Cody was confused as Skarlet pulled him away, turning down their ride. As they walked though he suddenly heard a shout from behind, Skarlet bolted forward, yanking Amber up into her arms. She was gone into the crowded street, Cody noticed behind that the city guards and some knights in armor were pointing at him.

Cody leaped forward, down one of the streets, the knights gave chase. He pushed people out of the way as he tried to put distance between him and the guards chasing him, slipping down an alley, he gazed around for someplace to hide. Beatrice had melted into the crowd, while Skarlet and Amber had vanished, seemingly upwards onto the rooftops.

"Stop!" A voice yelled behind him, causing Cody to leap forward once more, he weaved down the intersecting alleys trying to lose his pursuers. He skidded to a halt as he ran into a wall, a dead end.

"Nowhere to run, give up-" the knight paused as Cody turned and drew his sword.

"Hero Cody, guess you wouldn't go down without a fight, I respect you and I'm going to do this fairly." The man held up his hand and the knights behind him backed into a circle, the man drew his sword and held it in front of him. "My name is Aldwin, it's an honor to have this duel with you sir hero."

Cody sighed as he drew his sword and lowered into a stance, "Aldwin, It's good to see you again my teacher." They circled each other, preparing for a clash. 

"Why'd you do it?" Aldwin asked, he seemed truly perplexed.

"What? betray the church, I fell in love." Cody joked, "But in all honesty, I believe I'm chasing the Godess's designed path. The church doesn't agree and deemed me criminal. Do we truly have to fight here sir?" Cody asked tiredly.

"Sadly, I do have a duty, and I must fulfill it." Aldwin said with a heavy heart.

"I commend your dedication, then let this be our final duel to see whether I have surpassed my teacher or if I still need more of your training Master Aldwin." Cody leaped forward with a diagonal slash, Aldwin parried, Cody rolled with the parry and barely dodged the blade as it whisked past his ear. Damn, he's gotten better.

Cody, brought his waist low as he followed the spin for another slash, this one sideways. Aldwin backstepped Before taking a big step forward and a downward slash before Cody had finished his swing. Cody was forced into a back step, only to block as another swing came at him. He grunted as the blade slammed into his with a weight, gasping as it turned and slid down towards his hand. Cody gasped and his sword was knocked and he fell back, Aldwin stepped forward for a strike. Cody rolled backward, kicking his sword, it bounced towards him.

"Shoot, almost had me, didn't realize this was too the death." Cody joked as he picked up his sword, Leonhart shook his head.

"No, I knew you would be able to avoid at the least with your skill. Though having your sword back wasn't as expected, You've improved." Aldwin continued pressing, Cody blocked and sidestepped several more attacks. This is tough, I'm gonna slip up, does he intend to make me fall in a duel to keep my name or maybe he hopes I'll overcome him? Don't get your hopes up, you're too far above me Aldwin, Damn, to come this far before realizing he'd been holding back in our training this much. Cody thought as he took a hit to the shoulder he winced as his swordplay got a little sloppy. He defended a strike, successfully parrying and finally landing a hit on Aldwin's armor, the Swordsmen chuckled as he pivoted and initiated a downward diagonal strike aimed at Cody's legs. Cody barely blocked, but it staggered him and he stepped back. With a swift movement, his sword was knocked from his hand and he was on the floor with a blade in the ground next to his ear.

"Your loss Cody, splendid swordsmanship though, you even improved during our fight." Aldwin smiled as he held out his hand, "I'll talk to the church about all of this, hopefully we can get it resolved yeah?" Cody took it and got to his feet. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed something, Aldwinhad turned back to his knights.

Cody dashed forward, grabbed his sword and turned, running towards the wall he leaped raising his hand up. Aldwin turned and bolted towards him.

"Cody!" As he yelled that a hand gripped Cody's and yanked him up onto the rooftop.

"Hey there cat." Cody smiled as he gazed at Skarlet, she blushed a bit as she stood up and yanked him along.

"Come on, we have to go before they get after us." She explained as they leaped across alleys, she let go once she confirmed he was keeping up.

"Where's Amber?" Cody asked as they ran.

"Left her at our hiding spot." she replied as she skidded to a stop.

"Where's that?" Cody asked stepping up to the edge.

"Below." Skarlet replied before shoving him over the edge. Cody fell through the open skylight of a warehouse and landed in a large crate of cloth scraps, he quickly hopped out as Skarlet fell next. Amber was sitting on an old couch, a low table in front of her. She was staring off into space as usual, but her head turned as Skarlet spoke.

