Colin knelt down next to a pile of stones and dry grass that he had skillfully stacked. He created a circle of stones around the grass, forming a small clearing to house the fire.
With a concentrated gaze, he struck the stones against each other, sparks falling onto the dry grass.
The cozy warmth of the flames quickly enveloped the grass. Watching the fire with a satisfied smile, Colin contemplated the flames dancing in mesmerizing patterns.
After a while, he lay back on the ground, staring up at the starry sky. Feeling an unexpected inner peace, he lost himself in the vastness of the cosmos. The stars twinkled above him, forming a celestial landscape that seemed to dispel all the worries of the world.
As the false elf admired the stars, he noticed out of the corner of his eye that the girl was also lying nearby, watching the sky in the same way. Occasionally, he noticed her glancing at him.
Deep down, the girl was seeking reassurance that Colin wouldn't abandon her. Despite their peculiar connection, he had saved her and was, in some way, still keeping her alive.
To the sound of crackling flames and chirping crickets, they eventually fell asleep.
[…]
The girl woke up to the first rays of sunlight filtering through the treetops.
She stretched lazily, yawning as she adjusted her body. A delicious scent in the air made her jump to her feet.
Her savior was standing by the fire, where a rabbit was being expertly roasted over the crackling flames. The animal's skin was turning a crispy golden color, and the irresistible aroma made her mouth water.
Colin noticed her hungry expression and, with a friendly look, offered her a piece of the freshly roasted rabbit. He didn't say a word, but the gesture was clear.
The girl took the piece of rabbit, feeling the warmth of the meat in her hands. Taking a bite, she immediately savored the juiciness and rich flavor.
The rabbit was perfectly cooked. A satisfied smile lit up her face, and she waved in thanks.
"The castle is on the other side of the mountain. We'll go there," Colin said. "If it's a city, we'll split up—each going our own way, understand? We'll find someone to look after you."
Sadness flickered in her eyes, but she said nothing.
[…]
After satisfying their hunger, they got up and prepared to move on. They put out the fire with earth and headed for the roadside.
With their senses alert, they walked through the tall forest, wary of anyone who might appear.
After almost two hours, no sign of life had appeared—not a single soul. Colin, determined, crossed the road, focusing on the castle in the distance.
Luck smiled on them when they came across a stream. They quenched their thirst with fresh water and took the opportunity to fill their canteen.
Washing his face as well, Colin stood up, determined.
"We need to keep going; the castle is near."
[…]
After days of crossing the forest, they finally began to see signs of civilization. The terrain varied from vast, dry, barren plains to dense forests filled with tall, dark trees.
Exhausted, Colin sat down on a rock, observing his surroundings.
The grass was low, and the nearly empty canteen reflected the scarcity of water. The girl also sat down next to him, wiping the sweat from her forehead.
She avoided speaking, afraid of causing trouble, but remained there, watching him, waiting for some guidance.
"Will we ever reach this castle? We're running out of food, water… and there's no sign of life in this damn land."
He stood up.
"Can you go on?"
Pushing back a lock of her hair, she nodded.
[…]
They marched for a few more hours until the sun disappeared behind the mountains.
With a sidelong glance, Colin noticed how exhausted the girl was.
Her steps were slow, and she occasionally closed her eyes, almost falling asleep on her feet.
He stopped abruptly. Inattentively, the girl bumped into him, following his gaze.
"A cave. Let's go there."
Heading for the nearest tree, Colin broke off a branch, tore part of his shirt sleeve, grabbed the chipped stones from his old rucksack, and sparked the cloth into flames.
With the improvised torch in hand, they moved further inside.
Startled, the girl instinctively grabbed Colin's hand. He stared at her without saying a word.
Together, they went deeper into the cave, the oppressive darkness growing heavier with each step.
The silence was broken only by the echo of their footsteps, intensifying the sense of isolation.
The darkness was so dense that even the light seemed afraid to penetrate its depths. Colin moved forward cautiously, each step accompanied by an unnerving feeling that something lurked in the shadows.
"Something's wrong." His hands began to sweat, his heart pounding harder.
The tension reached its peak when a nauseating stench hit his nostrils.
"Crap! What is that smell?"
Something lurked in the depths. Before Colin could advance, the girl tightened her grip on his hand, shaking her head, her eyes wide with dread.
"It's okay. I just want to take a look."
Colin approached, and there, in the dark recesses of the cave, lay the forgotten remains of other people, abandoned in the shadows.
Around the corpses, a collection of rudimentary weapons was scattered—swords, shields, and spears.
Letting go of the girl's hand, he stepped closer, examining the weapons. Some were rusty; others were so sharp they seemed to have been left there recently.
"It looks like this place is some creature's nest. Let's grab some weapons and get out of here before it comes back."
A shiver ran through the girl as she looked back.
Sinister eyes emerged from the darkness, glowing like embers, piercing through the shadows.
She tapped Colin on the shoulder, and he turned just as a huge bear with a scarred face lunged toward them.
Acting on instinct, the false elf grabbed the girl and leapt away.
The torch fell nearby, casting a flickering light over the macabre scene.
"Shit!"
Colin stood up slowly, taking cautious steps backward.
"Listen, when it charges, you run for the exit, got it?"
"But what about you?" she asked—for the first time.
"I'll be fine, just do as I say!"
Terrified, she nodded.
The bear advanced slowly toward them, the flickering torchlight revealing its menacing figure. Then it attacked.
"Now!"
The girl ran to one side and Colin to the other. The bear hesitated, undecided about whom to pursue, but chose to advance on Colin when it saw him pick up a spear from the pile of corpses.
