Having gotten past those men, Shadow kept running at full speed through the alley, messing up Zara's hair a little. The princess didn't understand the urgency.
"Hey, Shadow, slow down a bit!"
There was no response.
"Don't ignore me!"
Zara hadn't heard it, but Shadow had. The screams of those men they'd left behind—the agony that ceased almost instantly. She couldn't be sure, but she suspected someone was following them and was quite close.
"Hold on a little longer. We're almost at the meeting point."
"Meeting point? With whom?"
Shadow was about to answer, but she had to dodge quickly to the side, avoiding a projectile of blue light that struck the ground, shattering it.
"Not with her."
"Don't tell me."
On one of the rooftops, a familiar face appeared—Olivia. In her hand, she carried a strange device surrounded by dark runes.
"Hold on a little longer, Zara! We're coming for you!" the princess shouted from the rooftop.
Olivia pressed a trigger. The runes glowed blue as they circulated through the weapon at high speed, and immediately after, several shots were fired at Shadow.
The woman dodged the attacks with agility, the shots only tearing her clothes. She took off running once more, though this time closely pursued by Olivia on the rooftops.
"Olivia, please don't hit me!" Zara shouted when she saw some projectiles pass close to her.
The princess fired relentlessly, though Shadow noticed she was having difficulty aiming well due to the risk of hitting her sister. Still, it would only be a matter of time before one of the shots found its mark.
As they continued fleeing, they came across some people carrying sacks. Passing by them, Shadow slashed the sacks with her weapon, raising a large cloud of dust, and Olivia stopped firing.
"Good, we've lost her."
"Don't be so sure," Zara whispered.
Once again, they were attacked—but this time by Callen, who dropped from one of the rooftops and kicked Shadow, sending her rolling several meters, along with Zara.
"Hey, not me!" Zara complained from the ground.
"Sorry about that, sister. I'll make it up to you later."
Shadow also got to her feet, ready to fight.
"First, I'll kill this woman."
Kill her?!
He launched himself into the attack, holding his scimitars high, but was forced to stop by a surprise assault. Several fireballs flew past Shadow's side. Callen managed to dodge most of them—except one, which hit him in the knee, making the prince lose his balance with a grunt of pain.
From the alley, another person appeared, dressed like Shadow, a little shorter, with a clearly masculine build.
"It seems I arrived just in time, sister."
"Yes, you did."
The boy generated two flames in his palms.
"A mage!?" said Zara, her eyes shining with surprise. "Incredible! I've only seen two in my entire life! Do it again, please!" She approached him with her hands clasped together.
The mage was disconcerted by the confidence with which Zara spoke. He tried to find some response by looking at his sister, but she only sighed and told him to ignore her.
The fire burned brighter. The flames split into several small fireballs, and he launched them at Callen.
"I never thought you'd have a mage." Callen stood up with difficulty. Brandishing his weapons defensively, he managed to destroy all the fireballs. "But clearly he lacks training. I shouldn't worry."
The mage smiled nervously, sweat running down his face.
"Sister, he doesn't seem like just any opponent."
"I'm beginning to realize that."
Shadow stepped forward and took the initiative in the attack, though Callen blocked her strikes without much difficulty.
"That's it, Callen! Come on, destroy her!" said the princess while her brother fought Shadow.
"And whose side are you on?" The mage approached Zara.
"The one that benefits me most," she admitted. "What's your name?"
"Derek. You must be Princess Zara."
"It seems my reputation precedes me," she said with a somewhat proud tone.
"Don't tell your real name, idiot!" Shadow shouted at Derek from the fight. "Take her! I'll catch up with you later!"
Derek grabbed Zara's arm, and both ran off, leaving Callen and Shadow behind, fighting.
"Damn it. I'll finish you quickly and pursue them."
The prince's attacks seemed to tear through the air. They were incessant and constant. Though with difficulty, Shadow managed to block them.
"It seems you're not all that impressive after all."
"Nice words from someone whose arms are trembling after just a few clashes."
"You shouldn't underestimate me. It could cost you dearly."
"I should say the same to you."
Callen jumped back to put some distance between them.
"What do you gain from all this, woman?"
"Something precious to me. You wouldn't understand."
Callen sighed, raising one of his scimitars while keeping the other slightly lower. He seemed to be preparing some kind of attack. Every instinct Shadow had screamed at her to stop him.
