Chapter 31: Chapter 31

As we race through the shadowy passageways of the prison, the reverberating sound of multiple sets of footsteps echos all around us. The dimly lit environment only adds to the tension and uncertainty of our situation. Despite the turmoil and danger, the young woman by my side keeps her composure and poise. Her self-assuredness manner is a source of reassurance and strength, as if she is convinced that we will eventually find a way out of this dire predicament. She moves with a sense of calm and control, almost as if fate has ordain her to escape from this place.

We keep running, my eyes inadvertently drifting in her direction, the young girl suddenly turns her face towards mine, as if she possesses some sort of intuitive understanding that I had been evaluating her just a moment before, despite my attempts to maintain a facade of stoic detachment. Her gaze is piercing and unwavering, and I can't help but feel a sense of vulnerability under her scrutiny. "What is it?" she demands, her tone sharp and accusatory.

I remain silent for a moment, continuing to stare straight ahead, lost in my own thoughts and memories. The silence between us is palpable and heavy, and I can feel the tension building as I struggle to find the right words to say. Eventually, I speak, my voice low and measured. "It's just, I am curious," I begin, "do you have any knowledge of the kidnapping while it was happening? I don't recall anything from the time I fell asleep at the inn until I woke up here, confined behind iron bars."

I can see the confusion and uncertainty etched upon her face as she struggles to process my words. I can understand her confusion, as the same question has been plaguing me since I first regained consciousness in this place. How had I been taken? This is a question that remains unanswered, and I fear it may never be resolved.

As she hears the question, a hint of confusion etches on her face. "Now that you bring it up," she responds, her right hand gently resting on her forehead as she continues to run at a steady pace. Despite the duration of time that has passed and the physical exertion required to maintain this speed, she does not appear to be the slightest bit fatigued, unlike the other children who are trailing closely behind her. She adds, "I must admit that I am unable to recall the information you are inquiring about. It is quite peculiar." Her movements are graceful and fluid, and she seems to have a natural endurance that allows her to maintain her speed without showing any signs of weariness.

She slowly and deliberately moves her face towards mine, her eyes piercing into mine, she begins to impart her wisdom upon me. "There is a mysterious and powerful magical ability that exists, one that allows an individual to possess the capability to influence the thoughts and beliefs of others. They can make them see and believe whatever the caster desires. But with great power comes great responsibility and this skill is incredibly complex and demanding, requiring a great deal of skill and control to master. That is probably the reason why the person who has done this to us, chose to capture us when we were at our most vulnerable state, in order to use our vulnerability to their advantage."

Despite her statement, it is clear that she is not entirely convinced of her own belief. Her words seem to convey a hint of uncertainty, as if there may be another possibility that she has not yet considered. I am intrigued by her thought process and I cannot help but express my curiosity. "You seem to possess a wealth of knowledge and understanding when it comes to magic," I say to her, trying to gauge her reaction. She looks at me with a blank expression, as if my statement is completely unexpected and bewildering to her.

"It is an undeniable fact that those who come from a background of nobility are expected to possess a certain level of knowledge and understanding," she states, her tone indicating a clear lowering of her own self-esteem. I can't help but let out a soft chuckle, taken aback by her statement. "Please don't be so modest. It is highly unlikely that children of your age possess a comprehensive understanding of all the information that is expected of those of noble lineage. In fact, I would be quite surprised if they are even able to read," I respond with a hint of amusement in my voice.

As she listens intently to my words, she squints her eyes, carefully considering what I had just said. Filled with a mixture of curiosity and skepticism. She furrows her eyebrows slightly, as she thinks about my words and the weight they carry. After a moment of contemplation, she speaks with a thoughtful tone, "Maybe you're right, but I am not the only one who is well-versed in the ways of the world. You, my dear, are a prime example of someone who is also very wise and savvy." 

She then smiles warmly in my direction, her blue hair shimmering and glistening in the dimly lit prison hallway. The darkness that envelopes us can not dampen her radiant smile, which stands out in stark contrast to the gloomy surroundings. Her lips are a deep red, and her teeth are perfectly white, as she smiles with genuine sincerity. The blue of her hair is so vibrant that it seems to glow in the darkness, adding an ethereal touch to the scene.

As I turn my head to take a glance behind me, I can't help but notice the children who are trailing behind us. Their tiny legs are moving as fast as they can, yet they are still struggling to keep up with our brisk pace. Their ragged breathing and sweat-covered faces are a clear indication of the difficulty they are facing in trying to match our speed. Their eyes are fixated on the ground, focused on putting one foot in front of the other, and their small hands are tightly clenched into fists.

I feel a pang of empathy and compassion for them, and I know that I have to do something to help them. So, I decide to slow down my pace, and as I do, the girl next to me looks at me in confusion. She follows my gaze and sees the children struggling to keep up, and she immediately understands why I had slowed down.

As we walk, I turn to her and ask, "So, how may I refer to you as?" in a polite and friendly tone. My voice is soft and gentle, and I smile warmly at her, trying to make her feel at ease. I can see the relief in her eyes as she realizes that I was trying to help the children, and I knew that we were on the same page. The children's spirits lifts as we walk, and they are able to keep pace with us, their ragged breathing slowly subsiding as they cath their breath.

