David leaped to his feet when a hand jostled against his cheek. He almost fumbled to a karate pose if he hadn't recognized Talim's face, who was equally surprised by his reaction.

"Jeez! You are giving me a heart attack."

"Sorry, didn't mean to," Talim apologized, resisting a smile. "I think we should be moving."

"To where?" David asked, dusting his shirt.

"To Ryeland, the haven," Talim answered. "I figured out that you should talk to our Magus. He will be really interested once he sees you."

"Well, I didn't really think about whether I should trust you," David considered. "And for the record, you may probably be the one who's spying for the emperor."

"It's smart to be careful. But if you have strong doubts, you may start wandering blindly to my opposite path." Talim said. "No one is forcing you to come with me. I offered help and an explanation that I accused you needed. And also for the record, I didn't kill or hurt you in your sleep."

David's suspicions began to falter. He knew he needed help, and he wouldn't want to be left behind. At least, right now, Talim was the only person he had. His words felt certain and genuine; he was also too young to be a dangerous spy. But who knows? In a world where magic was a real thing, it would be foolish to underestimate people by age or physical appearances. David wondered how fast he could react if it turned out that Talim was really the bad guy. He had to make sure that he wouldn't let his guard down.

David felt the finality of his answer. "Okay, I'm coming. Sure you can walk now?"

"I can manage. I still feel wrong inside though. But I don't feel physically injured anymore, maybe a little nauseous," Talim explained as he started to walk.

David followed, careful not to step on any of the beautiful floras. "You're abandoning your father?"

Talim gave him a quick sharp glance as if he had mentioned some sensitive personal information. "I didn't say that. I've been here for almost a week. And I'm sure, I won't live long enough to find my father if I run out of something to eat."

David guiltily touched his stomach. He forgot that he'd just eaten the last food in his knapsack. "How long does it take to get in your safe haven?"

"A week or two if we go on foot," Talim answered without looking back. "There's also a shortcut, but no one's using it because it's dangerous. I think we should stay close on a road and get a lift."

David felt some of his strengths drained thinking about a long walk. Looking up at the sky, he assumed it must be an early afternoon time. He thought by this time, he would be waiting for Joe to some basketball practice after school. He brooded about how much he was missing his family and friends.

He still wanted to believe he was just dreaming. But all the surroundings felt so real. Was there really a way back home? For now, what he needed to do was to survive. Hopefully, the people from a place where Talim was leading him would help. Wiping his tears to put more focus on his steps, David suddenly realized a question he had missed.

"Wait a minute," he interrupted.

A couple of meters ahead, Talim stopped and looked back.

"How can you speak English?"

Talim's eyebrows furrowed, "What do you mean?"

"I'm surprised we speak the same language from my world," David clarified.

"I don't have any idea. For all I know, it has been the common language we speak."

"Is it the only language you speak here?"

Talim shook his head. "For me, yes. There's also a language called Ifric. But only a few can manage to speak a word of it, including our Magus. I guess the language is only for people who have serious powers. Maybe you may be able to absorb it. That's part of the reasons why I want you to meet him."

"How do people learn magic there?" David wondered.

"Save your questions once we get there," he replied, sounding a little irritated.

There were too many questions that David wanted answered. But Talim seemed uninterested, so he didn't press more.

They continued to wade through thick bushes in silence. Every now and then, he waved branches of trees that blocked the pathways. Talim maintained a couple of steps ahead. David guessed they had been walking for nearly three hours by now.

He gradually noticed that the forest began to look normal. He observed minimal floras, but they all looked ordinary. The vibrant colors of greenery lushes began to disappear.

Dead leaves and plants would be now spotted. The undergrowth started to feel snaggy on his legs. Time passed, the dense shrubbery changed into towering trees with coiling veins that sometimes hung to their thick branches.

David began to lose his sense of time. At a distance, he noticed two low hills with a cleared path between them. Talim glanced at it and headed toward another direction. The path clearly offered a better trail! David wanted to protest, but his mouth down his throat was too dry. He found it hard making words.

They were about to weave to what looked like a slalom course when Talim suddenly ducked and hid against a tree. David became momentarily motionless at his reaction. Talim desperately gestured for him to lie low. David, who was utterly confused, followed his example.

"What is happening?" he asked, feeling alarmed.

Talim just held his finger against his lips in response. They listened carefully for a moment. The forest was too quiet that he could hear nothing other than their nervous breathing. David was thinking about peeking when he heard a rustling sound nearby followed by a whistling arrow that barely hit his head by inches. His eyes widened when he heard Talim shout Run, leaping back in the direction where they came.

There was no time to think as he followed his lead. Adrenaline rush kicked in as he dashed trees after trees as fast as he could.

The number of arrows tripled in numbers. One of them streaked past him brushing his hair. He thought it would be smart not to run in a straight line. Thinking about the advantage he could use with the line of trees and some thick shrubs, he started to zigzag his way out of the forest. But how could he know what path would lead to exit? Realizing that he had lost sight of Talim, he tried to double his effort. He knew he would not last long. His lungs would soon give up. One shaft hit a tree a couple of steps ahead of him, producing a green gas.

"Cover your nose!" Talim called out nearby.

Soon all the missed arrows produced a green smoke as they hit an obstacle. David recognized that he was racing to the two small hills with a single path they ignored a while back. Talim emerged first from the trees a short distance away from him. They both slowed as they caught up to each other.

"Do you think we have outrun them?" David panted.

"I don't think so," he replied.

Looking back, David counted at least three people in a black robe, each had a distinct white mask to hide their faces. They were behind perhaps a hundred paces away. David and Talim proceeded to jog away despite none of them made any efforts for a further chase. One of them held out his palm in front of him.

"What's he doing?" David asked.

Talim didn't need to answer when the air grew wild. The wind whistled harshly in his ears. It was like he was caught in the middle of a storm with no raindrops. David found it hard to move. He could hardly see. The wind forced him back, not wanting his exhausted legs to take another step.

"Just walk straight," Talim's voice was barely audible in a screeching gale.

David obeyed his instruction. He didn't want to get caught even though it might push his limit. He worked his way through the severe blow of wind, making a little progress.

Minutes passed, the swirling air stopped abruptly, tumbling him to the ground. David partly relished the moment collapsing on the pile of dirt. He badly needed a rest. When he checked, the three figures were gone.