In the tension-filled silence, Dignus raised his voice. "I seem to recognize the scent of someone familiar," he said in a hesitant tone, breaking the silence that surrounded them. His eyes stared intently at Taneaya.
He glanced at Taneaya with obvious curiosity, trying to catch a hint in the woman's reaction. However, before he could get an answer or even formulate words that would express his curiosity, Eran suddenly moved quickly and blocked Dignus.Dignus glanced at Eran who stood in Taneaya's way, and he could read the gesture. But even though he understood that there was something that needed to be explained, the atmosphere became increasingly tense.Eran, with a calm demeanor, tried to explain this complicated situation. "I'm sorry Dignus, this friend of mine was seriously injured while on this mission. Therefore, I ask for your understanding," he said in an apologetic tone, trying to ease the tension that felt so strong.Dignus lookTheir journey through the darkening forest became more tense with each passing second. Kain, Eran, and Taneaya rode on indiscriminately, spurring their horses towards freedom, struggling through the trees and bushes that looked eerie under the dim light of the setting sun.As they tried to cover the distance with the hunters pursuing them, Eran noticed that Taneaya was still trembling badly. He understood that Taneaya seemed to have gone through a lot of traumatic things, and it wouldn't just go away.Taneaya, who looked pale and frightened, grabbed tightly onto the rim of Eran's horse saddle. Her eyes still reflected tension and sought refuge on Eran's face. Eran tried to give her a gentle smile, despite the gravity of the situation. "You're alright, Taneaya. I'll take care of you."But they had no time to linger in the comfort of this slight hope. The sound of horse steps and the clicking of approaching boots from behind reminded them that Dignus a
"You're a lowly human who knows nothing! You know nothing of the affairs of the royal family!" Duke Dignus shouted in a booming voice, filling the air with anger and hatred. He didn't want to hear any excuses from Eran, the man who had stolen his sister, Taneaya. He only wanted to destroy him, wipe him off the face of the earth. With quick and ferocious movements, he reached for his two swords hanging at his waist. The swords looked thin and sharp, shining in the sunlight that illuminated the field where they stood.Eran swiftly drew his dagger, preparing to face Duke Dignus. He knew that Dignus looked very strong in terms of strength or skill, but he would not give up so easily. Eran would protect Taneaya with his life. The two of them stood next to each other, with Taneaya still seated behind Eran, crying and begging her brother to stop, but her voice was overwhelmed by her fear.In Eran's eyes, time seemed to be moving at a snail's pace, and this
Eran hugged Taneaya's unconscious body tightly, struggling to keep from being separated by the rushing river. Both of them were carried away by the current for quite some distance, with no control over their fate.Eran, with searching eyes, tried to look around, searching for signs that could be used as a guide in the increasingly precarious situation. That's when he saw something that could be a lifesaver: a sizable log was drifting near them.With all his strength, Eran grabbed the log and clamped onto it tightly. He then tried to lift Taneaya's body slightly so that he could hold her above the surging water.Eran tried to use the log as an aid to guide them to the riverbank. With great effort and determination, Eran tried to push the log and Taneaya's body away from the river that was still pounding them.The water continued to sway their bodies, and Eran felt the gravity of the task at hand. However, his determination to save Taneaya a
In the thick darkness of the night, Eran and Taneaya both hid in a cave hidden in the middle of a dense forest. Amidst the silence of the night, only a small campfire warmed the cave, shining a crimson red light on their faces that brought a sense of mystery to the surroundings.They sat together around the campfire, feeling the warmth provided by the flames while gazing at the fire with a gaze laden with complicated thoughts and feelings.After a simple dinner, they chose to remain silent, no words passed between them. Eran played with the fire with his fingers, keeping the flames burning, as if trying to keep the warmth and light in their hearts. While Taneaya, with her sparkling amber eyes, contemplated in silence, her gaze focused on the blazing points of fire.Taneaya tried hard to forget the shadow of Dignus and the traumatic events that happened in the past. Reuniting with her brother opened up old wounds she had been nursing, and just imagini
Kain, who had successfully crossed the border and was already halfway to Alku village, felt his heart wavering, debating whether to continue his journey or return to Eran and Taneaya's place. Stopping his horse for a moment, Kain let his doubts fill his mind."Damn! Why is everything so complicated like this?" Kain cursed in a frustrated tone, while holding his horse's reins to keep it from moving further. On horseback, Kain began the process of reassessing the situation."I know Eran has enough ability to deal with various situations, but I also can't ignore the fact that his body is still in a state of exhaustion after the mission in Hollowfield village. Moreover, the journey to here itself has been quite tiring," Kain muttered as he tapped his fingers on his head, trying to sort out the information he had. "And, not to forget about Duke Dignus who is an ever-lurking threat, this feeling is even worse."Realizing that his friends might be in danger
