From Rock Bottom To Hero

For a moment, everything is blurry. Slowly, my vision returns to normal. We find ourselves in an alleyway.

I have no idea where exactly in Eldorath we ended up, but at least it's not at the town hall.

Faris quickly looks around. "I don't see any guards. Come! We can't waste any time."

I nod and follow him silently.

We stick close to the walls.

Faris seems to know his way around Eldorath surprisingly well, almost as if he knows every nook and cranny. He's already helped me out of tight spots more than once. I owe him.

Just as I'm about to turn a corner, Faris pulls me back. Moments later, I hear voices coming from around the corner.

"They couldn't have gotten far."

"But they could have teleported out of the city by now."

"The court mage said that a teleport like that would have cost an enormous amount of mana, and that person wouldn't be able to use it again so soon."

The guards' voices fade as they move further away.

"That was close" I mumble.

"This court mage must be very skilled because she's absolutely right." Faris answers, sounding worried.

Panic starts to rise in me. "How are we going to get out of here? The gate is probably heavily guarded!"

Faris remains calm. "Don't worry. I know another way. Come."

Without hesitation, I follow him. Faris leads me through winding paths, then suddenly off the beaten track, pushing into a thick bush.

I hesitate briefly, then follow him, pushing the dense branches aside. My clothes snag on some thorns, but I don't care.

"There." Faris points to a small hole in the city wall, barely visible behind all the bushes. It's just big enough for a person to squeeze through.

Faris struggles to get through. I fit easily.

On the other side, the forest welcomes us.

Faris takes a deep breath. "We made it."

I just nod. My legs feel weak, like they're about to give out, but somehow I manage to stay standing. No time to break down. Not yet.

"Where to now?" I ask.

"Deep into the forest." Faris says, pointing the way. "The farther away we get, the better."

We start marching trough the forest. No clear destination, just away from Eldorath. Branches whip against our faces, undergrowth scratches at our legs.

At one point, we find some berries on a bush. Faris inspects them quickly, then nods. "They're safe to eat."

It's not much, but enough to calm our stomachs.

Hours pass. The sky grows darker, the light barely filtering through the leaves anymore. My body feels drained.

Eventually, Faris stops. "Here."

I sink wordlessly onto a half-fallen tree trunk.

"We'll stay here for the night. It's not ideal, but going any further would be pointless. You look like you're about to collapse."

I nod, exhausted. "Thanks..."

We sit next to each other on the ground. No fire, no blanket, just a bit of moss and some leaves beneath us.

Just as I'm about to close my eyes, it hits me.

"Father and Gareth!" My voice trembles. "They were still in the town hall..."

Panic wells up in me. I sit up straight, staring into the darkness. "No! We have to go back and help them!"

Faris stays calm and looks at me. "Relax. The mayor doesn't have the guts to mess with Gareth or your father."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Gareth has more influence in Eldorath than the mayor. Your father too. People listen to them. They respect them. If the mayor tried anything against them, he'd have half the town against him by tomorrow."

"If you say so..." Slowly, I let myself sink back down, pulling my knees to my chest.

The night was long, but not completely sleepless. Faris shakes me awake. "Sota, Wake up. We have to go."

I blink at him sleepily. "Where?"

"To your house." Faris says shortly. "We need to talk to Gareth and your father."

I sit up slowly. "Are you sure that's a good idea? What if they're still looking for us?"

Faris shrugs. "Sure? No. But we don't have a choice. The longer we wait, the worse it gets. Besides, I can now use my teleportation without a problem again."

I nod and reply uncertainly. "Okay. I trust you."

We push our way through the forest again. This time, we barely speak. After what feels like an eternity, we reach the path leading to my home.

I peer carefully through the bushes. "No guards?"

Faris squints. "Strange... But better for us."

We quickly run down the path. Finally, we reach my home. Faris knocks softly.

The door opens almost immediately. Father stands there, not looking surprised.

"Get in." he says shortly and pulls us inside.

No sooner are we in than Mother rushes toward me. "Sota!" She cries, hugging me tightly. "Thank God... I was so scared!"

"I'm fine, Mother." I murmur and hug her back.

She strokes my hair and smiles, though her eyes are still wet. "I'll make you something to eat right away. You look half-starved."

As soon as she disappears into the kitchen, we sit down at the table.

Father takes a deep breath. "Gareth and I have made a decision."

"And that would be?" Faris leans forward.

"We're secretly gathering adventurers we can trust. People who listen to Gareth." He crosses his arms. "On the day of the attack, we'll strike first. Before the demons even reach Eldorath."

I feel my heartbeat quicken. "A surprise attack..."

"Exactly." Father says.

"And do we have enough fighters?" Faris asks skeptically.

"Not yet." Father admits. "But we're working on it. Every day counts."

At that moment, Shiro enters the room. We all turn to him.

"I want to fight too!" He says loudly.

Father stands up. "Shiro, no. It's too dangerous."

"Why not?" Shiro clenches his fists. "Because I'm not Sota? Because I'm not a 'prodigy'?"

"That's not it." Father says seriously. "You're just not ready yet."

"You always say that!" Shiro's voice almost breaks.

Father remains silent.

"I can fight too!" Shiro continues. "I won't just stand by and watch while you put yourselves in danger! I want to help!"

For a moment, no one says anything.

Faris leans slightly toward him. "Maybe you should give him a chance. In the coming battle, we'll need every hand."

Father sighs heavily and looks at Shiro. "You'll follow my orders. And if I tell you to retreat, you will retreat. Understood?"

Shiro's face lights up. "Understood, Father! I won't let you down!"