Survival’s Path

Chapter 3

A while back.

Kaelan scooped both of them up, one under each arm, and threw himself sideways. The creature’s jaws snapped shut where they had been moments earlier.

Lira scream sounded, “No!”

The impact sent Kaelan rolling. Pain exploded through his ribs, but he didn’t let go.

“Run,” he told the children as he set them down. “Don’t look back.”

They didn’t hesitate. Both ran as fast as they could.

The monster roared. Kaelan turned, heart pounding.

He didn’t have a weapon. It didn’t matter. He stepped forward anyway. They crystal flared, burning his chest.

The ground beneath the monster cracked as Kaelan slammed his fist into its leg. A shockwave burst outward, throwing dust and debris into the air. The creature staggered, roaring in rage.

Kaelan didn’t wait.

He ran.

Lira was already moving, eyes wide as she grabbed his arm and dragged him off the path. They dove into thick brush as the monster’s roar shook the forest.

Minutes passed.

Then silence.

Only when the ground stopped trembling did Lira release him.

“You’re insane,” she breathed.

Kaelan laughed weakly. “Probably.”

Smoke rose in the distance. Survivors ran past them, shouting directions, names, warnings.

One word repeated.

“City.”

“Neutral city.”

“Run to the stone city!”

Lira looked at Kaelan. “That’s our way forward.”

He nodded.

Soon they left the forest behind. Lira looked back at it. Perhaps it was just her imagination, the forest looked alive and angry.

Ahead, survivors made their way forward. The duo mingled in between them.

They reached the city before sunset.

Stone walls rose from the land like an old scar that refused to heal. Old ruins reinforced with newer blocks, mismatched but looked strong. Watchtowers stood unevenly along the walls, banners absent. There was no sigils and no flags.

Neutral ground. The survivors lined up before the gates. Kaelan noticed they handed something to the guards at the gates. He couldn’t see it, so he couldn’t tell what they were.

Soon it got to their turn. The guards stopped them. A beastfolk, a human, and a dwarf. Weapons ready but not raised. The dwarf stretched out his hand. Lira sighed and asked, “how much?”

“Five Sarls or five mana crystals,” he responded. She took something out and handed it over to him. He nodded, giving way for them.

“Names,” one human demanded blocking their path.

“Kaelan.”

“Lira Veyl,” she said.

“Why is an elf traveling with a human?” the human guard asked.

“You haven’t seen any since the fall?” Lira asked.

“They usually give one another distance. After all it’s not easy to forget what you elves did.” He brought his face close. “Left to me, all elves should be…”

Kaelan stepped in between them. “What are the rules?” he asked.

The guard’s eyes flicked to the crystal on Kaelan’s chest. “No fighting inside. No blood debts. No claims. No factions. No killing. Break the rules, and the city removes you.”

“Alive?” Kaelan asked.

The guard shrugged. “Depends.”

“You are lucky then,” Kaelan muttered. “We still need a proper place to stay.”

“What do you mean by th…” Kaelan walked past him hitting his shoulder and pulling Lira along. “You dare?” the guard raised his voice.

“The moment you pull that sword, consider yourself dead,” Kaelan said without glancing back then added, “you’ll lose your head.”

“Let’s see about that…” Before he could his sword out, the beastfolk placed his hand on it.

“You will lose your head. He is stronger than you.”

The guard paused and turned to his colleague. “Is he stronger than you?”

“Hell no, I’m a bit stronger,” said the beastfolk.

Inside, the city felt tense but alive.

Different races moved through narrow streets. Elves, humans, beastfolk, dwarves. Everyone looked lively, at least not the ones just stepping in. People bargained at stands. Most got foods or weapons.

They hadn’t walked far when they passed an alley.

A group of humans surrounded a beastfolk.

“That’s for messing with us.”

“Hey, let’s go before the guards get here.” The humans turned to leave then they say Kaelan.

“What are you looking at?” one of them snarled.

Kaelan sighed out loud. Lira held his arm, giving him a silent plea. They walked away without looking back. “What are you looking for?” Kaelan asked Lira. She had stopped before some buildings, read the characters above them then moved one. And she kept doing that.

“An inn, a squatting quarters or anyplace we can sleep,” Lira said and stopped again. Kaelan looked at the strange character. “Let’s try this one,” she said and went in.

A bulky man stood behind a desk while sharping a scythe. “Need a room?” he asked without looking at them. The place looked terrible. Cracked walls, broken staircase, even a large hole on the ground beside the desk.

“Yes,” Lira replied, with a straight face.

“Twenty Sarls a night. An extra five Sarls for protection.” He raised the scythe above his head and smiled.

“The rules?” Lira asked.

“Don’t be loud at night,” he replied while looking at Kaelan. He turned to her and raised a brow. “If you like big guys, I’m much bigger.”

Lira’s straight face didn’t waver. “Here.” She dropped some bronze coins on the table.

“What? You don’t want protection?”

She shook her head. “Well, you’ll learn and come running. Upstairs, second room to the left,” he said. She nodded then headed for the stairs. Kaelan gave the man a glare then followed.

“Thought as much, one bed,” Lira said as they stepped into the room. The door fell and Kaelan caught it. “I didn’t expect much, but I didn’t expect this,” Lira said as Kaelan covered the entrance with the door.

She sat beside a huge hole in the wall that served as the window. “You sleep first,” she said pointing at the only thing in the room. A small bed, that was barely enough for a grown man and a child to sleep on.

Kaelan crashed on the bed. “Why was he asking for protection?”

“At night assassin go about assassinating people for their belongings,” Lira replied, her ear twitched and she continued. “We don’t have anything on us so they’ll be wasting their time. I paid for this place with our last Sarls.”

Kaelan raised his head. “What if they want your dagger?” Lira didn’t reply, she tossed him food. “It feels like I’m leeching off you.”

She raised a brow and then smiled. “Well, we leeching on each other are we not?” she said.

Kaelan looked out the window. “They’ve left,” he said.

“Finally, tomorrow we’ll rush to the center of the city. We need to get work slots so we can earn some Sarls,” she said.

Kaelan yawned. “Sure th…”

Lira heard him snore and laughed. “You must have been really tired,” she said, a sigh escaping her lips. “Thank the gods I met you.”