The next thing I remembered, I was stepping through the door of my childhood home, feeling a wave of nostalgia wash over me. But in an instant, it all changed to an empty white room with a dark entrance at the far end. My legs moved on their own, compelling me to enter that door.

In the next room, I saw Gareth, Erina, and another person chatting at a small round table. There was an empty seat, and the stranger waved me over. Instinctively, I walked over and sat down with them.

That figure finally opened his mouth, “Frankly, Eric, I don’t expect to see you again. I could’ve sworn that I prepared some surprises for you and your friend back then. But even those two guys failed to kill you.”

Honestly, I didn’t pay much attention to his appearance; to my mind, he’s just a regular dude without any distinct characteristics. Also, none of the things he mentioned made sense to me, “Who are you? and what do you mean by that?”

“Don’t worry, you’ll get it later. For now, I’m just honestly impressed that you made it out of that dungeon.” He extended his arm to shake my hand, and I responded without thinking.

He stood up from the chair and held my shoulder, "As for my name, you’re not worthy to find out yet. Here, I’ll show you something else.”

I looked at his face, he was grinning the entire time. Suddenly the entire room contorted and crumbled, and I got transported to my inn room, with the lady I met earlier sleeping next to me.

The figure was standing at the door, slowly approaching. He positioned himself next to the lady and caressed her cheek, “It’s such a waste of beauty to do this, but I hope it’s worth it.”

I couldn’t move my body at all; even responding to him was impossible. Then he materialized a dagger and went over to my side. He slowly raised his arm. With a dagger hovering over me, I struggled to move, but all my efforts were in vain

“Good luck, Eric. Hehehe…” Those were his last words before plunging the dagger into my chest. I screamed as sharp pain shot through me, waking me up from my sleep.

As I awoke, I smelled blood and realized it was on my left hand, but when I touched my chest, there was no wound whatsoever. Turning to my left, I was confronted by a horrific scene and understood where the blood had come from.

The lady with whom I spent the night lay dead with a dagger plunged to her chest. A demonic symbol was also drawn on the wall with her blood. I screamed again at the horror as I couldn’t recall much of what happened last night. Did I do this in my sleep? an obvious question came across my mind.

Upon hearing my scream, some people rushed into the room, their faces contorted in shock and horror at the sight before them, my heart pounded in my chest like a drumbeat as I realized I was in a truly devastating situation.

The stench of death hung heavy in the air, a nauseating blend of coppery blood and the sickly scent of decay. And there, lying motionless on the bed, was the lady, her lifeless eyes staring into oblivion, her deathly pallor contrasting starkly with the crimson stains that marred my hands.

"Seize that demon-worshipping murderer!!" The accusation echoed through the room, to which I responded by getting up and making a futile attempt to explain the situation.

"Wait, wait! I swear to God, I didn't do it!!!" My protest rang out, desperate and pleading, but drowned in the anger and condemnation of the people.

Among the ranks of the angry mob stood Gareth and Erina, their expression torn between disbelief and shock. I couldn’t let them get dragged into this madness alongside me. As they were about to say something, I made a split-second decision to protect them, even if it meant sacrificing myself.

I clenched my jaw and focused my energy, channeling my mana through my hand. I directed a small explosion toward the window, shattering it into a shower of glittering shards.

Even though the glass shards rained down around me, I wasted no time. With a swift movement, I threw myself towards the shattered window, feeling the rush of wind against my skin as I plummeted into the street below.

The adrenaline-fueled my leap, carrying me away from the chaos and confusion of the inn room. Leaving my clothes behind in a crumpled heap on the floor, I fled as fast as I could. For now, as long as people didn’t know that Gareth and Erina were associated with me, my priority was to get myself a hiding spot, leaving the town if necessary.

I kept running as people around the street gazed towards me, not understanding what had happened as a man was running through the street bare-chested and with no footwear. I navigated through the small alleyways to escape from my pursuer’s view.

As the sound of the mob closed in, their shouts echoing in the narrow streets, I made a split-second decision. Ducking into an unused alley wedged between towering buildings, I turned to face my pursuers.

I extended my hand and shot a mini-blaze pearl at the already frail entrance, crumbling it entirely, and sealing off the potential route for my pursuers. But I didn't stop there. With a flick of my wrist, I repeated the process at the other end of the alley, cutting off any hope of pursuit from that direction as well.

With my heart pounding and breath ragged, I scanned my surroundings for a way out, my eyes alighting upon a patch of weathered brick wall to my right. I held my hand against the wall and blasted a hole just large enough to squeeze through, the bricks crumbling away to reveal the bustling chaos of the fish market beyond.

