They continued through the vast, quiet forest, the only sounds around them being the occasional rustle of leaves and the distant calls of nocturnal animals. Bonny remained silent for most of the journey, her focus locked straight ahead as her boots crunched softly against the dirt and scattered foliage. Despite her silence, Torres showed no signs of discomfort. Instead, he remained lively, hopping from branch to branch high above her, his energy undeterred by her lack of response.
The trees were massive—ancient things with thick, muscular limbs that arched out like the arms of giants. Their thick branches were so wide and steady that they could easily carry Torres's weight as he leapt effortlessly from one to another. For someone like him, labeled a "Superhuman," feats like this were little more than a casual stroll. His enhanced strength, speed, and durability allowed him to traverse the upper canopy like a wild animal, and even if he fell from such a height, the impact wouldn't harm him much—though it might still sting.
Despite the awkwardness between them, Torres continued to make attempts at conversation, filling the long silences with his thoughts. After several minutes of walking and bouncing between branches, he finally asked a question that had been lingering on his mind.
"Hey," he called from above, "has it ever occurred to you that your buyer might take advantage of your bounty and kill you?"
Bonny glanced up, her face showing a slight frown. "What do you mean?" she asked, her voice even but curious.
"With a bounty as high as yours," he said, swinging forward on a branch, "it's not hard to imagine someone pretending to buy something from you just to get close and ambush you."
He paused mid-leap, briefly moving ahead of her before circling back so they were walking side by side again—him above, her below.
Bonny smirked confidently as she kept her pace. "Of course I've considered that. But don't forget my ability. If things go south, I can just transform into someone else and escape. My SoulBound makes deception my strongest weapon."
Torres chuckled. "That's actually pretty clever."
Though Bonny often appeared cold and composed, pride clearly bloomed beneath her surface. Compliments, especially regarding her abilities, had a way of seeping through her icy exterior and swelling her ego just enough to reveal a glint of emotion. His remark made her walk a bit straighter, a tiny grin curling at the corner of her lips.
A moment later, Torres dropped down to a lower branch and asked another question. "Wait… I caused a pretty big scene back at the city center. You think your buyer might recognize my face?"
Bonny stopped in her tracks and looked up at him with a half-smile. "Don't worry. Come down here," she ordered.
Obeying without hesitation, Torres jumped gracefully from the branch, landing cleanly with both feet on the forest floor. His landing barely stirred the dirt beneath him.
"You're very athletic," Bonny observed offhandedly.
"I know," he replied casually, brushing imaginary dust from his coat.
As he stepped forward, unsure of what she was planning, they stood face to face. Bonny blinked, then tilted her head.
"Wait… now that I think about it, I never actually asked your name."
"Oh, right!" he said with a grin. "I'm Torres Plosia!"
The moment the name left his mouth, Bonny's face shifted into shock. "Plosia?!" she gasped, stumbling back a few paces as if he had just admitted to being a ghost.
"What? Is there a problem?" he asked, confused by her reaction.
Bonny regained her composure quickly, brushing off her initial surprise. "No, no… Come closer, Torres," she said, her voice more serious now.
He did as instructed, stepping closer once more. She raised her hand to his forehead and gently touched him, closing her eyes in concentration. In mere seconds, Torres's body shimmered and transformed. His frame shrank slightly, his jaw softened, and his hair lengthened. Before he could even process what had happened, Bonny had already pulled a compact mirror from her backpack and held it up to his face.
When he saw his reflection—his masculine features replaced by those of a blonde-haired, blue-eyed girl—he leapt back, nearly tripping.
"Woah! You can turn other people into someone else too?!" he shouted, eyes wide with awe. "That's so cool!"
"Yes…" Bonny replied, clearly savoring the compliment. Her smile widened with pride, soaking in the admiration like sunlight. Compliments were fuel for her pride, and Torres had given her a full tank.
