The moment Lyra heard the distant patter of rain, she ordered Icara to land. Once on the ground, Lyra made her eagle vanish, and she and Aiden broke into a sprint.
"Move it!" Lyra shouted. "The rain's almost on us!"
"Where are we going?" Aiden asked.
"I see a forest up ahead!"
They ran full tilt and reached the forest just before the downpour hit.
"Now we need to find shelter," Lyra said. "These trees won't keep us dry for long."
"Look!" Aiden pointed. "I can see a cave over there!"
Lyra and Aiden picked up the pace, and within minutes, they were inside a cave blanketed in moss and wilted leaves.
"Just what we needed!" Lyra groaned, tossing her small leather bag aside in frustration. "Not only is our trip delayed, but now we're stuck in this cramped dump."
"Let's hope the rain passes quickly," Aiden said, unstrapping his sword from his back and setting it in a corner to get comfortable.
"It's pouring out there. Looks like we'll be here a while."
"Well… I guess that's to be expected."
"What do you mean?"
"The girl from last night said I'd have to face a lot of enemies from now on. Wouldn't surprise me if even the weather's against me."
"Your grandpa told me what happened last night. Who was that girl?"
"No idea. She wouldn't tell me who she was. I couldn't even see her face—she never took off that hood."
"Hood?" Lyra echoed.
Aiden nodded, and Lyra's gaze dropped to the ground.
'Could she be… No, that's impossible,' she thought.
"What's that?" Aiden asked, growing irritated by his companion's cryptic demeanor.
"Nothing, forget it. I'm just tired and thinking nonsense."
"Then let's get some sleep."
"Here? You're nuts."
With a sly grin, Aiden swept the leaves on the ground, shaping two makeshift beds—one for him, one for her.
"Looks like you're a real wild man," Lyra said with a smirk. "Fine, I'll sleep here, but you better not try anything funny, got it?"
"Wouldn't dream of it," Aiden shot back with a teasing edge. "Seems like you're the one with the bold ideas."
Lyra's cheeks flushed, and she turned her back to him as she lay down. Aiden settled in with a smug sense of victory, the sound of the rain as the only backdrop.
. . .
"Aiden!"
Lyra's shout jolted Aiden awake. He bolted upright, noticing she wasn't beside him.
He scrambled to his feet and rushed out of the cave. The rain had stopped, but the surroundings were soaked, and the darkness made it hard to move.
"Where are you, Lyra?!" Aiden yelled, scanning every direction for a sign of her.
His shouts cut off when he felt the cold tip of a knife press against his throat.
"Turn around slowly," a stranger's voice growled behind him. "Try anything, and we won't just kill you—we'll kill the girl too."
The mention of Lyra tamped down Aiden's rage, and he complied, turning carefully. The figure threatening him had a covered face.
Aiden glanced into the distance and finally spotted Lyra, held by three other men.
"Listen up," the knife-wielder said. "Hand over all your money and anything valuable. Cooperate, and we'll leave peacefully. You'll live. Clear?"
'Damn thieves,' Aiden thought. 'No way I'm letting them get away with this, but I can't risk them hurting Lyra.'
"Fine," Aiden said. "I'll give you what you want, but don't you dare touch her."
The four thieves burst out laughing.
"Whatever you say," the knife-wielder sneered. "Now move it and hand over the goods."
Aiden reached toward his hip, but instead of grabbing one of his money pouches, he gripped the small crystal orb tucked in his pocket.
A dense burst of light erupted, startling everyone there.
But Aiden was the most stunned, confused when the fairy from before didn't appear.
Instead, his body surged with a familiar adrenaline as his muscles tightened and a reddish aura began to envelop him.
"You bastard!" the knife-wielder snarled. "I'm gonna kill you!"
The thief lunged to stab Aiden, but Aiden was faster. A single punch to the face sent the man flying, knocking him out cold.
The other thieves stared in shock, as did Lyra.
'That magic power… It's the same as…' Lyra thought, desperately hoping she was wrong.
Aiden turned to face the remaining three thieves, who, in their surprise, had already let go of Lyra.
"Alright," Aiden said, dropping into a fighting stance. "Who's next?"