"No," the blonde man said firmly, shaking his head.
"I'm just shaken up. That's all. That monster caught me off guard, but it's not invincible. It can't be. I'm overthinking it."
He exhaled slowly, forcing himself to relax.
But as he tried to calm his nerves, the feeling of wrongness only intensified.
It clawed at the edges of his mind, whispering insidious doubts.
His pacing quickened, his movements erratic as he tugged at his hair in frustration.
"What is it?!" he shouted, his voice echoing through the empty forest. "What am I missing?"
And then it hit him.
His eyes widened, the color draining from his face as realization struck. His breath caught in his throat, and his body went rigid.
"The slaves..." he whispered, his voice barely audible.
The memory came rushing back, vivid and unrelenting.
The two women, trembling in fear as they cowered before the Orc.