"I'm back." She announced as she headed over to sit by her.

"Was that ok, you'll be charged as an accomplice, and added to the wanted list." Cody asked, scratching his head nervously.

"Y-yeah. . . I think so, it felt right. Besides, it works for us." She replied, "tonight I'll distract the guards while you take a ship, you may have to threaten a captain."

"Yeah." Cody replied, not mentioning that she could have left the country legally of she hadn't saved him.

Soon enough the night was upon them and they slipped out into the darkened street, there was a ship loading up for its departure. Cody split from Skarlet, heading towards the ship with Amber following.

Skarlet raised her hand to the sky and lit a fireball, it didn't take long for the knights to appear, Skarlet drew her sword as she took a breath.

"Drop your weapon and surrender beast, we'll be interrogating you for the Hero's locati-" Skarlet rushed forward, a blast of wind spun her and she slammed the sword into the knight's armor, she used the flat of the blade in order to knock him away. The other knights tensed up as they watched their Leader smash through a wall.

Skarlet wasn't finished as she used another air blast to launch her upwards, she blasted several fireballs downwards clearing a path as she landed and pushed through them.

"Arg! Get her!" The Aldwin exclaimed as he crawled from the wall.

Cody approached the edge of the dock adjacent to the ship, he sighed before diving into the sea. He swam up to the ship and began climbing up the back, a glow of yellow light guided him to the captain's quarters. Cody slipped in through the window, Amber right behind, and drew his sword silently, the sound of coins being counted on the desk filled the quiet room. Though being soaking wet kept him from being stealthy enough and the Captain rose and drew his own sword. "Good evening sir." Cody spoke as the Captain turned around, "My friend and I need a ship." a sudden sense of Déjà vu overcame him but he brushed it off

"And you think you can just have mine?" The captain asked, stepping forward and slashing at Cody. He parried, knocking the captain's sword from his hand and stepping forward to place his blade against the man's neck. "This can be a simple transaction where you agree to getting hijacked for a profit or I can actually take you hostage. . . What do you think?" Cody asked as he held up a bag of coins.

The captain gazed at the coins, it was a hefty bag, he looked at Cody and nodded.

"You got yourself a deal son." The old man agreed, and Cody released him. The man took a step back and ran a finger against his neck. He was dressed like a typical boat captain, he had a thin white mustache and a curly white beard.

"Let's get ready to leave then." Cody gestured to the door.

"What about your friend."

"Don't worry, she'll make it." Cody assured him as he sat down in the chair, the captain nodded before stepping out on deck.

"We're leaving, leave anything that's not already on the boat or in your hands!" The captain called, Cody smiled as he spun the chair around to gaze out the back window.

"Huh, to Gulress we go. Guess I'm finally leaving my home country." Cody mumbled as he stared out into the sea.

Skarlet blocked several sword strikes, twisting and turning, using her agility to stay just out of reach. Though she was slowly being backed towards the docks, they cut off her escape routes one by one till there was only the ocean behind her and the knights in front of her.

"There's nowhere to run, I must admit, you're truly a skilled swordsman and mage. Though it's over now, drop your weapon and I'll try to put in a good word." Aldwin spoke with a hint of admiration, she truly did blend her skills rather well together.

Skarlet bowed before turning and running towards the sea, "wait!" Aldwin called but she didn't stop and leaped out over the sea, hand outstretched like she was trying to grasp something, but instead, something grabbed her.

"A dragon!" One of the knights exclaimed, Skarlet was carried away by the dragon. She waved to the knights as she was carried to the boat that had already set sail. Beatrice dropped Skarlet on the deck, scaring the crew as she landed, she brushed herself off as Beatrice transformed and landed beside her. They made their way to the captain's quarters where they met Cody drinking with the captain.

"Quite an entrance Skarlet." Cody stood up and approached her, "no turning back now eh, we move forward now into both our uncertain futures and destiny."

"Heh, yeah, destiny." Skarlet sighed as she approached the window and watched Ulmet fade into the distance. "I've left everything I ever knew, but I'm hoping where I'm going, where we're going is better."

"We'll come back." Cody assured her, "there are people we're leaving behind."

"Yeah." Skarlet rubbed her arm as Maria's face appeared in her mind. "I'm gonna get some sleep." Amber had moved from Cody's side to Skarlet's. There was a couch to the side of the quarters, Skarlet settled onto the couch, Amber sat down on the floor laying her head against Skarlet's shoulder.