Hunt Race

"...There are eight of them."

Kael's grip tightened around the hilt of his sword.

Eight.

He finally understood why she had stopped.

They weren't being hunted by monsters.

They were prey.

A voice broke the silence.

"Come out."

Another followed.

"We know you're there."

Branches shifted.

Leaves rustled.

The circle around them was slowly closing.

Her eyes swept across the forest.

Left.

Right.

Behind.

Calculating.

Without warning, she reached into a pouch hanging from her belt and pulled out a tiny glass vial.

She threw it at the ground.

Crash!

A cloud of thick gray smoke exploded around them.

The forest disappeared.

"Move."

Kael barely had time to react before she grabbed his sleeve.

The two vanished into the smoke.

Shouts erupted behind them.

"They're running!"

"This way!"

"Spread out!"

Kael sprinted after her.

She never looked back.

She already knew he was following.

They leaped over fallen logs.

Pushed through thick bushes.

Crossed a narrow stream.

Only after putting a fair distance between themselves and the bandits did she finally stop.

She rested one hand against a tree.

Listening.

Nothing.

Not yet.

Kael bent over slightly, trying to catch his breath.

He looked at her.

"They'll find us."

She didn't even spare him a glance.

"I know."

She reached into the same pouch.

It was empty.

Her expression didn't change.

"...Listen carefully."

Kael straightened.

"You go back."

His brows knitted together.

"What?"

"I'll hold them off."

She pointed in the opposite direction.

"You'll head for the Guild."

"They'll send hunters."

Kael stared at her.

"I can fight."

For the first time...

A hint of amusement appeared in her eyes.

"You didn't even know how many there were."

Kael finally caught his breath.

"I do now."

She gave a small shake of her head.

"That's not the point."

Her eyes locked onto his.

"You couldn't even sense them."

"They can sneak behind you..."

"...and you'd never know how you died."

She turned away.

"So go."

"I'll manage."

"...After all, I'm stronger than you."

Kael shook his head.

"I'm not leaving you."

Silence.

She searched his face for even the slightest hesitation.

She found none.

"Do you have a plan?"

Kael opened his mouth.

Then closed it again.

"...No."

"I do."

She tightened the string on her bow.

"I buy time."

"You run."

"The Guild sends reinforcements."

Kael answered immediately.

"No."

She let out a slow sigh.

"...You're stubborn."

Kael simply stared back.

His answer never changed.

She looked away for a moment.

Then back at him.

"You said you could fight."

"How many can you take?"

Kael thought for a second.

"...Three."

"Three?"

"At most."

She nodded slowly.

"That leaves five."

Neither of them spoke.

The number hung between them.

Heavy.

Kael finally broke the silence.

"...Can't we pick them off one by one?"

She shook her head.

"No."

"Why?"

"Bandits don't move alone."

"They watch each other's backs."

"They wait."

"They surround."

"They kill."

Kael cursed under his breath.

His eyes drifted toward the empty pouch hanging from her belt.

"...Don't you have anything else?"

She frowned.

"What?"

"Another smoke screen."

"The one you used earlier."

Her hand instinctively touched the empty pouch.

She didn't answer.

That had been her last one.

Kael let out a slow breath.

"So..."

"...We're out of tricks."

Before she could reply—

WHHSSHH!

An arrow sliced through the air.

It passed between them with terrifying speed—

THUNK!

—and buried itself deep into the tree behind Kael.

Both of them spun toward the sound.

A slow clap echoed through the forest.

Then a voice.

Followed by a low chuckle.

"Hahaha..."

"...Found you."

She slowly raised her bow.

Her amber eyes narrowed.

"They found us."

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