I hopped onto the stained carpet flooring, pushing my chair behind me as the thin wire of tension permeating the room was pulled to its breaking point. Fingers curled into fists, weapons were raised, and valoa illuminated the air as dozens of path abilities were activated.

Every weapon was pointed at me.

Brother would say to stay and fight. He’s wrong. I can’t win, but I can run. I recalled the only fighting knowledge I had. No tripping. No flourishing.

With a swift motion I unclasped my robe and threw it onto the floor, keeping my eyes on my opponents. My brother’s reserved table was in the middle of the floor, so I was surrounded on all sides by enemies.

No matter how hard I tried to keep calm, my shoulders wouldn't stop trembling, and my legs quivered in terror.

I’d dreamed of fighting the viewers by the hundreds and laughing victoriously. Now, my own people had me surrounded, and all I could do was think the same thought repeatedly.

I’m going to die.

“What in the four paths do you all think you’re doing? This insanity won’t stand.”

Earl stepped in front of me, his faded grey pants filling my vision. The bar owner’s eyes narrowed as they swept over his patrons, suspicion glimmering within.

“Protection of the Valoa,” Earl’s said. “Guide us to safety.”

Golden light blazed over me as golden valoa swam out of Earl’s hand. It enveloped me, forming a protective shroud. Outside of the shroud I could still see my would-be assailants poised and ready to strike, but they’d slowed down, their movements sluggish and jilted.

No, they weren’t moving slower. I was perceiving the surroundings faster.

The path of Challenges. My eyes widened. The path of war.

All of the path of Challenges abilities were designed for one thing, and one thing only. Engaging in battle.

“You’ll get increased speed, a smidge of extra intelligence, and a layer of defense,” Earl said. “It’s not much, but it’s the best I’ve got.”

I looked up and saw he had a similar golden mantle adorning his features, but his eyes didn’t look any less tense. He glanced down at me with a grim expression.

“Run, kid.”

Earl’s words were broken as a battle cry shot up from the drunken horde.

They charged at me from all sides of the room, leaping over tables and tossing chairs aside as they scrambled madly.

I dashed toward the door, but several people reached the entrance before me. The shroud made me faster, but they were still adults on the path. A glint of light was all the warning I got as they struck at me.

A swordsman with a blade draped in a red glow was the first to arrive.

I curved my body to avoid his swing, the sword sweeping past my arm. It lodged deep into the carpet, its wielder catapulting over his own weapon from the force of the strike.

The scent of alcohol on his breath was almost enough to knock me out by itself.

My shock was fleeting as surviving a stray spear strike became the priority. I twisted out of the weapon’s path, but the woman attacking me shifted her wrist as I dodged, and the spear returned, its shaft smashing into my side.

I let out a cry and fell to the floor, the protective shroud only absorbing part of the force of the strike. I pushed off from the ground immediately, flinging myself toward the entrance.

The woman’s spear stabbed through the ground I’d just occupied.

“I’ll make sure the Journeymen have your heads for this!” Earl roared from behind me, his fists swinging wildly and smacking into half a dozen people with each attack. “He’s a child!”

Blood flew through the air accompanied by a flash of steel as a sword struck Earl’s arm, eliciting a pained shout. The horde used the chance to escape his grasp, their eyes maddened and their lips curled into snarls as they chased after me.

They smashed into each other, clumsy and inept. With my increased speed I’d already taken half a step through the doors.

I was going to make it.

Crack.

Something slammed into my back, throwing me through the door. Golden shards littered the air around me as the protective shroud broke, and I tried to gasp, but the strike had torn the air out of my lungs.

Behind me I saw my attacker, it was the Enigma path traveler that had turned everyone against me. He wielded a massive steel warhammer that had spikes on each end, designed to crush first and maul whatever survived being crushed.

He tried to run after me, but an enthusiastic elderly man bowled into him while trying to get to me. I turned around and saw that the attack had knocked me outside.

Which meant I could escape.

I bolted through the street, passing by startled people, all of whom let out shouts of surprise and shock as a horde of drunken weapon wielders came flying out of the Twin Paths Grotto. My pursuers whooped and yelled, hurrying after me, but although my shroud was gone, the speed boost stayed.

But my speed was lessening with each passing moment.

Teshima Academy. My panic-ridden mind homed in on a goal. I need to get to Teshima.

“Help! Somebody!” I shouted. “They’re trying to kill me!”

“He’s the pathless, kill him!” My pursuers screamed in response.

Several bystanders froze at the unexpected cry for help, but others glanced at me, a mix of confusion and comprehension flickering through their gazes. Then, without hesitation, they activated their path abilities, throwing themselves into the incoming crowd of armed assailants.

There were only a few of them against dozens, but they shouted at me to ignore them and run.

They’re risking their lives for me. I thought.

