"So, Ruby. I think it would be best if we left this place. This city doesn't exactly welcome outsiders," I say, looking at her with concern.

image [https://gdurl.com/WEx3]

She glances back at me, her eyes pleading.

"Y-yes, please... I don't want to be captured by them."

"Now, let's figure out how to get out of here without drawing the attention of the guards..."

...

A sudden idea crosses my mind, one that I hope won't arouse any suspicion. "Stay right here," I tell Ruby, reassuring her with a gentle pat on her head. "I won't be long. Just trust me."

Stepping out of the bush, I make my way towards a nearby equipment shop, trying to blend in as a regular shopper. Minutes later, I re-emerge from the store, carrying a set of leather armor and a wooden sword. My return to the garden is uneventful, and Ruby is still there, crouched down with her wooden stick. She looks so adorable in that moment.

Her initial panic fades as she realizes it's me approaching. "What were you doing? W-where did you go?" she asks, her curiosity and concern evident.

I hand her the leather armor with a reassuring smile. "This will help you blend in as one of the warriors. It should keep you safe here, at least for a while."

“Oh… I see! That… might be a good idea, I suppose…” Her eyes fixate on the ground, and she hesitates. "Um..."

"What is it?"

Ruby points to her own outfit.

"I need to change. Can you... look the other way?"

…

Oh.

I follow her gaze and then, it dawns on me. She needs to change. I quickly avert my eyes, my cheeks turning a shade of red. "S-sorry. Just let me know when you're done!" I stammer, trying to shake off any inappropriate thoughts that crossed my mind as I starting to hear the rustling sound behind me.

Rustle, rustle...

To maintain some semblance of decorum, I move away from the bush and take a seat on the other side of a nearby tree, deliberately avoiding any accidental glances. The sound of rustling reaches my ears as Ruby changes her clothes.

"I am sorry, but damn you, Galvana," I mutter under my breath. The image is etched in my mind, and I can't seem to shake it off.

I scold myself internally, attempting to regain control of my racing thoughts. After a few minutes, the rustling ceases, and she finally speaks, "I'm done."

Walking back to her, I take in the sight. She now looks more like a skilled swordsman, and there's an undeniable charm to her in that outfit. But then it hits me - something's missing.

…

Crap.

I forgot to buy leather pants. Thankfully, due to her shorter stature, the leather armor manages to provide sufficient coverage for her lower body, at least for the time being.

Ruby, still adjusting to her new attire, asks hesitantly, "Um... how do I put these on?" She holds up a pair of shoulder pads, looking to me for guidance.

I step closer and gently place the shoulder pads on her, adjusting them until they sit comfortably. "There you go! Now you truly look the part of a swordsman."

With a thoughtful gesture, I roll up her gambeson and discreetly tuck it under the wooden stick, concealing the crystal tip. "Let me hold onto that for now," I say softly. "For the time being, we'll make our way out of this city to ensure your safety."

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Ruby nods in agreement, handing me the wooden sword. Together, we step out of the bush, ready to face whatever lies ahead.

Glancing around discreetly, I ensure that no one is overly interested in our activities. A few passersby and a vigilant guard stand near the garden entrance. We walk through the garden as inconspicuously as possible, trying to blend in with the crowd. I offer a friendly wave to the guard, who nods back patriotically, allowing us to continue our escape.

Simultaneously, Ruby and I release sighs of relief, grateful for the uneventful passage. However, as we make our way towards the city gate, we draw curious stares from those we pass. People seem particularly intrigued by Ruby's oversized attire and the absence of pants.

The situation becomes increasingly uncomfortable, prompting Ruby to press her hands against my back, hiding her face in embarrassment. I guide us towards a nearby narrow alley and let out another sigh.

"It's becoming more complicated. People are starting to take attention of you," I remark, my voice hushed. "If my memory serves me right, this alley should lead us to... there!"

Over the next few minutes, we cautiously traverse the alley, making every effort to avoid drawing attention, especially from the guards. The darkening sky aids our efforts, allowing us to navigate without unnecessary interference. Finally, we find ourselves in an alley near the city's exit gate.

A sense of unease washes over me as I spot four guards stationed at the city's exit gate. I turn to Ruby and instruct her, "Wait here. I'll try to speak with the guards."

She looks at me, worry evident in her eyes. "W-where are you going?"

I reassure her with a gentle smile, "Just stay here. I won't be long."

Walking towards the gate, I approach one of the guards and politely address him, "Excuse me..."

The guard turns to face me, his attention piqued. "Yes?"

"Um, I wish to exit the city with a friend for a quest. Could you let us out?"

He furrows his brow, scrutinizing the area around me. "Where is this friend you're mentioning?"

I extend my index finger, pointing towards the alley where Ruby is concealed. She timidly peeks out for a moment before retreating into hiding.

The guard remains stern. "Bring her over here. We need to conduct a few checks before permitting both of you to leave."

I nod and return to the alley, noticing Ruby pointing her staff at me once more.

"I-I saw you pointing at me from the gate!" Ruby exclaims, her voice trembling in fear.

I attempt to calm her down. "Calm yourself down. I simply told them I wanted to leave the city with a friend, so I pointed at you."

"Oh..." She eases her grip on her staff, tucking the tip back under her gambeson.

"Let's go," I suggest.

"T-to where?" Ruby asks, her anxiety palpable.

"To the gate, silly." I gently take hold of her right hand.

"W-wait!!" Ruby hesitates, but we continue our approach towards the guards.

"This is the friend I mentioned," I explain to the guard.

"Hmm..." The guard closely scrutinizes Ruby, stroking his chin. "She seems fine. Sorry for the inconvenience. We just want to be cautious with any suspicious individuals—"

Suddenly, one of the guards points his weapon at Ruby, his voice filled with recognition. "It's her! It's the wizard! I remember her face!"

Well, crap.

"Ruby, this way!!"

Without wasting a moment, I grip Ruby's hand firmly and break into a sprint, heading back towards the alley. Ruby gasps in surprise and quickly follows, discarding the wooden sword.

We sprint through the narrow alley as the guards give relentless chase, their footsteps echoing ominously. The blaring sound of a trumpet pierces the air as we run.

"A wizard in a swordsman's suit has been sighted! After them!" one of the guards shouts, sending a shiver down my spine.

This is far from ideal. While we successfully evade the guards near the front gate, our luck takes a turn for the worse as another guard spots us and joins the pursuit. "Over here!" he calls out to his comrades.

I maintain a firm hold on Ruby's hand as we continue to run in a seemingly random direction. Suddenly, a thought strikes me like lightning as we dash through the winding streets.

"We're heading back to the garden. There's a deep well near the end of it!"

"A-alright!" Ruby responds, her movements steadying as she recalls the path to the garden. We invest considerable effort in evading the guards, constantly hiding and maneuvering to elude their watchful eyes.

Thankfully, the darkened sky works in our favor, making it challenging for the guards to spot us. Even when they do catch glimpses of us and give chase, we somehow manage to slip away, vanishing from their line of sight.

#

End of Chapter 26.