Ryu looks over at me. "Are you alright?" he asks, seeing me cover my face with one hand.

  I give him a thumbs-up, feeling the sting of the cut across my left cheek and nose ridge. "I'll manage," I reply, trying to sound more confident than I feel.

  Apollo approaches, placing his shield and spear on his back. He reaches into his pouch of holdings and retrieves a cylindrical container. Gently, he moves my hand aside and sprays a faint mist over the wound. I turn away, grunting in pain as my wound begins to hurt badly.

  "It will sting, but the wound will close up," Apollo explains, handing me a strip of green cloth.

  "Thanks," I say, accepting the cloth and pressing it against the cut. Apollo puts away the cylinder and moves to check on Ryu and Nikko. The leader, still pinned to the tree, grunts and struggles, but to no avail.

  Nikko assures Ryu she is fine, though she clings to him tightly. "Papa, are you okay?" she asks, her voice trembling.

  Ryu nods, gently patting her head. "I'm alright, sweetheart. Now, I need you to go with Apollo for a bit, out of view. Cover your ears, okay?"

  "But I want to stay with you," Nikko protests, her eyes wide with worry.

  "This won't take long, and I don't want you to see this," Ryu assures her. He gestures to Apollo to take her behind a thick tree. She nods reluctantly, taking Apollo's hand as he leads her a short distance away. I can still see them, but they are out of direct sight.

  I approach Ryu as he turns his attention back to the leader, who is still pinned against the nearby tree, his face twisted in fear and pain. Ryu's arm remains outstretched, his voice calm but full of authority. "You will answer a series of questions," he says, his tone leaving no room for negotiation. "And you will answer them truthfully. My daughter's life was threatened, and I'm not in the best mood. Lie to me or refuse, and this will happen."

  Ryu twists his hand ever so slightly, and the leader begins to grunt and cry out, writhing against the unseen force constricting him. His cries grow louder, his body jerking as if the very air around him is suffocating him with pain. Just as suddenly, Ryu releases his grip, and the leader gasps, slumping against the tree, his face contorted in agony.

  "That was just a one on the pain scale. You do not want to experience a ten," Ryu warns coldly, his gaze unwavering.

  The leader gulps audibly, his wide eyes darting nervously between Ryu and the rest of us.

  Ryu steps forward, his voice quiet but menacing. "How did you find us?"

  "I-I don't know!" the leader stammers, his voice shaky. Before he can get another word out, Ryu's hand twists again, and the leader cries out, his body wracked with pain. His grunts echo through the clearing, making me glance uneasily at Ryu.

  "Try again," Ryu says, releasing the pressure once more.

  The leader gasps, trembling. "A man—yesterday! He came to us, wearing a black cloak! His face, it was hidden in shadows. He showed us your wanted poster, said where we could intercept you," he blurts out, his words coming in panicked breaths. "We didn't believe him at first. But... but the more he spoke, the more sense it made. I don't know why, but he just—he convinced us!"

  Ryu's eyes narrow, his jaw tightening. "What did this man look like?" he asks.

  The leader shakes his head frantically. "I-I don't know! His face was obscured by the hood, and his cloak covered everything. He never showed his face... I swear!"

  I can feel the tension rise in Ryu. His eyes bore into the leader, trying to gauge if there's any hint of deceit. The leader, trembling uncontrollably now, pleads desperately, "I'm telling the truth! I swear I don't know who he was or how he knew where you'd be!"

  Ryu exhales sharply, clearly frustrated by the lack of useful information. He holds the leader's gaze for a long moment, then twists his hand again. The leader's body goes limp, slumping forward as Ryu releases the hold.

  I take a small step forward. "Did you...?" I start to ask, my heart racing.

  "No," Ryu replies, shaking his head. "Just knocked him out."

  I let out a soft breath of relief, grateful that he didn't kill the man so coldly. There's a heaviness in the air as Ryu turns to face me, his eyes still clouded with frustration.

  I glance down at the unconscious leader. "That man in the cloak... do you think—?"

  "Possibly," Ryu mutters grimly, his gaze hardening as the pieces fall into place.

  We walk over to the large tree where Nikko and Apollo wait. Nikko jumps up and rushes over to us. "What happened?" she asks, eyes wide.

