The forest was quiet in the early morning light as Ethan stood in a small clearing, his eyes closed in concentration.
A week had passed since their escape, and he had been diligently working on recovering his strength and mastering his abilities.
"Focus," he muttered to himself. "Control the flow."
Slowly, he opened his eyes. The familiar red glow emanated from them, but this time there was no pain. Instead, he felt a steady warmth, a controlled power flowing through his body.
With a swift motion, Ethan extended his hand. A bolt of energy shot from his palm, zigzagging between the trees before striking a distant rock.
The stone exploded into fragments, leaving a small crater behind.
"Master did it!" Alpha's excited voice rang out. She bounded into the clearing, her tail wagging furiously. "Master's power is amazing!"
Ethan allowed himself a small smile. "It's getting better," he admitted. "But I still have a long way to go."
Alpha tilted her head, her ears twitching curiously. "What does Master mean? Master is already so strong."
Ethan's expression turned serious. "Strong, maybe. But not strong enough. Not yet." He clenched his fist, remembering the battles at the mansion. "There are still too many unknowns, too many powerful bad bad people out there."
Alpha's ears drooped slightly at his somber tone. She padded over to him, nuzzling against his leg comfortingly. "But Master and Alpha are together. We can face anything! Master said one time".
Her unwavering faith warmed Ethan's heart. He reached down to scratch behind her ears, earning a contented purr. "You're right, Alpha. Together, we're stronger."
As they made their way back to the cottage, Ethan's mind wandered to the challenges ahead.
They had been laying low, recovering and training, but he knew they couldn't hide forever. It was time to start seeking answers.
Inside the cottage, Ethan pulled out a makeshift map he had been working on. It was crude, pieced together from his memories and Alpha's descriptions of the area.
"We need information," he mused, studying the map. "There's a town about a day's journey from here. It might be a good place to start."
Alpha peered at the map curiously. "Is it safe? Alpha doesn't want bad people to find Master again."
Ethan nodded, understanding her concern. "We'll be careful. But we can't stay hidden forever. We need to know what's going on in the world, who's looking for us, and what their plans are."
As they prepared for the journey, Ethan felt a mix of excitement and apprehension. This would be their first venture out since escaping the mansion. There were risks, certainly, but also the potential for answers.
They set out at dawn the next day.
As they traveled, Ethan continued to practice with his abilities.
He levitated small objects, created minor illusions, and even attempted short-distance teleportation. Each success, no matter how small, built his confidence.
Alpha watched his efforts with admiration. "Master grows stronger every day," she said proudly. "Alpha wishes she could help more."
Ethan glanced at her, an idea forming. "Actually, Alpha, maybe you can. Your senses are much sharper than mine. Could you try to extend them, see if you can detect any unusual energies or presences around us?"
Alpha's eyes widened with excitement at being given a task. "Alpha will do her best!"
As they continued their journey, Alpha would occasionally stop, her ears twitching and her nose raised to the wind. More than once, she alerted Ethan to hidden dangers – a patch of poisonous plants, a nest of aggressive magical beasts, even a hidden sinkhole that could have spelled disaster.
By the time the town came into view, Ethan was impressed by how much Alpha's abilities had grown. "You're amazing, Alpha," he said, genuine admiration in his voice. "I couldn't ask for a better partner."
Alpha beamed at the praise, her tail wagging so hard her whole body shook. "Alpha is happy to be useful to Master!"
As they approached the town, Ethan's demeanor became more serious. "Remember, Alpha, we need to be cautious. No talking about our past or our abilities. If anyone asks, we're just travelers passing through."
Alpha nodded solemnly. "Alpha understands. Alpha will be very sneaky!"
The town was smaller than Ethan had expected, but bustling with activity. Merchants hawked their wares in the streets, children ran playing between the legs of adults, and the air was filled with the scents of cooking food and livestock.
Ethan and Alpha made their way to the town square, where a large bulletin board stood covered in notices and announcements. As they approached, Ethan's blood ran cold.
There, prominently displayed, was a wanted poster. His own face stared back at him, alongside a crude drawing of Alpha. The reward listed for their capture was staggering.
"Master..." Alpha whimpered, pressing closer to his leg.
Ethan quickly tore down the poster, stuffing it into his pocket. "It's okay," he whispered, trying to sound more confident than he felt. "We just need to be extra careful."
They made their way to a small tavern, hoping to overhear some useful gossip. As they entered, conversations hushed briefly as curious eyes turned to the newcomers. Ethan led Alpha to a quiet corner table, ordering food and drinks to avoid suspicion.
As they ate, Ethan strained his ears to catch snippets of conversation around them. Most of it was mundane – crop prices, local gossip, complaints about taxes. But then...
"Did you hear? They say the Crimson Demon is on the move again."
Ethan's ears perked up at the name. He had never heard of this "Crimson Demon" before.
"Aye," another voice responded. "Heard he wiped out an entire garrison of the Royal Army single-handedly. They say his eyes glow red like hellfire."
Alpha's eyes widened, and she opened her mouth to speak. Ethan quickly shook his head, silencing her. They couldn't risk drawing attention.
As they listened, more pieces of information trickled in. This Crimson Demon was apparently a powerful figure, striking fear into the hearts of nobles and commoners alike.
Some spoke of him as a monster, others as a liberator fighting against corruption.
Ethan's mind raced. Could this Crimson Demon be connected to the conspiracy they had uncovered? Or was it just a coincidence that his description matched Ethan's abilities?
As they prepared to leave the tavern, a commotion erupted outside. The door burst open, and a group of armed men stormed in.
"We're looking for fugitives," their leader announced. "A man with white hair and red eyes, traveling with a wolf-like creature. Anyone seen them?"
Panic gripped Ethan's heart. They had been found. His eyes met Alpha's, seeing his own fear reflected there.
In that moment, time seemed to slow. Ethan felt a familiar warmth building behind his eyes. But this time, it was different. Calmer, more controlled.
"I, Ethan Alphard, command you," he whispered, his voice carrying an otherworldly resonance. "Forget why you came here. Leave this place and do not return."
The soldiers' eyes glazed over. Without a word, they turned and marched out of the tavern. The other patrons blinked in confusion, as if waking from a dream.
Ethan grabbed Alpha's hand. "We need to go. Now."
They slipped out of the tavern and made their way quickly to the edge of town. Once they were safely hidden in the forest, Ethan allowed himself to breathe.
"That was too close," he muttered.
Alpha looked up at him, her eyes shining with a mixture of fear and admiration. "Master saved us. Master's power is growing!"
Ethan nodded, still processing what had happened. His command had worked flawlessly, without the strain or pain he had experienced before. He was growing stronger, certainly, but at what cost?
As they made camp for the night, Ethan's mind was filled with new questions. Who was this Crimson Demon? Was he somehow connected to Ethan's own powers? And how had their pursuers found them so quickly?
One thing was clear – they couldn't keep running forever. It was time to take the offensive.
"Alpha," Ethan said, his voice filled with determination. "I think it's time we find out more about this Crimson Demon. If he's as powerful as they say, he might have the answers we're looking for."
Alpha nodded, her own expression mirroring Ethan's resolve. "Alpha will follow Master anywhere! Ehhhh! Alpha is getting Daja vuuu".