It was butt-freezing cold. Damned the second I agreed to do this stupid retcon. There wasn’t even anything here. Why would it be? I was in the middle of fucking nowhere. Literally, I had to climb up the hill—on foot—and investigate the general area at the base of the mountain. Even as far as descending a bit to have a look around the forest. That bastard didn’t even give me an exact location.

  “Just look around, Luke, surely you’ll know when you find it,” I repeated mockingly. “It’s like he wants me to get caught by the Watchers, man. He'd better pay me a good amount this time, or I’m not helping him anymore with this charade.”

  I decided to have another sweep past the forest, near the foot of the mountain, so that the imbecile wouldn’t complain that I didn’t look hard enough when I inevitably came back with nothing. There hadn’t been any sighting of guards around, so it had to be fine. Besides, with the snowstorm—seriously, he sent me here during a snowstorm—it had to be hard to track me.

  Burrowing deeper into my coat, I braved through, abandoning the safety of the forest. I frankly didn’t understand why he assigned me the mission, though. There had to be loads of nerds in his group who would wet themselves at the prospect of finding something useful for their cause. I assumed it had to be an attempt to get me invested, but I truly couldn’t give less of a fuck about his little project. The field of fucks was completely dry, the cold weather ruining the harvest. Anyway, the point was that if I hadn’t cared during my entire life until now, why would I suddenly change my opinion just because he got a signal from some old-ass technology? I really wished Vash would just give up, put an end to it before anything could happen.

  The sensation of a cold blade in my neck stopped me dead in my tracks. I had been distracted, sure, but there was no way anyone could have sneaked behind me unnoticed. The angle they were holding the dagger led me to believe that they were shorter; the mysterious figure pressing behind me had a smaller build, though with strong, muscled arms. Perhaps a woman; the long, soft hair brushing my shoulder also contributed.

  Peering down, I could notice that the dagger was green and see-through, so mystical, then. My attacker had to be a Watcher; despite their modus operandi being different, I wasn’t going to risk getting my throat sliced to ask why the change of protocol. I slowly raised my arms to show I was unarmed. If I played my cards right, I could leave unscathed with only a fine.

  “Hey—uh—look, I’m sorry for being this far from the city, but see, I lost my dog,” I tried the most apologetic voice I could muster. My acting skills had to be useful for something. “And I think he went up here, but if you want me to, I can go back down in a sec, no problemo.”

  I didn’t get a response, and the edge of the dagger didn’t move. Then: “Identify yourself and state where we are.” The voice commanded. It had a strange accent, one that I’ve never heard, which was weird since I knew people from all over the country.

  “I’m Luke Barton.” They talked all formally like one, but it was clear that the weirdo wasn’t a Watcher, probably just some lunatic. Maybe they just got the weapon from the black market, and I had nothing to worry about. “We are… wait, do you mean this exact spot or the general location?” I asked, trying to sound aloof. “Should I tell you the country? Would you like to know the continent too?” I could deal with them and have no consequences, my favorite type of situation.

  “Look, I have to get home early.” I grabbed their hand, pushing the weapon away, then I turned, facing them, still holding their wrist to try and make them drop the dagger. However, my world abruptly shifted, giving me only a second to register that I was in the air before I crashed into the ground.

  I needed a second to process what happened. My back hurt, my head was spinning, and my ego got bruised. Clearly, it wasn’t my day because I didn’t react in time, a bare foot roughly pressed on my stomach. I managed to look up just as they shape-shifted the dagger into a spear and shoved it at my neck.

  “Well, that’s new. I’ve never seen a mystic art like that.” For some reason, they stared at the spear for a second, like they were also processing how it did that. They locked eyes with me. In this position, I could fully see them and analyze the danger, and I think I discovered what Vash sent me to find.

  Definitely shorter than me, around half a head short. Covered in only a wetsuit and a military jacket that swamped them, sporting a very familiar-looking symbol.

  “Where are we located and what year is it?” They tried again, closing in, face next to mine. A boyish, impassive face greeted me. Very pale skin, dotted with faint freckles. Only a bright, emerald green eye was visible; the left one covered by fiery red strands of hair.

  “Did you throw me over your shoulder? That’s kinda impressive for such a small lad like you.” I completely ignored his question. I had to find a way to not get gutted and bring him back to base.

