RHYS'S POV
The edge of the Border Forest feels like the end of the world.
Behind us, wild magic and relative safety. Ahead, civilization with all its complications, bounties, and people who'd sell us both for the price of a decent meal.
Ariella stands beside me, staring at the road beyond with an expression I'm starting to recognize—determination wrapped around terror, held together by sheer stubborn will.
"You can still turn back," I tell her, knowing she won't.
"To what? My people exiled me. There's nothing to go back to."
"Fair point." I adjust my pack, checking that my blade sits loose in its sheath. "Stay close, keep your hood up, and for the love of all the gods, don't let your curse flare in public."
"I'm not an idiot."
"Never said you were. But you're also not used to the real world, princess."
She bristles at the nickname—she always does—but doesn't argue. Probably because she knows I'm right.
We start walking.
The first hour is uneventful. The road is well-traveled this close to the forest, merchants and travelers passing without much interest. Ariella keeps her head down, hood drawn, but I catch her stealing glances at everything around her.
She's never done this before, I realize. Never walked among common people without guards or ceremony. Never been nobody in a crowd.
I should find it amusing. Instead, I find it sad.
By midday, we reach a small village—barely a dozen buildings clustered around a well. We need supplies before tackling the longer stretches between settlements.
"Wait here," I tell Ariella, pointing to a shaded spot outside the general store. "I'll be quick."
"I can help—"
"You can wait. Your presence draws attention we don't need."
Her jaw tightens, but she nods, settling against the wall with her hood pulled low.
Inside the store, I trade silver for travel rations, a better waterskin, and rope. The merchant is blessedly incurious, more interested in my coin than my story.
I'm almost done when I hear raised voices outside.
My blood goes cold.
I grab my purchases and push through the door to find Ariella backed against the wall, a drunk man looming over her, his hand gripping her arm.
"C'mon, pretty thing," he slurs. "Just want to see your face—"
"Let go," Ariella says, voice tight with restrained panic.
The drunk doesn't let go. Instead, he pulls harder, trying to yank back her hood.
I'm moving before conscious thought, dark magic already gathering in my hands. But I'm not fast enough.
Shadow explodes from Ariella.
The blast catches the drunk square in the chest, lifting him off his feet and slamming him into the building opposite. He hits with a sickening crack and crumples, unconscious.
Silence falls over the village square like a blanket.
Every eye turns to us. To Ariella, standing with shadows still leaking from her hands, hood fallen back to reveal silver-and-black hair and eyes gone completely dark.
To me, dark magic crackling visibly around my scarred palms.
Fuck.
"She's with me," I say loudly, letting my magic flare more visibly. "Anyone else want to touch what's mine?"
The threat in my voice is unmistakable. The villagers back away, fear replacing curiosity. Good. Fear keeps people smart.
I grab Ariella's arm—carefully, so the shadows don't react to me—and pull her away from the wall.
"We're leaving," I announce to no one in particular. "Now."
We walk out of that village at a measured pace, not running but not lingering. Behind us, I hear whispers starting, rumors already forming.
Shadow-marked elf. Dark wizard. Dangerous. Unnatural.
We'll be lucky if bounty hunters don't show up by nightfall.
A mile down the road, Ariella finally speaks. "I'm sorry."
"Don't be. He had it coming."
"I didn't mean to—the curse just reacted—"
"I know." I slow my pace, glancing at her. She's shaking, staring at her hands like they belong to someone else. "First time using your power against someone?"
"First time hurting someone." Her voice is small. "I've trained in combat, but always controlled. Always precise. That was..."
"Instinct. Survival. Nothing wrong with that."
"I could have killed him."
"But you didn't. You held back, even panicking. That's impressive."
She looks at me like I've grown a second head. "How is any of this impressive? I just revealed exactly what I am to an entire village."
"True. Which means we need to move faster than planned." I scan the road ahead, calculating distances. "There's an abandoned farmhouse about five miles northwest. We'll shelter there tonight, move again before dawn."
"They'll report us."
"Absolutely. Which is why we're not staying on main roads anymore." I adjust our heading, cutting across open fields toward less-traveled paths. "Welcome to life as an exile, princess. It's all improvisation and bad decisions from here."
She's quiet for a long moment, then: "Stop calling me princess. I'm not that anymore."
"What should I call you, then?"
"Ariella. Just Ariella."
The name sits strangely in my mouth—too intimate, too real. But she's right. She's not a princess anymore. Just a cursed elf bound to a dark wizard, running from everyone who'd see us dead or captured.
"Alright, Ariella. Keep up. We've got ground to cover."
We walk in silence as the sun dips toward the horizon, leaving the village and its witnesses behind. But the damage is done.
Word will spread. The Elf Realm will hear. The Guild will hear.
And they'll both come hunting.