  "I questioned him, then knocked him out," Ryu says gently.

  Nikko looks a little relieved. "Are we safe now?"

  "We are but we have to leave now," He tells her.

  Apollo approaches Ryu, his posture as calm and composed as ever, though there's a distinct sense of urgency in his voice. "Did you obtain any useful information?" he asks, his monotone voice somehow managing to carry a hint of concern.

  Ryu shakes his head, frustration clear in his features. "Not much I'm afraid. They were hired by a man in a black cloak. Somehow, he knew exactly where we'd be and at what time, but how he knew that... I don't know."

  Apollo's head tilts slightly, his mechanical eyes narrowing as he processes this information. "Perhaps we are being watched," he suggests, his voice even. "The Shadowfell can enter minds, correct? Perhaps it has gathered followers, spies even, and is watching our every move."

  Ryu stiffens at the thought, his eyes scanning the surrounding forest as if trying to catch a glimpse of an unseen enemy. His hand tightens around the hilt of his sword, his senses heightened. I too feel a chill run down my spine, and I instinctively grip the handles of my short swords, my eyes darting from tree to tree, searching for any sign that we're not alone.

  Nikko clutches at Ryu's cloak, her eyes wide with a mix of fear and confusion. "Papa, are we being watched?" she asks, her voice barely a whisper, her cat-like ears drooping low.

  Ryu glances down at her, his face softening as he places a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "I don't know, sweety," he says quietly, though his eyes remain sharp, scanning the area.

  Apollo stands perfectly still, his gaze sweeping across the treetops and underbrush. "If the Shadowfell has followers, they could be hidden anywhere, waiting for the right moment to strike," he says.

  The forest around us is eerily silent, save for the occasional rustling of leaves in the breeze. Shadows stretch long across the ground, but nothing moves, nothing stirs that would indicate we are being watched. And yet, the feeling that we are not alone is overwhelming.

  I swallow hard, trying to shake off the growing sense of paranoia gnawing at me. But it's impossible not to feel exposed, vulnerable. Ryu's face is unreadable, but I can sense the tension in him, the way he holds himself, ready for anything.

  ?????

  We approach the wreckage of the speeder bike, a twisted mess of metal. The sidecar is smashed, and the wagon is flung into a tree, its chassis bent and twisted.

  "Looks like we're on foot from here," Ryu says with a heavy sigh.

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  DP-7, who has been hovering over the wreckage, beeps in delight and flies towards us, checking on each of us. From the corner of my eye, I spot a crow perched on a tree branch, watching us intently. A shiver runs down my spine.

  Ryu concentrates, his hand hovering over the wrecked speeder bike. I watch as the parts begin to glow softly, shimmering in the dim light. One by one, each piece, along with the sidecar and wagon components, transforms into white orbs of mana. They float in the air for a brief moment before zipping into his pouch of holding, disappearing without a trace.

  Apollo and I stand silently, taking it all in. Nikko, wide-eyed with wonder, clutches the edge of my tunic, her gaze fixed on the glowing orbs as they vanish. With each part absorbed, the wreckage clears away, leaving the forest floor empty once more, as if the speeder had never been there at all.

  "Why did you do that, Papa?" Nikko asks, clinging to his leg.

  "The speeder bike was beyond repair. No one must not get their hands on such technology, so I put it away," Ryu explains, brushing a strand of hair from her face.

  We then head off, leaving the crash site and the unconscious leader behind. I look up and spot the same crow taking off from a nearby tree branch. It caws loudly, and several more crows approach from the towering trees, following it in a dark, fluttering cloud. A sense of unease washes over me. Have those birds been watching us? I wonder, a shiver running down my spine. DP-7 lands on Ryu's shoulders and we leave.

  We set of deeper into the forest, its canopy darkening with the setting sun. The shadows lengthen and stretch across the path, and the air grows cooler. Our footsteps crunch on dead leaves and twigs, the sound unnervingly loud in the eerie silence. The forest is oddly quiet—no birds singing, no insects buzzing, no small critters scurrying. The absence of life is unsettling, making the atmosphere thick with tension.

