INTO THE FLAMES

Chapter Five: Shadows in the Fog

Greyharbor's streets were unusually silent that night, cloaked in a heavy fog that seemed to dampen even the faintest of sounds. Marvis pulled his cloak tighter around him, his eyes scanning the twisting alleys as he and Elias moved swiftly through the city's underbelly. Alden's words lingered in his mind like a haunting refrain: They're everywhere—in the court you fled, in the streets you walk, even in the air you breathe.

"What's the plan, exactly?" Marvis asked in a low voice, his hand instinctively resting on the dagger hidden beneath his cloak.

"First, we make it out of Greyharbor alive," Elias replied curtly, his amber eyes cutting through the mist. "After that, we find safe ground. Somewhere far from prying eyes, where we can regroup and figure out our next move."

"And where might that be?" Marvis pressed, his tone laced with skepticism.

Elias cast him a sideways glance. "Do you always ask so many questions, or is it just with me?"

Marvis bristled. "Forgive me for wanting to know where you're dragging me in the dead of night."

A faint smile tugged at Elias's lips, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "You'll just have to trust me."

Marvis huffed but said nothing. Trust was a currency he had little of these days, and Elias had yet to earn it.

---

The two men wove their way through the labyrinthine streets, each turn feeling more perilous than the last. The air was thick with tension, and Marvis couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched.

"Stop," Elias said suddenly, holding up a hand.

Marvis froze, his heart pounding in his chest. "What is it?"

Elias tilted his head, his eyes narrowing as he listened to the silence. Then, faintly, the sound of footsteps echoed through the fog—steady, deliberate, and drawing closer.

"We're not alone," Elias muttered, his hand moving to the hilt of his sword.

Marvis's grip tightened on his dagger. "Do we run?"

Elias shook his head. "Too late for that. Stay close to me."

The footsteps grew louder, and soon, shadowy figures emerged from the mist. There were three of them, clad in dark cloaks that obscured their faces. Their movements were slow and measured, like predators toying with their prey.

"Hand over the key," one of them said, his voice low and gravelly. "And we'll let you live."

Marvis's heart lurched. He glanced at Elias, whose stance had shifted into something deadly.

"You'll have to take it from us," Elias said calmly, his sword glinting faintly in the dim light.

The men laughed, a cold, mirthless sound that sent shivers down Marvis's spine. "So be it," their leader said.

The fight erupted in an instant. Elias moved with a speed and precision that took Marvis by surprise, his sword clashing against his opponent's blade in a flurry of sparks. Marvis barely had time to react as another attacker lunged at him, a dagger glinting in the darkness.

Instinct took over. Marvis ducked, his own blade slicing upward in a desperate arc. The attacker stumbled back with a grunt of pain, blood blooming on his sleeve.

"Marvis, stay behind me!" Elias shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos.

"I'm not helpless!" Marvis shot back, though his trembling hands betrayed his bravado.

Another figure charged at him, but this time, Marvis was ready. He sidestepped the attack, driving his dagger into the man's side. The attacker crumpled to the ground, clutching his wound.

Elias dispatched the final opponent with a swift, brutal strike, his movements efficient and unyielding. When the last of their assailants lay motionless on the ground, he turned to Marvis, his chest heaving.

"Are you hurt?" Elias asked, his voice laced with concern.

Marvis shook his head, though his pulse was still racing. "I'm fine," he managed, his breath hitching.

Elias's gaze lingered on him for a moment before he nodded. "Good. We need to move."

---

They didn't stop until they were well beyond Greyharbor's outskirts, the city's lights fading into the distance behind them. The fog began to thin, giving way to a clear, star-strewn sky.

Marvis sank onto a fallen log, his legs trembling beneath him. The fight had drained him, both physically and emotionally.

Elias stood a few paces away, scanning their surroundings with the vigilance of a hawk. When he was satisfied that they were alone, he sheathed his sword and approached Marvis.

"You handled yourself well back there," Elias said, his tone almost gentle.

Marvis gave a bitter laugh. "Is that your way of saying I didn't get us killed?"

Elias smirked. "Something like that."

The faint humor in his voice eased some of the tension between them, and for a moment, the world felt a little less heavy.

Marvis looked up at Elias, his expression softening. "Why are you doing this?" he asked quietly. "Helping me, I mean. You could have walked away, let someone else deal with this mess. So why didn't you?"

Elias hesitated, his gaze dropping to the ground. For a long moment, he didn't speak, and Marvis wondered if he'd overstepped.

"Let's just say I know what it's like to be hunted," Elias said finally, his voice tinged with a sadness Marvis hadn't heard before.

Marvis frowned, his curiosity piqued. "What happened to you?"

Elias met his gaze, his amber eyes shadowed with pain. "Another time," he said simply.

Marvis wanted to press further, but something in Elias's tone told him to let it go. Instead, he nodded, his fingers idly tracing the edge of the iron key in his pocket.

"We'll rest here for the night," Elias said, his voice shifting back to its usual practicality. "Tomorrow, we'll head for the Whispering Woods. It's far enough from the city that we should be safe for a while."

Marvis's brow furrowed. "The Whispering Woods? Isn't that place supposed to be… cursed?"

Elias's lips twitched in a faint smile. "You believe in curses?"

"I believe in not tempting fate," Marvis muttered.

Elias chuckled softly, a sound that warmed Marvis more than he cared to admit. "Trust me, the woods are the least of our concerns right now."

Marvis sighed, leaning back against the log. The night air was cool and crisp, carrying with it the faint scent of pine. Despite everything, a part of him felt oddly at peace.

As he closed his eyes, he couldn't help but wonder what lay ahead. The Flameheart, the key, the danger that seemed to shadow his every step—it all felt impossibly overwhelming. But for now, with Elias standing watch beside him, he allowed himself a moment of rest.

For the first time in years, he didn't feel entirely alone.