The two of us slipped through the alleyways of Reinmont effortlessly. Passing by working bricklayers and even through several storefronts in an attempt to escape our pursuer. However, any chance of escape seemed to be in vain. Whenever it seemed as if we slipped away, the hooded stranger would turn a corner or peek their head over the side of a building to look down at us.

"We need a new plan," Berthold stated, out of breath from our constant running.

"Agreed."

"Let's make them come to us. You wait here, and I'll stay on top of this building. We can see who they're tracking and hopefully get the drop on them." Berthold stated, using a third arm and leg to scale the stone-laid building beside us.

I sat on a pile of stones lined on the alleyway to catch my breath. Despite now being a creature-hunting Voyager partially responsible for destroying two major cities, I was surprisingly out of shape. All my fighting methods rely on arcane abilities that don't involve physical strength or, more noticeably, cardio.

"Mersault Hood." A voice called from the end of the alley.

"Oh fuck." I replied, hopping back to my feet.

The stranger walked toward me confidently and without pause. Their vision never wavered, locking onto my person and refusing to turn away.

This stranger is using the Exotic Skill: Immaculate Pursuit.

"Hey, I'm not sure who you're with exactly, but I know we can work something out."

The stranger didn't reply and continued to walk toward me unwavering.

"Whatever they're paying, I'll pay a little more, and you can just not kill me, maybe."

I dissembled the threads from my cape, wrapping them around the bricks behind me. I wasn't sure what this stranger could do but hoped it was nothing a dozen bricks to the face couldn't solve.

As the stranger entered striking distance, they calmly reached into their cloak.

"Come on, we really don't have to do this." I pleaded with the stranger.

They pulled their arm back, and I flung my readied bricks at the exact moment toward their chest and head. The bricks missed their target, hitting the space this stranger once occupied. However, instead of charging me, the stranger was sprawled across the ground with their limbs spread and my companion forced against their back.

Berthold had an extra arm emerge from both sockets pinning the stranger to the stone street. As the stranger struggled, I noticed a letter, not a weapon, clutched in their right hand. I snatched the letter from their hand and read the first line.

"Bert, let them up."

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If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

Dear Mersault,

Not a day goes by that our family doesn't think about our needle knight. I hope all is going well, but I know that's not the case based on what I've been hearing. Destabilizing another major city, really?

Despite this, I am encouraged to reach out to you and offer you and any other companions you have safe harbor. The family has settled in the city of Cliffhome, and with our strong ties to the community, you should have no concerns for your safety.

Please visit, so we can have a chance to protect you,

Deanne Houst

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I pocketed the letter and helped the stranger back to their feet.

"Sorry about that," I said, dusting off their cloak. "We get so many people coming after us, I just assumed."

Bert pulled a coin out and offered it to the courier.

"I have not been commanded to take this," she responded, putting her hand out to reject the payment.

"Don't you normally receive tips?" I asked.

The courier stared blankly in response before turning away from the two of us and heading back to the city's main street. Bert and I shared a concerned look before I handed him the letter to confer.

"...and that's the gist of it." Bert conveyed Deanne's message to the group from the comfort of our quarters.

Our group had found temporary residence from the city's Voyager post. It was less luxurious than my former quarters inside Dulcrois, but I could come and go as I pleased, so it was definitely preferred. The place was simple enough, four rooms with beds attached to a larger room with a table and chairs. Each of us roomed separately, aside from Leif, who preferred to sleep on our balcony to, as he put it, 'like feel the breeze.' I assumed it had more to do with his habit needing a well-ventilated area.

"Gah! We're finally getting set up somewhere not boring as hell, and you two want to leave?!" Gemma hung upside down from a beam running across the ceiling.

"This place isn't safe. We knew when we arrived that Aramaz followers or bounty hunters would force us out eventually. We're following an opportunity instead of reacting," Berthold said. "Anyone who wants to stay is welcome to."

"No way, man, no reason not to tag along," Leif said between coughing fits.

"Nothing is keeping me here," Nev replied, easing the queasiness in my stomach.

The four of us looked toward Gemma, who shrugged in response.

"Fine, but all of you owe me. But gimme a couple hours. I got some things to settle." Gemma replied, dashing out of our quarters in a blur.

Bert began packing up his books spread across almost every surface of our living quarters. While Leif headed to his 'room' on our balcony. Nev headed toward the front door. Bert shot me a look and nudged his head in their direction.

"Oh, hey Nev, wait."

They paused in the doorway, shooting me a quizzical look.

"Where are you headed?" I asked.

"There are some things I have to do before we leave."

"You mind if I tag along?"

They shrugged in response, so I followed behind, shooting a double thumbs up to Bert, still watching our interaction.

"Be quick about it!" He yelled after us.

I followed Nev to the southernmost point of Reinmont. The city grew uphill primarily and to the north, leaving abandoned buildings dotted along the city's southern outskirts. As we passed by these structures, Nev reached into their bag, grabbing handfuls of seeds and flinging them in every direction.

"Have you found anything out about the seed yet?"

"Not yet," Nev replied, focusing their attention away from our conversation.

We had passed through six cities since we fled Dulcrois, and not a single person had any information about their iridescent seed. They kept their composure well, but I could tell it was something Nev wanted answers to.

"We'll find something soon, I'm sure," I said, trying to comfort her.

My mind immediately thought of the Exotic Skill: Immaculate Pursuit I had seen earlier that day. Broke had explained it as tracking abilities cranked up to eleven, as if gut impulses and psychic energy fused to form a human bloodhound.

"We'll see," they replied as if they were getting bored of the conversation.

"Yeah," I replied, unsure how to approach my desired topic. "So we haven't really talked about it since the vault in Dulcrois, but..."

They stopped throwing seeds and faced my direction. I immediately felt my face flush, and all my nervous energy returned.

"Well, it's just..." I sputtered.

"Guys!" Leif's voice called from overhead. "Snake dudes found us. We gotta bail!"