She, with a radiant smile on her face, as if she has been expecting me to ask her name, introduces herself with a hint of surprise and gratitude in her voice, "My name is Anastasia Ambers. You are the first person from a non-noble background to treat me as an equal. Even the children behind me don't treat me the way you do. It's honestly quite refreshing." I smile, "its a pleasure to meet you, my name is Ashborn, but you may refer to me as Ash."

Suddenly, a loud, ear-shattering boom echoes throughout the space, causing me to stop in surprise. It is as if something of immense power has collided with one of the walls or has fallen with great force. My heart begins to race as a sense of dread washes over me. Without hesitation, I quickly turn on my heel and begin to sprint towards the source of the noise, leaving behind the young noblewoman and the other children who had been following behind me.

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I approach the source of the noise and found myself arriving at a chaotic scene of a fierce battle. In the center of the chaos, I see Sack, who is locked in combat with the same mysterious figure that we had encountered when we first awoke in this strange and unknown place. Sack has fashioned a makeshift spear out of a long stick, and is using it to fend off his opponent, who is wielding a sword. The robed man seems to be holding back in the fight, as if he is not truly intent on causing Sack any serious harm, or perhaps he is simply observing his abilities.

The sound of clashing weapons and grunts of exertion fill the air, as the two battle fiercely in the center of the fray. The dust and debris kicked up by their movements creates a haze that makes it hard to see the full extent of the battle, but the intensity of the fight is palpable. It is clear that this is no mere sparring match, but a serious and intense struggle for survival.

With a burst of energy, I lunge forward towards the side where Sack is standing, my sword already unsheathed and at the ready. The robed individual, who had been advancing menacingly towards Sack, is taken aback by my sudden appearance and swift actions. I reach Sack's side just in time, and with precision and skill, I raise my sword to intercept the incoming blow of the attacker, the blades of our swords meet in a fierce collision with a thunderous clang. 

The impact is so intense that it sends a shower of sparks flying in every direction, illuminating the area with a brilliant, radiant light. The sound of the blades clashing together echoes like a battle cry, and the force of the impact sends a jolt through my arm. But I stand my ground, resolute and unyielding, ready to defend Sack and myself against any further attack.

The man, with a look of intense scrutiny and bewilderment on his face, steps backwards as he examines me closely. His expression seems to indicate that he has stumbled upon something that is beyond his comprehension. The man's eyes are wide, his pupils dilated, as he takes in the sight before him. His mouth is slightly agape, as if he is trying to process what he is seeing but unable to find the words.

In a loud and agitated tone, he exclaims, "How? How is it possible for you to wield mana?," His exclamation not only capturing the attention of the blue haired girl who had just arrived, but also that of Sack, who is also present. The man's voice is trembling with disbelief, as if he can't bring himself to fully accept the reality of the situation. His hands are clenched into fists at his sides, as if he is trying to hold on to something that is slipping through his fingers. 

After taking a moment to carefully examine the situation, the man dressed in the flowing, dark robes, as if he has just witnessed something truly extraordinary, exclaims, "It can't be! But yet, here we are. The amount of mana that you possess is truly overwhelming. Even when it is locked away, a small amount of it still manages to leak out, allowing you to tap into that minuscule amount and harness its power." His voice is tinged with a hint of awe and his eyes widen in surprise. The man speaks with a clear tone of bewilderment in his voice, his head tilting slightly to one side as he studies me, and has the look of a predator who has just spotted its prey, his lips curved into a small, calculating smile.

As I stand before the menacing figure, my heart pounding in my chest, both Sack and Anastasia seem to sense the danger that radiates from him. Without a moment's hesitation, they spring into action. Anastasia, her eyes scanning the ground, quickly spots a rusted sword lying nearby and reaches down to grasp it firmly in her hand. She stands tall and proud, the sword held out before her in a ready stance, her muscles tense and her eyes locked on the man before us. Sack, meanwhile, moves closer to my right side, his spear held at the ready, the muscles in his arms corded and his eyes focused on the man as he prepares to strike. 

He is a picture of readiness, ready to defend us at a moment's notice. Anastasia also came to my side, her movements quick and precise as she positions herself on my left, ready to defend us all from any attack that might come our way. She is a fierce warrior, her stance perfect, her sword held out before her. 

The group of children who had been following Anastasia, join forces with the group of children that Sack was attempting to lead out of the prison. They all congregate in a secluded corner, far away from the location where we are situated, and away from the individual whom I suspect is responsible for creating this chaotic situation. Together, the combined group of children, consisting of those who had been following Anastasia and those who were trying to escape with Sack, form a unified front in their efforts to escape the prison and evade the person who I believe is the root cause of all the turmoil.

Anastasia, her gaze fixed intently upon the robed individual before her, speaks with a determined tone. "Though it may not be immediately apparent, I have been honing my skills with the sword for as long as I can remember," she declares. Her words causing a small smile to tug at the corners of my mouth, as I am constantly surprised by the depth and breadth of her abilities. 

We stand there, motionless and silent, the seconds seem to stretch on endlessly, each one feeling like an eternity. Despite the stillness, there is an undercurrent of tension that seems to fill the air, as if we are all holding our breath in anticipation of something to come. Suddenly, the figure in the robe begins to move, breaking the silence with the sound of cracking earth beneath his feet as he launches himself towards us at a breakneck speed. It is clear that he means to make the first move, and we are caught off guard by the suddenness of his attack. We scramble to respond, but he has already closed the distance between us, and we are forced to defend ourselves against his onslaught.

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