  “You keep talking despite clearly not helping your case,” he stated, pressing the spear further.

  “I am—what some people describe as—a dick.” Honestly, I was expecting a laugh or at least for him to get frustrated, but nothing. Tough crowd. Seeing as he wasn’t budging, I sighed. “Let’s do a trade. I will tell you whatever you want, but you have to come with me.” His gaze lowered, weighing his options.

  “For what reason do you want me to go with you?” At least he wasn’t stupid, just feral.

  “‘Cause you’re cute,” I smiled and winked. But again, no reaction. “Jeez, laugh a little, man. My brother, Vash, sent me because he got a signal from some old technology activating around here. I’m assuming you have something to do with it since the jacket you’re wearing has the same emblem his little group uses.” That did get me a reaction; it was subtle, just a twitch, but nothing can evade me.

  "Very well, I will accompany you.” That easy? The readhead removed the spear. “However, if I perceive any ill intent, I’ll slice your throat and leave you to die.”

  “Deal.” Still lying on the ground, I extended my hand. Expecting him to help me up, but as it was getting customary, he just stared at me, so I got up on my own. “You haven’t been around many people, have you?” He didn’t dignify me with a response. This guy was starting to get on my nerves. “We are at the base of The Whispering Peaks. Down the hill, through the Redwood Woods, we’ll arrive at Steelvale, the nearest city in kilometers, and where I live.”

  This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

  “What year is it?” he questioned.

  “What kind of question is that? It’s the year 2525, and well, clearly winter. Why, are you a time-traveler or something?” I said it as a joke, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the Nobles managed to figure it out.

  The spear he held glowed and lost its shape, turning into a tiny floating creature—the feral kid’s eye also stopped glowing. Some ghost—or rather a wisp, like the stories from when I was young, came towards me, inspecting me for a second before circling me around. I think I passed the vibe check.

  “Hi, little dude, do you have a name?” I extended my hand, letting the creature rest there. The ghost made a move, like it was shaking its head. “Well, that won’t do. How about Wisp?” No one ever said I was original. Seemingly, it liked it, cause it made some kind of wheezy squeal.

  The redhead looked me up and down, sizing me up. “I woke up not long ago. I don’t know where I am, and I fear I may have been asleep for over a hundred years,” he admitted.

  Honestly, I didn’t expect that. “Damn…” I did not want to unpack all of that; that was Vash’s problem to deal with. “We'd better get you to my brother. He’ll know what to do.” I also didn’t want to stay here for much longer. There may not have been many sightings of Watchers lately, but those fuckers always change routes without notice. “Let’s go…” He hadn't told me his name.

  “My name’s Zain.” Even his name was peculiar. Where was this guy from?

  “Ok, then, Zain. Let’s start the trek, and you can ask me whatever you want.”

  They’ve been walking for quite a while, crossing through the forest. Due to the storm and the sun having set long ago, it was quite hard to see. Thankfully, Wisp’s glow was more than enough not to trip, saving me from using my oil lantern.

  Zain hadn’t talked at all, just looking straight ahead, glancing at his surroundings like he was making sure no one was following us. It was bizarre to believe he might be from more than a hundred years ago—that might explain his funky accent, though—he didn’t look that different from any other person. Doubt we changed much as a species despite the time. If you don’t count the Nobles.

  “You’re too quiet, man,” I attempt to break the silence. “I thought you wanted to ask me questions.”

  That got him to glance at me for a second. “I’m pondering what to inquire you about. I do not wish to reveal information that you could use against me.” He locked eyes with me—his eyes had some intensity that fascinated me. “I just met you after all.”

  “Right, but you still decided to come with me and tell me your crazy situation.”

  “I get the feeling that you try to appear more threatening than you are, most likely to survive in a hostile society.” Zain started. “You may know how to defend yourself, but you do not strike me as the type to hurt others just because. You are more of a—buffon, if you will.” I laughed at that. “Besides, the ghost has taken a liking to you. I’m just taking some precautions.”

  “Next time, warn me before you psychoanalyze me like that, dude.” I snickered. “It’s creepy.“

  He looked at me weirdly, lightly tilting his head, like I was some puzzle that needed to be solved. “My apologies, I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. I will keep my personal observations to myself next time.”

