The wind howled through the dense forest as Adam moved swiftly, his breaths shallow and controlled. His ribs ached from the earlier impact, but he couldn't afford to slow down. Every rustling leaf, every snapped twig sent a fresh surge of adrenaline coursing through his veins. He was being hunted—if not by Lucian himself, then by whatever creatures lurked in the depths of this uncharted land.
The deeper he went, the denser the trees became, their gnarled roots rising like twisted fingers from the ground. The canopy above blocked out most of the moonlight, casting eerie shadows that flickered with every movement. It had been hours since he had fled the ruins, yet the fear still clung to him like a second skin.
His mind raced, replaying the events that had led him here. The altar. The sacrifice. The treasure. Garrett's last words, urging him to run. The clash between Lucian and Garrett had bought him enough time to escape, but now he was truly alone.
His stomach twisted with hunger, but food was the least of his concerns. He needed shelter, a place to rest and regain his strength. More than that, he needed a plan. He couldn't remain in the wild forever, but returning to the outpost was suicide.
Lucian wouldn't let this go. Not after what Adam had taken from him.
Far from the depths of the forest, inside a well-lit tavern at the outpost, Lucian's bounty was spreading like wildfire.
Mercenaries and adventurers gathered around, some laughing, some serious, all intrigued. A bounty on a single person wasn't uncommon, but the reward Lucian had placed was no small sum. It was enough to turn heads, to spark greed in even the most honorable of warriors.
A man leaned against the bar, smirking as he swirled his drink. "A kid, you say? This Adam must have something real valuable if Lucian wants him dead so bad."
Another chuckled darkly. "Doesn't matter what he has. All that matters is getting to him first."
The bartender glanced at them, wiping down the counter. "You'd best be careful. If he survived whatever happened in that ruin, he's not just some kid."
The smirking man drained his drink and slammed the mug down. "Makes the hunt all the more fun."
Lucian sat in the corner of the tavern, listening. He knew how this worked. If Adam was lucky, he'd last a few days, maybe a week. But no fugitive outran a bounty forever.
He tapped his fingers on the table, his mind already working through his next steps. Adam had humiliated him, and Lucian did not forgive humiliation.
He would find him. And when he did, Adam would wish he had never stepped foot into that ruin.
Night deepened in the forest, and Adam finally found a cave tucked between jagged rock formations. He checked for signs of habitation—claw marks, bones, anything that might indicate a predator's den.
Nothing.
Relief flooded him as he crawled inside, his body screaming for rest. After checking around finding no sense of danger. he fall asleep.
...
Far from the depths of the forest, inside a well-lit home on the outskirts of the city, a woman sat by the window, her fingers gripping the fabric of her shawl tightly. Adam's mother, Eleanor, had been waiting for his return since the previous evening. She had told herself he was simply delayed, that missions could take longer than expected. But now, with the sun having set once more and no word from her son, unease had settled deep in her chest.
She stood abruptly, pacing across the room. "Something isn't right," she murmured to herself. Her mind conjured images of Adam—his determined gaze, the quiet resolve he carried even as a child. He had always been careful, always made sure to check in. He wouldn't just disappear like this.
A knock at the door startled her. Rushing to answer, she was met with the sight of an old acquaintance, an adventurer who often passed through the area.
"Eleanor," the man said with a grim expression. "There's talk at the outpost. Something went wrong inside the ruin."
Her heart pounded. "What happened? Where is Adam?"
The man hesitated, then shook his head. "No one's seen him. But there's… there's a bounty. Lucian Alden put it out himself."
Eleanor felt the world tilt around her. "A bounty? On my son?"
"I don't know the details, but if Lucian wants him dead, it means Adam got caught up in something bad."
Eleanor's breath came in shallow gasps. Her worst fear had come true—Adam was in danger, and she was powerless to protect him. But she wouldn't sit idly by. If there was even a chance her son was still alive, she would find a way to help him.
...
Across the city, in a dimly lit guild hall, a young woman sat in a luxurious office, meticulously studying a map marked with various locations. Mia, Adam's sister, was the Guild Master of a renowned organization, known for her sharp mind—calm, calculating, and always one step ahead. Yet, as her eyes scanned a fresh report, her usually composed expression darkened.
A bounty on Adam.
Her fingers tightened around the parchment. No one in her family knew the truth about her work. They still believed she was just an ordinary adventurer, far removed from the dangers of mercenaries and bounty hunters. But now, Adam had been thrust into that very world.
She inhaled deeply, steadying herself. If Lucian was behind this, then Adam had something valuable—valuable enough to kill for. Which meant he wasn't dead. Not yet.
Mia rose from her chair and strode toward the central hall, where guild members gathered in tense clusters. Conversations hushed as she entered. The bounty was already making waves.
"What's the situation?" she asked, her voice firm.
A tall, scarred man named Dorian stepped forward, arms crossed. "Lucian put a hefty price on this Adam guy. Every mercenary in the city is talking about it."
Mia's gaze sharpened. "And our guild?"
Dorian hesitated. "Some are considering it. A bounty like this… it's tempting."
Mia's expression turned to ice. "Listen carefully. No one from this guild will pursue Adam."
A younger member, Lena, frowned. "Mia, that's a lot of gold—"
"Anyone who goes after him will be dealt with," Mia interrupted, her tone like a blade. "This is not up for debate."
The silence that followed was absolute. Mia rarely issued direct orders, but when she did, they were final.
Dorian studied her for a moment, then gave a slow nod. "Understood. We'll spread the word."
Mia exhaled, only now realizing how tightly wound she was. She couldn't reveal her connection to Adam, but she could make sure no one under her command became his enemy.
Turning back toward her office, her mind was already at work. If Lucian wanted her brother dead, he had just made himself an enemy far worse than he anticipated.
No one hunted her family and lived to tell the tale.