The forest rustled; branches and leaves crunched under footsteps, heavy breathing and occasional shouts filled the surroundings. The sun rose high in the sky, casting its golden glow over the forests below. It was dawn no longer. Brandon, Beric and the remaining four Kynodesmai rushed through the trees and bushes. Their weapons bloodied, skin scarred. The man wearing no helmet was hot on their trail. “Don’t lose them!” His voice rang out; his companions followed, their swords drawn and also bloodied. One of the bulkier Kynodesmai took a deep breath and turned around, planting his feet firmly into the ground. “Remember me.” The remaining gritted their teeth and continued forward. Beric’s hand clenched against his sword as he muttered through his ragged breath. “I will.”

  He shouted, his voice filling the entire forest, startling the nearby birds and animals. The ambushers attacked; he blocked a few, missed a few, but he stopped them in their tracks. The man, bulkier and taller than Brandon, swung his battleaxe with one arm; his other grabbing two ambushers at once. His weapon’s edge cut through the gaps in their armor. Their swords cutting his flesh, stabbing his innards, but he moved, kept moving, a smile etched on his face. The man wearing no helmet gripped the hilt of his sword, tilting his head. “Is this your honor?” He asked, but before the Kynodesmai could respond, the man’s sword sliced through his neck. “Foolish.”

  His gaze narrowed in Beric and Brandon’s direction. “After them.” He said, and his men began their chase. He glanced down at the Kynodesmai’s rolling head, his smile still present, then back up and he rushed after his men.

  Back in Jade, the people, unaware of the happenings just outside the city, continued browsing through the market goods. Over on the other edge of Jade, Ray stood facing Mei Zhi, his hair bloodied, the shards of glass still in his flesh. Mei Zhi let out a sigh, shaking her head. “Get your wounds checked.” Ray, tilting his head, looked at her, then nodded, and they both made their way towards the Nyxia Academy. On their way, they didn’t speak another word. Silence filled the air, their footsteps surrounding them. The sun continued its ascent high in the sky, its light brightening. At the gate of Nyxia, Charlotte Moonschilde spotted them and rushed towards them. She pointed at Ray, her eyes narrowed. “What are you doing out here? You should be in the dungeon.” Mei Zhi blinked, remembering his actions back at the arena, Augustus’ words, and turned to look at him.

  Ray let out a loud sigh and pointed at the Nyxia armband. Charlotte’s eyes narrowed further, her hand lowering. “How do I know you didn’t just escape and steal that armband to deceive us?” A frown appeared on his face, and he crossed his arms. “Are you saying Lunaria’s guards are incompetent enough to let me, a child, escape?” Her jaw clenched, but she took a deep breath. “Do not twist my words, you rabid scum. Why shouldn’t I doubt you when you look like that? Bloodied and injured.”

  Footsteps closed in on them; a bespectacled man, rather muscular, halted near. “Calm down, Charlotte. The headmaster grants him permission for treatment.” She let out the breath she held, turning around she glanced at the balcony where she met Charles’ gaze. She then looked at the bespectacled man. “I understand,” and walked away. He shook his head and smiled at Ray and Mei Zhi. Placing his palm on his chest, he said, “She is passionate about laws and traditions, and as such she crosses lines.” He adjusted his glasses and looked to his right. “You will find a doctor to the right, upstairs.” Ray gave him a nod and walked towards the doctor’s chambers. Mei Zhi followed, but the bespectacled man stopped her. She frowned at him, and he raised his arms, smiling. “You can meet him later.” Her frown vanished, and she nodded, leaning against the wall. “You don’t have a problem if I stay here, right?” The man shook his head and turned around. “Make yourself comfortable.” He whistled a soft tune as he strode inside the academy building.

  The wind flew by; the sun continued rising in the sky. The students of Nyxia slowly exited their dorms, gathering into groups. They moved on with their day, not even sparing Mei Zhi a glance. She stood leaning, her arms crossed. Time passed, and the crowd of apprentices grew. Ray finally walked out, his head and right arm covered in bandages. His hair was now no longer bloody, but rather wet. The Nyxia apprentices’ gazes hardened over him; some muttered curses under their breath. Ray ignored them, filtering out their whispers, and walked towards Mei Zhi. He halted before and stared at her. A frown formed on her face as she straightened. “What do you want?”

