Arix was standing in the middle of a small group of trees. His sword was unsheathed. He gripped it tightly and looked around, ready for any danger.

  Elena was right above Arix, hiding on one of the branches. She saw him below and hung from the branch upside down. Her hair brushed Arix’s head as she let go with her hands and supported herself only with her legs hooked around the branch.

  Arix shivered and looked up to find Elena laughing uncontrollably, holding her stomach. He shook his head and got back into position, staring ahead.

  “You were afraid, right?” She raised one eyebrow and smirked.

  “No, I am not.” Arix gave a tight smile, pretending not to care. His ears turned a little red.

  “Yes, you were.” She grinned. “This isn’t the first time I’ve scared you.” She started swinging a little from the branch.

  “And when was that?

  “You were so afraid of the dark when we were kids. I took you into a dark room and closed the door. You were crying so loudly that day,” she said.

  “And now I am facing a giant in the dark. Ain’t that growth?” Arix turned toward Elena, who was staring at him.

  Looking at her, he immediately turned away again, his face getting red this time.

  Elena climbed back up the tree and hid in the dark without saying anything. Her face was a little red too.

  After about an hour, the raven returned and sat on the branch in front of Arix without making any sound.

  Arix focused on the ground, relying on his hearing. He tightened his grip on his weapon. From the left bush, Lyra pointed her needle in Arix's direction, ready to strike at any moment.

  Elena was ready to jump with her dagger, and Tarin had his greatsword on his back, ready to sprint.

  After another three minutes, the monster showed his face in front of Arix. It was walking in silence toward Arix with its gentle smile.

  Arix stepped a few steps backward. The monster chased. Arix’s breathing got faster, with sweat in his hands.

  Tarin held his greatsword with both his hands. Elena grabbed her dagger tightly, Lyra got completely still, holding her breath. She was ready.

  It took almost five minutes for the monster to reach the branch where Elena was. Upon reaching, Arix screamed, “Charge!!” from the top of his lungs.

  Elena jumped from above, landing straight onto the shoulder of the giant. Tarin and Lyra rushed toward the monster.

  Arix stepped ahead ready to swing his weapon at the monster’s legs.

  Elena grabbed her dagger with both hands and stabbed the monster in the eye. The monster screamed in agony, wobbling and losing its balance. Arix swung his sword with all his might, but it didn’t go very deep into the giant.

  This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  Elena took the dagger out and stabbed the same eye again. The monster, screaming, held Elena with its free hand and threw her at the tree.

  She hit the tree hard and lost consciousness from the impact. Arix turned toward Elena and shouted, “ELENA!!” not realizing that the monster’s leg had already slammed into his stomach.

  He flew through the air, hit the ground, and dropped his sword beside him.

  Tarin, from behind, screamed, “AGHHHH…,” swinging his greatsword at the giant. But it had no effect. He turned his gaze to the monster, looking at its gentle smile. Tarin hissed and tightened his grip, “I will kill you, FUCKER…” and swung his weapon again at the same point.

  The giant caught his greatsword mid-swing. Then it grabbed Tarin with its other hand, dropping the staff to the ground, and threw him in Arix’s direction. Tarin flew even farther than Arix.

  The giant turned its gaze to Lyra. She was not moving; her legs were shaking, and she was covered in sweat. She fell to the ground, breathing hard but still holding her needle.

  The monster ignored her, picked up its staff, and started to move toward Arix, who was lying there on the ground.

  “Is this how I die?” Arix thought to himself, not able to breathe properly. He opened his eyes to see the monster coming toward him. “No, this can’t be. I haven’t done anything yet. Come on, wake up, bastard.” He tried getting up but fell again. He saw Elena trying to stand up.

  “Good, she is okay,” he thought to himself, closing his eyes.

  The monster reached Arix. It tightened its grip on its staff, ready to swing it at Arix.

  Arix heard a loud clash in front of him. He opened his eyes to find Elena standing there, holding his sword and deflecting the monster’s attack.

  She was bleeding from the back of her head. Arix, trying to understand what had happened, said in a low voice, “What are you doing?”

  “Run, we don’t have much time left.” Elena paused a little and continued, “You have to leave this place.”

  “What are you talking about? I am not leaving you behind.” Arix tried to stand up but failed, as his legs were twisted from the impact.

  The giant put its full weight behind the staff, forcing it down with brutal strength. Elena held her ground and grabbed the sword with both hands. One of her hands slipped onto the blade. It cut into her palm, and blood began to run, but she kept holding it back

  “You saved me when my parents died. Do you remember that moment? I was standing outside my house, staring at the fire that had already taken both my parents. I couldn’t stop crying. Everyone was standing there, muttering to themselves, but no one came forward to help me… or my parents.

  But you came. You held my arm and said you would save my parents. They were already gone by then. Still, you ran inside the building. Someone stopped you from entering, and you cried because you couldn’t save my parents. So this time, let me save you.” Tears started running down her face.

  Her legs started shaking; the bleeding covered her whole face. She turned around and looked at Arix, sobbing and shaking uncontrollably.

  Arix, looking at her blood-covered face, could not hold back his tears any longer. He looked down at his legs and started beating them with his fists. Helpless, he shouted, “Come on, you stupid legs. Just work this one time, please.” He cried, beating his head against his legs.

  “You know, ARIX. I haven’t said thank you,” Elena said, smiling while her eyes were closed. Tears were running uncontrollably down her face, and she said in a soft voice, “thank you, Arix.”

  “NO, NO, don’t say stupid things.” Arix’s face was wet with tears running down his face uncontrollably. He tried standing up. “Just run, we will make it out of this forest and go to our island again. We will live a peaceful life together.”

  Tarin grabbed him from behind and shouted to Lyra, “Run if you want to live, we cannot defeat this monster.”

  Lyra snapped and ran toward Tarin.

  “Come on, Arix, we have to leave,” Tarin whispered to Arix, dragging him away from Elena.

  “No, leave me here! Fuck you! Leave me right now!” Arix started struggling in Tarin’s grip, trying to break free.

  “I love you! I love you, Elena. Please don’t leave me. PLEASE!” Arix shouted to Elena.

  Elena’s face lit up; she was staring at Arix and smiled again. “I love you too,” she whispered in a low voice.

  “No—no, leave me here, please let me go. I cannot leave her, please,” Arix said, his voice breaking.

  Tarin closed his eyes and ran as fast as he could. Lyra followed him without saying a word.

  Arix was sobbing uncontrollably as Elena faded from his vision. No sound reached his ears except her last words, “I love you.