She lunged at him, forcing him to attack in defense. There, with steel clashing against steel, Shadow spoke.
"Where is the seal?"
Callen tilted his head, raising an eyebrow.
"The royal seal?"
Zara responded exactly the same way, she thought sighing.
"I don't know what you're talking about. But there's one thing I do know—you'll return my sister to me."
The wind swirled around the prince. Moments later, he passed by Shadow's side without giving her any chance to react—but he ignored her and simply followed the path Zara had taken.
"Damn it!"
Shadow tried to follow him but was stopped by several light shots.
"He's not your opponent." The runes smoked for a few seconds before glowing again. "That's my job."
Shadow prepared to fight Olivia, examining the weapon she held in her hands. It looked like a cannon, though in miniature.
"Do you like it?" Olivia asked, seeing Shadow look at the weapon. "I found it a few months ago in some Illuminated ruins in the port city of Gurak. There were two, but I'm trying to figure out how they work, and breaking both would be a catastrophe, so..." Olivia began talking about her discoveries studying these weapons.
Shadow didn't let the opportunity pass. She lunged to attack, trying to stab her. To her surprise, Olivia's reaction was quick and accurate—she fired her weapon at Shadow's sword, damaging it and deflecting the attack.
"It's rude to interrupt someone when they're speaking."
Another burst of shots forced Shadow to retreat.
"Didn't they teach you that in Tarzovia?"
"How do you know I'm from Tarzovia?"
"I just assumed. You just confirmed it."
Shadow glanced sideways at the path the others had taken.
"Don't even think about it. I have you at minimum range," Olivia threatened, the runes glowing again.
"Don't think that thing scares me. It must have some weakness."
"Come and find out, then," said Olivia, the runes glowing once more.
Shadow lunged to attack, narrowly dodging Olivia's defensive shots. Though she had to retreat again, it was impossible for her to get close without risking being wounded.
The woman thought of a plan. Once again, she lunged at the princess, who responded with more attacks. But Shadow threw her damaged sword at Olivia—a sword that cut through one of her pockets and damaged what was inside.
"Ah, that's bad."
The bombs exploded, surrounding them both in a thick fog that barely let you see what was in front of you.
It seems the gamble paid off, Shadow thought, remembering how the previous night Olivia had pulled one of those things from her pocket.
"This seems like a disadvantage for me," said Olivia.
Shadow followed Olivia's voice, thinking she was an idiot for speaking in this situation.
"But it seems you've made a mistake."
As she approached Olivia, Shadow saw a blue glow through the fog. One of those shots grazed her face, wounding her and forcing her to retreat.
When Shadow had pulled back far enough, she took a shot to the arm. With a cry of pain, the woman knelt, clutching the wound. It wasn't serious—just meant to stop her.
"How the hell did you see me?"
Looking up, she had the cannon of the weapon pointed directly at her head, with Olivia standing before her.
"I don't carry things with me that put me at a disadvantage." She tapped her monocle twice with her free hand. "The smoke blocks your vision, but not mine."
"So you're going to kill me?"
"No?" Olivia raised an eyebrow. "Why would I?"
Shadow frowned.
"Why? Because I kidnapped your sister?"
"Oh, yes, that's serious. But you're more useful alive. I'm sure you have information we want."
"You're very naive if you think I'll tell you anything."
"You will, or your accomplice will." Shadow's breath caught for a second. "I just hope Callen doesn't kill him. He's been very unstable since yesterday."
Shadow grabbed Olivia's wrist, taking her by surprise, and snatched the weapon before she could fire.
"You shouldn't have come so close!"
Shadow struck Olivia in the face, though Olivia punched her back directly on the jaw. The princess then kicked at her—Shadow blocked it with her hand but at the same time had to release the weapon.
"For someone who uses strange artifacts, you fight very well up close," the woman admitted with a small, confident smile.
"Thank you. I don't hear that often," said Olivia, moving in to attack again.
This time, Shadow didn't defend or counterattack. She simply dodged and kept running in the direction the others had gone.
"Damn it. Fighting really isn't my thing." Olivia grabbed her weapon to pursue her.
"So, you're Shadow's brother?" Zara said to Derek as they ran.
Derek brought his hand to the bridge of his nose.
"I can't believe she gave you that ridiculous nickname."