Torres couldn't stop poking his new nose and brushing his delicate hair with fascination. The sensation of having someone else's face was alien but weirdly entertaining. But after a few moments of childish curiosity, Bonny suddenly became alert. She turned her head slowly, scanning the shadows around them.
"It's getting dark," she said softly, her voice lower now.
Torres tilted his head. "Yeah? What's the problem?"
"There's a chance royal scouts could find us," she replied, her tone now edged with seriousness.
"Why would they be out here?" he asked again, genuinely confused.
Bonny turned her gaze toward the treetops. "This forest was once a hideout for SoulBound traitors. That was four years ago, but ever since, the Royal Empire sends out patrols regularly. They know some of us still return here."
Torres, unfazed, simply laughed and flexed his arms. "Well, I'm here now, aren't I? Let them come."
A few minutes later, he shifted back into his original form with Bonny's help, and the two resumed their journey—Torres leaping lightly between branches once again, while Bonny walked steadily along the ground, her eyes now flicking between trees with increasing caution.
Eventually, the sun faded completely, and shadows consumed the forest floor. Though it wasn't yet pitch-black, the dimming light made every rustle and chirp feel heavier, more loaded with threat. Bonny paused and began rummaging through her backpack until she pulled out a small lamp. She lit it with practiced ease, bathing the nearby area in a soft golden glow.
It wasn't completely dark yet, but she preferred to be prepared.
The city of Vantumato operated under a bizarre and unexplained time cycle. Unlike the global standard of twelve hours of daylight followed by twelve hours of night, Vantumato experienced day and night in rapid succession—only four hours each. This meant that what others considered a full day was the equivalent of three in Vantumato. Many scholars, scientists, and mystics had tried to explain the phenomenon. Some believed it was due to a second sun visible only in this region. Others believed a god manipulated the hours of light. But the most widely accepted theory—and the most frightening—was that the Royal Empire itself had discovered a way to control time within the city.
Despite decades of study and investigation, not a single credible explanation had ever been confirmed.
"We have four hours until the next sunrise, right?" Torres asked as he landed softly beside her once again.
"Yeah," Bonny replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "Until then, keep your guard up."
For the next hour, they pressed on through the woods, careful not to make too much noise. Torres, even from the treetops, could spot predators lurking in the shadows below—sharp-eyed beasts with glinting fangs.
"Should I kill it?" he called out more than once.
"No!" Bonny hissed from below.
Torres always grinned when he asked, almost hoping she'd let him fight something. But Bonny, a known animal lover, couldn't stomach the idea of harming innocent wildlife. To her, survival didn't have to come at the cost of unnecessary bloodshed.
By the time the second hour passed, a faint glow began to flicker in the distance—another light. Bonny's body tensed as she quickly doused her lamp.
"This is stupid," Torres whispered, annoyed. "We should've just walked in the dark."
"I would have tripped every two steps," she replied flatly, not taking her eyes off the approaching light.
Both of them ducked into a nearby bush, crouching low in the undergrowth. The brush was thick, but not thick enough to hide them from a direct beam of light.
"Should I fight him?" Torres asked again, his voice quiet but excited.
"What?! Are you insane?" Bonny whispered back.
"Come on, he's alone," he said.
"He could alert others," she snapped. "They have badges that transmit location. If we engage, they'll know exactly where we are."
Torres groaned under his breath. "This is so boring."
"Just stay still," she ordered.
They waited in silence, hidden in the foliage as the patrol moved closer. The light grew larger, more intense, until they could hear the quiet footsteps of boots pressing into soil. The scout walked forward, passing within just ten meters of their hiding place. Bonny held her breath, her muscles taut with tension.
Finally, the soldier passed.
"Whew…" Bonny exhaled.
But just as they thought they were safe, a rabbit leapt from a nearby bush and landed near them. Curious and unafraid, it sniffed the air—and then scurried into the underbrush with a loud rustle.
A sharp beam of light suddenly cut through the darkness, flashing directly into their bush.
Torres's fingers curled into fists.