The journey through the forest continued, the trees gradually giving way to the open expanse of the plains. The first couple of hours were spent in near silence, each of them wary and on edge after the attack by the escorts. The air seemed to change as the forest thinned; the weight of the dense canopy above lifted, leaving Lucas with a sense of freedom but also vulnerability. He could feel Elara's eyes on him from time to time, as if she was still trying to figure him out.

By the time they broke through the tree line and found themselves back in the plains, the sun was climbing steadily higher in the sky, its warmth enveloping them. The landscape stretched out endlessly before them, grass waving in a light breeze that brought with it the earthy scent of the wide-open world. There was something calming about it, despite the challenges that lay ahead. They walked side by side, not quite at ease, but comfortable enough to start talking again.

"You know," Lucas began, breaking the silence, "I've been wondering. You said those guys were supposed to be your escorts. What exactly were you planning to do in River's Edge?" He glanced at Elara, curious.

She seemed to hesitate, her eyes shifting from the horizon to Lucas. "My father... he runs a lot of trade between River's Edge and the surrounding towns. He's been pushing me to get more involved in the business side of things lately. But it's not just about learning the ropes." She paused, her gaze hardening. "There have been problems—rival merchants, sabotaged shipments. This trip was supposed to be more than just a lesson; I was supposed to broker a deal with one of the key suppliers to secure our business's future. Without it, everything my father built could fall apart." She sighed, her expression darkening. "Not that things have exactly gone according to plan."

Lucas nodded. "Sounds like a lot of pressure. Especially if he’s expecting you to just... step into it all without much experience."

"Yeah," Elara admitted, a wry smile tugging at her lips. "He thinks I can handle it because he had to at my age. But he forgets that he started with nothing to lose. Me? I’ve got all his expectations weighing me down." She shrugged, her gaze distant for a moment before she looked back at Lucas. "What about you? I still don’t understand how you ended up here."

Lucas thought for a moment, trying to piece together a version of his story that made sense without giving away too much. "Like I said, it was some kind of magical accident. I was in the middle of something back home—a risky job. Next thing I know, I'm waking up in those plains." He shook his head, a humorless chuckle escaping, not giving away that he was referring to a different world. "Still trying to figure out if that's a good thing or a bad thing."

Elara studied him, her eyes narrowing thoughtfully. "A risky job, huh?" she asked, her tone probing but cautious. "Sounds like the kind of thing that requires someone... resourceful."

Lucas raised an eyebrow, meeting her gaze. He could sense where this was heading, and part of him couldn't help but smirk. "You could say that," he replied, keeping it vague.

Elara tilted her head, her curiosity clearly piqued. "Resourceful, and maybe... willing to bend a few rules?" She gave him a pointed look, the corners of her lips hinting at a smile. "I get the feeling you weren't exactly running errands for a merchant."

Lucas sighed, one corner of his mouth quirking up. "I prefer the term 'opportunist.' But yeah, I took what I needed to survive. That’s about the extent of it." He paused, letting the words hang in the air for a moment, then added with a teasing smile, "Honestly, it wasn’t much different from what people with power do—except they slap a fancy name on it and call it business."

Elara let out a short laugh, shaking her head slightly. "So, what, you're just a more honest version of my father's rivals?"

Lucas grinned, shrugging. "Something like that. Just without the wealth or the fancy titles."

She laughed again, this time more freely, as if the tension had eased. "You know, you might have a point there. You don't seem so bad, anyway."

The mood seemed to lighten just a little, and for a while, they continued walking in companionable silence, the only sounds the rustling of the wind through the grass and the distant calls of birds wheeling overhead.

The days passed slowly but not without their moments. They often made camp wherever they could find some cover, taking turns to keep watch through the night. Lucas found himself volunteering for the midnight shifts, his senses sharp as he listened for anything out of place. He would sit in the quiet darkness, the flickering light of their small fire barely illuminating the surroundings, the sense of responsibility pressing on him. During the first night, with Elara sound asleep, Lucas decided to check his interface again. He hesitated, unsure if others could see it or not, but figured it was safe enough now. A notification flashed before his eyes.

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You have killed a level 4 Human.

Gained 500 experience.

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He blinked at the message, feeling a strange mix of emotions—relief, surprise, and a hint of guilt. The notification hung in his vision, carrying a weight that wasn't easy to ignore. He'd killed before, almost always in self-defense, but it never got easier. The memory of the three boys' deaths still in Steelhaven lingered, a heavy burden he had carried for years. The trial had helped him find some peace with that painful memory, but it never fully went away. He pushed past it, focusing instead on what came next. The next prompt showed he had leveled up to level 2, with stat points available to distribute.

Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

Lucas took a moment to absorb it all, his heart pounding at the realization of his progression in this strange world. The idea of stat points intrigued him—being able to improve himself consciously, like in a game. He hovered his gaze over the prompt, considering the possibilities. Strength, agility, perhaps even luck… but he decided to leave the stat points for now, not wanting to make a permanent choice without more information. Instead, he noted that his shard attunement had increased, though it hadn't quite reached the next level yet. That was interesting—it seemed like the bond with the shard was something that could grow over time, almost like it had its own form of experience.