I quickly materialized a cloak from my inventory and wore it to put some shades to my body and my soaring red hair before slipping through the small opening that I made earlier. Though the eyes of the marketgoers lingered upon me for a moment, their attention quickly diverted back to their own activities in the market.

Amidst the hustle and bustle of the market, I melted into the crowd like a shadow, my presence fading into obscurity amidst the cacophony of voices and the pungent smells that filled the air. To aid myself in blending with the sea of faces around me, I pulled the hood low covering parts of my eyes.

I looked at my hands where the blood had dissipated as a result of me channeling my fire magic. I couldn’t help but wonder what had happened exactly. There was hardly any explanation as to how the lady was stabbed dead.

Well, I could’ve stayed a bit longer in the inn to scan for mana traces had there been a true culprit behind this murder, but I just couldn't have risked it. What if it turned out that it was me who murdered that lady? What if what had happened to Gideon and Archy also happened to me?

I was lost in my thoughts as I wandered aimlessly around the fish market. The only conclusion for now was just that I still had my sanity, unlike Archy and Gideon who bathed in joy as they murdered Erina’s family.

As I reached the end of the market, the path to freedom stretched out before me in the form of the south gate. But the presence of guards prevented me from directly escaping from this town.

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With a heavy sigh, I sank to the ground, my back pressed against the cool stone wall. Today was supposed to be a new beginning, a chance to mentor Erina and carve out a semblance of normalcy amidst the repetitive chaos that had consumed my life.

I gazed up at the sky above; I couldn't help but wonder if the eyes of the divine were upon me, if the goddess Erra watched in silence as one of her followers stumbled blindly through this madness.

"By the heavens, Goddess Erra! Are you witnessing this tragedy? " I muttered beneath my breath, the words a bitter curse upon my lips. "How could you stand idly by as this calamity befell your devoted follower?"

But even in the middle of this despair and desperation, I still remembered that I had Gareth. I held onto my necklace and felt their source of mana from a direction. I breathed a sigh of relief as I remembered that I wasn’t completely alone in this world. Remembering that, a new wave of determination washed over me.

I crouched in the shadows and observed the situation at the gate. The guards at the gate were occupied with questioning a hapless merchant, his face contorted in fear as he stammered out words that only God knew truth or lies. Nearby, a group of soldiers exchanged hushed words in panic, I could only assume that they were exchanging news regarding the murder.

I realized that my chances of slipping past the gate unnoticed were slim to none. The guards were on high alert, their eyes scanning the crowd for any sign of trouble. And when some guards started bringing wanted posters with crudely drawn figure of myself, I knew that I wouldn't stand a chance of getting past them without causing unnecessary trouble and victims.

I started formulating an alternative plan. If I couldn't leave through the front gate, then perhaps there was another way out of the town. And if I could wait till it’s dark, I can cause enough of a commotion to distract the guards, then maybe, just maybe, I could slip away unnoticed in the chaos.

Once again I held my necklace pendant to locate Gareth and Erina. I needed to find them to ensure they were safe and to seek their help in clearing my name or potentially escaping this town together. With each step that I took, I could feel the faint hum of their mana, a reassuring presence amidst the chaos that surrounded me.

I set off towards the heart of the town, my movements slow and deliberate as I tried to blend in with the bustling crowd. The fish market was a hive of activity, the air thick with the scent of salt and brine as vendors hawked their wares to eager customers.

Suddenly, I saw some patrolling town guards scanning through the market. I ducked into the nearest stall, my heart pounding in my chest as I wasn’t sure whether the guards would find me in there.

The fishmonger eyed me warily, his gaze flicking from my face to the wanted poster already pinned to the wall nearby. I was frankly surprised at the effectiveness of the town guards, bravo for them I guess. But before that fishmonger could cause any problem, I held up a handful of coins, and the glint of gold silenced him right away.

"Keep your mouth shut, and these are yours," I whispered, my voice low and urgent.

The fishmonger hesitated for a moment, his eyes darting nervously between me and the guards patrolling the market. But in the end, greed won out over fear, and he nodded his agreement.

With a sigh of relief, I slipped into the crowd, my heart pounding in my chest as I tried to blend in with the throng of people and finally made it out of the fish market. I continued my journey, and with extra precision and care, I followed the subtle pull of the pendant while avoiding the main roads.

Finally, I spotted Gareth and Erina from a distance, entering a building that bore the emblem of the Guard station. were they getting arrested and questioned about my supposed crime? I specifically ran away so that this shouldn't happen, but what’s done was done I suppose.

