Jessica's path led her toward the nearby town. She saw the walls in the distance when she froze. She shook her head. Gareth would never come here, they were fleeing. Everyone knows him in this town, everyone knows me. She sat by the roadside and took out a map. They needed gear, and they wanted to be discreet. Where would they go? Where would she go? She studied the map, a slight frown on her forehead. And then she saw it. A little town, away from the main road in the north. Somewhere she never visited. A safe place, big enough to be anonymous, active enough to sell the supplies needed to survive in the wild. She stored the map and looked at the road. “This is going to be a long walk.”
The side road was unkept. The tracks and the grass were locked in a fragile status quo. Jessica sat on a boulder. She ate a piece of bread, the map was spread next to her. She followed the road with a finger. Soon, a river and a bridge would cut the monotony of the journey. She massaged her legs, wincing, “Who would have thought sitting in a library all day was poor preparation for such a quest.” she said out loud. Then, sighing, she gathered and stored her gear, put on her backpack, and walked toward the next milestone. I’m not even halfway there.
She slowed down as she approached the bridge. A palisade made of planks was blocking the path. Several men with heavy weapons were behind it. A sickening vertigo made her stumble. One of them beckoned her forward. Heart hammering, Jessica looked at the way behind her. Walking was painful, she didn’t think she could run far. Can I even get out of this one? She felt a rush of anger. With grim determination, she walked forward. Discretely clenching a mist sphere in her right hand.
The big man gave her a greasy smile. “Welcome to our bridge, my Lady, there’s a toll to pass, but I’m sure we can find a mutually beneficial agreement if you don’t have coins.” Jessica didn’t look at the man. She stood in silence in front of the barricade. With a deep breath, she broke the sphere and took the battle stance Gareth had trained her in. A soft, pulsing pink glow wrapped around her hand. She armed her fist and then punched forward with a battle scream. Perfect form; Gareth would have been proud. The wooden wall shattered on impact. Hundreds of shards flew outward. Some of them pierced the flesh of the robbers. Jessica calmly walked forward. The men were frozen in place, blood slowly trickling down from the wounds. “I wish you a good day, Gentlemen.” No one followed her.
Later, she stopped in an inn on the side of the road. The roof was rotten, and some windows were broken. But night was falling, and she needed to rest. She sighed and entered the dark building. Some weak candles tried to illuminate the area. A dozen shapes were hunched over their drinks, lying on wobbly tables. Jessica walked toward the counter. A big shadow blocked her path. “Hello there, you seem lost,” the shadow said. The female locked eyes with the man. He was no robber, but she needed to make a statement, or this would never end. Her fingers found the sphere she kept in her pocket. She growled, “Move or pay the price.” The man laughed, “Now, no need to get aggressive. Let’s have a drink and get to know each other.” A pink glow flew through the air, leaving an afterimage in the dark room. The man’s head snapped back. There was the sound of broken bones. He fell limp on the ground in a ridiculous position. His left eye quickly swelled purple. Jessica gave a scanning glance at the room. “Anyone else want a drink?” She barked. The shapes hunched a bit more and quietly nursed their cup.
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It was late the next day when she saw the town in the distance. She relaxed a bit. Things should be more “civilized” here. The streets were bustling with activity. The scholar walked toward the town center and stopped in the main square. She sat on a bench and grew pensive. What now? She ate her last piece of bread. Birds came to eat crumbs. The street grew gradually quieter as the evening progressed. Jessica tried to shake off the torpor. But her mind was blank. She didn’t know what the next step should be. I’ll find an inn and ask some questions. Hopefully, that works.
The room was crowded and noisy. She found her way to the counter and sat on a high stool. From the corner of her eyes, she saw a man whisper to the bartender, “It’s her.” Then the man shuffled toward the door and left the establishment. A smile bloomed on her face. Looks like I’m in luck. She bore into the bartender's eyes, all quiet authority and contained violence. “I need information,” she said coldly. The man pretended to dry a cup with a towel, a drop of sweat on his forehead. He clumsily said, “We sell beer here.” Jessica ignored him and continued. “I’m tracking two mist users.” The cup shattered on the ground. The innkeeper was so pale now that a shade of green appeared on his dead-looking face. He whispered, “You’re a hunter.” Jessica stayed in character, letting her cold eyes, silence, and the hunters’ reputation do the work. After a few seconds, he completely caved in. “Who are you looking for?” Jessica took a breath and calmly described, “Two men, one very tall, in his forties, built like a brawler. Short brown hair, blue eyes. The other one is in his early twenties, thin, athletic build, average height. Mid-long, unkept, brown hair. Blue eyes.”
The tension was so thick it felt like a wall had materialized between them. The man swallowed noisily and spoke, “They were here a few days ago. They bought enough supplies to last for days. Strong food that doesn’t waste easily.” Jessica nodded, “Where are they now?” The man stuttered, “I just heard them talk about going north, and then west.” The fake hunter waited for more, but she realized the man told all he knew. She set a few coins carefully on the counter. “I’ll have a beer. I want a room for the night. You’ll bring my dinner upstairs.”