He glanced over at Elara, who was still sound asleep, her breathing steady. This was his moment—he could explore his abilities a bit more without prying eyes. He tapped into the interface again, navigating through the different sections. The layout was straightforward, though it had a sense of otherworldly complexity. Notifications lingered—stat points to allocate as well as shard attunement progress. He decided to check the shard attunement further, feeling the subtle hum of energy from his left hand, where the mark and the shard were bound. A warmth spread through his palm, and he wondered if he was starting to feel more of the shard's essence as it grew stronger.

It wasn't just about power—it was about connection. Lucas closed the interface, deciding to hold off on further exploration. He needed to understand this world more before he committed to any changes. For now, he would keep his secrets close, his progression guarded, and his curiosity tempered by caution.

On the second day, they came across a group of travelers—a small caravan of merchants with their wagons haphazardly pulled into a defensive circle. The merchants eyed them warily at first, but after some cautious greetings and shared stories, the tension eased. They ended up spending the night camped beside the caravan, sharing their food and exchanging tales of the land. Lucas put considerable effort into fitting in and seeming inconspicuous, carefully explaining away the unfamiliar style of his clothing whenever questioned. He found himself relaxing, even laughing along with one of the merchants as they spoke of their own strange encounters out on the roads. It was the first time since arriving in this world that he felt some semblance of normalcy. By morning, the merchants packed up and set off, heading in the opposite direction of Lucas and Elara. The creak of the wagons and the snorting of tired horses filled the air as they made their preparations. The mood was a mix of weariness and hope, with goodbyes exchanged amid the clatter of gear and the shuffle of boots.

By the fourth day, the terrain had begun to change subtly, the grassy plains giving way to a mix of rocky outcroppings and rolling hills, with a river in the distance making itself apparent. Lucas noticed how Elara seemed to grow quieter, her gaze often lingering on the horizon as if searching for something familiar. He suspected the journey was wearing on her—both physically and emotionally—but she pushed on without complaint.

"You alright?" he asked one evening as they sat by a small campfire they had managed to set up. The light flickered, casting long shadows across the grass.

Elara looked up, startled out of her thoughts. She smiled, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. "Yeah. Just... tired, I guess. It’s been a lot."

Lucas nodded, understanding. "If it helps, I think you’re handling it pretty well. Most people wouldn’t still be on their feet after everything you’ve been through."

She glanced at him, something softening in her expression. "Thanks. That means a lot." There was a pause before she added, almost to herself, "I just want to get there. To be safe again."

Lucas poked at the fire, watching the embers flare up. "We’ll get there. One step at a time." He wasn’t entirely sure if he believed it, but it seemed to bring her some comfort. She gave him a small nod, and they both fell into silence, listening to the night sounds around them—the crackle of the fire, the rustle of the wind through the tall grass.

On the sixth day, they encountered a pair of hunters, their paths crossing unexpectedly in the early afternoon. The men were friendly enough, offering Lucas and Elara some dried meat in exchange for a bit of water and some company. Lucas hadn't eaten since he had been transported to this world. Strangely, he wasn't feeling the effects of hunger as intensely as he should have. "Magic probably," he thought, half-amused, half-wary. The conversation eventually turned to local rumors, and the hunters spoke of increasing bandit activity along the roads, of strange lights seen in the sky over the hills to the north, and of the growing tension between the cities. Lucas listened carefully, filing away the information. This world had its own share of troubles, and it seemed they had only glimpsed the surface.

Finally, on the seventh day, the plains began to change once more, the rolling hills giving way to cultivated fields and the faint scent of smoke and civilization drifting on the wind. The town was near, and Lucas could almost feel the tension easing from Elara’s shoulders as she spotted the first rooftops in the distance, a flicker of hope crossing her face. They had made it—almost.

"That's it," Elara said, her voice tinged with both exhaustion and relief. "River's Edge. We should be there before nightfall."

Lucas glanced at her, a small smile forming on his lips. "Looks like we made it after all."

Elara met his gaze, and for the first time, he saw genuine relief there. "Yeah... thanks to you." She paused, her eyes softening. "I mean it, Lucas. I don’t know what would have happened if you hadn’t come along."

"Don't mention it," Lucas replied with a grin, trying to lighten the mood. "But I might need a guide once we're in the city. I’m not exactly familiar with the place, and I could use someone who knows their way around."

He didn’t know what lay ahead in River's Edge—whether this town would be safe, or whether it would present new challenges entirely. But for now, they had arrived, and that was enough.

""Of course!" Elara said, though a hint of hesitation flickered across her face. "It's the least I can do, after everything." She paused, then added, "Just... try not to draw too much attention. Things can be unpredictable in River's Edge, and I don't want us to stand out more than we already do."

The sun began its descent, casting long shadows across the fields, as they continued walking towards the distant town. Lucas took a deep breath, feeling a mixture of relief and anticipation. He wondered what they would find there—would River's Edge truly be a safe haven, or just another unpredictable challenge in this strange new world? He glanced at Elara, noticing her determination despite the exhaustion. "Let's see what this place has in store for us," he thought, a mix of curiosity and unease settling in his chest.