My head hurts. Slowly opening my eyes, I notice the back of my head is resting on something soft. Something is slowly touching my hair as I feel it going in a clockwise motion. Not too fast but not too slow either. It feels amazing. Relaxing. Makes me forget all the bullshit that has been happening lately. So I really am wondering. Am I even alive at this point?

Lifting my arm at my head and slowly opening my eyes, I see two bright blue eyes that resembled sapphires staring at me. I’m still foggy but I know immediately know who those eyes belong to. I quickly get up only to feel like my body is crumbling. The urge to vomit is enormous.

Slowly regaining my composure, I look behind me to see Soleil staring at me mortified.

“How can you be such an idiot?”

She yelled loud enough for her voice to crack.

“How can you do such a thing? How could you throw me into safety while you were there? Why? Why would you do that? Why didn’t you use me as a meat shield? Why did you save me?”

Tears rolling down her face, arms shaking, she held both my hands.

“Why did you prioritized my life instead of yours?”

“Does it matter?”

Her eyes opened wide. The bluntness on my voice may have sound rude but that wasn’t the purpose. She quickly averted her gaze biting her lip.

“I don’t mean to sound rude. It’s just…”

“You are an absolute idiot. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot.”

“Fine, insult me all you want if that’s what makes you feel better, I guess.”

“Why are you different from them? Why can’t I get myself to hate you?”

“Excuse me?”

“Why do you keep showing me kindness? Why do you show me that even though you put up a front, that you actually care about things?”

“Listen… My head hurts. I’m not really in the mood for another argument, okay?”

My clothes are completely torn, my body is battered. I’m a mess and I need proper medical care. The adrenaline rush I had completely worn off and if I was normal enough, I would be squirming with pain. Thanks for beating me up, again and again, dad. It’s coming in clutch.

Struggling to get on my feet, I use the wall behind me for support. I look at Soleil and she is also a mess. Her dry cough is now worse. Worse enough for some drops of blood to be visible on her pink lips. We are out of stuff. Fuck.

Every time I look at Soleil, she looks away. I have been with her enough to know she is holding something up, let’s just get it out of the way.

“Spit it out.”

“I have no idea what are you even talking about.”

“Soleil, I’m not going to say that I know you and all that bullshit but I know that part of you well enough to know that you have something stuck in your chest so do yourself a favor and simply say it.”

“Why did you do that?”

“Aff…. let it go.”

“I mustn’t.”

“And why?”

“I despise your kind.”

“I know. Your point?”

“I am your slave.”

“Again, your point?”

“Stop doing that. You are behaving like a child.”

“Oh, I’m the child here? You are stuck on something that it’s not even important.”

Quickly standing up and grabbing me by the collar, Soleil pushed me against the wall. Even if she was angry, what was I supposed to do? Make up some story just to please her? That’s not me.

“You are a human. I am an elf. I killed plenty of you. What makes you think you won’t be another victim of mine?”

“That brave girl act is pretty dull by now.”

“Do not provoke me, Yurem. Answer my question. Now.”

“Or what? You’re going to cry a bit more? Or maybe fall asleep? If you do that, who is going to clean the drool from your face?”

Her face turned completely red. If it was due to anger or embarrassment, I do not know.

“… do it again.”

Speaking as low as she could, she uttered something.

“What?”

“Don’t… again.”

“Speak clearly, woman.”

“DON’T DO IT AGAIN.”

Screaming at the top of her longs, face red and tears scrolling down her face, the poor elf finally gets on her knees while holding my hands. Visibly shaking, head hung low, she squeezed my hands with the most of her current strength.

I managed to sigh.

You had it rough as well, didn’t you?

The fear of abandonment. Fear of being left behind. Or perhaps the feeling of being left alone in a place that is crawled with things that are ready to kill you.

“I promised that I would release you.”

“Huh?”

“When we were at Harlow’s place. I promised you that I would release you in Asparia so you could leave as you desire, right? I take my promises seriously.”

“Why would you do such a thing?”

“Why wouldn’t I?”

“I don’t follow.”

“You killed people for the sake of the ones you care, right? Well, at this point in my life, I don’t have anyone like that. But I won’t tramp on the ones that do. In your place, I would’ve done the same thing.”

“You…”

“Besides, an elf that drools and laughs while sleeping? That’s a nice joke. You made me laugh way too many times because of it.”

“Do not mock me.”

“But it’s funny.”

Extending the hands that she let go of, I help Soleil get back on her feet.

“I would offer you to clean those tears on my jacket but you are already wearing it. So do it yourself.”

Giving her a smirk and her giving one back, I think I understand her a bit more now. Maybe this dumb elf went through the same experiences as I did but while I let others decide my life, she went on and decided herself. In a way, I admire her. And because of that, I have got to take her back home. Let her be happy in this shitty world.

At that moment we had peace.

Cough. Cough. Cough.

Droplets of blood came between every cough. Her hand was filled with it.

Having trouble breathing, she got on her knees and was panting. She is in desperate need of medical attention that I can’t give her right now.

Putting my hand on her face, she is burning up. This isn’t good. We need to get out of here fast. My body is in no condition to fight so we are just going to push through.

“Soleil, we need to get out of here immediately. Get on my back and hold on tight.”

“What in the world are you babbling about? I’m perfectly cough fine.”

“Of course you are. And this planet is flat.”

“Is it not?”

“Please… don’t tell me.”

“I am only joking.”

“Don’t scare me like that. I was about to leave you here to fend for yourself.”

“You wouldn’t.”

“Dumb elf, don’t try me.”

Placing her on my sore and battered back, I also use our last rope to tie us together so nothing bad happens again. Without the orc, I think I can outrun anything on this level. I did level up from that fight, I should be fine for a while.

“…rem.”

Breathing in and out slowly, I need to calm my nerves. Only trust what my eyes can see and on what my body can feel.

“…rem.”

Promises are made to be kept. That’s what Ciara taught me. And even if she is no longer the person I thought she was, I won’t deviate from what I believe.

“Yurem.”

“Hm? Yeah?”

“Are you okay?”

“Of course. Are you ready?”

A quick nod and I get on my feet. I hand Soleil the bag Harlow gave us. I can’t lose this no matter what.

“Our goal is the Royal Otter Grove so I’m not stopping until we get there, you got that?”

“You should be the one concerned. You are still injured. If anything, I have no clue how you are still standing.”

“I’m perfectly fine. I am…”

There’s no need to tell more than I should. It’s better to keep it to myself.

One foot at a time. Peaking at the outside of the safe haven, no monster was seen.

Again, with permission to pretty much cough and spread her germs all over me, I could feel my nape filled with blood.

She really is in a bad state.

I’m not one to make rash decisions but I think it’s time for me to make one. I can feel blood gushing from my left leg and my vision is way too hazy for me to even be standing up but I’m used to the pain. I have lived with it. From kicks to punches. From getting hit with brooms to slaps across the face with your typical house slipper. I’m not letting this elf die.