The carrier jolted forward, continuing its journey. Leo sat silently, his hands tied, while the muscular man sat across from him, watching his every move despite the sack covering Leo's face.
Every time the carrier hit a bump, Leo muttered under his breath.
"One hundred sixty-seven," he murmured.
The muscular man frowned. "What are you doing?"
Leo tilted his head slightly toward the voice. "Cou...nting," he replied in broken common tongue.
"Counting?" the man repeated, his confusion evident. "Counting what?"
Leo paused for a moment, then replied slowly, "Don't... wo-rry... it."
The man huffed in irritation. "And why do you sound like someone who barely knows the common tongue?"
Leo chuckled softly under his breath but didn't elaborate.
The muscular man sighed, leaning back against the carrier wall. "Whatever," he muttered, deciding it wasn't worth pressing further.
The muscular man leaned back, his tone calm but firm as he spoke,
"Get some rest, kid. By this time tomorrow, it'll all be over for you."
Leo remained silent, the cloth covering his face hiding his expression. He didn't react, choosing instead to let the man's words hang in the air.
As darkness settled over the camp, the group stopped to rest. A few of the black-robed figures gathered near the fire, their quiet murmurs blending with the crackling flames. Others patrolled the area, their sharp gazes scanning the forest.
The muscular man grabbed a few of his men and disappeared into the woods, his heavy footsteps fading into the distance.
Leo, tied tightly to a tree, took in the scene with his ears and mind.
I get it now, he thought. These people... they're not the type to talk things out. They've already decided what they want.
He exhaled slowly, frustration giving way to determination.
So there's no point in reasoning with them, is there?
Leo shifted slightly, testing the bindings at his wrists.
If talking isn't an option... His lips curled into a faint smirk under the cloth. Then it's time to take action.
He listened closely to the movements around him, his mind racing as he began to formulate a plan.
Leo's voice broke through the night, loud and insistent,
"HEY! IS ANYONE THERE? HELLO? IT'S IMPORTANT!"
The sharp tone caught the attention of one of the black-robed men, who stomped over, his irritation evident.
"What's with all the yelling, huh? Keep it down!"
Leo ignored the man's anger, continuing in his broken language,
"N-nature's call! Please, I-I need to go!"
The robed man narrowed his eyes, not fully understanding Leo's words but catching the tone. He scowled and turned to look at his superior—another robed figure standing near the campfire.
The superior raised his head lazily, looking toward them with mild irritation.
"What now?"
"He says he needs to… relieve himself," the guard grumbled.
The superior rolled his eyes, clearly annoyed but eventually gave a slight nod.
"Fine, take him. Keep him bound and stay close. If he tries anything, you know what to do."
The guard sighed loudly and turned back to Leo, untying him from the tree with rough hands.
"Don't think you're clever," he sneered, shoving Leo forward. "Your face stays covered, and your hands stay tied. Try something stupid, and I'll make you regret it."
Leo stumbled forward but kept his tone submissive.
"Y-yes, of course..." he muttered, though in his mind, he was already forming the next step of his plan.
The black-robed guard led Leo a short distance away from the camp, keeping a firm grip on the rope connected to his bound hands. Once they stopped, the guard shoved Leo lightly against a tree.
"Hurry up," the guard barked impatiently.
Leo turned his head slightly, his face still covered. He tilted it just enough to convey confusion.
"What?"
The guard frowned. "Go on! What are you waiting for?"
Leo shifted awkwardly, speaking in his broken language.
"How… am I supposed… to hold?" he said, moving his tied hands for emphasis. "Untie... please."
The guard rolled his eyes. He didn't fully understand Leo's words, but the meaning was clear enough.
"Great," the guard muttered, sighing in annoyance. "Can't even do this on your own?"
He stepped forward, untying Leo's hands but immediately retying them in front instead. Then, he attached a longer rope to the binds, keeping a secure hold on the other end.
"There. Done. Now don't get any ideas, kid," the guard snapped, yanking the rope slightly as a warning.
Leo looked down at the bindings and gave a small nod.
"Of course…" he muttered softly. Inside, his mind raced. Now or never.
The guard narrowed his eyes as Leo paused and glanced back again.
"Now what?" he growled, his patience wearing thin.
Leo didn't say a word, just raised his bound hands and motioned with his fingers for the guard to turn around.
The guard scowled. "Turn around? Seriously? You've got a sack on your face. How do you even know I'm looking?"
Leo tilted his head slightly, staying silent. The guard let out an annoyed sigh.
"Fine, fine! I don't get paid enough for this." He turned his back. "Just hurry it up, will you?"
Leo shifted as if finally starting, and for a moment, the guard relaxed.
A few seconds passed. Then more.
"Are you done yet?" the guard asked, his tone sharp.
"Al..most," Leo replied in a calm, steady voice.
The seconds dragged on, stretching into a minute. The guard frowned, suspicion creeping in.
"Alright, enough," he muttered, tugging on the rope. But instead of movement, the pull felt solid, like dead weight.
He froze for a second, his instincts flaring. Quickly, he spun around, only to see the rope tied securely around the tree.
Leo was nowhere to be found.
The guard's eyes widened in disbelief. "No way...!" he muttered, quickly fumbling for a horn tied to his belt. He blew into it with all his might, the sharp sound cutting through the night.
