They exchanged a few more words, sharing their hopes and fears for the journey ahead, before finally settling in for the night.
The sounds of the forest surrounded them, a symphony of rustling leaves and distant hoots of owls. Karliah drifted off to sleep first, her breathing slow and steady. Argus lay awake a while longer, staring up at the starlit sky, lost in thought.
Eventually, exhaustion took over, and he too succumbed to sleep, the events of the day fading into dreams as they prepared for the challenges that awaited them in the vast land of Erisia.
In the middle of the night, Argus's eyes snapped open at the sound of Karliah's screams, his heart pounding in his chest.
He leaped to his feet, his hand instinctively reaching for his rapier as he scanned the darkness around their campsite.
The flickering flames of the dying campfire cast eerie shadows, but it was clear that Karliah was in danger.
He sprinted towards the source of the commotion, his footsteps muffled by the soft forest floor. As he neared, the scene unfolded before him in a horrifying tableau. Karliah was surrounded by a writhing mass of mudskippers, their grotesque forms illuminated by the flickering firelight.
Driven by adrenaline and a deep-seated instinct to protect, Argus charged into the fray. His rapier flashed in the dim light as he lashed out at the creatures, driving them back with precise strikes.
The mudskippers, undeterred, continued their relentless assault on Karliah, their slimy bodies slapping against her as they tried to overwhelm her.
With a fierce battle cry, Argus redoubled his efforts, fighting with the ferocity that has been born from desperation. He hacked and slashed, each strike fueled by a potent mix of fear and determination.
Gradually, the tide began to turn, the mudskippers faltering under the relentless assault.
Finally, with a final, desperate thrust, Argus managed to clear a path to Karliah. He scooped her up in his arms, her body limp and bloodied, and carried her to safety.
He laid her down gently by the dying embers of the fire, his hands trembling as he assessed her wounds.
Karliah's breathing was shallow, her pulse weak. Argus knew he had to act quickly if he was to save her.
He tore a strip of cloth from his tunic and began to staunch the bleeding, his hands working swiftly and surely despite the panic that threatened to consume him.
As he worked, he whispered words of reassurance to Karliah, promising her that everything would be alright. Deep down, however, he knew the truth. The journey ahead would be fraught with danger, and not all of them would emerge unscathed. But for now, in this moment, all that mattered was keeping Karliah alive.
-Argus, she whispered, her voice weak. I'm sorry... I couldn't... protect... you… I… tried to… take care… of them… myself…
Tears welled up in Argus's eyes as he cradled her in his arms, feeling her life slipping away.
-No, Karliah, he choked out. You saved me... You're a hero...
With her last breath, Karliah smiled faintly, her eyes closing for the final time. As Karliah's life faded away in his arms, Argus felt a deep sense of sorrow and loss. He held her close, his heart heavy with grief. -You were so brave, he whispered, his voice cracking with emotion. You fought with all your strength... You saved me, Karliah. You're a hero...
Her smile, though faint, brought a glimmer of peace to Argus's heart, even as tears streamed down his face. He knew he had lost more than a companion; he had lost a true friend.
His mind swirling with grief and regret. The events of the night replayed in his mind like a cruel nightmare, each moment etching itself deeper into his soul.
He remembered Karliah's screams, the desperation in her voice as she fought for her life.
He remembered the terror he felt as he rushed to her aid, the sight of her being torn apart by the mudskippers forever seared into his memory.
And he remembered her final moments, the look of pain and sadness in her eyes as she slipped away.
Tears streamed down Argus's face as he tried to make sense of it all. Karliah had been so full of life, so full of hope and determination. And now she was gone, taken from him in the most brutal of ways.
The weight of his grief became too much to bear, and Argus felt himself crumbling under its immense pressure. He let out a guttural cry, a primal scream of anguish and despair that echoed through the silent night.
He pounded the ground with his fists, the pain in his heart manifesting as physical agony.
He had failed, failed to protect her when she needed him most. And now he was alone, his only solace was the memory of the friend he had lost.
As the first light of dawn bathed the world in its soft glow, Argus's heart felt heavy with grief. He knew he had to give Karliah a proper farewell. With solemn determination, he retrieved a shovel from his pack and began to dig.
The earth was soft, and the task was not difficult, but each scoop of dirt felt like a heavy burden on Argus's heart. He dug deep, creating a small, shallow grave beside the campfire where they had sat together just hours before.
Gently, he lifted Karliah's lifeless body and placed her in the grave, arranging her limbs with care. He brushed the dirt from her face, closing her eyes with a tenderness born of sorrow. He placed her hands over her chest, as if in peaceful repose.