Chapter 4
I don't know what's worse. Being hunted by people who want to kill you, or being hunted by people trying to thank you.
Either way, running sucks.
The guards' shouts echoed behind me as I sprinted through the alley like a man allergic to gratitude. "Stop right there!" they yelled.
Yeah, sure. That's exactly what a guilty man would do.
"My luck's gone from bad to brain-damaged," I muttered between gasps, vaulting over a crate with all the grace of a dying cow. "They probably want to lock me up… or worse, make me fill out paperwork."
Truth was, I had no idea they weren't mad at me. How could I? People rarely chase me with friendly intentions.
"Wait! Sir! We just want to talk!" one of them shouted again.
I looked over my shoulder just long enough to see a guard waving something shiny. A medal? A badge? A bribe? Who knew.
Didn't matter. I wasn't risking it.
"I'm allergic to conversation!" I yelled back, turning another corner so fast my slippers almost flew off.
The market crowd parted in confusion as I stormed past, clutching the crown like it was the reason gravity existed. "Why does running always feel like dying?!" I wheezed, nearly colliding with a fruit stand. Apples scattered everywhere. A vendor screamed. Someone swore. I didn't stop to apologize.
I ducked into a side street and slammed my back against a wall, panting like a man who'd just fought a bear. "Okay… I think I lost them."
"Lairn."
Nope. That voice again. I froze like a guilty cat.
"Don't you 'Lairn' me," I said, already knowing it was her.
Rena stepped out from the shadows, arms crossed, hair a mess, looking like she'd sprinted across the entire town. "You absolute idiot."
"Thanks," I said. "I try my best."
"Do you have any idea what those guards were trying to do?"
"Yeah. Catch me."
She stared at me for a solid five seconds the kind of silence that feels like being strangled by disappointment. "They were trying to reward you, genius. You knocked out one of the kingdom's most wanted mercenaries with that artifact blast. You're basically a hero."
I blinked. "...A what now?"
"A hero."
I let that word sink in for a moment. Then I nodded slowly. "Right. Totally makes sense. So… why were they shouting?"
"Because you ran!"
"Because they shouted!"
She groaned, dragging her hand down her face. "I swear, you're impossible. You could've had gold, recognition, maybe even..."
"Wait." I held up a finger. "Did you say gold?"
Her glare could've melted steel.
I coughed. "Hypothetically speaking, if I were to accept this… reward, they'd still have to stop chasing me first, right?"
Before she could answer, a familiar armored voice shouted from down the street, "There! That's him again!"
Rena facepalmed. "Oh for the love of..."
"Welp," I said, adjusting my slippers. "Looks like I'm still running."
"Lairn, don't you dare..."
But I was already gone, dust cloud trailing behind me, the crown glinting in the sunlight like a neon sign that screamed idiot approaching.
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You ever realize that no matter how far you run, stupidity catches up faster?
Yeah. Mine runs marathons.
I tore through the alleyways again, lungs burning, slippers hanging on for dear life. Behind me, the guards were still yelling something about "honor" and "commendation," but when you're half-delirious from running, every word just sounds like "arrest warrant."
I vaulted over a fence. It creaked like it wanted to retire from existence. My foot caught the top, and I ate dirt for the fourth time that day.
"Perfect landing," I muttered, face-down in the mud. "The ground and I are becoming real close lately."
"Close enough to marry," came Rena's voice.
I looked up just in time to see her standing over me, hands on hips, glaring down like divine judgment in human form.
"You. . ." I wheezed, "...you followed me again?"
"Someone has to make sure your idiocy doesn't destroy the entire town," she snapped, grabbing my wrist and dragging me up like I weighed less than a thought.
"I was doing fine."
"You were eating mud."
"Hydration," I said. "I'm staying healthy."
She ignored me, as usual, and pulled me down a narrow backstreet I didn't even know existed. The walls were so tight that even breathing felt like trespassing.
At the end of the passage was a crooked door hidden behind a hanging cloth that looked like it hadn't been washed since history started. Rena knocked three times in some weird rhythm. The door creaked open a sliver.
A voice from inside whispered, "Password?"
Rena said, "We're idiots."
The door swung wide open.
