Zeteria, Twelfth Domain, Tador Forest.

A light rain fell on the forest and its occupants. The bare branches only offered temporary protection, and soon the prisoners were getting wet and cold. Spring was coming in a few weeks, but winter didn't want to go away. Lara’s fingers should have been frozen, but she was focused on her task. She barely noticed the drops of water falling from the sky.

Around her, the soldiers began to grumble in a low voice. Still in the back, Lieutenant Farlo took care of disciplining them. After his unpleasant conversation with the Commander, he passed his frustration onto his men. He also kept an eye on the kid who believed she was fooling everyone. He couldn't stop a smile from forming on his lips. She would soon have an unpleasant surprise.

*****

Lara shivered and looked up for a moment. Raindrops interfered under her clothes. She finally felt the cold. When did it start to rain? How had she noticed nothing? She was baffled.

The pain radiated at the end of her bloody index finger, yet she exulted. There were only a few millimeters left of the rope to burn. She grinned. Success was within reach, but the hardest part would come next… Escaping from the Sraxs. The elite of the Imperial Army… it wasn’t going to be easy! Fortunately, Commander Zain was at the front; he got rid of Aydan with such ease ... Just thinking about it, her legs weakened.

She did her best to push back the nervosity gaining her. One thing at a time. First the rope. She had to make sure that the water didn’t touch her. It would make destroying the rope even more difficult. She covered the part of the rope she worked on with her left hand, and pressed the index with her right hand with her thumb and middle finger.

A drop of blood finally appeared, which she wiped on the remaining strands. When the flame formed, she sheltered it as best she could so that it consumed the already burnt rope. The fire died out in a few seconds, but it had achieved its purpose. The rope was finally broken. Lara tried to hide the hanging rope by sliding the end in the middle of the knot that bound her wrists.

What to do now? The soldiers around turned their backs on her. Should she start working on the rope around her wrists? Did she have time? She doubted it. The twilight was falling on the forest, and they should not be long in reaching the Door.

She just needed a diversion. Anything to distract the soldiers, to take their attention away for a few seconds. Two soldiers guarded the line in front of her, and there was at least one more behind her. One alone? Maybe she could try something. She glanced behind her and shuddered. There were three of them, and their hand never moved too far away from the sword at their side. Against five soldiers, it was a suicide mission. There was no chance for her to escape. Her shoulders sagged, and she lowered her head. She would never succeed.

A whisper was heard from her line, and they stopped. Intrigued, Lara stood on her tiptoes to see what was happening. It didn’t take long for her to understand what was going on. They had arrived at the edge of the Forest of Tador. They were even closer to the Door now. She had no more hope of being rescued. The people in the first rows could probably see the reflections of Lake Perdu and the plains that surrounded it.

She clenched her fists, and her fingernails sank into her palms. She couldn’t let the Sraxs take her to the heart of their Empire! The situation was becoming desperate. Once they were completely out of the forest and the cover it provided, her chances to run away would be close to zero. No escape would go unnoticed; there was nothing to hide behind in the plains. She swallowed with difficulty She was running out of time. She had no options. It was either freedom or slavery. Her future depended on her decision.

Her desire for freedom could cost her his life. Slavery assured her a short-term survival, and suffering she could only imagine with terror.

“Move your asses! Lieutenant Farlo yelled behind her back. “You there, go see what’s happening!” He barked at one of the soldiers.

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The Srax at his side promptly obeyed and went up to see what was going on. The girl held her breath. They were only two behind her now. She would have no better opportunity. She had to find the courage to act before it was too late.

“What’s that?” The soldier alongside Farlo asked with a surprised tone pointing at the sky.

The lieutenant looked up and cursed.

“Mecens! You fool, can’t you recognize them?”

“ It’s my first mission,” The soldier mumbled.

“Then prepare yourself for a difficult fight. Warn the Commander, He has probably spotted them already, but there is always a chance he could have missed them. And I don’t want to die by negligence.”

“Yes, lieutenant,” The man replied and jogged away.

Lara swallowed, her heart was beating fast. There was only one soldier behind her now. She had to escape now, and yet she remained motionless, paralyzed by fear.

Come on; move! She tried to encourage herself.

She shook her right hand, squeezing her injured index finger, thus rekindling her pain. Her pain shouldn’t be in vain.

There was movement in front of her. They were moving again. Time was of the essence. It would be soon too late.

Lara remained immobile, while the rope that should have dragged her tightened. She opened her fingers, and the end slipped from her tied hands to fall to the ground, without even a sound. Only the noise of her beating heart reached her ears. She only felt the burn on her index finger and the panic that spread throughout her body.

“Hey, you,” a voice called behind her.

Fear overwhelmed her instantly, and her legs moved mechanically. She ran… without thinking that the soldier behind her back could catch up to her and kill her. Without thinking that the plains were not an ideal hiding place. Without thinking, her body kept moving forward, straight towards the lake which she saw in the distance. It was the single landmark that she knew was far from the Door.

Lieutenant Farlo was smiling behind her back. He didn’t take a single step to pursue the escaping prisoner. He watched her reach the plains without a hint of worry on his face and gave her a few seconds to get ahead. Then, he turned away and ran towards the front of the line.

“Commander!” He called as soon as he was within range of his superior.

Zain turned away from the plains, upset. Farlo saluted him. His breathing was even.

“A young girl escaped, Commander,” He announced.

“And you were unable to bring her back?” Zain retorted. His tone was full of contempt.

At a sign from the leader of the Srax, the soldiers had resumed their advance with the prisoners and entered the plains. Where were the Mecens hiding? The Commander was certain to have seen them a little earlier, and the soldier dispatched by his lieutenant had confirmed his doubt. Perhaps they had planned an ambush before the Door. But there wasn't any possible hiding place. The grass wasn’t tall enough, and the rare bushes were far too puny to be of any use.

“It’s the last girl we brought in. She burned her rope,” Lieutenant Farlo informed Zain.

“A Priestess of Slesudor then,” The Commander grumbled.

Was this the reason she had been escorted by a Herald? That kid had eliminated his scouts without any difficulty. The girl showing a mastery of fire could explain Farlo's reluctance to pursue her. What a useless man! He should really think about finding another lieutenant. The Emperor had appointed him as the head of the Srax only recently, and the big families were only waiting for one misstep from him. After he proved his worth and cemented his position, his subordinates would no longer allow themselves to question his abilities.

Zain found It strange that the girl only used her powers while in captivity.

“I’ll take care of the escapee.” The Commander said. “You guide the prisoners to the Door. If there is the slightest incident, you will answer for it with your life.”

“Of course, Commander,” Lieutenant Farlo replied, swallowing nervously.

Zain took the time to carefully fold his cape before entrusting it to a soldier. The red wings that had made his reputation rose in his back.

“With your life,” he repeated to Farlo before flying away.