##your POV:
A huge pillar of lava rises in front of me, completely devouring a giant. When the pillar disappears, only a few pieces of the giant remain. I stare in awe at Erick's power as I treat the head of one of the citizens who couldn't escape in time.
- Damn, these giants keep trying to reach the refugees in the castle.
Looking into the distance with some recoil, Erick prepares his axe to advance again against the next giant. At the same time, I finish bandaging the head of the man who looks at me happily. With a small nod, the man thanks me before running toward the castle.
- I finished treating the injured people in the area.
- Well done. We have to move on to the next giant before they reach the castle.
- Underst-OOOD?!
Before I could start running to the next spot, Erick grabs me by my legs and lifts me to his chest. I can't help but look at him suspiciously as he starts running toward the next spot.
- ...I can run on my own, you know?
- You don't need to be shy. We need to get to the next spot as quickly as possible.
I stare at him as he avoids my gaze. I stare at him for a few moments before finally sighing. As much as I want to complain about it, the fact is that I'm not as fast as Erick. Even if I tried to keep up, I'd just end up slowing him down. As much as it pains me to admit it, I can't match Erick in terms of strength. Even though I know that perfectly well...
- What's embarrassing is still embarrassing...
- Did you say something?
- ...No, nothing at all.
I avoid his gaze, looking over his shoulder as he continues running toward the castle. I look toward the plaza where I can see a large number of lightning bolts repeatedly striking the same spot. Before I could lose myself in my thoughts, something strange happens. I struggle to process what's happening for a few seconds before raising my weapon and throwing a small flame at an object.
- What the-?
Surprised by my sudden action, Erick turns around only to find what looks like a burnt vine. I stare at the vine with fear as he scans the surroundings. Although it's not visible to the naked eye, there seems to be something moving repulsively between the buildings.
- Erick, something's coming!
Without another word, he lets go of me and materializes a large golden axe. I fall to the ground, cushioning my fall as best I can before creating a small flame in my hand. At that moment, a huge number of green lines assault us from all directions. They all seem to be heading for Erick.
- Eri-
Before I could finish saying this, he takes me in his arms and slams his axe into the ground. A sudden tremor erupted in the area before a wall of fire accompanied by a large amount of steam rose from the ground, erasing all the green lines coming toward us. Despite the apparent calm after burning them all, Erick didn't let his guard down.
- Erick, is this the plant witch?
- Most likely. But I don't think she'll stay still for long.
Before he could finish his sentence, a huge piece of the house was thrown in our direction. Erick once again took me in his arms before running at full speed out of reach of the rock.
We ran into an alley, moving away from the street where we were originally standing. A few moments later, a loud sound accompanied by a grunt was heard where we were a few seconds ago. I looked over his shoulder at the piece of the structure that was thrown before noticing something out of place.
- A flower?
An orange and black flower that resembled an eye was following us. Its stem extended unnaturally along the wall as it grew abnormally to keep up with us. A horrible feeling struck me, but by the time I tried to warn Erick, it was too late.
- Ugg
A very thick vine had sprouted from the alley wall and hit Erick hard, sending him slamming into the other wall.
- Erick!
- Shit.
Although I managed to avoid the blow thanks to Erick, the blow was powerful enough to dent the armor Erick was wearing. Before I could summon my flame to defend ourselves, a pillar of fire had already risen from where the vine emerged, completely burning it. I quickly turned my gaze to the orange flower that was following us. With my hand, I create a flame and launch it at the flower, destroying it completely.
- Stay still and let me see you.
I quickly turn my attention to Erick and try to remove the top of his armor to give him a quick check, but he stops me and stands up unsteadily.
- We can't stay here much longer. If I know her correctly, another piece of rock is coming our way now.
As if reality wanted to agree with her words, a whistling sound can be heard rapidly approaching the alley where we are standing. With some effort, he takes me back in his arms and runs before the entire alley collapses under the rock.
As we exit the alley, a loud crash accompanied by a crumbling sound echoes behind us. Erick doesn't stop as he runs toward the buildings in search of shelter. Before entering the shelter, I again see the same orange flower I had burned earlier. I create a small flame and throw it at the flower. We immediately run into the building, but Erick walks unevenly while staggering slightly. I quickly get out of his arms and help him to an armchair in the middle of what appears to be a living room. Once there, I lay him down and remove the top of his armor only to discover deep bruises. I carefully touch his scarred stomach, searching for any signs of a rupture. Although the bruises are quite severe, nothing seems to be broken. I breathe a sigh of relief as I take a small bottle from my bag with a green liquid inside. I carefully begin applying it to the bruises while securing them with pieces of scroll I find around me.
