The streets of the town center were eerily quiet that night.
The air heavy with the faint scent of roasted nuts and burnt oil from the vendors who had long since closed their stalls.
I pulled my hood lower, making sure no one could see my face.
If anyone from the academy recognized me, everything I'd worked for would go up in smoke.
Silvercrest Hall might be ashes now, but the academy's watchful eyes were far from blind.
The shop wasn't hard to find.
Wilfred's Resource Emporium, tucked away in the quieter parts of town, its faded sign creaking in the wind.
A perfect place for someone like me, who needed to disappear but couldn't afford to leave the academy grounds entirely.
I knocked twice, quick and sharp, and waited.
A few moments later, the door cracked open, and Old Man Wilfred's weathered face appeared.
His eyes widened when he saw me.
"Noah? What the devil are you doing here at this hour?
And why do you look like a fugitive?"
I didn't answer immediately, brushing past him and into the shop.
The warm, dimly lit interior was cluttered with shelves stacked high with potions, rare herbs, and miscellaneous trinkets.
I pushed my hood back, running a hand through my hair as I turned to face him.
"I need a place to stay," I said bluntly.
Wilfred's eyebrows shot up.
"You're not making sense, boy. What's going on?"
I leaned against the counter, letting out a breath.
"Let's just say the academy thinks I'm dead—or at least missing.
My dorm room is ashes. I made sure of that."
His expression darkened.
"I staged an explosion."
I said, shrugging like it was no big deal.
"Timed it perfectly, made it look like an accident.
Now they're all scrambling to figure out what happened, but they'll find nothing.
Wilfred rubbed his temples.
Muttering something about how he should've never partnered with me in the first place.
"And why, pray tell, did you think this was a good idea?"
"Because it is a good idea."
I snapped, my voice sharp.
"Do you think I'm just some idiot playing with fire?
I needed to disappear, and this was the cleanest way to do it.
I leaned against the counter, meeting Old Man Wilfred's skeptical glare with a calm expression.
"A particular clique in my family wants me dead."
I said, deciding to lie my voice low but steady.
"If I can fake my disappearance long enough, they'll lose interest—
Or withdraw their plans entirely. It's the safest option for now."
He let out a harsh snort, shaking his head as he grabbed a rag to wipe down the counter.
"You nobles and your bloody family politics.
Don't think for a second I want any part of it.
You do what you want, boy, but keep your mess far from my doorstep.
I smirked faintly, knowing Wilfred wasn't one to pry further into matters that didn't concern him.
"Don't worry, old man.
You won't be dragged into anything—long as you keep letting me use the basement."
He muttered, throwing the rag aside.
"Just don't make me regret this."
The old man stared at me for a long moment, then sighed.
"You're trouble, Noah.
You can stay in the basement.
But don't drag me into your mess."
The next morning, I set out early, heading for the eastern forest.
The academy's grounds bordered it, making it the perfect place to hunt for rare materials without drawing too much attention.
Wilfred's shop specialized in rare resources, and I knew exactly what he needed.
The horns of horned wolves.
The forest was quiet, save for the rustling of leaves and the occasional chirp of birds.
I moved silently, my steps practiced and deliberate.
When I spotted my first target—a sleek black wolf with gleaming, curved horns—I wasted no time.
Ice shards materialized in the air around me, glinting in the dappled sunlight before hurtling toward the beast.
It snarled, lunging at me, but I was faster.
With a final, precise strike, the creature collapsed.
By the time the sun began to set, I'd collected enough horns to make the trip worthwhile.
The burlap sack slung over my shoulder was heavy, but I didn't mind.
It was proof of my efforts.
As I turned to leave, something caught my eye—a glint of gold in the distance.
Curiosity got the better of me.
I approached cautiously, and that's when I saw her.
A girl with long blonde hair, slumped against the base of a tree.
Her academy uniform was unmistakable.
My heart skipped a beat as recognition dawned.
Of all people, why did it have to be her?
For a moment, I considered leaving her there.
After all, staying out of sight was my priority.
And getting involved with a heroine wasn't part of the plan.
But then another thought crossed my mind.
She was important to the story.
Having her in my debt could be... useful.
I knelt beside her, checking her pulse.
She was alive, just unconscious.
Without wasting any more time, I hoisted her onto my back, adjusting the bag of horns as I did.
She wasn't heavy, but the journey back to the shop felt longer than usual.
When I arrived, Wilfred's eyes narrowed the moment he saw her.
Don't tell me you kidnapped a girl?"
"She was unconscious in the forest..."
I said, brushing past him.
"Leaving her there wasn't an option."
He grumbled but didn't stop me as I carried her down to the basement.
The cot I'd been using wasn't much, but it would do for now.
I laid her down gently, stepping back to watch her for a moment.
She looked peaceful, her chest rising and falling steadily.
When she finally stirred, her eyes fluttering open, they locked onto mine.
Confusion flickered across her face.
Followed by something like fear.