Aedan run through the forest with his breaths ragged. Panic and fear chasing him and he feels like it was wolves nipping at his heels. He pushed his body harder, the trees blurring past him as if the deeper he ran the further he could escape from the nightmare he'd just created himself.Every crack of a branch or rustle of leaves made him flinch, expecting Darian or one of his cronies to appear and ready to finish him off.After what felt like a very long time, he slowed, legs burning, chest heaving.Aedan stumbled to a halt near a large tree, dropping to the ground with his back pressed against the rough bark. His mind was racing and his heart pounding loud enough to drown out the sounds of the forest around him. But he know that he couldn't run forever.The sun hung lower in the sky now, starting its descent toward the west. It wasn't late yet but shadows were growing long, the forest growing dimmer.Aedan wiped the sweat from his brow, feeling the coolness of the air against his heated skin. He had no idea what to do next."What am I going to do now?" he muttered to himself.He glanced around, trying to gather his thoughts. Somewhere, a few hundred meters to the east, there was a small village. A place he could hide, maybe. But could he even show his face there? What if Darian had connections? What if the academy already had people searching for him?For now, though, he didn't have the energy to keep running. He needed a moment to think and to gather his breath.His gaze dropped to the object still clutched in his hands. It felt heavy, not just physically but with the weight of what it represented. This thing... this is a weapon.He still didn't fully understand what it was or where it had come from. And yet, it had unleashed a power that pretty damn destructive as if casted by a mage in 5 or 7 rank. It wasn't from this world. It was from another place, another dimension. This is something that he shouldn't touch.And yet, despite everything, he couldn't bring himself to let it go. His grip tightened on the cool metal. This weapon had saved his life. It had hurt Darian and scared him. Aedan couldn't deny the satisfaction that gave him.But that came with a cost. Darian would never let this go. The academy wouldn't either. He'd crossed a line he couldn't uncross.He looked down at the weapon, a thousand thoughts swirling through his mind. This could be a dangerous power.Maybe this was the biggest mistake of his life, getting involved with something he didn't understand. But now, it was too late to turn back. He had no choice but to see this through."I can't let it go now," Aedan whispered, determination hardening in his chest.This weapon... it was his only chance.Aedan groaned as he pushed himself up from the ground, his muscles aching, the weight of exhaustion crashing down on him. The adrenaline that had fueled his escape was gone now, leaving him with nothing but pain and fatigue.He could feel the sharp sting from Darian's wind attack earlier, his body was sore from where he'd been slammed into the tree. His right leg throbbed with each step, making him limp as he began his slow trek through the forest.Every movement sent waves of pain through him but he had no choice. He couldn't stay there. He had to keep moving.Aedan limped through the woods for a long time. Time became a blur, he wasn't even sure how long he'd been walking when finally, the trees parted and he spotted something in the distance. A small village.Relief washed over him, but it was short-lived. He forced himself forward, closer to the village, but each step was so painful now. His vision started to blur, and his legs felt so heavy. As he drew nearer to the outskirts, his strength finally gave out. His knees buckled and he collapsed onto the ground.The world around him dimmed. It wasn't until he saw the dark stain spreading on his leg that he realized what had happened. He must have been bleeding since the fight. The wound on his leg had been worse than he thought.His thoughts became sluggish, and the pain grew distant, overtaken by a dull numbness."Am I dying?"The last thing Aedan saw before everything went black was the dim outline of the village ahead.---When he woke, everything was different.Aedan's eyes fluttered open to a soft light. He was lying on a narrow bed inside a small room. The walls were made of simple wood, and the air smelled faintly of herbs and something medicinal. For a moment, he didn't recognize where he was but then the memories rushed back. The fight, the weapon, the escape.He tried to sit up but groaned in pain. That's when he noticed: his clothes were gone and he only wear his trouser. His right leg had been bandaged and the fabric of his pants cut away to allow for the white cloth wrapped tightly around the wound.Aedan looked down at himself, feeling disoriented. His heart began to race."Where am I?"Aedan's gaze shifted toward the door as it creaked open. He tried to focus on the figure stepping into the room. A girl entered, and for a moment, their eyes met. She looked a little surprised to see him awake.She was cute, with a petite frame and a round, smooth face. Her soft features were framed by delicate hair that seemed to shimmer in the dim light, making her look almost otherworldly in the quietness of the room."So, you're finally awake," the girl said with a smile of relief, her voice gentle and kind, though tinged with curiosity.Aedan blinked, still groggy, unsure of where he was or how he had ended up there. But the girl's presence was oddly comforting in the unfamiliar surroundings.---