I kept moving forward, keeping my eyes fixed upon my little run away.

I saw her head turn to the side before she disappeared in the middle of a crowd.

How grand.

I kept my steps short turning my body sideways like a blade pointing at your opponent waiting to strike.

I kept inching as fast as I could managing my way through the crowd.

I darted my eyes to the right, only to see the Gatekeeper dtanding in front of the only exit of this town. He gripped his sword with his eyes gazing at the crowd.

I hurried to him.

"We have an emergency." I kept my voice calm but assuring enough to have him know that this is vital. But he remains static, never breaking his trance.

"Sir."

I rose my hand in front of his eyes.

Nothing. Our guards were always sharp. They react by instinct. From the moment they see danger, or the moment of a given command.

What happened to this one?

I had no time to waste waiting on delayed information. I turned around only to see the world darken once again. The torches that lit our town became dim. The crowd morphed to black shadows gliding over the gravel road.

My eyes widened.
What is this?

I took a step towards the crowd.

"Paladin."The Gatekeeper spoke.
I turned around. It wasn't him. It was not the Gatekeeper. Only a silhouette sticking out its hands.

"Paladin. What is the emergency?" Two eyes began to form on both palms.

My mind had gone wild. But I couldn't stand here facing a depiction of my imagination. I knew he was the Gatekeeper. I knew he was there. Remain yourself. Remain realistic.

"Keeper. We have a runaway. Have you seen one of the town's guard pass."

"There was one that confronted me." It wasn't his voice now. Just a whisper. It sounded as if a dying soul were to haunt you in your restless nights. "She claimed that..." Nothing but many whispers overtook the words that followed. The eyes on its palms began to open. Moments later I could see a cloud of grey in the windows of souls, forming into a picture of her.

Ryia, standing outside of this gate in front of what appears to be three guards.

The eyes began to blend into the palms. While the shadow began to wither away. Everything reverted to normal except once that shadow withered away. I looked at the Gatekeeper as he collapsed to the ground. Kneeling in front of his lifeless body, I noticed a grey marking right below the chin. The second I lifted his chin a streak of grey smoke fired into my eyes. My vision remained the same. The world was still clear. The world was still normal.

I attempted to pick up the Gatekeeper. But when I grabbed his limp hand, my eyes began to burn like a witch tied to a stake screaming the remaining of its breaths. I forced my hand away from him. The burning sensation came to a halt.

The eyes on that shadow's palms showed me her location.

Is it true?

It's the only thing I have on Ryia. I have to trust it.

I opened the town's main entrance enough for me to run through without it crushing my bones when it slammed. I raced through the opening. Once I passed I saw three guards further up ahead. As I hurried to them I noticed that Ryia was amongst them. In a brief period of time her eyes met mine. The 3 guards turned to me once I was right beside them. I noticed that Ryia had her bow readied for fire. All she needed to do was pull back and release. Before I could react the guards threw me to the ground. And I saw Ryia with her bow drawn pointing at my face.

"This is him."

The guards grabbed my hands and dragged me back to the gates.

One of the guards said, "Traitor."

The other guard yelled "Gatekeeper! We need entrance!"

Nothing.

They threw me against the gate.

"What have you done to him?"

"Nothing." I spoke in a calmly matter.

He did not speak a word after my say. He looked as if he were to erupt in flame of hatred.

The last guard that has not spoken a word whispered to their ears.

In a moments notice, I could hear the rocks scraping against my armor. Along with the upside down trees getting closer and closer as they drag me towards dusk.