The Shattered Realms

Chapter 9: Hunted

The headquarters of the Mundane forces had transformed into a hive of relentless activity. What began as a methodical search for Eldric Thorne had escalated into a frantic manhunt. Commanders and soldiers alike were on edge, their movements brisk and their orders clipped as they coordinated the effort to locate and apprehend the fugitive.

General Harlan was at the epicenter of this chaos, his eyes never leaving the maps and reports spread across the strategy table. His demeanor was calm, but his words carried the weight of urgency. "Deploy every available unit," he commanded, his voice sharp. "Increase patrols near known Enchanted sanctuaries, double the surveillance on all points of interest. Thorne cannot be allowed to slip through our grasp."

Sergeant Briggs nodded, his expression reflecting the seriousness of the situation. "Sir, we've set up checkpoints on all major routes and have alerted our allies. All units are on high alert."

"Good," Harlan replied curtly. "Keep me informed of any developments. We need to anticipate his every move."

Meanwhile, in the back of the operations room, Doctor Rand paced nervously, clutching his folder with growing anxiety. He had spent hours trying to convey the gravity of the data he had collected, but his warnings continued to fall on deaf ears.

"General Harlan," Rand began, approaching the commander with a sense of urgency that bordered on desperation, "we need to address the situation with the earth's crust. The data shows—"

Harlan didn't even look up. "Doctor Rand, we are in the middle of a critical operation. Geological concerns can wait."

"But sir," Rand pressed, "the tectonic plates are showing unprecedented instability. If we don't take action—"

"Doctor Rand!" Harlan's tone cut through the air, silencing the geologist. "We will address it later. Right now, I need you to focus on your assigned duties. You're dismissed."

Defeated, Rand could only nod, his face etched with frustration. He turned away, his mind still racing with thoughts of the impending disaster that no one seemed to care about. But the urgency of the hunt for Eldric overshadowed all else.

Amid the heightened activity, Dalton Strickland moved through the base with a sense of growing unease. Since his outburst in the briefing room, guilt had been gnawing at him, the weight of his betrayal becoming harder to bear with each passing moment. He had tried to maintain his composure, but every time he closed his eyes, he saw Eldric's face—calm, kind, and completely undeserving of the fate that awaited him.

The realization that his actions had made Eldric a target consumed Dalton. He couldn't shake the image of Eldric using his abilities to save lives, Mundane and Enchanted alike, without a hint of malice or desire for power. And now, because of him, Eldric was being hunted like an animal.

Dalton knew he couldn't stay here, not while Eldric was out there, possibly facing capture or worse. His heart pounded as he made a decision: he would abandon his post, find Eldric, and do whatever he could to make things right.

The commanders, however, were no fools. They had anticipated that Dalton might act on his guilt, and as such, they had him watched closely. But Dalton, knowing the base as well as he did, managed to evade their surveillance. With careful planning, he slipped away from the base under the cover of night, his mind set on finding his friend.

Hours passed as Dalton trudged through the dense forests surrounding the base, his thoughts swirling with fear and regret. The deeper he ventured into the wilderness, the more lost he felt—not just physically, but emotionally as well. He had no clear direction, only a desperate hope that something would guide him to Eldric.