The Magical Chronicles of Pride

Chapter 3

In the dim, cluttered woodshed, El sat in silence, his gaze sweeping across the dark room, lost in thought. The dampness in the air, the musty smell of old wood, and the faint light filtering through cracks in the walls only intensified his sense of bitterness. For eight long years, he had worked tirelessly, but no matter how much effort he put in, his uncle Alec and aunt treated him worse than an animal. Their cruelty knew no bounds, and they never once regarded him as a human being. The events of the day only served to prove this further—when he had asked Alec for permission to leave and forge his own path, they had framed him for theft, conspiring to hand him over to the despicable Mayor Jeram.

The mere thought of Jeram sent a shiver down El’s spine. The wounds from the last beating at Jeram’s hands had barely healed, and now, the possibility of falling into his clutches again terrified him. If that happened, he might not survive this time. His life would be at risk, and El knew that in Jeram’s sadistic grip, death might be preferable. With a deep breath, he steeled himself, knowing that his only hope for a future—any future—was to escape this wretched place. Staying here any longer would be a fate worse than death.

El glanced at Xiuling, who sat huddled in the corner beside him, her face pale with fear. She had been a loyal friend, always by his side, and had even risked her safety to warn him. Her bravery touched him deeply, and he knew he couldn’t leave her behind. He nudged her gently, his voice barely above a whisper, “Xiuling, I’ve finally figured it out. We have to leave. We have to get out of here if we ever want to have a life. Otherwise, they’ll never treat us like human beings. Let’s escape together and find freedom outside these walls.”

Xiuling’s eyes widened at his words. She had longed for freedom for as long as she could remember, dreaming of a life where she wasn’t beaten or ordered around like a dog. A world where she could breathe freely without fear of punishment. But as much as the thought of escape thrilled her, doubt quickly clouded her expression. She lowered her head, her lips trembling as she struggled to find the courage to respond.

Sensing her hesitation, El gently asked, “Xiuling, what’s wrong? Do you want to come with me or not?”

“El,” she began, her voice soft and filled with uncertainty, “I want freedom too. But have you thought about where we’ll go? The world is so big, and we don’t know anyone. Besides, your uncle has a lot of influence, and his connection with Mayor Jeram means they’ll stop at nothing to find us. If we’re caught, things will only get worse for us.”

El understood her concerns all too well. Alec and Jeram were powerful, and once they discovered the escape, they would surely hunt them down. Still, the thought of staying behind was unbearable. Gritting his teeth, he said firmly, “Xiuling, we have to take the risk. It’s the only way. As long as there’s a glimmer of hope, we can’t give up. No matter what obstacles we face, we’ll find a way to deal with them. Freedom is worth the fight, no matter how hard it is.”

Xiuling’s eyes softened at his words, though doubt still lingered. She wanted to believe in El’s determination, but fear gripped her heart. Before she could reply, El continued, his voice filled with resolve, “Xiuling, we can’t let others decide our fate. Our lives belong to us, and only we should have the power to shape our future.”

Hearing this, Xiuling felt a spark ignite within her. El’s words struck a chord deep in her soul, and she knew he was right. Her fear began to melt away, replaced by a fierce desire for freedom. She nodded, her voice now steady with conviction, “El, you’re right. I’ve decided. No matter how dangerous it is, I’ll leave this hell with you and chase after our freedom.”

A sense of relief washed over El. With Xiuling by his side, their chances of survival felt stronger. He walked to the small, grimy window of the woodshed and peered out through a c***k. To his surprise, there were no guards in sight. His heart leaped with cautious hope. Perhaps Alec and the tigress of an aunt didn’t think they would dare attempt an escape. Or maybe, they simply didn’t care enough to keep a close watch. Either way, it didn’t matter to El. What mattered now was that the path to freedom was open, and they had to take it.

“Xiuling,” El whispered urgently, “turn your back to me. I’ll bite through the ropes.” Fueled by his desire for freedom, El felt a surge of strength. It didn’t take long for him to gnaw through the coarse ropes binding her wrists. Xiuling, understanding the importance of haste, ignored the pain in her bruised hands and quickly set to work untying El’s ropes.

Once free, Xiuling looked at El, fear evident in her eyes. “What do we do now? I’m scared, El.”

El’s gaze softened as he reassured her, “Xiuling, don’t be afraid. We’re fighting for our freedom, and we won’t let fear stop us.”

“But where do we escape to?” Xiuling asked, her voice trembling. “There are so many people coming and going in Alec’s residence. If anyone sees us, it’s over.”

“Don’t worry. We’ll avoid the main gates. We won’t go through the back either. We’ll climb over the wall near the garden—it’s the least guarded,” El explained. He had spent years observing the patterns around the estate and knew that the garden area was often deserted, making it their best option for a quiet escape.

With the plan set, they moved cautiously, keeping to the shadows as they made their way through the estate’s sprawling grounds. The garden, with its rockeries, arched bridges, and elegant pavilions, was a place of beauty. But to El and Xiuling, it was nothing more than the last obstacle in their path to freedom. They didn’t have time to admire the scenery or think about the wealth that surrounded them. All that mattered now was escaping undetected.

Climbing the garden wall was easier than El had anticipated. Despite their fear, they moved swiftly and silently. The moment their feet hit the ground outside Alec’s estate, they felt a weight lift from their hearts. They had escaped the clutches of their tormentors. But they knew the danger wasn’t over yet. They had to keep running.

They ran for what felt like hours, their legs burning and lungs aching, but they didn’t stop until they were sure they were far enough away. Only then did they pause, gasping for breath as they leaned against the trunk of an old tree.

For the first time in years, El felt a sense of freedom. The sky above them seemed bluer, the air fresher, and even the faint rustling of the leaves brought a sense of peace. He glanced at Xiuling, who was smiling for the first time in what seemed like forever.

But their moment of peace was short-lived. El knew they couldn’t rest for long. “Xiuling,” he said, “we have to keep moving. They’ll notice we’re gone soon, and they’ll come after us.”

Just as they prepared to resume their journey, Xiuling suddenly stopped. “El, I’ve been thinking... I don’t think I can go with you,” she said hesitantly.

El froze, shocked by her words. “What do you mean? We just escaped together. Why wouldn’t you want to stay with me?”

“It’s not that I don’t want to, El,” she explained quickly. “I have a distant aunt in the Turluns Empire. I think it’s safer if I go to her. It’s better if we separate. That way, we won’t be caught together.”

El frowned, understanding her logic but feeling a deep sense of loss. “I see,” he said quietly. “I’ll miss you, Xiuling. But you’re right, it’s safer to split up.”

With a heavy heart, they said their goodbyes, knowing that their paths had diverged but hoping they would meet again someday. As El watched Xiuling walk away, a part of him felt the weight of uncertainty, but he knew he couldn’t stop. His journey had just begun.