Maze watched the guards pacing outside the barrier, their expressions contorted with frustration. Her chest tightened in concern as she glanced down at Reinhart, who still lay unconscious in her lap. His usually flushed face was pale, sweat trickled down his temples and soaked his brow. Not a stirring or a twitch from him, just the slow and steady rise and fall of his chest. The reality of their dire situation began to sink in - they were being chased by a power-crazed tyrant, her kingdom was most likely under his control, and her only ally was a man who minutes ago was an instant dinner packet.
"Reinhart, who... what are you?" She murmured, gazing at him intently. "And why you? Why now?" Her heart pounded in her chest as she tried to understand this new, bizarre reality.
After a few moments of silence, a weary sigh escaped her lips, and her gaze traveled across the red-illuminated field. Her home, Grammel, her throne, everything was taken away in a blink. But she wasn't alone. She had Reinhart. And together they would find a way.
With that thought, her mind veered back into action. Gently, she shook Reinhart's shoulders, her voice urgent, "Reinhart, wake up! We've got to move. We can't stay here."
His eyelids fluttered open. He registered Maze's anxious expression and surroundings, the pulse of power surrounding them from the barrier still holding strong, and guards gritting their teeth in anger on the other side.
"We need to flee," Maze voiced out her thoughts, her intense gaze meeting his. "Can you walk?"
Reinhart nodded but then looked at the guards still pacing. "This is going to be hard with them, but even if I move the shield with us, we are just going to be a moving target. We need to figure out some way to distract them so we can get out of sight," Reinhart said as his mind raced as he looked around at the dusty street.
"I agree," Maze replied grimly. "There is a secret tunnel we could use, but it's on the other side of the city from here. With all of Farid's men on our tail, we don't stand a chance."
"Unless..." Reinhart's voice dropped to a murmur, a spark lighting his eyes. "Maze, do you know any spells that can distract them? Something flashy, maybe?"
"I can only use the wind, but I still feel drained from before. I don't know if it will be enough," Maze confessed, biting her lower lip. Overusing her powers might wind up hurting more than helping.
Reinhart squeezed Maze's hand reassuringly. "I'll back you up as much as I can. Together, I believe we stand a chance."
With newfound determination, Maze slowly stood up, using a nearby wall for support. Drawing upon her remaining magic, she called on her command of the wind. A swirling gust danced around her fingertips.
A sudden realization dawned upon Reinhart. He had boosted Maze's powers momentarily after turning into a man. Is it possible that the boost was still in effect? He glanced at Maze, her face scrunched up in concentration, the wind that had once responded to her will now slowly circulating around her.
No, the boost was clearly long gone.
[Snack Bar: Unlocked!]
The words blinked in his mind so fast that Reinhart barely saw them, but he did. Then Reinhart felt hotness in the center of his chest. He also immediately knew innately that he would only get one of these per transformation, so he had to make them count.
"Why is your chest glowing? Is this another type of new magic?!" Maze explained but then stumbled backward as a snack bar pushed out of his chest.
"I'm not exactly sure..." Reinhart replied, looking down at the snack bar now resting in his palm. "But it may be something that can help us. Eat it, Maze, and let's get out of here."
With no other option left, Maze grabbed the bar hesitantly and took a quick bite. As soon as she did, a rush of energy surged through her body. Her fatigue disappeared as though she'd never been tired, the world around her coming into sharp focus.
A gust of wind, more potent than any Maze had ever induced, whirled around them. Maze barely had time to direct it before it blitzed, blinding the guards. They heard guards yelling and objects crashing as the powerful wind wreaked havoc. Maze swayed from the force of the wind, but Reinhart steadied her.
Taking the opportunity, Reinhart extinguished the barrier and pulled Maze away from the scene, heading towards the secret tunnel she had mentioned.
Running in the chaos, they managed to weave through the city's narrow lanes till they arrived at the entrance of the tunnel. It was a discreet door at the back of a bakery. With quick glances around to ensure they weren't followed, Maze opened the door and pushed Reinhart inside. The bakers, accustomed to such secret visits by the royal family, merely nodded and moved on with their work.
Once inside, they stumbled through the barely lit tunnel, oblivious to the dirt and rats. Their progress was mostly uneventful, save for the distant shouts that echoed indicating that the guards had discovered their disappearance.
As they surfaced from a hidden exit on the outskirts of the city, the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky shades of purple and blue. Reinhart looked at his glowing hands and saw that he had thirty minutes before he would turn back into an instant dinner pack.
"I think we lost them for now," Maze gasped, her chest heaving as they steadied their ragged breathing. "We need to find a safe place soon."
"We should also plan our next move," Reinhart sighed, understanding the gravity of the sentence. For the first time since he'd arrived at Fallenia, he realized what it meant to be a person again - being responsible for his actions and the lives of others.
"Till then, we keep moving," Maze proposed with exhaustion poorly hidden in her voice. "Keep away from the main paths. Find food, rest when we can, but we must keep moving."
"As long as I have you, Maze," Reinhart found himself saying, "I believe we can make it." The queen simply nodded, her faith radiating in her emerald gaze, giving Reinhart all the courage he needed. Despite the overwhelming odds stacked against them, they faced their challenges head-on, with the strength of a hearty meal and the will to survive guiding them.
And with that, they ventured into the night - unknown, unpredictable, but filled with hope for the journey that awaited them.