Rise of the Eromancer

"Are you sure you know where we're going?"

"I was born and raised here, Outsider. I know each and all the cracks there is to know around the city. We—"

"Wait," as they cautiously make their way through the winding and narrow alleyways of Calydon, Rhys's heightened senses alert him to the approach of guards. He swiftly pulls Clio into the darkness; the two of them quickly hiding behind a tower of crates.

"W… what's wrong?" The princess's heart races, her breath catching in her throat as she feels the warmth radiating from Rhys's body. No men should really ever touch her—but now, her bosoms were currently touching Rhys's large and hard… torso.

"Guards," Rhys whispered into her ear, his silver eyes gleaming in the darkness. "Two of them, coming this way."

"How… do you know that?" Clio squinted her eyes which were slowly landing on Rhys's lips.

"I have good hearing," Rhys then looked up to try and find a way. But before he could even suggest moving across the roofs of the city, Clio lightly pushed Rhys away; her lips slightly quivering as she did so.

"I shall distract them. You find a way around."

"You don't really—"

The guards' footsteps drew nearer as Clio stepped out into; her golden hair shimmering like a beacon as it reflected the moon above. Rhys stared at her for a few seconds before just melting into the shadows — not literally, of course, as he can't really risk anyone seeing some of his abilities yet. He just used what he learned from Katarina; his movements, fluid and silent despite his imposing size.

After all, when he tried to use Olga's abilities this morning, it felt like someone was watching him from above. For some reason, however, Rhys couldn't feel anything like that anymore…

…perhaps it was only during the day?

The only one who was watching from above now was him, as he climbed on the roof and watched the guards approach Clio.

"Princess Clio…!?" One of the guards exclaimed, surprise evident in his voice as he saw the princess just stepping out of the alleyway. "What… are you doing out here this late at night?"

"Oh, I couldn't sleep," Clio smiled graciously, her emerald eyes twinkling as she looked at the two guards, "The wedding preparations has my mind in such a whirl, I thought a walk… would do me some good."

As Clio engaged the guards with her eloquence, she looked back from time to time to see where Rhys escaped to, but found he was no longer anywhere to be seen; not knowing he was just watching them from above.

"You shouldn't be out here all alone, Your Highness," the second guard shook his head gently, "These streets can be dangerous at night. And the soldiers from Thebes are here too. If they see you—"

"You're right, of course," Clio agreed and cut-off the guard's words, "I'll return to my chambers at once."

"We'll escort you."

"That's… not really necessary," the gentle smile on Clio's face slightly twitched. But alas, the guards did not listen to her at all.

And as the guards escorted Clio back towards the palace, Rhys followed silently from the rooftops. Soon, however, he heard several more footsteps running around the dimly lit city; his eyes, reflecting several moving lights running around the streets and alleyways.

Although he could not really hear them properly, it was enough for him to pick up some words.

Prisoner. Escaped. Alert — those three words were the only things that Rhys needed to hear.

This isn't the time to be sneaking around at all. Rhys then dropped from the roof very silently, moving toward Clio and the guards — and without even any warning, he suddenly pulled Clio away.

"Who!?"

The guards' eyes widened in shock as Rhys's massive frame loomed over Clio, his muscular arm wrapping around her delicate neck.

"Stand back," he growled, his silver eyes glinting dangerously in the dim light.

"What… what are you doing?" Clio very quietly whispered.

"…You're not the only one here who can act, Princess."

"What…" Clio gasped, her heart racing as she felt Rhys's strength against her body. She knew it was an act, but the sheer power emanating from him sent shivers down her spine. And most importantly… the warmth of his breath was currently touching her neck.

"Release the princess!" one guard shouted, drawing his sword with trembling hands as he pointed it toward Rhys.

Rhys tightened his grip, eliciting a small whimper from Clio. "Move, and she dies," he stated coldly, his voice devoid of emotion.