"Accurate," I muttered as she shoved me inside.
The place was dim, cramped, and smelled faintly of herbs, smoke, and regret. Shelves filled with strange bottles lined the walls each glowing faintly, some humming. The air practically buzzed with leftover magic.
"Uh… where are we? Discount witch store?"
Rena glared. "It's a safe house. Belongs to an alchemist friend. He won't talk."
"Talk? He doesn't even look like he blinks," I whispered as the man behind the counter turned toward us, eyes gleaming like a lizard that read too many books.
He stared at me. Or maybe the crown. Probably both. "You brought it here?" he rasped.
"Not it," I said, pointing at myself. "Me. Lairn. Professional napper, part-time disaster."
The man didn't even blink. "The Crown of the First Magus shouldn't exist. And if it does… it shouldn't choose someone like you."
"Trust me, I'm equally offended," I said. "It could've picked literally anyone with muscle tone."
He ignored me completely something people seem to do a lot and turned to Rena. "Do you have any idea what that crown can do?"
Rena folded her arms. "That's why we're here. We need to figure out how to get it off him before the entire kingdom notices."
"Too late," I added helpfully. "Pretty sure the entire kingdom already has."
The alchemist sighed, walked around the counter, and placed a glowing crystal near my head. The crown reacted immediately, pulsing brighter like it recognized something.
"Oh, that's not ominous at all," I muttered. "Should I be worried?"
He didn't answer. Instead, he leaned closer, studying the runes. "It's bonding with you."
"Bonding?" I echoed. "Like, emotionally? Because I'm not ready for commitment."
Rena groaned. "He means magically, Lairn."
"Oh. Yeah, that's worse."
The old man straightened. "If the crown continues, it'll merge with your mana permanently. Removal will become… impossible."
Rena stiffened. "You mean he'll be stuck with it forever?"
He nodded. "Or until it kills him."
The room went dead silent.
I blinked. "...Well, that's not great."
Then again, I'd already accepted that my life was basically a series of bad naps interrupted by divine punishment.
Rena's face darkened, her voice low. "There has to be another way."
"There is," the alchemist said. "But it involves going to the Ruins of Vethar. The birthplace of the First Magus himself."
"Cool," I said, raising my hand. "Quick question do the ruins have beds?"
Rena elbowed me so hard my soul left my body for half a second.
"Fine," I groaned. "Guess we're going ruin-hunting."
The alchemist's lips curled into something between a frown and a smirk. "If you survive that place, boy… maybe luck does love you after all."
I sighed. "That makes one of us."
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Preparation.
A word that usually means "get ready."
For me, it means "procrastinate until the universe forces your hand."
Rena didn't see it that way. Obviously.
By the time the sun came up, she'd already packed enough supplies to invade another continent bags full of potions, dried food, rope, spare weapons, and a small library's worth of maps. I, on the other hand, brought a half-eaten bun and the eternal belief that things would somehow work out.
"Are you serious right now?" she said, glaring at the single bread in my hand like it was a personal insult.
"Perfectly," I said through a mouthful. "Survival's all about efficiency."
"Survival's about not starving!"
"Same thing."
She dragged a hand down her face, muttering something about "why do I even try." Honestly, I'd ask myself the same thing if I had to deal with me.
The alchemist wasn't any better. He'd spent the whole morning circling me, muttering ancient-sounding phrases like he was trying to exorcise a demon. Not that I could blame him. The crown was still glowing faintly, humming every few minutes like an angry teapot.
"Stand still," the old man said for the seventh time, waving another crystal over my head.
"I am standing still," I lied, slightly leaning toward the exit.
Rena shot me a look. "If you move again, I'll tie you to the chair."
I froze. "See? I knew you were into torture."
"Only when it's you."
I sighed dramatically, staring at the shelves around us. Bottles of glowing liquid, jars filled with unidentifiable… things, and that one suspicious box in the corner labeled 'Do Not Touch.' Which, of course, meant 'Touch Immediately.'
While the alchemist and Rena argued about mana interference or whatever, I quietly shuffled over to the box. It was calling to me. Whispering. Tempting. Like destiny or stupidity was telling me to open it.