Reluctantly, I turned away from there, knowing I couldn't afford to draw any more attention to myself. Instead, I sought refuge in a tavern. First I made sure that there wasn't any wanted poster lying around, then I slipped through the door and into the dimly lit interior.

The tavern was filled with the raucous laughter and lively chatter of its patrons, providing a welcome distraction from the chaos outside. I made my way to the bar and ordered a mug of ale, hoping to blend in with the crowd and glean any information that might help me in my predicament.

As I sat nursing my drink, I couldn't help but overhear snippets of conversation from the patrons around me.

"I heard they found the body in one of the inn rooms," whispered a cloaked figure in the corner, their voice hushed with a mix of fear and intrigue.

"Aye, and they say the walls were covered in strange symbols," chimed in another, leaning in closer to catch every word.

"But who could have done such a thing? And why?"

The questions hung heavy in the air, filling me with a sense of unease. I strained to listen for any mention of Gareth and Erina, but the conversation quickly turned to other topics, leaving me with more questions than answers.

Frustrated, I finished my ale and made my way towards the door, intent on continuing my search elsewhere

As the sun began to sink below the horizon, casting long shadows across the market, I knew that my chance was fast approaching. I set off towards the abandoned market near the west gate in the hope that I could find some fragile brick wall and burst it open with my magic.

However, even as I drew closer to my goal, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was being watched, that every move I made was being scrutinized by unseen eyes.

As I approached the west gate, I was still blending into the shadow and group of people. The guards were still on high alert, their swords drawn and their eyes flashing with suspicion as they interrogated a group of travelers trying to leave the town.

Waiting for my opening patiently, I then proceeded to venture to the abandoned market not far from the west gate. As I ventured deeper, the atmosphere grew increasingly eerie. The desolate street as well as the empty stores looming ominously overhead.

I cautiously made my way through the narrow passages when a voice shattered the silence, causing my heart to skip a beat. I turned to see a patrolling guard, his eyes narrowing as he caught sight of me.

"Hey, you! Pause and stay where you are!" he shouted, his hand reaching for the hilt of his sword.

Instinctively, I raised my hands in a gesture of compliance, my heart hammering in my chest as I tried to mask the panic that threatened to consume me. But as the guard drew nearer, I saw my chance of escape.

With a swift movement, I spun on my heel, using the momentum to barrel into the guard with all the force I could muster. The element of surprise worked in my favor, catching him off guard and sending him tumbling to the ground.

Without a moment's hesitation, I broke into a sprint, my heart pounding in my chest as adrenaline surged through my veins. The sound of my footsteps echoed off the walls as I raced through the labyrinth of alleyways, the guard's shouts fading into the distance behind me.

With each twist and turn, more guards appeared, their shouts echoing through the deserted streets. I dodged and weaved through the maze of buildings, desperate to shake off my pursuers. But no matter how fast I ran, the guards seemed to multiply, appearing from every corner and alleyway. Panic clawed at my chest as I realized there was no way out.

In a last-ditch effort to escape, I spotted the low roof of a nearby food stall and made a split-second decision. With a burst of adrenaline-fueled energy, I leaped onto the roof, ignoring the shouts of the guards below.

I scrambled up the side of the building, my hands gripping the rough surface of the walls as I pulled myself onto the rooftop. The sound of boots pounding against the pavement echoed in my ears as more guards joined the chase, their voices growing louder with each passing moment.

I raced across the rooftops, my muscles burning with exertion as I leaped from one building to the next. The jagged skyline stretched out before me, a maze of crumbling brick and weathered shingles that blurred into a dizzying whirlwind of motion.

With each leap, I could feel the eyes of the city upon me, the curious gazes of those who lived on the higher floors peering out from behind half-closed shutters and cracked windows. Their whispered conversations followed me as I ran, a symphony of murmurs and gasps that mingled with the pounding of my heart and the rush of wind against my skin.

I was lucky that I saw that the edge of the last building was quite close to the town wall. The edge of the building loomed ahead, so close yet impossibly far. I took a deep breath, steeling myself for the final leap. With every ounce of strength I possessed, I prepared to launch myself into the air, reaching the town wall from this building.

But as I stepped, my foot slipped on a patch of wet moss, sending me tumbling sideways. Time seemed to slow as I plummeted towards the ground below, the world spinning wildly around me.

Pain exploded through my body as I crashed to the ground, the impact knocking the wind from my lungs. I lay there for a moment, dazed and disoriented, as the guards closed in around me. I forced myself to my feet, my hands raised in surrender as the guards encircled me. There was no escape now, no way to outrun my fate.