The towering castle gate looms behind us as we hurry into the woods adjacent to the royal fortress. We choose the woods over the nearby city because it will be easier to hide there. These woods, known as the Whispering Pines according to Sophia, are cloaked in an eerie silence, interrupted only by the occasional rustling of leaves and the soft coos of hidden nocturnal creatures. The moonlight pierces through the dense canopy, creating patches of pale light that guide our path. There are no monsters here since the knights usually patrol this area, making it quite safe even at night.
However, the short-lived tranquility is soon interrupted. Faint at first but growing increasingly clearer, I hear the distant shouts of men, the frantic barking of dogs, and the unmistakable sound of horses' hooves pounding against the ground. It seems like someone has discovered the scene we left behind in the castle, and now they are hot on our trail.
"We need to move faster!" Sophia whispers.
"No problem," I nod, picking up the pace, following her deeper into the forest.
The foliage grows denser with every step, the path narrower. I am now carrying Yumi, who is sleeping, not because of Sophia's spell, but due to the sleeping pills I had administered. Sophia has to refrain from using her magic for now. Since her spells primarily rely on scents, the hunting dogs our pursuers have could easily track us down if she doesn't dispel her magic. Meanwhile, I don't think it's the right time to wake the girl up either. This is not a good time and place to explain everything to her and calm her down.
Thankfully, since Sophia knows this forest like the back of her hand, our escape proceeds smoothly. She even has some kind of magical dust with her that will erase our footprints and scents in just seconds, and another one that will confuse and mess with our pursuers' sense of direction.
I wonder why a royal mage like her would have those kinds of items, as they seem more suitable for a thief than a mage. Regardless, an hour later, we reach a small brook. I gently lay Yumi down on a smooth pebble patch. Nearby, Sophia collapses on the ground, panting, sweat coating her forehead and her hair messy.
"Master," she gasps, "are you even human? How are you not exhausted? You're not even sweating after carrying that girl for an hour!"
I can't disclose my personal information to Sophia just yet, but the truth is, I am an 'enhanced human,' a real-life 'cyborg' created by combining the best of current biotechnologies and artificial intelligence. Yes, I had to prepare at least that much if I wanted to venture into this unknown world. The result is pretty decent. My entire body has been modified to become as strong and as fast as a human body can physically get. I am also very capable of fighting, but since I don't actually know how strong people are in this world, I prefer to avoid any direct confrontation for now.
Using my enhanced hearing, I survey our surroundings. The brook's gentle ripples and the distant calls of nocturnal creatures are the only sounds that punctuate the night's silence. Gently, I drape my suit over Yumi to shield her from the night's chill. With her settled, I turn my attention to Sophia to plan our next steps.
"We can't stay here long," Sophia murmurs,
"I'm aware," I reply, "but we need a plan and a place to rest. What do you suggest?"
"There's a place, an old hideout that some of the rebels used in the past. It's hidden and fortified. It should offer us some shelter, at least for a little while."
"Alright."
After resting for half an hour, we set off, delving deeper into the woods. The further we go, the larger and taller the trees become. Soon, the canopy is so thick that only faint moonlight filters through. Our only illumination comes from glowing mushrooms scattered along the forest floor. Despite the darkness, Sophia's knowledge of the terrain allows us to navigate swiftly.
After a few more hours, we reach our new hiding spot. The entrance is expertly concealed, appearing as nothing more than a massive boulder covered in moss and draped with vines.
Sophia steps forward, placing her hand on the boulder and murmuring a password. "The white rabbit dances under the moonlight."
A deep rumble echoes through the forest. The boulder shifts, revealing the dark maw of an underground cave.