"I am telling you, they were five in a group, only one made it back; he made it back as a complete dimwit." Yuki and Jacek listened as a man who stood not too far from them tell his company.
"But here we are, unscathed and sane!" another man commented jeeringly.
The first man scoffed. "Do you think I lie? The man was my father's friend. All he speaks of these days are about pale humanlike monsters with glowing red eyes and sharp fangs. He is mad. Mad, I say, all because he ventured into these same woods!"
Jacek's brow lifted doubtfully as he eavesdropped on the conversation of the men. Thinking back, the realization dawned on him too. It really was too simple; something felt out of place. Echt was secluded and allowed very few in and out of its partition. But by their experience, was it not too simple to enter and leave the duchy?
"What do you think happened, Treyton, or is it so easy to sneak in or out of the duchy?"
Treyton's face was neutral. "It is simple," his tone was neutral. "Echt has several means of entry. One can enter from the north through Beicheden, from the south through Stolz, from the west by crossing the Klectia lake or through the east, which is the route we took. The Beicheden border is heavily guarded and is impossible to breach. The lake of Klectia as also very guarded for reasons I am sure you know better than I do," he looked at the attentive siblings.
"The lake is substantial to the duchy, yes," Jacek agreed.
"Right. That leaves the south and east. Stolz has several guards stationed there to prevent the commoners from leaving, which leaves only the east, no?"
"Yes," the duo responded
"Well, these woods are infested with many predators and considering the number of places that need guards stationed, these woods, to authorities, needs the least security. Afterall, using this route to enter and leave the duchy is the most dangerous."
"I did not see any animal though." Jacek looked at Yuki and asked, "did you?" she shook her head and turned her gaze to Treyton again.
"That might be because most of the animals moved away from these parts because they were being hunted. The Echt authorities are yet to figure that out. Before then, these woods serve as a free entry in and out of the duchy."
Yuki observed Treyton with narrowed eyes. She had a feeling the words he spoke was not entirely true, except, she had no way of proving they were lies. Also, he appeared so honest, Yuki had to doubt her guts for the first time. His explanation was reasonable. His expression was trustable. Thus, Yuki put aside her doubts and chose to believe Treyton's words.
Yuki and Jacek nodded to confirm their comprehension.
"Let us find something to sit on, the train is going to take a while to get her," Treyton told the two.
…
The clouds were gradually clearing when loud clangs of metal on metal was heard approaching from a distance. The train's approaching presence was announced by a distant rumble that grew louder with each passing second. All the people beside the rail got onto their feet eagerly. Treyton, Yuki and Jacek stood from the piece of cloth they were sitting on and neared the rails.
"Jacek, you can jump, can't you?" Treyton asked while looking at the direction the train would emerge.
Jacek stared at Treyton with raised brows. "I suppose I can," his voiced was laced with uncertainty and confusion. He looked at Yuki who shrug and shared the same confused expression as him.
"Good. Get ready to jump," Treyton announced as he watched the looming smoke followed by a long, large frame and a loud roar of an engine.
The atmosphere beside the rail became intense as the people stood nearer and nearer to the rail, clutching their belongings and their breaths. Yuki and Jacek felt so out of place that they couldn't fully enjoy the approaching vehicle as much as they wanted to.
Nearer and nearer the train got, and when it almost reached where the people had gathered, Treyton said loudly to Jacek, "Get ready to jump by my count."
"What!"
"One…"
"Hey, Treyton wait! Expla…"
"Two…"
The train first section reached them and passed in the blink of an eye. Then the second passed, and then the third. Immediately the fourth neared, the people who were with the three began jumping onto the train. Most made it, others did not. Those who failed to get on the train when they jumped, failed fatally.
At the sight of this, Jacek's eyes widened as his lips parted from each other. The first thing that surfaced in his mind at the unhumorous sight was Yuki. He looked at her and realized that just as always, she was composed, though she looked a little surprised at the turn of events.
"Eyes ahead, Jacek!" Treyton called out.
The fifth section had passed at that point. Most of the people had jumped onto the fourth and fifth sections while the remnant of the people were attempting to get onto the sixth section. Those who had fail to get on the train were in no conditions to try again as they laid on the ground groaning.
Treyton abruptly grasped Yuki by her waist and drew her to himself. His eyes were glued to the moving vehicle. He ignored both Yuki's startled expression as well as Jacek's thunderstruck guise. When the seventh and also the last section approached, he briefly looked at Jacek and uttered "Jump!"
Jacek looked ahead with his heart anywhere but in his chest. He could hear it pounding in his ears as he watched the door of the seventh section get close, with a stance that was ready to hop onto his death. At the back of his mind, he was trusting his sister to a certain hunk who did not look like he would fail to get himself and the damsel on the train.
Immediately the door reached the three, Jacek threw caution to the air and launched himself forward, arms stretched and legs coiled. Time seemed to slow as Jacek soared towards the train, the wind whipping his face and his heart racing with anxiety.
Jacek landed face flat on the train with a deafening thud. He laid down with his eyes shut. His jaws clenched. His fists clenched and his heart rolling on the floor beside him.
He was dead!
"You are not planning on lying there forever, are you?"
Jacek jolted from the floor of the train and looked beside him to find Treyton standing lordly over him. Yuki was still in his arms. Jacek stood quickly to retrieve his sister from the man's arrogant grasp. "Are you alright?" he asked as he brushed a stray strand of hair behind Yuki's ear.
Yuki smiled, genuinely. Of course she was fine. She just experienced an inhuman jump in an arm so sturdy, she did not have the time or chance to even flinch.
Treyton had jumped effortlessly onto the train the same time her brother did. While she had initially worried about Jacek, Treyton's incredible jump had left an excited sensation in her stomach. Was she really fine?
Jacek's eyes twitched as he watched Yuki's smug and wooed expression. When did she ever look so stupid! He threw a sharp glare at Treyton before pinching Yuki's cheeks, "were you even concerned about me!" he fumed.