After we ran into the alley, we quickly hid and watched as members of the control unit rushed past the streets.
For a moment, none of us spoke.
Then—
Ariam stepped forward.
She stretched out her hands toward Jayka's chains.
A soft blue glow appeared, slowly wrapping around the metal.
"…What is she doing?" I whispered.
The light tightened.
Shifted.
And then—
The chains… turned into doughnuts.
I blinked.
Once.
Twice.
"…I'm sorry," I said slowly. "Did we just turn prison chains into snacks?"
Jayka and I both stared at her in shock.
"…Is that reality swap magic?" Jayka asked.
She nodded calmly.
Jayka opened his mouth to ask another question—
"Don't," she said flatly.
He frowned.
Then, without another word…
He started eating the chains.
"…Of course he is," I muttered.
Within seconds, the entire "chain" was gone.
"…You were locked up for, what, a few hours?" I said. "Why are you eating like you just escaped a famine?"
No response.
Just chewing.
After a while, Ariam signaled for us to move.
We dashed out of the alley and into the town, keeping our heads low.
We ran through side streets, slipped behind buildings, and cut through narrow paths until we finally stopped—
Under a bridge.
"Okay," Ariam said.
She pulled out a large plastic bag.
"…No."
"Get in," she said, looking at Jayka.
"Why the hell would I get in there?!" he snapped. "You already helped us, so go home! It's getting late!"
Ariam didn't even react.
"Shut up," she said calmly. "You need to get in there. The control unit is looking for you."
She paused.
"And I'm coming to the Nilelands too. So zip it and get in."
Jayka slowly turned to me.
His face said everything.
What have you done?
I remembered what the officer said.
Familiars… obey their owners.
I looked at him seriously.
"…Yeah. She's right."
This felt powerful.
"You'd better get in that bag," I added, "or I'm heading to the Niles without you… with someone better."
Silence.
"…Better?" he muttered.
Uh-oh.
"So now she's better than me?" he continued. "Don't worry—I'm getting in. But we are definitely talking about this later."
Good.
Because I was not ready for that conversation.
He climbed into the bag, clearly furious.
I tried my best not to smile.
Because if I did—
I would die.
Ariam then pulled out two uniforms from her bag and handed one to me.
And that's when it hit me.
"…Wait," I said. "How are you carrying all this stuff?"
She looked at me like it was obvious.
"This is an infinite bag," she explained. "It can store anything. No matter how much you put in, it never fills up."
…
"I want one," I said immediately.
Then a thought crossed my mind.
"…Wait, why don't we just put Jayka in that bag?"
"HEY!" Jayka shouted from inside the plastic bag.
Ariam turned toward the bag instantly.
"Shut up, you rodent!" she snapped. "This is a trash bag. And you are the trash inside it. So be quiet unless you want to get us caught."
…
"…What?" Jayka yelled from inside. "I'M TRASH?! Who even are you?!"
I couldn't see his face, but I knew he was furious.
Ariam just smiled.
A very dangerous smile.
Then she turned to me.
"The uniform is for street cleaners," she explained. "We'll disguise ourselves and take him out as trash."
I nodded slowly.
"I have… borrowed IDs," she added casually. "We'll get into a cleaner's truck and leave Panaj. They're always allowed out."
…She's scary.
But also…
Kind of amazing.
Compared to her, I felt like a side character.
I stood up straight.
Like a soldier.
"Yes, sir."
She blinked.
Then smiled.
"I'm starting to like you."
…
My brain stopped.
A girl… said that to me.
I immediately turned away.
"…Focus," I whispered to myself, putting on the uniform.
We stepped back into the streets.
I carried Jayka.
In a trash bag.
What is my life?
Then suddenly—
"HEY! You guys!"
I froze.
We're caught.
I slowly turned around.
A man was pointing at a pile of trash near his door.
"…Take this too," he said.
…
Of course.
Ariam nodded at me.
I walked over.
Opened the bag.
"Stay quiet," I whispered to Jayka.
Then I picked up the trash…
And dropped it right on his face.
Tied the bag.
And walked away.
…
I felt a little bad.
Just a little.
But surprisingly—
He didn't complain.
Respect.
After walking for a while, Ariam pointed ahead.
"That's our ride."
I looked.
"…That's a box."
It was literally a box.
No wheels.
No logic.
"…I'm not even going to question it," I said.
We got in.
Ariam activated it.
And just like that—
It lifted into the air.
Of course it did.
It flew forward, not as high as the train, but still high enough to make me question reality again.
Ariam looked at me.
Smiling.
Excited.
"Into the Nilelands," she said.
Then she raised her voice—
"LET'S GO!"
And just like that…
We were officially on the run.