Shank hoisted Elcos onto his back, urging Mitsuki and Yelena to follow as they plunged into the dense, shadowy forest. The raiders' shouts echoed behind them, growing louder with each passing second. Heart pounding, Shank led them deeper into the underbrush, the foliage closing in around them like a suffocating blanket.
They darted through the bushes, branches scratching at their skin, until they found a small hollow beneath a tangle of roots. Breathless and trembling, they huddled together, the darkness enveloping them. The raiders' footsteps thundered closer, the sound of their pursuit sending chills down their spines.
Every rustle of leaves, every snap of a twig, heightened the tension. Shank held his breath, praying they wouldn't be discovered. The moments stretched into an eternity, the silence almost unbearable. Finally, the raiders' footsteps began to fade, their voices growing distant. They had escaped, but the danger still loomed.
Ervin stormed into the village, his eyes scanning the chaos until they landed on Caural, lying motionless on the ground. His heart skipped a beat. Rage and urgency surged through him as he barked orders at the raiders. "Chain him! Imprison him!" he commanded, his voice cutting through the din like a blade. The raiders hesitated for a moment, then sprang into action, shackling Caural's limp form with heavy chains.
The clinking of metal echoed ominously as they dragged him away, Ervin's gaze never wavering. The air was thick with tension, every breath a struggle. Ervin knew this was only the beginning. The village watched in stunned silence, the weight of the moment pressing down on them all.
The raiders vanished from the village, leaving behind a trail of destruction. Shank's heart sank as he saw Elcos, gravely injured and bleeding. With no bandages left, desperation took hold. He grabbed Mitsuki's scarf, tearing it into strips and wrapping them around Elcos' wounds. "He's hurt badly," Shank muttered, his voice trembling. "I don't have any herbs to treat him properly."
Yelena's eyes filled with despair as she surveyed the ruins. "Our village is destroyed, the villagers enslaved. We're lucky to have escaped. And it's all because of this boy," she spat, her voice laced with bitterness.
Shank's gaze hardened. "You're wrong, Yelena. This is all because of me."
Yelena's eyes widened in shock. "What? This is all because of you? What did you do?"
Shank took a deep breath, his past weighing heavily on his shoulders. "When I was a kid, I was a slave in this village. I escaped during a great revolt. I know all the dark secrets of Shavik village—secrets that even the raiders and villagers don't know. They fear that if this information leaks again, another revolt will break out."
Yelena's curiosity was piqued. "What are these dark secrets?"
Shank's expression grew grim. "I can't tell you yet." Minutes passed, and Elcos stirred, his eyes fluttering open. "W-What happened to me? Did we survive... e... ah," he groaned, his voice weak and strained.
Mitsuki rushed to his side, her face etched with concern. "Dannie, don't talk. Your mouth is sore. You need to rest; you're severely wounded."
Shank's gaze was resolute as he stood up, determination in his eyes. "I'll go into the forest to find herbs to treat Dannie's wounds," he declared, his voice steady despite the turmoil around them.
The forest loomed ahead, dark and full of unknown dangers. Shank knew the risks, but he couldn't let Dannie suffer. With a final glance at his injured friend, he plunged into the shadows, the weight of their survival resting on his shoulders. Shank ventured deep into the forest, determined to find the herbs needed to heal Elcos's wounds. The dense foliage and eerie silence heightened his senses as he searched. After several tense minutes, he spotted the precious herb, but his heart sank when he saw a lion sleeping beside it.
Fear gripped him, but he knew he couldn't return empty-handed. Silently, he backed away, hoping to find another herb. His search proved futile; there was only one herb in the entire forest that could heal Elcos.
Steeling himself, Shank approached the lion with utmost caution. Every step was deliberate, every breath controlled. He reached the herb, his fingers trembling as he plucked it from the ground. The lion stirred, but Shank remained motionless, his heart pounding in his chest.
With the herb securely in hand, he slowly retreated, not daring to make a sound. The forest seemed to hold its breath as he escaped, the lion undisturbed. Shank emerged from the shadows, the precious herb clutched tightly, ready to save his friend's son. ________________________________________
Shank returned to where Elcos lay resting and began applying the herbs to his wounds. As he worked, he murmured, "Lucky that the wounds aren't deep. It's surprising that even with these injuries, you put up a good fight."
Elcos winced but managed a weak smile. "The only reason I lost is because I didn't have a blade."
Mitsuki, standing nearby, gently tapped his head. "If you don't stop talking, I'll fill your mouth with grass."
Shank chuckled softly. "Hehe, it's okay. Let him talk."
Mitsuki sighed, "But Dad... whatever."
Shank finished applying the herbs and stood up. Yelena approached him, her voice a whisper of urgency. "We don't have anything to eat... not even for them."
Shank's eyes darkened with concern. "We could go into the village and try to find some food."
Yelena nodded. "It's better than sleeping hungry."
Shank turned to Mitsuki. "We're going to get some food. You guys hang in here."
Mitsuki's eyes widened with worry. "Where will you go to get food?"
Yelena answered, "Into our ruined village."
Mitsuki's voice trembled. "Is it safe to go back to the village?"
Shank's gaze was firm. "All the raiders have left. We're going now. Take care of Dannie."
With a final glance at Elcos, Shank and Yelena steeled themselves and ventured into the ruined village, the weight of their mission heavy on their shoulders. Elcos stirred and looked at Mitsuki, his voice weak but insistent. "Mitsuki, my name is not Dannie."
Mitsuki, exasperated, replied, "Did you get mad because of his punches? The next time you talk, I will stuff this grass into your mouth."
Elcos, determined, continued, "I am fine, and I can talk. My real name is Elcos."
Mitsuki's eyes widened in shock. "What the hell are you talking about?"
Elcos took a deep breath, his voice trembling with emotion. "This is not the village where I was born, and those are not my real parents. I lived in a different village with my family—my mother, father, brother, and sister. One day, Shavik village raided our home, killed my family, and captured my brother. I managed to escape and flee to this village. My real name is Elcos."
Mitsuki's voice softened, filled with disbelief. "Is this all true?"
Tears welled up in Elcos's eyes as he nodded. "It is, and I was hiding this secret from everyone."
Mitsuki's heart ached for him. "Did you go through all of this?"
Elcos's voice hardened with resolve. "The only reason I was training was to take revenge on Shavik village for what they did to me."
Mitsuki held Elcos's hand tightly. "Is this just for your family? You know how many villages they have destroyed like yours. You need to be a lot stronger to defeat them!"