Survival’s Path

Chapter 6

“Can I have a decent meal just once?” Lira groaned as they ran.

Kaelan didn’t answer. His focus was forward, on the turns and corners. The streets of the upper district were clean, but crowded. Morning traffic had begun. Merchants were opening shutters and moving goods. Servants crossed streets carrying baskets. A few people turned at the sound of running feet.

“Don’t slow down,” the beastfolk said behind them. His breathing was steady, and his movements coordinated. The masked companion stayed close to Lira, light on their feet. They cut left into a narrower street. Kaelan skidded to a stop, raised a hand.

“Wait.”

Too late.

Steel rang.

A blade flashed from an alley on their right. Kaelan twisted, catching the wrist and slamming the attacker face first into the stone wall. Bone cracked. The man dropped without a sound.

“More,” Kaelan said.

As if summoned, three figures stepped out ahead. One an alleyway, and two dropping from a low balcony. No shouting. No threats. Just weapons out and intent clear.

“Assassins? In daylight?” Lira snapped.

Kaelan moved first. He ducked under a swing, drove his shoulder into one attacker, then spun and kicked another into a stack of crates. Wood exploded outward.

The beastfolk ran on the way past Lira and his companion and met the third head-on. His sword sang as it cleared its sheath. One clean slash forced the attacker back.

“Move!” he barked. Noone argued, they ran again.

Kaelan led again, weaving them through streets that bent and curved, away from the wider roads. He didn’t know the city, he just followed his instincts. Left when it felt wrong. Right when the air tightened. Over a low fence, through a laundry line, across a courtyard where an old woman screamed and dropped her basket.

“Sorry!” Lira called back without stopping.

They burst onto another street, and froze. Five more assassins. They blocked the road ahead, spread wide, weapons out.

Kaelan clicked his tongue. “They are persistent.”

The beast folk unsheathed his sword. “Come, I can do this all day,” he snarled.

“Stay behind us,” Lira said sharply pulling the masked companion behind her. Dagger at the ready.

Before the assassins could advance, a loud crack echoed down the street.

“Oi!”

Everyone turned. A man leaned out of a second-story window, a broom in hand. “Take your fighting somewhere else! This is a residential street!”

Several shutters opened. Faces appeared. Some curious, others annoyed.

The assassins hesitated.

Kaelan grinned. “Now.”

They bolted sideways, straight through an open archway into a narrow service corridor. Someone shouted behind them, but none of them listened.

“We lost them,” the beastfolk said after a while of running.

They ended up in a quiet square. It was small, tucked between buildings, with a dry fountain at its center and benches lining the walls. No guards, no crowds, just silence and sunlight.

Kaelan leaned against the fountain rim. “Alright,” he said. “Now we talk properly.”

The beastfolk wiped his blade clean and sheathed it. “My sincere thanks warrior, my name is Ash.”

“Kaelan,” Kaelan replied.

Lira crossed her arms. “Care to explain why they want your friend dead?”

The beastfolk looked at his companion. The masked figure sighed and pulled the mask down just enough to breathe easier.

“Because people don’t like neutrality,” the masked one said. “And they like money even more.”

“That’s not an answer,” Lira glared.

“It’s all you’re getting,” Ash replied.

“We almost died and that’s all you care to say?” Lira yelled. Kaelan glared at Ash from behind Lira and he sighed.

“She’s Neritha, all I can tell you is her family is one of the three founding families of this city and they’ve been wiped out,” he said.

“Oh no,” Lira lamented. “We just got into something bigger than us.”

Kaelan studied them. “What’s your plan?”

“Leave the city,” the beastfolk replied calmly.

“How? I’m sure they got people at the gate.”

“I don’t know. That’s why we are still in the city,” Ash replied.

Lira looked at them. ‘Kaelan, why did you get us involved in this?’ she thought.

“There’s a secret way out the city,” Neritha, the mask person spoke. “But it will be heavily guarded.”

“If it’s heavily guarded then it’s a no. Using the gates will be better,” Lira said.

Kaelan closed his eyes. “For now let’s go to our place. Better than being outside,” he said with a sigh.

***

“A way out of the city,” Kaelan muttered to himself as he stared out the window. It was night time. The city quiet, Kaelan had his stomach filled, now he was ready to think.

“Thank you for the accommodation,” Ash voice sounded behind him.

“We are in the same boat now. Better we work together properly,” Kaelan said.

“Sorry for dragging you into this…”

“If you are sorry then tell what you did back at the restaurant. What was that place?” Kaelan interrupted.

“What do you mea… wait, are you talking about the mind realm?” Ash raised a brow.

“It’s called the mind realm, I see.”

“For someone as strong as you, it’s a surprise you don’t know what it is.”

“Care to explain?”

“It’s a realm only 5th star masters and above can access. We can go all out in there without worries and determine who is stronger without actually fighting.”

Kaelan rubbed his chin. “What’s a 5th star master?” he asked. Ash eyes widened, his jaw fell slightly. “You don’t know?”

“No. There’s a lot I don’t know…” Kaelan paused when he noticed Ash reach for his sword.

“A fiend.”

“Do not draw that blade.” Kaelan raised a brow at Ash.