Huff! Huff! Huff! Huff!
They heard someone breathing heavily behind them.
"Wait, Ryder!" she called out, a voice Ryder recognized.
Turning around, he blurted, "Mara!"
The young lady who stood before them was slightly built, with long combed black hair tied in a bun and piercing green eyes like beautiful gems.
She wore the practical clothing of a traveler—sturdy boots, loose trousers, and a jacket with more pockets than seemed necessary. With how tidy she still appeared, Ryder could guess she was about to travel out.
But who travels like this in the developed generation like this?
But more surprising, how did she recognize him while still undercover in his cloak?
"What... What are you doing here, Mara?" Ryder stuttered, not looking at her directly. "Don't you have something better to do?"
"I had," she confirmed, her breathing beginning to steady. "Until I heard rumors about FSG massing nearby and a cloaked figure entering our village.
