**ELENA'S POV**
"I was five years old when you assholes decided to make me an orphan where is the honor in that! Showing a fucking five year old what death looks like!" the memory of his outburst was as clear as day.
These were the words that rang in my ear the entire night, I didn't feel the mosquito bites on my exposed skin or the gripping cold of the night or did it even occur to me that he left me alone in this woods with the dangerous animals and the people he said we're after me. The only thing that mattered to me were his words and the immense rage behind it, for the first time I could hear a bit of sadness and remorse in his voice. So royalty are the reason his family died but there must be an explanation.
Mother always says that there's nothing more important to royalty than their subjects. So they may have their reasons but they killed his whole family there was no way that his entire family were criminals. Arrgh! Why am I even feeling guilty at least I haven't cut him or strangled him until darkness covered his eyes, if he doesn't feel guilty for doing all those to me then I shouldn't feel guilty for what I said but judging from his words he has taken care of himself for fourteen years he had no one his whole life, how did he survive alone .
Amidst my questions at one point, I must have fallen asleep because the next thing I felt was a light tap on my shoulder, I quickly woke up and raised my head from my arms, the first thing my eyes landed on was the water skin that was dangling on his waist my hands quickly went to me head but my hair wasn't damp it was still dry, so this time he really woke me up without drenching me in water. He then went to where the stag was and cut it into small portable pieces before he told me to clear the camp.
After I was done he gave me a bag to carry and wore the remaining two bags, he started walking off and I took it as a sign to start following him he didn't say anything but there was this awkward feeling that was lingering in the air but it was probably just me feeling it, why am I still bothered about it when this man clearly...
Rayan suddenly moved back while pushing me back too, he placed his index finger on his mask at first it was as silent as a grave that was until I heard the breaking of twigs and the dried leaves getting crushed numerous times. It was surprising that he instantly heard that, he dropped the bags to the ground and unsheathed his scimitars.
"Why aren't we following the dark order like everyone else?" I heard someone say.
"I don't know man the boss said we should not follow them since they could be wrong, "
"well the dark order are the best in their tracking what if they beat us to the gold?"
"well the boss has been following these tracks and he's pretty sure that we are on the right path, he thinks that whoever has the girl is playing the dark order like fools and also when has the boss ever been wrong about things like this,"
"fine,"
Rayan crouched down and took out a knife from his foot, he stood up handed it to me and whispered.
"use this to defend yourself if someone manages to evade me, okay and then run."
"okay," I answered the first ever time that I held a weapon in my hand it was strange holding the knife and what's worse is that it was his knife, how many lives has this blade taken.
As the men got closer, Rayan leaped out from where we are and slashed off the head of the man who was close,I saw the head fly off from his shoulders as blood sprayed out from his neck and I saw what must have been his neck bone covered with blood, I think it was the sight of blood that made the memories of when he came to rescue me resurface, the sounds of blades clanging together, the sound of flesh getting sliced and the screams of men before being abruptly silenced by the movement of the blade through their necks or guts and what was worse was that he would chop off the limbs making them scream louder than before as they held the stump of their arm as blood sprayed out in streams.
It felt like it was the same situation, Rayan was ruthless with his scimitars, every person didn't even last five seconds with him, I couldn't bear to watch the chaos and the blood shed, my fingers lost their grip strength and I dropped the knife as I crouched down and tightly shut my ears and eyes. Please stop killing people, please stop killing people, please stop killing people.
Even with my hands tightly shutting my ears the screams could still be heard every action could be heard the only difference is that it was muffled down the sound of flesh getting sliced, the sound of blood dripping on the floor and the metallic smell of blood, please stop killing people. Please stop killing people. Please stop killing people.
"princess, let's go," I heard his voice say.
I opened my eyes and saw him his swords had blood dripping from the tips of the blades, some of our pursuers blood was on him but he wasn't fazed, his eyes they didn't show any regret or remorse it was like he had just swatted a fly, even the strong scent of blood that lingered on him didn't seem to stir him, He bent down and picked up the knife, he looked at me with a peculiar look even with his mask on some emotions could still be displayed, he placed the knife back to its original place.
"well princess looks like one of your wish is going to come true, we are not sleeping in the woods anymore there's an in close by we'll sleep there but first we need a shower both of us,"
Nestled within the forest, a captivating waterfall awaits, its beauty a hidden gem. The cascade gracefully tumbles down from a towering cliff, accompanied by a gentle mist that shimmers in the sunlight, painting rainbows in the air. Numerous boulders sit on either side of the waterfall, draped in soft moss and adorned with delicate ferns, as if keeping watch over the cascading waters. The soothing sounds of the rushing waters blend harmoniously with the whispers of the forest, creating a serene symphony. Colorful flowers bloom nearby, adding vibrant splashes to the lush surroundings. It's a place of tranquility and raw natural allure, where one can't help but be mesmerized by the beauty of this magical oasis.
Even the sight of this waterfall couldn't help in removing the memory of the butchering, but he was right it was the first time he suggested that I take a shower, the first time he let me gather up a lot of dirt on my body. The mercenary gave me privacy as I undressed and took a bath before he took off his mask but unlike me he didn't mind taking off his shirt in front of me, at first I was flustered seeing a man's bare body in front of me, I wanted to turn around but something else caught my eye.
The first thing that caught my eye was his chest adorned with a prominent, sword-scar, a testament to past battles. Along his left side, more sword scars marked his ribs and stomach, while his toned physique exudes strength and endurance. Turning around, a distinct sword scar stretched across his broad back, accompanied by four arrow scars on his left shoulder blade and one on his abs.
"princess stop being a pervert and turn around," he said in his horrible tone.
How does this man manage to enrage in ways I couldn't understand, I turned around and for added measure I closed my ears. After he was done he led me to town where the inn was located.