Thief! Over here!" a voice shouted across the bustling market.
Nova's heart dropped.
Without thinking, he punched the man who had pointed him out and grabbed the sword from his belt. The crowd screamed and scattered as he darted down the street. But just ahead, four guards blocked his path, their spears glinting in the sunlight. Nova skid to a halt, pivoted, and sprinted the other way only to be met by five more guards closing in.
Surrounded.
He dropped the sword, panting. "Please… I'm not some third-row criminal or whatever you think I am!"
One of the guards raised his weapon. "Orders are orders, kingdomless scum."
Just as the blade began to swing
Crack!
A figure dropped from above like a meteor, kicking the guard square in the face. The man flipped and landed with a smirk, fists clenched.
"Hey, thief!" he barked, before turning and socking another guard with a punch so powerful it sent him flying.
Nova blinked. "Wh-What?"
The stranger moved like a wrecking ball. With wild, untrained, brutal force, he disarmed one guard, took his sword, and slashed through the others. Blood splattered the cobblestones. Panic spread.
Nova, stunned, stared at the carnage. Who is this guy? Is he… saving me?
The last of the guards dropped to the ground, groaning. The stranger turned to Nova, a grin on his blood-spattered face. "So you're the thief, huh?"
Nova stammered, "No! I'm not a thief I'm kingdomless. From the Green Zone!"
The man's eyebrow lifted. "Green Zone, huh? That wasteland outside the walls? You made it past all those guards?"
Nova nodded, still catching his breath. "Yeah. I tried to sneak into Mesonia… they caught me."
The man laughed, impressed. "Well damn. You've got guts, kid."
Nova chuckled awkwardly. "Thanks, I guess."
"So, what are you really here for?" the man asked, sliding the sword into his belt.
Nova hesitated. "Why do you wanna know?"
"Call it curiosity."
Nova looked away, then said quietly, "I'm looking for Eluria."
The man's eyes widened, then he burst into laughter. "Bahaha! Eluria? That fairy tale? You serious, kid?"
Nova clenched his fists. "Why do you laugh? Just because others don't believe in it doesn't mean it's not real!"
"Everyone I've met says it's a myth," the man shrugged. "They've all got their reasons."
"That's their belief, not mine!" Nova snapped. "None of them even tried to find it!"
The man blinked, then rubbed his chin. "Fair point."
"I don't care what others say. I'll find it myself," Nova declared, throwing his bag over his shoulder and walking away.
He'd barely taken a few steps when the man called out, "Hey! Can I come with you?"
Nova stopped in his tracks. "What?"
"I mean it," the man said, stepping forward. "You're heading on some wild adventure, right? Sounds fun. Besides, you might need a guy like me."
Nova turned and looked him up and down the wild eyes, the bruised knuckles, the carefree grin.
"You serious?"
"As serious as a sword to the face."
A grin broke across Nova's face. "Then let's go."
And just like that, the two set off together one chasing a dream, the other chasing the thrill.
But they weren't safe yet. With the kingdom still on high alert for the so-called 'thief,' Nova and his new companion moved through the city with caution, ducking into alleys, keeping their heads low.
A new chapter in Nova's journey had begun. And with this strange, reckless warrior by his side, things were about to get even more unpredictable.