[Tobias POV]
I was lost...
I realized I had finally shaken the guards off my tail, and since I possessed no magic, they couldn't track me by mana.
But a few minutes into the forest, it hit me—I had left Akira and the others behind. The execution could still take place without me there. Maybe they won't...I hope they don't.
A few hours later, I began to get hungry, so I decided to try hunting for wild boars around the area I had walked around searching, but I found nothing. I decided to scavenge for edible plants, but I'm unsure what's safe and unsafe to eat.
I was hungry for the entire day till sundown. I had to find a safe place to sleep, or I'll be sleeping with the bugs tonight. I searched, but luck wasn't on my side. I got exhausted and suddenly fell headfirst asleep.
I slept out in the cold, my body shivering, teeth chattering. Even in sleep, I could hear everything—the rustle of leaves, snapping twigs, distant howls. Shadows seemed to move just beyond my vision, and I felt a gaze on me, patient and unblinking. The forest wasn't quiet. It was alive.
I woke up hungry, tired, cranky, and utterly alone. Miserable. Every ache in my body reminded me of how far I'd fallen. I missed my life—the warmth of home, the laughter, the safety. I wished I had cherished it all. Now, it was just me… and the unforgiving forest.
In the forest, I gave myself 2 goals for the time being: find food and search for Solfira. Those were the goals until...
I searched for hours until I stumbled upon a pack of wolves. Fear shot through me, freezing my blood. I tried to move slowly, keeping low, every step careful. I stealthily passed them… until my foot landed on a rat. It screeched.
The wolves' heads snapped toward me. I froze, staring back at them, my heart hammering. Time seemed to stop.
As soon as they moved a muscle, I dashed away from where I stood. I ran like they were going to kill me. They were fast, but I was faster—at first. Then I realised the more I ran, the faster they got. I knew I would have to fight back at some point.
I eventually stumbled into a cave, gasping for breath. I paused, thinking fast—there was no way I could fight them hand-to-claw or hand-to-hand. I didn't even have a sword. I was completely defenceless.
But I couldn't give up now. I couldn't die here. I had to survive—not just for myself, but to prove that a boy without magic, in a world full of it, could do anything if he worked hard enough. No matter how impossible it seemed, I had to live.
I remembered how it used to be—always powerless, always the one everyone laughed at. Every attempt I made ended in failure, and I became the town's joke. I felt small, weak, and useless… until that day—the day I met Akira. He didn't laugh, didn't mock. For the first time, someone treated me like a person rather than a clown.
I became friends with Akira, and we trained together in combat. Though I wasn't naturally skilled, my father, Alexander the Master Blacksmith, had taught me the basics of blades, so I at least understood them. Slowly, I began to believe in myself and dreamed of one day becoming a captain of knights, determined not to let being powerless define me.
The memory faded, and I was back in the cave, heart hammering in the dark. The wolves were still out there. I didn't have a sword, I didn't have magic, but I couldn't give up. Not now. Not when I have a friend, a dream, and fought so hard to survive.
I went berserk. Darkness seemed to swallow me, and adrenaline surged through every vein. I moved faster than I thought possible, dodging snapping jaws and slashing claws with wild, unpredictable strikes. Every punch, every kick connected, fueled by fear, rage, and the will to survive.
One by one, the wolves fell, their growls silenced by my ferocity. The cave echoed with the aftermath of the chaos, my chest heaving, bloodied and exhausted. Only one remained, circling me warily, its eyes sharp and calculating.
The last wolf circled me, growling, teeth bared. I didn't think. I didn't dodge. I charged straight at it, fists swinging, moving like a storm of uncontrolled fury. Every blow I landed was crushing, every strike fueled by pure, blind rage.
Its claws tore at me, its jaws snapped at my arms and chest, but I didn't flinch. I met it head-on, smashing, slamming, and battering until it staggered and finally fled, wounded and terrified.
I collapsed against the cave wall, chest heaving, body bruised and bloodied. I hadn't controlled it… But my berserk fury had carried me through. I was alive.
And when I finally realized what I had done, a wave of horror crashed over me. I fell to my knees, staring at the blood-soaked floor. "BLOOD… BLOOD EVERYWHERE!" I screamed, my voice raw, echoing off the cave walls.
I had taken lives. Their blood—so much blood—was on my hands. I hated myself. The fury that had saved me had also turned me into something monstrous, something I didn't recognise.
I sank fully to the ground, trembling, my chest heaving. I had survived… but at a cost I wasn't sure I could ever forgive.
