The moment Leo stepped beyond the castle gates, the cold night air wrapped around him like a warning.
But he didn't stop.
Didn't hesitate.
He walked forward—alone.
*****
The city was alive, yet distant.
Lanterns flickered across the streets, casting long shadows that stretched and twisted along the cobblestone roads. Laughter echoed from somewhere far away, mixed with music and drunken chatter.
But to Leo—
Everything felt muted.
Empty.
"I never thought finding a tavern would be this hard…"
He muttered under his breath, irritation building with every step.
He had been wandering for what felt like hours.
Every street looked the same.
Every turn led nowhere.
Worse—
He had to avoid the constables and royal guards.
Twice, he had already spotted patrol units sweeping through the streets.
If they caught him, he'd be dragged straight back to the castle.
And right now—
That was the last thing he wanted.
*****
Leo slipped into a dense crowd, blending in as best as he could.
His eyes scanned the people around him.
Elves.
Dwarves.
Gnomes.
Different races moved together in a chaotic rhythm, talking, laughing, arguing—living their lives.
Meanwhile, Leo felt like a stranger in his own world.
He approached a passerby.
"Excuse me, where's the nearest tavern?"
Ignored.
Another.
"Do you know where the tavern is?"
A glance.
Recognition.
Then silence.
They walked away.
Some knew him.
Some didn't.
But none answered.
Leo clenched his fists.
"…Damn it."
Up ahead—
A constable.
Leo's eyes sharpened.
Without hesitation, he shifted his posture, lowering his head and merging deeper into the crowd, using taller figures to block himself from view.
The constable passed.
Leo exhaled slowly.
"That was close…"
His patience was running thin.
"Where the hell are you…" he muttered, frustration seeping into his voice.
*****
"Aye… you."
Leo stopped.
Two men stood a few steps away, watching him.
Their eyes lingered on his face.
Recognition.
"Aren't you the King's son?" one of them said with a crooked grin.
Leo didn't react much.
"I heard you're looking for a tavern."
"…Yeah," Leo replied coldly.
The second man stepped forward and casually placed a hand on Leo's shoulder.
Leo immediately brushed it off.
"Don't touch me."
The man chuckled.
"Relax. We know where it is."
"Follow us."
Leo hesitated for a fraction of a second.
But his anger clouded his judgment.
"…Fine."
*****
They led him away from the main streets.
The noise of the city slowly faded behind them.
The lights grew dimmer.
The path narrower.
Until—
They entered an alley.
Dark.
Silent.
Empty.
Only the sound of their footsteps echoed between the walls.
Leo's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Are you sure this is the right way?"
"Yeah," one of them replied casually. "Just calm down."
Leo stopped walking.
Something felt wrong.
Too quiet.
Too isolated.
He looked ahead.
A dead end.
His expression darkened.
"…I see."
But before he could react—
BAM!
A fist slammed into his face.
The force sent him crashing to the ground.
Pain exploded across his jaw.
"Why are you so damn dumb?" the man sneered.
"Come out, boys. Jackpot's here."
Shadows shifted.
From the darkness—
Figures emerged.
One.
Two.
Five.
Ten.
They surrounded him.
Weapons gleamed faintly under the dim light—sticks, blades… and one of them—
Was gathering Sundane Force.
Leo wiped the blood from the corner of his lip as he slowly stood.
"…I knew it."
His fists clenched.
"I just realized too late."
*****
They rushed him.
Fast.
Aggressive.
Two attacked first.
Leo moved instantly.
He deflected one strike, twisted his body, and dodged the second. His movements were sharp, trained—far beyond ordinary.
Three more lunged at him.
Leo stepped back, ducked under a swing, and countered with a punch to the gut—dropping one.
But they didn't stop.
More came.
Again.
Again.
Again.
Nine attackers.
At once.
Leo's breathing grew heavier as he weaved through their attacks, parrying, dodging—barely keeping up.
"They're coordinated…" he realized.
Then—
His eyes caught something.
The tenth man.
Standing behind.
Charging.
Flames gathered in his palm.
"Fire element…"
Leo's expression hardened.
"Damn it."
The pressure intensified.
He managed to knock out another.
Then another.
But—
It wasn't enough.
Two thugs grabbed his arms from behind.