A deafening roar echoed through the bowels of the cave, marking the beast's imposing charge.
Rising on its hind legs, the creature towered over Colin, who stood firm with the spear raised, determined to confront his formidable opponent.
However, the bear's overwhelming strength became clear when, with a single swipe of its paw, it shattered the spear, thwarting Colin's initial defense.
"Shit!" he cursed, rolling deftly to the side and surprisingly grabbing a shield.
But the bear's reaction was merciless. With a sinister snap, it crushed the shield, its claws tearing a deep gash into Colin's arms and slamming him brutally to the ground.
Furious, the bear lunged forward, but the false elf, though wounded, managed to scramble to his feet just in time to grab a sword.
"Here it comes!"
The creature opened its jaws wide, but with fearless precision, Colin sidestepped the attack and drove his blade into the beast's eye, unleashing a furious, ear-piercing roar.
Roaaar!
The bear's retaliation was swift. With a violent swipe, it sent Colin crashing against the cave wall.
Bam!
Bloodied and staggering, Colin didn't give in. Crawling, he tried to escape while the bear writhed in pain.
"Damn it! I've got to get out of here before that demon kills me!"
But the bear wasn't done.
Furious, it advanced slowly toward its prey, its growl echoing off the stone walls.
Colin grabbed a rusty sword from the pile and pointed it at the bear.
Even in agony, a defiant smile crept onto his face.
With a sharp sting of pain in his arm and blood dripping from his wounds, Colin's fearless gaze met the beast's. His steady breathing contrasted with the surrounding chaos.
Without realizing it, he found himself smiling.
"Come on, you bastard!"
The bear, driven by uncontrollable rage, charged again. Colin prepared to deflect, but a sudden sharp pain in his ribs made him falter. The bear struck him with a powerful blow, sending him flying even farther.
Bam!
Now with more wounds, Colin struggled to get up, every fiber of his body screaming in pain.
Breathing heavily, he gripped his sword tightly, determined to stand his ground.
The bear approached slowly, its saliva dripping onto the cave floor.
Fueled by a mixture of courage and sheer survival instinct, Colin stood up and braced himself as the beast closed in.
"Now!"
Bending his knees, he leapt over the bear and delivered a powerful blow with his sword. The blade sliced into the side of the bear's neck, eliciting another roar of pain.
"I did it!"
But as soon as his feet hit the ground, the bear's paw struck his shoulder, sending him crashing against the wall again.
Bam!
"Hell!"
He grabbed the sword, holding it defensively, just before the bear lunged.
The creature shattered the blade with its powerful jaws, and Colin stumbled backward, running a few steps before his legs gave out and he collapsed.
Disgrace!
At that moment, time seemed to slow as the bear's teeth closed in.
"Am I going to… die?"
Squelch!
The sharp tip of a spear pierced the exact spot where Colin had wounded the bear earlier.
Emerging from the shadows, the girl—her eyes filled with tears—seized the precise moment to thrust the spear deep into the beast's neck.
The bear roared, momentarily stunned by the surprise attack.
The girl fell to the ground, breathless, while the bear thrashed in agony, shaking its massive body from side to side.
Gathering his strength, Colin stood up and lifted the girl by the arm, moving quickly away from the stunned bear.
They reached the pile of corpses, and Colin picked up the sharpest sword his eyes could find.
Before moving on, he locked eyes with his savior.
"Thank you… now stay here. Let me handle this!"
She swallowed hard and nodded, her sparkling eyes filled with both fear and determination.
"This is my chance to end it!"
The bear, already losing a lot of blood and visibly tired, stopped its desperate thrashing when its single eye met Colin's fierce gaze.
The false elf's hands tingled, and as if time had frozen once again, he saw sparks emanating from his fingertips.
"Is that… magic?"
Woosh!
Colin ducked, dodging the bear's massive paw. In one agile movement, he leapt to the side, slashing a deep gash into the creature's shoulder.
Swish!
"Am I stronger?"
He dodged again, slashing the beast once more, warm blood splattering across his face.
"I can win!"
With a final surge of strength, Colin delivered a decisive blow, the sword slicing through the air with a deadly ring.
The bear's neck gushed blood—a crimson cascade signaling victory.
The colossal creature staggered, its agonizing roars echoing through the bowels of the cave before collapsing into a deep, eerie silence.
Exhausted, Colin let the sword slip from his fingers, succumbing to the ground. He sat, breath ragged, contemplating the magnitude of his conquest.
The silence was broken only by the faint echo of the bear's last dying moan.
With tears welling in her eyes and lips trembling, the girl stared at her savior's tired, haggard expression.
Without hesitation, she ran to him, her footsteps echoing across the cavern floor. She knelt beside him and threw herself into his arms, wrapping him in a firm embrace. Colin winced, feeling a sharp pain shoot through his ribcage.
"Hey, hey, take it easy…" he murmured, gritting his teeth.
"Sorry…" she pulled back quickly, wiping the corner of her eyes.
"When I tell you to run, don't disobey me again. Understand?"
Colin forced a faint smile.
"But… I'm glad you came back. Otherwise, I'd be dead. Thank you."
Sniffling, she hugged him again, holding him tightly as if he were her anchor in an ocean of fear. She cried softly into his shoulder, and Colin gently stroked her back.
"It's all right now… there's no need to cry."
"You're badly hurt…" she said, pulling back to look into his eyes. "We need to find something to stop the bleeding!"
Without waiting for a response, she ran to the torch, lifting it high as she searched the cave for anything that could be used as first aid.
"I just need a break…"
Exhausted, Colin lay back on the cold floor and closed his eyes, his body succumbing to the overwhelming fatigue.