Kael and Aeris rushed through the back door, Edric hastily shot the door with ice, the door and the surrounding wall were encapsulated in ice. Even the chill ice couldn’t cool the heat.

  “Get back here!” Cain shouted from afar as the ice closed the door.

  “What now,” Aeris asked, letting go of Kael's hand.

  “What else, run for our lives.” Edric pointed at a door. “There’s a door through the hall. There might be an exit to the surface.”

  “So basically no plan whatsoever.” Kael grumbled, kneeling down using a few seconds to relax. He looked up to see Xantha for the first time. “You must be Xantha… Sheesh, rescuing you was something. Name’s Kael, buy me a drink next time.” he said in a chuckled tone, Xantha just smiled and nodded awkwardly.

  “Worked fine so far, Anyway let’s go. Doubt that wolf will last too long.” he turns to Aeris. “How long do you think he will last?”

  She stays silent for a moment, not meeting eye contact. She did the math in her head. “10 minutes… maybe less.”

  That wasn’t good

  “Damn it! We don’t have enough time lets go.” Edric grabbed Xantha’s hand, Kael got up and then—

  *CRASH*

  The walls behind them broke, they turned to see—- the wolf crashed into the walls, the greatsword was impaled in its right arm, it looked like the captain threw his sword. A moment later the captain walked slowly in front of the wolf.

  Dust flew from the impact silhouetted his appearance.

  “10 minutes? More like one?” Kael muttered. “I see why you trouble that monster.”

  Without a moment to waste they ran across the corridor. Likely the captain hasn’t gotten the whiff of them yet, or so they thought.

  “Run now, but I will make sure to end your life.” His voice spread an unknown pressure across the corridor. He removed his sword from the wolf’s arm, blood gushed like a fountain from the wound. The wolf lies slumped, it’s breathing heavy like it’s on its deathbed.

  Edric gulped, fighting him might be the only way out. Aries couldn’t handle him but maybe the three of them together can do something. The captain slowly raised his sword, in motion of a slash aiming directly at them horizontally.

  *BAAM*

  Crimson aura grew from the wolf, it jolted up with a flurry of attack, each with more blood thirst and more fierce than ever. The captain jolted for a moment, blocking each attack with great precision.

  Without wasting their chance Edric shouted, “Break the corridor, block him in!”

  Fortunately Aeries was already on it, she slashed her saber through the walls, causing debris to wall behind them. Kael followed suit breaking the ceiling with his staff, as well forming a windshield to protect them from falling rock. As the debris started blocking the corridor, from a tiny gap in the debris—- Edric saw the captain with a single slash cut the beast neck in half.

  Edric gulped, took out his gun, *BANG* formed a thick layer of ice blocking the corridor. He felt his mana deplete like a funnel, still he persisted. As to if it would be effective they had no idea, but they were at the door.

  —-----

  They ran through various halls, turned right and left without thinking much. The rumbling noise from behind grew their anxiety. After a while Kael pushed in front, taking the lead.

  “I think I know the path,” Kael said. “Follow me”

  “You think,” Aeris grunted from behind.

  Kael just smiled, took several turns left and right. They reached a set of spiral stairs, climbed their way up. Clicks and clanks of metal from guards boots came from above. They took a door to find another set of halls and turns, only this time the walls were more rustic, made of stone with gemstone illuminating. Unlike the wooden, clean hall look from before.

  They followed Kael with the best of their abilities, fatigue was building up, their breathing became harder, nevertheless they ran with all their might. Surprisingly Xantha kept up with their pace without being a hindrance.

  *CLICK*

  The sound of footsteps grew closer and closer as they walked forward. There was a crossroad in front and it seemed the guards were appearing from both sides . Without a moment of waste, Aeris unsheathed her saber, Kael readied his staff and Edric had his finger on the trigger.

  A moment later, the group of guards came into views. Before the guards could alert anyone, Kael twirled his staff, creating a gust of strong wind muffling the sound. Edric aimed at their feet, froze them in place. Aeris lunged forward knocking out the guards on the right and Kael dealt with the left.

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  Without stopping Kael began moving to the left corridor.

  “Are you sure you know the way?” Edric asked unsure.

  “More or less,” Kael said, glancing back at their expression, which had a mixture of confusion, frustration and anger. “From what I have found out. This entire ball is built on top of catacombs of various levels. I don’t know how many levels but at least four levels. This is the third level, we just need to make our way up two more times.”

  “Easier said than done,” Aeris interrupted. “There are more guards above than below–”

  She stopped speaking when sounds of footsteps drew closer in the corridor. This time louder than before, Aeris and Kael readied their weapons, the hall was to narrow for Edric to shoot so he kept his gun in his belt and took out his long sword in a defence position.

  “There over here, get them in the name of magnus,” One of the guards shouted. Immediately a barrage of arrows streamed through, the spear in front ducked and then lunged forward.

  Kael wind deflected the first flurry of arrows back at them, unfortunately the spearman blocked all of them with their shield. Looks like this batch of guards were troublesome, as another flurry followed them.

  Fortunately, Edric managed to block and dodge the arrows while protecting Xanha. Entrusting Edric to protect, Kael and Aeris used the walls to propel themselves behind the spearman, knocking them out swiftly. Kael threw his staff on the ground near the troop of archers, it cracked the floor on impact, causing a small explosion of air outwards, with so much force that the archers stumbled.

  Kael lunged forward with kicks and punches to knock them out at a quick pace. They didn’t wait as more guards were approaching from behind.

  Kael took a paper where he drew a makeshift map of the labyrinth. He gestured to the group to take a turn. The hallway now is lined with several doors along with horizontal windows to see through. The insides are dark, some have crates and others have weapons.

