The gates split apart with a groan, sunlight spilling through the widening crack. Through it, I saw movement—figures, rooftops, scattered stalls, and more people than I ever imagined.
A city.An entire world, alive in front of me.
Aveline stepped through without hesitation. I trailed behind her, each step shaky, unsure.
As soon as we entered, the stone beneath my feet felt colder. Harder.The noise of the crowd didn't comfort me—it pressed against my ears, sharp and unfamiliar.
People traded fruits, steaming food, and strange cuts of meat. Children laughed.A man lifted his kid high into the air—"Daddy!"—the word drifting through the air like it belonged here.
But… something felt wrong.
Everything looked normal. Peaceful.So why did my chest feel tight?
"You may go in," one of the guards called behind us.
Aveline didn't respond.
Her silence wasn't normal… not even for her.Her shoulders stiffened under her cloak.Her steps were sharper, almost… forced.
I looked around.An old man stared at me from a fruit stall—long wrinkles, gray fuzz above his lip. His eyes lingered.
Not curious.Not welcoming.
Predatory.
My palms dampened with sweat.
Aveline kept moving, cloak scraping softly across the stone.
Tall iron braziers flickered even though the sun still shone. The air carried smoke, spices, sweat—and the lingering scent of pond water on my skin.
Eyes followed me everywhere.
Some widened.Some narrowed.Some simply stared like they were memorizing me.
"Aveline…" I whispered.
Her head twitched—just slightly—but she didn't look at me.
"...Where are we going?"
No answer.
Not even a breath.
"Aveline…?" I whispered again.
This time, she stopped.
Her head turned just barely—just enough for me to see her eyes.
For a moment…They weren't green.
A shadow crawled across them.Dark. Cold.Gone in a blink.
Before I could understand what I saw, her hand shot out.
In a single violent motion, she yanked my collar and slammed me between two buildings where sunlight couldn't reach.
Cold stone stabbed my back.Air burst from my lungs.My knees collapsed.
"A-Aveline…?"
Her boot planted inches from my face—firm, threatening.She leaned close enough that I felt her breath tremble.
"Listen. Don't talk," she hissed."Don't look at anyone. Don't even breathe wrong."
Her voice wasn't angry.
It was afraid.
Her eyes darted toward the street—wide, frantic—before she leaned in again.
"Elves aren't welcome here," she whispered."You don't get it. Elves in this nation are slaves. Tools. Weapons. Or—"
She swallowed hard.Her hand briefly touched something under her cloak.
Then her jaw tightened.
"—companions."
Companions.Weapons.Harvested.
My breath shook.
"I… I don't understand."
"Tch. You're a bonehead," she snapped, crossing her arms tightly.
But something was wrong.
Her fingers trembled.Her pupils were shrinking—as if she was hearing something I couldn't.
"I shouldn't have brought you," she muttered. "Not here. Not with what you are."
"…What I am?"
Before she could answer—
"Look what we got here, fellas."
A voice cut through the alley like a serrated blade.
My body froze.
Footsteps.Heavy.Slow.Mocking.
Four men blocked the entrance. Their stench—sweat, rot, alcohol—hit first. The leader towered in the center, scar across his face, cracked lips pulled into a crooked grin.
A long metal blade hung across his back.
"A slave-elf," he laughed. "And his cute owner. Not bad."
Another man grinned, eyes dragging across Aveline in a way that made my stomach twist.
"Oh yeah, boss. We'll have fun with that one."
Aveline stepped back.
For a heartbeat, her face twisted—fear, disgust… and something darker flickering through her eyes.
Then terror swallowed everything else.
Her throat tightened.Her grip on her staff trembled so violently I thought she might drop it.
The men stepped closer.Closer.Closer.
The alley shrank with each step.
Please…Don't hurt us.
I looked at Aveline again—her lips quivering, her breath shaking, tears welling in her eyes.
But there was something else.
Her gaze flicked toward me.Not pleading.Not grateful.
Something mixed.Fear… and guilt.
A flicker of regret.
As if she already knew she would abandon me.
My chest twisted painfully.
No.No, no, no—this isn't right.
I didn't think.I moved.
I grabbed her and shoved her behind me with everything I had.
"RUN!" I screamed.
She gasped—sharp and desperate.
For a moment, she froze.
A shadow pulsed across her face—dark and fast.Gone in a blink.
Then she ran.
Her footsteps pounded down the alley, each one tearing something inside my chest apart.
Please don't leave me.Please don't let me die alone.
The men stopped in front of me, their shadows swallowing me whole.
Four against one.
Their smiles widened.
Predators looking at easy prey.
Aveline ran to save herself…
But I had a feeling I wouldn't forget that choice.
Not ever.