As the guards hesitated, torn between duty and fear, Rhys began backing away slowly, dragging Clio with him… who just started moaning and wincing from the pain; obviously an act, but Rhys could not help but be slightly uncomfortable.

"That's… too much," Rhys whispered. Clio did not say anything at all and just allowed herself to completely be dragged away by Rhys.

"W—!!!" And when Clio was actually about to say something, Rhys just suddenly lifted her up and carried him in her arms before running into the corner and melding with the darkness. The nervous could really only look at each other for a few seconds before rushing into the corner and following the two…

…only to find them gone.

"Where… where are they…?"

"Wait… alert… Alert the others! Someone took the princess!"

"Someone kidnapped the princess!" The two guards then started shouting; their throats almost being scratched from the desperation.

Unbeknownst to them, however, Rhys was already leaping from roof to roof while having the princess tightly in his arms. Clio's eyes widened as she felt the rush of wind against her face, her heart pounding in her chest. Rhys's superhuman strength and agility left her both awestruck and slightly terrified.

She clung to him tightly, her fingers digging into his muscular shoulders as they soared over the rooftops of Calydon.

"By the gods," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the whoosh of air. "How are you—"

"Quiet," Rhys interjected, his silver eyes scanning the cityscape below. His voice was low and controlled, betraying no emotion. "We're not safe yet."

And very soon, they reached the outskirts of the city, Rhys gracefully landed in a secluded alley. He set Clio down very gently; his hands, deliberately lingering on her waist for a moment longer than necessary. The princess felt a warm tingle spreading through her body, a stark contrast to the cool night air.

"Thank you," Clio said softly, her emerald eyes searching Rhys's face. "How… are you even able to do that?"

"Practice and repetition," Rhys looked back at the city; the lights of the torches running around becoming more and more prevalent, "…We should go."

As they made their way through the darkness, Clio found herself stealing glances at her enigmatic companion. His strength was undeniable, yet there was a gentleness in the way he had carried her. It was... confusing.

The two of them continued to run for several minutes, only stopping when they neared the trees and the princess started to gasp for air.

"W… wait," Clio's breaths slightly stuttered as she hasn't really ran like that since she became of age, "…Let. Let me rest."

"Hm…" Rhys only nodded in response as he once again looked back at the city. And since he wasn't seeing any torches following them out of the city, it would seem they had no idea at all that they were already far away.

"Why…" Clio then asked as she looked at Rhys, "…We could have found a better chance and way to escape. Kidnapping me would—"

"Would eliminate the opinion of the people that you ran away to escape from a political marriage," Rhys cut-off the princess as he looked her right in the eyes, "I don't really know how politics work here, but I'm sure your father would have been ostracized by… Thebes, if he could not even control his own daughter."

"…You think that far ahead?" Clio slightly gasped, "W—"

"Princess!"

And before Clio could finish her words, a glint of metal caught Rhys's eye. He quickly pushed Clio away, and in a blur of motion, his hand shot out to the side.

…snatching a spear from the air mere inches away from almost hitting Clio's face.

"!!!" To Rhys's surprise, however, he found himself almost being flung away; his feet, sliding several meters across the ground.

"What!?" Clio gasped, also stumbling backward in shock.

"Most impressive…" A deep voice rumbled as a hooded figure emerged from the darkness of the trees, "…Now, I wasn't told about someone like you being here."

"Who… who are you!?" Clio squinted her eyes as she looked at this hooded figure, who was just casually stepping toward them without any weapons.

"A mercenary," the hooded figure answered without any hesitation. He was, however, not looking at the princess at all as his bright green eyes peeked out from his hood, staring at Rhys, "And who might your large companion be, Your Highness?"

"…" Rhys really only stared back at the mercenary.

"Well, no matter…" The mercenary sighed before shaking his head. And then, with another breath — he just suddenly raised his arms up like a boxer… and then appeared right in front of Rhys's face,

"…I'll know soon enough."