With my sharpened senses and muscles ready to burst into action, I stayed completely still. Angel slowed my heartbeat and reduced energy consumption from my vital functions. The silence around me was absolute—almost unnatural. Every sound in the forest—the distant snap of a branch, the whisper of the wind—was amplified in my ears.
The five scouting riders moved carefully, spreading out in a wide search pattern. Since I had run in a straight line during my escape, I now found myself right in the center of their sweep—the most dangerous place in the hunting ground. They didn't know if anyone had survived, but they searched with the precision of experienced trackers.
Seconds stretched like minutes. The rider in the center—he looked like the leader—rode slowly until he stopped just beneath my hiding spot. He lifted his torch, and the light danced across the trunks and roots, casting warped shadows all around him. His eyes scanned every nook, every scar in the bark.
I knew this was my only shot. When he looked up, I jumped. Time seemed to slow. I came down with a brutal, clean strike that sliced through the air—then through his neck. His head rolled into the undergrowth, and his body dropped with a dull thud. Not a single sound from him. But the horse wasn't so quiet—it reared up and bolted, panicked by the sudden loss of its rider.
The noise was enough to alert the others.
No time to waste. I rushed to the nearest tree, taking cover behind the rough trunk while Angel calculated enemy positions.
"Three are moving toward you," she said with robotic calm. "One remains by the body."
My breathing was shallow. I slipped between the trees like a shadow, heading in the opposite direction of most of them. I avoided one of the patrolling riders, waiting for the perfect moment. Silence wrapped around me like a cloak. I could hear him. Feel the vibrations in the ground with every step of his horse.
I waited… and when his silhouette passed beside me, I sprang. A direct stab to the heart. The blade pierced flesh and bone with a solid, dry sound. The rider collapsed from his horse. I landed beside him, holding my breath. The horse just blinked—confused, unmoving—like it knew silence was the only way to survive.
I crouched quickly by the body. Searched his clothes carefully, avoiding unnecessary movements. Just as I hoped, he had two throwing knives strapped to his belt—perfectly balanced. I took them carefully. Every move had to be precise—one mistake and I was dead.
I tied the horse to a nearby tree. It might come in handy if I needed to escape fast.
Angel told me the three remaining riders were now grouped around their leader's corpse. Their formation had shifted—now they stood close together, swords drawn, eyes scanning the darkness.
"We're being ambushed," one of them growled. "Don't split up."
They stood in a triangle, backs nearly touching—veteran fighters. Without their leader, they were cautious—but no less dangerous.
I crept forward, step by step, until I was about twenty meters away. I hid behind a thick tree. With my enhanced vision, I could see them clearly. Their faces were tense, afraid. The first man I killed must've been their commander. His death had shattered their chain of command.
"Angel," I whispered, "can you adjust the knife trajectories so I can throw them with one hand?"
"Calculating… Trajectories optimized. Simulation ready."
In front of me, Angel projected an image of the arcs the knives would follow if I threw them from a certain stance. No time for hesitation. I took a deep breath, then sprinted forward, letting out a wild cry that shattered the forest's silence.
The horses neighed and staggered, startled. I used the chaos. I threw both knives at once—assisted by Angel's perfect calculations. Two silver arcs cut through the air and sank into the eyes of two riders with a wet crunch.
The third, still mounted, reacted fast. He swung his sword at me in fury, trying to cut me down. I rushed him, and our blades clashed with a screech of metal. But his weapon couldn't hold. My sword split it like kindling.
My next strike was a brutal horizontal slash. The blade sliced through rider and mount in one clean blow, cutting them into uneven halves. A hot spray of blood hit my face—and then, silence.
All five were dead.
I stayed still for a moment, listening. Nothing. Just the whisper of the wind. The immediate danger was over. But I didn't feel victorious. Pain shot through me from leg to shoulder. The aftermath of the effort was catching up.
My muscles were torn—especially my right arm. I'd pushed past my limits with that last blow. Angel kept me conscious, but she couldn't heal the physical damage.
Time doesn't wait. I leaned on my sword like a cane and limped back to the horse. Mounting it was agony. Every movement was torture—but I couldn't stop.
I spurred the animal forward and took off, not looking back. The riders' corpses, the blood, the pain—they all faded behind me. I didn't have the luxury of searching for more knives or supplies. Time was critical. I didn't know when more enemies might show up.
We rode for hours. The night covered us like a shroud. The forest was a mass of black branches and shadows, but I kept going until I found a clearing. A stream cut through the land like a silver vein.
"Angel, scan the area for threats."
"Scan complete. Area is secure."
The clearing felt strange—too calm. But I couldn't question it. I slid off the horse and hit the ground clumsily. My legs shook. My vision blurred.
I needed to heal. Fast.
I gathered a handful of bitter peaches. Devoured them with desperation. The taste was sour, but the effect hit almost immediately. The pain dulled. The burning in my muscles eased. It wouldn't go away completely—but I could move.
Angel stayed alert as I collapsed under a tree, slipping into sleep, completely exhausted.
---
Meanwhile…
"Sir, we found the bodies. The entire scouting group has been wiped out."
The man by the fire clenched his jaw. His cloak shifted in the wind, but he said nothing at first.
"They still have enough strength to do this…?" he muttered with rage. "Damn it. We don't even know what happened to the main army… and now this…"
"Sir, according to the enemy's path… he's heading toward Caerlin. If he reaches the city, we won't be able to touch him."
The commander cursed again. He looked at his men—only twenty were left.
"We fall back. We don't know how many enemies we're dealing with. Inform Lord Draymore and Lord Redvale. They'll know what to do."
The riders scattered, while the night moved in to cover the blood with its shroud.