My face changed as I remembered why I was here. I had to save Solfira. It was either me or them.
I stood up, wiped the blood from my fists, and kept moving. The wolves were gone, but I still had a mission.
I was still hungry. Not far from the cave, I found an apple tree and stuffed myself, biting into the crisp, sweet fruit until my stomach finally felt a little better.
I went back to the cave and used the wolf hides to make a rough sack. It wasn't perfect, but it would do for carrying the apples I had picked.
I kept walking and walking for five days, surviving on whatever fruit I could find along the way. I was sticky, smelly, and bruised from the journey, but I kept moving.
Eventually, I spotted a tiny house tucked between the trees. Who could live here, in a forest this dangerous? I hesitated, then knocked. Getting no answer, I stepped inside uninvited, thinking… maybe she's here.
I searched around the house and found a long sword, its blade still in good condition. I took it.
Then I went down to the basement. There she was, shackled with magic-nullifying chains. I didn't hesitate. I knew what had to be done.
I raised the sword and sliced through the chains with a clean swing. They fell away with a clatter, and I couldn't help but be wowed. It felt almost unreal—powerless as I was, I had actually freed her.
I quickly untaped her mouth. She gasped, eyes wide. "Tobi! How'd you get here? We have to run before he gets here!"
"He?" I barely processed her words when a giant appeared behind me. My heart skipped a beat—he was here.
Before I could react, the massive figure loomed over me, filling the room with an oppressive presence.
The giant Drago man's voice rumbled through the room. "A human? What are you doing in these parts of the world?"
The Drago man's eyes narrowed, his voice low and dangerous. "Mmm… doesn't matter. I'll just kill you."
I tightened my grip on the sword, ready. There was no time to think—only to act.
I lunged forward, swinging the sword with everything I had. The blade met his skin with a metallic clang, sparks flying as if striking solid steel. The Drago man didn't flinch; his massive arms blocked and parried, each clash sending vibrations up my arms.
He countered with a powerful swing of his fist. I barely rolled aside, the force tearing up the floor where I had been standing. I struck again, this time aiming for a weak spot, but his skin was tough—almost like armor. The sword skidded off with a screech.
He swung again, faster this time, and I had to dodge and weave, using every trick I'd learned in survival and combat. Each strike was a test, each movement a gamble. But I refused to back down. I had to survive… and I had to protect her.
The Drago man sneered, towering over me. "Wow… how weak could you be? I'm not even trying."
Before I could react, his massive fist slammed into me. The impact sent me crashing into the wall, pain exploding through my body. Dust and debris rained down, and I struggled to my feet, fists trembling—but my grip on the sword didn't falter.
Blood spilt from my mouth, stinging as I spat it out. I staggered back, gripping the sword tighter. If I pushed any further, I could die.
Solfira's voice cut through the chaos. "Tobi! I can help you!"
I realized then—I never had to face him alone. I had just been absorbed in the fight, letting the rage take over. I blinked, shaking off the frenzy, and focused.
Solfira stepped forward, her eyes glowing with fierce determination. She took a deep breath, and flames ignited in her mouth. With a roar, she exhaled a blazing torrent of fire, the heat so intense it warped the air and lit up the room.
The Drago man stumbled back, shielded his face, and staggered as the inferno crashed against him. Smoke and sparks filled the air, burning the floor and walls around us.
Through the haze, I appeared, sword in hand, eyes sharp and focused. The berserk frenzy was gone—I was back, in control, ready to strike while Solfira kept him off balance. Together, we were a force to be reckoned with.
The Drago man lunged toward Solfira, but I moved faster. With a precise, powerful swing of my sword, I sliced through his wings. He roared in pain, staggering as blood and smoke filled the air.
Solfira unleashed a blast of fire, keeping him off balance, and I pressed the attack, striking again and again. For the first time, I saw him falter under our combined assault.
And as weak as he was, we didn't wait to see what he would do next. We ran—out of the house, through the forest, hearts pounding, muscles screaming, but alive.
I turned to Akira. "Fly!" I shouted—but she was too weak. Without thinking, I hoisted her onto my back, carrying her through the forest. Every step burned, my body screaming, but I couldn't let her fall.
We just ran, moving as fast as we could, not looking back.
After what felt like hours, we got far enough from the Drago man to finally take a break. I set Solfira down gently, and we both fell onto the floor, but at least for now, we were safe.
I shook off the fatigue and stood up, brushing dirt from my clothes. "Alright, enough rest," I said. "We should get you back."
To be continued…