Rayan pushed himself to run through the trees, his steps fast and uneven, the tall grass scratching his legs with every stride. The princess was on his shoulder, her body leaning, one arm dangling, the other clutching her crown to keep it from falling. Her muffled gasp of shock blended with the sound of branches snapping under Rayan's feet.
Rayan whispered, "Damn... running through this forest was a terrible idea..."He twisted his body to dodge a tree trunk, his heart pounding, the weight of responsibility burning inside him.
The princess lifted her head, her bright blue eyes scanning behind them. She noticed the two mercenaries closing in."They're right behind us!" she said, turning her head toward Rayan.
Behind them, the heavy thuds of the pursuers' footsteps collided with angry shouts: the massive man carrying his axe on his shoulder, the silent one with his strange rifle, each movement shaking the forest and scattering leaves and dirt.
Rayan glanced back, then forward, thinking: Damn... damn..! Why did I put myself in this mess...? I have no idea where to go... fuck... but I can't stop now, or it's over for us.
He leapt over a fallen trunk, but on landing, his ankle twisted slightly. Pain flashed across his face, but he gritted his teeth, keeping the princess balanced on his shoulder. Her fingers clutched the crown cautiously. A short, fearful breath escaped her lips, yet he pressed on, eyes searching for any path, any gap in the forest that might give them a chance to escape. The light rain mixed with the smell of damp earth, making their movement even more treacherous.
Every muscle in Rayan's body tensed, his mind calculating each step: twist here, jump there, avoid roots and fallen logs. Danger coursed through him like electricity.
After a while, he spotted a massive tree with sprawling roots, offering natural cover. He signaled the princess to cling to him and ducked her down carefully onto the ground.Rayan, panting: "Let's hide here for a moment."He pressed against the rough bark, heart racing, eyes scanning every shifting shadow, listening for every footstep, every strange rustle."I don't know what to do now..." he muttered.
The princess pressed a finger to her own lips, softly: "Calm down..."
Rayan looked at her wide-eyed, struggling to control his trembling voice.
From their left, the massive man approached cautiously. Each step shook the ground under him as he searched for their trail.No sign of them... damn these rats, he muttered to himself.
Rayan's heart hammered violently. Every breath, every whisper, every rustle heightened the tension.The princess clutched her crown with both hands as they tried to melt into the shadows, becoming one with the forest.They both exhaled as the heavy footsteps passed by, as if a great weight had lifted.
But then—a metallic click. Rayan froze. He pushed the princess away just in time, and they dropped forward behind a tree trunk.The silent one had fired, the bullet hitting the tree to their right. Sparks of violet energy erupted from the impact, unlike anything Rayan had ever seen, sending a chill down his spine.
Rayan lifted the princess carefully. They moved together, balancing amid roots and grass.The rifle clicked again—another bullet was chambered.
Rayan pushed her back slightly as they sprinted through the forest. The second shot struck the ground and bushes behind them, scattering violet sparks but leaving them unharmed.
Their adrenaline surged. The silent man loaded a third round, eyes flashing with focus and fury.Suddenly, the massive man appeared beside him, gripping the shoulder firmly:"Enough! Stop shooting like that! You'll kill the girl—we need her alive!"Then he looked at their path: "Move! Lets catch them!"A brief hesitation, then the two resumed the chase, heavy footfalls echoing through the trees, the forest a tense, dangerous arena.
Rayan ran with the princess beside him, heart racing, every breath a warning signal. The forest canopy scattered the light, shadows wavering across their faces, as if the trees themselves were watching.The princess tried to keep her balance on the slippery ground, her hands clutching the crown to her chest, eyes darting around with every movement of the mercenaries.The silent one, shadowy and precise, aimed at them, waiting for a single mistake, holding his fire until the perfect shot.Rayan sprinted, adrenaline pumping, their breaths ragged. Behind them, the heavy footsteps of the massive man and the silent one grew closer. Every snapping branch and rustling leaf disoriented them further.
Suddenly, a huge tree fell from behind, its roots torn by the wind or some unknown force, blocking the path and halting the pursuers—a miracle from the heavens.The ground shook slightly as Rayan and the princess hit the ground. Dust rose, branches scattered, the forest echoed with the impact.Rayan glanced at the colossal fallen tree. The princess clutched her crown tightly, eyes wide with shock and fear.Rayan, facing forward: "Come on! Let's move!"
They dashed between the trees before the mercenaries could regain their balance.The two pursuers froze, shocked by the fallen obstacle. The silent one hesitated mid-loading, eyes scanning the massive trunk.The massive man shouted: "Move! Find another way—no time to waste!"They circled the tree, searching for a path through the twisted woods.
Rayan ran beside the princess, both slipping on the muddy ground. She kept clutching her crown, trying to keep pace.
Suddenly, a small clearing opened—but then a massive stone wall loomed ahead, rising like it had appeared from nowhere.The princess whispered, trembling: "It's... a wall."
Rayan glanced right, hoping for a path, but all he heard was the wind whistling up the deep, dark chasm—a huge drop.To the left, dense, tangled foliage blocked any path, sharp branches twisting like snakes.Rayan ground his teeth, sweat on his brow. He bent over, hands on his knees, breathing hard."...Damn it," he muttered.
The princess looked at him, worried.
He paused, then lifted his head, an idea forming."I have an idea."He approached the wall, pressed his back against it, planted his feet firmly in the mud, and clasped his hands together like a platform.He looked up at her, voice low but clear:"Climb... I'll boost you up. Come on."
The princess hesitated: "Are you sure...?"
Rayan gave a short, reassuring smile:"I'm sure... there's no other choice. Trust me."
She set her crown on the ground to the right of Rayan, then placed her right foot on his hands, left foot on his shoulder, carefully gripping the stone.Rayan adjusted his stance, lifted slightly, rotating his body, gently pushing her upward. She clutched the wall edge, and he boosted her legs until she reached the top. He returned her crown from below.
Suddenly, the sounds of hurried footsteps and voices came from the forest behind them—the mercenaries were back. Rayan's heart jumped in his chest. He turned, assessing the threat.The princess, from above the wall, offering her hand, called down:"Hurry!"
Rayan turned to her
: "I... I don't know how to get up there!"
Princess: "Try to jump... you can do it!"
Rayan: "I'll try..."He stepped back, whispering to himself: Come on... let's see if sports can save my life now.He took a deep breath, ran toward the wall, planted his feet on the stone, and pushed himself upward, reaching for the princess's hand.
She gripped him tightly with both hands, helping him stabilize until he reached her.Breathing hard, Rayan looked at her:"Thanks..."
—End of Chapter—