"Lairn," Rena said sharply. "Don't."
"I didn't do anything."
"You're thinking about it."
"False accusation."
She pointed without even looking. "You've got that look again."
I frowned. "What look?"
"The 'I'm about to ruin everything in a three-meter radius' look."
Rude. But not wrong.
Still, curiosity was stronger than dignity. I poked the lid. It popped open with a hiss, releasing a puff of purple smoke that smelled like burnt sugar and regret.
A tiny glowing sphere floated out, wobbled, and then poof exploded into glitter that covered everything in a five-foot radius.
Rena screamed. The alchemist coughed so hard he nearly fell over. I sneezed, watching as my arms shimmered in gold sparkles.
"…Okay, I admit," I said. "That wasn't ideal."
Rena whirled on me, eyes blazing. "You. Idiot."
The alchemist wheezed. "That… was a containment orb. For mana resonance testing! It's harmless, but..."
"Harmless my ass!" Rena barked. "We look like parade floats!"
I glanced down. She wasn't wrong. We both sparkled like overdecorated festival dancers. Even the crown seemed to enjoy it, its glow pulsing brighter as if laughing.
"Hey, on the bright side," I said, "if the monsters in the ruins can see us, we'll just blind them with style."
Rena threw a rag at my face. "You're cleaning this mess before we leave."
"I could just roll in dirt until it goes away," I suggested.
"You'll roll in dirt either way if you don't start helping."
The alchemist finally regained his breath, muttering, "You two are going to die before reaching the ruins."
"Probably," I said cheerfully. "But at least we'll look fabulous doing it."
Hours later, after the cleanup (which mostly involved me pretending to help while Rena actually did it), we sat at the counter while the old man handed us vials and scrolls.
"This potion," he said, handing me a blue bottle, "is for mana suppression. Drink it only if the crown reacts violently."
"Define violently."
"If your body starts glowing or you hear voices in your head."
"So… Tuesday."
Rena elbowed me again. Harder this time.
He passed her a map wrapped in cloth. "The path to Vethar's Ruins isn't marked on any standard chart. Follow this and don't stray. There are things in that forest that feed on mana."
I raised a hand. "What if I'm the mana?"
"Then don't get eaten," the old man said dryly.
"That's not very encouraging."
He gave me a tired look. "Neither is your existence."
Fair.
After we left the shop, the sky was already turning orange, painting the streets gold. For once, it was quiet no guards, no shouting, no disasters. Just the two of us walking toward the edge of town, bags packed, sparkles still faintly clinging to our clothes.
Rena adjusted her bag and glanced at me. "You know, Lairn… for someone who keeps claiming he's unlucky, you've somehow survived everything thrown at you."
I shrugged. "Yeah, well. I guess being too lazy to die counts as talent."
She rolled her eyes but smiled, just barely. "Don't push it."
"Wouldn't dream of it," I said, yawning. "Dreaming takes effort."
We walked in silence for a moment. The crown pulsed once more, faintly, like a heartbeat. For the first time, it didn't feel heavy, it felt… awake.
Something about that unsettled me.
But I ignored it, naturally. Problems only exist when you acknowledge them.
Tomorrow, we'd head for the ruins.
Tonight… I was finding the nearest bed I could collapse on.
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The next morning came far too early, which was incredibly rude considering I'd just fallen asleep three hours ago. The world really doesn't respect naps anymore.
Rena was already outside waiting, of course. Backpack on, sword sheathed, eyes full of determination and poor decision-making.
"You ready?" she asked.
"No," I said honestly, clutching my blanket like a hostage.
She sighed. "You can't bring that."
"Says who?"
"Says reality, Lairn."
I groaned, tossed the blanket over my shoulder anyway, and followed her out the town gates. The guards at the entrance saluted as we passed one of them even offered me a pastry "for the hero who saved the town." I took it. Out of politeness. And hunger. Mostly hunger.
Once we were past the walls, the open world stretched out before us rolling hills, lazy clouds, birds that looked way too cheerful. The wind carried that sweet smell of grass and freedom… which is terrible if you're allergic to both walking and effort.
"So this is it," Rena said, glancing at the road ahead. "The start of our great adventure."
