Chapter 344: The Path Ahead

Chapter 344: The Path Ahead

The sun was shining in the afternoon cloudy skies of the forest city of Undergrowth. Tens of thousands of residents and travelers alike were celebrating the Great Cities Tourneys finale and the festivities that followed. Yet their revelry and parties were cut short as the armies of Undergrowth stormed the streets; closing off the main roads and arresting and killing countless travelers.

In less than an hour the streets that had been filled with laughter, drink, and food, were now dyed red and brimming with screams of terror and the corpses of countless foreign commoners, merchants, and aristocrats alike.

Yet in one of the poorest of neighborhoods, on the outskirts of the city, the streets were not filled with the cries of the innocent or the unsuspecting, but with the blood and bodies of dozens of soldiers. Four Houses had sent their armies into the wretched neighborhood, a thousand soldiers had charged into the streets, and for an entire hour, they searched for a single target. And for an entire hour, they had failed

Loh dashed across the burning streets, agility magic flooding her muscles with enhanced speed and lessened weight. Her chest burned from the overuse of magic. Her skin was drenched in sweat and her lungs ached with exhaustion, but still, she ran.

The shouts of enemy soldiers echoed behind her.

Loh kept her grey hood up, obscuring her face, and ran into a closed alleyway. She reached into her pocket and wrapped her hand around the enemys tracking charm.nove(l)bi(n.)com

Loh smiled to herself, Come and get me, you bastards.

A company of soldiers spotted her cloaked figure and shouted with pointed fingers before they charged into the alleyway. Loh waited until they were pushing amongst one another, trying to cram into the alley, before she turned around and jumped over the buildings with magical agility. The enemy drows shouted in dismay as her silhouette disappeared across the alley wall.

Loh landed on the other side with a roll and jumped to her feet. A sharp pang of icy pain shot up her knee and she stumbled. Her legs began to spasm and she fell to one knee, gasping for breath. The magics toll was growing with every second and her body was reaching its limit.

She grimaced as the pain grew worse, but she bit her tongue and held back her voice. She refused to let the enemy know that they had been chasing the wrong target all along.

Just a little longer, just hold on a little longer. Stryg and Tauri will be safe if I just hold on a little longer She repeated to herself like a mantra in her mind.

Loh clenched her teeth and gripped her aching knee, Please, move, just a little more

Another company of soldiers rushed down the street, swords, and spears in hand.

Fuck! Loh cursed under her breath. She aimed her hand at the incoming enemies and channeled orange mana. A small flame burst to life above her palm and began to grow.

Stryg suddenly ran past the street in front of her, his pale grey hair flowing in the wind. The soldiers shouted in surprise and quickly chased after him.

A soul-crushing pain fell over Lohs shoulders. She fell to both knees in despair. Stryg! Why are you still here!? she moaned weakly.

That wasnt Stryg, a calm familiar voice said.

Loh turned around in alarm.

A dire black bear emerged from behind the corner of a nearby hovel. The bear stood 6 feet tall on all fours and his heavy shoulders rumbled with each step. A leather saddle was strapped over the bears back where a drow mage sat.

Vayu Glaz looked down from atop his dire beast and smiled empathically, That wasnt Stryg, it was an illusion I conjured.

Vayu! How!? Loh mumbled in shock.

A grey hawk flew down from the sky and landed on Vayus shoulder. Loh didnt recognize the bird, but the purple glow in its eyes told her the bird was Vayus.

The drow gently brushed the hawks head, then glanced at Loh. After the attacks started, my winged friend began scouting the city from the skies. We were searching for our friends but then I spotted your flame spells

So you came all the way here knowing I was surrounded by countless enemies? Are you insane!? Loh said angrily. I I told you we were done! You owe me nothing! So why she sniffed, Why are you here!?

Well, if you were doing something as stupid as fighting an entire army by yourself it could only mean that you were trying to protect Stryg, Vayu said wryly. I figured you could use my help.

Loh bit her trembling lip, You you crazy bastard! Do you want to die!?

If its okay with you Vayu smiled, Id rather not die alone.

...Right, he mumbled. My master is strong

Ah, shit! Plum groaned. Theyre barricading the southside of the city.

What? Tauri asked.

Look, you can see the mass of soldiers from here, Plum pointed to the distance. How am I going to get back into the city now? she wondered anxiously. Theyre probably already barricading the rest of the city too. Oh gods, Im screwed.

Well, you could always come with us, Tauri offered.

Huh? Plum blinked.

Stryg said this little trip will only take a few days, right? Tauri said.

Stryg nodded, though his mind was clearly still on Loh.

Yeah, in that case, why dont you come with us, Plum? Tauri said. Once this trip is over well head back to Hollow Shade and you can stay at my familys mansion until things calm down over here.

Going back to Hollow Shade? Plum muttered.

Or you could take your chances trying to slip back into the city unnoticed under the watchful eyes of thousands of violent drow soldiers? Tauri said.

Ah Plum smiled sheepishly, I guess were going to a murder cave then, huh.

Tauri blinked, then frowned, Wait. Murder cave? What are you talking about?

Stryg didnt tell you where were going, did he? Plum asked.

No one mentioned a murder cave! Tauri said worriedly.

Its not my story to tell, Plum shrugged.

Stryg, whats she talking about!? Tauri said.

Plum, you know Glimmer Grove forest pretty well, right? Stryg asked.

Maybe not as well as Tauri, but I think I can get us to Vulture Woods if thats what you mean, Plum said.

Perfect, Stryg nodded. Lead the way.

Plum stared at the forest warily, Please, let this be an uneventful trip. I really dont need any more danger in my life.

Im starting to really regret this trip, Tauri muttered.

Stryg took one last look back at Undergrowth. The sun was shining bright in the sky and the night was far from here. Even if it had been dark, he wondered if the Mother Moon would listen to someone like him Still, for the first time in a long time, he whispered a silent prayer to Lunae, praying for Lohs safety.

Stryg turned to the countless trees in front of him, to the path that lay ahead. He lowered his hood, shook his hair out, and took a step forward.

Authors Note:

Hello!

I wanted to let you all know that I am taking a short break to enjoy the holiday weekend with my family. ROM will resume on Monday. Thank you for reading!

Happy Thanksgiving!