We ran.
Not in formation.
Not clean.
Just as fast as possible.
As fast as our bodies would allow.
My lungs burned, cold air cutting into my throat with every breath. Snow crunched under our feet, the sound too loud in the silence of the slum. I forced my legs to move faster, ignoring the weight in them, ignoring the ache.
I looked back.
They were there.
Still chasing.
Not panicked.
Not rushing blindly.
They moved like hunters.
Measured. Controlled. Certain.
"They're still behind us," I said, my voice low but tight.
"We're faster," Theo replied, almost casually, even as he sprinted. "For now."
That didn't help.
We cut into another alley.
Then another.
Then another.
Spiro led without hesitation, turning sharply at every intersection, choosing the narrowest paths, the least predictable routes. We jumped over broken fences, slid past debris, and pushed through tight gaps between buildings.
Anything to break the line of sight.
Anything to confuse them.
My heart was pounding too fast.
Too loud.
It echoed in my ears…
Thump.
Thump.
Thump.
For a moment…
It overlapped with something else.
A memory.
Running.
Again.
Not like this.
But similar.
Smoke.
Screams.
Frans' voice…
"Don't stop."
I blinked hard.
No.
Not now.
I forced my focus back.
"Left," I said quickly. "Dead end ahead."
Spiro adjusted instantly.
We cut right instead, slipping into a narrower alley barely wide enough for two people.
Behind us…
Footsteps.
They are still there.
Still chasing us.
"They're not losing us," Margaretha said, her breath uneven.
"They don't need to," Theo replied. "They just need to follow."
"Not helpful," she snapped.
"They're organized," Robert added. "Too organized."
We turned again.
Another alley.
Another jump.
Another sprint.
Then…
Silence.
No footsteps.
No presence.
I scanned.
Nothing.
"They stopped," I said.
No one slowed immediately.
We kept running for a few more turns.
Then…
Spiro raised his hand.
We stopped.
Breathing hard.
Listening.
Nothing.
"…we got away," Margaretha whispered.
Theo let out a short breath. "Or they let us go."
No one liked that answer.
Spiro turned slightly.
"Move," he said. "We leave the slum."
We didn't argue.
We walked now.
Not running.
Trying to blend.
Trying to look like shadows instead of prey.
Snowfall grew heavier, covering the ground quickly.
Good.
It hid our tracks.
I looked back one more time.
Nothing.
No movement.
No presence.
We were clear.
Or so it seemed.
"Stop."
My voice came out sharper than I intended.
Everyone froze.
"There are assassins ahead."
Spiro's gaze shifted forward.
"How many?"
"Four… maybe five."
A pause.
"…dense mana."
We didn't wait.
Spiro gestured, and we immediately detoured into another narrow alley.
We moved quietly this time.
Carefully.
I scanned again.
"…another group ahead."
Theo let out a soft whistle. "That's not ideal."
We changed direction again.
Another turn.
Another alley.
"…another one."
My voice tightened.
We stopped again.
Spiro's expression darkened slightly.
"Direction?"
I pointed.
We moved.
Again.
"…another."
This time, frustration slipped through.
My chest tightened.
The air felt heavier.
Too many.
Too close.
Too organized.
Theo glanced at me briefly. "Your eyes are working overtime."
"…shut up," I muttered.
He smirked faintly. "No, really. This is the first time I'm actually glad you see everything."
Not helpful.
But also…
True.
I scanned again.
"Another group."
This time, my voice was low.
Controlled.
But inside…
Something was breaking.
Too many directions.
Too many signals.
My vision kept shifting.
Tracking.
Counting.
Predicting.
My head started to hurt.
Not physically.
Something deeper.
Every shadow looked like movement.
Every movement looked like death.
"We're surrounded," Theo said finally.
Not a guess.
A conclusion.
Spiro didn't deny it.
We moved quickly into an abandoned hut nearby.
Broken walls.
Collapsed roof.
Barely cover.
But enough.
For now.
Margaretha leaned against the wall, breathing hard. "Should we hide here?"
Her voice carried something I hadn't heard in a while.
Fear.
Spiro shook his head immediately.
"No."
He crouched slightly, thinking.
"If we stay, they will tighten the circle."
"They'll form search patterns," he continued. "It becomes harder to escape over time."
Theo nodded. "He's right. This isn't a hide-and-wait situation."
"Then what?" Margaretha asked.
Spiro looked at all of us.
"We break through."
Silence.
"We ambush one group," he continued. "Make it look like we're discovered."
"Then split and escape."
Agni frowned slightly. "Split…?"
"Yes. Smaller targets are harder to track."
Pritha quietly grabbed Agni's hand.
"…we stay together," she said softly.
Spiro didn't argue.
"Fine. You two together. But no large flames."
Agni nodded.
"We don't want to be tracked," Spiro added.
Then he turned to me.
"Rick. Full scan."
I nodded.
Closed my eyes for a brief second.
Then opened them fully.
Everything sharpened.
Expanded.
The world changed.
Mana signatures lit up in every direction.
"…more than thirty," I said slowly.
The number settled heavily.
"There are four… stronger ones."
I focused.
"…as dense as Seyren."
That changed everything.
Spiro's jaw tightened slightly.
That meant…
We weren't just being hunted.
We were being targeted.
"They're moving in groups," I continued. "Four to five each."
I pointed in different directions, mapping them out.
"Which one is the closest?" Spiro asked.
"And the weakest," Theo added.
"And farthest from the four strong ones," Spiro finished.
I scanned again.
Carefully.
Filtering.
Calculating.
"…that way."
I pointed to the left.
"Four members. Lower density. The nearest strong group is farther than the others."
Spiro nodded.
"Good."
He stood.
Fast and Decisive.
"Agni, Pritha. Stay controlled. No large fire."
They nodded.
"Theo, with me. We go through the shadow."
Theo grinned faintly. "Finally, my kind of work."
"Robert," Spiro continued, "focus on defense."
Robert nodded.
"Rick. Margaretha. Don't be reckless."
I didn't answer.
Margaretha gave a small nod.
"Move."
We stepped out.
Silent.
Fully controlled our mana.
Every movement is deliberate.
I scanned constantly.
Tracking.
Adjusting.
My heartbeat was too loud again.
Thump.
Thump.
Thump.
Every shadow felt alive.
Every corner felt like a trap.
My grip on the sword tightened.
Too tight.
I forced it to loosen.
Focus.
Just focus.
We approached the target group.
Four figures.
Waiting.
Watching.
They hadn't noticed us yet.
Or maybe…
They had.
I couldn't tell anymore.
That uncertainty…
It was worse than anything.
Spiro raised his hand slightly.
Signal.
We spread.
Ready.
The air froze.
Time slowed.
For a moment…
Everything went silent.
Then…
We moved.