"Got you!"
Leo struggled.
"Let go!"
But it was too late.
The mage smirked.
"Burn."
"No—!"
A blast of fire erupted.
It struck Leo directly—
Sending him flying across the alley.
He slammed into the wall and collapsed.
Pain surged through his entire body.
His clothes were scorched.
His vision blurred.
Before he could recover—
They were on him.
Kicks.
Blows.
Relentless.
Each hit drove the air out of his lungs.
"Should we take him alive?"
"Yeah, ransom him!"
"Or torture him first!"
Their voices blurred together.
Leo tried to rise—
But his body refused.
*****
Clink.
A metallic sound echoed.
The thugs froze.
A dagger.
Stuck into the ground.
"…What?"
Then—
Clink. Clink. Clink.
More daggers.
Dozens.
Embedding into the stone around them.
"Who's there?!" one shouted.
A shadow flickered.
The mage reacted instantly, raising his hand—
"Die!"
Fire gathered—
But—
THUD!
A dagger pierced his palm.
"AAARGH!"
The spell detonated prematurely.
An explosion erupted—throwing nearby thugs off their feet.
Smoke filled the alley.
*****
Silence.
Then—
Movement.
A blur.
A figure appeared—
Then vanished.
A thug was kicked to the ground.
Another turned—
Too slow.
A blade pierced his side.
"Wha—?!"
The figure disappeared again.
Reappeared.
Struck.
Vanished.
Again.
Again.
Again.
Leo could barely see through the smoke.
Only flashes.
Silhouettes.
Screams.
Bodies falling.
It was—
One-sided.
*****
When the smoke cleared—
Silence returned.
All ten thugs lay scattered across the ground.
Broken.
Unconscious.
Alive—
But defeated.
Leo pushed himself up, his body trembling.
He scanned the scene.
"…What the hell…"
"HEY!" he shouted. "Who are you?!"
No answer.
"…Hello?!"
He took a step—
WHOOSH!
A dagger flew past his face and struck the ground behind him.
Leo froze.
Then—
A presence.
Behind him.
Back to back.
A man stood there.
Dressed in black.
Hair black.
Eyes dark.
Even his aura felt… shadowed.
"Pathetic," the man said coldly.
Leo slowly turned.
"…Who are you?"
"Doesn't matter."
"Why did you save me?" Leo asked.
The man scoffed.
"Save you? Don't flatter yourself. I just happened to pass by."
Leo frowned.
"What are you talking about?"
"The trash on the ground?" the man gestured. "They're part of the Brusk Gang. One of the biggest in the city."
Leo's eyes narrowed.
"So… you're a constable?"
The man smirked slightly.
"No."
"I'm a bounty hunter."
"…So you sell them for money."
"Something like that."
Leo stepped forward slightly.
"I'm—"
"I know who you are, Prince."
Leo stopped.
The man's gaze sharpened.
"You're naive," he continued. "Trusting strangers like that? That'll get you killed."
Leo clenched his jaw.
"I'm not naive. I just need to find my father."
"Tch. Keep telling yourself that."
A pause.
"…Can you take me to the tavern?"
The man studied him for a moment.
Then—
"Fine."
"I saw the King earlier."
Leo's eyes widened slightly.
"…Really?"
"Yeah."
"Hold onto me."
Leo hesitated—but did it.
The man pulled out a dagger and stabbed it into the ground.
"What's that for?"
"I teleport through these."
Leo blinked.
"…That's insane."
"Yeah, yeah. Shut up."
In the next instant—
They vanished.
*****
They reappeared in front of a lively tavern.
Noise.
Laughter.
Music.
"We're here," the man said.
Leo looked around, stunned.
"…Already?"
"Emergency markers," the man shrugged.
Leo looked at him.
"…Thanks."
The man turned away.
"I'm leaving."
Leo nodded—
Then paused as the man spoke one last time.
"…Ethan."
And just like that—
He disappeared.
Leo blinked.
"…Oh."
"…Thanks, Ethan."
*****
Leo turned.
His eyes locked onto the tavern.
Light spilled from inside.
Voices echoed.
And somewhere in there—
His father.
Leo's expression hardened.
"So…"
"…you're here. Drinking."
Then—
He stepped forward.