Even if I was pathless, they hadn’t hesitated to help me. Which confirmed something I’d suspected.

There was something wrong with the people chasing me. I might not have noticed it before, but my thoughts were clearer now, and quicker.

This must be the extra ‘smidge of intelligence’ Earl mentioned I’d get. I thought.

My shoes smacked against the stone street as I fled, and bright lights flashed out behind me as the battle intensified. Most of the bar’s occupants were contained, but several broke through the impromptu barricade of bystanders, rushing toward me with their weapons raised.

The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

Sparks lit up as a dagger hit the ground next to me. I switched into a zig zag, trying my best to avoid any projectiles, just in time to see several knives and spears bounce off the stone around me.

“Valoa, guide my aim,” a woman’s voice called out, her speech slurred.

A flash of red light was all the warning I got before a glass mug smashed into my side and I heard a crunch.

I cried and forced myself to stay steady.

The way ahead was empty, without a single person available to come to my rescue. To my side was an alleyway, diving deep into unknown parts of the city. My speed boost was finished, the final dregs draining from my body as I limped toward the alley.

I dove in without hesitation, grabbing my side as pain shot out from my ribs.

“He’s got nowhere to run now,” a voice snarled. It was the Enigma path traveler. I’d memorized his sneering tone.

No, I’m so close. I looked up. I can't stop now.

The spires of Teshima Academy were in sight, a trio of buildings that threatened to pierce the heavens. If I crossed this alleyway, I would be in Teshima’s domain, and it would keep me safe.

Energy pumped through my veins as I dashed through the alleyway, adrenaline and fear causing my pain to disappear. I turned to the left as I came across a crossroad in the alleyway, revealing a cluttered area filled with waste and junk.

I slid under a pile of garbage, ignoring the slimy contents and stone pathway scraping my arms. When my pursuers reached the crossroad they frowned, pausing.

“Where did he go?” One asked. “And…What am I doing here?”

“We’re chasing the pathless, deary,” a soft voice said, feminine and wily. I recognized her as the waitress from the bar. “You'll have free drinks for life if you catch him. On the house.”

“O-okay.”

I listened to the exchange with bated breath, and moments later footsteps slammed against the stone floor as my assailants rushed down a different alleyway. They’d chosen the wrong place to investigate.

The alley I’d rushed into was connected to several others, serving as a hub among the web of backstreets. A ripple of movement caught my eye, and I froze, my eyes searching for any stray pursuers.

Instead of a person, I found a hole.

It was dark, and wide enough to fit my body. Unlike other holes, I couldn’t see where it ended. Or what had caused it.

That wasn’t there before. Was it? I wondered. No, wait. It definitely moved just now.

“Teshima, is that you?” I half-whispered, half hissed, desperation leaking into my tone.

The material around the hole rippled in affirmation, and I let out a sob of relief. I’d reached the border between the academy and the rest of the city. All I had to do was wait until my pursuers were out of sight and jump down the hole.

I was safe.

“There he is!”

I jolted, turning toward the sound of the voice and instantly regretting it as pain tore through my side.

Footsteps scurried through the alleyway toward me, they were soft, and subtle. A shadowed figure burst forth into view, panting as they looked for safety.

A girl? I stared at the newcomer in confusion.

The newcomer had short blonde hair that was cropped at the edges, and green eyes filled with fear. Her clothes were a ragged shirt stained with mud and grime, and her body was similarly decrepit, more skin and bone than meat. She looked nothing like me, with the exception of our ages, which were probably the same, and it looked like the girl wasn’t just visiting the alley, she lived in it.

The shadows of the alley made it hard to distinguish a person’s features from a distance, and in their addled state of mind my attackers had mistaken this unlucky kid for me.

Another figure appeared from the alleyway, his eyes glowing green. “Nowhere to run now.”

The Enigma path traveler gripped his warhammer tightly, the ground screeching as he scraped the steel weapon against it. A shriek of panic left the girl’s lips as she scampered away, trying to gain some distance.

I watched the pursuit from my safe place, my eyes poking out between the bags of garbage that hid my body.

He’ll see that the kid isn’t me and stop chasing them. I thought. He has to.

My hopes were dashed as the man raised his warhammer, preparing to hurl it at his target. He was going to throw his weapon and ask questions later, without getting close enough to examine his target.

Both of them were closing in on me, but they would pass right by me, leaving me alone to dive into the hole Teshima had created for me to escape through.

I’m safe here. If I reveal myself now, then he’ll kill me.

My eyes were glued to the girl, her fright and dread disturbed by tears rolling down her cheeks. A flash of green shone across the alleyway as the man threw his warhammer, the weapon flying through the air weakly, cruising toward the kid’s head. Without anything to shield them, death was guaranteed.

Time slowed as I pushed through my pain and leapt out of my hiding spot. I didn’t know the girl. And I would probably never know her. But she was only in trouble because of me.