  This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

  He took a deep breath, closing his eyes for a moment. “I need your help with something.” She tilted her head, waiting for him to continue. “Augustus has tasked me with finding a traitor in his court.” Her eyes widened. “What? Why?” she asked, her head still tilted. “In return he will pardon me.” Her eyes then narrowed. “But you’re out now, can’t you just escape?”

  “You want me to become a fugitive?”

  Her lips curled into a smile. “Why not?” Ray let out a deep breath, shaking his head. “So, will you help me?” she took a long pause, her gaze lowering. Maybe I can find something related to Augustus… After a moment, she looked up at him. “Alright, I’ll help.”

  He gave her a nod and walked out the gate. “Follow me. We have someone to meet.” Her eyes remained narrowed, but she followed him without questions. They walked along the dirt road, silence covering their surroundings. Afternoon fell over them once they reached Jade. The markets were now even more crowded than they were at night. Ray led Mei Zhi through the crowd and stalls as the smell of spices, flowers and other items surrounded them. The people haggled, the merchants bargained, their voices loud. He entered an alleyway, the voices fading behind them. After a while, they reached a desolate open courtyard. Ray turned to Mei Zhi as he took a seat on a nearby rock. “She’ll be here soon. Let’s wait.”

  Meanwhile, outside Jade, to the east, along the river, Brandon knelt to wash his face. Blood twirled through the stream, flowing down the river. Beric and the Kynodesmai sat, their breaths uneven, their gazes lowered. Brandon stood, taking a deep breath. “Let’s keep moving.” Beric stood, patted the shoulders of his men, and they all rushed into the forest near them. Not long after they left, the ambushers arrived at the river. The man wearing no helmet looked around, his ears listening to every sound. “There, in the forest.” He said, rushing ahead. His men followed; the leaves rustled; branches cracked under the weight of their steps.

  Further ahead, Brandon clicked his tongue. “He’s onto us again.” Beric’s hand clenched around the hilt of his sword, and he halted. “Iron Fist, you go ahead. We will hold them off.”

  Brandon turned around. “Don’t be foolish. You’ll get slaughtered.”

  Beric didn’t listen to his words; he looked into his men’s eyes, his legs shaking. “We, the Kynodesmai—” His voice hitched. “Value time, money, and honor. This is our time to fight honorably for the money’s worth.” The Kynodesmai’s breaths steadied, their grips tightening. They turned their backs toward Brandon. Beric laughed, his shaky voice ringing through the forest. “Go ahead, Iron Fist. We will stop them.”

  Just then, ambushers jumped out of the foliage. Brandon’s jaw clenched, and he rushed through the forest. “Don’t die, Beric.”

  A smirk traced Beric’s lips, raising his sword as Brandon’s footsteps faded into the noises of the forest. The man wearing no helmet tilted his head. “Are you prepared to die?” He received no reply, as Beric and the Kynodesmai just smiled at him. He shook his head. “Kill them.” As soon as the words left his mouth, the ambushers jumped at Beric and his men, their swords clashing. Blood scattered all over, covering the trees, the dirt, and the men. One by one the Kynodesmai breathed their last breaths, but not without taking down two or more of the ambushers. The man wearing no helmet watched, his gaze fixed on Beric, who swung his sword. Then a sword pierced Beric’s chest from the back, blood trickling down its edge. He glanced over his shoulder, his smile wavering when he spotted the scar-lipped man.

  Beric fell to his knees, the sword still in his chest. He looked at the man with no helmet, his smile still tracing his lips as he slumped to the ground. The scar-lipped man walked over to him. “Finally he’s dead, honor this honor that, how un-”

  Sunlight shone in his eyes, reflecting off the man’s blade as it sliced through his neck. Blood spurted out, and his head landed on the ground, his eyes still alive, only for a moment. The man wearing no helmet closed his eyes, his ears focusing. His eyes opened, his hand clenching around the hilt of his sword, and then he let go, clicking his tongue and glancing down at Beric’s lifeless body. “Brandon escaped thanks to you, mercenary.” He let out a long breath, wiping the blood off his sword. “I, Marcus, shall remember you as a man who clung onto honor even while facing death.”

  He turned around. “Let’s retreat. We don’t want our vice-headmaster getting impatient.”