  The forest is becoming dimmer with each passing minute, and thoughts of setting up camp begin to cross my mind. I glance at Ryu, hoping he might call for a halt, but he keeps pressing on, his expression set and determined. I notice he looks around constantly, as if expecting something.

  Suddenly, Ryu raises his hand, signaling for us to stop. "Hide behind the trees," he whispers, urgency in his voice.

  We quickly find cover behind the thick trunks of the towering trees. Nikko stays close to Ryu, her eyes wide with fear. The air is thick with tension, broken only by the sound of my own breathing. I want to ask Ryu what's happening, but then I hear it—footsteps and shouting, getting closer.

  Peeking out from behind the tree, I see dozens of soldiers moving through the forest. Their armor gleams in the torchlight, each one bearing the emblem of Eldoria: a fierce griffin in a pouncing stance, wings spread wide as if ready to strike. The flames from their torches flicker, casting long, menacing shadows across the forest floor as they sweep the area, their expressions hard and determined.

  "They went this way! Keep searching!" one soldier shouts, his torch lighting up the surrounding trees. I see him gesturing towards our hiding spot. Heart pounding, I press myself against the trunk, holding my breath.

  Ryu holds Nikko close, covering her mouth gently and signaling her to remain quiet. She nods, tears brimming in her eyes. Several soldiers pass right by us, their torches illuminating the forest floor. I watch as Ryu lifts his hand and makes a quick motion. The torches go out, plunging the area into near darkness, with only the faintest light from the setting sun filtering through the trees.

  Suddenly, the ground beneath me gives way. I fall into darkness but land gently, the impact softened by Ryu's control of the fall. A small flame appears above his finger, illuminating our surroundings. We are beneath the ground, hidden away. Nikko clings to Ryu, still frightened. Apollo stands beside me, silent and vigilant.

  Footsteps and muffled voices echo from above. "What happened?" one soldier asks.

  "The torches went out is all," another responds.

  "You fool! One of them can control fire. They must be nearby. Search the area. They must not be far," the first soldier commands.

  "Yes, sir," several soldiers reply in unison.

  I feel my heart pounding in my chest. How did they know where we were? I dare not speak, fearing the soldiers might hear us. Time seems to crawl as we listen to the footsteps and shouts above us. The tension is palpable, the fear almost suffocating. We wait for so long; I begin to drift off.

  ?????

  Ryu gently taps my shoulder, waking me from a restless sleep. I look around frantically, momentarily disoriented, but then remember where we are. He waves his hand, and the ceiling opens up and the ground moves upward and us onto the surface. Sunlight filters through the branches, blinding me for a moment. We must have been down there all night.

  "Where are the soldiers?" I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

  "They left some time ago," Ryu whispers back, holding Nikko in his arms. She rests on his shoulders, her arms limp over his back, still asleep.

  Suddenly, loud cawing breaks the silence. I look up to see a crow cawing and flapping its wings. Ryu raises his left arm, and a red blaster bolt shoots from his glove, hitting the bird. It explodes in a puff of feathers and smoke. The noise startles Nikko awake, and she looks around, frightened.

  More cawing echoes through the forest, and arrows start flying towards us, narrowly missing. Apollo grabs his shield and spear, ready to fight.

  "Run!" Ryu shouts, picking up Nikko and carrying her on his back. We sprint through the forest, arrows whizzing past us, the cawing of crows echoing in our ears.

  "There they are!" a male voice shouts behind us. I hear heavy footsteps, leaves rustling, and twigs snapping. I glance back and see dozens of soldiers pursuing us, some with bows drawn, releasing arrows in our direction.

  The forest is a blur as we weave through the trees, trying to evade our pursuers. The ground is uneven, and I struggle to keep my footing. The air is filled with the sounds of pursuit—the soldiers' shouts, the rustling of leaves, the snap of twigs underfoot. My heart races, and I can hear Nikko's frightened whimpers.

  Ryu leads us with determined speed, his focus unwavering. I stay close, trying to match his pace. The arrows continue to fly, some striking the trees around us, others narrowly missing their marks. The cawing of the crows is a constant, eerie accompaniment to our flight.