Within seconds, others emerged from the darkness, their hurried steps crunching against the forest floor.
The supervisor arrived first, his face like a brewing storm. "What's going on?" he demanded, his voice sharp.
The guard stammered, unable to respond, his gaze fixed downward.
The supervisor's patience snapped as he followed the guard's gaze to the rope tied firmly to the tree. Realization hit him, and his expression twisted in rage.
"You absolute idiot!" he barked, his voice thunderous. "Do you have any idea what you've done?!"
The guard tried to stammer out an excuse, but the supervisor didn't wait.
He spun to the others, his piercing glare sweeping over them. "What are you waiting for? FIND HIM! He can't have gone far!"
Without hesitation, the others scattered into the forest, their forms melting into the shadows as they began their search.
The forest grew quiet after the hurried footsteps faded, leaving behind an eerie stillness.
A few moments later, a figure emerged from the top branches of the very tree where the rope had been tied. It was Leo. His face was still partially covered, but a faint, confident smirk was unmistakable.
"They really can't sense a thing," he muttered under his breath. "No magic power, no trail to follow."
He climbed down slowly, each movement deliberate and silent, avoiding even the faintest rustle of leaves.
Once on the ground, he crouched and scanned the area, his sharp eyes darting to where the group had come from.
"Back to square one," he murmured. "Every bump, every jolt… I'll need to retrace it all."
Keeping low to the shadows, Leo began to move. His steps were careful, his ears alert to every sound.
"No mistakes," he whispered to himself. "This is my chance."
He slipped further into the darkness, each step taking him closer to the path he had memorized, his mind racing with plans for what would come next.
Leo retraced his steps carefully, following the path back to the very spot where he had been tied up. The familiar sight of the tree came into view, and he quietly approached it.
He crouched down and sat in the exact position he had been bound earlier, resting his back against the tree trunk.
Closing his eyes, he allowed himself to focus on his surroundings.
"The cold breeze," he muttered softly to himself.
"And the faint sound of water crashing… it's all here."
Suddenly, something shifted in the atmosphere.
Leo's eyes snapped open as a chill ran down his spine.
He turned his head toward the forest, narrowing his gaze.
Though he couldn't see anything through the darkness, he could feel it—a powerful, menacing presence drawing closer.
A sly smirk curled on his lips.
"I guess he figured it out already," Leo said under his breath, his tone calm yet amused.
He stood up slowly, brushing the dirt off his clothes, his movements deliberate and steady.
"So," he muttered, as if addressing the unseen threat, "the game begins."
He glanced into the dense woods, his instincts sharp, his body calm despite the growing tension.
Turning his head slightly, he let out a quiet chuckle.
"I guess that muscle head has some brain in it after all."
Leo steadied himself, taking a slow breath before speaking.
"Alright," he muttered under his breath. "Time to move."
He darted forward, his steps swift but deliberate, the forest around him a blur.
In the distance, the faint sound of water crashing against rocks reached his ears. It was faint, but it grew louder with each passing second.
As he ran, a glimmer of light pierced through the thick canopy of trees. His lips curled into a small smile.
"If my guess is right…" Leo whispered, pushing aside a low-hanging branch.
Breaking through the treeline, he finally saw it. The forest opened up into a sheer cliff overlooking a vast, raging ocean.
He stopped at the edge, his gaze dropping to the chaotic waves slamming against jagged rocks below.
The sight was mesmerizing, yet perilous.
"Well," he said with a dry chuckle, "that's one way to go out."
He lingered for a moment, the cool ocean breeze brushing against his face.
Leo stood at the edge, the crashing waves below echoing like thunder in his ears. He glanced down briefly, the violent waters almost daring him to jump.
"Well," he muttered to himself, "looks like I'm out of options."
He turned, his eyes scanning the forest behind him. A towering figure emerged from the shadows, stepping into view. The muscle-bound man moved slowly, his presence radiating authority, while countless eyes watched from the darkness behind him.
Leo smirked faintly.
Seriously? Why is he walking like he's some kind of final boss?
The muscular man stopped a few paces away, crossing his arms as he stared Leo down.
"So," the man started, his voice cold and steady. "Care to explain yourself?"
Leo stayed quiet, catching his breath, but the man wasn't finished.
"Was this little escape stunt supposed to mean something?" he asked, his eyes narrowing. "All that trouble… for what?"
A smirk tugged at the man's lips as he added, "You should've just stayed put and counted those bumps like the idiot you are—"
"WAIT!" Leo interrupted, panting as he bent forward, resting his hands on his knees.
The man frowned. "What now?"
Leo took a few labored breaths before glancing up, his voice tired yet laced with sarcasm. "You don't get it… do you?"
The man's patience was running thin. "Get what?"
Leo straightened, a mischievous glint in his eyes. He gestured toward the edge of the cliff behind him and says in his Language.
"A cliff," he said, almost mockingly. "And the protagonist? It's the perfect moment to say bye..bye."
The man's brow furrowed, his confusion evident of what he is speaking. "What the hell are you rambling about now?"
Leo grinned widely, raising his middle finger. "It means… you're an idiot."
Before the man could respond, Leo leaned backward, his body tipping dangerously toward the abyss.
"HEY!" the man roared, lunging forward, but it was too late.
Leo disappeared over the edge, vanishing into the Crashing Water.