『Neizan: Hey, little one, don't be afraid. Just go back the way you came; you can hide somewhere. Nothing will happen to you now. 』
The boy, who had been standing to the side, hadn't moved out of fear. But upon hearing the young man's words, he was able to react and decided to leave that place.
『Neizan: And you, girl, you're in trouble right now. You need to get out of here. 』
『Lina: I don't want to… I have to stay with my father. 』
『José: Lina, please listen to this man and run. I can't do anything for you now. Just let me hug you one more time before you go. 』
『Lina: But Dad? 』
『José: Daughter, listen carefully to what I'm going to say. I know what you and your mother have been going through. She told me. So don't worry about me; I'll be fine, but you have to leave this place now. 』
『???: They're over there! 』
From the end of the street, more guards appeared and began to run toward where they were gathered.
『Neizan: We have company, and we're running out of time. 』
Seeing this, the boy warned about the presence of the men who were getting closer.
『José: Lina, I love you very much, so please listen to me and go. 』
『Neizan: Hey, old man, I don't know if this will help you, but when the guards arrive, tell them I was the one who kidnapped your daughter. 』
Said the young man as he took the girl's hand, forcing her to react and move from where she was.
『José: I know, and I will be eternally grateful to you. Help my daughter in any way you can. Goodbye, Lina. 』
Said the father as he let go of the hand he was holding from his daughter. It was a farewell that was difficult for both of them to express in such a short time.
『Lina: Dad! 』
『Neizan: If we don't go faster, they'll catch us. 』
『Lina: ... 』
In silence and with tears streaming down her face, as she ran, Lina looked ahead towards where they were headed. However, when she looked back, she saw the men pursuing them.
『Guards: Stop right there! 』
The girl's mind was in chaos; everything happened so quickly that she had no time to think about what to do. In the midst of the confusion, she stumbled slightly, and her fall to the ground seemed imminent, but she didn't fall.
『Lina: Ah! 』
『Neizan: ...I'll carry you. 』
Just when she was about to fall and be caught, the boy crouched down while running, turning his body to grab Lina by the waist and arm. In this way, she was now secured in his arms.
『Lina: What are you doing? 』
『Guards: We've got them! 』
『Neizan: Don't be so sure. 』
Just at that moment, what seemed like a loss of rhythm in the two young people's run transformed into a sprint that surprised all the onlookers.
『Girl: Aaah! Why is this happening to me? 』
『Neizan: Don't worry, I know what I'm doing. 』
『Guards: Damn, how can he run so fast with a woman in his arms? 』
『Guards: We need horses! Sound the whistle! 』
The guards in front heard the shout and, realizing the chase, drew their swords.
The boy, determined to overtake them without losing speed, glanced to the side of the street where there were stacked boxes.
With agility, he climbed onto the roofs of some vendors' stalls, leaving the obstacles and the guards behind after crossing an alley.
『Guards: Over there, catch them! 』
Two horses appeared from where the previous guards were chasing them.
『Neizan: That would be a problem. We need to get to a place where they can't use their horses. 』
『Neizan: I know what to do. 』
『Lina: …? 』
『Neizan: Lina, get ready and hold on to me tightly. 』
It was the first time the boy called her by her name. She complied, although she felt a bit embarrassed and closed her eyes out of insecurity.
If the boy hooded didn't hurry to do something, they would be caught. They continued through the streets as the crowd watched the situation with anticipation. The horses were about to catch up with the two young people.
『Guards: But what?! 』
The boy had changed direction, entering a narrower street filled with obstacles that he began to deftly navigate with parkour moves. With one arm, he firmly held the girl, while the other was used as support for his movements.
『Guards: Don't let them escape! 』
As he crossed the alley and turned a corner, he encountered an unexpected complication, causing him to stop suddenly.
『Neizan: «Don't tell me it's a dead end.» 』
Lina opened her eyes again to see what was happening, and although the situation seemed desperate, her companion appeared to have a plan.
Before them stood a wall approximately five meters high in the middle of the narrow alley.
『Guards: You're cornered; surrender! 』
『Lina: Aaaaah! 』
Suddenly, Lina panicked as she realized the boy had lifted her into the air.
Without hesitation, he grabbed her and forcefully threw her over the wall. But how would she avoid falling on the other side?
He jumped toward the wall, pushing off with a kick to reach the other side. With another kick from his right leg, he launched himself over the wall just as the girl began to fall.
Still, he succeeded. He barely managed to catch her in mid-air, and once again, he started to run while holding her in his arms.
『Neizan: I'll take you far from here. 』
Said the young man with dark eyes, which now shone in the sunlight.
Some time after their escape through the village, where there were no longer any guards, they came to a stop.
The boy gently set Lina down on the ground while looking at her. She still seemed confused by the situation they found themselves in.
As she observed his face with more detail and calmness, she realized that the boy who had helped her was none other than the same boy who, the day before, had stolen several food items from her shop.