Chapter 2: Into the Woods

Ratko, clutching Aloysius tightly, sprinted for his life toward the shadowy embrace of Hedge Wizard Woods. Behind him, a relentless barrage of explosions crashed against the magical barriers Gonzaga had summoned to protect his son. The air crackled with the energy of the spells, each impact driving Ratko faster, deeper into the darkening forest. As he neared the tree line, a final, deafening explosion lit up the sky. Ratko glanced back just in time to see the fiery blast, its afterglow searing itself into his memory.

Terror gripped him, but the sight of the explosion jolted Ratko from his daze. He knew he couldn't stop. Voices, harsh and close, cut through the trees, snapping him back to the present danger. Without hesitation, Ratko plunged deeper into the woods, the fear of his pursuers fueling his desperate escape. He ran until his legs burned, and the sun dipped low on the horizon. Exhausted, he stumbled upon a hollow beneath a massive tree. It wasn’t much, but it was shelter, and for now, that was enough. Ratko crawled inside, pulling the shadows around him like a cloak.

Alone in the eerie stillness of Hedge Wizard Wood, Ratko's mind raced. He replayed the events, trying to make sense of the chaos. He knew the woods' creatures were allies, gentle beings that his father often spoke of. But the real danger lay with the rogue wizards who hunted him, relentless and merciless. Just as a fragile sense of safety began to creep in, the sinister voices returned, closer than before.

“The boss will kill us if we don’t deliver the kid,” one of them growled.

“If you hadn’t botched it, we’d have had him by now, while the old man was distracted,” snapped another.

“What’s done is done,” the first one's voice cut through the bickering, icy and commanding. “No more mistakes! We finish this, or it’ll be our heads.”

The two wizards marched past the very tree Ratko hid beneath, their anger palpable. Ratko held his breath, praying they wouldn't notice him. His heart pounded in his chest, but luck was on his side—they missed him entirely. As their footsteps faded, Ratko cautiously crawled from his hiding spot, ready to make another break for it. But as he rose to flee, his foot caught on a root, sending him crashing to the ground. The branch he grabbed to steady himself snapped with a sharp crack.

“That’s him! Over there!” one of the wizards shouted.

Panic surged through Ratko as the wizards gave chase, their red cloaks billowing like blood in the wind. They quickly cornered him, their wands raised, ready to strike. Aloysius jumped toward the two wizards to protect his master but couldn't stop the larger wizard's advances. Fear gripped Ratko’s heart, and he could feel hope slipping away. Just as he braced for the worst, a low growl cut through the tension. From the shadows emerged a grey wolf, its eyes gleaming with fierce intelligence.

Ratko recognized the wolf—it was one he and his father had often fed during their visits to the woods. The wolf snarled and lunged at the wizards, its speed and power overwhelming them. The men in red, caught off guard and unable to withstand the wolf’s ferocity, retreated in fear, fleeing the forest as fast as their legs could carry them. The wolf stood guard over Ratko, ensuring his safety, if only for the moment.

Entered by: 0xe172…FDB6 and preserved on chain (see transaction)