Astrid sat on a small bench inside the dark cell, staring at Raiden and Ash with curious eyes. The silence between them was thick until she finally broke it. "What's your dream, Raiden? And why do you need me on your crew?"
Raiden stood up, brushing the dirt off his trousers, his expression growing serious. "I'm going to stop slavery," he said firmly. "And… I will find the Sacred Jewel."
Ash tilted his head, raising an eyebrow. "Sacred what?"
Astrid leaned forward, her curiosity piqued. "You don't mean the Infinite Potential Catalyst, do you?"
Raiden nodded. "Yeah, that's the one. The Sacred Jewel. People say it's an ancient treasure, created long before the meteorite landed centuries ago. It's said to hold unimaginable power."
Ash scoffed, crossing his arms. "Everyone knows about that thing, Raiden. It's a legend. People are hunting for it everywhere. What makes you think you can find it?"
Astrid chuckled lightly. "You should've just called it the Infinite Potential Catalyst from the start, you idiot. 'Sacred Jewel' sounds like something out of a bedtime story."
Raiden shrugged. "Call it what you want. I'll find it, and I'll use its power."
Astrid smiled warmly. "Alright then. I'll help you. I'll see your journey and your dream all the way to the end. And I'll always be by your side." Her voice softened. "But first… we have to deal with the curse that's holding me here. I'm not allowed to leave the island. If I try, I'll die."
Raiden frowned. "Then how do we break it?"
Astrid stood and stretched out her hand. "One step at a time. First, let's get you two out of here." She began chanting a spell, her voice echoing softly through the cell.
"Obscuro Anima Releasio!"
The metal bars began to glow faintly before turning and twisting like liquid. Within moments, the cell door creaked open. Raiden and Ash stood, stretching their stiff limbs. Ash struggled to button his shirt but left it open, revealing the bandages across his chest.
As they moved toward the front exit, a sharp voice echoed through the hallway. "Astrid! Where are you?"
Astrid froze, her heart racing. She peeked around the corner and saw her father, the king, and her mother closing in on the prison. Her hands trembled as she pulled up her dark cloak, whispering to Raiden and Ash, "They're looking for me. We have to take the back exit."
They started moving, but as they reached the door, the front entrance swung open. Standing there was Astrid's father, his eyes locking onto hers immediately.
"Astrid! What are you doing here?"
Astrid froze, turning slowly to face him. Her cloak slipped off, revealing her face.
Her father's expression softened for a moment before turning stern. "Who are these men, and why are you with them?"
Without hesitation, Astrid turned and bolted. Her heart pounded as she tried to run, but her legs couldn't carry her far. Ash was already ahead, and Raiden, seeing her struggle, swooped her up into his arms.
Astrid gasped as her head rested against Raiden's chest. His firm grip and the warmth of his body made her cheeks flush. She looked up at him, her voice barely a whisper. "You… smell good."
Raiden glanced down at her, a smirk tugging at his lips. "That's not the issue right now. The issue is getting out of here."
Astrid blinked, snapping out of her daze. "R-right. I can sense Lyra… the one who cursed me. Since her magic flows through me, I can track her."
Raiden nodded and gently set her back on her feet. They ran together, dodging through the bustling streets as guards pursued them.
People on the street stopped and stared. "Isn't that the princess?" one man whispered.
"She's even prettier when she's worried," another commented.
Astrid spotted a carriage heading down the road. Without hesitation, she stepped into its path, forcing the driver to pull the horses to a halt.
A man poked his head out of the carriage. "Princess? What are you doing here?"
"I need your help," Astrid said breathlessly. "Take us far away from here."
The man nodded, opening the door. Raiden and Ash quickly climbed in after Astrid, and the driver snapped the reins.
The carriage jolted forward, speeding down the road as the guards shouted behind them. Astrid glanced at Raiden, her face still flushed from earlier. "Thank you," she said softly.
Raiden smiled at her. "Don't thank me yet. We've still got a witch to find."
Astrid nodded, determination shining in her eyes. This was only the beginning.
To be continued…