Kaito Silverleaf's Arc

Chapter 3 of 5

Kaito left Garrick's shop at first light and found the woodland trail out of town. The path curved between roots and stones, quiet and empty. But he had no food and no gear. The gray paste hid the marks. It could not fill his stomach, and the north road ran for days. He turned back toward one last shop near the trail's edge, a small market stall with baskets of bread and fruit out front. He kept his hood low and his sleeve tight. The stall keeper eyed him. Kaito reached for a loaf. His hand shook. He had no coin. He had fled home with nothing but the tiger and the clothes he wore. The keeper's face hardened. "Pay or put it down," she said. Kaito set the bread back and stepped away, empty-handed. A voice stopped him. "You're heading north." An elf stood by the stall, silver hair tied back, two children close at his side. He watched the treeline more than Kaito, one eye always on the road behind them. "Aldor Silverleaf," he said. "You share my name. You don't share my luck." Kaito froze. Any elf might see the glow and scream. But Aldor did not flinch. He looked at Kaito the way a man looks at someone else being hunted. "We were driven out too," Aldor said. "Armed men. Didn't like our kind of family." His younger child gripped his coat. "I know that walk. No food. Nowhere to sleep." "I can't pay," Kaito said. "I have nothing to trade." Aldor set a wrapped bundle on the ground between them. Bread, dried meat, a waterskin. "Take it. Travelers help travelers." He glanced at Kaito's covered arm and said nothing about it. "North road's long. You'll need more than this. Move at dawn. Stay off the open stretches." Boots sounded on the trail behind them. Three elf guards came into view, armor bright, silver-haired, led by a broad soldier scanning every face. Marcus Ironhelm. Aldor stiffened and pulled his children behind him. "The town sent word," he said low. "They're looking for a glowing man." Marcus raised a hand and the guards fanned out across the stall. "We seek an elf marked with old blood," he called. "Cursed. Dangerous. Report him." His eyes swept toward Kaito. Kaito grabbed the bundle. Aldor stepped forward, blocking the guard's line of sight. "Nobody here but travelers," Aldor said flat. "Go on, boy." Kaito ran for the trail, food and water in his arms. He crashed into the trees and did not stop until the stall vanished behind roots and ferns. He had supplies now. He could reach the tower. But Marcus knew his face, and the guards had taken the north road. The hunt had left the town and followed him onto the only path he had.