With the mercenaries hot on their trail, Guto knew they had to escape quickly. Ignoring the searing pain in his side, he clung to his resolve. He activated the grappling function in his hunter's arm, the retractable cable shooting out like a serpent and embedding itself into a nearby lamppost.
Using all his strength, Guto yanked the cable, pulling himself off the ground and back onto the horse. Frøya's arms tightened around his waist as they resumed their frantic escape.
The chase through the city streets continued, a harrowing race against their relentless pursuers. Guto expertly guided the horse through tight corners and narrow alleyways, narrowly avoiding collisions with market stalls and pedestrians.
As they approached the city's outskirts, a thunderous sound echoed through the air. Guto glanced back to see the knight in black armor, adorned with a fox emblem, charging toward them on a majestic steed. It was the same symbol Frøya had recognized earlier.
The knight raised a gauntleted hand, and Guto could feel an oppressive force building in the air. It was an eerie sensation, unlike anything he had encountered before. Frøya's grip on him tightened as they braced for whatever was to come.
With a sweeping motion, the knight unleashed his power, creating a tentacle similar to what Frøya's cancer power does and sending it towards them. The force was overwhelming, threatening to knock them from the horse.
But Frøya, her determination unwavering, raised her arm and created her own arm of cells. Her sickness surged forth, a counterforce that clashed with the knight's attack.
The collision of powers created a dazzling display of force. Guto's eyes widened in surprise and confusion as he witnessed the exchange of attacks between Frøya and the knight.
For a moment, the struggle between the two opposing forces hung in the balance, neither side giving ground. It was a test of wills, a battle of unique abilities.
Then, with an abrupt burst of energy, the knight's strength waned. He let out a surprised gasp as he was thrown from his horse, crashing to the ground with a resounding thud. Guto and Frøya left the fallen knight behind, their horse galloping away from the danger.
As they distanced themselves from the chaotic scene, the knight, his armor dented and damaged, watched them with a mixture of frustration and realization.
"I underestimated her," he muttered, his voice carrying an air of defeat.
With the immediate threat behind them, Guto and Frøya continued their journey away from the city.
***
The moon hung low in the night sky, casting a silvery glow over the dense forest that surrounded them. Guto reined in the horse, allowing it to come to a gradual stop. He dismounted, his boots thudding softly against the forest floor, and turned to face Frøya.
The urgency of their escape had given way to a moment of respite, and Guto couldn't ignore the questions that had been gnawing at him. His voice was tinged with frustration as he asked, "Frøya, what are you hiding from me?"
Frøya hesitated, her gaze shifting away from his intense stare. She knew this moment would come, and yet, the fear of Guto's reaction had kept her silent until now. She took a deep breath and turned to meet his gaze, her eyes betraying a mix of vulnerability and resolve.
"Guto," she began, her voice steady but filled with a hint of sadness, "there's something you should know."
His anger flared, and his fists clenched at his sides. "Don't keep secrets from me, Frøya, or is it Amber? We're in this together. We can't afford to hide anything."
Frøya nodded, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "You're right, and I should have told you sooner. I come from a noble family, a family with a rare hereditary disease. The disease has been a curse on our bloodline for generations, and it comes with unique abilities. Abilities that the nobles saw as valuable."
Guto's anger began to ebb, replaced by a growing sense of curiosity and concern. "What kind of abilities?"
Frøya hesitated again before revealing, "I can create and manipulate cells in my body, Guto. It's the same power that saved us from that knight's attack. But it's also why my family tried to sold me when I was young."
Guto's expression softened as he listened, and he took a step closer to Frøya. "So, you ran away because you didn't want to be a sold?"
Tears welled up in Frøya's eyes as she nodded. "Yes, I couldn't bear the thought of becoming someone's pawn or a means to an end. I'm not strong enough to be a knight, and I'm not clever enough to navigate the political games of nobility, so I was surely going to be sold."
Guto reached out, gently cupping her cheek, his thumb brushing away a stray tear. "Frøya, I understand now. But you have to promise me, no more secrets between us. We're a team, and we'll face whatever challenges come our way together."
Frøya nodded, her voice choked with emotion. "I promise, Guto. From now on, no more secrets."
Their bond strengthened in that moonlit forest, as they shared their pasts, their fears, and their hopes. They were two souls bound by circumstance and choice, united in their pursuit of answers and justice. And as they continued their journey away from the city, they carried with them the weight of their shared secrets and the promise of unwavering trust.