I continued to make my way through Whiterock City's territory, avoiding the main road to stay hidden.

My ultimate goal was to reach the Southern Region, where I would have more freedom to move.

I was determined to reach my true goal of becoming a wizard and not let myself get imprisoned again.

As I traveled, I couldn't help but think about my home, Memphis Island, which was far from my current location.

It was a five-day journey by sea, and I was far from home.

But I couldn't dwell on that for now. I had to keep my true thoughts hidden and reveal myself only when I could feel the power and magic within me to protect Memphis Island from pirates and other threats.

Despite my exhaustion and weakness, I drew strength from my determination and beliefs. I knew I couldn't afford to give up, no matter how beaten up I felt.

"No danger so far, but I need a sword soon," I thought to myself.

I had trained in Memphis Sword Art for two years, and I was confident in my ability to fight. But I needed a weapon to defend myself properly.

I continued to move cautiously, staying alert for any signs of danger.

Then I heard rustling to my right, followed by voices. It sounded like they were headhunters searching for escaped prisoners.

"If we catch an escaped prisoner from Whiterock Prison, we'll get rewarded by the city," one of them said.

My heart raced, and I started to sweat. I needed to be more careful and avoid getting caught. I decided to rest for a bit and then move quietly.

Hours passed, and I resumed my journey, moving slowly and quietly.

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I knew I couldn't afford to be too slow, but I also couldn't risk being spotted by the headhunters.

As I continued, I couldn't help but think about my situation. I was being hunted, and I was weak from hunger and exhaustion. Small cuts and injuries didn't matter at this point. I had to keep going.

"But if I'm too slow, I might get caught," I thought, picking up my pace despite the thorns and scratches.

I pushed through the physical discomfort, knowing that it was the least of my problems. I had to face the challenges ahead with determination and resolve.

As evening fell, I leaned against a tree and sat down on the ground. I was exhausted, and my body felt weak.

But I couldn't let that discourage me. I believed in my abilities and knew that I had to keep going.

"Past and future don't matter right now," I reassured myself. "I believe in my abilities."

With that thought in mind, I looked at the sky, and my eyes grew heavy. I fell asleep, finding a moment of respite amid the chaos.

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Whiterock Prison Mine, Main Office

> Lenkas Pov

I sat at my table with a plate of breakfast in front of me and a document listing escaped prisoners in my hands.

These recent events had thrown everything into disarray, and I couldn't shake the feeling that they were about to change the course of my responsibilities.

As I perused the document, two names caught my attention—Eval Morningstar and Marsil.

Eval had lived on Broken Rock Island, a place known for its connection to wizards, specifically the Sky-North Temple.

The proximity of Eval's escape to the temple raised suspicions. They might have orchestrated the explosion to free him.

On the other hand, there was Marsil, a young man from Memphis Island who had been wrongly accused of a crime.

I knew he was innocent, but I struggled to find any direct connection between him and Eval.

Even if I considered the possibility of a wizard assisting Marsil in his escape, the link remained elusive.

I sighed, feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on me, and took a sip of my tea in an attempt to clear my mind.

That's when a knock on my door interrupted my thoughts. I welcomed a young guard who delivered another document before quickly departing.

I delved into the new document, meticulously absorbing its contents.

After a period of contemplation, I took a deep breath and concluded, "

"Both Eval and Marsil have escaped. Eval's involvement is highly suspicious."

I understood that Marsil was innocent, but in a world where power dictated the rules, innocence didn't always guarantee absolution.

For now, I had to consider the case closed, but I couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to this story than met the eye.