The bright morning embraced Eran and Taneaya gently as they continued their journey through the forest that was beginning to change color towards autumn.Warm sunlight began to creep through the canopy of lingering leaves, creating a play of light and shadow that played their danced on their path. Eran and Taneaya walked together, their hands united in a tight grip, as a sign of their solidarity and determination.Although the surrounding scenery was beautiful and serene, they did not forget that this journey was filled with challenges. They had to be careful to avoid the trail of royal soldiers who might still be lurking behind them. They continued to follow a winding route through the forest full of obstacles, sometimes encountering large rocks that blocked their way, but they never gave up.Suddenly, Eran took his attention away from the journey and looked back to see how Taneaya was doing. "Are you exhausted?" asked Eran with deep concern.<
Eran felt like he was in a whirlpool of questions with no definite answers as if his world was spinning in chaos. Then, he heard a familiar voice, an unforgettable voice from the past. "Finally, I found you," the voice said.Eran's body tried to rebel from the grip of the large arms binding him. He felt desperate, and the sun that was still blazing was blinding his eyes.However, the voice of the man who locked Eran up was heard trying to calm him, "Hey, you don't need to panic, we're not the enemy."Eran heard those words but remained in a state of alert, feeling annoyed and displeased with his helpless state. "Damn it!" he swore irritably."Eran, calm down! It's me, Gorstag!" exclaimed Gorstag in an annoyed tone. Eran, who continued to move violently, finally stopped when he realized who was speaking, and he began to let out a long sigh, trying to ease his anxiety.The lock on his neck was finally removed, and Eran carefully contemplated the situ
Prince Enid rode in a horse-drawn carriage, following a road that cut through a very shabby countryside. He quickly closed the window of the carriage, feeling the foul wind blowing in the middle of the countryside seep in, caressing his face unpleasantly. After a full day of listening to the sound of horses' hooves scraping, Enid was deeply disturbed by the silence that suddenly enveloped him.Their carriage passed through dense forests and stretches of countryside. There was a low hum from outside the carriage as the coachman talked to the farmers and merchants living in the Starastok countryside. However, Enid only wore a sour face, as if lost in his world. I don't know how long he had been silent, brooding, and contemplating since his departure from his hometown in Petrolina.Behind the horse-drawn carriage he was riding, several hussars were lined up neatly. They were part of the escort Enid had brought along to keep him safe during his journey. They gazed vigilantly, ready to act
Gorstag was looking increasingly angry and frustrated as his previous attacks were fruitless. Even more embarrassing, all the attacks using his two axes were successfully parried by the two hammers used by Kain."Damn it! Damn it! Damn you, shorty!" shouted Gorstag very loudly, letting his frustration explode.Kain could not help but laugh, mocking his opponent. "Hahaha... Alright, Gorstag. I'll end this now, I think I'm starting to sweat."Gorstag who was provoked by Kain's taunt responded with his signature move. He took one step back, then with a steady stride, he leaped towards Kain, his two axes aiming at Kain as if to split him in two."You're crazy, Gorstag! Do you want to kill me?" Kain grumbled, trying to maintain his composure amidst the escalating situation.However, as Gorstag got closer to Kain, Kain quickly dodged the attack with an agile movement to the left. Gorstag's axe missed spectacularly, and as the axe was about to land on the ground, Kain immediately slammed bot
"Slow down, Gorstag," Kain said, trying to advise his opponent. "Watch your step. It's too stiff!" Kain was trying to guide Gorstag, albeit in the context of a training battle.Gorstag only responded with a loud screech, still pressing Kain with his two axes. His attacks were hard and merciless, creating tremendous pressure on Kain.Kain, however, had his strategy. He continued to evade Gorstag's attacks with no intention of counterattacking. For him, this fight was about testing endurance and agility.Gorstag tried to provoke Kain with his words. "You're just like a rabbit, Kain. Are you afraid to attack me?" he tried to interrupt Kain's concentration, but Kain responded with a casual and dismissive tone.Kain replied in a dismissive tone, "No, Gorstag, I'm just wiser in choosing when to attack. To me, this is just practice."The fight continued, and Kain continued to show his agility and dexterity in dodging his opponent's attacks. He knew that his counterattack could happen at any
"Really, were they chasing you back then?" asked Catallina, wanting to know for sure.Eran nodded as he sifted his gaze towards the soldiers they were observing. "Right, those are Dignus soldiers, they were chasing us back then.""That snob," grumbled Catallina in a hateful tone."Do you know him?" asked Eran, his voice a little louder than expected.Catallina looked sharply at Eran. "Shhh...don't yell. Your voice is too loud!" whispered Catallina in an annoyed tone."Did you hear something?" asked one of the soldiers suspiciously."No," the other soldier replied doubtfully."I just heard what sounded like someone over there," the soldier said, pointing to the thick bushes where Catallina and Eran were hiding.Eran and Catallina lingered in suspense, hoping the soldiers would leave soon."Really?" the first soldier's question echoed in the tension of the silent forest.The two soldiers looking towards the bushes suddenly felt an unexpected presence. They moved cautiously toward the bu
