They raced away from the kingdom through the main gate, leaving the crowded streets behind as the chase spilled into the open fields beyond the walls.
The man in green sprinted toward the forest, his satchel bouncing against his side with every step.
*BOOM!*
Stone walls erupted from the ground behind him, blocking the path Daniel and Zero had just crossed.
The guards stationed at the main gate immediately noticed the commotion. Their hands tightened around weapon hilts as they watched the chase unfold.
Above them, guards on the watchtower raised their bows and crossbows, drawing the strings tight and taking aim at the fleeing figures.
But they didn't fire.
Their weapons remained trained on the group, ready to react at the slightest sign of danger.
But as the man reached the edge of the forest, he raised a hand to his face and tore away the wooden mask he had been wearing, throwing it aside.
His true face was finally revealed.
