All of a sudden, Randolph had silently approached without their notice and now stood beside them. His stern expression and the firm grip on his cudgel, held high, sent a clear message.
The sight of him was all it took for Oliver to retreat, his bravado vanishing instantly. He hurried away from the scene, not heading towards the village as he had initially intended, but in the opposite direction. Panic fueled his steps, his only instinct being to find a place of refuge and safety.
Oliver, having put some distance between himself and the pair, shouted back in frustration while he ran away frantically, "This isn't over, Jasmine! You can't hide forever!"
After he left, tears streamed down Jasmine's face and she couldn't help but sob. She berated herself internally, realizing that Oliver's