"Yes, I told her the same thing."
"Why are you talking to me like we've been friends forever?"
"Hey, it's better to avoid tension in the group."
Derek watched her with narrowed eyes. He couldn't believe she was being so cooperative—he wasn't even having to force her to run much.
"Do you know we're your enemies?"
"Really? Damn, and here I thought you were bakers," said Zara in a mocking tone.
Derek made a small sound, like someone holding back laughter, then cleared his throat.
"The point is, you shouldn't be so calm," he said.
Zara looked toward the city wall—once distant, now it seemed within reach.
"I have my reasons."
They both heard footsteps behind them. Turning, they found Callen, who threatened to catch up within seconds.
"Brother, please save me!" Zara screamed, feigning drama.
Derek's arms burst into flames, conjuring several fireballs toward Callen once more. The prince either blocked or dodged them all.
"This has to be a joke."
He raised a wall of fire, but the prince dismantled it with his swords, leaving the mage slack-jawed.
"This has to be a joke!"
Callen quickened his pace, about to reach them. Then Derek launched a great blaze in his direction.
The prince raised one of his scimitars, enveloping it in a reddish glow. Zara reacted quickly, pushing Derek to the side—though leaving herself in his place. Callen brought down his sword, unleashing a red cut that sped past where Derek had been until it crashed against a wall.
The mage looked at Zara with wide eyes, seeming to have seen his life flash before his eyes. Though his surprise didn't last long, as Callen approached to free Zara.
"I finally freed you." He then hugged Zara, who returned the embrace with equal force.
"Thank you so much," she said with a small hint of disappointment. "Let's go back to the castle, brother." She could feel the freedom she so desperately wanted slipping through her fingers even as it was within reach.
Callen tried to break free from his sister's grip, but she didn't seem to want to let go. She clung to him—not out of love, just making him slower.
"We'll talk better at the palace." Callen managed to free himself from his sister's grip and now turned to the mage.
The prince brought his sword within a hair's breadth of the young man's neck.
"Kidnapping a princess, attacking a prince—these are serious crimes."
"I suppose they'll give me a house by the beach for that," he said sarcastically.
Callen crouched down to get closer to the young mage, but stopped just before grabbing him to arrest him. The light entering the alley had been blocked.
He managed to turn around but stood completely still, only to receive a blow to the head with a glass bottle, which shattered into pieces.
He fell to the ground, conscious but with very blurry vision. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Shadow arriving and picking up her brother, along with the princess, and continuing to run, exiting the alley onto the main streets.
Callen began to recover, still carefully. Olivia approached and helped him stand.
"What happened to you!?" Olivia came closer with a worried tone. "You're bleeding from the head!"
Olivia's tone was clearly concerned, but Callen ignored her, pointing at the street.
"Follow them."
Olivia nodded and kept running after them.
Shadow handed a bag of gold coins to what appeared to be a merchant. He smiled, tucked them away, and walked off, leaving the woman with a small cart full of hay and two horses to pull it.
"And who was that?" asked Zara.
"A contact. At least this went well."
Shadow helped Zara and Derek climb onto the hay, while Shadow took the driver's seat. With a tug of the reins, the horses began galloping straight toward the exit.
"Are you okay?" Zara asked Derek. "No hard feelings about pushing you, right?"
The young man didn't respond—he just stared at her with a furrowed brow.
There was a line, but they ignored it. Some guards tried to intervene but ended up moving aside to avoid being run over.
"Stop right there!" Olivia shouted at them from afar, the sound of shots reaching them before the blue light rays.
Derek reacted and raised a wall of fire that managed to deflect most of the attacks, and the others luckily didn't hit anyone.
"Catch them!"
Some mounted guards began to pursue them, and it was also Derek's job to stop them with fire attacks.
His nose began to bleed as he did this. He wiped it, trying to ignore it. He launched more attacks at additional guards who seemed to want to intervene, then fell back exhausted onto the hay.
The cart passed through the city gate at full speed, leaving behind the noise, the shouts, and Olivia. Finally, they had left the great city.
Zara's eyes lit up once more. Green meadows stretching as far as the eye could see, great mountains on the horizon, the sunlight caressing her skin. She raised her hand to the sky, watching the birds fly by, and couldn't help but think: Finally, I've made it outside. It's as beautiful as I imagined.