I stared at her, dead-eyed. "You mean our great cardio session."
She ignored me. Again.
We walked in silence for a while. well, she walked, I dragged my feet like an undead potato. The dirt road wound between trees and slopes, with the occasional merchant cart rattling past. People smiled at us. Some whispered. I guess it's not every day you see a guy with a glowing crown and the permanent expression of someone regretting existence.
A few hours in, I realized something horrifying. "Rena."
"What?"
"I think… I think my legs are dying."
"They're just tired."
"No, they're actually plotting revenge."
She rolled her eyes. "You've walked for an hour."
"An hour too long!"
But as much as I complained (which, for the record, is a survival strategy), the journey wasn't as boring as I expected. Every few minutes, the crown would flicker faintly, like it was sensing something. Each pulse sent a tiny jolt through my head. annoying, but not painful. Yet.
"Does it feel… different?" Rena asked, noticing my wince.
"Define different," I said.
"Like it's reacting."
"Oh. Yeah. It's definitely plotting my murder."
She frowned. "You sure it's not reacting to the environment?"
"Rena, I'm the environment now."
We passed a small forest clearing where the air shimmered faintly, like heat over stone. I stopped. "You see that?"
"Mana residue," she said, crouching to inspect the grass. "Something magical passed through here recently."
"Define recently."
"Less than a day."
I nodded, backing away slowly. "Cool. Let's not pass through here recently, then."
But the crown pulsed again. brighter this time. The hum resonated in my skull like a whisper I couldn't quite understand.
Rena stood up, eyes narrowing. "It's reacting to that."
"To what?"
Before she could answer, the ground trembled just a small shake, but enough to make every bird within miles decide life wasn't worth the risk.
A moment later, a column of light shot up in the distance, piercing the clouds.
"Oh good," I said flatly. "A giant magical beam in the middle of nowhere. Nothing bad ever starts like that."
Rena's gaze sharpened. "That's near the Ruins' outer edge. Maybe a sign."
"Yeah, a sign saying 'Turn back or die painfully.'"
"We're checking it out."
"Of course we are," I said. "Why rest when we can sprint straight into death?"
She ignored me again, already setting off toward the light. I followed, mostly because she still had the food.
The closer we got, the thicker the air felt like the atmosphere itself was buzzing. The crown glowed faintly, almost… in rhythm with the beam.
"Hey, uh… it's humming again," I said.
"Maybe it's resonating."
"Maybe it's charging up to explode. I'm just saying, we should explore the 'not dying' option."
Before she could retort, a distant rumble rolled through the trees. Then movement. Something huge, dark, and winged darted past overhead, blotting out the sunlight for a heartbeat.
Rena froze. "Was that..."
"Yep," I said. "Definitely something with wings. Probably teeth too. Maybe bad intentions."
It vanished behind the ridge, leaving a trail of wind that nearly knocked us off balance.
She tightened her grip on her sword. "If that's a mana beast, we'll have to be careful."
I groaned. "Careful is my middle name."
"No, it's not."
"Fine. It's Regret."
She didn't even crack a smile. Tough crowd.
We reached a small hill overlooking the valley, where the beam still pulsed in the distance. A faint ruin outline could be seen beyond the trees stone arches, broken towers, the kind of place where bad decisions get made.
Rena looked at it like she was born for this moment. I looked at it like it was a nap I'd never get to finish.
"This is it," she said softly. "We're close."
The crown pulsed one more time stronger than before. My vision flickered. For a second, everything went white.
A voice whispered inside my head. Faint, like it was echoing from centuries away.
> "At last… the vessel awakens."
I froze.
"Lairn?" Rena asked.
I blinked, heart hammering. "Yeah… yeah, I'm fine."
She squinted at me. "You look pale."
"Just remembered I left my sanity at home."
She sighed, turning back toward the horizon. "Come on. We'll camp here tonight. The ruins are just past that ridge."
"Perfect," I said, dropping onto the grass like a corpse clocking out of work.
But even as I lay there, pretending to sleep, the crown kept glowing faintly. its light pulsing to the rhythm of that voice still whispering inside me.
And for the first time… I wasn't sure if it was entirely in my head.
Chapter Ends.