That was reason enough to save her.

It was too late to push the girl aside. She was already passing by me.

So, I did the next best thing and threw myself in front of the warhammer.

Pain blossomed in my arm and instantly transformed into terrifyingly intense agony as my limb was shattered by the impact. A scream filled the alleyway, and I realized it was my own. As I took the blow meant for her, I caught a glimpse of the girl’s shocked expression.

“Run,” I said.

She hesitated, then turned to run as a yell escaped the man attacking us.

Then I fell to the ground, blown away by the impact of the warhammer, straight into the hole created by Teshima for my escape. Darkness swamped my vision, and I heard the walls cluttering around me, dirt piles appearing in droves to slow my descent and give me a soft landing.

Everything hurt as my broken body smacked into it.

A groan escaped my lips as I finally came to a halt.

I could feel my side throbbing, and my arm…I didn’t want to feel my arm, but I couldn’t stop. I knew it was there, but I refused to look at it.

Where…am I? My thoughts were sluggish, burdened by pain. Each one felt like it was wading through a swamp.

Blue light enveloped me, and I spotted a familiar wall of fuzzy rocks that had a swirl of valoa flowing through it.

I was back in the dungeon.

Hope filled my heart, temporarily covering the pain. The walls heaved with concern, the rocky ground smoothing out and pushing me forward. Teshima was helping me move in the only way it could.

“Sweet Crossroads, what happened to you?” A high-pitched voice cried out in a panic.

The transparent-green form of Quebracabezas was a sight for sore eyes. The four-armed creature pushed the tables and board games aside as he dashed toward me.

Huh, he has four legs. I noted, my mind drifting to irrelevant thoughts as the world started to darken around me.

A green arm lifted me, tender to the touch but holding firm, “hang on kiddo, I’m not going to let the first person to solve one of my puzzles die on me. I’ll call Forza here in no time.”

“No,” I said, my voice sharp.

“Excuse me?” He asked.

“Please,” I begged Quebracabezas. “Don’t tell them.”

It wasn’t that I didn’t want Forza here to help me. Of course I did. I was in too much pain not to want him here. But fear crossed my mind, beating back my pain.

They don’t know what my brother said. Not yet. But if they see me like this, they’ll want to know what happened. Then, they’ll think I’m a plague too. Will they try to kill me like the others did? Or worse, what if they leave me?

I held back a sob, a teardrop falling onto the tattered remains of my clothes.

“Okay, I won’t tell anyone,” Quebracabezas said.

He laid me onto a chair and pushed a board game in front of me.

“A puzzle helps solve all ailments,” Quebracabezas said. “Play this for now, while I go grab some supplies. I promise I won’t call anyone.”

I stared at the alien creature, so inhuman that I’d mistaken it for a viewer when first laying eyes on it. Then I let out a chuckle, a childish, high-pitched laugh that sent pain wracking through my body.

“You’re a much worse liar than my brother.”

The world went dark, and I felt my lips curling into a smile as I fell into unconsciousness.

Then, there was nothing.

****

“Okay, okay, okay. It's done. No doubt your panic was integral to the process, but I’m kicking you out of the room next time you shout at me to ‘go faster’.”

A stern voice hit my ears, feisty and curt at the same time, and I blinked. The pain was still there, but it had lessened tremendously. Even then, it was still the worst pain I’d ever felt since before today.

I couldn’t even gather the energy to open my eyes.

“He's fully healed?” A second voice asked.

“I healed his ribs and arm as best I could, but the contaminants were too much. I’m not a miracle worker. The atmosphere is too toxic, and he’s been immersed in it for years without protection.”

“Laakari, you're the best healer the path of Insight has,” the second voice interjected. “I know you can cure him. You have to be able to.”

I recognized the second speaker. It was Forza.

Quebracabezas, you liar. I smiled. You told on me.

“Today, I’m working twice as well as I usually do.” Laakari’s tone didn’t shift in the face of Forza’s anger. “And I still can't do a thing.”

I peeled a single eye open, blinking drowsily until the blur of sleep was gone.

A white-haired elderly man, who I assumed was Laakari, glanced at me, his weathered eyes filled with pity. Blue valoa floated around his wrinkled hands, lighter than the usual, almost white in color, and it splashed over my skin as the old man spoke. I'd never seen that shade of valoa before.

“With every breath he takes, it’ll only get worse. As he ages the toxin will ingrain itself deeper into his body, and he needs valoa of his own to rid himself of the impurities.”

Toxin? What’s he talking about? My thoughts were still jumbled, but what was being said didn’t sound good.

Unfortunately, Laakari’s next words were impossible to misunderstand.

“You must accept the truth, Forza,”

The elderly man placed his hand gently on my side.

“This child will be dead within a year.”