-- Aster --

When I left the alley I felt like I left more than my original weight in blood behind.

Magic is weird.

Even after all of that, I was feeling good. The salve was coursing through me, mending everything within my body, and I felt my cares starting to leave me. Why should I worry, I just want to run. So I did. I ran faster, and faster pushing myself harder and harder, with only the wind slowing me down. As I moved I could feel the damage from my reckless run constantly being healed. I couldn't help myself as I laughed aloud, running through the checkpoint set up to stop me.

They didn't even slow me down as I just rammed through the nets, the power coursing through them completely blocked, possibly absorbed, by the salve coursing through me. Every time I flew through one I felt more energized. I knew there would be a massive crash later but I didn't care, as I just ran.

Bloody blight, this is some good stuff.

There was a feeling of invincibility as I ran through roadblock after roadblock, with them powering me up. That was until I ran into something that snapped me from my good feeling. Something I had completely forgotten about. The entire city was after me, not just the guards. I was reminded of this when I turned a corner near the city's wall only to be greeted by the city.

I couldn't change direction fast enough as the people had seen me and locked onto my form as I attempted to make a retreat. It was like the sound of thunder behind me as I ran back through the barricades, trying to put some distance between us. I took a look back and could only let out a laugh as I watched the checkpoint be completely overrun by the people.

I still needed to get out of the city and didn't want to have to rush through the entire thing again. I began to serpentine through the city trying to lose them. After doing this for a while and seeing I had lost a lot of the city, I decided to take refuge in one of the buildings near the wall.

Now how do I go through tens of thousands of people?

Looking out the window of the building I was hiding in I realized I had made a huge mistake. People were funneling into the building, and there was only one real way out, and that was down. I must not have lost them as I thought. I might have been filled with power right now but it was a false power from the salve and I couldn't tap into it. In fact, my reserves were still low, though I felt I might be able to do something, but not enough to escape with.

My breathing became quick as I started to panic. I tried to force myself to take deep breaths.

Ok. Ok. stay calm. Don't think of the sea of people coming here to kill you. Just think of your next step. Figure out what you can still do and use it.

I began pacing around the room hoping that the motion might help me think. I am low on energy. I could possibly fall away but I felt I only had enough for my mist form. I looked out the window to still see a never-ending flood of people entering. I don't think that would help me here.

What else?

Maybe something small. Could I hide in the building till they leave? I shook my head. No that wouldn't work too many trackers and rangers. Even if there wasn't I don't know how long they would be here. I'd probably run out of time.

Something else, think Aster, what other words can I use?

I guess I could...would that even work?

I think it would, but the real question is do I have enough power to pull it off?

I could hear the thunder of footsteps as the people were starting to make it up to the floor I was hiding on. Shit no more time to think just go for it.

Focusing on what was remaining of my own personal power I envisioned I was nobody, just a random guy who happened to be here. Someone nobody would remotely expect was a shadow. Oddly when I did this I just imagined my normal self.

Well, that's eye-opening.

I began to hear the people's voices.

No time for self-examination Aster, there is no time.

The power built as I took a deep breath thinking of the right words to say to guide the power, "Hear my LIE. I am not the one you're looking for."

I had just gotten the last word out when the power drained from me tiring me out. I don't feel any different.

The door to the stairway access flew open as a single team walked through. They froze when they saw me. The woman who looked to be the leader yelled, "Hey!

Shit, did it work? Not wanting to give anything away I pointed to myself as though asking who me.

"Yeah, you."

I tilted my head, "Yes?"

She walked up close to me, my hand never left my knife ready for anything when she asked, "You see anyone come up here?"

Thinking fast I said, "No, but there was a loud bang from somewhere above."

She looked me up and down, seeming to assess me before curtly saying, "Thanks."

Turning back to her team I let out a breath I was holding.

"I told you we should go higher." One of her teammates said.

"We needed to check each floor." The leader reasoned

"Let's just go guys." One of the people said. Must be a common argument at this point.

The people left, and the people behind them seeing them leave followed them, completely ignoring me.

I can't believe that worked.

Seeing the stairwell completely full of people making their way up, I decided to make my way to the elevator.

Time to push my luck.

Finding myself pushing the down button to the elevator. I watched as every so often people would be walking around the floor looking for me. Each and every one of them ignored me. One or two nodded acknowledging my existence, but nothing more.

The elevator arrived with two dings, opening to show an empty compartment. I was confused as to why there wasn't anyone inside when I realized they must all be going up. No reason to come down...yet.

I entered the elevator my hand on my weapon the entire time. I listened to the elevator music but found that it was just heightening my anxiety. A soundtrack, creating tension to what is going to be greeting me at the bottom of the building. I was about to stress test this skill to the absolute degree. All too soon the doors opened to a crowd of surprised people. I don't think they expected to see someone coming down. A few of them even started to draw their weapons, making me think my skill was failing, only for their team to shake their heads stopping them from doing anything.

The man right in front of the doors asked, "Any news?"

I decided to tell them the truth, "A large group went up to the top level but I didn't see anyone when I was up there."

"Are you sure, no blood trail or anything?" The man asked.

Was I still leaving a trail of blood? I had to look down into the elevator to make sure I wasn't. Thankfully, there was no blood. I turned back to the man, "Not that I saw."

The man looked thoughtful before coming to the conclusion, 'He must have gone to a different building."

"Well, I'm going to wait with the rest at the wall. At least I know he'll be there." I said trying to get the people to just let me through.

"Ha," The man said loudly, "Good luck finding a spot."

I shrugged, "Won't know till I try." How is this still working?

The people pushed past me as I was forced to fight my way through the crowd. Not a single person gave me a second look. I could feel my dwindling energy reserves barely keeping the skill active.

I need to get out of here now. I thought urgently.

As soon as I reached the street I moved as fast as I could toward the wall without drawing suspicion.

I made it all the way to the wall without being stopped, The crowd had thinned enough near the wall that one could easily move around, and in no time I found a set of stairs leading to the top of the wall. As I made my way to the top I wondered how it could be possible for such a simple lie to work so well. The only thing I could think of was it having to do with going against people's expectations. Opening a door, expecting to see someone flee, only to find them calmly looking out the window.

Going down an elevator and willing to enter a crowd hunting them. Calmly moving through the crowd. That had to be it, they weren't expecting it so I wasn't who they were looking for. It must be playing on what they expect.

Following the same pattern, I met no resistance as I reached the top of the wall. I got an amazing view of the world outside the city. The sun was just starting to set, the sky a beautiful crimson pink slowly fading to the black of night. The mountains to the west are barely visible over the forest outside the city. I could even see a few monsters moving through the open plains running or hunting. The world was teaming with life.

I stood right at the railing that kept people from going over and knew that all I needed to do now was jump.

"Hey what are you doing?" I nearly jumped out of my skin by the man yelling. The surprise was enough for me to tense up and instinctively try to move power through my limbs. That reaction caused the lie to falter and the man instinctively reacted shouting, "There he is!"

Without thinking I jumped over the wall, without a plan to safely land from the twenty-story drop. A blue screen appeared signaling that I succeeded in leaving the city appeared just before I hit something after only half the wall was passed. As soon as I touched it, what I believe was a net, a massive current of electricity shot through me paralyzing me. It felt similar to right before the shield fell.

I was in trouble.