Bill, Phill, Finn, and Jamie scattered into different alleys, the noise of their footsteps echoing off the walls.
"Phill, don't look back!"
"O-okay, big bro!"
Whoa, was he really that scared of Rosette? It was the fastest I'd seen Bill run that entire time.
"Reno, run!"
I froze. Two vivid flashes of red and gold filled my field of vision.
"Tch—this is why I hate newbies. Leader."
"On it!"
Whoosh!
They crossed paths in a blur—Jamie grabbed my hand and pulled me into the alley Finn had just left.
"I'll hold them off."
Jamie's free hand wiped away the small droplets around his eyes. "Don't get caught, Finn!"
"You can't catch a shadow." His gold scarf dropped, revealing half a smile.
Jamie released my hand, his gaze shifting away from Finn to the path ahead. "Don't stop running, Reno!"
I surged forward, wind gathering at my back as the world blurred around me.
"Left!"
We skidded, feet scraping against stone.
"Right!"
We leapt, legs kicking out and bodies twisting mid-air as we hurdled over a couple of crates. Another empty alley.
"Right?"
No time to think—we curled around the corner anyway. We raced up the stairs two at a time. There was no path.
"Jump."
"What?"
Fwish!
Air whipped past my face as we soared, my stomach flipping. The familiar smell of spices infiltrated my nose as I looked down. We weren't going to make it.
"The vines!"
I grabbed the Sunvines, dew slick on my palms, and swung across the alley. Heat rushed to my face as a grin tugged at my lips.
"Wee!"
Poof!
"What are you kids doing jumping from up there! Do you know how much my blankets cost?"
Rows of pristine stalls lined the alleyway, each with unique merchandise. No signs of chaos tag. We'd made a perfect circle.
We stumbled to our feet, breaths ragged. This time we weren't going to knock anything down.
"Ready for round two, Reno?"
Maybe I'd spoken too soon.
"Shouldn't we make sure we're safe?"
"Well, I guess so."
We kept running until we reached a tavern. It was lit up with lanterns and the sign outside read 'Butter Beers'.
"This is far enough, right?"
"Haaah… yeah. They'll never be able to catch up to us with how many turns we took."
"Look, they're over there! It's the Epic Gang—get them!"
"They'll never be able to catch up, huh?"
So much for that.
"Ahem. Should we hide in there?" He pointed to Butter Beers.
"I don't think that'd be a good idea." A drinking tavern was no place for kids.
"Well, let's get going then." He took off once again, and I followed suit.
I glanced back at our pursuers. "Do you think Finn got caught?"
Jamie laughed instinctively. "Finn? Caught?"
I furrowed my brows. "But then how did they catch up so quickly?"
"You know how Rosette is a code red?"
"Run on sight?"
"Exactly. Finn's a code purple."
"Purple?"
"It means let him be."
"Huh?" I blurted.
"It's not that he's dangerous like Rosette; it's just a waste of time to try and catch him. It's impossible."
"So… he gets to do whatever he wants?"
"Pretty much. Just Finn things."
My gaze shifted between Jamie and the chasers. "They just won't quit. Where should we go?"
Butter Town was a labyrinth. If I was leading, we'd end up lost somewhere.
"Let's make for the plaza!"
"Sure. Do you know where we are?"
"Y-yeah! Come this way!" We darted into a skinny alley, walls pressing close.
"Now left! Right! Left! Right! Right!" With each turn the pounding footsteps behind us grew quieter. At this rate, maybe we could—
I turned to Jamie slowly. "Isn't this… a dead end?"
"Ah—guess so."
"Didn't you say you knew where we were?"
"Yeah! I lied! I don't actually know my left from right."
"You…"
"'Fake it 'till you make it.' That's a quote from Finn so it has to be true, right?
"Ah whatever, we'll just backtrack. It'll be fine as long as—"
"Freeze!" Around the corner came a group of three girls in pre-scouts uniforms.
"There's nowhere else for you two to run to," the black-haired girl at the front said. "You two messed up my hair—do you know how nice it looked before?"
Jamie winced like he'd stepped on one of Bill's half-eaten fruits from earlier. "Ugh, it's Zyra and her crew. We can't stay here—she's bad news. Think of something quick."
Think of something? That was much easier said than done.
My eyes darted around, looking for an escape. Anything I could use as a distraction? Another exit? Someone nearby? Or maybe…
"Jamie, I'm going to try something!" I grabbed his hand and shut my eyes. This was going to be risky.
I channelled the Frostworth Absorption Technique, narrowing my focus to a single point in my chest.
Tiny streams of mana were flowing into my pool. It was much faster than before.
Wait—since when have I been absorbing mana? And at this rate?
I shook my head, forcing my mind to focus. I pictured a forest. Swaying trees. Grass dancing in the wind. No—that wasn't what I needed.
I pictured Butter Town—fruit stands, toys, pens, shoes all flying into the sky, scattered by a whirlwind. Perfect.
"Hold on tight!"
"Wind Blast!"
Clusters of wind gathered under our feet, swirling into frantic little cyclones.
Fwoosh!
The currents jolted upward, slingshotting us up into the sky.
"AAAAAAHHHHHHH!" Our screams echoed throughout all of Butter town.
"W-What the hell?" Zyra's voice cracked from below.
"THIS IS SO MUCH FUN!!!" Jamie howled.
I laughed with him, and for a second, we were just two best friends skydiving.
Jamie's face—eyes squeezed shut in bliss, mouth stretched into a huge grin—was the best thing I'd seen all day. I laughed, realising my crazy idea had actually worked.
And then I looked down.
The shock on the pre-scouts girls' faces was priceless. More importantly though, we were at least fifteen meters up. We'd made it over the wall, sure, but now we were stuck with a big problem. How were we going to land?
I grimaced. Was there nothing I could do? Think Reno, think. Maybe I could do what Cindy done? No that'd be too difficult! Wind magic was the only option—but I'd have to time it perfectly.
"WOOHOO!" Jamie's face was pure bliss, as if he hadn't realised we might die.
I forced myself to focus. Visualise it—a soft wind cushion catching your fall.
Ten meters.
Instinctively, my eyes started to close. No—keep them open. Focus!
Eight meters.
The last spell had eaten half my mana pool. Be careful. Don't use it all.
Six meters.
Come on! Why can't I picture it?
Five.
Four.
Three.
Not like this—
Two.
Please.
One.
Fwoosh!
A gust of wind shot up from beneath us, wrapping around our bodies like a blanket. We drifted to the ground.
Jamie landed in a crouch, his grin wider than ever.
"Wooo! Again, again, Reno! Aga—Reno?" He paused, noticing my condition.