The first rays of dawn stretched across the horizon, bathing the forest in a warm golden light. Aiden and Cara ran until their legs burned, the sounds of the castle fading behind them. The cool morning air stung Aiden's lungs, but the rush of freedom outweighed the pain.
They finally stopped by a stream, both of them collapsing onto the soft grass. Aiden leaned back against a tree, his chest heaving as he struggled to catch his breath. Cara knelt by the water, cupping it in her hands to drink.
"Did we… did we make it?" she asked between gulps.
Aiden glanced around, scanning the dense forest for any signs of pursuit. The trees were tall and thick, their branches intertwining to create a canopy that shielded them from view. It was quiet, save for the gentle rustle of leaves and the murmur of the stream.
"For now," he said. "But they'll come after us. It's only a matter of time."
Cara sat back, wiping her mouth with her sleeve. "Then we need a plan. Somewhere to go."
Aiden stared into the distance, his mind racing. He had dreamed of this moment for years, but now that it was here, he felt the weight of uncertainty pressing down on him. Freedom was one thing—surviving it was another.
"I need to get stronger," he said finally, his voice resolute. "If I'm going to stop them, I need to master my powers. And for that, I need the sun."
Cara raised an eyebrow. "You've mentioned your powers before, but… what are they, exactly?"
Aiden hesitated, unsure how to explain. He held out his hand, letting the sunlight filter through his fingers. A small flame flickered to life in his palm, glowing brighter as he concentrated.
Cara's eyes widened. "You can control fire."
"Only during the day," Aiden admitted. "The sun gives me strength, but at night…" He trailed off, the memory of his powerlessness in the dungeon still fresh.
"That's incredible," Cara said, her voice tinged with awe. "But also dangerous. If the kingdom knows what you can do…"
"They already know," Aiden said darkly. "That's why they destroyed my village. Why they locked me away."
Cara's expression softened. She reached out, placing a hand on his arm. "Then we'll make sure they can't hurt you again."
---
The day passed in cautious silence as they traveled deeper into the forest. Aiden kept his senses sharp, listening for any signs of pursuit, while Cara scouted ahead for safe paths.
By midday, they stumbled upon a small clearing surrounded by wildflowers and shaded by tall oaks. Aiden dropped his pack and turned to Cara.
"This will do for now," he said.
Cara nodded, setting down her own bundle of supplies. "What now?"
"Now," Aiden said, stepping into the sunlight, "I train."
---
The next few days were grueling. Aiden spent hours in the clearing, pushing himself to the limits of his abilities. He practiced summoning flames, shaping them into controlled bursts, and extinguishing them with precision. Each success came with a surge of confidence, but each failure reminded him of how far he still had to go.
Cara watched from the sidelines, occasionally offering advice or tending to the camp. She gathered herbs and berries, started small cooking fires, and patched their torn clothes. Though she lacked Aiden's powers, her resourcefulness was invaluable.
One afternoon, as Aiden struggled to maintain a steady flame, Cara approached him with a canteen of water.
"Take a break," she said, handing it to him.
"I can't," Aiden replied, wiping sweat from his brow. "If I stop now, I'll never be ready."
Cara crossed her arms, her green eyes narrowing. "You won't be ready for anything if you collapse from exhaustion."
Reluctantly, Aiden accepted the canteen, taking a long drink. As he sat down on a fallen log, Cara joined him.
"You're pushing yourself too hard," she said gently. "Revenge won't mean anything if you lose yourself along the way."
Aiden stared at the ground, her words sinking in. "I don't have a choice," he said quietly. "They took everything from me. My family, my home… I can't just let that go."
"I'm not asking you to," Cara said. "But you don't have to do this alone. I'm here, remember?"
Aiden glanced at her, surprised by the sincerity in her voice. For a moment, the weight on his shoulders felt a little lighter.
"Thanks," he said softly.
Cara smiled, a flicker of warmth in her expression. "Don't mention it."
---
That evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, Aiden sat by the fire Cara had built. He stared into the flames, their flickering light reflecting in his eyes.
Cara sat across from him, her knees drawn to her chest. "What was your village like?" she asked after a long silence.
Aiden's jaw tightened. "Quiet," he said. "Peaceful. We didn't have much, but it was enough. My parents… they were good people. They didn't deserve what happened to them."
Cara nodded, her gaze distant. "I was taken from my family when I was little. Sold to the castle. I don't even remember their faces anymore."
Aiden looked at her, his anger softening into understanding. "I'm sorry."
"So am I," Cara said. "But we're here now. And we have a chance to change things."
Aiden's fists clenched, the firelight casting shadows across his face. "I'll make them pay," he said, his voice low but firm. "For my family. For everything they've done."
Cara reached across the fire, her hand resting on his. "And I'll be right there with you."
For the first time in years, Aiden felt a glimmer of hope—not just for revenge, but for something more.