  The sound of guards increased and new sounds were coming from the front. Kael stopped in an instant, he rubbed his chin, turned his head vigorously to find a hiding spot. Then Edric gets an idea.

  He activated ghost steps, phases through a door and creaks open the metal door from inside. The others walk inside— inside weapons , crates and armor are lined up in the dusty room.

  *STEP STEP*

  The footsteps came closer— all of them head in a dark corner, slowing down their breath, calmly waiting—- the footsteps pass through, fade in the distance. They let out a sigh—

  *CREAK*

  The door creaks open, footsteps are heard in the dark , damp room. The guard let out a quiet hum as he looked around. His eyes scanned the room carelessly.

  “Nothing here,” The guard clicked his tongue, closed the door and locked it.

  The group crouching down, waited silently for several seconds. Kael slowly walks to the window and takes a peek.

  “No one is coming.”

  “Ahh” the group let out audible gasps. The fatigue finally arose as they sat down, without speaking, gathering their breath. Their muscles screamed in pain, they dropped the remaining veils of potions, and shared the portions.

  Unfortunately some wounds remained. Xantha frowned from seeing Kaels and Aeris wounds, she blamed herself. If she weren’t kidnapped, if she wasn’t a few minutes late hse might have not been captured.

  Seeing her expression , Kael understood completely " Stop blaming yourself, you can’t change what’s done" Kael said in a reassuring tone. “So what's next?”

  They silently think for a moment, given the situation now. Simply escaping and returning to their normal lives is out of the question. Wanted posters and bounty on there heads is inevitable.

  “We escape completely, out of these walls, out of magnus.” Edric said bluntly.

  Aeris blinked, stuttered. “What?”

  “I agree,” Xantha added.

  “Same here,” Kael said. “I’m sick of this place anyway.But how the hell do we do that? The guards are swarming like bees on the surface, the governor’s blood is probably boiling by now.”

  “Fine, you got a plan?” Aeris says, after giving it more thought.

  “Um.um I’m not sure , but we need some sort of distraction. Something to direct the governor's attention. Then with less forces searching us, we escape in the dark.”

  “Distract them how?” Aeris said

  “Maybe…” Edric opened and closed his mouth. He brushed the silly thought of his mind. Kael rubbed his temples thinking, and Xantha scrambled her brain trying to come up with a plan.

  Aeris deadpanned said: “Let’s just burn this place down. The guards need to put off the fire”. Everyone stared at her— silently. Aeris raised her brows. “What?”

  Edric with a sarcastic tone and a fake clap. “Wow! Nice plan. Let’s piss off the governor even more, and let’s invite the entire army over for tea….I’m sure it will work”

  Aeris, embarrassed, averts her gaze, “You got a better plan?”

  Edric thinks for a moment, “Well we need something that the governor has to pay attention… like he might want to prioritize the high priority guests, or maybe something.”

  “--Item” Xantha interrupts.

  “Yeah, like an important treasure or something like that.”

  Kael listens, and then chuckles to himself, with a sinister grin on his face. “Oh… that could work.”. A light bulb popped in his head, Edric grew anxious from the mere thought of what Kael was cooking up in his mind.

  “Ah.. Kael–”

  Before Edric could finish , Kael stood up, creaked open the door. “Wait here, I have a plan so great you’ll be amazed by my genius.”

  “Wait, what–.... He just left”

  —------

  A few moments later….

  A group of guards petrol through a corridor, the sound of metal echoing through the hallway. They chuckle and banter with each other.

  “Who’s the dumb fool to attack the governor's auction?”

  “Don’t know, could be mercenaries, rebels or even a petty thief.”

  “Must be a strong thief to make him order the captain to deal with them. That guy scares the creeps out of me… He’s got looks but shitty personality"

  Their banter cackled down the stone corridor. The group took a turn around the pathway.

  *RAWR*

  A small but heavy roar is heard, the men turn there heads to see— nothing. Then they lowered their gaze down; a small dragon sat on the floor like a dog. It then proceeds to hop onto the head of a guard.

  “W-What the why is a slime dragon here!” the guard panics

  “Relax, what is this little-” another guard tries to grab it, it squirts out slime , the slime croods the guard's hand , the hand melted into a pool of skin and blood.

  “AAH!”

  The other panics stumbles and tumble, running away from it.

  *BOOM*

  They hit something in the middle of the corridor, it felt fleshy. They turn their gaze to see a big burly man, scars wrapped around his arms and his outfit is similar to a prison outfit.

  —--

  “AHHH!” terrified screams echoed through the hallway.

  Edric, Aeris, and Xantha patiently wait for Kael, their hearts grew anxious as more noise echoed down the corridor— screaming, blasting, explosion etc.

  “What the hell is going on.” Edric grunted. Then the door creaks open, his hands on the trigger, to see the culprit…it’s just Kael.

  Kael closed the door, hops down with a concernedly wide grin on his face. “You know Kael, sometimes I’m impressed with my genius.” he talked to himself as he rubbed his temples.

  “Oi, explain!” Edric demanded, Aeris and Xantha stared daggers at him.

  “Oh, cough-cough. It’s nothing… There's a storage room down the hall. You know cages with monsters, mercs and other creatures. I just released them, even paid the mercs not to bother us. Seems like trusty folk, but the guards are in one hell right now…” He continued on with a long explanation of his amazing plan.

  “AHEM” Aeris grunted.

  “Oh right, anyway. There’s some rare monsters and dangerous mercs free now. I’m sure the governor can’t afford any losses, so…”

  “We escape, while the guards are in disarray.”

  Kael nodded. The group stood up, stretched their muscles, checked the weapons , and gazed at each other.

  It’s time to leave these walls.