  As we continue running through the forest, arrows zip past us, their whistling sound adding to the tension. Suddenly, soldiers step out from behind the trees ahead, swords drawn, blocking our path. We come to an abrupt halt. I draw my short swords, ready for the inevitable fight. Ryu stomps on the ground, and with a powerful gesture, boulders rise from the earth, crashing into several soldiers and sending them flying.

  The remaining soldiers charge, and I move to the forefront, my movements swift and precise. The first soldier reaches me, and I block his sword with one blade, ready to strike with the second. Before I can thrust forward, a blue ring of energy shoots past me, hitting the soldier square in the chest. He collapses, unconscious.

  "Don't kill them," Ryu shouts, his tone firm but calm. "Just knock them out."

  I pause for a split second, confused by his decision, but quickly understand. We don't want to give them more reasons to believe we are the villains they assume us to be. Nodding in acknowledgment, I turn my attention back to the fight. The second soldier charges at me, and I block his strike with both blades, pushing him back. A third soldier closes in, but before he can reach me, Apollo's spear pierces the air with a mighty swing, striking the soldier on the side of his chest and sending him flying to the ground, unconscious. I disarm the second soldier with a quick flick of my wrist and knock him out with the hilt of my sword.

  With the soldiers ahead of us neutralized, we resume running. As we pass a massive tree, its trunk far thicker than the others, Ryu stops suddenly. He stretches his arm towards the tree, clenching his fist, and with a loud crack, the trunk begins to fall. Apollo and I take cover behind him, Apollo raising his shield to block the incoming arrows. The tree crashes down with a resounding thud, blocking the path for those still pursuing us. The relentless cawing of the black birds echoes around us, their presence unsettling.

  "The birds," I gasp to Ryu between breaths. "That's how they find us."

  "DP-7, take care of those black birds in the trees," Ryu commands. The droid beeps in acknowledgment and zips into the treetops. As we run, I hear the cries of the birds being silenced one by one. Soon, the cawing ceases entirely, and DP-7 returns to Ryu's shoulder, beeping proudly. "Well done, DP-7," Ryu says.

  We run for what feels like hours until we finally reach a clearing with a lake. Exhausted, we stop. My chest heaves from the exertion, each breath a struggle. Ryu sets Nikko down, and she looks visibly shaken.

  "What now?" I ask, struggling to catch my breath.

  "We take a small break and keep moving," Ryu says, his voice heavy with fatigue.

  "For how long?" I ask. "And where?"

  "To the elven kingdom. From what I've seen, the Shadowfell's influence hasn't reached them yet. We could lie low there and produce a plan to find and kill the Shadowfell," Ryu explains.

  "How far is the nearest elven city?" I inquire.

  Ryu manipulates his left glove, and a map of the area appears. "Very far," he says, zooming in on a village deep in the forest. "At this pace, we'll reach this village in six days."

  "Six days?" I repeat, disheartened. "We can't keep up with this, Ryu. We can't keep running."

  "I know," he responds. "However, my ship isn't far from here." He moves the map northward, stopping over the wreckage of a spacecraft. "About three days' walk from here. There's another speeder bike there, beaten up but fixable. If..."

  "If what, Ryu?" I press.

  "If the Shadowfell didn't anticipate this. It was in my head, after all. Soldiers might have been sent there to dismantle the ship, to take everything they can find."

  I feel a knot of worry tighten in my stomach. Nikko, still sniffling, looks up at Ryu with concern. "But I won't let them," he says with determination.

  "Me too," I say, my resolve matching his.

  Ryu nods. "Let's set up camp here and wash ourselves. We must reek after traversing those sewers and running so much."

  I take a moment to sniff my arm and immediately reel back from the intense stench. Nikko does the same and winces. "You and Nikko can go first. Apollo and I will check our surroundings, make sure there are no soldiers nearby," Ryu says.

  Apollo and Ryu separate from us, leaving Nikko and me by the lake. The forest around us grows darker as the sun continues to set, casting long shadows over the clearing. The air is still, and the surface of the lake reflects the fading light. I look around, feeling a moment of peace despite the chaos that brought us here.

  "Nikko," I say gently, "let's clean up and try to relax for a bit."

  She nods, still looking a bit shaken, and we make our way to the water's edge. The lake's surface is calm, the water clear and inviting despite the somber mood.