"Escaping Jaws Of Death"

"Meet me at the East taverns. Now go!"

"But-"

"Don't worry about me. I have a contingency plan."

Kal said that and went in the direction of the soldiers to buy Eadric some time to escape. The rendezvous had been set to the east taverns. Without missing a beat, he sprang into action. Eadric's heart pounded in his chest as he bolted through the deserted market streets. Behind him, he could hear the sound of heavy boots pounding the pavement, and the shouts of his pursuers echoing through the empty stalls.

Bullets whizzed past him as he darted left and right, his instincts taking over as he dodged crates and barrels with lightning-fast reflexes. Suddenly, a massive wall of stone rose before him, blocking his path.

Eadric skidded to a stop, his heart racing as he glanced around for another route. He saw a street to his left and darted towards it, only to find a soldier blocking his way.

The soldier raised his weapon and fired, the sound of the gunshot echoing through the deserted market. Eadric's quick reflexes saved him as he dodged the bullet, his knife flashing in the moonlight as he lunged forward and plunged it into the soldier's chest.

Eadric had been hunting from a young age, however, he had never killed a person before. Taking someone's life was not an easy task, but there was no hesitation in his movement. The soldier died in an instant, his pupils turning gray. His lifeless body fell to the ground and blood gushed out of the wound, forming a puddle of blood.

This was the first time Eadric killed a person. Instead of feeling remorse, a strange smile crept on his face and adrenaline surged through his veins. He quickly came back to his senses when the ground beneath him began to shake, sending shockwaves, and cracks appeared on the cobblestones, snaking their way through the pavement like the veins of an angry beast. A low rumble filled the air, growing louder with each passing second, and the ground started to split apart, creating a terrifying chasm that threatened to swallow everything in its path.

"Shit! What the hell is such powerful 'Qauke' doing here?" Eadric shouted in his head.

Quakes were Enigmas with the ability to manipulate Earth. However, according to the intel that Eadric and Kal received, there were no such powerful Enigma stationed at Ashenfort at the moment.

"This has gotten way too dangerous."

The street began to crumble. He sprang forward with agility fueled by sheer survival, leaping over widening gaps and darting between stalls. The chaos around him was overwhelming as if the very fabric of reality had been ruptured.

The ground shook violently beneath Eadric's feet, threatening to throw him off balance. He veered left, narrowly avoiding a collapsing building that crashed to the ground with a deafening roar.

The ground heaved and cracked with each stride, but Eadric seemed to possess an uncanny instinct for dodging danger. He leaped over a crevice that yawned open, its dark abyss beckoning for its next victim. Ahead, a wall of rubble and shattered brick loomed, its jagged edges waiting to swallow him whole.

Eadric launched himself into the air, defying gravity for a split second. His fingertips grazed the crumbling bricks as he soared over the wall, just in time to avoid being crushed but a stray piece of debris hit the side of his head.

Behind him, the wall crashed down with a thunderous impact, sealing off the pursuing men and cutting off their path. Dust and smoke billowed into the air, obscuring the chaos left in his wake.

Eadric staggered forward, his head throbbing and blood streaming down his face. The crimson flow had robbed his left eye of vision, rendering it useless. He had almost reached their designated meeting spot, mere hundred meters away, yet there was no sign of Kal. Anxiety gnawed at his gut.

Summoning what little strength remained, Eadric approached the tavern's entrance and rapped on the door. From within, a tired voice replied, "We're closed. Come back tomorrow."

"Through shadows we weave, in whispers, we trust," he uttered, the words hanging in the cool night air. This was the secret code that Kal had told him that the 'Fyre" used in times of trouble.

In response to his cryptic phrase, the tavern door clicked open, revealing an elderly man, wisps of smoke spiraling from the cigar clenched between his weathered lips. With a curt nod, the man beckoned Eadric inside before promptly shutting the door behind him. The interior of the tavern was made up of wood, with bulbs hanging over the ceiling, dimly illuminating the space. The smell of burning tobacco hung heavy in the air.

The old man held a gun in his hand and it was a sign for Eadric to show his identification. He rolled up his left sleeve and revealed a tattoo. It was a majestic oak tree with roots extending into a circular pattern, the sigil of the 'Fyre'.

"I am Hamel, leader of the East Watch," the old man introduced himself with a hint of deference in his voice, acknowledging Eadric's allegiance. "How may I be of service, young warrior?"

"Kal told me that there was a passageway here that can help us escape," Eadric purposely didn't mention that he was his father. Just as the tension settled, a sudden explosion shattered the silence, ripping through the air with a deafening roar.

In the distance, a colossal burst of flames erupted into the night sky, painting the surrounding landscape with an eerie crimson hue. The flames' dance cast ominous shadows, enveloping the world in a cloak of uncertainty. The shockwave reverberated through the tavern, causing the windows to rattle and the flickering candles to dance in disarray.

A surge of realization swept over Eadric. "So, this was the contingency plan Father spoke of."

Meanwhile, as if drawn by the commotion, the heavy tavern door swung open with a resounding crash, revealing a disheveled figure storming inside. Kal, his clothing tattered and stained with grime and blood, appeared as though he had endured a harrowing ordeal. Curiously, he seemed to possess a key to the establishment, and the elderly man behind the counter didn't question his entry.

"I am never doing this type of shit again," Kal continued, "However, we need to continue moving. They might catch up to us at any moment." Approaching the group, he made sure to check on Eadric, ensuring his well-being.

"Please follow me," Hamel said. He guided them to a backroom and he opened up a hidden staircase that led them down to a basement. The space was cluttered with wooden barrels and sacks, the scent of aged spirits lingering in the air.

With a swift motion of his hand, Hamel opened up some sort of secret door that led down to a dark path. He handed Kal and Eadric a bag of supplies and just before sealing the entrance, Hamel's voice resonated with gratitude, "The council is indebted to you for your unwavering service."

Kal nodded in response and Hamel closed the door. He took out a flashlight from the backpack and took the lead, but he was limping on one foot.

Eadric couldn't resist a sardonic smirk. "Seems like age has finally caught up with you, Father," he taunted, his tone laced with playful mockery.

"I bet it would if you were to fight a whole freaking battalion on your own," Kal said, "But I guess you might be right. I should retire from this line of work"

"You probably should," Eadric gave a sarcastic remark.

"You little shit, I can still body you whenever I want," Kal said.

Their laughter echoed through the dimly lit passageway, a temporary respite from the encroaching darkness that awaited them. Unbeknownst to both Kal and Eadric, peril loomed on the horizon, and their impending doom approached.