  “Nah, dude, you’re good. I like it when people are honest with me; there’s not a lot of that around here. Just maybe don’t do it with others without prompting, some don’t know how to handle the truth.” And I knew that first-hand. “How about you ask me questions about myself, that way you get to know me better.”

  That was what we did for a while. Descending the hill, zigzaging through the trees, avoiding roots and low branches. Zain began asking small things like my age, 21, probably testing the waters, then started with more specific questions.

  “What’s your living situation?”

  “Mhh, that’s an interesting one.” I put my hands in my pockets because I was cool like that. “I used to live with my older brother, but I didn’t want to be involved with his drama, so I got my own place.”

  “And how do you make a living? What's the socio-economic state of the country?”

  That made me pause for a second. “… Bad? I don't know, man. You should ask Vash; he’s a nerd of things like this, and he's going to love you. However, I can tell you that I don’t have a stable job. I do gigs and favors around for money. I mainly help my brother; he gives me missions, and I do them for cash.”

  “I wanted to escalate to asking more about this region, but you do not seem really invested in anything but yourself,” Zain stated.

  “Maybe.” I shrugged. That hurt more than I was willing to admit. “We live in tough times. I care about my brother, and I do admire his work to some degree, but I didn’t have the calling like my parents, and he did,” I explained. “I just want to make quick cash and live fairly quietly. He keeps expecting me to suddenly change my mind, as if something fallen from the sky would knock some sense into me or something.”

  Zain didn’t say anything; he just kept staring at me, his emerald eye digging into me, as if he could see my soul. Maybe he could, you didn't know nowadays, there’s a chance this is all just a ruse and he works for The Union. Either way, we were approaching the end of the forest, the entrance to the city not too far away.

  I wasn’t able to fully register it at first—Wisp stopped in its tracks and glowed green before Zain’s only visible eye glowed too. He grabbed my arm and pushed me behind a tree, clamping his hand on my mouth.

  I tried making eye contact with him, a complaint on the tip of my tongue, but Zain just kept his gaze at the ground in concentration. Then, I heard it, the slightest crunch of leaves in the silence of the forest. Fucking Watchers. I knew there was the smallest chance of one of them appearing, but still, you never want one near you. If it were only me alone, it would be manageable, but a feeling in my gut told me they shouldn’t see my new companion. They would probably take him to The Union and Vash would kill me, if I didn’t get killed first.

  The sound slowly approached, yet never to their hiding spot, meaning that luckily this guardian didn't have the Mystic Art of Hunting, that or they liked playing with their prey.

  Zain finally looked at me, with calculating eyes, then in the direction of the city and back at me. “You better be a good runner,” he whispered.

  Before I could understand, he snatched my wrist and pulled. Dragging me behind as we ran, as fast as we could—or rather as fast as Zain could, I could barely keep up. In seconds, we left the forest, the entrance to the city being just near enough that we could pull it off.

  In my neck I felt a strong, deadly stare, the soldier of the capital absolutely following us, but I wouldn’t dare look back, it was a miracle I hadn’t tripped yet.

  The gate to Steelvale was right there. Zain tugged me, hard; whatever protest I was about to mutter drowned when I saw a fiery lance embedded in the spot I was just on. So I looked straight ahead, trying to keep the rhythm.

  Eventually, we entered the city, but the redhead did not slow down. Crossing through the crowds of the busy city. Bumping with people after people—some hurling a couple of insults our way. Making lefts and rights on the streets, distancing ourselves from the main avenue, until he felt satisfied and found an alleyway to hide.

  There was a small silence as we both tried to catch our breaths. The murmur of the city and steam pipes as background noise.

  “That was your great plan?” I asked, when I composed myself. “Just run and pray they dont catch us?”

  Zain looked at me, his hair tousled because of the run. The eye normally hidden because of his hair was exposed, instead of the expected green, I was met with blood red, staring daggers at me. However, his face was still stoic.

  “It's not like we had another choice. Wisp showed me the enemy approaching rapidly with the intent to kill. I'm yet not strong enough to take it head on, and I doubt you could—ever.”

  I couldn't argue with that.

  “Whatever. We're not far from my brother's place. Now it's my turn to ask some questions.”