as if mind controlled.

Finlay landed on her feet. Stumbled. The strike that she took on her thigh seemed to have affected her balance.

"Woah," She said, gleefully delighted, "I thought you were that pyromancer's lackey. Holy shit, you got some fighting skills."

Aeryth huffed. Her heart hammered in her ears. Even still, she was only worried about escaping. This short exchange only solidified how far away this person was. She had not yet used magic, except for the inefficient wheel thing.

Finlay bent down to pick it up. Aeryth ran for the alley. Still, close quarters required skills, and she had a chance.

"Hey, stop!"

Of course, Aeryth didn't listen. She continued. Finlay sent the wheel saw again. Aeryth moved away at the last moment, and it smashed into the wall. The brittle wall crumbles down, along with a scream of the person inside.

It opened to a narrow passage, with a great many turns. Almost as if a maze. Did I make a mistake?

She turned toward the church's direction. It was still visible among the two-story tall buildings.

One of the doors opened, and a woman, lacking any muscle on her bones, lunged at her. Aeryth felt nauseous. She smashed the lance to her side, shoving her to the side. The woman groaned.

Aeryth's jaw clenched, but she continued forward. Of course, that was the first of many. Soon, there were more. Poor and desperate people attempting to change their future.

"Calm," She whispered. "You'll be fine. Just don't think. They are enemies, a prey. Hit them fast and precise, just like Father taught me."

It did nothing to calm her heart down.

Again, someone shot an arrow from behind.

Aeryth fell on the street, barely managing to escape it. She ran into another narrow turn between two buildings, dodging the arrow shot at her.

"Great!" She uttered. At the exit, another man stood, pointing his knife.

Her brain expanded, throbbing in pain and rage. She smashed the flat side of the lance on his chest. Something snapped inside of him. Aeryth didn't even cast a sideway glance as she rushed past him, leaving him on the ground. They are prey. Don't hesitate.

As she stepped out the alley, into another narrow lane, a group of five—both men and women, looked her way.

"Drop it," One of them said, pointing his spear at her.