Catallina and Eran stepped slowly into the forest of Tossing Rill. They held arrows and long sticks as weapons and carried bags containing the results of their previous hunts."Isn't that enough?" asked Eran, referring to the existing game while pointing at the rabbits and mushrooms lying on the green leaves near them.Catallina shook her head, her eyes busy searching for traces of other possible games. "Not enough. We need more. Rabbits are getting hard to find around here," Catallina explained as she moved her head, searching for signs of the game.Eran understood the situation and looked around the increasingly dense forest. "Hm, we should go deeper into this forest. Chances are we'll find more food sources there, there must be a lot of deer we can bring, I've brought one before, right?" he suggested, hoping to get more adequate game inside the forest.Catallina looked thoughtful for a moment, her concern growing as she felt that time was passi
Amidst the bustling atmosphere of the Tavern, the sounds of laughter and joy filled the air as Theo and his group celebrated the success of their two recent missions. The clinking of tankards and the lively melodies of the master bards of Halbarad created a joyous atmosphere, bringing a sense of relief and relaxation to the weary soldiers.Theo approached the table located in the corner where Eran was sitting and then made an inviting gesture. "Eran, why don't you join us?"Eran, with a faint smile, shook his head slowly. Then, Theo asked again, "Does your wound still hurt?"Eran shook his head again. "The longer it goes on, the better it gets," he replied.Theo smiled and looked excited. "Great, so let's join in," he invited, trying to persuade Eran to join in.Eran still refused, "No... you know me, right? I prefer to be alone like this."Theo didn't give up, pleading in an excited tone, "Oh, come on Eran, just once to celebrate the success of our two missions."However, there was a
The shadows suddenly moved again. Eran, breathing heavily, tried to consider stopping for a moment in the dark forest filled with thick fog. For a child of Eran's size, he had shown incredible toughness and courage by being able to penetrate into the haunted and mystical forest of Yaban.However, he didn't have time to rest for long. The voice of an angry warrior could be heard from nearby, intimidating, "Where is that little boy?!" The shout was followed by more voices, "There he is! Let's go get him!"Eran felt his breath catch, and horror began to overcome him. The two soldiers who were trying to capture him kept getting closer, their voices echoing in his ears. The situation was even more difficult because the dark forest made it almost impossible for him to see his way between the dense trees.Unexpectedly, as Eran continued his run, he found himself right in front of a ravine. "Ahhh... ravine!!!" he screeched when his small eyes caught sight of the ravine that lay before him.In
The strapping old man looked at Eran with sharp eyes, hinting at great seriousness. The night wind rustled, and the atmosphere around them was filled with a tense atmosphere. It was as if nature itself was participating in an imminent war."You should run later, Eran. Understood?" he said again, his voice accompanied by the rustling wind that deepened the tension of the night. The dim moonlight shone on the old man's face, revealing the seriousness of his message.Eran pondered, his eyes never leaving the old man's face. Many wrinkles adorned the experienced skin on his face, giving the impression that the man had been through so many battles. There were several small wounds adorning his face, traces of the heroic stories he had gone through.Who knows how many battlefields he had witnessed, who knows how many friends he had left behind. But his scarred face also reveals that he is someone who always perseveres, never giving up.Eran's own face reflects the man's youth. His shoulder-l
In the already tense atmosphere, Enid with a chuckle said, "Ah, I forgot about someone... my third sister, Taneaya... I wonder what she looks like now. I'll bet she has grown into a very beautiful girl..." As Enid glanced at Dignus, he looked for any sign of reaction on his brother's face. Not long after, Dignus was startled, his expression frozen as if he saw a ghost. Enid cruelly continued, "I think Taneaya would be an expensive item if he were in my whorehouse, and of course, I would be able to enjoy her body every day."An explosion of rage was inevitable as Dignus vented his anger, shouting, "Bastard!!! I'll kill you if you dare touch her!!!" His eyes turned red and the veins on his face bulged like they were about to burst.Enid smiled with satisfaction, looking at Dignus challengingly. "So? Do you know what to do, Dignus?" asked Enid as he pulled himself closer.The two engaged in a battle of glances, Dignus full of anger and Enid with a terrifying
In a room filled with tension, Dignus and Enid faced each other, their eyes radiating anger and hatred toward each other. There was no weakness visible in their postures, each determined to uncover the truth underlying their conflict.Suddenly, Dignus let out a long breath, trying to ease some of the tension that filled the room. "What do you mean?" asked Dignus in a voice that, despite trying to remain calm, sounded bitter.Enid could no longer hide his annoyance. "Don't pretend you don't know! Your acting is terrible, Dignus," he said in an unfriendly tone. With steady steps, he approached Dignus, standing tall before him. "How come the mission in Hollowfield Village is still on your mission list?" said Enid in a puzzled tone.Dignus tried to defend himself, saying, "I already ordered my guild master to burn it when it was sent to my town." His face looked pale with guilt, and Enid's sharp gaze was probing every word that came out of his mouth.However, Enid, who could not bear the