- This should help you move better.
- Thanks as always, ##thy…. ??
- Is something wrong?
Sudden confusion floods Erick's face, as if something is out of place. He thinks for a few moments before shaking his head and getting up.
- Thanks to you, I'm better now. It's time to continue.
- Yes!
I nod as I pack what I had taken from my bag and some extra scrolls in case I need them. Before I can follow him, he turns around and lowers his body to my level to speak to me face to face.
- ##thy, the plant witch is hunting me right now. It's not safe to be with me. If I want to face her, I need you to be as safe as possible.
- But...
Before I could answer, he gives me a bright smile as he slowly strokes my head.
- Don't worry, I'll be fine. With the treatment you just gave me, I'm better than new.
He extends his arms while striking a pose as if to show me his strength. Although I know he's doing it for my own good, I can't help but have a bad feeling this time. Resigning myself, I take a few steps forward and hug him tightly. Without saying anything else, he returns the hug very carefully. The sturdy texture of the armor gives me a certain security, but I can't eliminate the anxiety I feel. A few moments later, we separate as he places his hand on my head again.
- I'll be back soon. I trust you to take care of the citizens you encounter. And avoid the green giants at all costs.
- Yes!
I smile back as he stands and prepares to leave the building. Before he leaves, I remember there was something I wanted to tell him.
- Erick!
- Hm?
- If you see any orange flowers, burn them. I don't know why, but they were following us when they attacked us earlier.
- Orange flowers? I understand. I'll be careful.
With those last words, he leaves the building. Feeling relieved that I could tell him, I get up to begin patrolling the city.
- "...#thy?"
That's when it happened.
- "#rothy, is that you?"
Something strange was happening. Even though it was my name, the strange voice repeated it in an unusual way. As if something was breaking. My name was echoing in my mind like a curse.
- My name... has it always sounded like that?
A sharp pain in my brain forced me to my knees. Something was slowly tearing apart as my name continued to echo in my head. The pain only grew stronger. The tearing was deeper and deeper. I couldn't even hear the strange voice anymore. My head was pounding so hard I felt like it was going to explode at any moment.
- Ahh...AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
A scream escaped my throat, trying to silence the curse pounding on my head. The tearing sound only grew louder and louder until it finally tore itself apart. Although I was on the verge of fainting, I managed to hold on to a shred of consciousness. The clarity I felt now was strange. It seemed like all the pain from a few moments ago was a mere illusion.
- "Dorothy, are you okay?"
But even though the voice in my head had been eliminated, that strange voice still echoed in the living room. I jumped up in shock as I searched around for someone. To my surprise, I couldn't find anyone. Not finding anyone only makes the bad feeling worse.
- "I knew it was you! You don't know how much I missed you. When Dad died, you and Mom disappeared... I thought I'd lost you forever."
The strange voice took on a very familiar tone as I continued looking around for the source of the voice. It was then that I realized. A red flower that looked like lips was in the corner of the room. I unconsciously threw a small fireball at the flower, which burned instantly.
- "That's mean! Why did you burn the flower I was talking to you with?"
But the voice didn't disappear. Multiple vines sprouted from the ground, from which some red and orange flowers hung. The vines soon surrounded me, focusing on me from all directions.
- "You've really changed a lot, Dorothy. I almost didn't recognize you! But... that horrible wound you have, was it that fire hero who gave you? That bastard will pay for it."
A sudden thirst for blood surged from the vines. I instinctively flinched against the pressure, but somehow held on. There was something I had to tell her.
- Y-you're wrong. These marks are a trophy for me. So don't hurt Erick.
- "Okay, okay. You don't have to worry about it. I understand you're nervous, but leave everything to your little sister. For now, you just have to sleep. The journey to where I am is a little long."
- Huh?
Before I could formulate the thousands of questions I had in my head, a vine gently wrapped itself around my head. Three red flowers that didn't look like lips settled around me. A sudden feeling of dizziness and drowsiness attacked me as I tried to struggle to free myself, futilely.
- "I can't wait to see you after so long."
- Nath...
After that, my consciousness plunged into darkness.